Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

प्रातः सन्ध्यामुपा सीत दन्तधावनपूर्विकाम् / उभे मूत्रपुरीषे च दिवा कुर्यादुदङ्मुखः

Transliteration

prātaḥ sandhyāmupā sīta dantadhāvanapūrvikām / ubhe mūtrapurīṣe ca divā kuryādudaṅmukhaḥ

Translation

In the morning one should perform the Sandhyā worship, having first cleaned the teeth. And during the daytime, one should attend to both urination and defecation facing north.

Word by Word

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सन्ध्याम्: sandhyā (twilight rite)
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपासीत: should worship/perform
• उपासीत: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दन्तधावनपूर्विकाम्: preceded by brushing/cleaning the teeth
• दन्तधावनपूर्विकाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दन्त + धावन + पूर्विका (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (सन्ध्याम्) — 'दन्तधावनं पूर्वं यस्याः सा'

• उभे: both
• उभे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (मूत्रपुरीषे)

• मूत्रपुरीषे: urine and feces
• मूत्रपुरीषे: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र + पुरीष (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (मूत्रं च पुरीषं च)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: 'by day')

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उदङ्मुखः: facing north
• उदङ्मुखः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदक् + मुख (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (उदङ् मुखं यस्य) विशेषण (कर्ता)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perform morning sandhyā after cleaning teeth; attend to excretion during daytime facing north.

Vedantic Theme: Outer śauca as support for inner śauca; disciplined embodiment as a base for sādhana.

Application: Maintain oral hygiene before prayer; keep regular elimination habits; observe cleanliness and privacy; follow culturally appropriate purity norms.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual space; daytime orientation (north-facing)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.25 (snāna and sandhyā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of morning Sandhyā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats morning Sandhyā as a primary daily duty, to be done with bodily cleanliness first, indicating that ritual worship is grounded in purity and disciplined routine.

How does this verse relate to dharma and right conduct (ācāra)?

It defines practical ācāra: performing Sandhyā at the proper time and observing directional and cleanliness norms for bodily functions, presenting dharma as lived daily discipline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a consistent morning prayer/meditation practice after basic hygiene, and treat cleanliness and mindful conduct as part of spiritual life rather than separate from it.