Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

मृतेन शुध्यते सूतिः मृतवज्जातकं जनौ / गोग्रहादौ विपन्नानामेकरात्रं तु सूतकम्

Transliteration

mṛtena śudhyate sūtiḥ mṛtavajjātakaṃ janau / gograhādau vipannānāmekarātraṃ tu sūtakam

Translation

نجاسة الولادة (سوتَكا sūtaka) للمرأة تزول إذا وقع موت؛ وللزوجين تُعَدّ نجاسة المولود (جاتَكا jātaka) كأنها نجاسة موت. وأما من مات بسبب بقرة، أو بسبب غْرَهَ (graha: قبض/تأثير كوكبي) ونحو ذلك، فنجاسته ليلة واحدة فقط.

Word by Word

• मृतेन: by (a) death / due to death
• मृतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-अर्थे (by/through death)

• शुध्यते: is purified
• शुध्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सूतिः: (impurity due to) childbirth
• सूतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• मृतवत्: like a dead (person)
• मृतवत्: Avyaya (Modifier/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृत + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/सादृश्यार्थक (like/as)

• जातकम्: birth-occasion/ceremony (jātaka)
• जातकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘जन्मसम्बन्धि (birth-related rite/occasion)’

• जनौ: at the time of birth (in the birth-event)
• जनौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; लोकप्रयोगे ‘जनौ’ = जनसमये/जनकाले (at the time of birth)

• गो-ग्रह-आदौ: in (cases) like cow-seizure etc.
• गो-ग्रह-आदौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गो-ग्रह-आदि-समये = in cases like cow-seizure etc.)

• विपन्नानाम्: of those who have died/perished
• विपन्नानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपन्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• एकरात्रम्: for one night
• एकरात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (one-night duration)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Avyaya (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक (but/indeed)

• सूतकम्: impurity period (sūtaka)
• सूतकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aśauca (ritual impurity) is context-sensitive; birth-impurity can be overridden/reshaped by death-impurity; exceptional deaths shorten the period.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as niyama governing saṃsāric transitions (janma–mṛtyu) and social harmony.

Application: Apply correct aśauca duration: treat jātaka as mṛta-like for the couple; for deaths due to cow/‘graha’ affliction etc., observe one-night impurity and resume rites accordingly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: household/cremation-context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (aśauca/śauca rules context)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of sūtaka (aśauca) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames sūtaka as a time-bound ritual impurity with specific dharmic durations, showing that purity rules vary by cause (birth, death, and certain accidental deaths).

How does this verse relate to death-related observances in the Garuda Purana?

It links birth-impurity and death-impurity, stating that a death can terminate postpartum impurity, and that some deaths (e.g., due to cow/graha-related calamity) entail only a one-night impurity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow tradition-specific guidance on aśauca durations and purification practices, especially when managing overlapping birth-and-death events in a household.