Shloka 18

Budhāṣṭamī / Mahārudra Vrata: Procedure, Mantra, and the Story of Kauśika and Vijayā

Devanagari script

स्वर्गं गतौ च पितरौ व्रतं राज्याय कौ शिकः / चक्रे ऽयोध्यामहाराज्यं दत्त्वा च भगिनीं यमे

Transliteration

svargaṃ gatau ca pitarau vrataṃ rājyāya kau śikaḥ / cakre 'yodhyāmahārājyaṃ dattvā ca bhaginīṃ yame

Translation

പിതാമാതാക്കൾ സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തിലേക്ക് ഗമിച്ച ശേഷം കൗശികൻ രാജ്യം ലഭിക്കുവാൻ വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചു. അവൻ അയോധ്യയുടെ മഹാരാജ്യം ദാനം ചെയ്തു; സഹോദരിയെയും യമനു വിവാഹാർത്ഥം സമർപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (गति-कर्म), एकवचन

• गतौ: having gone
• गतौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘पितरौ’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• पितरौ: the two parents (father and mother)
• पितरौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राज्याय: for kingship
• राज्याय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन

• कौशिकः: Kauśika
• कौशिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गोत्र/नाम

• चक्रे: performed/did
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• अयोध्यामहाराज्यम्: the great kingdom of Ayodhyā
• अयोध्यामहाराज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या + महा + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अयोध्यायाः महद् राज्यं)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• भगिनीम्: sister
• भगिनीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यमे: in/with Yama
• यमे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vrata and dāna as instruments for attaining legitimate sovereignty and ordering social bonds; acceptance of life transitions after ancestors’ svarga-gati.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: acting through vow and duty without clinging, acknowledging impermanence of worldly power.

Application: Channel grief into disciplined practice; treat authority as stewardship; make major transfers (property/roles) through dharmic procedure and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city/kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections praising dāna and vrata as sources of rājya, śrī, and auspicious gati; Garuda Purana: narratives where Yama functions as dharma-regulator in social and afterlife contexts

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Pitris
• Kauśika
• Ayodhyā

FAQs

What is the importance of taking a vrata (vow) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents vrata as a disciplined religious observance undertaken to achieve a legitimate aim (here, sovereignty), implying that goals should be pursued through dharmic restraint rather than mere force.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes about death and the afterlife?

By stating that the parents ‘went to heaven,’ it frames death within a karmic destination, and shows how the living respond through dharmic action—vows, rightful governance, and maintaining social order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

After a loss in the family, channel grief into disciplined, ethical commitments—fulfilling responsibilities, practicing self-restraint, and making decisions that uphold dharma.