Shloka 114

Devanagari script

स्नानमेव क्रिया यस्मात्क्रियास्नानमतः परम् / अद्भिर्गात्राणि शुध्यन्ति तीर्थस्नानात्फलं लभेत्

Transliteration

snānameva kriyā yasmātkriyāsnānamataḥ param / adbhirgātrāṇi śudhyanti tīrthasnānātphalaṃ labhet

Translation

Bathing itself is a sacred act; therefore ritual bathing is regarded as supremely important. By water the limbs of the body are purified, and by bathing at a tīrtha one attains the promised spiritual fruit.

Word by Word

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात (emphatic particle)

• क्रिया: (the) rite/action
• क्रिया: Pradhana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यस्मात्: because
• यस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (because of which)

• क्रियास्नानम्: ritual bathing
• क्रियास्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“क्रियायाः स्नानम्” (ritual bath)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (therefore/from this)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Pradhana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—श्रेष्ठ/उत्तम (supreme)

• अद्भिः: with waters
• अद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/अद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• गात्राणि: limbs/body-parts
• गात्राणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शुध्यन्ति: become purified
• शुध्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• तीर्थस्नानात्: from bathing at a holy place
• तीर्थस्नानात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“तीर्थे स्नानम्/तीर्थस्य स्नानम्” (bathing at a sacred place)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लभेत्: one should obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Snana is itself a kriyā (sacred act); water purifies the body, and tīrtha-snana yields promised merit (phala).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama: actions performed with right means and context (tīrtha) yield subtle results; external purity supports inner steadiness.

Application: Treat bathing as a deliberate ritual act; when possible, bathe at tīrthas with reverence and restraint, aligning intention with purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage bathing place / river ford

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.113 (places for snana); Garuda Purana 1.213.115 (sin destroyed by marjana/majjan/mantra)

Characters & Entities

• Tirtha

FAQs

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

This verse states that bathing is itself a religious act and that ritual bathing is considered supreme because water purifies the body and supports dharmic observance.

Does the verse claim special results from bathing at a tīrtha?

Yes. It distinguishes ordinary cleansing from tīrtha-snān, saying that bathing at a sacred ford yields a specific spiritual fruit (phala), i.e., merit associated with that holy place.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain bodily cleanliness as part of spiritual discipline, and when visiting sacred sites, approach bathing as a mindful rite—linked with prayer, restraint, and ethical conduct—to seek inner purification, not merely physical washing.