Shloka 5

Rambhā-Tṛtīyā Vrata: annual cycle of Devī worship, offerings, and dāna

Devanagari script

विशालाक्षीं दमनकैश्चैत्रे च कृसरप्रदः / दधिप्राशो दन्तकाष्ठं तगरं श्रीमुखीं यजेत्

Transliteration

viśālākṣīṃ damanakaiścaitre ca kṛsarapradaḥ / dadhiprāśo dantakāṣṭhaṃ tagaraṃ śrīmukhīṃ yajet

Translation

ചൈത്രമാസത്തിൽ ദമനക കൊമ്പുകളോടൊപ്പം കൃസര നൈവേദ്യം/ദാനം ചെയ്യണം. ദധി-പ്രാശം നടത്തി, ദന്തകാഷ്ഠവും തഗരവും അർപ്പിച്ച്, വിശാലാക്ഷിയെയും ശ്രീമുഖിയെയും പൂജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• विशालाक्षीम्: Viśālākṣī (wide-eyed goddess)
• विशालाक्षीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल + अक्षी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (विशाले अक्षिणी यस्याः)

• दमनकैः: with damanaka (a fragrant plant)
• दमनकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• चैत्रे: in Caitra (month)
• चैत्रे: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (काल-अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (Samuccaya/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• कृसरप्रदः: giver of kṛsara
• कृसरप्रदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृसर + प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (कृसरं प्रददाति)

• दधिप्राशः: one who eats curd
• दधिप्राशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दधि + प्र + अश् (धातु/कृदन्त-आधार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (दधि प्राश्नाति)

• दन्तकाष्ठम्: tooth-stick
• दन्तकाष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तगरम्: tagara (fragrant plant)
• तगरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रीमुखीम्: Śrīmukhī (goddess/name)
• श्रीमुखीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + मुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रीवत् मुखं यस्याः)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotion expressed through timely offerings—food (kṛsara), fragrant herbs (damanaka, tagara), and purity items (dantakāṣṭha)—cultivates auspiciousness and steadiness of mind.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-arpita karma ripens into bhakti; sensory offerings (taste, fragrance) are sublimated into remembrance of the Divine.

Application: In Caitra, offer simple sattvic food and seasonal fragrant leaves/flowers; use the act of preparing and offering as a mindfulness practice, then share prasāda.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: temple/śakti-sthāna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.120 (Caitra sequence; Devī-nāma worship)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Viśālākṣī
• Śrīmukhī

FAQs

What is the importance of Caitra-month offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Caitra as a time for specific, codified offerings (kṛsara, damanaka, curds, dantakāṣṭha, fragrances) and deity-worship, indicating that seasonal/ritual timing is integral to merit-bearing observance (vrata/puja) in the text.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse is not describing the soul’s journey or Yama’s realm; instead, it prescribes ritual worship and offerings, which the Garuda Purana often presents as supportive dharmic actions that contribute to auspicious outcomes and spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe a simple, ethical form of the practice: seasonal worship/charity, offering food (like a rice-and-lentil preparation) and maintaining purity/discipline (symbolized by dantakāṣṭha and clean offerings), while dedicating the act to divine remembrance.