Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

एकादशीमुपोष्यैवद्वादशीम थवा द्विज ! / त्रिमिश्रां चैव कुर्वीत न दशम्या युतां क्रचित्

Transliteration

ekādaśīmupoṣyaivadvādaśīma thavā dvija ! / trimiśrāṃ caiva kurvīta na daśamyā yutāṃ kracit

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജാ! ഏകാദശിയിൽ ഉപവാസം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച് (ആവശ്യമെങ്കിൽ) ദ്വാദശിയിലും ഉപവാസം ചെയ്യാം; കൂടാതെ വിധിപ്രകാരം ത്രിമിശ്രാ ആചരിക്കണം—എന്നാൽ ദശമിയോടു ചേർന്നാൽ ഒരിക്കലും ചെയ്യരുത്.

Word by Word

• एकादशीम्: Ekādaśī
• एकादशीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपवस् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त/अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund) — ‘having fasted’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चय/अवधारण) — ‘indeed/only’

• द्वादशीम्: Dvādaśī
• द्वादशीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विकल्पार्थ) — ‘or’

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• त्रि-मिश्राम्: the threefold-mixed (tithi)
• त्रि-मिश्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘त्रयाणां (तिथीनां) मिश्रिता (तिथि)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय) — ‘and’

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण) — ‘only/indeed’

• कुर्वीत: should do/perform
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपदम्

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध) — ‘not’

• दशम्या: with the Daśamī (tithi)
• दशम्या: Sahacarya (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• युताम्: joined/combined
• युताम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय) ‘युक्त’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘त्रिमिश्राम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• क्वचित्: ever/at any time
• क्वचित्: Desha-Kala (Indefinite place/time/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देश/काल-अनिश्चित) — ‘ever/anywhere/at any time’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, transmitted as dharma guidance)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After fasting on Ekādaśī, one may also fast on Dvādaśī; perform Trimiśrā as prescribed; never do it when joined with Daśamī—precision safeguards spiritual fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Niyama as support for sattva; disciplined action without confusion leads toward inner steadiness conducive to bhakti and eventual mokṣa.

Application: Keep Ekādaśī upavāsa; optionally extend to Dvādaśī when required by nirṇaya; observe Trimiśrā only when free from Daśamī contamination.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual observance context (household/temple)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.125.2 (Daśamī-Ekādaśī mixed fast to be avoided); Garuda Purana 1.125.4-5 (Dvādaśī acceptance; Trimiśrā praised)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija
• Ekadashi
• Dvadashi
• Dashami

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekādaśī observance in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Ekādaśī as a disciplined vrata that must be observed with correct tithi purity; the merit of fasting is tied to proper timing, not merely the act of abstaining from food.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes dharma through precise vrata observance—ritual correctness is presented as part of ethical-religious discipline that supports spiritual progress and auspicious post-death outcomes discussed elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When observing Ekādaśī, consult a reliable pañcāṅga: avoid Ekādaśī that is ‘Daśamī-yutā’ (Daśamī conjunction/vedha), and shift observance appropriately to Dvādaśī when prescribed.