Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

विषाद्यैश्च हतानां च नाशौचं पृथिवीपतेः / सत्रिव्रतिब्रह्मचारिदातृब्रह्मविदां तथा

Transliteration

viṣādyaiśca hatānāṃ ca nāśaucaṃ pṛthivīpateḥ / satrivratibrahmacāridātṛbrahmavidāṃ tathā

Translation

ഹേ ഭൂമിപതേ! വിഷം മുതലായവകൊണ്ട് കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടവർക്കു ആശൗചമില്ല; അതുപോലെ ദൃഢവ്രതികൾക്കും ബ്രഹ്മചാരികൾക്കും ദാതാക്കൾക്കും ബ്രഹ്മവിദന്മാർക്കും ആശൗചമില്ല।

Word by Word

• विषाद्यैः: by poison etc.
• विषाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘विषादि’ इति तत्पुरुषसमासः (विषं च अन्ये च)

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

• हतानाम्: of those killed
• हतानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वलिङ्गप्रयोग (of the slain)

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

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अशौचम्: impurity (ritual)
• अशौचम्: Karma/Pratishedhya (Object/निषेध्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘अशौच’ = impurity (ritual)

• पृथिवीपतेः: of the king (lord of the earth)
• पृथिवीपतेः: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + पति (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘पृथिवीपति’ = पृथिव्याः पति (king)

• सत्रिव्रतिब्रह्मचारिदातृब्रह्मविदाम्: of sacrificers, observers of three vows, celibate students, donors, and knowers of Brahman
• सत्रिव्रतिब्रह्मचारिदातृब्रह्मविदाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + त्रिव्रति + ब्रह्मचारि + दातृ + ब्रह्मविद् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ-समासः—(सत्रिणः, त्रिव्रतिनः, ब्रह्मचारिणः, दातारः, ब्रह्मविदः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यताबोधक/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: Immediately after death-related contact, determining whether āśauca is observed at all for eligible categories.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Exceptions to ritual impurity (āśauca) based on manner of death and spiritual/ethical status (vratin, brahmacārin, dātṛ, brahmavid).

Vedantic Theme: Brahmavidyā as a purifier transcending ritual contingency; hierarchy of inner purity over external impurity.

Application: When a death occurs by poison (and similar causes) or in households of brahmacārins/vow-keepers/donors/knowers of Brahman, apply reduced or no āśauca as per tradition, enabling uninterrupted duties (study, worship, service).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (āśauca-śauca rules context)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Brahmavid (knower of Brahman)
• Brahmacari

FAQs

What is the importance of āśauca (ritual impurity) rules in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that āśauca is a dharmic rule with specific exceptions; certain deaths and certain spiritually disciplined lives are treated as not generating the usual impurity period.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By exempting brahmavids and strict vow-observers from āśauca, the text implies a link between spiritual purity/realization and reduced dependence on external purification rites at death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow community and family dharma for mourning, while recognizing that the tradition also honors spiritual discipline and inner purity as central—not only external ritual markers.