Shloka 2

Devanagari script

प्रतिपद्येकभक्ताशी समाप्ते कपिलाप्रदः / चैत्रादौ कारयेच्चैव ब्रह्मपूजां यथाविधि / गन्धपुष्पार्चनैर्दानैर्माल्याद्यैश्च मनोरमैः

Transliteration

pratipadyekabhaktāśī samāpte kapilāpradaḥ / caitrādau kārayeccaiva brahmapūjāṃ yathāvidhi / gandhapuṣpārcanairdānairmālyādyaiśca manoramaiḥ

Translation

On Pratipadā one should take only a single meal; and when the observance is completed, one should gift a tawny kapilā cow. At the beginning of the month of Caitra, one should also have the worship of Brahmā performed according to proper procedure—using fragrances, flowers, arcana (ritual offerings), charitable gifts, delightful garlands, and the like.

Word by Word

• प्रतिपदि: on the Pratipadā (lunar day)
• प्रतिपदि: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/काल), एकवचन

• एकभक्ताशी: eating only one meal
• एकभक्ताशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक-भक्त-आशी (प्रातिपदिक; एक + भक्त + आशी)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं (कर्तरि); तत्पुरुषः (एकं भक्तं यस्य/येन—one-meal eater)

• समाप्ते: when completed
• समाप्ते: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाप्त (कृदन्त; सम्+आप् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/काले), एकवचन; ‘समाप्ते (काले)’—locative absolute sense

• कपिलाप्रदः: giver of a tawny cow
• कपिलाप्रदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; कपिला + प्रद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (कपिलां ददाति इति—giver of a tawny cow)

• चैत्रादौ: at the beginning of Caitra (month)
• चैत्रादौ: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; चैत्र + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/काले), एकवचन; ‘चैत्रादि’ इति तत्पुरुषः (चैत्रः आदिः—beginning with Caitra)

• कारयेत्: should have (it) performed
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• ब्रह्मपूजाम्: worship of Brahmā/Brahman
• ब्रह्मपूजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-पूजा (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + पूजा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः पूजा)

• यथाविधि: according to rule
• यथाविधि: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-विधि (अव्ययीभाव-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); अव्ययीभाव-समासः (विधिना यथा)

• गन्धपुष्पार्चनैः: with perfumes, flowers, and worship
• गन्धपुष्पार्चनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध-पुष्प-अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक; गन्ध + पुष्प + अर्चन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (गन्धश्च पुष्पं च अर्चनं च)

• दानैः: with gifts
• दानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• माल्याद्यैः: with garlands and the like
• माल्याद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; माल्य + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; ‘माल्यादि’ इति तत्पुरुषः (माल्यम् आदिः—garlands etc.)

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

• मनोरमैः: pleasing/beautiful
• मनोरमैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणं ‘गन्धपुष्पार्चनैः/दानैः/माल्याद्यैः’ इत्यादीनाम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tithi-based vrata: eat once on Pratipadā; upon completion gift a kapilā cow; perform Brahmā worship with offerings and charity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as cultivation of sattva through restraint (niyama) and generosity (dāna); beauty (puṣpa, gandha, mālya) as a vehicle for reverence and ordered mind.

Application: Observe measured fasting (single meal) safely; conclude commitments with a meaningful act of giving; perform worship with cleanliness, fragrance/flowers, and charitable sharing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual time-marker (kāla) within household/temple setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: continuation of pratipadā-vrata details and phala statements; Garuda Purana: dāna-mahātmyas, especially go-dāna praise

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Caitra
• Pratipad

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahmā-pūjā at the beginning of Caitra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes Brahmā worship in early Caitra as a rule-based rite supported by offerings (fragrance, flowers) and dāna, indicating it as a meritorious seasonal observance.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on dharma and merit?

It frames dharma as disciplined practice—moderation in diet (eka-bhakta), completion of vows, and charitable gifting (kapilā-dāna), paired with properly performed deity worship.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe a simple, regulated fast or single-meal discipline on Pratipad, complete the vow sincerely, and pair worship with charity—offering flowers/fragrance and giving according to capacity.