Shloka 11

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

एकादशीव्रतं नित्यं तत्कुर्यात्पक्षयोर्द्वयोः / अघौघनरकं हन्यात्सर्वदं विष्णुलोकदम्

Transliteration

ekādaśīvrataṃ nityaṃ tatkuryātpakṣayordvayoḥ / aghaughanarakaṃ hanyātsarvadaṃ viṣṇulokadam

Translation

Man soll das Ekādaśī-Gelübde stets in beiden Monatshälften halten. Es vernichtet die Hölle, die aus der Menge der Sünden entsteht, gewährt jedes ersehnte Gute und verleiht Viṣṇuloka, die Wohnstatt Viṣṇus.

Word by Word

• एकादशीव्रतम्: the Ekādaśī vow
• एकादशीव्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (एकादश्याः व्रतम्)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचनम् (adverbial accusative: always)

• तत्: that (vow)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन

• पक्षयोः: of the two fortnights
• पक्षयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन; 'of the two fortnights'

• द्वयोः: two
• द्वयोः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पक्षयोः)

• अघौघनरकम्: the hell of a flood of sins
• अघौघनरकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघ (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक) + नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अघानाम् ओघः = अघौघः; अघौघस्य नरकम्)

• हन्यात्: should destroy
• हन्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन

• सर्वदम्: granting all (boons)
• सर्वदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वं ददाति इति)

• विष्णुलोकदम्: giving Viṣṇu's world
• विष्णुलोकदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः लोकं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Moksha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Regular Ekadashi observance in both fortnights destroys accumulated sin and grants all boons culminating in Vishnu-loka.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti supported by niyama; grace-mediated liberation where disciplined devotion purifies karma and orients the mind to Narayana.

Application: Observe Ekadashi twice monthly with consistency; keep fast/discipline according to capacity, dedicate the day to Vishnu worship, japa, and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: celestial abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Ekadashi-mahatmya style verses promising Vishnu-loka and papa-kshaya; Garuda Purana: naraka descriptions used as deterrent, contrasted with Vishnu-bhakti as deliverance

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ekadashi

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekadashi vrata in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Ekādaśī as a regular discipline to be kept in both fortnights, praised for destroying the consequences of accumulated sins and for leading the practitioner toward Viṣṇu’s abode.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing sin-destruction (agha-augha) and freedom from hellish outcomes (naraka), it frames Ekādaśī observance as a practical means to purify karma and align the soul with Viṣṇu-loka—an ultimate, liberated destination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Ekādaśī twice a month with fasting or regulated diet, prayer/chanting of Viṣṇu’s names, and ethical restraint; treat it as a consistent practice for self-discipline and karmic purification.