Shloka 8

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

प्रथमे ऽह्नि हरेः पादौ यजेत्पद्मैर्द्वितयिक / बिल्वपत्रैर्जानुदेशं नाभि गन्धेन चापरे

Transliteration

prathame 'hni hareḥ pādau yajetpadmairdvitayika / bilvapatrairjānudeśaṃ nābhi gandhena cāpare

Translation

Sa unang araw, sambahin ang dalawang paa ni Hari sa pamamagitan ng mga bulaklak na lotus; sa ikalawang araw, sambahin ang bahagi ng mga tuhod gamit ang mga dahon ng bilva; at sa ibang araw naman, sambahin ang pusod sa pamamagitan ng mabangong gandha (pabango).

Word by Word

• प्रथमे: on the first
• प्रथमे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular); ‘on the first (day)’

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन (singular)

• पादौ: (the two) feet
• पादौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), द्विवचन (dual)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• पद्मैः: with lotuses
• पद्मैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural)

• द्वितयिक: (on) the second (day) [reading uncertain]
• द्वितयिक: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितयिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular); पाठभेद/रूपसंदेहः—सम्भाव्यं ‘द्वितये’/‘द्वितीयके’ (on the second day)

• बिल्वपत्रैः: with bilva leaves
• बिल्वपत्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural)

• जानुदेशम्: the knee-region
• जानुदेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु + देश (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• नाभि: navel
• नाभि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• गन्धेन: with fragrance/perfume
• गन्धेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपरे: on another/next (day)
• अपरे: Adhikarana (Time/Context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (plural); ‘others/next (day)’—सन्दर्भे ‘अपरे (अह्नि)’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Krama-arcana: devotion through ordered limb-wise worship, using symbolically apt offerings (lotus, bilva, fragrance).

Vedantic Theme: The Lord as viśva-śarīra (cosmic person) contemplated through parts; ordered practice trains mind toward wholeness.

Application: Structure worship/meditation progressively (from feet upward), pairing each stage with a sensory anchor (flower, leaf, scent) to deepen focus.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: puja-sthana

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.123.9 (head worship on fifth day; austerities)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of day-wise offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes a sequential mode of Hari-pūjā—specific body-points of Vishnu are worshipped on specific days using particular offerings, emphasizing disciplined, rule-based devotion (vidhi) rather than random ritual.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by foregrounding correct devotional and ritual practice toward Hari, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that righteous observance and devotion shape one’s post-death welfare and spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Vishnu worship with intentionality—offer appropriate flowers/leaves and fragrance with focused reverence, keeping a consistent routine (daily or on vowed days) rather than treating worship as a mere formality.