Shloka 19

Nāndīmukha-śrāddha (Prosperity Rites), Preta-kriyā, Aśauca, Ekoddiṣṭa, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Framework

Devanagari script

विप्रस्यैतद् द्वादशाहं राजन्यस्याप्य् अशौचकम् अर्धमासं तु वैश्यस्य मासं शूद्रस्य शुद्धये

Transliteration

viprasyaitad dvādaśāhaṃ rājanyasyāpy aśaucakam ardhamāsaṃ tu vaiśyasya māsaṃ śūdrasya śuddhaye

Translation

For a Brāhmaṇa, O king, this aśauca lasts twelve days; for a Kṣatriya too aśauca is prescribed. For a Vaiśya it is half a month, and for a Śūdra a full month—so that each may return to purity according to the station ordained.

Word by Word

• viprasya: of a Brahmin
• viprasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• etat: this (period)
• etat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dvādaśa-aham: twelve days
• dvādaśa-aham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या) + ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (twelve-day period)

• rājanyasya: of a Kshatriya
• rājanyasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारक निपात (particle: also)

• aśaucakam: impurity (period)
• aśaucakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśaucaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• ardha-māsam: half a month
• ardha-māsam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (half-month)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• vaiśyasya: of a Vaishya
• vaiśyasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• māsam: a month
• māsam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• śūdrasya: of a Shudra
• śūdrasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• śuddhaye: for purification
• śuddhaye: Sampradana (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya; addressing the kingly order in general terms)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Varṇa-differentiated durations of aśauca following death and the return to ritual purity

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aśauca is calibrated by social-ritual station (varṇa), expressing a graded dharma framework for restoring eligibility to rites.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Engage inherited traditions with sensitivity and context; where practice differs today, preserve the underlying intent—structured grieving and restoration of communal order.

Vishishtadvaita: Varṇāśrama is presented as a functional arrangement within the Lord’s cosmic governance, enabling different modes of service while maintaining social harmony.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)
• Kṣatriya (Rājanya)
• Vaiśya

FAQs

What is the significance of aśauca (ritual impurity) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames aśauca as a dharmic, time-bound condition with prescribed durations that restore social and ritual order through śuddhi (purification).

How does Sage Parāśara explain purification rules across the varnas?

He presents graded time-periods of aśauca—shorter for Brāhmaṇa/Kṣatriya and longer for Vaiśya/Śūdra—indicating a structured, varna-linked framework for returning to ritual purity.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in legal-ritual instruction, the Purāṇic vision treats dharma as part of Vishnu’s sustaining order (sthiti): regulated purification preserves harmony in a world upheld by the Supreme.