Shloka 3

Damanaka-Navamī, Digdaśamī-vrata, and Ekādaśī Ṛṣi-Pūjā

Devanagari script

(इति दमनकनवमीव्रतम्) / ब्रह्मोवाच / दशम्यामेकभक्ताशी समान्ते दशधेनुदः / दिशश्च काञ्चनीर्दत्त्वा ब्रह्माण्डाधिपतिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

(iti damanakanavamīvratam) / brahmovāca / daśamyāmekabhaktāśī samānte daśadhenudaḥ / diśaśca kāñcanīrdattvā brahmāṇḍādhipatirbhavet

Translation

برہما نے کہا—دشمی کو ایک وقت کا بھوجن رکھے، اور اختتام پر دس گایوں کا دان کرے؛ نیز جہتوں کی سونے کی (تماثیل) دان کرے تو وہ برہمانڈ کا حاکم بن جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समाप्तिसूचक

• दमनक-नवमी-व्रतम्: the Damanaka-navamī vow
• दमनक-नवमी-व्रतम्: Sambandha (Title/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमनक (प्रातिपदिक) + नवमी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; नामवाचक

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• दशम्याम्: on the tenth (tithi)
• दशम्याम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• एकभक्ताशी: eating only one meal
• एकभक्ताशी: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्; ‘एकभक्त’ (एकवारभोजन) + ‘आशी’ (भोजी)

• समान्ते: at the end
• समान्ते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; काल/अवधिवाचक (at the end)

• दश-धेनु-दः: a giver of ten cows
• दश-धेनु-दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक; √दा दाने)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (giver of ten cows)

• दिशः: directions (quarters)
• दिशः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• काञ्चनीः: golden
• काञ्चनीः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘दिशः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (golden)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Gerundial/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having given)

• ब्रह्माण्ड-अधिपतिः: lord of the cosmos
• ब्रह्माण्ड-अधिपतिः: Karta (Predicate nominal/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (lord of the universe/egg of Brahmā)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Brahma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahā-dāna combined with vrata-niyama yields extraordinary phala; generosity expands one’s sphere of merit and symbolic sovereignty.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and īśvara-niyama: expansive giving reduces possessiveness (aparigraha-like tendency) and increases sattva, though the text expresses it via grand phala-śruti.

Application: Practice proportionate generosity at the completion of commitments; support livelihoods (symbolized by cows) and contribute to community welfare; conclude vows with a meaningful act of giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting (dāna-śālā/altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.135.1–4 (vrata completion and escalating phala-śruti)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of the Damanaka Navamī vow in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the vow’s completion as a disciplined observance (single meal on the tenth day) culminating in major gifts (ten cows and golden representations of the directions), promising exalted merit and sovereignty-like spiritual reward.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it teaches that vrata (self-restraint) combined with dāna (charity) generates powerful puṇya (merit), which the Purāṇic tradition links to higher post-death states and elevated cosmic status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint (simplify food/consumption), conclude spiritual observances with sincere giving (supporting care of cows/animals, food charity, or temple/service donations), and dedicate the act to ethical living rather than mere reward.