Shloka 21

Snāna-Śauca Krama: Varuṇa–Āpaḥ Mantras, Aghamarṣaṇa, Sūrya-Upasthāna, and Sarva-Tarpaṇa

Devanagari script

तरत्सामा शुद्धवत्यः पवित्राणि च शक्तितः / वारुण्या बहवः पुण्याः शक्तितः संप्रयोजयेत्

Transliteration

taratsāmā śuddhavatyaḥ pavitrāṇi ca śaktitaḥ / vāruṇyā bahavaḥ puṇyāḥ śaktitaḥ saṃprayojayet

Translation

Nach Maß der eigenen Kraft soll man Taratsāman und Śuddhavatī (heilige Gesänge) sowie weitere Reinigungsweisen anwenden. Ebenso soll man nach Maß der eigenen Kraft die Vāruṇī-Opfergaben und viele andere verdienstvolle Observanzen ordnungsgemäß vollziehen.

Word by Word

• तरत्: crossing/overcoming
• तरत्: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √तॄ (धातु; तॄ प्लवने/तरणे)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), नपुंसक/समासपूर्वपद

• सामा: Sāman-chant
• सामा: Karma/Upaya (Object/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्/साम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शुद्धवत्यः: purifying/possessing purity
• शुद्धवत्यः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्धवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पवित्राणि: purifiers; purificatory (chants/means)
• पवित्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शक्तितः: according to capacity
• शक्तितः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘according to ability’

• वारुण्या: with Varuṇa-related (water/rite)
• वारुण्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पुण्याः: meritorious/holy
• पुण्याः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• शक्तितः: according to capacity
• शक्तितः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘according to ability’

• संप्रयोजयेत्: should apply/perform/arrange
• संप्रयोजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + √युज् (धातु; युजँ योगे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikāra (capacity/eligibility) governs the extent of ritual performance; merit accrues through sincere practice within one’s śakti.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with right attitude (yathā-śakti) purifies and supports spiritual maturation.

Application: Choose purificatory practices appropriate to training/resources; maintain consistency and sincerity rather than overreaching into improper or unsustainable rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual venue (home shrine/ghat/sacrificial space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent ‘yathāśakti’ principle in dāna, vrata, and śrāddha contexts; Garuda Purana: lists of purificatory acts and offerings preceding major rites

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of performing rites 'according to one's capacity' (śaktitaḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that purificatory chants and meritorious observances should be performed as one is able—upholding dharma without turning ritual into hardship, while still generating punya through sincere, proportionate practice.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and purification practices?

The verse lists purifying chants/means and meritorious observances to be applied properly, aligning with the Garuda Purana’s broader ritual framework where purification and punya-supporting acts aid the deceased and support righteous order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake purification and devotional practices within your means—regular prayer/recitation, charity, and simple sanctifying observances—focusing on sincerity and consistency rather than extravagance.