Shloka 9

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

स्कन्धा बिल्वजवाभिश्च पञ्चमे ऽह्नि शिरोर्ऽचयत् / मालत्या भूमिशायी स्याद्गोमयं प्राशयेत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

skandhā bilvajavābhiśca pañcame 'hni śiror'cayat / mālatyā bhūmiśāyī syādgomayaṃ prāśayetkramāt

Translation

پانچویں دن سْکندھا، بیل اور جو سے سر کی ارچنا کرے۔ مالتی کے پھولوں کی سیج پر زمین پر سوئے، اور پھر ترتیب سے گوبر کا پراشن کرے۔

Word by Word

• स्कन्धान्: should (worship) the shoulders
• स्कन्धान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन (plural); पाठे ‘स्कन्धा’ इति दृश्यते—अर्थानुसारं कर्मपदत्वात् ‘स्कन्धान्’ अपेक्षितम्

• बिल्वजवाभिः: with bilva and javā (hibiscus) flowers/leaves
• बिल्वजवाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + जव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural); बिल्व(पुष्प/पत्र) + जवा(पुष्प) = bilva and hibiscus (japā)

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

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

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

• शिरः: the head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular); पाठे ‘शिरोर्’ (षष्ठी) दृश्यते—सन्ध्यन्तरितं ‘शिरः’ (कर्म) + अर्चयेत्

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

• मालत्या: with mālatī (jasmine)
• मालत्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मालती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (singular)

• भूमिशायी: lying on the ground
• भूमिशायी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूमि + शायिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular); कर्तृविशेषण (predicate adjective): lying on the ground

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + मय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• प्राशयेत्: should make (him) eat
• प्राशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अश् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्; ‘cause to eat’

• क्रमात्: in due order/gradually
• क्रमात्: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘in order/gradually’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas as purification supporting worship: completing limb-wise arcana (head on fifth day) and adopting bodily austerities to intensify sincerity and cleanse impurities.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline of body and senses as aid to sattva and devotion; external austerity meant to serve inner purification, not ego.

Application: Adopt proportionate austerities (simple sleeping, dietary restraint) aligned with health and context; keep the intent as humility and purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: vrata-sthana/puja-griha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.123.8 (preceding limb-wise worship sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of the fifth-day rite described here in the Garuda Purana?

It prescribes a specific fifth-day observance—worship directed to the head with sacred items (bilva and barley) along with austerities—framing purification and ordered ritual conduct after death-related rites.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

The Preta Kanda links post-death transition with disciplined rites and purification; this verse gives a day-specific rule that supports the broader narrative of properly guiding and stabilizing the departed through prescribed observances.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Follow tradition through a qualified priest and family custom: observe cleanliness, restraint, and simplicity during the mourning/rite period, and treat ritual substances and procedures as part of a structured, sequential discipline rather than casual practice.