Shloka 12

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

आदन्तजननत्सद्य आ चौलान्नैशिकी स्मृता / त्रिरात्रमा व्रतादेशाद्दशरात्रमतः परम्

Transliteration

ādantajananatsadya ā caulānnaiśikī smṛtā / trirātramā vratādeśāddaśarātramataḥ param

Translation

From a child’s birth until the teeth erupt, and again until the tonsure rite (cūḍākaraṇa), the state of ritual impurity (āśauca) is remembered as lasting one night. By śāstric injunction it is three nights; beyond that it is held to be ten nights.

Word by Word

• ā-danta-jananāt: from the eruption/birth of teeth
• ā-danta-jananāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā + danta (प्रातिपदिक) + janana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—आदन्तजनन (आ + दन्त + जनन) तत्पुरुषः; अर्थः ‘दन्तानां जननम्’

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Adverbial (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• ā: up to
• ā: Adverbial (Avadhi/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधी/पर्यन्तबोधक उपसर्गसदृश (up to, until)

• caulāt: from the tonsure ceremony (cūḍākaraṇa)
• caulāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• naiśikī: the nightly (observance)
• naiśikī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naiśikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘निशा-सम्बन्धिनी’

• smṛtā: is stated/remembered
• smṛtā: Predicate (Kriyā/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) → smṛta (कृदन्त-भूतकृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थे ‘स्मृता’ = ‘is said/remembered’

• tri-rātram: three nights
• tri-rātram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः ‘त्रयः रात्रयः’

• ā: up to
• ā: Adverbial (Avadhi/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधी/पर्यन्तबोधक (up to)

• vrata-ādeśāt: from the prescription of the vow
• vrata-ādeśāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + ādeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—व्रतादेशः (व्रतस्य आदेशः)

• daśa-rātram: ten nights
• daśa-rātram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः ‘दश रात्रयः’

• ataḥ: thereafter
• ataḥ: Adverbial (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/तस्मात्-अर्थे (thereafter/therefore)

• param: further/next
• param: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied ‘rātram/vratam’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āśauca is time-limited and varies by stage; śāstric injunction governs purification periods.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; order (ṛta) expressed through ritual discipline.

Application: Observe prescribed impurity periods after childbirth; resume worship/rites only after the stated nights per injunction and family custom.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: sections on āśauca, antyeṣṭi, and śrāddha eligibility (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of aśauca (ritual impurity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse sets traditional time-limits for aśauca, guiding when rites like daily worship and śrāddha-related duties may be resumed according to dharma.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

In the Preta Kanda, rules of purity and observance regulate the family’s ritual eligibility during transitional periods; this verse summarizes graded durations (one night, three nights, and ten nights) used in such contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow your family’s śākhā/ācāra and priestly guidance for aśauca duration, and use the period for restraint, remembrance, and disciplined observance rather than routine celebrations.