Shloka 13

Āśauca and Udaka-kriyā: Post-Cremation Conduct, Eligibility, and Purifiers

Devanagari script

आदन्तजन्मनः सद्यः आचूडं नैशिकी स्मृता / त्रिरात्रमा व्रतादेशाद्दशरात्रमतः परम्

Transliteration

ādantajanmanaḥ sadyaḥ ācūḍaṃ naiśikī smṛtā / trirātramā vratādeśāddaśarātramataḥ param

Translation

Desde el nacimiento hasta la aparición de los primeros dientes—y asimismo hasta la tonsura—debe observarse de inmediato el rito llamado Naiśikī. Por mandato de las Escrituras es de tres noches; después de ello, ha de observarse por diez noches.

Word by Word

• आदन्तजन्मनः: of one from birth until the teeth appear
• आदन्तजन्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation: of one born up to teething)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā-danta-janman (प्रातिपदिक; आ + दन्त + जन्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आदन्तं जन्म यस्य/यावत्) — ‘from birth until teething’ sense

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: immediately)

• आचूडम्: up to the cūḍā (topknot/tonsure) stage
• आचूडम्: Kala/Parimāṇa (Limit/extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-cūḍa (प्रातिपदिक; आ + चूड)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘up to the topknot/tonsure stage’ (limit)

• नैशिकी: the naiśikī (night-related observance/impurity period)
• नैशिकी: Karta (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naiśikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• स्मृता: is stated/considered
• स्मृता: Kriya (Predicate: is said to be)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is considered/remembered’

• त्रिरात्रम्: three nights
• त्रिरात्रम्: Karta/Pradhana-vishaya (Topic: a three-night period)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-rātra (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + रात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयो रात्रयः)

• आ: up to
• आ: Parimāṇa (Limit marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि-निर्देशक अव्यय (preverb/particle: up to)

• व्रतादेशात्: from the prescription of the vow
• व्रतादेशात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata-ādeśa (प्रातिपदिक; व्रत + आदेश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (व्रतस्य आदेशः)

• दशरात्रम्: ten nights
• दशरात्रम्: Karta/Pradhana-vishaya (Topic: a ten-night period)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa-rātra (प्रातिपदिक; दश + रात्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश रात्रयः)

• अतः: thereafter/from then
• अतः: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (thereafter/from this)

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier: further)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (further/next)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time-bound observances (naiśikī) vary by life stage: immediate observance from birth milestones; duration shifts from three nights to ten nights per injunction.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as saṃskāra-shaping discipline: regulated conduct refines saṃskāras and supports sattvic development.

Application: Apply the prescribed naiśikī observance in early childhood contexts (birth to first teeth; up to tonsure) immediately; keep it for three nights by rule, and thereafter observe for ten nights as stated.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household life-cycle ritual context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (naiśikī/āśauca durations and saṃskāra-linked observances)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Naiśikī observance in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Naiśikī as a regulated rite to be undertaken promptly in early life-stages, emphasizing correct timing and duration as part of dharma-based ritual discipline.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on rites and dharma?

It presents a precise rule (vidhi) for an observance—defining when it applies (from birth through tonsure) and how long it should be kept (three nights, later ten)—reflecting the text’s prescriptive approach to ritual order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow tradition with clarity: if performing Garuda Purana–based rites, consult a qualified priest/textual tradition for the correct duration and stage-appropriateness rather than improvising.