Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

गुर्वन्तेवास्यनूचानमातुलश्रोत्रियेषु च / अनौरसेषु पुत्रेषु भार्यास्वन्यगतासु च

Transliteration

gurvantevāsyanūcānamātulaśrotriyeṣu ca / anauraseṣu putreṣu bhāryāsvanyagatāsu ca

Translation

അതുപോലെ ഗുരു, ആചാര്യന്റെ ഗൃഹവാസിയായ ശിഷ്യൻ, വേദപാരായണ പണ്ഡിതൻ, മാതുലൻ, ശ്രോത്രിയൻ എന്നിവരുടെ കാര്യത്തിൽ (അതേ അവകാശം/നിയമം നിലനിൽക്കില്ല); കൂടാതെ ഔരസമല്ലാത്ത പുത്രന്മാരുടെയും മറ്റിടത്തേക്ക് പോയ ഭാര്യമാരുടെയും കാര്യത്തിലും അല്ല.

Word by Word

• गुरु: in the case of a teacher
• गुरु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• अन्तेवासि: in the case of a resident pupil
• अन्तेवासि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तेवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• अनूचान: in the case of a learned man (versed in Veda)
• अनूचान: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनूचान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• मातुल: in the case of a maternal uncle
• मातुल: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• श्रोत्रियेषु: among śrotriyas (Vedic scholars)
• श्रोत्रियेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• अनौरसेषु: in (case of) non-biological (sons)
• अनौरसेषु: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनौरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पुत्रेषु)

• पुत्रेषु: among sons
• पुत्रेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• भार्यासु: among wives
• भार्यासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• अन्यगतासु: who have gone to another (man/place)
• अन्यगतासु: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त; गम्-धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (अन्यं गता) विशेषणम् (भार्यासु)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain claims/impurity-extensions are not upheld (or are limited) regarding guru, resident pupil, learned reciter, maternal uncle, śrotriya, non-biological sons, and wives who have gone elsewhere—indicating boundary rules for obligation/impurity.

Vedantic Theme: Social dharma delineates roles to sustain yajña, study, and household order; detachment from over-extension of ritual contagion.

Application: In applying āśauca/related obligations, consult enumerated relationship categories; do not automatically extend restrictions/claims to these specified relations without textual basis.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: community/ashrama network

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (exceptions list continuing into next verse)

FAQs

What is the importance of disqualification rules in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights dharma-based boundaries on who is (and is not) considered eligible for certain claims/rights, stressing social order and responsibility rather than mere proximity or association.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader ethic: rightful conduct (dharma) in family and social obligations shapes karmic outcomes, which later affects post-death consequences described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain clarity in duties, guardianship, and legal/ethical rights within family structures; align decisions with fairness, responsibility, and established norms rather than opportunistic claims.