Shloka 1

Rambhā-Tṛtīyā Vrata: annual cycle of Devī worship, offerings, and dāna

Devanagari script

ऽध्यायः ब्रह्मोवाच / रम्भातृतीयां वक्ष्य च सौभग्यश्रीसुतादिदाम् / मार्गशीर्षेसिते पक्षे तृतीयायामुपोषितः

Transliteration

'dhyāyaḥ brahmovāca / rambhātṛtīyāṃ vakṣya ca saubhagyaśrīsutādidām / mārgaśīrṣesite pakṣe tṛtīyāyāmupoṣitaḥ

Translation

Brahmā sprach: Nun will ich die Rambhā-Tṛtīyā-Observanz darlegen, die glückverheißendes Geschick, Wohlstand (Śrī) und würdige Nachkommenschaft verleiht. Sie ist mit Fasten am Tṛtīyā-Tag (dritter Mondtag) der hellen Monatshälfte im Monat Mārgaśīrṣa zu begehen.

Word by Word

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रम्भा: Rambhā (name)
• रम्भा: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्भा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• तृतीयाम्: the third (tithi)
• तृतीयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• वक्ष्ये: I shall describe
• वक्ष्ये: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सौभग्य: good fortune
• सौभग्य: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• श्री: prosperity
• श्री: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• सुत: son
• सुत: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• आदि: etc., beginning with
• आदि: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem-form in compound)

• दाम्: bestowing (giver of)
• दाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/कृदन्त-प्राय (here as adjective to tithi): स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘giving’ (bestowing)

• मार्गशीर्षे: in Mārgaśīrṣa (month)
• मार्गशीर्षे: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्गशीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सिते: bright (fortnight)
• सिते: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘white/bright’ (qualifies पक्षे)

• पक्षे: in the fortnight
• पक्षे: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तृतीयायाम्: on the third (tithi)
• तृतीयायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• उपोषितः: having fasted
• उपोषितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + वस्/उष् (धातु; उपवासे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘having fasted’

Speaker

Brahma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time-sanctified vrata (tithi-masa-niyama) with fasting yields worldly auspiciousness (saubhagya, śrī, sutā).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma pursued with shraddha regulates desire and aligns life with rta-like order; can mature into bhakti/inner purity.

Application: Observe fasting on the bright Tṛtīyā of Mārgaśīrṣa as the entry-point to the Rambhā-Tṛtīyā vrata, with intent for auspicious household welfare.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: lunar-calendar observance time

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.120 (subsequent verses likely detail Rambha-tritiya procedure and fruits); Garuda Purana 1.119 (preceding vrata/rite sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Rambha
• Sri

FAQs

What is the importance of Rambhā-Tṛtīyā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces Rambhā-Tṛtīyā as a vrata specifically praised for granting saubhāgya (auspicious fortune), śrī (prosperity), and suta (offspring).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the after-death journey here; instead, it shifts to dharmic observance (vrata) that supports auspicious living and merit through disciplined fasting.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe disciplined fasting or restrained living on an auspicious tithi with a clear intention—using the practice to cultivate self-control, devotion, and ethical conduct.