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Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

दशाहाच्छुध्यते माता स्नानात्सूते पिता शुचिः / सङ्गात्सूतौ सूतकं स्यादुपस्पृश्य पिता शुचिः

Transliteration

daśāhācchudhyate mātā snānātsūte pitā śuciḥ / saṅgātsūtau sūtakaṃ syādupaspṛśya pitā śuciḥ

Translation

മാതാവ് പത്ത് ദിവസത്തിന് ശേഷം ശുദ്ധയാകുന്നു; പ്രസവത്തിനു ശേഷം സ്നാനം ചെയ്താൽ പിതാവ് ശുദ്ധനാകുന്നു. സൂതകസ്ഥരുമായി സമ്പർക്കം വന്നാൽ സൂതകം ബാധിക്കും; ആചമനം (ഉപസ്പർശനം) ചെയ്താൽ പിതാവ് ശുദ്ധനാകുന്നു.

Word by Word
दशाहात्after ten days
दशाहात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootदश + अह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः—दशाहम् (ten days)
शुध्यतेbecomes purified
शुध्यते:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootशुध् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्
माताthe mother
माता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन
स्नानात्from/after bathing
स्नानात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootस्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन
सूतेat childbirth
सूते:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसूति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘at childbirth/delivery’
पिताthe father
पिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन
शुचिःpure
शुचिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषणम्
सङ्गात्from contact/association
सङ्गात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन
सूतौin the childbirth (sūtaka context)
सूतौ:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसूति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन (वैदिक/प्रयोगभेदेन औ-प्रत्ययः); ‘in childbirth’
सूतकम्birth-impurity (sūtaka)
सूतकम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता) / द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म) एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा—‘impurity is’
स्यात्should be/arise
स्यात्:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
उपस्पृश्यhaving performed purification by touching water (ācamana)
उपस्पृश्य:
Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootउप + स्पृश् (धातु) → उपस्पृश्य (कृदन्त)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having touched (water) / having performed ācamana’
पिताthe father
पिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन
शुचिःpure
शुचिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषणम्
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Birth-impurity (sūtaka) has defined durations and transmission by contact; purification occurs through time (mother), bathing and ācamana (father).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa orderliness: external śauca supports inner steadiness; recognition of liminal states without moral blame.

Application: Observe ten-day period for the mother; father regains purity after post-birth bath and ācamana; avoid contact-based spread of sūtaka by mindful boundaries.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: home/birth-chamber (sūtikāgṛha) and bathing place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (sūtaka rules and purification acts)

FAQs

This verse frames sūtaka as a time-bound ritual impurity connected to childbirth, prescribing specific purification—ten days for the mother and bathing/ācamana-based purity for the father—so that dharmic rites are performed with proper śauca.

It does not directly address the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it establishes dharma-śauca rules that regulate when and how householders may resume rites—supporting the broader Purāṇic emphasis that correct ritual order sustains spiritual merit.

Observe a mindful pause from major rituals during the postnatal period, maintain cleanliness, and follow one’s tradition/family śākhā for sūtaka observance—treating purity practices as disciplines of responsibility and care.

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