Shloka 19

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

Ritual Timing

Devanagari script

क्रोधात्प्रमादाल्लोभाद्वा व्रतभङ्गो भवेद्यदि / दिनत्रयं न भुञ्जीत शिरसो मुण्डनं भवेत्

Transliteration

krodhātpramādāllobhādvā vratabhaṅgo bhavedyadi / dinatrayaṃ na bhuñjīta śiraso muṇḍanaṃ bhavet

Translation

ക്രോധം, പ്രമാദം അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ലോഭം മൂലം വ്രതഭംഗം സംഭവിച്ചാൽ, മൂന്ന് ദിവസം ആഹാരം ഒഴിവാക്കണം; ശിരോമുണ്ഡനം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन

• प्रमादात्: from negligence
• प्रमादात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• लोभात्: from greed
• लोभात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• व्रतभङ्गः: breaking of the vow
• व्रतभङ्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत-भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; व्रत + भङ्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्रतस्य भङ्गः)

• भवेत्: would occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Condition marker (शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• दिनत्रयम्: for three days
• दिनत्रयम्: Kala-adhikarana (Time extent/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन-त्रय (प्रातिपदिक; दिन + त्रय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कालपरिमाण/अवधि), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः दिनाः)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शिरसः: of the head
• शिरसः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• मुण्डनम्: shaving (tonsure)
• मुण्डनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्डन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be (done)
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Intentional or negligent breach of vrata generates demerit and disorder; prescribed expiation (three-day fast and shaving) purifies and resets the vow-holder.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as moral causality; tapas as a purifying counter-force; regulation of mind (krodha, pramāda, lobha) as prerequisite for sattva.

Application: If one violates a serious self-imposed discipline due to reactive emotions or greed, adopt a concrete corrective practice: short-term fasting/abstinence, humility markers, and recommitment with mindfulness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prāyaścitta rules connected to vrata-bhaṅga and restoration of merit; Garuda Purana: lists of faults (krodha, lobha, pramāda) as causes of adharma

FAQs

What is the importance of prāyaścitta for vrata-bhaṅga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames vow-breaking as a dharmic lapse that should be corrected through a defined atonement—three days of fasting and tonsure—so discipline and ritual purity are restored.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing self-control and corrective penance, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that ethical and ritual conduct shapes karmic outcomes and one’s post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat commitments and spiritual disciplines seriously; if you fail due to anger, carelessness, or greed, adopt a sincere corrective practice (fasting or restraint and a visible act of humility) and recommit to the vow with greater mindfulness.