Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

आवर्तयेद्वा प्रणवं देवदेवं रमरेद्धरिम् / अपः पाणौ समादाय जप्त्वा वै मार्जने कृते

Transliteration

āvartayedvā praṇavaṃ devadevaṃ ramareddharim / apaḥ pāṇau samādāya japtvā vai mārjane kṛte

Translation

Alternativ soll man immer wieder die praṇava «Oṁ» wiederholen und dabei Hari, den Gott der Götter, verehren. Nimmt man Wasser in die Hand und rezitiert das Mantra, so vollziehe man danach mārjana, die reinigende Besprengung.

Word by Word

• आवर्तयेत्: should repeat/recite
• आवर्तयेत्: Kriyā (injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+वर्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (option)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय

• प्रणवम्: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (object of recitation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवदेवम्: God of gods
• देवदेवम्: Karma (apposition to hariṃ, object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः)

• रमरेत्: should worship/delight in (meditate on)
• रमरेत्: Kriyā (injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; पाठे ‘रमरेद्’ इति सन्ध्यन्तर-रूपम्

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (object of taking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• पाणौ: in the hand/palm
• पाणौ: Adhikaraṇa (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• समादाय: having taken
• समादाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्+आ+दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avadhāraṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/पादपूरण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मार्जने: in the sprinkling/cleansing
• मार्जने: Adhikaraṇa (context: in/at the cleansing rite)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कृते: when done; after being performed
• कृते: Adhikaraṇa-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘मार्जने’ इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Praṇava as a direct support for worship of Hari; mantra and water-action together establish purity and devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Praṇava as brahma-pratīka and īśvara-vācaka; disciplined repetition steadies the mind (ekāgratā) and prepares for higher contemplation.

Application: If short on time, center practice on repeated Oṁ with Hari-smṛti; then take water in hand, recite the chosen mantra, and perform mārjana mindfully.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (home shrine/riverbank)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.46-49 (praṇava/vyāhṛti and mārjana sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Praṇava (Oṁ)

FAQs

What is the importance of praṇava (Oṁ) in Garuda Purana practices?

This verse presents Oṁ as a sufficient and universal mantra: repeating the praṇava while focusing on Hari is itself a purifying act that supports ritual cleanliness and spiritual readiness.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

Garuda Purana frequently ties purity of mind and rite to auspicious outcomes; mantra-japa and mārjana are described as preparatory disciplines that reduce impurity and strengthen dharmic orientation, which benefits the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use a simple daily practice: recite Oṁ with devotion to Hari, take a little water in the palm, and perform a brief sprinkling/cleansing as a reminder to keep body, speech, and mind purified.