Shloka 9

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

स्कन्धा बिल्वजवाभिश्च पञ्चमे ऽह्नि शिरोर्ऽचयत् / मालत्या भूमिशायी स्याद्गोमयं प्राशयेत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

skandhā bilvajavābhiśca pañcame 'hni śiror'cayat / mālatyā bhūmiśāyī syādgomayaṃ prāśayetkramāt

Translation

Am fünften Tag soll man das Haupt mit Skandhā, Bilva und Gerste verehren. Man soll auf der Erde auf einem Lager aus Mālatī-Blüten schlafen und dann, der vorgeschriebenen Reihenfolge gemäß, Kuhdung zu sich nehmen.

Word by Word

• स्कन्धान्: should (worship) the shoulders
• स्कन्धान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन (plural); पाठे ‘स्कन्धा’ इति दृश्यते—अर्थानुसारं कर्मपदत्वात् ‘स्कन्धान्’ अपेक्षितम्

• बिल्वजवाभिः: with bilva and javā (hibiscus) flowers/leaves
• बिल्वजवाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + जव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural); बिल्व(पुष्प/पत्र) + जवा(पुष्प) = bilva and hibiscus (japā)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पञ्चमे: on the fifth
• पञ्चमे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular); ‘on the fifth (day)’

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular)

• शिरः: the head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular); पाठे ‘शिरोर्’ (षष्ठी) दृश्यते—सन्ध्यन्तरितं ‘शिरः’ (कर्म) + अर्चयेत्

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• मालत्या: with mālatī (jasmine)
• मालत्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मालती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (singular)

• भूमिशायी: lying on the ground
• भूमिशायी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूमि + शायिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular); कर्तृविशेषण (predicate adjective): lying on the ground

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• प्राशयेत्: should make (him) eat
• प्राशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अश् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्; ‘cause to eat’

• क्रमात्: in due order/gradually
• क्रमात्: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘in order/gradually’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas as purification supporting worship: completing limb-wise arcana (head on fifth day) and adopting bodily austerities to intensify sincerity and cleanse impurities.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline of body and senses as aid to sattva and devotion; external austerity meant to serve inner purification, not ego.

Application: Adopt proportionate austerities (simple sleeping, dietary restraint) aligned with health and context; keep the intent as humility and purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: vrata-sthana/puja-griha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.123.8 (preceding limb-wise worship sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of the fifth-day rite described here in the Garuda Purana?

It prescribes a specific fifth-day observance—worship directed to the head with sacred items (bilva and barley) along with austerities—framing purification and ordered ritual conduct after death-related rites.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

The Preta Kanda links post-death transition with disciplined rites and purification; this verse gives a day-specific rule that supports the broader narrative of properly guiding and stabilizing the departed through prescribed observances.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Follow tradition through a qualified priest and family custom: observe cleanliness, restraint, and simplicity during the mourning/rite period, and treat ritual substances and procedures as part of a structured, sequential discipline rather than casual practice.