Shloka 3

Devanagari script

सदा हरेर्व्रतं श्रेष्ठं ततः स्याद्दक्षिणायने / चातुर्मास्ये ततस्तस्मात्कार्तिके भीष्मपञ्चकम्

Transliteration

sadā harervrataṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tataḥ syāddakṣiṇāyane / cāturmāsye tatastasmātkārtike bhīṣmapañcakam

Translation

Vrata yang dipersembahkan kepada Hari sentiasa yang paling utama. Seterusnya ialah amalan pada masa Dakṣiṇāyana (perjalanan matahari ke selatan); kemudian amalan Cāturmāsya. Dan mengatasi semuanya ialah Bhīṣma-pañcaka yang diamalkan dalam bulan Kārtika.

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (always)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठम्: best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदर्थक/अनन्तर (thereafter/from that)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दक्षिणायने: in the southern solstice (Dakṣiṇāyana)
• दक्षिणायने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• चातुर्मास्ये: in the Cāturmāsya period
• चातुर्मास्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्मास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर (then)

• तस्मात्: from that, thereafter
• तस्मात्: Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक तद्)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग; तद्-प्रातिपदिकस्य पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपम् अव्ययवत् (therefrom/thereafter)

• कार्तिके: in Kārtika
• कार्तिके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• भीष्मपञ्चकम्: the Bhīṣma five-day observance
• भीष्मपञ्चकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—भीष्मस्य पञ्चकम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Among vows, those dedicated to Hari are supreme; observances gain potency when aligned with sacred calendrical windows, with Bhīṣma-pañcaka in Kārtika as highest.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla as a manifestation of the Lord’s order; aligning practice with dharmic time enhances sattva and devotion.

Application: Prioritize a Vishnu-centered vow; if unable year-round, focus on high-impact windows (Cāturmāsya/Kārtika; Bhīṣma-pañcaka) with increased japa, pūjā, and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: sacred time-cycle (kāla-kṣetra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Kartika-vrata and Bhishma-panchaka praise in vrata sections; Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on Hari-bhakti as best among practices

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Dakṣiṇāyana
• Cāturmāsya
• Kārtika
• Bhīṣma-pañcaka

FAQs

What is the importance of Hari-vrata in the Garuda Purana?

This verse ranks a vow dedicated to Hari (Vishnu) as the सर्वोत्तम (supreme) among religious observances, indicating it as a primary means for spiritual merit and dharmic living.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing the after-death journey directly, it prioritizes Vishnu-centered vows (especially in Kārtika) as spiritually elevating practices that build puṇya and support liberation-oriented living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a consistent Vishnu-focused vrata (regular worship, restraint, charity), and if possible observe Cāturmāsya disciplines and Kārtika devotional practices—especially the Bhīṣma-pañcaka as a concentrated five-day vow.