Shloka 115

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

मार्जनान्मज्जनैर्मन्त्रैः पापमाशु प्रणश्यति / नित्यं नैमित्तिकं चापि क्रियाङ्गं मलकर्षणम्

Transliteration

mārjanānmajjanairmantraiḥ pāpamāśu praṇaśyati / nityaṃ naimittikaṃ cāpi kriyāṅgaṃ malakarṣaṇam

Translation

By sprinkling purificatory water, by bathing, and by mantra-recitation, sin quickly perishes. Such cleansing—the removal of impurity—is an integral limb of both daily (nitya) and occasional (naimittika) rites.

Word by Word

• मार्जनात्: from cleansing
• मार्जनात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अपादान/हेतुवाचक (from/by cleansing)

• मज्जनैः: by immersions/baths
• मज्जनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/शीघ्रतावाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रणश्यति: perishes/is destroyed
• प्रणश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• नित्यम्: daily/regular
• नित्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as adverbial: regularly)

• नैमित्तिकम्: occasional
• नैमित्तिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैमित्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—निमित्तजन्य (occasional/for a specific occasion)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-शब्दः (particle: also/even)

• क्रियाङ्गम्: a component of the rite
• क्रियाङ्गम्: Pradhana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“क्रियायाः अङ्गम्”

• मलकर्षणम्: removal of impurity
• मलकर्षणम्: Pradhana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“मलस्य कर्षणम्” (removal of impurity)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification through marjana (sprinkling), majjana (bathing), and mantra reduces pāpa; mala-apakarṣaṇa is an aṅga of both daily and occasional rites.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as a purifier when aligned with śāstra and mantra; supports antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (inner instrument purification).

Application: Integrate simple purificatory steps (ācamana/marjana, snana, mantra) consistently in daily practice and before special observances.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.112 (snana as kriyāṅga); Garuda Purana 1.213.114 (snana importance and fruit)

Characters & Entities

• Mantras
• Nitya-karma
• Naimittika-karma

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purification (marjana/snana) in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that sprinkling, bathing, and mantra-recitation quickly destroy sin, and that cleansing (mala-karṣaṇa) is a required component of both daily and occasional Vedic rites.

How does this verse relate to karma and purification in the Garuda Purana narrative?

In Vishnu’s instruction to Garuda, purification is presented as a practical dharmic method to reduce pāpa through prescribed karmas—showing that ritual discipline and mantra are tools for karmic refinement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular cleanliness and mindful practice (bathing, simple purificatory acts, and sincere mantra/japa) before worship or important rites, treating purity as part of ethical and spiritual discipline.