Shloka 1

Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī Vrata: Mārgaśīrṣa Fast, Viṣṇu-Pūjā, and Four-Month Dāna

Devanagari script

नाम सप्तदशोत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः ब्रह्मोवाच / व्रतं कैवल्यशमनमखण्डद्वादशीं वदे / मागशीर्षे सिते पक्षे गव्याशी समुपोषितः

Transliteration

nāma saptadaśottaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ brahmovāca / vrataṃ kaivalyaśamanamakhaṇḍadvādaśīṃ vade / māgaśīrṣe site pakṣe gavyāśī samupoṣitaḥ

Translation

Brahmā sprach: Ich werde das Gelübde namens Akhaṇḍa‑Dvādaśī darlegen, die Observanz, welche die Fesseln besänftigt, die der Befreiung (kaivalya) entgegenstehen. In der hellen Monatshälfte des Mārgaśīrṣa soll man das Fasten antreten und sich nur von Erzeugnissen der Kuh nähren.

Word by Word

• nāma: (called)
• nāma: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः (particle/marker: ‘named/called’)

• saptadaśa-uttara-śata-tamaḥ: one hundred and seventeenth
• saptadaśa-uttara-śata-tamaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptadaśa (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (तमत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शतस्योत्तरः = above hundred; ordinal ‘117th’)

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vratam: vow/observance
• vratam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• kaivalya-śamanam: bringing liberation/cessation
• kaivalya-śamanam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaivalya (प्रातिपदिक) + śamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कैवल्यस्य शमनम्/साधनम् = leading to liberation/cessation)

• akhaṇḍa-dvādaśīm: the ‘Unbroken Dvādaśī’ (name of vow)
• akhaṇḍa-dvādaśīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (अखण्डा या द्वादशी)

• vade: I describe/speak
• vade: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• māgaśīrṣe: in (the month of) Māgaśīrṣa
• māgaśīrṣe: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (मास-नाम)

• site: bright (white)
• site: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; ‘bright’ (qualifying pakṣa)

• pakṣe: fortnight
• pakṣe: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• gavyāśī: one who eats only cow-products
• gavyāśī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gavya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गव्यं अश्नाति = one who eats only cow-products)

• samupoṣitaḥ: having fasted
• samupoṣitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-upa-√vas (वस्/उपवस् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘having fasted/observed upavāsa’

Speaker

Brahma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī vrata as ‘kaivalya-śamana’—removing impediments to liberation—through regulated fasting and purity (cow-produce diet).

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana for antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and vairāgya; disciplined observance as support for mokṣa-oriented life.

Application: Adopt periodic disciplined fasting with sattvic diet and clear intention (saṅkalpa) aimed at reducing attachment and strengthening devotion/clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual calendar (tithi/masa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.118.2 (Vishnu worship and four-month charity as continuation); Garuda Purana 1.117.15 (vrata/udyapana framing and fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī
• Mārgaśīrṣa
• Śukla Pakṣa

FAQs

What is the importance of Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī as a liberation-oriented vow (kaivalya-śamana), presenting it as a disciplined observance that helps remove spiritual impediments.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward moksha?

By framing a specific vrata as “kaivalya-śamana,” the text links ethical-ritual discipline (fasting, restraint, purity) with the reduction of bondage that obstructs liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe a disciplined Dvādaśī fast (as health permits), keep the day focused on purity and devotion, and treat restraint in food and conduct as a tool for inner clarity.