Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

आपोहिष्ठाव्याहृतिभिः सावित्र्या वारुणैः शुभैः / ओङ्कारव्याहृतियुतां गायत्त्रीं वेदमातरम्

Transliteration

āpohiṣṭhāvyāhṛtibhiḥ sāvitryā vāruṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ / oṅkāravyāhṛtiyutāṃ gāyattrīṃ vedamātaram

Translation

Mit den heiligen Anrufungen, die mit «Āpo hi ṣṭhā…» beginnen, mit der Savitrī (Gāyatrī) und den glückverheißenden Varuṇa-Mantras, und mit Oṁ samt den Vyāhṛtis, soll man die Gāyatrī rezitieren — die Mutter der Veden.

Word by Word

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचनान्त), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; मन्त्रपद (ऋग्वेद)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)

• ष्ठा: stand/be
• ष्ठा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्याहृतिभिः: with the vyāhṛtis (bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ, svaḥ etc.)
• व्याहृतिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāhṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सावित्र्या: with the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) mantra
• सावित्र्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvitrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वारुणैः: with Varuṇa-related (mantras)
• वारुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण—(मन्त्रैः/स्तोत्रैः) implied

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘वारुणैः’

• ओङ्कार-व्याहृति-युताम्: endowed with Oṃkāra and the vyāhṛtis
• ओङ्कार-व्याहृति-युताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: oṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāhṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + yuta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘गायत्त्रीम्’

• गायत्त्रीम्: Gāyatrī (mantra/deity)
• गायत्त्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वेद-मातरम्: the Mother of the Vedas
• वेद-मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वेदानां माता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘गायत्त्रीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gāyatrī, supported by vyāhṛtis and purificatory hymns, aligns the practitioner with ṛta and awakens buddhi (dhī).

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-brahma as a means to antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and dhī-prakāśa (illumination of intellect).

Application: Recite ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā…’, then vyāhṛtis with Oṁ, and perform Gāyatrī-japa with correct nyāsa/intonation and contemplative meaning (dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (sandhyā setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.19-20 (dhyāna of Sandhyā and Gāyatrī-śakti as continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Gāyatrī (Sāvitrī)
• Oṁ (Praṇava)
• Vyāhṛtis
• Varuṇa
• Āpo (Waters)

FAQs

What is the importance of Gāyatrī (Sāvitrī) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Gāyatrī as “Vedamātā,” emphasizing it as a primary purifier and foundational Vedic mantra to be recited with Oṁ and the vyāhṛtis.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prescribing purificatory Vedic recitation (Gāyatrī with vyāhṛtis and water/Varuṇa mantras), it highlights inner and ritual purity as supportive preparation for dharmic life and favorable spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In daily practice, one may recite Oṁ with the vyāhṛtis and Gāyatrī with a focus on purity, truthfulness, and self-discipline—treating mantra as a means to refine conduct and mind.