Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

त्रिः स्नाता स्नापिता भैक्ष्यं गुरौ प्राणान्तिकी स्थितिः / समेखलो जटी दण्डी मुण्डी वा गुरुसंश्रयः

Transliteration

triḥ snātā snāpitā bhaikṣyaṃ gurau prāṇāntikī sthitiḥ / samekhalo jaṭī daṇḍī muṇḍī vā gurusaṃśrayaḥ

Translation

He should bathe three times a day, help keep others purified (by assisting in their bathing), live on alms, and remain devoted to his teacher even unto life’s end. Wearing a single waist-cord, with matted hair, carrying a staff, or with a shaven head—he should take refuge in the Guru.

Word by Word

• त्रिः: thrice
• त्रिः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिस् (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thrice)

• स्नाता: bathed
• स्नाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of the student)

• स्नापिता: (having been) made to bathe / bathed (ceremonially)
• स्नापिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातोः भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (causative PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भैक्ष्यम्: alms (begging)
• भैक्ष्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गुरौ: with the teacher
• गुरौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• प्राणान्तिकी: lasting until life’s end
• प्राणान्तिकी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण + अन्तिक + ई (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्राणानाम् अन्तिका)

• स्थितिः: staying/abiding
• स्थितिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समेखलः: wearing a girdle
• समेखलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + मेखल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (मेखलायुक्तः)

• जटी: with matted hair
• जटी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इकारान्त-प्रातिपदिक

• दण्डी: carrying a staff
• दण्डी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इकारान्त-प्रातिपदिक

• मुण्डी: shaven-headed
• मुण्डी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इकारान्त-प्रातिपदिक

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• गुरुसंश्रयः: dependence on the teacher / taking refuge with the teacher
• गुरुसंश्रयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुरोः संश्रयः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmacārin’s austerities: thrice-daily bathing, assisting purification, living on alms, unwavering devotion to the guru; external marks of discipline and refuge in the teacher.

Vedantic Theme: Śama-dama and śauca as prerequisites for steadiness of mind; surrender to the teacher as doorway to knowledge.

Application: Adopt consistent purification/discipline practices; live simply; maintain loyalty to authentic teachers and long-term learning commitments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (brahmacarya regimen continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Ascetic (daṇḍin/munḍin)

FAQs

What is the importance of guru-saṃśraya (taking refuge in the Guru) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats reliance on the Guru as the anchor of renunciate life—guidance, restraint, and right conduct are to be maintained under the Guru’s shelter, even until one’s last breath.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in terms of discipline and purity?

While not describing the afterlife directly, it establishes the ethical and ritual discipline (purity, alms-living, and steadfastness) that the Garuda Purana presents as supportive of dharmic progress and spiritual steadiness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily disciplines, live simply, seek guidance from a qualified teacher/mentor, and prioritize integrity and self-restraint over display—outer marks matter less than sustained, life-long commitment to dharma.