Shloka 4

Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes

Devanagari script

आचारात्प्राप्नुयात्सर्वं षट् कर्माणि दिनेदिने / सन्ध्या स्नानं जपो होमो देवातिथ्यादिपूजनम्

Transliteration

ācārātprāpnuyātsarvaṃ ṣaṭ karmāṇi dinedine / sandhyā snānaṃ japo homo devātithyādipūjanam

Translation

आचारात् सर्वं प्राप्नुयात्; तस्माद् दिनेदिने षट्कर्माणि कुर्यात्—सन्ध्यां स्नानं जपं होमं देवातिथ्यादिपूजनं च।

Word by Word

• आचारात्: from conduct/from right practice
• आचारात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• प्राप्नुयात्: may obtain/should obtain
• प्राप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषणवत्

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिकरूपेण; कर्माणि इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कर्माणि: acts/rites
• कर्माणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दिने: in a day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिने: day by day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (iterative)

• सन्ध्या: sandhyā worship (twilight prayer)
• सन्ध्या: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जपः: recitation (japa)
• जपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• होमः: fire-offering (homa)
• होमः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवातिथ्यादिपूजनम्: worship of gods, guests, and the like
• देवातिथ्यादिपूजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आतिथ्य + आदि + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (देव-आतिथ्य-आदि-पूजन = worship of gods, guests, etc.)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ācāra (right conduct) as the means to attain well-being; prescription of ṣaṭ-karmāṇi as daily duties.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi through nitya-karma; dharma as preparatory discipline supporting higher knowledge and devotion.

Application: Adopt a consistent daily sādhanā: regular prayer/meditation (sandhyā/japa), cleanliness (snāna), offerings (homa/pūjā), and hospitality/service (atithi).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: household/ashram

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (nitya-karma and sadācāra passages; household dharma instructions)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Atithi (Guest)

FAQs

What is the importance of daily duties (ṣaṭ-karmas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that right conduct (ācāra) is the means to attain life’s aims, and it is maintained through consistent performance of the six daily disciplines—sandhyā, bathing, japa, homa, and honoring devas and guests.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing ācāra and nitya-karmas, the verse presents ethical-ritual discipline as the foundation that purifies one’s karma, shaping one’s spiritual progress and post-death trajectory described elsewhere in the Garuḍa Purāṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a steady daily routine of purification and remembrance (prayer/meditation/japa), offer a regular act of gratitude (homa or a simple offering), and practice dharma socially by honoring guests and serving the sacred in everyday life.