Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

अध्यात्मविद्यां विधिवज्जपेद्वा जपसिद्धये / सव्यं कृत्वा त्रिराचम्य श्रियं मेधां धृतिं क्षितिम्

Transliteration

adhyātmavidyāṃ vidhivajjapedvā japasiddhaye / savyaṃ kṛtvā trirācamya śriyaṃ medhāṃ dhṛtiṃ kṣitim

Translation

Für den Erfolg der Japa soll man gemäß der Vorschrift das Mantra der inneren Erkenntnis (adhyātma-vidyā) rechtmäßig rezitieren. Danach nehme man die vorgeschriebene Linksausrichtung ein und vollziehe dreimal ācamana; sodann rufe man Śrī (Gedeihen), medhā (Geisteskraft), dhṛti (Standhaftigkeit) und kṣiti (Stabilität, Erdstütze) an.

Word by Word

• adhyātma-vidyām: spiritual knowledge
• adhyātma-vidyām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyātma (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: “knowledge concerning the self/spirit”

• vidhivat: according to the prescribed method
• vidhivat: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + -vat (वत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय): “according to rule”

• japet: should recite
• japet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पबोधक निपात)

• japa-siddhaye: for success in japa
• japa-siddhaye: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: “attainment/success of japa”

• savyam: the left (side/hand)
• savyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: savya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially as object of kṛtvā

• kṛtvā: having made/done
• kṛtvā: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; “having done/made”

• triḥ: thrice
• triḥ: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: triḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Numeral adverb (संख्यावाचक अव्यय)

• ācamya: having performed ācamana
• ācamya: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√cam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; “having sipped (water) / performed ācamana”

• śriyam: prosperity
• śriyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• medhām: intelligence
• medhām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhṛtim: steadfastness
• dhṛtim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣitim: earth / stability
• kṣitim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Japa-siddhi arises from rule-based practice and purified intention; invoking śakti-like qualities stabilizes the practitioner’s inner instrument.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi and buddhi-prakāśa as supports for higher knowledge; steadiness (dhṛti) and grounding (kṣiti) as prerequisites for sustained sādhana.

Application: Before japa: follow one’s tradition’s vidhi, perform triple ācamana, settle posture and orientation, then consciously cultivate the four qualities as inner ‘supports’ for practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual micro-actions (orientation + ācamana)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214 (japa-siddhi and preparatory rites)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What is the importance of ācamana and proper procedure (vidhi) in Garuda Purana japa practice?

This verse links japa-siddhi (success in mantra repetition) to vidhivat practice and triḥ-ācamana, indicating that purity and correct method are integral to effective spiritual recitation.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing disciplined inner practice (adhyātma-vidyā and purification), it supports the Garuda Purana theme that right conduct and ritual-spiritual preparation strengthen one’s dharma and inner steadiness, which are foundational for the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before meditation or mantra recitation, follow a consistent, respectful routine—cleanliness, a brief purification (or mindful sipping of water where appropriate), and an intentional invocation of prosperity, clarity, and steadiness.