Shloka 14

Budhāṣṭamī / Mahārudra Vrata: Procedure, Mantra, and the Story of Kauśika and Vijayā

Devanagari script

स्त्रियो ऽब्रुवन्व्रतं कर्तुं दास्यामश्च कुरु व्रतम् / पत्न्यर्थं धनपाना (लार्) थं पूजयामासतुर्बुधम्

Transliteration

striyo 'bruvanvrataṃ kartuṃ dāsyāmaśca kuru vratam / patnyarthaṃ dhanapānā (lār) thaṃ pūjayāmāsaturbudham

Translation

Die Frauen sprachen: „Wir werden ein heiliges Gelübde (Vrata) vollziehen.“ Und auch die Dienerinnen sagten: „Vollziehe das Gelübde.“ Um eine Gattin zu erlangen und um Reichtum und Gedeihen willen verehrten sie daraufhin Budha (Merkur), den Weisen.

Word by Word

• स्त्रियः: the women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अब्रुवन्: said
• अब्रुवन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• व्रतम्: a vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to perform
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजन/इच्छार्थ (to do)

• दास्यामः: we will give
• दास्यामः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• कुरु: do (perform)
• कुरु: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: the vow
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पत्न्यर्थम्: for a wife (as purpose)
• पत्न्यर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for (obtaining) a wife)

• धनपानार्थम्: for ‘dhanapāna’ (wealth-drink/wealth)
• धनपानार्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (for drinking wealth/for wealth-drink—i.e., for धनपान)

• पूजयामासतुः: the two worshipped
• पूजयामासतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (periphrastic perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• बुधम्: Budha (Mercury)/the wise one
• बुधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrative voice within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue (contextual narration attributed to Lord Vishnu’s discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vratānuṣṭhāna (vow-based ritual action) as a means to obtain desired results—wife, wealth, prosperity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa phala-bhoga: results are conditioned and finite; intention (saṅkalpa) shapes action.

Application: If undertaking vows/rituals, clarify intention, follow discipline, and remember results are contingent; pair ritual with ethical effort.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: devālaya/altar clearing

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.132.15-16 (consumption of offered food; later events)

Characters & Entities

• Budha (Mercury)

FAQs

What is the importance of vrata (vow) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse portrays vrata as a disciplined religious observance used to pursue specific life-goals—here, marriage and prosperity—through focused worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the after-death journey; instead, it emphasizes dharmic actions (vrata and worship) in embodied life, which the Garuda Purana often presents as shaping one’s future outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake a sincere, ethical observance (vrata) with prayer and self-discipline—especially cultivating Budha-related virtues like clarity, learning, truthful speech, and wise conduct—rather than treating worship as mere wish-fulfillment.