Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

देशं कालं तथात्मानं द्रव्यं द्रव्यप्रयाजनम् / उपपत्तिंव्मवस्थाञ्च ज्ञात्वां कर्म समाचरेत्

Transliteration

deśaṃ kālaṃ tathātmānaṃ dravyaṃ dravyaprayājanam / upapattiṃvmavasthāñca jñātvāṃ karma samācaret

Translation

ദേശം, കാലം, സ്വന്തം അവസ്ഥ, ദ്രവ്യവും അതിന്റെ യഥോചിത പ്രയോജനവും, കൂടാതെ യുക്തിയും സ്ഥാപിതവിധിയും അറിഞ്ഞശേഷം കർമ്മം ആചരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• deśam: place
• deśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kālam: time
• kālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: also; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘thus/also’

• ātmānam: oneself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• dravyam: material; resources
• dravyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• dravya-prayājanam: proper use of resources
• dravya-prayājanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक) + prayājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘dravyasya prayājanam’ (proper employment/use of resources)

• upapattim: appropriateness; justification
• upapattim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upapatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• avasthām: condition; circumstance
• avasthām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avasthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); conjunction (समुच्चय)

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Kriyā (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/अव्ययभाव) ‘having known’

• karma: action; rite
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• samācaret: should perform; should practice
• samācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right action requires contextual discernment: place, time, personal capacity, resources, proper purpose, reasoning, and established procedure.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka and adhikāra: dharma is applied with discernment, aligning intention and means to right order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: Before performing rites or duties, assess context (where/when), your eligibility, available means, and follow validated procedure rather than impulse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: procedural emphasis in śrāddha/antyeṣṭi sections—proper vidhi and suitability

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of deśa-kāla (place and time) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that actions—especially prescribed rites—become proper only when performed after considering place, time, one’s capacity, and the correct procedure; otherwise the act may lose its intended dharmic efficacy.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, it supports the idea that śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna, and related rites should be done with correct conditions and method so they effectively aid the departed (preta) according to scriptural order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any major religious duty or ethical decision, assess context (time/place), your true capacity, available means, and follow a reliable procedure—acting thoughtfully rather than mechanically.