Shloka 14

Devanagari script

तदर्धा तु कनिष्ठा स्यात्सूत्रमष्टोत्तरं शतम् / उत्तमं मध्यमं चैव कन्यसं पूर्ववत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

tadardhā tu kaniṣṭhā syātsūtramaṣṭottaraṃ śatam / uttamaṃ madhyamaṃ caiva kanyasaṃ pūrvavatkramāt

Translation

Half of that is held to be the lowest measure; the sacred thread (yajñopavīta) should be one hundred and eight units in length. The best, the middling, and the least are to be understood in the same order as stated earlier.

Word by Word

• तदर्धा: half of that
• तदर्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य अर्धा = तदर्धा)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/अन्वयार्थे

• कनिष्ठा: the smallest/lowest
• कनिष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सूत्रम्: thread/cord
• सूत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अष्टोत्तरम्: eight more (i.e., plus eight)
• अष्टोत्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (अष्टानाम् उत्तरम् = eight more)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; संख्याशब्द

• उत्तमम्: the best/upper
• उत्तमम्: Visheshya/Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मध्यमम्: the middle
• मध्यमम्: Visheshya/Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कन्यसम्: the least/smallest
• कन्यसम्: Visheshya/Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कन्यस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (कनिष्ठार्थक)

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/रीत्यर्थे (as before)

• क्रमात्: in order/stepwise
• क्रमात्: Hetu/Adhikarana (Manner/हेतु-रीति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (by order/stepwise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (māna-pramāṇa) and graded standards for sacred implements.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as purifier (śuddhi) supporting sattva and eligibility for higher knowledge.

Application: When preparing sacred thread/pavitraka, follow the stated length and the earlier hierarchy of best/medium/least; document the chosen standard for consistency in rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (context: pavitraka/pavitra-lakṣaṇa and gradations uttama–madhyama–kanistha; ‘pūrvavat kramāt’ indicates reliance on immediately prior verses)

FAQs

What is the importance of the 108 measure mentioned for the sacred thread in Garuda Purana?

This verse specifies an authoritative ritual standard: 108 as the proper length/measure for the yajñopavīta, reflecting a codified dharma guideline for correct observance.

How does this verse classify uttama, madhyama, and kaniṣṭha in ritual practice?

It indicates a graded system—best, medium, and least—whose exact ordering and definitions follow the earlier instructions in the chapter, ensuring consistency in ritual specifications.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For those who wear or replace the yajñopavīta, follow traditional standards and learn the correct measures from a qualified teacher, treating ritual discipline as part of daily dharma.