Shloka 20

Āśauca and Udaka-kriyā: Post-Cremation Conduct, Eligibility, and Purifiers

Devanagari script

दाने विवाहे यज्ञे च संग्रामे देशविप्लवे / आपद्यपि च कष्टायां सद्यः शौचं विधीयते

Transliteration

dāne vivāhe yajñe ca saṃgrāme deśaviplave / āpadyapi ca kaṣṭāyāṃ sadyaḥ śaucaṃ vidhīyate

Translation

Bei der Gabe (dāna), bei der Hochzeit, beim Opfer (yajña), im Kampf und wenn ein Land von Unheil erschüttert wird — selbst in schwerster Notlage — ist sofortige Reinigung (śauca) vorgeschrieben.

Word by Word

• दाने: in giving (charity)
• दाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (in the act/occasion of giving)

• विवाहे: in marriage
• विवाहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• यज्ञे: in sacrifice
• यज्ञे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

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

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• देशविप्लवे: in a calamity/uproar in the land
• देशविप्लवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश + विप्लव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘देशविप्लव’ = देशस्य विप्लवः (civil upheaval)

• आपदि: in distress
• आपदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपवाद/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

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

• कष्टायाम्: in hardship
• कष्टायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘कष्टा’ = कठिनावस्था (hard condition)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: immediately)

• शौचम्: purification
• शौचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• विधीयते: is prescribed
• विधीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘is prescribed/ordained’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In dharmic necessities—dāna, vivāha, yajña, saṅgrāma, and public calamity—immediate śauca is prescribed to keep obligatory rites functioning.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of social order); purity as functional readiness rather than mere taboo.

Application: When duty cannot be postponed (marriage rites, sacrifice, defense, relief during disaster), perform prompt purification and proceed with the required act according to rule.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: region/kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (śauca procedures and exceptions)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of śauca (purity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames śauca as a dharmic prerequisite that must be maintained even during major life-rites and crises, emphasizing readiness for sacred duty and social responsibility.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond afterlife topics?

Although the Garuda Purana is famous for death-ritual and Yama-related sections, Kanda 1 also teaches daily dharma; here it codifies conduct and purity norms applicable in urgent, real-world situations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing sacred or community duties (donation, wedding rites, worship) even under pressure (disaster, conflict, emergency), prioritize immediate basic cleanliness and ritual propriety before proceeding.