Shloka 21

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

विवाहोत्सवयज्ञेषु अन्तरा मृतसूतके / पूर्वसंकल्पितादन्यवर्जनं च विधीयते

Transliteration

vivāhotsavayajñeṣu antarā mṛtasūtake / pūrvasaṃkalpitādanyavarjanaṃ ca vidhīyate

Translation

إذا اعترضت نجاسة الموت (مِرْتَ-سوتَكا) أثناء الأعراس أو الاحتفالات أو شعائر القربان (اليَجْنَ)، فالمأمور به أن يُمتنع عن الشروع في أي أمرٍ سوى ما كان قد عُقِد العزم عليه وتقرّر من قبل.

Word by Word

• विवाहोत्सवयज्ञेषु: in weddings, festivals, and sacrifices
• विवाहोत्सवयज्ञेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः—विवाहः, उत्सवः, यज्ञः (in weddings, festivals, and sacrifices)

• अन्तरा: during
• अन्तरा: Desha-kala (Temporal/Context marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद/अव्यय (preposition/adverb) ‘during/in between’

• मृतसूतके: during the death-impurity (mṛta-sūtaka)
• मृतसूतके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक) + सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मृतस्य सूतकम् (death-impurity period)

• पूर्वसंकल्पितात्: from what was previously planned
• पूर्वसंकल्पितात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संकल्पित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—पूर्वं संकल्पितम् (previously resolved/planned)

• अन्यवर्जनम्: avoidance of other (acts)
• अन्यवर्जनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अन्यस्य वर्जनम् (avoidance of other things)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विधीयते: is prescribed/ordained
• विधीयते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When death-impurity intervenes during major rites, one should refrain from initiating new actions beyond what was already formally resolved (saṅkalpita).

Vedantic Theme: Viveka and niyama: acting within rightful limits during liminal impurity; honoring both auspicious duty and mourning constraints.

Application: If bereavement impurity arises mid-ceremony, complete only what was already vowed/contracted; postpone new rites, additions, or expansions until purity is restored.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual venue (wedding hall/yajña-śālā/festival ground)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (mṛta-sūtaka and ritual interruption rules)

FAQs

What is the importance of sutaka (mṛta-sūtaka) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats sutaka as a dharmic constraint on ritual and social observances, advising restraint: when mourning impurity intervenes, avoid initiating new activities and limit oneself to what was already fixed beforehand.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it regulates the conduct of the living during a death-impurity period, reflecting the Garuda Purana’s broader concern with proper dharma and rites connected to death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If a bereavement occurs around a major ceremony, prioritize mourning protocols and avoid adding new celebratory or ritual undertakings beyond what was already scheduled, aligning actions with family duty and religious propriety.