Shloka 8

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

Ritual Timing

Devanagari script

उपवासः प्रदुष्येत दिवास्वप्ना क्षमैथुनात् / क्षमा सत्यं दया दानं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः

Transliteration

upavāsaḥ praduṣyeta divāsvapnā kṣamaithunāt / kṣamā satyaṃ dayā dānaṃ śaucamindriyanigrahaḥ

Translation

പകൽ ഉറക്കവും കാമഭോഗവും ഉപവാസത്തെ മലിനമാക്കുന്നു. വ്രതത്തിന്റെ സാരം—ക്ഷമ, സത്യം, ദയ, ദാനം, ശൗചം, ഇന്ദ്രിയനിഗ്രഹം.

Word by Word

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रदुष्येत: would be spoiled/corrupted
• प्रदुष्येत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दुष् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• दिवास्वप्नात्: from daytime sleep
• दिवास्वप्नात्: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवास्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक: दिवा + स्वप्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षमैथुनात्: from sexual intercourse (during the fast)
• क्षमैथुनात्: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमैथुन (प्रातिपदिक: क्षमा + मैथुन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षमा: forbearance
• क्षमा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दानम्: charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: restraint of the senses
• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रियनिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक: इन्द्रिय + निग्रह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas is safeguarded by yama-like virtues (kṣamā, satya, dayā, dāna, śauca, indriya-nigraha); external fasting without inner restraint is defective.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) as the basis for effective sādhana; karma becomes sattvika when governed by self-control.

Application: During fasting/vows: avoid daytime sleep and sexual indulgence; cultivate patience, truthfulness, compassion, charity, cleanliness, and sensory restraint as the real ‘support’ of vrata.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.128 (vrata-sāmānya-dharma and prāyaścitta measures in adjacent verses)

FAQs

What is the importance of fasting (upavāsa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames fasting as a disciplined spiritual observance that must be supported by purity and self-restraint, not merely abstaining from food.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it emphasizes dharmic self-control and moral purity—qualities repeatedly presented as shaping karmic outcomes that affect the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you fast, avoid daytime sleeping and sensual excess, and pair the fast with truthfulness, compassion, charity, cleanliness, and mindful control of the senses.