Shloka 12

Upanayana Timing, Brahmacarya Rules, Ācamana & Sandhyā Observance

Devanagari script

सन्ध्यां प्राक् प्रातरेवं हि तिष्ठेदासूर्यदर्शनात् / अग्निकार्यं ततः कुर्यात्सन्ध्ययोरुभयोरपि

Transliteration

sandhyāṃ prāk prātarevaṃ hi tiṣṭhedāsūryadarśanāt / agnikāryaṃ tataḥ kuryātsandhyayorubhayorapi

Translation

ก่อนสนธยาตอนเช้า พึงตั้งมั่นในวัตรตั้งแต่ยามรุ่งอรุณจนเห็นดวงอาทิตย์ แล้วจึงประกอบพิธีบูชาไฟ และพึงทำเช่นนี้ในสนธยาทั้งสอง คือเช้าและเย็น

Word by Word

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

• प्राक्: beforehand
• प्राक्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (before)

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (in the morning)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in this manner)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/causal)

• तिष्ठेत्: should stand/remain
• तिष्ठेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आ: until
• आ: Desha-kala-avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधी-प्रदर्शक (up to/until)

• सूर्य-दर्शनात्: from/at the sight of the sun
• सूर्य-दर्शनात्: Apadana (Limit-point/source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• अग्नि-कार्यम्: the fire-rite
• अग्नि-कार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Sequence/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ततः-शब्द (thereafter/from that)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सन्ध्ययोः: of the two sandhyās (morning & evening)
• सन्ध्ययोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (सन्ध्ययोः)

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Observe morning sandhya from pre-dawn until sun is seen; then perform agni-karya; do likewise at both twilights.

Vedantic Theme: Nitya-karma as chitta-shuddhi; honoring cosmic order (rita) through time-bound discipline.

Application: Keep strict sandhya timing: begin before dawn, continue until sunrise; follow with fire-rite; repeat at evening twilight—consistency over convenience.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ashramic ritual ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.94.10-11 (japa, pranayama, purification); Garuda Purana 1.94.13-14 (guru-upasana, study, service)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of Sandhya (twilight worship) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats sandhyā as a mandatory daily discipline: one observes at dawn until sunrise and performs the prescribed fire-duty, emphasizing regularity at both morning and evening twilights.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames dharmic daily rites (sandhyā and agni-kārya) as foundational conduct that purifies one’s life and supports favorable spiritual outcomes taught elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a consistent morning-and-evening spiritual routine: begin before sunrise, continue until sunrise, and follow with a simple fire/light offering or prayerful practice aligned with your tradition.