Shloka 3

Purification of Substances (Dravya-Śuddhi) and Rules of Ācamana

Devanagari script

तक्षणाद्दारुशृङ्गादेर्यज्ञपात्रस्य मार्जनात् / सोष्णैरुदकगोमूत्रैः शुध्यत्याविककौशिकम्

Transliteration

takṣaṇāddāruśṛṅgāderyajñapātrasya mārjanāt / soṣṇairudakagomūtraiḥ śudhyatyāvikakauśikam

Translation

কাঠ, শিঙ আদি বস্তুৰে নিৰ্মিত যজ্ঞপাত্ৰ খুঁচি (তক্ষণ) আৰু ভালদৰে মাৰ্জন কৰিলে শুদ্ধ হয়। ভেড়াৰ উল আৰু ৰেশমজাত বস্তু উষ্ণ জল আৰু গোমূত্ৰে শুদ্ধ হয়।

Word by Word

• तक्षणात्: from/by scraping (carving)
• तक्षणात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — Ablative singular

• दारुशृङ्गादेः: of wood, horn, etc.
• दारुशृङ्गादेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारु + शृङ्ग + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• यज्ञपात्रस्य: of a sacrificial vessel
• यज्ञपात्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• मार्जनात्: from/by wiping/cleaning
• मार्जनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — Ablative singular

• सोष्णैः: with warm (ones)
• सोष्णैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; विशेषण (qualifier)

• उदकगोमूत्रैः: with water and cow-urine
• उदकगोमूत्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक + गोमूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार/द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• शुध्यति: becomes purified
• शुध्यति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present active 3rd sg

• आविककौशिकम्: woolen and silk (cloth)
• आविककौशिकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आविक + कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार/द्वन्द्व), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — Nominative/Accusative singular; here as subject

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Material-specific purification: wooden/horn vessels by scraping and scouring; wool/silk by warm water and cow’s urine.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa requires śuddha-upakaraṇa (pure instruments); attention to means (upāya) aligns action with dharma.

Application: For porous/organic materials use mechanical removal (scraping) plus washing; for textiles use warm water; where traditional, use gomūtra as a purifier/disinfectant in ritual contexts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: yajna-shala / household ritual area

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.97 (continuation of śauca rules for different substances)

FAQs

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

This verse frames śauca as a practical dharmic requirement: specific materials require specific cleaning methods so that yajña/śrāddha implements are fit for sacred use.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct ritual purity, it supports the proper performance of rites (including śrāddha) that the Garuda Purana connects with post-death welfare and orderly dharmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and material-appropriate cleansing for items used in worship/ancestral rites; the broader takeaway is disciplined hygiene and respect for ritual standards.