Shloka 15

Upanayana Timing, Brahmacarya Rules, Ācamana & Sandhyā Observance

Devanagari script

दण्डाजिनोपवीतानि मेखलां चैव धारयेत् / ब्राह्मणेषु चरेद्भैक्षमनिन्द्येष्वात्मवृत्तये

Transliteration

daṇḍājinopavītāni mekhalāṃ caiva dhārayet / brāhmaṇeṣu caredbhaikṣamanindyeṣvātmavṛttaye

Translation

He should bear the staff, wear the deerskin, the sacred thread (yajñopavīta), and the waist-girdle; and for his own livelihood he should go for alms among blameless brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• दण्ड: staff
• दण्ड: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• अजिन: deerskin
• अजिन: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• उपवीतानि: staff, skin, and sacred thread (items)
• उपवीतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; दण्ड+अजिन+उपवीत (समाहार-द्वन्द्वः)

• मेखलाम्: girdle
• मेखलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

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

• धारयेत्: should wear/hold
• धारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ब्राह्मणेषु: among Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• चरेत्: should practice/go about
• चरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भैक्षम्: alms (begging)
• भैक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनिन्द्येषु: among blameless (ones)
• अनिन्द्येषु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिन्द्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; विशेषणं (ब्राह्मणेषु)

• आत्मवृत्तये: for one’s livelihood
• आत्मवृत्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; आत्मन्+वृत्ति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmacārin’s external discipline (daṇḍa, ajina, upavīta, mekhalā) and regulated livelihood through bhikṣā among the blameless.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as preparation for Veda-adhyayana and later jñāna.

Application: Adopt simple living, visible accountability to vows, and ethically sourced sustenance; seek support only from upright sources.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: gurukula/agrahara (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.94.16-19 (continuation of brahmacarya rules)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins

FAQs

What is the importance of wearing daṇḍa, ajina, upavīta, and mekhalā in the Garuda Purana?

They symbolize disciplined life and Vedic restraint—outer marks that support inner vows of purity, study, and self-control.

How does this verse relate to dharma in the Garuda Purana?

It prescribes a dharmic mode of living—maintaining traditional observances and seeking sustenance through righteous means (bhikṣā) rather than improper livelihood.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt ethical livelihood and disciplined habits, and seek support or resources through honest, respectable channels rather than compromising principles.