Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

जलमेकाहमाकाशे स्थाप्यं क्षीरं तु मृन्मये / वैतानोपासनाः कार्याः क्रियाश्च श्रुतिचोदिताः

Transliteration

jalamekāhamākāśe sthāpyaṃ kṣīraṃ tu mṛnmaye / vaitānopāsanāḥ kāryāḥ kriyāśca śruticoditāḥ

Translation

Air hendaknya diletakkan di ruang terbuka selama satu hari, dan susu ditempatkan dalam bejana tanah liat. Upāsanā vaitāna serta tata-ritus yang diperintahkan oleh Śruti harus dilaksanakan.

Word by Word

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• एकाहम्: for one day
• एकाहम्: Kala-adhikarana (Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka-aha (प्रातिपदिक; एक + अहन्/अह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (एकं अहः)

• आकाशे: in the open air/sky
• आकाशे: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• स्थाप्यम्: should be kept/placed
• स्थाप्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive: -य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेयार्थः (to be placed/kept)

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (Object/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

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

• मृन्मये: in an earthen (container)
• मृन्मये: Adhikarana (Location: in an earthen vessel)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛn-maya (प्रातिपदिक; मृद्/मृन् + मय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मृदा मयः)

• वैतानोपासनाः: Vedic (vaitāna) worship/observances
• वैतानोपासनाः: Karta (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaitāna-upāsanā (प्रातिपदिक; वैतान + उपासना)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वैतानस्य उपासना)

• कार्याः: should be performed
• कार्याः: Kriya (Obligation/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive: -य), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेयार्थः (to be done)

• क्रियाः: rites/actions
• क्रियाः: Karta (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• श्रुतिचोदिताः: enjoined by the Veda (śruti)
• श्रुतिचोदिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier of क्रियाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruti-codita (प्रातिपदिक; श्रुति + चोदित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्रुत्या चोदिताः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śruti-prāmāṇya in ritual: correct preparation of dravyas and performance of vaitāna upāsanā and śruti-enjoined kriyās.

Vedantic Theme: Authority of śāstra for right action (pravṛtti-dharma) as a purifier of mind (citta-śuddhi) preparing for higher knowledge.

Application: Prepare ritual water by keeping it in open air for a day; keep milk in an earthen pot; then perform vaitāna worship and other śruti-prescribed rites with accuracy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground/household altar space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (procedural śauca and śrāddha adjuncts)

Characters & Entities

• Śruti (Vedas)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śruti-enjoined rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that ritual actions (kriyā) should align with Śruti (Vedic authority), making correctness and scriptural conformity central to dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework that proper, scripture-based rites and purity disciplines sustain dharma, which in turn shapes karmic outcomes affecting the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow reliable, scripture-rooted guidance for essential rites, and maintain basic ritual hygiene—e.g., keep offerings appropriately (water kept exposed, milk in earthenware) where such traditions are observed.