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

ต่อจากนั้นเมื่ออาบน้ำแล้ว บุรุษพึงประกอบสันธยาอุปาสนาโดยถูกต้อง โดยหันหน้าไปทางทิศตะวันตก

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.