Shloka 18

Upanayana Timing, Brahmacarya Rules, Ācamana & Sandhyā Observance

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचार्यास्थितो नैकमन्नमद्यादनापदि / ब्राह्मणः काममश्रीयाच्छ्राद्धे व्रतमपडियन्

Transliteration

brahmacāryāsthito naikamannamadyādanāpadi / brāhmaṇaḥ kāmamaśrīyācchrāddhe vratamapaḍiyan

Translation

One established in brahmacarya should not eat more than a single meal when there is no emergency. A brāhmaṇa may, however, accept a meal at a śrāddha according to rule, without violating his vow.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचार्य: celibate studentship
• ब्रह्मचार्य: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• आस्थितः: abiding in
• आस्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस्थित (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

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

• एकम्: one (single)
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (अन्नम्)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अद्याद्: should eat
• अद्याद्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अनापदि: when there is no emergency
• अनापदि: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनापद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; नञ्-समास (न+आपद्)

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कामम्: as desired/optionally
• कामम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोगः (adverbial accusative: ‘at will/if desired’)

• अश्रीयात्: may resort to/undertake
• अश्रीयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; उपसर्गः ‘आ’ (आ+श्रि)

• श्राद्धे: at a śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धे: Adhikarana (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपडियन्: not violating (it)
• अपडियन्: Karta (Agent-participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पडि (धातु; देश्य/प्राकृतप्राय)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञर्थे ‘अ-’ उपसर्गः; अर्थः ‘न त्यजन्/न उल्लङ्घयन्’

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During a śrāddha observance when invited/eligible, as per rule (vidhi).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A brahmacārin should not eat more than once daily except in emergency; a brāhmaṇa may accept food at śrāddha according to rule without violating the vow.

Vedantic Theme: Yukta-vairāgya: restraint guided by dharma, not rigid ego; honoring pitṛ obligations within personal vows.

Application: Keep disciplined routines but allow rule-based exceptions for higher duties (family/ritual obligations) without rationalizing indulgence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: gurukula and śrāddha household setting (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.94.17 (purity before eating); Garuda Purana 1.94.19 (dietary avoidances; guru)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacarya
• Brāhmaṇa
• Śrāddha

FAQs

What is the importance of dietary restraint (single meal) in Garuda Purana dharma teachings?

This verse treats controlled eating as part of brahmacarya—discipline of body and senses—allowing steadiness in vows and purity of conduct.

Does the verse allow eating at a śrāddha while observing brahmacarya?

Yes. It explicitly permits a brāhmaṇa observing brahmacarya to accept food at a śrāddha, provided it is done according to proper rule and does not break the vow.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain moderation and routine in diet as a spiritual discipline, while honoring family and ancestral obligations (like śrāddha) in a principled, rule-bound way.