Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

वेददिष्टं तथाचार्यं राजच्छायां परस्त्रियम् / नाक्रामेद्रक्तविण्मूत्रष्ठीवनोद्वर्तनानि च

Transliteration

vedadiṣṭaṃ tathācāryaṃ rājacchāyāṃ parastriyam / nākrāmedraktaviṇmūtraṣṭhīvanodvartanāni ca

Translation

One should not tread upon what the Veda enjoins, nor upon the teacher; nor upon the king’s shadow, nor another man’s wife; and one should not step upon blood, feces, urine, spittle, or the scrapings left from rubbing and cleansing the body.

Word by Word

• वेददिष्टम्: that which is enjoined by the Veda
• वेददिष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + दिष्ट (कृदन्त; √दिश् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) ‘दिष्ट’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/रीतिवाचक (adverb: ‘likewise’)

• आचार्यम्: the teacher
• आचार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• राजच्छायाम्: the king’s shadow
• राजच्छायाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः छाया)

• परस्त्रियम्: another man’s wife
• परस्त्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (परस्याः स्त्री)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• आक्रामेत्: should step on
• आक्रामेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्रम् (धातु) उपसर्गः आ-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रक्तविण्मूत्रष्ठीवनोद्वर्तनानि: blood, feces, urine, spit, and rubbing-powder (things)
• रक्तविण्मूत्रष्ठीवनोद्वर्तनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + विण्/विण्म् (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ष्ठीवन (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्वर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (समूहवाचक)

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

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sadācāra through śauca (purity) and aparādha-avoidance toward Veda, guru, kingly authority, and others’ marital boundaries.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; honoring guru-śāstra as means to right knowledge and inner steadiness.

Application: Cultivate careful bodily conduct: avoid disrespectful stepping/overstepping; maintain hygiene; treat guru/śāstra and social bonds as inviolable.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/royal/public pathways

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (sadācāra/śauca section)

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Ācārya
• Rāja (King)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity (śauca) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames purity and reverence as daily dharma: avoiding disrespect (teacher, Veda, king) and avoiding contact with impure substances, which are treated as causes of ritual defilement and moral fault.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By emphasizing avoidance of pāpa and maintenance of śauca, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that one’s post-death experience is shaped by one’s conduct and adherence to dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice respectful bodily and social discipline: maintain cleanliness, avoid stepping on unhygienic waste, and cultivate reverence toward teachers, sacred learning, and public authority as part of ethical living.