Shloka 120

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

राहोश्च दर्शने स्नानं प्रशस्तं निशि नान्यथा / उषस्युषसि यत्स्नानं सन्ध्यायामुदिते रवौ

Transliteration

rāhośca darśane snānaṃ praśastaṃ niśi nānyathā / uṣasyuṣasi yatsnānaṃ sandhyāyāmudite ravau

Translation

Wenn Rāhu (Rāhu) sichtbar ist, das heißt zur Zeit einer Finsternis, wird das Bad in der Nacht gepriesen und nicht anders. Ebenso ist das Bad, das für die Morgendämmerung vorgeschrieben ist, in der Morgendämmerung zu vollziehen; und zur Sandhyā, in der Dämmerung, wenn die Sonne aufgegangen ist.

Word by Word

• rāhoḥ: of Rāhu
• rāhoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Masculine, Gen., Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• darśane: at the sight/appearance
• darśane: Adhikarana (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Neuter, Loc., Singular)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karta/Topic (Subject/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• praśastam: commended; prescribed
• praśastam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (प्रातिपदिक) < pra + śas (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय (क्त) = past passive participle used adjectivally; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (snānam)

• niśi: at night
• niśi: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Feminine, Loc., Singular)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध-निपात) = negation particle

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'otherwise'

• uṣasi: at dawn
• uṣasi: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Feminine, Loc., Singular)

• uṣasi: at dawn
• uṣasi: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karta/Topic (Subject/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sandhyāyām: at twilight
• sandhyāyām: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Feminine, Loc., Singular)

• udite: risen
• udite: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udita (प्रातिपदिक) < ud + i (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय (क्त) = past passive participle; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (ravau)

• ravau: when the Sun (is)
• ravau: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Masculine, Loc., Singular)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla-niyama in ritual: acts yield proper fruit when performed at their prescribed times; eclipse is a liminal period requiring specific observance.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) and alignment with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) as supports for inner steadiness.

Application: During eclipses, follow traditional bathing/ācamana and japa at appropriate times; maintain regular dawn and sandhyā practices with consistency and sobriety.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: temporal-ritual setting (eclipse/dawn/twilight)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: grahaṇa-related purity rules and snāna timing in ritual sections (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Rahu
• Surya (Ravi)

FAQs

What is the importance of eclipse-time bathing (grahaṇa-snān) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that when Rahu is seen—signifying an eclipse—bathing is especially commended at night, highlighting eclipse-time snāna as a distinct purificatory observance tied to that celestial event.

How does this verse guide correct timing for ritual purity practices?

It emphasizes appropriateness of time: eclipse bathing is linked to the night-time eclipse context, while regular prescribed bathing should be done at its proper windows—dawn (uṣas) and sandhyā—rather than arbitrarily shifting the timing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe rituals with proper timing: during an eclipse, follow traditional purification practices; otherwise, keep daily hygiene and prayer aligned with dawn and sandhyā routines to maintain disciplined dharmic order.