Shloka 1

Bhīma-Dvādaśī (Ekādaśī) Māhātmya and Varāha-Pūjā Vidhi

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच / माघमासे शुक्लपक्षे सूर्यर्क्षेण युता पुरा / एकादशी तथा चैका भीमेन समुपोषिता

Transliteration

brahmovāca / māghamāse śuklapakṣe sūryarkṣeṇa yutā purā / ekādaśī tathā caikā bhīmena samupoṣitā

Translation

ബ്രഹ്മാവ് അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—പൂർവകാലത്ത് മാഘമാസത്തിലെ ശുക്ലപക്ഷത്തിൽ, ഏകാദശി സൂര്യനക്ഷത്രയോഗത്തോടുകൂടിയിരുന്നപ്പോൾ, ഭീമൻ ആ ഏകാദശി കഠിനനിയമത്തോടെ ഉപവസിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• माघमासे: in the month of Māgha
• माघमासे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघमास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: माघस्य मासः)

• शुक्लपक्षे: in the bright fortnight
• शुक्लपक्षे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्लपक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (शुक्लः पक्षः)

• सूर्यर्क्षेण: with the Sun’s asterism (Sūrya-nakṣatra)
• सूर्यर्क्षेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सूर्यस्य ऋक्षम्)

• युता: associated; joined
• युता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (भूतकृदन्त/Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘युक्ता’ = endowed/associated

• पुरा: formerly; once
• पुरा: Kala (Time adjunct/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• एकादशी: Ekādaśī (11th lunar day/fast)
• एकादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (thus/also)

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

• एका: one; a certain
• एका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (एकादशी-विशेषण)

• भीमेन: by Bhīma
• भीमेन: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (कर्ता/करण), एकवचन

• समुपोषिता: was duly fasted/observed
• समुपोषिता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + वस्/उष् (धातु: उपवस्—उपवासे)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (भूतकृदन्त/Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गौ—सम्, उप; ‘समुपोषिता’ = well-observed as a fast

Speaker

Brahmā

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vrata gains potency when performed with discipline and correct sacred timing; exemplified by Bhīma’s rigorous observance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: regulated action (vrata) offered in devotion purifies the mind and supports higher realization.

Application: Observe Ekādaśī with sincerity: align practice with a clear schedule, restraint, and remembrance; treat sacred time as a support for inner discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temporal-sacred context (tithi/nakṣatra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Ekādaśī/vrata-mahātmyas and merit statements in adjacent chapters

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhīma
• Ekādaśī
• Māgha
• Sūrya (Sun)

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekādaśī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces Ekādaśī as a formally observed vrata, highlighted through an exemplary devotee (Bhīma), indicating its high ritual and dharmic significance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames disciplined vrata-observance as a dharmic practice that supports spiritual merit, which in Garuda Purana discourse is connected to auspicious post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Ekādaśī with sincerity—fasting and restraint according to capacity—treating it as a structured practice of self-control and devotional discipline.