Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

कर्षकाः क्षत्त्रविट्छूद्राः खले ऽदत्त्वा तु चौरकः / दिनत्रयेण शुध्येत ब्राह्मणः प्रेतसूतके

Transliteration

karṣakāḥ kṣattraviṭchūdrāḥ khale 'dattvā tu caurakaḥ / dinatrayeṇa śudhyeta brāhmaṇaḥ pretasūtake

Translation

کاشتکار، کشتری، ویش اور شودر ایک ہی دن میں پاک ہو جاتے ہیں؛ بدکار کو کچھ نہ دے تو چور بھی پاک ہو جاتا ہے۔ مگر پریت-سوتک میں برہمن تین دن میں پاک ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• कर्षकाः: farmers
• कर्षकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• क्षत्त्रविट्छूद्राः: Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras
• क्षत्त्रविट्छूद्राः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्र + विट् + शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (क्षत्त्राः च विटः च शूद्राः च)

• खले: in the threshing-floor/barn
• खले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अदत्त्वा: without giving
• अदत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक-क्त्वान्त (absolutive with negation): ‘not having given’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: emphasis/contrast)

• चौरकः: a thief
• चौरकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिनत्रयेण: by/within three days
• दिनत्रयेण: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयाणि दिनानि)

• शुध्येत: should become purified
• शुध्येत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रेतसूतके: in the impurity due to a death
• प्रेतसूतके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत + सूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रेतस्य सूतकम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preta-sūtaka; purification counted in days as stated (not a full śrāddha procedure here).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time-bound purification (śuddhi) varies by social role; death-impurity (preta-sūtaka) has specified duration; avoiding association/gifts to the wicked prevents moral taint.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a stabilizing framework for mind and society; external purity disciplines support inner steadiness (śama) and sattva.

Application: Observe culturally appropriate mourning/purity periods; avoid enabling harmful persons; use structured time for restraint, prayer, and gradual return to duties.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: household/community during sūtaka (impurity)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (sūtaka/śuddhi durations and conduct)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Kshatriya
• Vaishya
• Shudra
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of preta-sūtaka (death impurity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames preta-sūtaka as a time-bound ritual impurity with specific purification durations, emphasizing dharma-based conduct and disciplined observances after a death.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by defining preta-sūtaka, it signals the transition period after death when the departed is regarded as ‘preta,’ and the living follow prescribed purity rules while funeral and post-death rites are completed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow family and tradition-based bereavement observances with clarity: keep a defined period of restraint and ritual discipline after a death, and avoid unethical gifting or dealings with the wicked.