Shloka 21

Sūtaka-Nirṇaya: Causes, Duration, Exceptions, and Purification Protocols

Devanagari script

विनिवृत्ता यदा शूद्रा उदकान्तमुपस्थिताः / तदाविप्रेणद्रष्टव्या इति वेदविदोविदुः

Transliteration

vinivṛttā yadā śūdrā udakāntamupasthitāḥ / tadāvipreṇadraṣṭavyā iti vedavidoviduḥ

Translation

ശൂദ്രർ പിന്മാറി ജലത്തിന്റെ കരയിൽ എത്തുമ്പോൾ, അപ്പോൾ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ (ആ കർമ്മം) ദർശിക്കണം/സന്നിഹിതനാകണം—എന്ന് വേദവിദർ പറയുന്നു.

Word by Word

• vinivṛttāḥ: returned/turned back
• vinivṛttāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinivṛtta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; Past Participle

• yadā: when
• yadā: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of Time

• śūdrāḥ: Shudras
• śūdrāḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) in passive construction
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• udakāntam: near the water/water's edge
• udakāntam: Karma (Object/कर्म) of upasthitāḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: udakānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• upasthitāḥ: approached/situated
• upasthitāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upasthita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; Past Participle

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of Time

• vipreṇa: by the Brahmin
• vipreṇa: Karta (Agent/कर्ता) in passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• draṣṭavyāḥ: should be seen/looked at
• draṣṭavyāḥ: Kriya (Verb equivalent/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: draṣṭavya (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; Potential Participle (Tavya)

• iti: thus
• iti: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (End of quote)

• vedavidaḥ: knowers of the Veda
• vedavidaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedavid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• viduḥ: they know/declare
• viduḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Lit/लिट्), 3rd Person (Prathama), Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: At the udakānta moment after withdrawal

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Role-sequencing in rites: after Śūdras withdraw to the water’s edge, a brāhmaṇa may then look/attend as per Veda-knowers’ rule.

Vedantic Theme: Social-ritual order (varṇa-āśrama) as a framework for saṃskāra performance; purity rules as functional, not merely punitive.

Application: Follow prescribed sequencing and boundaries in mixed-participant rites; ensure respectful coordination without conflict at liminal moments (udakānta).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: riverbank/ghāṭa threshold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.39 (procedural rules around participation and śuddhi)

Characters & Entities

• Veda-vids (knowers of the Veda)
• Brāhmaṇa (vipra)
• Śūdra

FAQs

What is the importance of reaching the water’s edge (udakānta) in Garuda Purana rites?

This verse places the ritual moment at the waterside as a formal boundary-point in the procedure, after which the qualified officiant (vipra) is to observe/oversee the next step according to Vedic injunction.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana funeral or śrāddha procedures?

It gives a sequence-marker: after certain participants withdraw and the group reaches the waterside, the rite is to be supervised/observed by a learned brāhmaṇa, aligning the performance with Vedic authority.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow a clear, respectful order in rites and seek guidance from competent, learned officiants so that traditional ceremonies are performed with discipline, clarity, and due propriety.