Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

अहोरात्रस्य यः सन्धिः सा सन्ध्या भवतीति ह / द्विनाडिका भवेत्सन्ध्या यावद्भवति दर्शनम्

Transliteration

ahorātrasya yaḥ sandhiḥ sā sandhyā bhavatīti ha / dvināḍikā bhavetsandhyā yāvadbhavati darśanam

Translation

The junction of day and night is indeed called “Sandhyā”. Sandhyā lasts for two nāḍikās—so long as there remains visibility (of the sun’s presence).

Word by Word

• अहोरात्रस्य: of day-and-night
• अहोरात्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (अहः + रात्रिः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• यः: which/that (who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• सन्धिः: junction/transition
• सन्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सा: that (she/that)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सन्ध्या: sandhyā (twilight)
• सन्ध्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवति: is/becomes
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• द्विनाडिका: two nāḍikās (a time-measure)
• द्विनाडिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नाडिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (द्वे नाडिके); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सन्ध्या: sandhyā
• सन्ध्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यावत्: as long as/until
• यावत्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time limit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-बोधक (until/as long as)

• भवति: occurs/is
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• दर्शनम्: appearance/sight (visibility)
• दर्शनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma requires correct kāla (timing); Sandhyā is a measurable ritual interval.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla as a governing principle of karma; right action aligned with time supports inner purity (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).

Application: Observe Sandhyā within the defined window (approx. two nāḍikās); plan daily schedule around sunrise/sunset visibility rather than convenience.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temporal-liminal

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.62 (consequence of omission); Garuda Purana 1.213.64 (post-rite homa instruction)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Sandhya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines sandhyā as the sacred transition between day and night and fixes its ritual window, supporting disciplined daily worship as a dharmic practice.

How long is Sandhya according to this verse?

Sandhyā is stated to be two nāḍikās, i.e., a traditional two-unit time window around the day–night junction, lasting as long as visibility remains.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sunrise/sunset as disciplined prayer windows: keep a consistent routine for meditation, japa, or sandhyā-vandana near the day–night transition rather than delaying it arbitrarily.