Shloka 37

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामेव शौचानामन्नशौचं विशिष्यते / यो ऽन्नार्थैः शुचिः शौचान्न मृदा वारिणा शुचिः

Transliteration

sarveṣāmeva śaucānāmannaśaucaṃ viśiṣyate / yo 'nnārthaiḥ śuciḥ śaucānna mṛdā vāriṇā śuciḥ

Translation

من بين جميع أنواع الطهارة، تُعَدّ طهارة الطعام أسمى الطهارات. فمن كان طاهرًا في شأن طعامه فهو الطاهر حقًّا؛ إذ لا تُنال الطهارة بمجرد التراب (الطين) أو الماء وحدهما.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्व-शब्दः (genitive plural)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• शौचानाम्: of purities/cleanlinesses
• शौचानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• अन्नशौचम्: food-purity
• अन्नशौचम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (anna-śauca = purity related to food)

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/excels
• विशिष्यते: Kriya (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विशिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचकः (relative pronoun)

• अन्नार्थैः: by/with food-related means (food as purpose)
• अन्नार्थैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (anna-artha = purpose/means of food)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• शौचात्: from cleanliness (ritual purity)
• शौचात्: Apadana (Source/अपा दान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; (sandhi: शौचात् + न → शौचान्न)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• मृदा: by earth/clay
• मृदा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• वारिणा: by water
• वारिणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anna-śauca (purity regarding food) is superior; true purity is ethical and intentional, not merely ritual washing.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as prerequisite for higher realization; karma is refined by sattvic intake and intention.

Application: Maintain purity in sourcing, preparing, offering, and consuming food; prioritize honest livelihood and sattvic diet over mere external ablutions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.113.38-41 (expanded definitions of śauca, satya, self-restraint)

FAQs

What is the importance of anna-shaucha (food purity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prioritizes food-related purity above other forms of cleanliness, implying that ethical and careful conduct regarding what one eats is the core marker of true purity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing inner discipline over mere external washing, it frames purity as karmically significant: one’s food habits and intentions shape moral cleanliness, which influences one’s spiritual condition beyond ritual appearance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and integrity in sourcing, preparing, offering, and consuming food—treating diet as a dharmic practice rather than relying only on external bathing or ritual washing.