Shloka 28

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

तत्र त्याज्यानि वासांसि केशश्मश्रुनखानि च / विप्रः शुध्यत्यपः स्पृष्ट्वा क्षत्त्रियो वाहनं तथा

Transliteration

tatra tyājyāni vāsāṃsi keśaśmaśrunakhāni ca / vipraḥ śudhyatyapaḥ spṛṣṭvā kṣattriyo vāhanaṃ tathā

Translation

There, one should discard the garments, and likewise cut away hair, beard and moustache, and nails. A Brāhmaṇa is purified by touching water; and a Kṣatriya likewise by touching or attending to his vehicle.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• त्याज्यानि: to be discarded
• त्याज्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्याज्य (कृदन्त; त्यज् धातु)
• Form: भविष्यत्/विधेयार्थक (gerundive/तव्यत्-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘त्यक्तव्यानि’

• वासांसि: garments
• वासांसि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• केशश्मश्रुनखानि: hair, beard, and nails
• केशश्मश्रुनखानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक) + श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (केश-श्मश्रु-नखानि)

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

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुध्यति: becomes purified
• शुध्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद/परस्मैपद-प्रयोगानुसार (here: परस्मैपद रूप)

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अप्-शब्दः), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘जलानि’

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Purva-kala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• क्षत्त्रियो: a kṣatriya
• क्षत्त्रियो: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाहनम्: a vehicle/mount
• वाहनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘एवम्/अपि’ अर्थे (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Within the daśāha/śrāddha-associated purification sequence after rites

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discarding impurity-bearing items and varṇa-appropriate means of purification (water/vehicle etc.) after death rites.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta/dharma) expressed as disciplined action; external śauca as support for inner sattva.

Application: After the relevant rite, discard used garments and remove hair/beard/nails as prescribed; perform purification according to one’s dharma (touching water; for kṣatriya, purification connected with his vāhana/arms-duty symbol).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual purification setting (near water; implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: śauca rules and aśauca termination markers in surrounding verses of 2.5; Garuda Purana: varṇa-dharma and śrāddha eligibility discussions in other chapters (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)
• Kṣatriya

FAQs

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

This verse emphasizes restoring ritual purity after an impure context by discarding contaminating items (clothes, hair, nails) and using appropriate means of cleansing, showing that śauca is integral to preta-related observances.

How does this verse explain dharma according to varṇa (Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatriya)?

It assigns distinct purification markers: the Brāhmaṇa’s purification is linked to water-contact, while the Kṣatriya’s is linked to his vāhana (vehicle/mount), reflecting role-based duties and symbols of life-practice in dharma literature.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat periods of ritual/psychological impurity with intentional reset: maintain cleanliness, avoid carrying forward contaminating items, and use a clear purification practice (bathing, fresh clothing, simple discipline) consistent with one’s tradition.