Shloka 4

Ekādaśī-Vrata Nirṇaya: Avoiding Daśamī-Viddha and Establishing Trimīśrā

Devanagari script

द्वादशी तु तदा ग्राह्या त्रयोदश्यान्तु पारणम् / एकादशी कलापिस्यादुपोष्या द्वादशी तथा

Transliteration

dvādaśī tu tadā grāhyā trayodaśyāntu pāraṇam / ekādaśī kalāpisyādupoṣyā dvādaśī tathā

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ദ്വാദശിയെയാണ് സ്വീകരിക്കേണ്ടത്; പാരണ (ഉപവാസഭംഗം) ത്രയോദശിയിൽ നടത്തണം. ഏകാദശിയുടെ ചെറിയ അംശം മാത്രമുണ്ടായാലും ഉപവാസം വേണം; അതുപോലെ ദ്വാദശിയും നിയന്ത്രണത്തോടെ ആചരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• द्वादशी: Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• द्वादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/विरोध-समुच्चयार्थ) — ‘but/indeed’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक) — ‘then/at that time’

• ग्राह्या: should be accepted/observed
• ग्राह्या: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त/भाव्य)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय) ‘ग्राह्य’ = ‘to be taken/accepted’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रयोदश्याः: of Trayodaśī (13th lunar day)
• त्रयोदश्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयोदशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — ‘and/but’

• पारणम्: breaking of the fast
• पारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एकादशी: Ekādaśī (11th lunar day)
• एकादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कलापि: even a small portion (kalā)
• कलापि: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषणार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कलापि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय (परिमाण/अल्पत्वार्थे) — ‘even a small part/portion’

• स्यात्: should be/is to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• उपोष्या: should be fasted/observed as a fast
• उपोष्या: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवस् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त/भाव्य)
• Form: भाव्य कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय) ‘उपोष्य’ = ‘to be fasted’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• द्वादशी: Dvādaśī
• द्वादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ) — ‘thus/also’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When tithi overlap creates complexity, accept Dvādaśī for observance and perform pāraṇa on Trayodaśī; even minimal Ekādaśī presence validates fasting; Dvādaśī also requires restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Niyama and śraddhā: disciplined alignment with dharma refines mind (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi), supporting bhakti and jñāna.

Application: If Ekādaśī is compromised, shift acceptance to Dvādaśī per rule; delay pāraṇa to Trayodaśī; treat even short Ekādaśī as sufficient for upavāsa; maintain restraint on Dvādaśī.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual time-window (tithi sequence)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.125.5-6 (Trimiśrā praised; avoid Daśamī conjunction)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekādaśī–Dvādaśī timing (nirṇaya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses correct tithi-based discipline: accept Dvādaśī for the observance in certain overlaps, and perform pāraṇa on Trayodaśī, preserving the integrity of the vrata.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing dharmic observance and restraint (vrata, upavāsa), it supports purification of conduct—one of the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s recurring foundations for spiritual welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When observing Ekādaśī, follow reliable pañcāṅga timing: fast even if only a small portion of Ekādaśī occurs, and break the fast at the correct pāraṇa window—sometimes on Trayodaśī—rather than by convenience.