Shloka 46

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

पौषमासस्य रोहिण्यामष्टकायामथापि वा / जलान्ते छन्दसां कुर्यादुत्सर्गं विधिवद्वहिः

Transliteration

pauṣamāsasya rohiṇyāmaṣṭakāyāmathāpi vā / jalānte chandasāṃ kuryādutsargaṃ vidhivadvahiḥ

Translation

Im Monat Pauṣa, am Tag der Nakṣatra Rohiṇī — oder am Aṣṭakā-Tag — soll man außerhalb des Hauses, am Wasserufer, nach Vorschrift die Utsarga-Handlung vollziehen: die rituelle Übergabe/Entlassung der vedischen Hymnen.

Word by Word

• पौषमासस्य: of the month of Pauṣa
• पौषमासस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौष + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पौषस्य मासः)

• रोहिण्याम्: on (the nakṣatra) Rohiṇī
• रोहिण्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अष्टकायाम्: on the Aṣṭakā (rite/day)
• अष्टकायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (Time/Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: ‘then/also’)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• जलान्ते: at the water’s edge/in water (at the end/edge of water)
• जलान्ते: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जलस्य अन्तः)

• छन्दसाम्: of the Vedic hymns/metres
• छन्दसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उत्सर्गम्: the utsarga (formal release/ending rite)
• उत्सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विधिवत्: according to the prescribed rule
• विधिवत्: Sambandha (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: ‘according to rule’)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikaraṇa (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘outside’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Utsarga (consignment/release) of the Vedic hymns is to be done in Pauṣa on Rohiṇī or on Aṣṭakā, at the water’s edge, outside, according to rule.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual closure (saṃskāra of svādhyāya) supports inner steadiness; discipline aligns with cosmic time.

Application: Schedule utsarga in Pauṣa (Rohiṇī preferred; otherwise Aṣṭakā), perform outdoors near water with prescribed offerings and recitations per one’s gṛhya tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/ghāṭa (generic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (upākarma/utsarga pair; anadhyāya rules nearby)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas (Chandas)
• Rohiṇī
• Aṣṭakā
• Pauṣa (month)

FAQs

What is the importance of performing utsarga on Rohiṇī or Aṣṭakā according to the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights specific auspicious calendrical markers (Rohiṇī nakṣatra or Aṣṭakā day in Pauṣa) as proper times to carry out a rule-based consigning/offering (utsarga) connected with Vedic recitation/observance, strengthening ritual correctness (vidhi).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and ancestral observances?

By prescribing a precise time and place—outside the home and at a water’s edge—the verse aligns with the Purāṇic emphasis on correct setting and muhūrta for rites often associated with śrāddha-related observances and sacred consignments linked to Vedic tradition.

Practical application of this guidance today?

If observing traditional rites, consult a competent priest/pāñcāṅga for Rohiṇī/Aṣṭakā in Pauṣa and perform the intended ceremony in a clean outdoor space near water (or a ritually appropriate substitute), prioritizing correctness, purity, and intention.