Shloka 5

Devanagari script

कृतं त्यजेदाश्वयुजे युञ्जेत्कालं व्रतादिना / पक्षे मासे थवाश्नीयाद्दन्तोलूखलिको भवेत्

Transliteration

kṛtaṃ tyajedāśvayuje yuñjetkālaṃ vratādinā / pakṣe māse thavāśnīyāddantolūkhaliko bhavet

Translation

ماہِ آشویُج میں ‘کرت’ (پکا/تیار شدہ) غذا ترک کرے اور ورت وغیرہ کے انضباط میں وقت لگائے۔ پندرہ دن یا ایک ماہ تک کم کھائے؛ یوں وہ دنتولُوکھلِک (جس کے لیے دانت ہی اوکھلی ہوں، نہایت سادہ خور) بن جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• कृतम्: what is done / prepared (kṛta)
• कृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• त्यजेत्: should abandon
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आश्वयुजे: in the month Āśvayuja
• आश्वयुजे: Adhikarana (Time-location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्वयुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• युञ्जेत्: should employ/undertake
• युञ्जेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Atmanepada

• कालम्: time, period
• कालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• व्रत: vow, observance
• व्रत: Sambandha (Instrumental-relation within compound/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — neuter stem used as compound member

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (Etc./सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: समासान्त-प्रयोगे अव्ययीभावार्थक ‘आदि’ — indeclinable-like ‘etc.’ used in compound

• व्रतादिना: by vows and the like
• व्रतादिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + आदि (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (व्रत-आदि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — Instrumental (3rd) Singular

• पक्षे: in a fortnight
• पक्षे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• मासे: in a month
• मासे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• थवा: or (variant reading)
• थवा: Sambandha (Disjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: थवा (अव्यय)
• Form: पाठदोष/दुर्लभ-अव्यय; सम्भाव्यं ‘अथवा’ (विकल्पार्थक) — likely variant of ‘athavā’ (or)

• अश्नीयात्: should eat
• अश्नीयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Atmanepada

• दन्त: tooth
• दन्त: Visheshana (Qualifier within compound/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — masculine stem used as compound member

• उलूखलिक: (one who uses) a mortar; ‘ulūkhala’ related
• उलूखलिक: Visheshya (Head within compound/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उलूखलिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग) — masculine stem used as compound member

• दन्तोलूखलिकः: a ‘dantolūkhālika’ (ascetic practice term)
• दन्तोलूखलिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + उलूखलिक (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• भवेत्: should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Seasonal vrata and āhāra-niyama: relinquishing prepared/processed foods and adopting controlled intake to strengthen tapas and reduce sense-indulgence.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense restraint) and vairāgya as supports for sattva and inner clarity.

Application: Adopt periodic dietary simplification (e.g., fortnightly/monthly), reduce ultra-processed foods, and pair restraint with ethical vows (truthfulness, non-harm, moderation).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual calendar period

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.102.6 (Cāndrāyaṇa and seasonal tapas); Garuda Purana 1.102.3-4 (discipline and regulated living)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Āśvayuja (Āśvina month)

FAQs

What is the importance of dietary restraint in Āśvayuja according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes giving up richer/processed foods and adopting vrata-based discipline in Āśvayuja, emphasizing purification and self-control through simplified eating.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on dharma?

It frames dharma as practical self-regulation—time-bound vows, controlled diet, and austerity—used to cultivate inner steadiness and religious merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During a chosen sacred period (e.g., Āśvina), reduce indulgent foods, keep a simple diet, and pair it with a consistent vow (japa, charity, or restraint) to strengthen discipline.