Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

नेक्षेताग्न्यर्कनग्नां स्त्रीं न च संसृष्टमैथुनाम् / न च मूत्रं पुरीषं वा स्वपेत्प्रत्यकूशिरा न च

Transliteration

nekṣetāgnyarkanagnāṃ strīṃ na ca saṃsṛṣṭamaithunām / na ca mūtraṃ purīṣaṃ vā svapetpratyakūśirā na ca

Translation

不应观看裸露的女子，也不应直视火焰与太阳；亦不应观看正在交合的女子。不应观看尿与粪；睡卧时也不应以头朝北而眠。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• īkṣeta: should look at
• īkṣeta: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• agni-arka-nagnām: (a woman) naked before fire and sun
• agni-arka-nagnām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + nagnā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (copulative) विशेषणरूपेण

• strīm: a woman
• strīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (स्त्री प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• saṃsṛṣṭa-maithunām: one engaged in intercourse
• saṃsṛṣṭa-maithunām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃsṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; सम्+सृज्/सृज्) + maithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘संसृष्टं मैथुनं यस्याः/या’ इति विशेषण

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• mūtram: urine
• mūtram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūtra (मूत्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• purīṣam: feces
• purīṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purīṣa (पुरीष प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• svapet: should sleep
• svapet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: svap (स्वप् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• pratyak-ūśirā: with head turned opposite (sleeping posture)
• pratyak-ūśirā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratyak (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + ūśira (उशीरा/उशिरा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय ‘प्रत्यक् (उत्तानविपरीत/पश्चिमाभिमुख) उशीरा’ इति

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) and śauca through avoidance of impure/overstimulating sights and improper bodily orientation.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi as a support for dharma and higher contemplation; guarding the mind by guarding the senses.

Application: Maintain modest gaze; avoid staring at nudity/sexual acts and excreta; treat fire/sun with reverence; adopt culturally prescribed sleeping orientation as a mindfulness/discipline practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (sadācāra/śauca rules cluster)

FAQs

What is the importance of purity and sense-restraint (ācāra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames purity as both external and mental: avoiding certain sights and situations is taught as a discipline that protects one’s mind and supports dharmic living.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on karma and consequences?

By prescribing restraint and cleanliness, the text links everyday choices to karmic refinement—training the senses reduces impulsive actions that can lead to adharma and negative karmic outcomes.

What is a practical application of this verse today?

Maintain modesty and respectful boundaries, avoid deliberately engaging with degrading or impure imagery, keep hygienic surroundings, and follow a consistent, mindful sleeping routine aligned with traditional health-and-dharma practices.