Shloka 3

Upanayana Timing, Brahmacarya Rules, Ācamana & Sandhyā Observance

Devanagari script

दिवा सन्ध्यासु कर्णस्थब्रह्मसूत्र उदड्मुखः / कुर्यान्मूत्रपुरीषे तु रात्रौ चेद्दक्षिणामुखः

Transliteration

divā sandhyāsu karṇasthabrahmasūtra udaḍmukhaḥ / kuryānmūtrapurīṣe tu rātrau ceddakṣiṇāmukhaḥ

Translation

نهارًا وفي أوقات السَّندْهيا (مفاصل الشفق)، مع وضع الخيط المقدّس قرب الأذن، ينبغي أن يتوجّه المرءُ إلى الشمال عند التبوّل أو التغوّط؛ أمّا ليلًا فليتوجّه إلى الجنوب.

Word by Word

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Kāla (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time)

• सन्ध्यासु: at the twilight times
• सन्ध्यासु: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th case); बहुवचन

• कर्णस्थब्रह्मसूत्रः: with the sacred thread placed on the ear
• कर्णस्थब्रह्मसूत्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्णस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मसूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case); एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषण (qualifying implied subject)

• उदङ्मुखः: facing north
• उदङ्मुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदङ् (दिक्शब्द-प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case); एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मूत्रपुरीषे: in urination and defecation
• मूत्रपुरीषे: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th case); द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास

• तु: but, however
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: 'but/indeed')

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th case); एकवचन

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle)

• दक्षिणामुखः: facing south
• दक्षिणामुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case); एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the dharma-ritual discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: During day and sandhyās, with thread near the ear, face north for urination/defecation; at night face south.

Vedantic Theme: External discipline (bahir-niyama) supports inner steadiness; respect for liminal times (sandhyā) as spiritually sensitive.

Application: Maintain cleanliness and privacy; observe culturally prescribed etiquette around prayer times; cultivate mindfulness even in mundane acts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: outdoor latrine area / secluded place (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.94.4 (post-act purification)

FAQs

What is the importance of direction (north/south) in Garuda Purana ritual conduct?

This verse treats direction as part of dhārmic discipline: aligning bodily acts with prescribed orientation (north by day/sandhyā, south by night) to maintain ritual propriety and purity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it emphasizes disciplined daily conduct (ācāra), which the Garuda Purana presents as supportive of dharma and beneficial for one’s spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt mindful cleanliness and disciplined routine—especially at dawn/dusk—and treat daily actions as part of ethical and spiritual practice, even if exact directional rules are adapted to modern constraints.