Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

आनामकरणात्सद्य आचूडान्तादहर्निशम् / आव्रतात्तु त्रिरात्रेण तदूर्ध्वन्दशभिर्दिनैः

Transliteration

ānāmakaraṇātsadya ācūḍāntādaharniśam / āvratāttu trirātreṇa tadūrdhvandaśabhirdinaiḥ

Translation

From the moment the naming rite (Nāmakaraṇa) is performed, the observances are to be kept unbroken—day and night—until the cūḍā (tonsure) ceremony. If they are violated, they should be restored within three nights; thereafter, the expiation is completed within ten days.

Word by Word

• आनामकरणात्: from the naming-ceremony
• आनामकरणात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-नाम-करण (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—नामकरणम् (नाम्नः करणम्) इति तत्पुरुषः, उपसर्गः आ- (आनामकरण)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आचूडान्तात्: from the end of the topknot-rite (cūḍānta)
• आचूडान्तात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-चूड-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—चूडान्तः (चूडायाः अन्तः) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; उपसर्गः आ-

• अहर्निशम्: day and night
• अहर्निशम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहन् + निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; द्वन्द्वसमासः (अहः + निशा) ‘day and night’ इति; अव्ययभावेन (adverbial)

• आव्रतात्: from the (commencement of) the vow/observance
• आव्रतात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; उपसर्गः आ-

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• त्रिरात्रेण: by/within three nights
• त्रिरात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः—त्रिरात्रम् (three nights)

• तदूर्ध्वम्: thereafter
• तदूर्ध्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः—तद् + ऊर्ध्वम्; अव्यय (adverb) ‘thereafter/above that’

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• दिनैः: days
• दिनैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Continuity of saṃskāra-related observances and time-bound restoration when vows are broken.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-śuddhi (fitness through discipline) as a support for dharma and later spiritual pursuit.

Application: Maintain daily observances consistently; if a lapse occurs, restore within three nights; otherwise complete prescribed expiation within ten days.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic-ritual space (griha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (śauca/saṃskāra-niyama context)

FAQs

What is the importance of maintaining observances from nāmakaraṇa to cūḍā in Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes continuity of prescribed discipline (vrata-like conduct) across key saṃskāras, treating them as a sustained period of ritual responsibility rather than isolated ceremonies.

How does this verse explain correction after a lapse in observance?

It sets a graded remedy: if the observance is broken, restoration should occur within three nights; if delayed beyond that, a longer corrective period—ten days—is prescribed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat spiritual commitments as continuous habits; if you lapse, return quickly and set a defined recovery period rather than abandoning the discipline entirely.