Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

शुक्लाष्टभ्यां पौषमासे महारुद्रेति साधु वै / मत्प्रीतये कृतं देवि शथसाहस्रिकं फलम्

Transliteration

śuklāṣṭabhyāṃ pauṣamāse mahārudreti sādhu vai / matprītaye kṛtaṃ devi śathasāhasrikaṃ phalam

Translation

പൗഷമാസത്തിലെ ശുക്ലപക്ഷ അഷ്ടമിയിൽ ‘മഹാരുദ്ര’ എന്ന വ്രതം നിസ്സംശയം പ്രശംസനീയം. ദേവീ, എന്റെ പ്രീതിക്കായി ചെയ്താൽ അത് ലക്ഷ പുണ്യഫലം നൽകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• śukla-aṣṭabhyām: by/with the two bright-half eighth days
• śukla-aṣṭabhyām: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन; ‘शुक्ला’ (शुक्लपक्षस्य) ‘अष्टमी-द्वय’ इत्यर्थे करण/सहकारक-प्रयोगः

• pauṣa-māse: in the month of Pauṣa
• pauṣa-māse: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘पौषस्य मासे’ इति कालाधिकरणम्

• mahā-rudra-iti: (saying) “Mahārudra”
• mahā-rudra-iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः (quotative particle/उद्धरणसूचक-अव्यय); ‘महārudra’ इति नामोच्चारणम्

• sādhu: well; good
• sādhu: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb); अनुमोदनार्थम्

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle/निपात)

• mat-prītaye: for my satisfaction
• mat-prītaye: Sampradana (Beneficiary/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; ‘मम प्रीत्यर्थम्’ इति सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन-चतुर्थी

• kṛtam: done; performed
• kṛtam: Karma (Predicate participle related to object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कृतम्’ = ‘done/made’ (elliptic with phalam)

• devi: O देवी
• devi: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• śata-sāhasrikam: worth a hundred-thousand (fold)
• śata-sāhasrikam: Visheshana (Adjective modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasrika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यापूर्वक-समासः; ‘शतसहस्रपरिमाणम्’ इति विशेषणम् (phalam)

• phalam: the fruit/result
• phalam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृस्थानीयं/वाक्यस्य विषयः

Speaker

Uncertain (context needed; likely a deity addressing Devī in a didactic passage)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional intentionality (performed for the deity’s satisfaction) magnifies the fruit of observance.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-prīti as purifier; karma becomes spiritually efficacious when offered (īśvarārpaṇa-buddhi).

Application: Observe the Mahārudra vrata on Pauṣa bright Aṣṭamī with clear sankalpa ‘for the Lord’s pleasure,’ emphasizing sincerity over display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Preta/Ācāra sections: recurring doctrine that śraddhā and īśvara-prīti multiply puṇya; Garuda Purana vrata-kathā pattern: time (tithi-māsa) + name of vrata + phala-śruti

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Mahārudra)
• Devī

FAQs

What is the importance of the Mahārudra observance in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Mahārudra as a highly meritorious rite performed on Pauṣa śukla aṣṭamī, praised for producing immense spiritual merit when done with devotion.

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes accumulating puṇya through time-specific vratas, which the Garuda Purana often presents as supportive for one’s post-death welfare and favorable outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe sacred days with sincerity—perform a focused vrata, japa, or worship dedicated to the deity, prioritizing intention (devotion) over display, as merit is linked to devotional purpose.