Shloka 12

Sūtaka-Nirṇaya: Causes, Duration, Exceptions, and Purification Protocols

अन्तर्दशाहे स्याताञ्चेत् पुनर्मरणजन्मनी / तावत् स्यादशुचिर्विप्रो यावत् तत् स्यादनिर्दशम्

antardaśāhe syātāñcet punarmaraṇajanmanī / tāvat syādaśucirvipro yāvat tat syādanirdaśam

اگر دس دن کے اندر پھر موت یا پیدائش واقع ہو جائے تو برہمن اتنی ہی مدت تک ناپاک رہے گا، جب تک اس (نئے) واقعے کے دس دن پورے نہ ہو جائیں۔

antar-daśāhewithin the ten-day period
antar-daśāhe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootantar (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + daśāha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—अव्ययीभावः (अन्तर् + दशाहे = दशाहस्य मध्ये)
syātshould occur/be
syāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√as (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
cetif
cet:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध-बोधक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootcet (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; शर्त-निपातः (conditional particle: if)
punaragain
punar:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpunar (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक (again)
maraṇa-janmanīdeath and birth (events)
maraṇa-janmanī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + janman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (मरणं च जन्म च)
tāvatfor that long
tāvat:
Kāla-parimāṇa (काल-परिमाण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottāvat (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक (so long; that much)
syātwould be
syāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√as (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
aśuciḥimpure
aśuciḥ:
Kartṛ-predicative (कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roota-śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ-प्रत्ययः (impure)
vipraḥa Brahmin
vipraḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvipra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन
yāvatas long as
yāvat:
Kāla-avadhāraṇa (काल-अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyāvat (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; यावत्-तावत्-सम्बन्धे (correlative: as long as)
tatthat (period/impurity)
tat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
syātwould be
syāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√as (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
anirdaśamnot (counted as) a full ten (days)
anirdaśam:
Kartṛ-predicative (कर्ता-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roota-nirdaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वकः; अर्थे—अनिर्दश (not completing ten days/without full ten)

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Concept: If another death or birth occurs within the initial ten-day period, impurity extends until the later event completes its own ten days (reset/extension principle).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as temporal discipline: purification is processual; order is restored by completing prescribed cycles rather than by sentiment or convenience.

Application: Track impurity periods carefully when multiple events occur; avoid premature resumption of rites; seek guidance for overlapping timelines.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Type: household/community

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.39 rules on daśāha, recurrence, and extension of āśauca

B
Brahmana (Vipra)

FAQs

This verse states that the ten-day śauca framework governs ritual eligibility, and if a new birth/death occurs within an ongoing daśāha, impurity continues until the fresh event completes its own ten days.

It clarifies continuity of aśauca: overlapping family events (death/birth) can extend the period during which rites, worship, and formal rituals are restricted, ensuring the daśāha is fully observed.

When multiple bereavements or a birth and a death occur close together, families should consult tradition-informed guidance and maintain the required observances until the latest ten-day period is completed.