Shloka 15

Measurements of the Sun’s Chariot, the Wheel of Time, and the Retinues of the Solar Months; Chariots of Soma and the Grahas

Devanagari script

विश्वावसुर्भरद्वाजः पर्जन्यैरावतौ तदा / विश्वाची सेनजिच्चापः (पि) कार्तिके चाधिकारिणः

Transliteration

viśvāvasurbharadvājaḥ parjanyairāvatau tadā / viśvācī senajiccāpaḥ (pi) kārtike cādhikāriṇaḥ

Translation

കാർത്തിക മാസത്തിൽ വിശ്വാവസുവും ഭരദ്വാജനും; കൂടാതെ പർജന്യനും ഐരാവതനും; പിന്നെ വിശ്വാചീ, സേനജിത്, ചാപ—ഇവർ ആ മാസത്തിന്റെ അധികാരികളായ അധിഷ്ഠാതാക്കൾ.

Word by Word

• विश्वावसुः: Viśvāvasu
• विश्वावसुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• भरद्वाजः: Bharadvāja
• भरद्वाजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पर्जन्ये: in Parjanya (month)
• पर्जन्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्जन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य (मास-नाम), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऐरावतौ: in Airāvata (month)
• ऐरावतौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐरावत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य (मास-नाम), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha/Temporal marker (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then/at that time)

• विश्वाची: Viśvācī
• विश्वाची: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वाची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सेनजित्: Senajit
• सेनजित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना (प्रातिपदिक) + जित् (प्रातिपदिक; √जि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सेनायाः जित्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (नित्यबहुवचन)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• कार्तिके: in Kārtika (month)
• कार्तिके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य (मास-नाम), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• अधिकारिणः: those in charge; presiding deities
• अधिकारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred months have appointed guardians; Kārtika especially invites intensified devotion and merit through aligned practice.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti expressed through kāla-sevā (serving the Lord through sanctified time); time as a means to purify mind (citta-śuddhi).

Application: In Kārtika, increase lamp-offering, japa, tīrtha-snāna, and charity, treating the month as a devotional container.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58 (Kārtika adhiṣṭhātṛ listing); Garuda Purana (Kārtika-related dāna/vrata passages, where present in recensions)

Characters & Entities

• Vishvavasu
• Bharadvaja
• Parjanya
• Airavata
• Vishvachi
• Senajit
• Capa
• Kartika (month)

FAQs

What is the importance of Kārtika in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Kārtika as a month governed by specific presiding beings (adhikārins), implying that time (months) is ritually and spiritually structured with designated cosmic authorities.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by naming month-specific authorities, it reflects the Purāṇic view that cosmic order (time, deities, and governance) frames religious observances that support dharma—often linked elsewhere in the text to post-death welfare through merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred time (like Kārtika) as an opportunity for disciplined practice—charity, restraint, japa, and worship—performed with awareness that traditions assign devotional focus and ‘guardianship’ to each month.