Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

प्रातः सन्ध्यामुपासीत दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् / हुत्वाग्नौ सर्यदेवत्याञ्जपेन्मन्त्रान्समाहितः

Transliteration

prātaḥ sandhyāmupāsīta dantadhāvanapūrvakam / hutvāgnau saryadevatyāñjapenmantrānsamāhitaḥ

Translation

Pada waktu fajar, setelah terlebih dahulu membersihkan gigi, hendaklah seseorang bersembahyang Sandhyā pagi. Setelah mempersembahkan oblation (homa) ke dalam api kepada Dewa Surya, hendaklah dia melafazkan mantra dengan minda yang terhimpun.

Word by Word

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सन्ध्याम्: the Sandhyā (twilight prayer)
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• उपासीत: should worship/attend upon
• उपासीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √आस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दन्त-धावन-पूर्वकम्: with tooth-cleaning done first
• दन्त-धावन-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + धावन (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb: 'preceded by tooth-cleaning')

• हुत्वा: having offered (oblations)
• हुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• सव्य-देवत्यान्: having the Savyā deities (as presiding deities)
• सव्य-देवत्यान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + देवत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सव्याः देवताः येषां ते)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रान्: mantras
• मन्त्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• समाहितः: collected/attentive
• समाहितः: Karta (Agent-state/कर्ता-धर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + √धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Daily morning discipline: bodily cleanliness, sandhyā-upāsanā, offering to Sūrya in fire, and mantra recitation with collected mind.

Vedantic Theme: Nitya-karma and upāsanā as mind-purifying practices leading toward steadiness (ekāgratā) supportive of jñāna and bhakti.

Application: Establish a dawn routine: hygiene, brief worship/meditation, and focused recitation; cultivate consistency and attention (samāhita-citta).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic sacred space / liminal dawn setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96.7 (daily smarta duties in marriage fire); Garuda Purana 1.96.8 (purification prerequisites)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Agni

FAQs

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

This verse presents morning Sandhyā as a foundational nitya-karma: purification first, then worship and mantra-japa with mental focus, establishing daily dharmic discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing regular purification, worship, and mantra-japa, it points to how disciplined dharma and sattvic habits support spiritual progress and reduce karmic burdens that obstruct higher states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin the day with cleanliness, a brief prayer/meditation to the Sun (or morning worship), and focused mantra repetition to cultivate clarity, self-control, and consistency in dharmic living.