Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

भक्तं सद्भक्तिश्रद्धाभ्यां मुक्तिकामी हि मानवः / आम्र पत्रपुटे कृत्वा यो भुड्क्ते कुशवोष्टिते

Transliteration

bhaktaṃ sadbhaktiśraddhābhyāṃ muktikāmī hi mānavaḥ / āmra patrapuṭe kṛtvā yo bhuḍkte kuśavoṣṭite

Translation

സത്യഭക്തിയും ശ്രദ്ധയും ഉള്ള, മോക്ഷം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന മനുഷ്യൻ ഭക്തനായി ആഹാരം കഴിക്കണം—മാവിലയുടെ പൊതിയിൽ വെച്ച്, കുശപ്പുല്ലിന്മേൽ ഇരുന്ന് അത് ഭുജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• bhaktam: food; offering
• bhaktam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; भक्षणस्य कर्म

• sat-bhakti-śraddhābhyām: with true devotion and faith
• sat-bhakti-śraddhābhyām: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन; ‘सद्भक्तिः’ च ‘श्रद्धा’ च—ताभ्याम्; सहकारक/करणम्

• mukti-kāmī: desiring liberation
• mukti-kāmī: Visheshana (Adjective modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘मुक्तिं कामयते’ इति; (mānavaḥ) विशेषणम्

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

• mānavaḥ: a human being
• mānavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• āmra: mango
• āmra: Visheshana (Adjective modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āmra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे पूर्वपद-विशेषणम्; ‘आम्र-पत्र’ इत्यत्र विशेषणम्

• patra-puṭe: in a leaf-packet
• patra-puṭe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक) + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘पत्रस्य पुटे’ = leaf-packet; अधिकरणम्

• kṛtvā: having made/placed
• kṛtvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kṛtvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/त्वा), अव्ययभावः; ‘having made/placed’

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचकः (relative pronoun)

• bhuṅkte: eats; partakes
• bhuṅkte: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• kuśa-voṣṭite: in a place covered/lined with kuśa grass
• kuśa-voṣṭite: Adhikarana (Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + voṣṭita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘कुशैः वोष्ठिते/आवृत-स्थाने’ इति—अधिकरण-विशेषणम् (patrapuṭe)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Liberation-seeking is supported by sāttvika conduct: devotion, faith, simplicity, and ritual purity in daily acts like eating.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya and śuddhi as preparatory disciplines (sādhana-catuṣṭaya adjuncts); karma purified by bhakti becomes a means toward inner clarity.

Application: Adopt mindful, simple eating during vows/fasts; reduce sensory indulgence; sit in a clean, dedicated place and treat food as an offering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual seat/altar area

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent linkage of śraddhā-bhakti with mokṣa-aimed observances; Garuda Purana: purity implements (kuśa, leaf-vessels) in ritual conduct

FAQs

What is the importance of eating on kuśa grass and leaf wrappers in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents it as a disciplined, purity-oriented practice aligned with bhakti and śraddhā for one seeking mokṣa.

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

It emphasizes inner intent—devotion and faith—supported by sattvic discipline, implying that liberation-oriented living includes mindful, dharmic conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sincere devotion and faith, and practice mindful, simple, and pure habits around food and daily conduct as part of a liberation-oriented life.