Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

दायकालादृते वापि श्रौतं वैतानिकाग्निषु / शरीरचिन्तां निर्वर्त्य कृतशौचविधिर्द्विजः

Transliteration

dāyakālādṛte vāpi śrautaṃ vaitānikāgniṣu / śarīracintāṃ nirvartya kṛtaśaucavidhirdvijaḥ

Translation

Except at the appointed time (for giving or for the rite), the dvija should not undertake śrauta rites in the vaitānika fires. Having attended to the body’s necessary concerns and completed the prescribed purification (śauca), he should then proceed.

Word by Word

• दाय-कालात्: from the time of giving (alms/fee)
• दाय-कालात्: Apadana (Source/Exception point/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाय (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (दायस्य कालः)

• ऋते: except/without
• ऋते: Sambandha (Exclusion marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition-like: 'except/without')

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• श्रौतम्: Vedic/Śrauta (rite)
• श्रौतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रौत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण

• वैतानिक-अग्निषु: in the Vaitānika sacred fires
• वैतानिक-अग्निषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैतानिक (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वैतानिकाः अग्नयः)

• शरीर-चिन्ताम्: care/attention to the body
• शरीर-चिन्ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शरीरस्य चिन्ता)

• निर्वर्त्य: having completed/attended to
• निर्वर्त्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निर् + √वृत्/√वर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• कृत-शौच-विधिः: one who has performed the purification procedure
• कृत-शौच-विधिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त, √कृ) + शौच (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कृतं शौचविधिः यस्य/कृतः शौचविधिः)

• द्विजः: the dvija (twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrauta rites are not to be performed outside their proper time; bodily needs should be addressed and purification completed before ritual action.

Vedantic Theme: External purity supporting inner steadiness; discipline in karma as preparatory purification (sattva-shuddhi).

Application: Observe ritual timing and prerequisites; prioritize cleanliness and readiness before sacred acts (a generalizable principle for any disciplined practice).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacrificial space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96.7 (daily smarta duties); Garuda Purana 1.96.9 (morning sandhyā after tooth-cleaning; collected mind)

FAQs

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

This verse stresses that ritual action becomes appropriate only after śauca is completed—purity is treated as a prerequisite for valid Vedic observance.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and dharma?

It frames death-related and time-bound rites as regulated actions: one should follow the correct timing and avoid performing śrauta acts in sacrificial fires outside the proper occasion, maintaining dharmic order during impurity-sensitive periods.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow clear timing and cleanliness rules before religious practice: complete necessary bodily routines, observe prescribed purification, and then perform worship/rituals with attentiveness and discipline.