Shloka 12

Vrata-Niyama: Fasting Purity, Brahmakūrcha, Naktāhāra, and Kāla-Nirṇaya

Ritual Timing

Devanagari script

गायत्त्र्या चैव गन्धेति आप्यायस्व दृ दधिग्रहः / तेजो ऽसीति च देवस्य ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रतं चरेत्

Transliteration

gāyattryā caiva gandheti āpyāyasva dṛ dadhigrahaḥ / tejo 'sīti ca devasya brahmakūrcavrataṃ caret

Translation

Reciting the Gāyatrī and the mantra beginning with “gandheti,” then uttering “āpyāyasva” while taking curd, and also “tejo ’si” in worship of the deity—thus one should observe the Brahmakūrcha vow.

Word by Word

• गायत्त्र्या: with/through the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्त्र्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (emphasis)

• गन्धा: (the word) 'gandha' / fragrance
• गन्धा: Sambandha (Quoted word/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); मन्त्रपाठे पदरूप (mantric citation)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आप्यायस्व: be nourished / thrive
• आप्यायस्व: Kriya (Injunction/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप्यै (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• दृक्: sight/vision
• दृक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्विप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'दृक्' = दृष्टिः (sight)

• दधिग्रहः: taking/accepting curd
• दधिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक: दधि + ग्रह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तेजः: (the word) 'tejas' / radiance
• तेजः: Sambandha (Quoted word/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); मन्त्रपाठे पदरूप (mantric citation)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रतम्: the Brahma-kūrca vow
• ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रत (प्रातिपदिक: ब्रह्म + कूर्च + व्रत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• चरेत्: should perform/practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification is effected through mantra (Gāyatrī and specified mantras) integrated with regulated ritual action; Brahmakūrcha-vrata is to be performed with correct recitations and observances.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as śuddhi: sacred sound disciplines mind and aligns action with vidhi; supports antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as preparation for higher knowledge/bhakti.

Application: When undertaking Brahmakūrcha: recite Gāyatrī; recite the mantra beginning ‘gandheti’; utter ‘āpyāyasva’ while taking curd; utter ‘tejo ’si’ in worship—perform under guidance of a competent teacher/priest due to mantra-vidhi specificity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.128 (Brahmakūrcha and related prāyaścitta/vow procedures in the same sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Deva (the worshipped deity)

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahmakūrcha Vrata in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Brahmakūrcha as a mantra-governed expiatory observance: purity is maintained through specific Vedic recitations and regulated intake (e.g., taking curd with mantra), aligning conduct with dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by prescribing vrata and mantra-based purification, it emphasizes that ethical-ritual discipline reduces demerit (pāpa) and supports a cleaner post-death trajectory described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake any vow or purification practice with clarity, restraint, and correct intention—pairing disciplined consumption and prayer/mantra with devotion rather than treating rituals as mere formality.