Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

आश्चर्य तु व्रतं कृत्वा पितॄणामनृणो ऽभवत् / भीमद्वादशी विख्याता प्राणिनां पुण्यवर्धिनी

Transliteration

āścarya tu vrataṃ kṛtvā pitṝṇāmanṛṇo 'bhavat / bhīmadvādaśī vikhyātā prāṇināṃ puṇyavardhinī

Translation

Nhờ thực hành lời nguyện kỳ diệu này, người ta trở nên không còn mắc nợ đối với các Pitṛ (tổ tiên). Pháp hành nổi danh là Bhīma-dvādaśī ấy làm tăng trưởng công đức cho muôn loài hữu tình.

Word by Word

• आश्चर्यम्: wonderful; extraordinary
• आश्चर्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (व्रत-विशेषण)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (but/indeed)

• व्रतम्: vow; observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having done/performed’

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अनृणः: free from debt/obligation
• अनृणः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (कर्तृ-विशेषण)

• अभवत्: became; was
• अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भीमद्वादशी: Bhīma-dvādaśī (the Dvādaśī associated with Bhīma)
• भीमद्वादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: भीमस्य द्वादशी)

• विख्याता: well-known; renowned
• विख्याता: Kriya (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (भूतकृदन्त/Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘well-known’

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• पुण्यवर्धिनी: increasing merit
• पुण्यवर्धिनी: Kriya (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्धिनी (प्रातिपदिक; √वृध्-आधारित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पुण्यं वर्धयति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Māgha śukla-pakṣa; Bhīma-dvādaśī observance (connected to Ekādaśī/Dvādaśī)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A specific vrata (Bhīma-dvādaśī) yields powerful puṇya: it removes pitṛ-ṛṇa and increases merit for practitioners.

Vedantic Theme: Puṇya as mind-purifying support; fulfilling pitṛ obligations aligns one with dharma and reduces binding saṃskāras, aiding spiritual progress.

Application: If unable to perform elaborate ancestral rites, adopt sanctioned vows/fasts with devotion and ethical living to honor lineage and cultivate gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pitṛ-ṛṇa and śrāddha importance across Pretakalpa/Śrāddha-kalpa materials; vrata-mahātmyas promising puṇya

Characters & Entities

• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of Bhima Dvadashi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that observing Bhīma-dvādaśī is a famed vow that increases merit and helps one become free from obligations toward the Pitṛs (ancestral debt).

How does this verse relate to ancestral duties (Pitru rin) and ritual responsibility?

It frames the vow as a means of becoming “anṛṇa” (not indebted) to the Pitṛs—linking personal religious observance with fulfilling ancestral duty central to Garuda Purana’s ritual ethic.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain gratitude and responsibility toward ancestors—observe Dvādaśī-related discipline, charity, and remembrance with sincerity, treating it as ethical repayment of inherited duties.