Shloka 12

Dāna-dharma: Threefold Classification, Right Recipients, Auspicious Timing, and Fruits of Gifts

Devanagari script

वैशाख्यां पौर्णमास्यां तु ब्राह्मणान्सप्त पञ्च च / उपोष्याभ्यर्चयेद्विद्वान्मधुना तिलसर्पिषा

Transliteration

vaiśākhyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ tu brāhmaṇānsapta pañca ca / upoṣyābhyarcayedvidvānmadhunā tilasarpiṣā

Translation

Au jour de pleine lune du mois de Vaiśākha, le sage doit jeûner puis honorer douze brāhmaṇas, en offrant du miel, du sésame et du ghee.

Word by Word

• वैशाख्याम्: in (the month of) Vaiśākha
• वैशाख्याम्: Adhikarana (Time-location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशाखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (time)

• पौर्णमास्याम्: on the full-moon day
• पौर्णमास्याम्: Adhikarana (Time-location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर्णमासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (time)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; emphatic particle

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग); numeral used adjectivally

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (अव्ययवत् प्रयोग); numeral used adjectivally

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

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ल्यप्-रूप); Absolutive “having fasted”

• अभ्यर्चयेत्: should worship/honor
• अभ्यर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person singular

• विद्वान्: a learned man
• विद्वान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (agent)

• मधुना: with honey
• मधुना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• तिलसर्पिषा: with sesame-ghee
• तिलसर्पिषा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलसर्पिस् (तिल + सर्पिस्; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Vaiśākha pūrṇimā (full-moon day) after upavāsa (fasting)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla-viśeṣa (auspicious time) + upavāsa + brāhmaṇa-satkara with madhu-tila-sarpis as merit-generating dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual discipline purifies and accrues puṇya; emphasis on śuddhi through vrata and proper offering substances.

Application: Observe periodic fasting with mindfulness; perform charitable feeding on sacred days; include traditional sattvic offerings where appropriate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual time-marker (tithi/kāla)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana śrāddha/dāna chapters prescribing brāhmaṇa-bhojana and dravya-viśeṣa (tila, ghṛta)

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśākha
• Paurṇamāsī
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaiśākha Pūrṇimā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Vaiśākha Pūrṇimā as a high-merit day for vrata (fasting) and dāna—specifically honoring brāhmaṇas with auspicious offerings like honey, sesame, and ghee.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing the soul’s journey directly, it teaches merit-making actions (fasting, dāna, honoring brāhmaṇas) that the Garuda Purana treats as supportive dharmic conduct influencing post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe a simple fast or restraint on Vaiśākha Pūrṇimā and practice charitable giving or respectful service—especially food charity—aligned with one’s capacity and sincerity.