Shloka 1

Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī Vrata: Mārgaśīrṣa Fast, Viṣṇu-Pūjā, and Four-Month Dāna

Devanagari script

नाम सप्तदशोत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः ब्रह्मोवाच / व्रतं कैवल्यशमनमखण्डद्वादशीं वदे / मागशीर्षे सिते पक्षे गव्याशी समुपोषितः

Transliteration

nāma saptadaśottaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ brahmovāca / vrataṃ kaivalyaśamanamakhaṇḍadvādaśīṃ vade / māgaśīrṣe site pakṣe gavyāśī samupoṣitaḥ

Translation

బ్రహ్ముడు పలికెను—కైవల్యానికి విరోధమైన బంధనాన్ని శమింపజేసే ‘అఖండ ద్వాదశీ’ వ్రతాన్ని నేను వివరిస్తాను। మార్గశీర్ష శుక్లపక్షంలో గవ్యాహారమే తీసుకొని ఉపవాసంతో ఈ వ్రతాన్ని ఆచరించాలి।

Word by Word

• nāma: (called)
• nāma: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः (particle/marker: ‘named/called’)

• saptadaśa-uttara-śata-tamaḥ: one hundred and seventeenth
• saptadaśa-uttara-śata-tamaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptadaśa (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (तमत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शतस्योत्तरः = above hundred; ordinal ‘117th’)

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vratam: vow/observance
• vratam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• kaivalya-śamanam: bringing liberation/cessation
• kaivalya-śamanam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaivalya (प्रातिपदिक) + śamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कैवल्यस्य शमनम्/साधनम् = leading to liberation/cessation)

• akhaṇḍa-dvādaśīm: the ‘Unbroken Dvādaśī’ (name of vow)
• akhaṇḍa-dvādaśīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (अखण्डा या द्वादशी)

• vade: I describe/speak
• vade: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• māgaśīrṣe: in (the month of) Māgaśīrṣa
• māgaśīrṣe: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māgaśīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (मास-नाम)

• site: bright (white)
• site: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; ‘bright’ (qualifying pakṣa)

• pakṣe: fortnight
• pakṣe: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• gavyāśī: one who eats only cow-products
• gavyāśī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gavya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गव्यं अश्नाति = one who eats only cow-products)

• samupoṣitaḥ: having fasted
• samupoṣitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-upa-√vas (वस्/उपवस् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘having fasted/observed upavāsa’

Speaker

Brahma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī vrata as ‘kaivalya-śamana’—removing impediments to liberation—through regulated fasting and purity (cow-produce diet).

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana for antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and vairāgya; disciplined observance as support for mokṣa-oriented life.

Application: Adopt periodic disciplined fasting with sattvic diet and clear intention (saṅkalpa) aimed at reducing attachment and strengthening devotion/clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual calendar (tithi/masa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.118.2 (Vishnu worship and four-month charity as continuation); Garuda Purana 1.117.15 (vrata/udyapana framing and fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī
• Mārgaśīrṣa
• Śukla Pakṣa

FAQs

What is the importance of Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces Akhaṇḍa-Dvādaśī as a liberation-oriented vow (kaivalya-śamana), presenting it as a disciplined observance that helps remove spiritual impediments.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward moksha?

By framing a specific vrata as “kaivalya-śamana,” the text links ethical-ritual discipline (fasting, restraint, purity) with the reduction of bondage that obstructs liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe a disciplined Dvādaśī fast (as health permits), keep the day focused on purity and devotion, and treat restraint in food and conduct as a tool for inner clarity.