Shloka 125

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

यमुद्दिश्य निमज्जेत द्वादशांशं लभेत्तु सः / तुष्यत्यामलकैर्विष्णुरेकादश्या विशेषतः

Transliteration

yamuddiśya nimajjeta dvādaśāṃśaṃ labhettu saḥ / tuṣyatyāmalakairviṣṇurekādaśyā viśeṣataḥ

Translation

One who immerses himself in bathing with Yama in mind obtains a twelfth share of the merit. Yet by offering āmalakī (Indian gooseberry), Viṣṇu is especially pleased—most particularly on Ekādaśī.

Word by Word

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• उद्दिश्य: intending / for (his sake)
• उद्दिश्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद्-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (having intended/with reference to)

• निमज्जेत: should immerse (bathe)
• निमज्जेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• द्वादशांशम्: a twelfth share/portion
• द्वादशांशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश + अंश (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: द्वादशानाम् अंशः (a twelfth part)

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• तुष्यति: is pleased
• तुष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• आमलकैः: with āmalaka fruits
• आमलकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• एकादश्याः: of Ekādaśī (the 11th lunar day)
• एकादश्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Discourse (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: especially)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Merit can be apportioned by intention (uddishya) even toward Yama; yet Vishnu-bhakti—āmalakī offering on Ekādaśī—surpasses as a direct means to please Vishnu.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-priti as higher than mere karma-accounting; devotion sanctifies acts and redirects fear-based restraint into loving surrender.

Application: On Ekādaśī, perform purity practices and offer/consume āmalakī in a devotional manner (with Vishnu remembrance); cultivate ethical restraint through Yama-smriti without despair.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: snana-tirtha/river (unspecified)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Ekadashi-mahatmya style passages; Vishnu-nama and vrata superiority; Garuda Purana: Yama teachings used to instill restraint and accountability

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Vishnu
• Ekadashi
• Amalaki

FAQs

What is the importance of Āmalakī (gooseberry) on Ekādaśī in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that Viṣṇu is especially pleased by āmalakī offerings on Ekādaśī, marking it as a high-merit Vaiṣṇava observance.

Why does the verse mention bathing with Yama in mind?

It indicates a dedicated act (saṅkalpa) where a ritual bath is mentally offered toward Yama, yielding a defined portion of merit (one-twelfth), while emphasizing that Viṣṇu-worship via āmalakī is superior on Ekādaśī.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Ekādaśī with purity and devotion, offer or consume āmalakī respectfully as part of worship, and treat ritual actions as intentional (done with clear dedication and ethical discipline).