Shloka 45

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

अध्यायानामुपाकर्म श्रावण्यां श्रवणेन वा / हस्तेनौषधिभावे वा पञ्चम्यां श्रावणस्य च

Transliteration

adhyāyānāmupākarma śrāvaṇyāṃ śravaṇena vā / hastenauṣadhibhāve vā pañcamyāṃ śrāvaṇasya ca

Translation

وید کے مطالعہ کا اُپاکرم شراونی کے دن کرنا چاہیے، یا شروَن نکشتر کے وقت؛ یا ہست نکشتر میں، یا شراون ماہ کی پنچمی تِتھی کو بھی۔

Word by Word

• अध्यायानाम्: of lessons/chapters (Vedic lessons)
• अध्यायानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• उपाकर्म: the Upākarma rite (beginning of Vedic study)
• उपाकर्म: Karma/Viṣaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (contextually: as an occasion/act)

• श्रावण्याम्: on (the day of) Śrāvaṇī (nakṣatra)
• श्रावण्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रावणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• श्रवणेन: by (the nakṣatra) Śravaṇa
• श्रवणेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• हस्तेन: by (the nakṣatra) Hasta
• हस्तेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• औषधिभावे: at the ‘state/occasion of herbs’ (auspicious time called Auṣadhi-bhāva)
• औषधिभावे: Adhikaraṇa (Time/Occasion/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषधि + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (औषधीनां भावः)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• पञ्चम्याम्: on the fifth (lunar day)
• पञ्चम्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• श्रावणस्य: of (the month) Śrāvaṇa
• श्रावणस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction: ‘and/also’)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla-niyama for upākarma: Vedic study begins only at ritually sanctioned times (Śrāvaṇī/Śravaṇa/Hasta/Śrāvaṇa pañcamī).

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra and śuddhi as supports for svādhyāya; order (ṛta) expressed as ritual time.

Application: If the primary Śrāvaṇī day is missed, choose the permitted alternatives (Śravaṇa nakṣatra, Hasta, or Śrāvaṇa pañcamī) and perform upākarma per one’s śākhā-gṛhya rules.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (svādhyāya-niyama, upākarma/utsarga context)

Characters & Entities

• Śrāvaṇī
• Śravaṇa (Nakṣatra)
• Hasta (Nakṣatra)
• Upākarma

FAQs

What is the importance of Upākarma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Upākarma as a dharmic calendrical duty—an authorized time-bound renewal for commencing Vedic study, ensuring the practice is aligned with sacred time markers.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct observance of dharma (right timing and rite), it supports the broader Purāṇic theme that disciplined conduct and ritual order contribute to merit (puṇya) and spiritual well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows traditional practice, schedule Upākarma within the stated windows (Śrāvaṇī/Śravaṇa/Hasta or Śrāvaṇa pañcamī) and treat learning as a disciplined, annually renewed commitment.