Shloka 7

Devanagari script

सुराप्यस्त्वात्मघातिन्यो नाशौचोदकभाजनाः / ततो न रोदितव्यं हि त्वनित्या जीवसं स्थितिः

Transliteration

surāpyastvātmaghātinyo nāśaucodakabhājanāḥ / tato na roditavyaṃ hi tvanityā jīvasaṃ sthitiḥ

Translation

ผู้ดื่มสุราและผู้ทำอัตมฆาต ย่อมไม่สมควรรับแม้แต่น้ำชำระ (ศौจอุทกะ) เพราะฉะนั้นไม่พึงร่ำไห้ เนื่องด้วยสภาพแห่งชีวะเมื่ออาศัยกายย่อมไม่เที่ยง

Word by Word

सुराप्यःwomen who drink liquor

तुbut

आत्मघातिन्यःself-killers (suicides)

नnot

अशौचोदकभाजनाःfit recipients/vessels for impure water-rites (i.e., not entitled)

ततःtherefore

नnot

रोदितव्यम्should be wept for / one should weep

हिindeed

तुbut

अनित्याःimpermanent

जीवसंस्of the living being (intended)

स्थितिःstate, condition, existence

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: In the context of aśauca/udaka eligibility and mourning conduct during death rites.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anityatā of embodied condition; grief is moderated by insight into impermanence, alongside dharmic censure of surāpāna and ātma-ghāta.

Vedantic Theme: deha-anityatā and viveka (discrimination) as supports for śānti; karma’s consequences shape ritual status.

Application: In bereavement, perform what is prescribed without collapsing into despair; cultivate perspective on impermanence while acknowledging ethical gravity of self-harm and addiction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: funerary/ritual context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (rules on aśauca/udaka eligibility and conduct around death); Garuda Purana Preta-kalpa passages on impermanence and the soul’s journey (thematic)

FAQs

What is the importance of aśauca-udaka (purification water) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that aśauca-related water offerings are part of post-death purity observances, and that certain grave actions are said to make a person unfit to receive such ritual purification.

How does this verse explain the path or condition of the soul after death?

It frames the jīva’s embodied condition as impermanent and advises restraint in mourning, implying that the soul’s journey continues beyond the body and worldly attachment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sobriety, avoid self-harm, and cultivate detachment: perform duties and rites responsibly, but temper grief with the understanding of life’s impermanence.