Shloka 3

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

कृत्वा स्नानं ततः सन्ध्यां ततो यागगृहं व्रजेत् / प्रक्षाल्य पाणी पादौ च आचम्य च विशेषतः

Transliteration

kṛtvā snānaṃ tataḥ sandhyāṃ tato yāgagṛhaṃ vrajet / prakṣālya pāṇī pādau ca ācamya ca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Nach dem Bad soll man die Sandhyā-Riten vollziehen; danach gehe man zum Ort der Verehrung. Nachdem man Hände und Füße gewaschen und ācāmana mit besonderer Sorgfalt ausgeführt hat, soll man (eintreten und) das Ritual beginnen.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having done’

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थक (then/thereafter)

• सन्ध्याम्: sandhyā-prayer (twilight rite)
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (then)

• यागगृहं: the sacrificial/worship hall
• यागगृहं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; विध्यर्थ (should go)

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having washed’

• पाणी: (both) hands
• पाणी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• पादौ: (both) feet
• पादौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana (ritual sipping)
• आचम्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having sipped (water ritually)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विशेषतः: especially, in particular
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (Adverbial modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (especially/particularly)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External and internal purity as prerequisites for worship; disciplined sequence (snāna → sandhyā → entry) cultivates fitness (adhikāra) for arcana.

Vedantic Theme: Purification of antaḥkaraṇa through niyama and śauca; karma-yoga orientation where right preparation supports higher realization.

Application: Before prayer/meditation, cleanse body and mind: bathe or wash, do a brief centering practice (sandhyā/quiet breath), then begin worship with mindful sipping (ācāmana) and cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.2 (arcana-vidhi introduction; this verse begins procedural steps)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity (śauca) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames worship as beginning with purification—bath, Sandhyā, washing hands and feet, and careful ācamana—showing that inner devotion is supported by outer cleanliness and disciplined procedure.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

While not describing the after-death journey directly, it teaches the dharmic foundation—regular Sandhyā and purified worship—which the Garuḍa Purāṇa presents as merit-bearing conduct that supports auspicious outcomes after death.

What is the practical application of this teaching today?

Before prayer or pūjā: bathe if possible, perform Sandhyā (or a brief twilight prayer), wash hands and feet, and do ācamana attentively—approaching worship with cleanliness, calmness, and respect.