Shloka 17

Snāna-Śauca Krama: Varuṇa–Āpaḥ Mantras, Aghamarṣaṇa, Sūrya-Upasthāna, and Sarva-Tarpaṇa

Devanagari script

अभिषिच्य तथात्मानं निमज्याचम्य वै पुनः / दर्भेण पाययेन्मन्त्रैरलिङ्गैः पावनैरिमैः

Transliteration

abhiṣicya tathātmānaṃ nimajyācamya vai punaḥ / darbheṇa pāyayenmantrairaliṅgaiḥ pāvanairimaiḥ

Translation

بعد أن يرشّ (يُقدّس) نفسه بالماء، ثم يغتسل بالانغماس ويؤدي الآتشامانا مرة أخرى، ينبغي أن يُتمّ المقصود باستعمال عشب الدربها، مع هذه المانترا المطهِّرة غير الموسومة بطابعٍ طائفي (aliṅga).

Word by Word

• abhiṣicya: Having sprinkled/consecrated
• abhiṣicya: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sic (सिच्) with abhi
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• tathā: Thus/In that manner
• tathā: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (तथा)
• Form: Adverb

• ātmānam: Oneself
• ātmānam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• nimajya: Having submerged/bathed
• nimajya: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: masj (मस्ज्) with ni
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• ācamya: Having sipped water
• ācamya: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cam (चम्) with ā
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• vai: Indeed
• vai: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (वै)
• Form: Particle

• punaḥ: Again
• punaḥ: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (पुनर्)
• Form: Adverb

• darbheṇa: With Darbha grass
• darbheṇa: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (दर्भ)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular

• pāyayet: Should make drink
• pāyayet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा)
• Form: Causal Optative (णिच् विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• mantraiḥ: With mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (मन्त्र)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

• aliṅgaiḥ: Without specific marks/characteristics
• aliṅgaiḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to mantraiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aliṅga (अलिङ्ग)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

• pāvanaiḥ: Purifying
• pāvanaiḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to mantraiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvana (पावन)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

• imaiḥ: With these
• imaiḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to mantraiḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity is consolidated through repeated cleansing acts and the use of darbha as a sanctifying medium; purity mantras can be universal (aliṅga) rather than sect-marked.

Vedantic Theme: Śuddhi (purification) as a preparatory discipline; external order supporting internal clarity.

Application: After any sacred or solemn act, complete the ‘cool-down’ steps: cleanse, sip water mindfully, and seal intention with a simple universal prayer.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: snana/ācamanīya area adjacent to ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.14-16 (abhisheka and avabhṛtha mantras that precede these closure acts)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Darbha (Kuśa grass)

FAQs

What is the importance of purification (snāna and ācamana) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse makes purification a prerequisite: sprinkling, bathing/immersing, and ācamana prepare the practitioner so the subsequent mantras and darbha-based procedure function as a “pāvana” (cleansing) rite.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha preparation?

It describes the standard preparatory sequence used before rites meant to benefit the departed—self-purification first, then employing darbha and purifying mantras—reflecting the text’s emphasis on ritual purity in post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any solemn prayer or ancestral rite, begin with a brief, mindful cleansing (wash/bathe, sip water as ācamana if you follow the tradition), and recite universally purifying mantras with a calm, non-sectarian intent.