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Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

दशाहाच्छुध्यते माता स्नानात्सूते पिता शुचिः / सङ्गात्सूतौ सूतकं स्यादुपस्पृश्य पिता शुचिः

Transliteration

daśāhācchudhyate mātā snānātsūte pitā śuciḥ / saṅgātsūtau sūtakaṃ syādupaspṛśya pitā śuciḥ

Translation

ماں دس دن کے بعد پاک ہوتی ہے؛ ولادت کے بعد غسل کرنے سے باپ پاک ہوتا ہے۔ سوتک والوں کے میل جول سے سوتک لگتا ہے؛ آچمن (پانی چکھنے کی رسم) کے بعد باپ پاک ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word
दशाहात्after ten days
दशाहात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootदश + अह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः—दशाहम् (ten days)
शुध्यतेbecomes purified
शुध्यते:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootशुध् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्
माताthe mother
माता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन
स्नानात्from/after bathing
स्नानात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootस्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन
सूतेat childbirth
सूते:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसूति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘at childbirth/delivery’
पिताthe father
पिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन
शुचिःpure
शुचिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषणम्
सङ्गात्from contact/association
सङ्गात्:
Apadana (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन
सूतौin the childbirth (sūtaka context)
सूतौ:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसूति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन (वैदिक/प्रयोगभेदेन औ-प्रत्ययः); ‘in childbirth’
सूतकम्birth-impurity (sūtaka)
सूतकम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसूतक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता) / द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म) एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा—‘impurity is’
स्यात्should be/arise
स्यात्:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
उपस्पृश्यhaving performed purification by touching water (ācamana)
उपस्पृश्य:
Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootउप + स्पृश् (धातु) → उपस्पृश्य (कृदन्त)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having touched (water) / having performed ācamana’
पिताthe father
पिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन
शुचिःpure
शुचिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootशुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषणम्
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Birth-impurity (sūtaka) has defined durations and transmission by contact; purification occurs through time (mother), bathing and ācamana (father).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa orderliness: external śauca supports inner steadiness; recognition of liminal states without moral blame.

Application: Observe ten-day period for the mother; father regains purity after post-birth bath and ācamana; avoid contact-based spread of sūtaka by mindful boundaries.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: home/birth-chamber (sūtikāgṛha) and bathing place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (sūtaka rules and purification acts)

FAQs

This verse frames sūtaka as a time-bound ritual impurity connected to childbirth, prescribing specific purification—ten days for the mother and bathing/ācamana-based purity for the father—so that dharmic rites are performed with proper śauca.

It does not directly address the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it establishes dharma-śauca rules that regulate when and how householders may resume rites—supporting the broader Purāṇic emphasis that correct ritual order sustains spiritual merit.

Observe a mindful pause from major rituals during the postnatal period, maintain cleanliness, and follow one’s tradition/family śākhā for sūtaka observance—treating purity practices as disciplines of responsibility and care.

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