Shloka 4

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापौघो यत्र स्नानेन नश्यति / प्रत्यक्षं दृश्यते ह्यत्र स्नानं कर्तुं समुद्यतैः

Transliteration

brahmahatyādipāpaugho yatra snānena naśyati / pratyakṣaṃ dṛśyate hyatra snānaṃ kartuṃ samudyataiḥ

Translation

An jenem Ort wird die Flut der Sünden, beginnend mit brahmahatyā (dem Töten eines Brāhmaṇa), durch das Bad vernichtet. Ja, hier sieht man es unmittelbar: Diejenigen, die das Bad vollziehen wollen, machen sich eifrig daran.

Word by Word

• brahmahatyā-ādi-pāpa-oghaḥ: the mass of sins such as brahmahatyā
• brahmahatyā-ādi-pāpa-oghaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmahatyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्महत्या-आदि पापानां ओघः’ = flood/mass of sins beginning with brahmahatyā

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक (relative locative adverb: where)

• snānena: by bathing
• snānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• naśyati: perishes, is destroyed
• naśyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √naś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• pratyakṣam: directly, visibly
• pratyakṣam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pratyakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative), क्रियाविशेषण (in plain sight/directly)

• dṛśyate: is seen
• dṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (particle: indeed/for)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• kartum: to do, to perform
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), ‘to do’

• samudyataiḥ: by the prepared (people)
• samudyataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sam-ud-yata (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; क्त (PPP) used substantively: ‘by those who are prepared/intent’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-phala can be mitigated through prescribed purificatory acts (snāna) at potent tirthas; communal testimony (‘pratyakṣa’) supports faith in the rite.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and prāyaścitta within vyavahāra; purification as preparation for higher pursuits (dharma/adhyātma).

Application: If burdened by wrongdoing, combine ritual purification with restitution, confession to conscience, and sustained ethical reform.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha-snāna-sthāna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prāyaścitta/dāna sections where grave sins are discussed (general)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmahatya

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual bathing (snāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents snāna as a powerful purificatory act capable of destroying even grave accumulations of sin, functioning as a form of prāyaścitta (expiation) when done with intent and proper observance.

Does the verse describe a specific holy place (tīrtha) or a general practice?

The wording “yatra” (“where”) indicates a particular place known for sin-destruction through bathing, implying a tīrtha context, while also highlighting the general principle that sincere ritual bathing is a recognized means of purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat cleansing practices as ethical purification: bathe with prayerful intention, avoid harmful actions that create pāpa, and pair ritual acts with real-life repentance, restraint, and dharmic conduct.