Shloka 1

Bhīma-Dvādaśī (Ekādaśī) Māhātmya and Varāha-Pūjā Vidhi

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच / माघमासे शुक्लपक्षे सूर्यर्क्षेण युता पुरा / एकादशी तथा चैका भीमेन समुपोषिता

Transliteration

brahmovāca / māghamāse śuklapakṣe sūryarkṣeṇa yutā purā / ekādaśī tathā caikā bhīmena samupoṣitā

Translation

برہما نے کہا—قدیم زمانے میں ماہِ ماغھ کے شُکل پکش میں، جب ایکادشی سورج کے نکشتر کے ساتھ یُکت تھی، تب بھیم نے اس ایکادشی کا سخت ریاضت کے ساتھ اُپواس کیا۔

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• माघमासे: in the month of Māgha
• माघमासे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघमास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: माघस्य मासः)

• शुक्लपक्षे: in the bright fortnight
• शुक्लपक्षे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्लपक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (शुक्लः पक्षः)

• सूर्यर्क्षेण: with the Sun’s asterism (Sūrya-nakṣatra)
• सूर्यर्क्षेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सूर्यस्य ऋक्षम्)

• युता: associated; joined
• युता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (भूतकृदन्त/Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘युक्ता’ = endowed/associated

• पुरा: formerly; once
• पुरा: Kala (Time adjunct/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• एकादशी: Ekādaśī (11th lunar day/fast)
• एकादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (thus/also)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एका: one; a certain
• एका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (एकादशी-विशेषण)

• भीमेन: by Bhīma
• भीमेन: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (कर्ता/करण), एकवचन

• समुपोषिता: was duly fasted/observed
• समुपोषिता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + वस्/उष् (धातु: उपवस्—उपवासे)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (भूतकृदन्त/Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गौ—सम्, उप; ‘समुपोषिता’ = well-observed as a fast

Speaker

Brahmā

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vrata gains potency when performed with discipline and correct sacred timing; exemplified by Bhīma’s rigorous observance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: regulated action (vrata) offered in devotion purifies the mind and supports higher realization.

Application: Observe Ekādaśī with sincerity: align practice with a clear schedule, restraint, and remembrance; treat sacred time as a support for inner discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temporal-sacred context (tithi/nakṣatra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Ekādaśī/vrata-mahātmyas and merit statements in adjacent chapters

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhīma
• Ekādaśī
• Māgha
• Sūrya (Sun)

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekādaśī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces Ekādaśī as a formally observed vrata, highlighted through an exemplary devotee (Bhīma), indicating its high ritual and dharmic significance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames disciplined vrata-observance as a dharmic practice that supports spiritual merit, which in Garuda Purana discourse is connected to auspicious post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Ekādaśī with sincerity—fasting and restraint according to capacity—treating it as a structured practice of self-control and devotional discipline.