Shloka 158

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

ततः सन्ध्यामुपासीत स्नात्वा वै पश्चिमां नरः

Transliteration

tataḥ sandhyāmupāsīta snātvā vai paścimāṃ naraḥ

Translation

Sesudah itu, setelah mandi, hendaklah seorang lelaki menunaikan pemujaan Sandhyā dengan sempurna sambil menghadap ke arah barat.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Desha-Kala (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from that)

• सन्ध्याम्: the twilight rite (sandhyā)
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• उपासीत: should worship/perform (attend)
• उपासीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+आस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (Adverbial action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having bathed’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed)

• पश्चिमाम्: evening (western)
• पश्चिमाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (सन्ध्याम् इति)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sandhyā-upāsanā after स्नान as obligatory daily rite; direction and timing are integral to ritual correctness.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga as purifying duty: nitya-karma performed without negligence supports inner clarity.

Application: Maintain a consistent sandhyā routine: bathe/cleanse, choose a quiet spot, face the prescribed direction, and perform japa/arghya with steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual spot (home courtyard/riverbank/ghāṭa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (dinacaryā leading into sandhyā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Sandhyā worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Sandhyā-upāsanā as a required daily discipline: after bathing, one should perform the twilight worship properly, reinforcing purity, regularity, and dharmic conduct.

Why does the verse mention facing the west (paścimāṃ)?

It indicates a directional rule tied to Sandhyā practice—commonly associated with the evening Sandhyā—showing that correct orientation is part of the ritual’s prescribed method.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a consistent daily spiritual routine: cleanse yourself, then set aside time for prayer/meditation at day’s transition points, following a disciplined method rather than a casual approach.