Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

पादौ कटिं चैव पूर्वं मृद्भिस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः / प्रक्षाल्य हस्ता वाचम्य नमस्कृत्य जलं ततः

Transliteration

pādau kaṭiṃ caiva pūrvaṃ mṛdbhistribhistribhiḥ / prakṣālya hastā vācamya namaskṛtya jalaṃ tataḥ

Translation

أولًا يُطهِّر المرءُ القدمين والخصرَ بالتراب (الطين) ثلاثَ مراتٍ لكلٍّ منهما؛ ثم يغسل اليدين، ويؤدّي الآچامانا (ارتشاف ماء التطهير)، ويقدّم السجود، وبعد ذلك يأخذ ماءَ التطهير.

Word by Word

• पादौ: (two) feet
• पादौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन

• कटिम्: waist/hips
• कटिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• पूर्वम्: first/beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time/sequence)

• मृद्भिः: with earth/clay
• मृद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• त्रिभिः: with three (kinds/portions)
• त्रिभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (मृद्भिः इत्यस्य)

• त्रिभिः: (again) with three
• त्रिभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्त-विशेषण (emphatic repetition)

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having washed’

• हस्तौ: (two) hands
• हस्तौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana (sipping)
• आचम्य: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having sipped (water)’

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed/saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having saluted’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Sequence/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (external purity) as a prerequisite for Vedic/Smārta ritual action and inner steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi begins with disciplined karma; outer order supports inner sattva.

Application: Before japa/puja or meals, follow a consistent hygiene-and-intention sequence: cleanse, wash hands, ācamana, then begin sacred action mindfully.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual bathing place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214 (śauca/ācamana/snana-vidhi context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse frames śauca as the prerequisite for any sacred act: cleansing key limbs, performing ācamana, and offering reverence so that subsequent water-based rites are undertaken in a purified state.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals like śrāddha or pinda-dāna?

It provides the preparatory protocol—cleanliness with earth and water and ācamana—commonly required before performing offerings and funeral-related observances, ensuring the rite is ritually valid.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any prayer, japa, or ancestral rite, adopt a brief purification routine: wash, practice mindful ācamana (or symbolic sipping), and begin with a respectful bow to cultivate cleanliness and reverence.