Shloka 12

Vrata-Niyama: Fasting Purity, Brahmakūrcha, Naktāhāra, and Kāla-Nirṇaya

Ritual Timing

Devanagari script

गायत्त्र्या चैव गन्धेति आप्यायस्व दृ दधिग्रहः / तेजो ऽसीति च देवस्य ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रतं चरेत्

Transliteration

gāyattryā caiva gandheti āpyāyasva dṛ dadhigrahaḥ / tejo 'sīti ca devasya brahmakūrcavrataṃ caret

Translation

ഗായത്രി ജപിച്ച് ‘ഗന്ധേതി’ മന്ത്രം ഉച്ചരിക്കണം; തൈര് സ്വീകരിക്കുമ്പോൾ ‘ആപ്യായസ്വ’ എന്നു പറയണം; ദേവപൂജയിൽ ‘തേജോऽസി’ മന്ത്രവും ചൊല്ലണം—ഇങ്ങനെ ബ്രഹ്മകൂർച വ്രതം ആചരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• गायत्त्र्या: with/through the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्त्र्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (emphasis)

• गन्धा: (the word) 'gandha' / fragrance
• गन्धा: Sambandha (Quoted word/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); मन्त्रपाठे पदरूप (mantric citation)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आप्यायस्व: be nourished / thrive
• आप्यायस्व: Kriya (Injunction/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप्यै (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• दृक्: sight/vision
• दृक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्विप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'दृक्' = दृष्टिः (sight)

• दधिग्रहः: taking/accepting curd
• दधिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक: दधि + ग्रह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तेजः: (the word) 'tejas' / radiance
• तेजः: Sambandha (Quoted word/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); मन्त्रपाठे पदरूप (mantric citation)

• असि: you are
• असि: Kriya (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रतम्: the Brahma-kūrca vow
• ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मकूर्चव्रत (प्रातिपदिक: ब्रह्म + कूर्च + व्रत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• चरेत्: should perform/practice
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification is effected through mantra (Gāyatrī and specified mantras) integrated with regulated ritual action; Brahmakūrcha-vrata is to be performed with correct recitations and observances.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as śuddhi: sacred sound disciplines mind and aligns action with vidhi; supports antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as preparation for higher knowledge/bhakti.

Application: When undertaking Brahmakūrcha: recite Gāyatrī; recite the mantra beginning ‘gandheti’; utter ‘āpyāyasva’ while taking curd; utter ‘tejo ’si’ in worship—perform under guidance of a competent teacher/priest due to mantra-vidhi specificity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.128 (Brahmakūrcha and related prāyaścitta/vow procedures in the same sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Deva (the worshipped deity)

FAQs

What is the importance of Brahmakūrcha Vrata in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Brahmakūrcha as a mantra-governed expiatory observance: purity is maintained through specific Vedic recitations and regulated intake (e.g., taking curd with mantra), aligning conduct with dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by prescribing vrata and mantra-based purification, it emphasizes that ethical-ritual discipline reduces demerit (pāpa) and supports a cleaner post-death trajectory described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake any vow or purification practice with clarity, restraint, and correct intention—pairing disciplined consumption and prayer/mantra with devotion rather than treating rituals as mere formality.