Shloka 5

Ekādaśī-Vrata Nirṇaya: Avoiding Daśamī-Viddha and Establishing Trimīśrā

Devanagari script

एकादशी द्वादशी च विशेषेण त्रयोदशी / त्रिमिश्रा सा तिथिर्ग्राह्या सर्वपापहरा शुभा

Transliteration

ekādaśī dvādaśī ca viśeṣeṇa trayodaśī / trimiśrā sā tithirgrāhyā sarvapāpaharā śubhā

Translation

Ekādaśī und Dvādaśī, und besonders die Trayodaśī: Wenn sie als „dreifache“ Observanz (Trimiśrā) zusammenkommen, ist diese Tithi anzunehmen; sie ist glückverheißend und tilgt alle Sünden.

Word by Word

• एकादशी: Ekādaśī
• एकादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• द्वादशी: Dvādaśī
• द्वादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/संयोग) — ‘and’

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial instrumental) — ‘especially’

• त्रयोदशी: Trayodaśī
• त्रयोदशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रि-मिश्रा: threefold-mixed (with three tithis)
• त्रि-मिश्रा: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘त्रयाणां (तिथीनां) मिश्रिता’

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तिथिः: lunar day (tithi)
• तिथिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ग्राह्या: should be accepted/observed
• ग्राह्या: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त/भाव्य)
• Form: भाव्य कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सर्व-पाप-हरा: remover of all sins
• सर्व-पाप-हरा: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषां पापानां हरा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Properly accepted Trimiśrā tithi (11-12-13) is śubha and removes sins; ritual correctness amplifies punya and purificatory power.

Vedantic Theme: Pāpa-kṣaya and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as preparation for bhakti/jñāna; karma becomes a purifier when aligned with dharma.

Application: When the three tithis combine per nirṇaya, adopt the Trimiśrā observance with restraint and proper pāraṇa; use it as a periodic purification practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tithi triad (Ekādaśī–Dvādaśī–Trayodaśī)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.125.4 (pāraṇa on Trayodaśī); Garuda Purana 1.125.6 (Trimiśrā allowed; avoid Daśamī conjunction)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the trimiśrā tithi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that when Ekadashi, Dwadashi, and particularly Trayodashi are taken together as a threefold observance, that combined timing is considered auspicious and capable of destroying sins.

How does this verse relate to karma and purification in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing correct tithi-selection for vrata, the verse links ritual discipline with pāpa-kṣaya (reduction of karmic demerit), a recurring Garuda Purana theme for ethical and spiritual purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Ekadashi-related vows with careful attention to tithi (lunar timing), and pair the ritual with sincere self-restraint and ethical conduct for meaningful purification.