Shloka 36

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

तेषां शुद्धिस्त्रिरात्रेण गर्भस्त्रावे त्रिरात्रिभिः / सूतायां मासतुल्याश्च चतुर्थे ऽह्नि रजस्वला

Transliteration

teṣāṃ śuddhistrirātreṇa garbhastrāve trirātribhiḥ / sūtāyāṃ māsatulyāśca caturthe 'hni rajasvalā

Translation

Đối với họ, sự thanh tịnh đạt được sau ba đêm; trường hợp sẩy thai cũng thanh tịnh sau ba đêm như vậy. Khi sinh nở, thời kỳ bất tịnh tương đương một tháng; và người phụ nữ đang hành kinh được xem là bất tịnh từ ngày thứ tư.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive, 6th), Bahuvacana; sarvanāma

• śuddhiḥ: purification (period)
• śuddhiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; kartṛ/viṣaya (topic)

• trirātreṇa: by three nights (in three nights)
• trirātreṇa: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + rātra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; kāla-karaṇa

• garbhastrāve: in case of miscarriage
• garbhastrāve: Adhikaraṇa (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha + strāva (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; samāsa: garbhasya strāvaḥ (miscarriage/abortion)

• trirātribhiḥ: by three nights
• trirātribhiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + rātri (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; kāla-karaṇa

• sūtāyām: in the case of a woman in childbirth (postpartum)
• sūtāyām: Adhikaraṇa (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtā (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; condition/location

• māsatulyāḥ: equal to a month (month-long)
• māsatulyāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māsa + tulya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of (śuddhayaḥ understood)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

• caturthe: on the fourth
• caturthe: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; ordinal used adverbially with ahni

• ahni: day
• ahni: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana

• rajasvalā: a menstruating woman
• rajasvalā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajasvalā (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; kartṛ/topic (menstruating woman)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific śauca durations for special categories: three nights for listed persons and miscarriage; one-month impurity for childbirth; menstruation-related impurity counted from the fourth day (as stated here).

Vedantic Theme: Ritual purity as a functional discipline (vyavahāra) distinct from intrinsic Self-purity (ātma-śuddhi).

Application: Apply appropriate rest, seclusion, and cleansing practices after miscarriage/childbirth; follow community śauca rules for resuming pūjā and communal rites; treat the period with compassion and support.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/childbirth chamber

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222.35 (who ‘they’ are); Garuda Purana 1.222 (broader śauca/āśauca framework)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of aśauca (ritual impurity) rules in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines specific time-bound periods for regaining ritual purity after events like miscarriage and childbirth, showing how dharma is maintained through regulated purification.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana rites connected with death rituals?

Aśauca rules govern eligibility for rites (such as śrāddha and related observances); by specifying purification timelines, the text frames when one may resume ritual duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages mindful observance of traditional purification periods and respectful handling of life-events, while aligning household ritual practice with prescribed dharmic timing.