Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

एकतः पृथिवीदानमेकतो हरिवासरः / ततो ऽप्येका महापुण्या इयमेकादशी वरा

Transliteration

ekataḥ pṛthivīdānamekato harivāsaraḥ / tato 'pyekā mahāpuṇyā iyamekādaśī varā

Translation

ഒരു വശത്ത് സമസ്ത ഭൂമിദാനം, മറ്റെ വശത്ത് ഹരിയുടെ പവിത്രദിനം; എങ്കിലും അവയെക്കാളും മഹാപുണ്യദായിനിയായ ഈ ഏക ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ഏകാദശി പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്।

Word by Word

• एकतः: on one side
• एकतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक/पक्षवाचक (on one side)

• पृथिवीदानम्: gift of the earth (land-gift)
• पृथिवीदानम्: Karta (Item in comparison/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी-दान (प्रातिपदिक; पृथिवी + दान)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (gift of the earth)

• एकतः: on the other side
• एकतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पक्षवाचक (on the other side)

• हरिवासरः: Hari’s day (Ekādaśī)
• हरिवासरः: Karta (Item in comparison/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि-वासर (प्रातिपदिक; हरि + वासर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (Hari’s day)

• ततः: than that/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha/Comparison (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात् (thereafter/than that)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अपि (even)

• एका: one (single)
• एका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (one)

• महापुण्या: greatly meritorious
• महापुण्या: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक; महा + पुण्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (very meritorious)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular (this)

• एकादशी: Ekādaśī
• एकादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• वरा: excellent/best
• वरा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (excellent/best)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional sacred time (Hari-vāsara/Ekādaśī) is valued above even the greatest material charity; inner alignment with Hari through vrata yields supreme puṇya.

Vedantic Theme: Renunciation of possessiveness (aparigraha) and offering of self through discipline; bhakti as a purifier that can outrank external magnitude of gifts.

Application: Prioritize consistent devotional discipline over occasional grand gestures; combine moderate charity with regular vrata and remembrance of Viṣṇu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Ekādaśī vrata-mahātmyas; comparative rankings of puṇya-producing acts

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Ekadashi

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekādaśī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse ranks Ekādaśī as a uniquely supreme source of puṇya, even exceeding extraordinary acts like donating the whole earth, emphasizing vrata as a high spiritual discipline tied to Hari (Vishnu).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By elevating Ekādaśī as “mahāpuṇyā,” it implies that disciplined devotion and restraint generate powerful merit that supports the soul’s upliftment and favorable spiritual outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Ekādaśī with sincerity—fasting or mindful restraint, prayer to Vishnu, and ethical conduct—treating it as a focused day for purification and devotion rather than only a ritual formality.