Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अष्टमी बुधवारेण पक्षयोरुभयोर्यदा / भविष्यति तदा तस्यां व्रतमेतत्कथा परा

Transliteration

aṣṭamī budhavāreṇa pakṣayorubhayoryadā / bhaviṣyati tadā tasyāṃ vratametatkathā parā

Translation

Wenn Aṣṭamī an einem Mittwoch eintritt, sei es in der hellen oder in der dunklen Monatshälfte, dann ist an eben diesem Tag dieses Gelübde zu halten — dies ist die höchste heilige Überlieferung darüber.

Word by Word

• aṣṭamī: the eighth lunar day (Aṣṭamī)
• aṣṭamī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तिथिवाचकः

• budha-vāreṇa: on Wednesday
• budha-vāreṇa: Karana (Instrument/Time marker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक) + vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘बुधस्य वारेण’ इति काल-करणम्

• pakṣayoḥ: of the two fortnights
• pakṣayoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; ‘पक्षद्वयस्य’

• ubhayayoḥ: of both
• ubhayayoḥ: Visheshana (Adjective modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; ‘उभययोः’ = ‘of both’ (pakṣayoḥ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Sambandha (Temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal conjunction/कालवाचक-सम्बन्ध)

• bhaviṣyati: will occur
• bhaviṣyati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Sambandha (Temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (then/तदा)

• tasyām: on that (day)
• tasyām: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘तस्यां (अष्टम्यां)’ इति कालाधिकरणम्

• vratam: the vow/observance
• vratam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• etat: this
• etat: Visheshana (Adjective modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘एतत्’ = ‘this’ (vratam इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• kathā: the account/story
• kathā: Karta (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समुच्चयेन ‘व्रतम्…कथा’ इति विषय-निर्देशः

• parā: supreme; excellent
• parā: Visheshana (Adjective modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘कथा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla (time) and its conjunctions condition the efficacy of ritual action; right timing is part of dharmic performance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed in harmony with ṛta/niyati (ordered time) yields steadier results; discipline aligns the mind.

Application: Track lunar tithis and weekdays; when Aṣṭamī coincides with Wednesday (either fortnight), prioritize the vow with focused observance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana vrata sections: repeated emphasis on tithi-vāra-yoga as determinant of vrata-phala

FAQs

What is the importance of Aṣṭamī falling on Wednesday in the Garuda Purana?

This verse marks that specific calendrical conjunction (Aṣṭamī + Wednesday) as the prescribed time to observe a particular vrata, emphasizing its special ritual potency.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey here; instead, it establishes the correct timing for a vow, implying that dharmic observances are supported by precise ritual calendars.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you follow traditional vrata practice, use a pañcāṅga to identify when Aṣṭamī coincides with Wednesday in either fortnight and perform the observance with discipline and ethical conduct.