Shloka 23

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

स्त्रीजनश्चाग्रतो गच्छेत् पृष्ठतो नवसञ्चयः / आचमनं विधातव्यं पाषाणोपरि संस्थितैः

Transliteration

strījanaścāgrato gacchet pṛṣṭhato navasañcayaḥ / ācamanaṃ vidhātavyaṃ pāṣāṇopari saṃsthitaiḥ

Translation

സ്ത്രീകൾ മുന്നിൽ പോകട്ടെ; പുതുതായി കൂടിയ സംഘം പിന്നിൽ നില്ക്കട്ടെ. കല്ലിന്മേൽ നിന്നുകൊണ്ട് വിധിപൂർവ്വം ആചമനം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• स्त्रीजनः: womenfolk
• स्त्रीजनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रियाः जनः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• पृष्ठतः: behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• नवसञ्चयः: a new accumulation/collection
• नवसञ्चयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव + सञ्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नवः सञ्चयः)

• आचमनम्: sipping (ritual rinsing)
• आचमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• विधातव्यम्: should be performed
• विधातव्यम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु) → विधातव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः (to be done)

• पाषाणोपरी: upon a stone
• पाषाणोपरी: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पाषाण + उपरि (प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय)
• Form: उपरि (अव्यय) सह समासवत् प्रयोगः; स्थानवाचक (on a stone)

• संस्थितैः: by those who are standing/placed
• संस्थितैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śauca/śrāddha procedural transitions (before offerings/recitation)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and niyama: external order supports internal purification during rites.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-śuddhi (fitness through purity) as a prerequisite for higher rites and remembrance.

Application: Maintain prescribed procession order; perform ācamana with steadiness (standing on a clean, firm base) to mark ritual transitions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/liminal ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Śrāddha sections): śauca, ācamana, procession rules around antyeṣṭi and śrāddha contexts

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of ācamana (ritual sipping) in Garuda Purana funeral-related conduct?

This verse treats ācamana as a required act of purification; it marks ritual readiness and maintains śauca (cleanliness) during rites connected with death and transition.

How does this verse relate to the disciplined conduct expected during post-death rites?

It specifies orderly movement (who goes ahead and who stays behind) and prescribes a concrete purity action—performing ācamana while standing on a stone—showing that even small procedural details are part of dharmic observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain decorum and cleanliness during rituals: follow the family/priest’s instructions on procession order and perform basic purification practices (like ācamana or washing) with attention and respect.