Shloka 16

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

आचम्य विधिवन्नित्यं पुनराचम्य वाग्यतः / संमार्ज्य मन्त्रै रात्मानं कुशैः सोदकबिन्दुभैः

Transliteration

ācamya vidhivannityaṃ punarācamya vāgyataḥ / saṃmārjya mantrai rātmānaṃ kuśaiḥ sodakabindubhaiḥ

Translation

Nachdem man täglich vorschriftsgemäß Ācamana (rituelles Schlürfen von Wasser) vollzogen und es mit gezügelter Rede erneut getan hat, soll man sich mit Mantras reinigen, indem man Kuśa-Gras zusammen mit Wassertropfen verwendet.

Word by Word

• आचम्य: having sipped (water)
• आचम्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/अनुक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√cam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• विधिवत्: according to rule
• विधिवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• नित्यम्: always, regularly
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (काल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (repetition)

• आचम्य: having sipped
• आचम्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√cam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• यतः: restrained, controlled
• यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘वाक्’ (speech)

• संमार्ज्य: having wiped/cleansed
• संमार्ज्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√mṛj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass
• कुशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• स-उदक-बिन्दुभैः: with (kuśa) having water-drops
• स-उदक-बिन्दुभैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक) + bindu (प्रातिपदिक) + bha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘कुशैः’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and vāk-niyama (speech-restraint) purify the adhikārī for mantra and worship.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as preparation for higher knowledge and devotion.

Application: Perform ācamanam correctly, keep speech restrained during rites, and use mantra-supported cleansing to cultivate steadiness before japa/pujā.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (home shrine/riverbank implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50 (sandhyā-vidhi sequence: ācamanam → mantra-śauca → arghya → prāṇāyāma → dhyāna/japa)

FAQs

What is the importance of ācamana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents ācamana as a daily, rule-based act of purification—done more than once and paired with restraint of speech—so the practitioner becomes ritually fit for mantra and worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes self-purification and disciplined conduct (ācāra) as foundational dharma; such purity-oriented actions are taught as supportive conditions for spiritual progress and auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any prayer, japa, or sacred study with mindful cleansing: perform ācamana properly, maintain controlled speech, and approach mantra practice with a purified and attentive state.