Shloka 6

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

असत्सन्तस्तु वै ज्ञेयाः प्रतिलोमानुलोमजाः / जात्युत्कर्षाद्द्विजो ज्ञेयः सप्तमे पञ्चमे ऽपि वा

Transliteration

asatsantastu vai jñeyāḥ pratilomānulomajāḥ / jātyutkarṣāddvijo jñeyaḥ saptame pañcame 'pi vā

Translation

Mereka yang lahir daripada perkahwinan campuran—sama ada pratiloma (songsang) atau anuloma (mengikut tertib)—hendaklah diketahui sebagai di luar golongan orang berbudi yang sejati. Namun, melalui peningkatan keturunan secara beransur, seseorang boleh diiktiraf sebagai ‘dvija’ pada generasi ketujuh, atau bahkan pada generasi kelima.

Word by Word

• असत्सन्तः: the unworthy/impure people
• असत्सन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (असन्तः सन्तः इति)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयाः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्/यत्-भाव), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be known)

• प्रतिलोम-अनुलोम-जाः: born of pratiloma and anuloma unions
• प्रतिलोम-अनुलोम-जाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिलोम (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुलोम (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (प्रतिलोमाश्च अनुलोमाश्च) + जाः (born)

• जाति-उत्कर्षात्: due to superiority of birth/caste
• जाति-उत्कर्षात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्कर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समास (जात्याः उत्कर्षः)

• द्विजः: a twice-born (dvija)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• ज्ञेयः: is to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (यत्), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• सप्तमे: in the seventh (generation)
• सप्तमे: Adhikarana (Location/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (in the seventh [generation])

• पञ्चमे: in the fifth (generation)
• पञ्चमे: Adhikarana (Location/Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (in the fifth [generation])

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mixed-union progeny are deemed outside ‘sat’ community; however, through successive lineage elevation, dvija status may be acknowledged after multiple generations.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and samskara as socially recognized refinement over time (adhikara for rites), framed within pravritti-dharma rather than ultimate non-duality.

Application: Guidance for determining ritual eligibility and social recognition across generations in a smriti framework; highlights the idea of gradual restoration of adhikara.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96.5 (examples of mixed-union jatis); Garuda Purana 1.96.7-9 (daily smarta duties for householders/dvijas)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija

FAQs

What is the importance of anuloma and pratiloma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats anuloma and pratiloma births as socially and ritually irregular categories, using them to explain how lineage rules affected recognition within dharmic society.

How does this verse explain eligibility for being called a dvija?

It states that through generational uplift of lineage (jātyutkarṣa), recognition as dvija may occur after multiple generations—specified here as the seventh, or even the fifth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Read it as a reminder that ethical refinement and sustained good conduct across generations were seen as central to social recognition—prioritizing long-term responsibility and dharmic living.