Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

अष्टमी बुधवारेण पक्षयोरुभयोर्यदा / भविष्यति तदा तस्यां व्रतमेतत्कथा परा

Transliteration

aṣṭamī budhavāreṇa pakṣayorubhayoryadā / bhaviṣyati tadā tasyāṃ vratametatkathā parā

Translation

శుక్లపక్షమో కృష్ణపక్షమో—ఏ పక్షమైనా అష్టమి బుధవారంతో కలిసివచ్చినప్పుడు, ఆ రోజునే ఈ వ్రతం ఆచరించాలి—ఇదే పరమ కథ.

Word by Word

• aṣṭamī: the eighth lunar day (Aṣṭamī)
• aṣṭamī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तिथिवाचकः

• budha-vāreṇa: on Wednesday
• budha-vāreṇa: Karana (Instrument/Time marker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक) + vāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘बुधस्य वारेण’ इति काल-करणम्

• pakṣayoḥ: of the two fortnights
• pakṣayoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; ‘पक्षद्वयस्य’

• ubhayayoḥ: of both
• ubhayayoḥ: Visheshana (Adjective modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; ‘उभययोः’ = ‘of both’ (pakṣayoḥ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Sambandha (Temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal conjunction/कालवाचक-सम्बन्ध)

• bhaviṣyati: will occur
• bhaviṣyati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Sambandha (Temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (then/तदा)

• tasyām: on that (day)
• tasyām: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘तस्यां (अष्टम्यां)’ इति कालाधिकरणम्

• vratam: the vow/observance
• vratam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• etat: this
• etat: Visheshana (Adjective modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘एतत्’ = ‘this’ (vratam इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• kathā: the account/story
• kathā: Karta (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समुच्चयेन ‘व्रतम्…कथा’ इति विषय-निर्देशः

• parā: supreme; excellent
• parā: Visheshana (Adjective modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘कथा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla (time) and its conjunctions condition the efficacy of ritual action; right timing is part of dharmic performance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed in harmony with ṛta/niyati (ordered time) yields steadier results; discipline aligns the mind.

Application: Track lunar tithis and weekdays; when Aṣṭamī coincides with Wednesday (either fortnight), prioritize the vow with focused observance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana vrata sections: repeated emphasis on tithi-vāra-yoga as determinant of vrata-phala

FAQs

What is the importance of Aṣṭamī falling on Wednesday in the Garuda Purana?

This verse marks that specific calendrical conjunction (Aṣṭamī + Wednesday) as the prescribed time to observe a particular vrata, emphasizing its special ritual potency.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey here; instead, it establishes the correct timing for a vow, implying that dharmic observances are supported by precise ritual calendars.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you follow traditional vrata practice, use a pañcāṅga to identify when Aṣṭamī coincides with Wednesday in either fortnight and perform the observance with discipline and ethical conduct.