Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

त्नानकाले स्मरेद्विष्णमापो नारायणो यतः / प्रेक्ष्य ओङ्कारमादित्यं त्रिर्निमज्जेज्जलाशये

Transliteration

tnānakāle smaredviṣṇamāpo nārāyaṇo yataḥ / prekṣya oṅkāramādityaṃ trirnimajjejjalāśaye

Translation

Zur Zeit des Bades gedenke man Viṣṇus, denn die Wasser sind von Nārāyaṇa. Den Sonnengott als das heilige Oṁ betrachtend, tauche man dreimal in das Gewässer ein.

Word by Word

• स्नानकाले: at the time of bathing
• स्नानकाले: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + काल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘स्नानस्य काले’

• स्मरेत्: should remember
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यतः: because/since
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (हेतु/कारण-because)

• प्रेक्ष्य: having looked at
• प्रेक्ष्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रेक्ष्य (कृदन्त; √ईक्ष् (धातु) + प्र)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): ‘प्रेक्ष्य’ (having looked at)

• ओङ्कारम्: the syllable Oṃ (oṅkāra)
• ओङ्कारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आदित्यम्: the Sun (Āditya)
• आदित्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्रिः: thrice
• त्रिः: Sambandha (Frequency/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (संख्यावाचक क्रियाविशेषण): ‘त्रिवारम्’

• निमज्जेत्: should immerse/dip
• निमज्जेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मज्ज् (धातु) + नि
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जलाशये: in a water-body/reservoir
• जलाशये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + आशय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘जले आशयः’ (water-reservoir)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āpaḥ as Nārāyaṇa; snāna becomes Viṣṇu-smaraṇa; Oṃ and Āditya contemplation integrates mantra and deity.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā leading toward śānta-citta; seeing the divine pervading elements (sarva-vyāpitva).

Application: During bathing, consciously remember Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa; coordinate breath and triple immersion with a short Oṃ contemplation and respectful sunward attention (as appropriate/safe).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/waters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.45 (ācāmana mantra following snāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narayana
• Aditya (Sun)
• Om (Pranava)

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Vishnu during bathing in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that water is to be regarded as belonging to Nārāyaṇa; therefore bathing becomes a devotional purification when accompanied by remembrance of Viṣṇu.

How does this verse relate to purification and the soul’s path in Garuda Purana teachings?

While Garuda Purana discusses post-death outcomes, it also emphasizes preventive dharma: daily acts like sacred bathing with Oṁ and devotion cultivate purity (śuddhi) and merit that support a better destiny.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

During a bath, consciously remember Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa, offer a respectful glance to the Sun with the sense of Oṁ, and perform three mindful immersions (or symbolic rinses) as a disciplined purification practice.