Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

आचम्याप्लाव्य चात्मानं त्रिराचम्यशनेरसून् / अथोपतिष्टेदादित्यं मूर्ध्नि पुष्पान्विताञ्जलिः

Transliteration

ācamyāplāvya cātmānaṃ trirācamyaśanerasūn / athopatiṣṭedādityaṃ mūrdhni puṣpānvitāñjaliḥ

Translation

Nachdem man Wasser zur Reinigung geschlürft und sich gewaschen hat, und dann dreimal Wasser schlürft, während man sanft die Lebensatemzüge beruhigt, sollte man dann in Ehrfurcht vor der Sonne (Aditya) stehen, mit gefalteten Händen, die Blumen tragen, die auf den Kopf gelegt sind.

Word by Word

• आचम्य: having sipped (ācamana)
• आचम्य: Kriya-vishesana (Absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√चम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• आप्लाव्य: having rinsed/washed over
• आप्लाव्य: Kriya-vishesana (Absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√प्लु (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• त्रिः: three times
• त्रिः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक अव्यय (frequency)

• आचम्य: having sipped
• आचम्य: Kriya-vishesana (Absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√चम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• अशनेः: of the thunderbolt
• अशनेः: Sambandha (Genitive in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• असून्: vital breaths/lives
• असून्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; अशनेः असून् = अशनेरिव असून्/अशनेः (इन्द्रस्य) असून् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; textual)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then)

• उपतिष्ठेत्: should stand near/worship
• उपतिष्ठेत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• आदित्यम्: the Sun (Āditya)
• आदित्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• पुष्प: flowers
• पुष्प: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• अन्वित: endowed with flowers
• अन्वित: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/क्त-कृदन्त from अनु√इ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used adjectivally; पुष्प-अन्वित = पुष्पैः अन्वित (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• अञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• अञ्जलिः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (हस्ताञ्जलिः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Garuda Purana’s ritual teaching context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification joined with prāṇa-samyama and reverent upasthāna to Āditya; offering flowers signifies surrender and gratitude to the source of light and life.

Vedantic Theme: Tejas as a manifestation of the divine; disciplined breath and purified senses prepare the mind for contemplation.

Application: After washing and triple ācāmana, steady the breath gently; stand facing the Sun with folded hands and a simple offering (flowers/mental offering), cultivating gratitude and clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: open sky/threshold (courtyard, riverbank, rooftop)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.29 (Sūrya rays as purifier; Savitṛ); Garuda Purana 1.214.31 (ācāmana at bathing/eating)

Characters & Entities

• Aditya (Surya)

FAQs

What is the importance of ācamana (ritual sipping of water) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents ācamana and washing as prerequisites for worship, emphasizing inner and outer purification before approaching Āditya (the Sun) with reverence.

How does this verse relate to controlling the vital breaths (prāṇas)?

By stating “śanaiḥ asūn” (gently the life-breaths), it implies settling and steadying one’s prāṇic activity—calm attention and composure—before commencing the act of devotion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin worship or meditation after basic cleanliness and a brief moment of calm breathing; then offer a respectful salutation (añjali) to the Sun, cultivating discipline and clarity in daily practice.