Shloka 2

Vrata-Niyama: Fasting Purity, Brahmakūrcha, Naktāhāra, and Kāla-Nirṇaya

Ritual Timing

Devanagari script

नियमास्तु विशेषाः स्युः व्रतस्यास्य दमादयः / नित्यं त्रिषवणं स्नायादधः शयी जितेन्द्रियः

Transliteration

niyamāstu viśeṣāḥ syuḥ vratasyāsya damādayaḥ / nityaṃ triṣavaṇaṃ snāyādadhaḥ śayī jitendriyaḥ

Translation

ఈ వ్రతానికి ప్రత్యేక నియమాలు దమనాది సంయమాలు. ప్రతిరోజు మూడు సంధ్యా సమయాల్లో స్నానం చేయాలి, నేలపై శయనించాలి, ఇంద్రియజయుడై ఉండాలి।

Word by Word

• नियमाः: rules
• नियमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात

• विशेषाः: special particulars
• विशेषाः: Karta (Predicate complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• स्युः: should be
• स्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• व्रतस्य: of the vow
• व्रतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश (this)

• दम-आदयः: self-control and the rest
• दम-आदयः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (‘दमः आदिः येषाम्’/‘दमादयः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative: always)

• त्रि-षवणम्: three times a day (at the three savanas)
• त्रि-षवणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + षवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु समास (त्रीणि षवणानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (object of ‘स्नायात्’)

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अधः: below/on the ground
• अधः: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक अव्यय (adverb: below/on the ground)

• शयी: sleeping/lying (on the ground)
• शयी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु) + इन् (प्रत्यय) / शयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (agent noun: one who lies/sleeps), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तुः)

• जित-इन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जित-इन्द्रियः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि समास (‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि येन’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तुः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vrata requires specific niyamas: dama (restraint), tri-sandhyā snāna, austerity in comfort, and indriya-jaya.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and śauca cultivate sattva and mental steadiness, prerequisites for deeper bhakti/jñāna.

Application: Adopt a realistic discipline set: regular cleansing/ritual pauses at day-junctions, reduce comforts, and practice sensory moderation (food, speech, media).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-lifestyle regimen (home/ashram)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vrata-vidhi commonly includes snāna, śauca, brahmacarya/indriya-saṁyama, and austerities like bhūmi-śayana

FAQs

What is the importance of niyamas (disciplines) in Garuda Purana vows?

This verse states that a vow is fulfilled through specific disciplines—especially self-restraint—showing that inner control and regulated conduct are integral to vrata, not just external ritual.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader ethic that purity, restraint, and disciplined living shape one’s karmic outcome—preparing a person for a favorable post-death journey and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt steady self-control, keep a regular daily purification routine (e.g., sandhyā-time discipline), reduce comfort-seeking, and practice moderation to strengthen ethical and spiritual life.