Shloka 3

Damanaka-Navamī, Digdaśamī-vrata, and Ekādaśī Ṛṣi-Pūjā

Devanagari script

(इति दमनकनवमीव्रतम्) / ब्रह्मोवाच / दशम्यामेकभक्ताशी समान्ते दशधेनुदः / दिशश्च काञ्चनीर्दत्त्वा ब्रह्माण्डाधिपतिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

(iti damanakanavamīvratam) / brahmovāca / daśamyāmekabhaktāśī samānte daśadhenudaḥ / diśaśca kāñcanīrdattvā brahmāṇḍādhipatirbhavet

Translation

Brahmā sprach: Am zehnten Tag (Daśamī) soll man nur einmal essen; und am Ende zehn Kühe als Gabe spenden und zudem goldene Sinnbilder der Himmelsrichtungen schenken—so wird man zum Herrn der kosmischen Sphäre (brahmāṇḍa).

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समाप्तिसूचक

• दमनक-नवमी-व्रतम्: the Damanaka-navamī vow
• दमनक-नवमी-व्रतम्: Sambandha (Title/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमनक (प्रातिपदिक) + नवमी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; नामवाचक

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• दशम्याम्: on the tenth (tithi)
• दशम्याम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• एकभक्ताशी: eating only one meal
• एकभक्ताशी: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्; ‘एकभक्त’ (एकवारभोजन) + ‘आशी’ (भोजी)

• समान्ते: at the end
• समान्ते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; काल/अवधिवाचक (at the end)

• दश-धेनु-दः: a giver of ten cows
• दश-धेनु-दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक; √दा दाने)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (giver of ten cows)

• दिशः: directions (quarters)
• दिशः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

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

• काञ्चनीः: golden
• काञ्चनीः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘दिशः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (golden)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Gerundial/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having given)

• ब्रह्माण्ड-अधिपतिः: lord of the cosmos
• ब्रह्माण्ड-अधिपतिः: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (lord of the universe/egg of Brahmā)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Brahma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahā-dāna combined with vrata-niyama yields extraordinary phala; generosity expands one’s sphere of merit and symbolic sovereignty.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and īśvara-niyama: expansive giving reduces possessiveness (aparigraha-like tendency) and increases sattva, though the text expresses it via grand phala-śruti.

Application: Practice proportionate generosity at the completion of commitments; support livelihoods (symbolized by cows) and contribute to community welfare; conclude vows with a meaningful act of giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting (dāna-śālā/altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.135.1–4 (vrata completion and escalating phala-śruti)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of the Damanaka Navamī vow in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the vow’s completion as a disciplined observance (single meal on the tenth day) culminating in major gifts (ten cows and golden representations of the directions), promising exalted merit and sovereignty-like spiritual reward.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it teaches that vrata (self-restraint) combined with dāna (charity) generates powerful puṇya (merit), which the Purāṇic tradition links to higher post-death states and elevated cosmic status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint (simplify food/consumption), conclude spiritual observances with sincere giving (supporting care of cows/animals, food charity, or temple/service donations), and dedicate the act to ethical living rather than mere reward.