Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

बाणचापधरंश्यामं दले चाङ्गनि मध्यतः / बुधाष्टमीकथा पुण्या श्रोतव्या कृतिभिर्ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

bāṇacāpadharaṃśyāmaṃ dale cāṅgani madhyataḥ / budhāṣṭamīkathā puṇyā śrotavyā kṛtibhirdhruvam

Translation

Sa gitna ng mga talulot ng lotus ay nakatayo ang Panginoong may maitim na anyo, tangan ang busog at mga palaso. Tunay nga, ang banal na salaysay ng Budhāṣṭamī ay dapat pakinggan ng mga taong matuwid.

Word by Word

• बाण-चाप-धरम्: bearing arrow and bow
• बाण-चाप-धरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त; √धृ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बाणं च चापं च धरति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (देवमूर्तिम्/बुधम्) विशेषयति

• श्यामम्: dark/blue-hued
• श्यामम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वर्णविशेषणम्

• दले: on/in the petal
• दले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

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

• अङ्गनि: on the body/limb
• अङ्गनि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अङ्ग = शरीर/अवयव; स्थानवाचक

• मध्यतः: in the middle
• मध्यतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय: "मध्यतः" = मध्यात्/मध्ये; अर्थे—मध्यभागे (in the middle)

• बुध-अष्टमी-कथा: the story of Budha-aṣṭamī
• बुध-अष्टमी-कथा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बुधस्य अष्टमी; तस्याः कथा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुण्या: meritorious/holy
• पुण्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कथा विशेषयति

• श्रोतव्या: should be listened to
• श्रोतव्या: Kriya (Predicate necessity/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + तव्य (कृत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; "to be heard"

• कृतिभिः: by the virtuous/learned people
• कृतिभिः: Karana (Agent-instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक-करणे (by the virtuous/learned)

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे नपुंसक-आकारे क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb): निश्चितम्/अवश्यं (certainly)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, context of Ācāra Kāṇḍa observances)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puṇya accrues through śravaṇa (listening) to sacred vrata-kathā with reverence.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as sādhana that purifies mind and aligns it to īśvara-smaraṇa.

Application: On Budhāṣṭamī, listen/read the kathā attentively; cultivate sattvic conduct and focused visualization during worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/yantra-mandala space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.132 (Budhāṣṭamī-kathā sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Budhāṣṭamī-kathā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that hearing the Budhāṣṭamī narrative is inherently meritorious (puṇyā) and is prescribed for the virtuous as a sure means of gaining religious merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharmic practice through śravaṇa (listening to sacred accounts). In the Garuda Purana’s broader framework, such merit supports spiritual welfare and auspicious outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Budhāṣṭamī with devotion—listen to or recite the kathā, reflect on Vishnu-centered conduct, and treat sacred listening as a disciplined practice for cultivating dharma.