Shloka 12

Upanayana Timing, Brahmacarya Rules, Ācamana & Sandhyā Observance

Devanagari script

सन्ध्यां प्राक् प्रातरेवं हि तिष्ठेदासूर्यदर्शनात् / अग्निकार्यं ततः कुर्यात्सन्ध्ययोरुभयोरपि

Transliteration

sandhyāṃ prāk prātarevaṃ hi tiṣṭhedāsūryadarśanāt / agnikāryaṃ tataḥ kuryātsandhyayorubhayorapi

Translation

Trước thời khắc sớm của sandhyā, hãy giữ sự hành trì từ lúc rạng đông cho đến khi thấy mặt trời. Sau đó hãy làm nghi lễ lửa (agni-kārya); và điều ấy phải thực hiện ở cả hai thời sandhyā (sáng và chiều).

Word by Word

• सन्ध्याम्: the twilight worship (sandhyā)
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्राक्: beforehand
• प्राक्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (before)

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (in the morning)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in this manner)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/causal)

• तिष्ठेत्: should stand/remain
• तिष्ठेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आ: until
• आ: Desha-kala-avadhi (Limit/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधी-प्रदर्शक (up to/until)

• सूर्य-दर्शनात्: from/at the sight of the sun
• सूर्य-दर्शनात्: Apadana (Limit-point/source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• अग्नि-कार्यम्: the fire-rite
• अग्नि-कार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Sequence/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ततः-शब्द (thereafter/from that)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सन्ध्ययोः: of the two sandhyās (morning & evening)
• सन्ध्ययोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (सन्ध्ययोः)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Observe morning sandhya from pre-dawn until sun is seen; then perform agni-karya; do likewise at both twilights.

Vedantic Theme: Nitya-karma as chitta-shuddhi; honoring cosmic order (rita) through time-bound discipline.

Application: Keep strict sandhya timing: begin before dawn, continue until sunrise; follow with fire-rite; repeat at evening twilight—consistency over convenience.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ashramic ritual ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.94.10-11 (japa, pranayama, purification); Garuda Purana 1.94.13-14 (guru-upasana, study, service)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of Sandhya (twilight worship) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats sandhyā as a mandatory daily discipline: one observes at dawn until sunrise and performs the prescribed fire-duty, emphasizing regularity at both morning and evening twilights.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames dharmic daily rites (sandhyā and agni-kārya) as foundational conduct that purifies one’s life and supports favorable spiritual outcomes taught elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a consistent morning-and-evening spiritual routine: begin before sunrise, continue until sunrise, and follow with a simple fire/light offering or prayerful practice aligned with your tradition.