Shloka 15

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

द्वितीयां तृतीयामिश्रां तृतीयाञ्चाप्युपावसेत् / चतुर्थ्या सङ्गतां नित्यं चतुर्थोञ्चनया युताम् / पञ्चमींषष्ठ्यसंयुक्तां षष्ठ्या युक्ताञ्च सप्तमीम्

Transliteration

dvitīyāṃ tṛtīyāmiśrāṃ tṛtīyāñcāpyupāvaset / caturthyā saṅgatāṃ nityaṃ caturthoñcanayā yutām / pañcamīṃṣaṣṭhyasaṃyuktāṃ ṣaṣṭhyā yuktāñca saptamīm

Translation

One should observe a fast on the second tithi when it is joined with the third, and also on the third tithi itself. One should always observe the fourth tithi when it is conjoined with the third, and the fourth together with the rite of the “fourth day”. Likewise, one should observe the fifth tithi when conjoined with the sixth, and the seventh tithi when conjoined with the sixth.

Word by Word

• द्वितीयाम्: the second (tithi/day)
• द्वितीयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तिथिनाम (f.)

• तृतीयामिश्राम्: mixed with the third
• तृतीयामिश्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीया (प्रातिपदिक) + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीयया मिश्रिता इति (determinative)

• तृतीयाम्: the third (tithi/day)
• तृतीयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तिथिनाम

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अपि-निपात (particle: also/even)

• उपावसेत्: should fast/observe (a fast)
• उपावसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चतुर्थ्या: with/by the fourth (tithi)
• चतुर्थ्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/सहकारक-भावे

• सङ्गताम्: joined/combined
• सङ्गताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√गम् (धातु) → सङ्गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘joined/associated’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (adverbial accusative)

• चतुर्थोञ्चनया: with the fourth (day’s) gleaning/handful-taking (uñcana)
• चतुर्थोञ्चनया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + उञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘चतुर्थेन उञ्चनया’ इति (determinative)

• युताम्: endowed with/combined with
• युताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (प्रातिपदिक; √युज्/√यु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘endowed/connected’

• पञ्चमीम्: the fifth (tithi/day)
• पञ्चमीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• षष्ठ्यसंयुक्ताम्: not joined with the sixth
• षष्ठ्यसंयुक्ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक) + असंयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘षष्ठ्या असंयुक्ता’ इति (determinative)

• षष्ठ्या: with/by the sixth (tithi)
• षष्ठ्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्ठी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युक्ताम्: joined/combined
• युक्ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘joined’

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

• सप्तमीम्: the seventh (tithi/day)
• सप्तमीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तिथिनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is upheld through correct observance of fasts aligned to tithi-conjunction rules.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as citta-śuddhi: disciplined action purifies and steadies the mind for higher aims.

Application: Use a pañcāṅga to identify tithi overlaps; plan fasting/vrata on specified conjunctions with consistency (nityam).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.124 (vrata-kathā continuation: Śivarātri context); Garuda Purana (vrata/kalpa sections on tithi-niyama and upavāsa)

FAQs

What is the importance of tithi-based fasting in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that upavāsa is not only date-based but depends on tithi conjunctions (overlaps), indicating that correct ritual timing is part of dharma and strengthens the intended religious observance.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana guidance on post-death rites?

In the Preta Kanda context, discipline like fasting and correct calendrical observance supports ritual purity and efficacy, which the text repeatedly treats as important in rites connected to the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When observing vratas or family śrāddha-related disciplines, consult a pañcāṅga (Hindu almanac) for tithi overlaps rather than relying only on the civil date, and keep the observance consistent and sincere.