Shloka 38

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

मृज्जलाभ्यां स्मृतं बाह्यं भावशुद्धिरथान्तरम् / त्रिराचामेदपः पूर्वं द्विः प्रमृज्यात्ततो मुखम्

Transliteration

mṛjjalābhyāṃ smṛtaṃ bāhyaṃ bhāvaśuddhirathāntaram / trirācāmedapaḥ pūrvaṃ dviḥ pramṛjyāttato mukham

Translation

الطهارة الخارجية تُعلَّم بأنها التنظيف بالتراب (أو الرماد) والماء، وأما الطهارة الداخلية فهي صفاء النية. أولاً يُؤدَّى الأَچَمَنَة (ācamana) بالماء ثلاث مرات، ثم يُمسَح الوجه مرتين.

Word by Word

• मृज्जलाभ्याम्: with earth (clay) and water
• मृज्जलाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद्/मृज्जल + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), द्विवचन; instrumental dual; द्वन्द्व-समास (मृद् च जलं च)

• स्मृतम्: is considered/remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; past passive participle used predicatively

• बाह्यम्: the external (purification)
• बाह्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (as substantive: ‘the external [purification]’)

• भावशुद्धिः: purity of mind/intent
• भावशुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (भावस्य शुद्धिः)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (particle: then/now)

• अन्तरम्: the internal (purification)
• अन्तरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (as substantive: ‘the internal [purification]’)

• त्रिः: three times
• त्रिः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thrice)

• आचामेत्: should sip (water)
• आचामेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/संभावना), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular; परस्मैपद

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग), द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: first/before)

• द्विः: two times
• द्विः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: twice)

• प्रमृज्यात्: should wipe/clean
• प्रमृज्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular; परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequential/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थक (adverb: then/thereafter)

• मुखम्: mouth/face
• मुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External purity: cleansing with earth/ash and water; internal purity: intention/mental disposition. Perform ācāmana thrice, then wipe the face twice.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as a purifier when aligned with sattvic bhāva; inner intention governs the fruit of outer acts.

Application: Before prayer/ritual or study, do ācāmana attentively; pair physical cleansing with a deliberate resolve (saṅkalpa) for purity of motive.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household/ashrama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.37 (twofold śauca); Garuda Purana 1.213.39-41 (aṅga-sparśa and Vedic recitation)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity (śauca) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines śauca in two layers—external cleanliness (earth/water) and inner purity (bhāvaśuddhi)—showing that correct rites require both proper procedure and a purified intention.

How does this verse guide Garuda Purana ritual conduct?

It gives a precise sequence: perform ācamana by sipping water three times, then cleanse the face twice—standardizing bodily readiness before worship, śrāddha-related acts, or other dharmic observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain physical cleanliness, but also check motive and mindset before prayer or service; begin religious actions with a short ācamana-like pause for mental and bodily purification.