Shloka 10

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

कर्षकाः क्षत्त्रविट्छूद्राः खले ऽदत्त्वा तु चौरकः / दिनत्रयेण शुध्येत ब्राह्मणः प्रेतसूतके

Transliteration

karṣakāḥ kṣattraviṭchūdrāḥ khale 'dattvā tu caurakaḥ / dinatrayeṇa śudhyeta brāhmaṇaḥ pretasūtake

Translation

കർഷകർ, ക്ഷത്രിയർ, വൈശ്യർ, ശൂദ്രർ ഒരുദിവസംകൊണ്ട് ശുദ്ധിയാകും; ദുഷ്ടനു ഒന്നും കൊടുക്കാതിരുന്നാൽ കള്ളനും ശുദ്ധിയാകും. എന്നാൽ പ്രേതസൂതകത്തിൽ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ മൂന്നു ദിവസത്തിൽ ശുദ്ധിയാകും.

Word by Word

• कर्षकाः: farmers
• कर्षकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• क्षत्त्रविट्छूद्राः: Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras
• क्षत्त्रविट्छूद्राः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्र + विट् + शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (क्षत्त्राः च विटः च शूद्राः च)

• खले: in the threshing-floor/barn
• खले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अदत्त्वा: without giving
• अदत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक-क्त्वान्त (absolutive with negation): ‘not having given’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: emphasis/contrast)

• चौरकः: a thief
• चौरकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिनत्रयेण: by/within three days
• दिनत्रयेण: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयाणि दिनानि)

• शुध्येत: should become purified
• शुध्येत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रेतसूतके: in the impurity due to a death
• प्रेतसूतके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रेतस्य सूतकम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-sūtaka; purification counted in days as stated (not a full śrāddha procedure here).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time-bound purification (śuddhi) varies by social role; death-impurity (preta-sūtaka) has specified duration; avoiding association/gifts to the wicked prevents moral taint.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a stabilizing framework for mind and society; external purity disciplines support inner steadiness (śama) and sattva.

Application: Observe culturally appropriate mourning/purity periods; avoid enabling harmful persons; use structured time for restraint, prayer, and gradual return to duties.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: household/community during sūtaka (impurity)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (sūtaka/śuddhi durations and conduct)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Kshatriya
• Vaishya
• Shudra
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of preta-sūtaka (death impurity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames preta-sūtaka as a time-bound ritual impurity with specific purification durations, emphasizing dharma-based conduct and disciplined observances after a death.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by defining preta-sūtaka, it signals the transition period after death when the departed is regarded as ‘preta,’ and the living follow prescribed purity rules while funeral and post-death rites are completed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow family and tradition-based bereavement observances with clarity: keep a defined period of restraint and ritual discipline after a death, and avoid unethical gifting or dealings with the wicked.