Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

अनाथप्रेतवहनात्प्राणायामेन शुध्यति / प्रेतशूद्रस्य वहनान्त्रिरात्रमशुचिर्भवेत्

Transliteration

anāthapretavahanātprāṇāyāmena śudhyati / pretaśūdrasya vahanāntrirātramaśucirbhavet

Translation

അനാഥ (സംരക്ഷണമില്ലാത്ത) പ്രേതം വഹിക്കുന്നവൻ പ്രാണായാമംകൊണ്ട് ശുദ്ധനാകുന്നു; എന്നാൽ ശൂദ്ര-പ്രേതം വഹിച്ചാൽ മൂന്നു രാത്രികൾ അശൗചം നിലനിൽക്കും.

Word by Word

• अनाथ-प्रेत-वहनात्: from carrying an unclaimed corpse
• अनाथ-प्रेत-वहनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनाथ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + वहन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अनाथप्रेतस्य वहनात् = from carrying an unclaimed corpse)

• प्राणायामेन: by breath-control (prāṇāyāma)
• प्राणायामेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• शुध्यति: is purified
• शुध्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रेत-शूद्रस्य: of a dead śūdra
• प्रेत-शूद्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (of a dead śūdra)

• वहनात्: from carrying (it)
• वहनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वहन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• त्रिरात्रम्: three nights (period)
• त्रिरात्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (three-night duration)

• अशुचिः: impure
• अशुचिः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (impure)

• भवेत्: would be/becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Service to the unclaimed dead is purifiable through prāṇāyāma; impurity periods vary by social/ritual classification of the corpse carried.

Vedantic Theme: Kriyā (discipline) purifies the doer; bodily regulation (prāṇa) supports ritual restoration within dharma.

Application: If one carries an unclaimed corpse, perform prāṇāyāma as expiation; if carrying a śūdra-preta, observe three nights of aśauca per the text’s rule-set.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cremation-route/liminal public space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (corpse-contact and purification measures)

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Śūdra

FAQs

What is the importance of āśauca (ritual impurity) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse shows that contact with death creates āśauca, and it also specifies practical means and durations for restoring ritual purity, aligning conduct with dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by regulating how the living handle the dead (preta), it supports proper funerary order, which the Garuḍa Purāṇa links to the deceased’s post-death transition and rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one must assist with a body (especially without relatives), the verse emphasizes purification practices and mindful observance of impurity periods as part of respectful, dharmic funerary conduct.