Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

पादौ कटिं चैव पूर्वं मृद्भिस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः / प्रक्षाल्य हस्ता वाचम्य नमस्कृत्य जलं ततः

Transliteration

pādau kaṭiṃ caiva pūrvaṃ mṛdbhistribhistribhiḥ / prakṣālya hastā vācamya namaskṛtya jalaṃ tataḥ

Translation

Zuerst reinige man die Füße und die Hüfte mit Erde (Lehm), jeweils dreimal; dann wasche man die Hände, vollziehe Ācamana (reinigendes Schlürfen von Wasser) und erweise Verehrung, und nehme danach das reinigende Wasser.

Word by Word

• पादौ: (two) feet
• पादौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन

• कटिम्: waist/hips
• कटिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• पूर्वम्: first/beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time/sequence)

• मृद्भिः: with earth/clay
• मृद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• त्रिभिः: with three (kinds/portions)
• त्रिभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (मृद्भिः इत्यस्य)

• त्रिभिः: (again) with three
• त्रिभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; पुनरुक्त-विशेषण (emphatic repetition)

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having washed’

• हस्तौ: (two) hands
• हस्तौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), द्विवचन

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana (sipping)
• आचम्य: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having sipped (water)’

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed/saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having saluted’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Sequence/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (external purity) as a prerequisite for Vedic/Smārta ritual action and inner steadiness.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi begins with disciplined karma; outer order supports inner sattva.

Application: Before japa/puja or meals, follow a consistent hygiene-and-intention sequence: cleanse, wash hands, ācamana, then begin sacred action mindfully.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual bathing place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214 (śauca/ācamana/snana-vidhi context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purification (śauca) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames śauca as the prerequisite for any sacred act: cleansing key limbs, performing ācamana, and offering reverence so that subsequent water-based rites are undertaken in a purified state.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals like śrāddha or pinda-dāna?

It provides the preparatory protocol—cleanliness with earth and water and ācamana—commonly required before performing offerings and funeral-related observances, ensuring the rite is ritually valid.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any prayer, japa, or ancestral rite, adopt a brief purification routine: wash, practice mindful ācamana (or symbolic sipping), and begin with a respectful bow to cultivate cleanliness and reverence.