Shloka 9

Āśauca and Udaka-kriyā: Post-Cremation Conduct, Eligibility, and Purifiers

Devanagari script

आचम्याथाग्निमुदकं गोमयं गौरसर्षपान् / प्रविशेयुः समालभ्य कृत्वाश्मनि पदं शनैः

Transliteration

ācamyāthāgnimudakaṃ gomayaṃ gaurasarṣapān / praviśeyuḥ samālabhya kṛtvāśmani padaṃ śanaiḥ

Translation

Nachdem man ācāmana vollzogen hat, Feuer und Wasser, Kuhdung und gelbe Senfkörner nehmend, soll man (über die Schwelle) eintreten, indem man diese reinigenden Dinge berührt; dann den Fuß auf einen Stein setzend, langsam hineinschreiten.

Word by Word

• आचम्य: having sipped (water) for purification
• आचम्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier of main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√cam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (particle: then/thereafter)

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• उदकम्: water
• उदकम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go-maya (प्रातिपदिक; गो + मय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गोः मयम्)

• गौरसर्षपान्: yellow mustard seeds
• गौरसर्षपान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaura-sarṣapa (प्रातिपदिक; गौर + सर्षप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (गौराः सर्षपाः)

• प्रविशेयुः: they should enter
• प्रविशेयुः: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• समालभ्य: having touched/handled (after taking)
• समालभ्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√labh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• कृत्वा: having made/placed
• कृत्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• अश्मनि: on a stone
• अश्मनि: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• पदम्: a step/footing
• पदम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: slowly/gradually)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: शौच-नियमः—impurity is managed through prescribed purificatory substances and careful bodily conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāropa-apavāda style pragmatism: while purity/impurity are ultimately relative, dharma prescribes disciplines to steady mind and society.

Application: Before entering after contact with impurity, perform ācamana, touch/bring purifiers (fire, water, gomaya, gaurasarṣapa), and enter slowly with mindful steps (stone-contact as stabilizing/purifying marker).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/household limen

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (context: śauca/āśauca and entry rites); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections on āśauca and purification (general thematic linkage)

FAQs

What is the importance of purification items like fire, water, cow-dung, and mustard in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as ritual purifiers used with ācamana and touch-contact to enter a space in a protected, cleansed state—symbolically removing impurity and stabilizing the rite.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it emphasizes correct ritual conduct around death-related contexts; such ordered, purificatory actions are taught as supportive dharma that safeguards transitions and rites connected with the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness, intentionality, and reverence in rites and thresholds—begin with personal purification (ācamana/mental centering) and proceed calmly and methodically rather than hurriedly.