Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

दन्तकाष्ठं मल्लिकाया क्षीरदो ह्युत्तमां यजेत् / पद्मैर्यजेद्भाद्रपदे शृङ्गदाशो गृडादिदः

Transliteration

dantakāṣṭhaṃ mallikāyā kṣīrado hyuttamāṃ yajet / padmairyajedbhādrapade śṛṅgadāśo gṛḍādidaḥ

Translation

പല്ലുതേക്കാൻ മല്ലിക (മുല്ല) ദന്തകാഷ്ഠം അർപ്പിക്കണം; ഉത്തമ ദാനം ക്ഷീരദാനമാണ്. ഭാദ്രപദത്തിൽ താമരകളാൽ പൂജിച്ചാൽ ഭക്തൻ ശൃംഗമുള്ള ഗോപശുക്കളുടെ ദാതാവായി, ദാതാക്കളിൽ അഗ്രനാകും।

Word by Word

• दन्तकाष्ठम्: tooth-stick
• दन्तकाष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्तकाष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; दन्त + काष्ठ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

• मल्लिकायाः: of jasmine (mallikā)
• मल्लिकायाः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्लिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• क्षीरदः: giver of milk
• क्षीरदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीरद (प्रातिपदिक; क्षीर + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (giver)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• उत्तमाम्: the best (one)
• उत्तमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (श्रेष्ठाम्)

• यजेत्: should worship/offer
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पद्मैः: with lotuses
• पद्मैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• भाद्रपदे: in Bhādrapada (month)
• भाद्रपदे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाद्रपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण

• शृङ्गदाशः: giver of horns (horned offering)
• शृङ्गदाशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्गदाश (प्रातिपदिक; शृङ्ग + दाश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• गुडादिदः: giver of jaggery etc.
• गुडादिदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुडादिद (प्रातिपदिक; गुड + आदि + द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra, instructional tone typical of Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and upacāra joined to dāna: worship with prescribed items yields puṇya expressed as capacity for generous giving.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: merit-bearing action offered in devotion refines the doer and expands sattvic generosity.

Application: Maintain ritual cleanliness (mallikā dantakāṣṭha); offer milk as a superior offering/dāna; in Bhādrapada worship with lotuses; cultivate charitable giving (symbolized by cattle-dāna).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.120.7-11 (monthly regimen and merit-fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of month-wise offerings (like Bhādrapada lotus worship) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific seasonal/monthly offerings (lotus worship in Bhādrapada) with defined spiritual merit (puṇya) and reputational fruit as an exemplary donor, showing how timed observances are framed as structured paths to merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife themes?

Indirectly: it emphasizes puṇya-building through worship and charity. In the Garuda Purana’s broader framework, such merits support auspicious post-death outcomes, even when the verse itself focuses on ritual results rather than detailed afterlife geography.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain disciplined devotional practice with meaningful offerings, and pair worship with tangible charity—especially support that sustains life (food/milk/care for cows or equivalent modern giving)—as a lived expression of dharma.