Shloka 4

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

ततः श्रेष्ठव्रतं शुक्लस्यैकादश्यां समाचरेत् / स्नात्वा त्रिकालं पित्रादीन्यवाद्यैरर्चयेद्धरिम्

Transliteration

tataḥ śreṣṭhavrataṃ śuklasyaikādaśyāṃ samācaret / snātvā trikālaṃ pitrādīnyavādyairarcayeddharim

Translation

اس کے بعد شُکل پکش کی ایکادشی کو بہترین ورت اختیار کرے۔ دن میں تین بار غسل کرکے، ساز و سرود کے ساتھ ہری کی پوجا کرے اور پِتروں وغیرہ کی بھی تعظیم و ارچنا کرے۔

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर (thereafter)

• श्रेष्ठ-व्रतम्: the best vow
• श्रेष्ठ-व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—श्रेष्ठं व्रतम् (कर्मधारय)

• शुक्लस्य: of the bright (fortnight)
• शुक्लस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; पक्ष-नाम (of the bright fortnight)

• एकादश्याम्: on Ekādaśī
• एकादश्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• त्रिकालम्: three times (a day)
• त्रिकालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—त्रयः कालाः (द्विगु/समाहार)

• पितृ-आदीनि: the Pitṛs and others
• पितृ-आदीनि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—पितरः आदयः येषां तानि (पितृ-आदि-समूहः)

• अवाद्यैः: without musical instruments
• अवाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘अवाद्य’ = वाद्याभाव/अवाद्य-नियम (without music/instruments)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śukla-pakṣa Ekādaśī; integrated within the day’s worship (tarpaṇa/namaskāra implied rather than full śrāddha).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: On bright Ekādaśī, undertake a superior vow: bathe thrice daily, worship Hari with instruments, and honor Pitṛs and other venerables—showing bhakti harmonized with ancestral obligations.

Vedantic Theme: Integration (samanvaya) of bhakti with dharmic duties; worship as yajña that includes gratitude to forebears while centering on Hari.

Application: On Ekādaśī: keep cleanliness and regular worship; add devotional music/chanting; include a simple act of remembrance/charity in honor of ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/temple-ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Ekādaśī and Kārtika observances; Pitṛ-related duties appear elsewhere in Preta/Shraddha contexts though here only honoring is mentioned; Garuda Purana: emphasis on Hari-archana with vādya and snāna as vrata-aṅga

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Ekadashi
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekadashi vrata in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents bright-fortnight Ekādaśī as a “श्रेष्ठव्रत” (excellent vow) centered on purity (trikāla स्नान) and devotion to Hari, indicating it as a high-value observance for dharmic living.

How does this verse connect ancestor honor (Pitṛs) with Vishnu worship?

It instructs worship of Hari while also honoring “pitṛ-ādīn,” showing that devotion and ancestral reverence are not treated as separate—both are integrated within the same sacred observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

On Ekādaśī, keep a disciplined routine (cleanliness, prayer, restraint), offer Viṣṇu-centered worship, and include a respectful remembrance/offerings for ancestors according to one’s tradition.