Shloka 3

Phala-Saptamī and Vijayā-Saptamī: Bhādrapada Worship, Feeding, Mantra, and Sevenfold Saptamī Restraints

Devanagari script

अष्टम्यां पारणं कुर्यान्मरीचं प्राश्य स्वर्गभाक् सप्तम्यां नियतः स्नात्वा पूजयित्वा दिवाकरम्

Transliteration

aṣṭamyāṃ pāraṇaṃ kuryānmarīcaṃ prāśya svargabhāk saptamyāṃ niyataḥ snātvā pūjayitvā divākaram

Translation

اَشٹمی کے دن پارنہ کرے؛ مَریچ (کالی مرچ) کھانے سے سَورگ کا حصہ دار بنتا ہے۔ سَپتمی کے دن ضبطِ نفس کے ساتھ س্নان کرکے دیواکر (سورج) کی پوجا کرے۔

Word by Word

• aṣṭamyām: on the eighth (lunar day)
• aṣṭamyām: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथिनाम

• pāraṇam: breaking the fast (pāraṇa)
• pāraṇam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• marīcam: pepper (marīca)
• marīcam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• prāśya: having eaten
• prāśya: Pūrvakāla (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: aś (धातु) + pra (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः ‘खादित्वा’

• svargabhāk: a sharer of heaven; heaven-attaining
• svargabhāk: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarga + bhāj (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘भज्’ धातोः क्विप्/ण्वुलादि-प्रत्ययान्त ‘भाक्’ = ‘भागी’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘स्वर्गस्य भागी’)

• saptamyām: on the seventh (day)
• saptamyām: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saptamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• niyataḥ: disciplined, restrained
• niyataḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; अर्थः ‘नियमितः/संयतः’

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Pūrvakāla (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः ‘स्नानं कृत्वा’

• pūjayitvā: having worshipped
• pūjayitvā: Pūrvakāla (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative stem) ‘पूजय’

• divākaram: the Sun
• divākaram: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra, typical Garuda Purana frame)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niyama (discipline) + devatā-pūjā + prescribed pāraṇa yields svarga-phala; ritual completion is essential for fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual discipline as training of mind and senses (indriya-nigraha) leading to sattva; heaven as provisional fruit within saṃsāra.

Application: Keep vrata rules carefully; break the fast at the proper time (pāraṇa) and maintain consistency in worship and diet observances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual calendar observance

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.130.2 and 1.130.4–1.130.5: same rite details (Saptamī worship, offerings, feeding)

Characters & Entities

• Divākara (Sūrya)

FAQs

What is the importance of Saptamī worship of Divākara in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links disciplined bathing and worship of the Sun on Saptamī with the proper completion of a related observance, presenting Sūrya-pūjā as a merit-producing dharmic act.

What does pāraṇa mean in this Garuda Purana verse?

Pāraṇa is the formal conclusion of a vow/fast—breaking it in the prescribed manner and time (here, on Aṣṭamī).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If observing a vrata, keep discipline (niyama), begin with purification (snāna), perform focused worship (especially Sūrya on Saptamī), and end the fast properly (pāraṇa) rather than casually.