Shloka 21

Devanagari script

एकादश्यां निराहारः समभ्यर्च्य जनार्दनम् / द्वादश्यां शुक्लपक्षस्य महापापैः प्रमुच्यते

Transliteration

ekādaśyāṃ nirāhāraḥ samabhyarcya janārdanam / dvādaśyāṃ śuklapakṣasya mahāpāpaiḥ pramucyate

Translation

One who, on Ekādaśī, fasts without food and duly worships Janārdana is, on the Dvādaśī of the bright fortnight, released even from great sins.

Word by Word

• एकादश्याम्: on Ekādaśī (the 11th lunar day)
• एकादश्याम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (locative of time)

• निराहारः: fasting; without food
• निराहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराहार (प्रातिपदिक; निर् + आहार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the doer)

• समभ्यर्च्य: having duly worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकर्म (having done earlier action)

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• द्वादश्याम्: on Dvādaśī (the 12th lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• शुक्लपक्षस्य: of the bright fortnight
• शुक्लपक्षस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्लपक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; शुक्ल + पक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• महापापैः: from great sins
• महापापैः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापाप (प्रातिपदिक; महा + पाप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; हेतौ/साधन (instrumental/ablative-like cause in passive)

• प्रमुच्यते: is released; is freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ekadashi fasting with worship of Janardana burns even mahapapa; time-bound vrata amplifies merit and purification.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-anugraha (divine grace) as purifier; karma-kshaya through bhakti-yukta niyama.

Application: Observe Ekadashi nirahara (as health permits), perform Vishnu-puja/japa, and complete with Dvadashi-parana and charity; treat the vrata as ethical reset and recommitment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Dharma sections): repeated praise of Vishnu-nama and vrata as papa-nashana; Garuda Purana: Ekadashi/vrata passages in Dharma-kanda style material (varies by recension)

Characters & Entities

• Janārdana (Vishnu)
• Ekādaśī
• Dvādaśī
• Śukla-pakṣa

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekādaśī fasting in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents Ekādaśī nirāhāra (fasting) combined with worship of Janārdana as a powerful expiatory practice capable of removing even “mahāpāpa” (great sins).

How does this verse explain purification from sins?

Purification is linked to disciplined observance (fasting on Ekādaśī) and devotion (proper worship of Viṣṇu), with the stated fruit manifesting by Dvādaśī in the bright fortnight.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Ekādaśī with sincere restraint (as health permits), dedicate the day to Viṣṇu worship and remembrance, and complete the observance on Dvādaśī with mindful conduct and devotion.