Shloka 24

Prāyaścitta for Food-Contact, Social Contact, Aśauca Periods, and Formal Penance Systems

Devanagari script

उदके चोदकस्थं तु स्थलेषु स्थलजं शुचि / पादौ स्थाप्यौ च तत्रैव आचान्तः शुचितामियात्

Transliteration

udake codakasthaṃ tu sthaleṣu sthalajaṃ śuci / pādau sthāpyau ca tatraiva ācāntaḥ śucitāmiyāt

Translation

إذا كان المرء في الماء فطهارته بما هو في الماء، وإذا كان على اليابسة فطهارته بما هو على الأرض. فإذا وضع قدميه هناك على الوجه الصحيح ثم أتى بآجامانا (ācamana) نال النظافة الطقسية.

Word by Word

• उदके: in water
• उदके: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• उदकस्थम्: situated in water
• उदकस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विरोध/अवधारण particle)

• स्थलेषु: on dry ground/places
• स्थलेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), बहुवचन

• स्थलजम्: born on land; land-produced
• स्थलजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुचि: pure
• शुचि: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• स्थाप्यौ: to be placed
• स्थाप्यौ: Karma (Object to be acted upon/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + य (ण्यत्/कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (ण्यत्/gerundive—"to be placed"); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; पादौ इति विशेष्येण सह

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (Locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक/adverb of place)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण/emphasis particle)

• आचान्तः: having sipped (water); having performed ācamana
• आचान्तः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुचिताम्: purity
• शुचिताम्: Karma (Object/goal/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• इयात्: should attain
• इयात्: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purity is maintained by appropriate means available in the immediate environment; ācamana seals cleanliness.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa discipline as preparation (adhikāritva) for higher pursuits; orderliness of conduct supports sattva.

Application: If in water, use water-based means; if on land, use earth/ground-based means as appropriate; place feet properly and perform ācamana to restore ritual cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: waterbody/ground (generic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.222.23-27 (śauca and purification procedures)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse links purity to context (water vs. land) and prescribes ācamana as the decisive act that completes cleanliness before religious acts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: Garuda Purana emphasizes correct dharmic conduct and ritual readiness; maintaining śauca supports the proper performance of rites that aid the departed and uphold cosmic order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before prayer, śrāddha-related observances, or temple worship, follow situational cleanliness and perform ācamana mindfully to enter the act with physical and mental purity.