Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

आनामकरणात्सद्य आचूडान्तादहर्निशम् / आव्रतात्तु त्रिरात्रेण तदूर्ध्वन्दशभिर्दिनैः

Transliteration

ānāmakaraṇātsadya ācūḍāntādaharniśam / āvratāttu trirātreṇa tadūrdhvandaśabhirdinaiḥ

Translation

നാമകരണകർമ്മം നടന്ന നിമിഷം മുതൽ ചൂഡാ (മുണ്ഡനം) സംസ്കാരം വരെ പകലും രാത്രിയും ഇടവിടാതെ വ്രതനിയമങ്ങൾ പാലിക്കണം. നിയമഭംഗം സംഭവിച്ചാൽ മൂന്ന് രാത്രിക്കുള്ളിൽ പുനഃസ്ഥാപിക്കണം; തുടർന്ന് പത്ത് ദിവസത്തിൽ പ്രായശ്ചിത്തം പൂർത്തിയാകും.

Word by Word

• आनामकरणात्: from the naming-ceremony
• आनामकरणात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-नाम-करण (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—नामकरणम् (नाम्नः करणम्) इति तत्पुरुषः, उपसर्गः आ- (आनामकरण)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आचूडान्तात्: from the end of the topknot-rite (cūḍānta)
• आचूडान्तात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-चूड-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—चूडान्तः (चूडायाः अन्तः) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; उपसर्गः आ-

• अहर्निशम्: day and night
• अहर्निशम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहन् + निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; द्वन्द्वसमासः (अहः + निशा) ‘day and night’ इति; अव्ययभावेन (adverbial)

• आव्रतात्: from the (commencement of) the vow/observance
• आव्रतात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; उपसर्गः आ-

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• त्रिरात्रेण: by/within three nights
• त्रिरात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः—त्रिरात्रम् (three nights)

• तदूर्ध्वम्: thereafter
• तदूर्ध्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः—तद् + ऊर्ध्वम्; अव्यय (adverb) ‘thereafter/above that’

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• दिनैः: days
• दिनैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Continuity of saṃskāra-related observances and time-bound restoration when vows are broken.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-śuddhi (fitness through discipline) as a support for dharma and later spiritual pursuit.

Application: Maintain daily observances consistently; if a lapse occurs, restore within three nights; otherwise complete prescribed expiation within ten days.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic-ritual space (griha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (śauca/saṃskāra-niyama context)

FAQs

What is the importance of maintaining observances from nāmakaraṇa to cūḍā in Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes continuity of prescribed discipline (vrata-like conduct) across key saṃskāras, treating them as a sustained period of ritual responsibility rather than isolated ceremonies.

How does this verse explain correction after a lapse in observance?

It sets a graded remedy: if the observance is broken, restoration should occur within three nights; if delayed beyond that, a longer corrective period—ten days—is prescribed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat spiritual commitments as continuous habits; if you lapse, return quickly and set a defined recovery period rather than abandoning the discipline entirely.