Shloka 120
Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā
राहोश्च दर्शने स्नानं प्रशस्तं निशि नान्यथा / उषस्युषसि यत्स्नानं सन्ध्यायामुदिते रवौ
rāhośca darśane snānaṃ praśastaṃ niśi nānyathā / uṣasyuṣasi yatsnānaṃ sandhyāyāmudite ravau
Apabila Rāhu (Rāhu) terlihat, yakni saat gerhana, mandi dipuji pada waktu malam dan bukan selainnya. Demikian juga, mandi yang ditetapkan pada waktu fajar hendaklah dilakukan pada waktu fajar; dan pada waktu sandhyā, ketika Matahari telah terbit.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Kāla-niyama in ritual: acts yield proper fruit when performed at their prescribed times; eclipse is a liminal period requiring specific observance.
Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) and alignment with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) as supports for inner steadiness.
Application: During eclipses, follow traditional bathing/ācamana and japa at appropriate times; maintain regular dawn and sandhyā practices with consistency and sobriety.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: temporal-ritual setting (eclipse/dawn/twilight)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: grahaṇa-related purity rules and snāna timing in ritual sections (contextual)
FAQs
This verse states that when Rahu is seen—signifying an eclipse—bathing is especially commended at night, highlighting eclipse-time snāna as a distinct purificatory observance tied to that celestial event.
It emphasizes appropriateness of time: eclipse bathing is linked to the night-time eclipse context, while regular prescribed bathing should be done at its proper windows—dawn (uṣas) and sandhyā—rather than arbitrarily shifting the timing.
Observe rituals with proper timing: during an eclipse, follow traditional purification practices; otherwise, keep daily hygiene and prayer aligned with dawn and sandhyā routines to maintain disciplined dharmic order.