Shloka 38

Devanagari script

सत्यं शौचं मनः शौचं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः / सर्वभूते दया शौचं जलशौचञ्च पञ्चमम्

Transliteration

satyaṃ śaucaṃ manaḥ śaucaṃ śaucamindriyanigrahaḥ / sarvabhūte dayā śaucaṃ jalaśaucañca pañcamam

Translation

Wahrhaftigkeit ist Reinheit; Reinheit des Geistes ist Reinheit; Zügelung der Sinne ist Reinheit. Mitgefühl gegenüber allen Wesen ist Reinheit, und als fünftes gilt die Reinheit durch Wasser (leibliche Reinigung).

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (enumerative predicate)

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अस्-प्रातिपदिक (irregular stem)

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (मनः-शौचम् = purity of mind; loose apposition)

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: restraint of the senses
• इन्द्रियनिग्रहः: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + निग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (control of the senses)

• सर्वभूते: in/among all beings
• सर्वभूते: Adhikarana (Location/sphere/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; (sarva-bhūta = all beings; locative singular)

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जलशौचम्: purification by water
• जलशौचम्: Karta (Item in list/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (water-purification)

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

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Karta (Predicate qualifier/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (ordinal adjective)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca is multi-layered: satya, manas-śauca, indriya-nigraha, dayā, and jal-śauca.

Vedantic Theme: Purification of mind and senses (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi, indriya-saṃyama) as groundwork for jñāna and bhakti.

Application: Practice truthful speech, cultivate clean intentions, restrain impulses, extend compassion to all beings, and maintain bodily hygiene as a supportive discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.113.37 (anna-śauca); Garuda Purana 1.113.39-40 (satya and conduct outweigh ritual washing)

FAQs

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

This verse defines purity as a multi-layered discipline—truthfulness, mental cleanliness, sense-restraint, compassion to all beings, and bodily cleanliness—showing that shaucha is primarily ethical and inner, not merely external.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing truth, self-control, and compassion as forms of purity, the verse points to character and inner refinement as the foundation for dharmic living that supports favorable spiritual outcomes beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice honesty, keep the mind free from harmful intentions, regulate senses (food, speech, habits), cultivate compassion in actions, and maintain physical cleanliness—treating all five as one integrated discipline.