Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

स्त्रियो ऽब्रुवन्व्रतं कर्तुं दास्यामश्च कुरु व्रतम् / पत्न्यर्थं धनपाना (लार्) थं पूजयामासतुर्बुधम्

Transliteration

striyo 'bruvanvrataṃ kartuṃ dāsyāmaśca kuru vratam / patnyarthaṃ dhanapānā (lār) thaṃ pūjayāmāsaturbudham

Translation

Para wanita berkata, “Kami akan melaksanakan suatu vrata (nazar suci).” Para dayang juga berkata, “Laksanakanlah nazar itu.” Demi memperoleh isteri, dan demi kekayaan serta kemakmuran, mereka pun memuja Budha (Merkuri), yang bijaksana.

Word by Word

• स्त्रियः: the women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अब्रुवन्: said
• अब्रुवन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

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

• कर्तुम्: to perform
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजन/इच्छार्थ (to do)

• दास्यामः: we will give
• दास्यामः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

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

• कुरु: do (perform)
• कुरु: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• पत्न्यर्थम्: for a wife (as purpose)
• पत्न्यर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for (obtaining) a wife)

• धनपानार्थम्: for ‘dhanapāna’ (wealth-drink/wealth)
• धनपानार्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (for drinking wealth/for wealth-drink—i.e., for धनपान)

• पूजयामासतुः: the two worshipped
• पूजयामासतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (periphrastic perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• बुधम्: Budha (Mercury)/the wise one
• बुधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrative voice within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue (contextual narration attributed to Lord Vishnu’s discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vratānuṣṭhāna (vow-based ritual action) as a means to obtain desired results—wife, wealth, prosperity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa phala-bhoga: results are conditioned and finite; intention (saṅkalpa) shapes action.

Application: If undertaking vows/rituals, clarify intention, follow discipline, and remember results are contingent; pair ritual with ethical effort.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: devālaya/altar clearing

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.132.15-16 (consumption of offered food; later events)

Characters & Entities

• Budha (Mercury)

FAQs

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

This verse portrays vrata as a disciplined religious observance used to pursue specific life-goals—here, marriage and prosperity—through focused worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the after-death journey; instead, it emphasizes dharmic actions (vrata and worship) in embodied life, which the Garuda Purana often presents as shaping one’s future outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake a sincere, ethical observance (vrata) with prayer and self-discipline—especially cultivating Budha-related virtues like clarity, learning, truthful speech, and wise conduct—rather than treating worship as mere wish-fulfillment.