Shloka 5

Vratas, Nakṣatra Observances, Naivedya Rules, and Tithi-wise Devatā Worship

Devanagari script

(इति वारव्रतानि) / द्वादशर्क्षाणि विप्रर्षे ! प्रतिमासं तु यानि वै / तन्नाम्नान्ते ऽतच्युतं तेषु सम्यक् संपूजयेन्नरः

Transliteration

(iti vāravratāni) / dvādaśarkṣāṇi viprarṣe ! pratimāsaṃ tu yāni vai / tannāmnānte 'tacyutaṃ teṣu samyak saṃpūjayennaraḥ

Translation

ఇట్లు వారవ్రతములు. ఓ విప్రశ్రేష్ఠా! ప్రతి మాసమున కలుగు పన్నెండు నక్షత్రవ్రతములలో, వాటి నామాంతమున ‘అచ్యుత’ అని జోడించి, ఆ ఆ కర్మలలో అచ్యుతుడు (విష్ణువు)ను సమ్యక్గా పూజించవలెను.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (thus)

• वारव्रतानि: weekday-vows
• वारव्रतानि: Visheshya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (Nom./Acc. pl.); तत्पुरुषः (वारस्य व्रतानि)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषणम्; (indeclinable-like numeral used adjectivally)

• ऋक्षाणि: lunar mansions (nakṣatras)
• ऋक्षाणि: Visheshya/Karma (Topic/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (Nom./Acc. pl.)

• विप्रर्षे: O brahmin sage
• विप्रर्षे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचन (Voc. sg.); कर्मधारयः (विप्रः चासौ ऋषिः)

• प्रतिमासम्: every month
• प्रतिमासम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययार्थे (adverbial) = ‘each month’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (particle)

• यानि: which
• यानि: Sambandha (Relative pronoun/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (Nom./Acc. pl.); सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Demonstrative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg.)—समासे ‘तत्-नाम्ना-अन्ते’ इत्यत्र पूर्वपद

• नाम्ना: by the name
• नाम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instr. sg.)

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg.)

• अत्: (sandhi element)
• अत्: Sambandha (Sandhi element)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; sandhi-residue from ‘अन्ते ’च्युतम्’ (euphonic)

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.); विष्णोर्नाम (proper noun)

• तेषु: among/in those
• तेषु: Adhikarana (Location/Context—अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंस/पुं; सप्तमी बहुवचन (Loc. pl.)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• संपूजयेत्: should worship
• संपूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd sg.)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All time-bound observances are to be sealed with Viṣṇu (Acyuta) worship—devotion as the inner thread of ritual.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-arpita karma: ritual becomes sanctified when oriented to the imperishable Lord (Acyuta).

Application: When observing nakṣatra-vratas, explicitly include Acyuta-pūjā (nāma, arghya, naivedya, stotra) as prescribed conclusion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_calendar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.137.6-7 (Keśava worship, ghee-homa, naivedya offerings as continuations of the same vrata framework)

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of nakṣatra (ārkṣa) vratas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames monthly nakṣatra-based observances as structured dharmic practices whose central focus is devotion—specifically, proper worship of Acyuta (Viṣṇu) within each rite.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined observance and Viṣṇu-centered worship as a purifying dharmic foundation, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly links with spiritual merit and auspicious outcomes beyond this life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you follow monthly spiritual observances, keep them Viṣṇu-centered: conclude the vow with remembrance of Acyuta and perform the worship carefully and respectfully rather than mechanically.