Shloka 110

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

चाण्डालशवविष्ठाद्यान्स्पृष्ट्वा स्नानं रजस्वलाम् / स्नानार्हस्तु यदा स्नाति स्नानं नैमित्तिकं हि तत्

Transliteration

cāṇḍālaśavaviṣṭhādyānspṛṣṭvā snānaṃ rajasvalām / snānārhastu yadā snāti snānaṃ naimittikaṃ hi tat

Translation

Nachdem man einen Caṇḍāla, einen Leichnam, Exkremente und dergleichen berührt hat—oder nach Kontakt mit einer menstruierenden Frau—gilt: Wenn der zum Baden Verpflichtete badet, so ist dieses Bad wahrlich ein naimittika-Bad, eine anlassbezogene Reinigung.

Word by Word

• चाण्डाल: outcastes (cāṇḍālas)
• चाण्डाल: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (समासान्ते -आद्यān)

• शव: corpses
• शव: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (समासान्ते -आद्यān)

• विष्ठ: excrement
• विष्ठ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (समासान्ते -आद्यān)

• आद्यान्: and similar (things/beings)
• आद्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘and the like’ (पूर्वोक्त-समूहस्य)

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having touched)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• रजस्वलाम्: a menstruating woman
• रजस्वलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• स्नानार्हः: one who is required to bathe
• स्नानार्हः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (स्नानम् अर्हति इति)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्ययम् (particle)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal conjunction: when)

• स्नाति: bathes
• स्नाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• स्नानम्: the bath
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नैमित्तिकम्: occasional (causal)
• नैमित्तिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैमित्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (स्नानम् इति)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतु-अव्ययम् (particle: indeed/for)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshya (Predicate complement/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Ācāra discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Naimittika purification is triggered by contact with impure substances/persons; dharma provides remedial pathways rather than mere prohibition.

Vedantic Theme: Regulation of conduct to preserve sattva and ritual order; recognition of guṇa-impact from environment and contact.

Application: After exposure to contaminating contexts, perform appropriate cleansing promptly; translate ‘impurity’ today as biohygiene and respectful boundary-keeping while avoiding cruelty or stigma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: wherever impurity-contact occurs; then to a water source

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.108 (naimittika category)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of naimittika snāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines naimittika snāna as a duty-bound bath performed specifically due to a triggering cause (nimitta) of impurity—i.e., contact with polluting substances or persons—so that ritual and daily dharma can be resumed in a purified state.

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

While not describing the after-death journey directly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework where purity, śauca, and dharmic conduct are emphasized as preparatory disciplines that shape karma and one’s post-mortem outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat purification as intentional reset after exposure to contaminating situations—maintaining cleanliness, mindful boundaries, and respectful observance of one’s tradition’s hygiene/ritual practices to sustain clarity in worship and ethical living.