Shloka 3

Bhīma-Dvādaśī (Ekādaśī) Māhātmya and Varāha-Pūjā Vidhi

Devanagari script

नक्षत्रेण विनाप्येषा ब्रह्महत्यादि नाशयेत् / विनिहन्ति महापापं कुनृपो विषयं यथा

Transliteration

nakṣatreṇa vināpyeṣā brahmahatyādi nāśayet / vinihanti mahāpāpaṃ kunṛpo viṣayaṃ yathā

Translation

ନକ୍ଷତ୍ର ବିଚାର ବିନା ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହି ବିଧି ବ୍ରହ୍ମହତ୍ୟାଦି ପାପକୁ ନାଶ କରେ। ଯେପରି ଦୁଷ୍ଟ ରାଜା ରାଜ୍ୟକୁ ଧ୍ୱଂସ କରେ, ସେପରି ଏହା ମହାପାପକୁ ସଂହାର କରେ।

Word by Word

• नक्षत्रेण: by/with a nakṣatra (asterism)
• नक्षत्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय/निपात; वियोगार्थक (without)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); अपि = even/also

• एषा: this (she/this thing)
• एषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्महत्या-आदि: brahmahatyā and the like (sins)
• ब्रह्महत्या-आदि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आदि-समास/‘brahmahatyā etc.’)

• नाशयेत्: would destroy/remove
• नाशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नाशय् (धातु) < नश् (धातु) causative
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• विनिहन्ति: they strike down/destroy
• विनिहन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महापापम्: great sin
• महापापम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘great sin’)

• कुनृपः: a wicked king
• कुनृपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु-नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘bad king’)

• विषयम्: a realm/territory
• विषयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamana marker (उपमान-निर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक (as/just as)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāyaścitta/rite can destroy even mahāpātakas; do not overdepend on auxiliary conditions like nakṣatra when the dharmic act is properly done.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya through dharmic action; primacy of intention and prescribed act over incidental factors.

Application: Perform prescribed expiations and purificatory observances with sincerity; avoid procrastination due to astrological constraints when scripture permits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Ācāra sections): discussions on prāyaścitta, śrāddha timing, and efficacy of rites irrespective of minor defects

FAQs

What is the importance of nakṣatra (lunar mansion) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse indicates that for this specific observance, nakṣatra-based timing is not mandatory; the rite remains effective even without nakṣatra consideration.

How does this verse explain the destruction of major sins like brahma-hatyā?

It asserts that the prescribed observance has the power to eradicate even mahāpāpa—sins as grave as brahma-hatyā—using a strong analogy of total devastation (a wicked king ruining a realm).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize sincere, scripture-aligned repentance and corrective practice over excessive anxiety about astrological timing, while still respecting dharmic procedure where applicable.