Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

बालहत्या त्वगमनादृतौ च स्त्री तु सूकरि / अगम्या व्रतकारिण्यो भ्रष्टपानोदकक्रियाः

Transliteration

bālahatyā tvagamanādṛtau ca strī tu sūkari / agamyā vratakāriṇyo bhraṣṭapānodakakriyāḥ

Translation

ബാലഹത്യ ചെയ്യുന്ന സ്ത്രീ, ഋതുകാലത്തിൽ ഗമനം ചെയ്യുന്ന സ്ത്രീ, സൂകരിയെപ്പോലെ അഗമ്യരിലേക്കു പോകുന്ന സ്ത്രീ; കൂടാതെ വ്രതം നടിച്ച് പാന-ഉദകാദി നിശ്ചിത ക്രിയകൾ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുന്നവർ—ഇവർ പാപിനികളായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• बालहत्या: child-killing (bāla-hatyā)
• बालहत्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (killing of a child)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Avyaya (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक

• अगमनात्: from illicit intercourse
• अगमनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगमन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; ‘गमन’ = sexual approach; अ-गमन = improper intercourse

• ऋतौ: during menstruation/season
• ऋतौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; (in menses/season)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• स्त्री: a woman
• स्त्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Avyaya (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• सूकरि: a sow (pig)
• सूकरि: Karta (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूकरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; जातिवाचक (a sow/pig; figurative epithet)

• अगम्या: unapproachable/forbidden
• अगम्या: Karta (Predicate-adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगम्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (not to be approached)

• व्रतकारिण्यः: vow-observers
• व्रतकारिण्यः: Karta (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतकारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘व्रतं करोति’ (one who undertakes vows)

• भ्रष्ट-पान-उदक-क्रियाः: with ruined drinking/water rites
• भ्रष्ट-पान-उदक-क्रियाः: Karta (Predicate-adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (whose drinking/water-rites are lapsed/ruined)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Certain acts—infanticide, intercourse during ṛtu (menstruation), forbidden sexual relations, and hypocritical vow-taking with abandonment of libation rites—are classified as pāpa.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma clouds sattva and deepens saṃsāric bondage; integrity (anṛta-vrata avoidance) is essential for inner purification.

Application: Avoid harmful/forbidden acts; practice vows only with sincerity; maintain prescribed daily/ancestral water-offerings where applicable, or their ethical equivalents (regular remembrance, duty, and care).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: social/ritual sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (pāpa lists; conduct rules)

FAQs

What is the importance of identifying sins in the Garuda Purana?

This verse exemplifies how the Garuda Purana classifies specific acts—harm to children, forbidden sexual conduct, and hypocritical vow-keeping—as adharma that generates severe negative karma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By enumerating transgressions, the text frames the moral causes that later determine post-death experiences and suffering; such lists function as a karmic map used in the broader Vishnu–Garuda dialogue.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid harm, uphold sexual and ethical restraint, and practice religious observances sincerely—especially maintaining essential duties rather than performing vows as mere display.