Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

आषाढादौ पायसं तु विप्रांस्तेनैव भोजयेत् / पञ्चाव्यजलस्नाननैवेद्यैर्नक्तमाचरेत्

Transliteration

āṣāḍhādau pāyasaṃ tu viprāṃstenaiva bhojayet / pañcāvyajalasnānanaivedyairnaktamācaret

Translation

เมื่อเริ่มเดือนอาษาฒะพึงทำข้าวหวานปายสะแล้วเลี้ยงพราหมณ์ด้วยสิ่งนั้น พึงอาบน้ำผสมปัญจคัวยะ ถวายไนเวทยะ และปฏิบัตินักตพรต คือฉันเพียงครั้งเดียวในยามค่ำ

Word by Word

• आषाढादौ: at the beginning of Āṣāḍha (etc.)
• आषाढादौ: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आषाढ + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg.); तत्पुरुषः (आषाढ-आदि-समये = at the beginning of Āṣāḍha etc.)

• पायसम्: pāyasa (milk-rice pudding)
• पायसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• विप्रान्: brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl.)

• तेन: with that (pāyasa)
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instr. sg.)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) (causative sense)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd sg.); णिच्-अर्थः (causative) = ‘cause to eat/feed’

• पञ्चाव्य: fivefold (pañcagavya)
• पञ्चाव्य: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (in compound); द्विगु-समासः (five products—pañcagavya)

• जल: water
• जल: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• स्नान: bathing
• स्नान: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• नैवेद्यैः: with offerings (naivedyas)
• नैवेद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/Means—करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.)

• नक्तम्: at night
• नक्तम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्तम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time) = ‘at night’

• आचरेत्: should practice/perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन (3rd sg.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna (feeding brāhmaṇas) + śauca (purificatory bath) + niyama (night meal) as integrated vrata practice.

Vedantic Theme: Purification of antaḥkaraṇa through sattvic conduct; karma offered with śraddhā becomes elevating.

Application: Offer food/charity at prescribed times; maintain cleanliness and moderation; make offerings (naivedya) before personal consumption.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_calendar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.137.6 (naivedya and Cāturmāsya regimen); Garuda Purana 1.137.4 (naktabhojana discipline appears as a recurring niyama)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas (Vipras)
• Āṣāḍha (lunar month)
• Pañcagavya

FAQs

What is the importance of observing Āṣāḍha-beginning rites in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames Āṣāḍha’s start as a time for merit-making through Brāhmaṇa-feeding, purification via pañcagavya-water bathing, and devotional offering (naivedya), reinforcing dharma through disciplined observance.

How does this verse relate to Garuḍa Purāṇa’s broader teaching on the soul’s journey?

While not describing the afterlife directly, it teaches dharmic conduct and merit (puṇya) through vows and charity—foundational causes said to shape one’s post-death outcomes in the Purāṇic worldview.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

One can adopt a simplified observance: perform a purificatory bath, offer food in worship, practice dietary restraint (single evening meal), and give charity/food to learned persons or the needy in the spirit of the text.