Shloka 13

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

दशम्येकादशी यत्र तत्रस्थाश्चासुरादयः / द्वादश्यां पारण कुर्यात्सूतके मृतके चरेत्

Transliteration

daśamyekādaśī yatra tatrasthāścāsurādayaḥ / dvādaśyāṃ pāraṇa kuryātsūtake mṛtake caret

Translation

Wo der zehnte und der elfte Tithi zusammentreffen, heißt es, seien Asuras und dergleichen zugegen; darum soll man das pāraṇa, das Fastenbrechen, am Dvādaśī vollziehen, selbst wenn man sich in sūtaka (Unreinheit durch Geburt) oder mṛtaka (Unreinheit durch Tod) befindet.

Word by Word

• दशमी: Daśamī (10th tithi)
• दशमी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• एकादशी: Ekādaśī
• एकादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (where)

• तत्रस्थाः: situated there
• तत्रस्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (तत्र स्थाः = there-situated)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• असुरादयः: demons and the like
• असुरादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (असुराः आदयः येषाम्)

• द्वादश्याम्: on Dvādaśī
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तिथिवाचक (on Dvādaśī)

• पारणम्: breaking the fast (pāraṇa)
• पारणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपवास-समापन-भोजनम्

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

• सूतके: during birth-impurity
• सूतके: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अशौचविशेषे (in birth-impurity)

• मृतके: during death-impurity
• मृतके: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; मरणाशौचे (in death-impurity)

• चरेत्: should observe/practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: During sūtaka (birth-impurity) or mṛtaka (death-impurity) periods, pāraṇa on Dvādaśī is still to be done as stated.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tithi discernment matters: avoid pāraṇa at the Daśamī–Ekādaśī overlap; pāraṇa is prescribed on Dvādaśī, and the rule is upheld even during sūtaka/mṛtaka.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of dharma-niyama in sustaining sattva and devotion; external impurity does not nullify time-bound duty when scripture mandates it.

Application: Consult reliable tithi calculation; break the fast on Dvādaśī as prescribed; in exceptional impurity periods, follow the stated allowance while maintaining inner purity and minimal necessary rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-legal context (tithi junction)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vrata-nirnaya passages on Ekadashi pāraṇa timing; Garuda Purana: discussions of sūtaka/mṛtaka and exceptions for obligatory duties

Characters & Entities

• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of Dvādaśī pāraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the proper completion of the Ekādaśī observance is pāraṇa on Dvādaśī, treated as the correct and safe time for concluding the vrata.

How does this verse explain ritual timing (tithi) in practice?

It links the presence of inauspicious influences with Daśamī–Ekādaśī overlap and directs practitioners to complete the observance by breaking the fast on Dvādaśī, highlighting tithi-based discipline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you observe Ekādaśī, prioritize correct pāraṇa timing on Dvādaśī; when unsure due to family circumstances or impurity periods, follow traditional guidance and local authoritative panchāṅga/ācārya advice.