Shloka 47

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

अनध्यायस्त्र्यहं प्रेते शिष्यर्त्विग्गुरुबन्धुषु / उपाकर्मणि चोत्सर्गे स्वशाखश्रोत्रिये मृते

Transliteration

anadhyāyastryahaṃ prete śiṣyartviggurubandhuṣu / upākarmaṇi cotsarge svaśākhaśrotriye mṛte

Translation

When a death occurs, Vedic study should be suspended for three days—if the departed is one’s student, ṛtvij (officiating priest), guru, or relative. Likewise, (study is suspended) at the time of Upākarman and Utsarga, and also when a learned śrotriya of one’s own Vedic branch passes away.

Word by Word

• अनध्यायः: non-study (cessation of study)
• अनध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्र्यहम्: for three days
• त्र्यहम्: Karma/Pramāṇa (Measure/Extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि अहानि)

• प्रेते: when (someone) has died
• प्रेते: Hetu/Nimitta (Cause/Occasion/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (सप्तमी-निमित्ते)

• शिष्य: disciple
• शिष्य: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• ऋत्विक्: officiating priest
• ऋत्विक्: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• गुरु: teacher
• गुरु: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• बन्धुषु: among/with respect to relatives (of disciple/priest/teacher)
• बन्धुषु: Adhikaraṇa (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; पूर्वपदानि (शिष्य-ऋत्विग्-गुरु) समाहार/समुच्चयार्थे

• उपाकर्मणि: at the Upākarma (rite)
• उपाकर्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (Time/Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction: ‘and/also’)

• उत्सर्गे: at the Utsarga (ending rite)
• उत्सर्गे: Adhikaraṇa (Time/Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्वशाखश्रोत्रिये: when a śrotriya of one’s own branch (Vedic school)
• स्वशाखश्रोत्रिये: Adhikaraṇa (Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + शाखा + श्रोत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य शाखा यस्य सः श्रोत्रियः)

• मृते: having died / when dead
• मृते: Hetu/Nimitta (Cause/Occasion/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त; √मृ धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘मृत’ = dead

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: On death of certain connected persons (student, priest, guru, relative; also a śrotriya of one’s own śākhā), suspend Vedic study for three days; similarly during upākarma and utsarga.

Vedantic Theme: Śuddhi as a prerequisite for sacred speech; dharma regulates liminality to preserve sanctity and social harmony.

Application: If a qualifying death occurs, observe three-day anadhyāya (no Veda recitation/teaching), then resume after appropriate purification per family/śākhā rules.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha/āśrama (generic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (anadhyāya catalogue continues)

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Rtvij
• Shishya
• Shrotriya

FAQs

What is the importance of anadhyaya (suspension of Vedic study) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames anadhyaya as a dharmic safeguard: after a death and during specific Vedic rites (Upākarman/Utsarga), one pauses svādhyāya to maintain ritual propriety and respect the transitional period.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it shows that death creates a liminal period affecting household and ritual order; the living observe regulated conduct (like pausing Vedic study) while post-death duties proceed, aligning dharma with the soul’s transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you follow a traditional svādhyāya/chanting routine, observe a three-day pause after a death involving close dharmic relations (teacher, priest, student, relatives), and follow community guidance for Upākarman and Utsarga observances.