Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

मार्गोपजीव्यच्छायासु न मूत्रं च पुरीषकम् / अन्तर्जलाद्देवगृहाद्वल्मीकान्मूषिकस्थलात्

Transliteration

mārgopajīvyacchāyāsu na mūtraṃ ca purīṣakam / antarjalāddevagṛhādvalmīkānmūṣikasthalāt

Translation

One should not urinate or defecate on public pathways, in places where people earn their livelihood, or in shade used by others. One should also keep away from water-reservoirs, temples (devagṛha), anthills (valmīka), and places inhabited by mice.

Word by Word

• मार्गोपजीव्यच्छायासु: in the shades of livelihood-roads (public thoroughfares)
• मार्गोपजीव्यच्छायासु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग + उपजीव्य + छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः (मार्गस्य उपजीव्यः = मार्गोपजीव्यः; तस्य छाया = मार्गोपजीव्यच्छाया)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• मूत्रम्: urine
• मूत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• पुरीषकम्: feces
• पुरीषकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरीषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अन्तर्जलात्: from within water / in water (i.e., not in water)
• अन्तर्जलात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर् + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; समासः (अन्तः जलम्)

• देवगृहात्: from a temple
• देवगृहात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; समासः (देवानां गृहं)

• वल्मीकात्: from an anthill
• वल्मीकात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्मीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• मूषिकस्थलात्: from a rat-hole/place of mice
• मूषिकस्थलात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषिक + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; समासः (मूषिकस्य स्थलम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Shaucha and social responsibility: avoid polluting public, economic, and sacred/shared spaces; maintain distance from sensitive sites.

Vedantic Theme: Ethical purity (bahya-shaucha) as support for inner purity; non-harm to community and sacred order.

Application: Use designated sanitation areas; keep respectful distance from temples and water sources; practice hygienic waste disposal to protect public health and sanctity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: public pathways, livelihood spaces, shared shade; near water-reservoirs and temples; near anthills and rodent habitats

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (shaucha rules; earth usage; rinsing counts)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity (śauca) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily waste as a cause of impurity and potential sin when done in shared, sacred, or ecologically sensitive places; śauca protects both dharma (right conduct) and communal sanctity.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on sin and consequences after death?

The Preta Kanda repeatedly links everyday misconduct to pāpa that follows the soul after death; this verse highlights that even ordinary acts become blameworthy when they defile temples, water, or public spaces.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness by avoiding open defecation/urination, especially near water sources and places of worship, and respect shared public spaces—basic dharmic hygiene aligned with ritual purity.