Shloka 6

Vow-Fasting (Anaśana), Sannyāsa, Tīrtha-Death, and the Ethics of Dāna

Devanagari script

यावन्त्यहानि जीवेत् व्रते निरशने कृते / क्रतुभिस्तानि तुल्यानि समग्रवदक्षिणैः

Transliteration

yāvantyahāni jīvet vrate niraśane kṛte / kratubhistāni tulyāni samagravadakṣiṇaiḥ

Translation

ผู้ใดดำรงชีวิตอยู่กี่วันด้วยการถือพรตงดอาหาร วันทั้งหลายนั้นย่อมมีบุญเสมอด้วยพิธีบูชายัญครตุจำนวนเท่านั้น พร้อมด้วยทักษิณาทานครบถ้วน।

Word by Word

• यावन्ति: as many as
• यावन्ति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (सर्वनाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक (as many as)

• अहानि: days
• अहानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• जीवेत्: should live
• जीवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्रते: in the vow
• व्रते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• निरशने: in fasting
• निरशने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• कृते: when done
• कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'when performed'

• क्रतुभिः: by sacrifices
• क्रतुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• तानि: those (days)
• तानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तुल्यानि: equal
• तुल्यानि: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• समग्रवत्: as complete/fully
• समग्रवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समग्रवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb), उपमानार्थक; 'as complete'

• दक्षिणैः: with priestly fees/donations
• दक्षिणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upavāsa-vrata multiplies puṇya, becoming equivalent to many kratus with complete gifts.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga and śuddhi: disciplined restraint as a purifier that supports higher realization.

Application: Undertake periodic fasting with right intention and ethical conduct; pair austerity with generosity and humility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Dharmakanda themes: upavāsa as puṇya-multiplier; equivalence of vrata to yajña

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Kratu
• Dakshina

FAQs

What is the importance of fasting (niraśana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that sustained fasting undertaken as a religious vow yields merit comparable to performing full sacrificial rites (kratus) along with the requisite ritual gifts (dakṣiṇā).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and post-death concerns in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda, merit (puṇya) is repeatedly emphasized as spiritual capital that supports auspicious destiny after death; this verse highlights fasting-vrata as a powerful means of accruing such merit.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Undertake fasting as a disciplined vow with ethical conduct and devotion, treating it as a serious dharmic practice rather than mere dieting, and pair it with charity (dakṣiṇā-like giving) when possible.