Shloka 141

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

Devanagari script

ततः पुष्पाञ्जलिं धूपमु पहारफलानि च / स्नानमन्तर्जले चैव मार्जनाचमनं तथा

Transliteration

tataḥ puṣpāñjaliṃ dhūpamu pahāraphalāni ca / snānamantarjale caiva mārjanācamanaṃ tathā

Translation

Thereafter, one should offer a handful of flowers (puṣpāñjali), incense (dhūpa), and offerings with fruits; and one should also perform the ritual bath (snāna) in water, along with cleansing (mārjana) and ācamana, the purifying sipping of water.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequencer/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• पुष्प-अञ्जलिम्: a handful/anjali of flowers
• पुष्प-अञ्जलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुष्पाणाम् अञ्जलिः)

• धूपम्: incense
• धूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• उपहार-फलानि: fruits as offerings
• उपहार-फलानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपहार (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (उपहारस्य फलानि)

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

• स्नानम्: bathing (rite)
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन — (context: item to be offered/performed)

• अन्तः-जले: in water / within water
• अन्तः-जले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-स्वरूप) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन — Locative singular; अव्ययीभाव (अन्तः जले = within water)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (indeed)

• मार्जन-आचमनम्: sprinkling/cleansing and sipping (ācamanam)
• मार्जन-आचमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन — (as a combined item); द्वन्द्व (मार्जनं च आचमनं च)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (thus/likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhakti expressed through upacāras is inseparable from śauca: offerings and purification practices together complete worship.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi as support for devotion and contemplation.

Application: Pair devotional acts with hygiene and mental clarity: bathe/clean the space, then offer with attention; keep a simple, repeatable pūjā checklist.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-bathing area/altar space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.140 (arghya then vilepana)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of purification acts like snāna and ācamana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as essential preparatory steps—bathing, cleansing, and ācamana—performed alongside offerings, indicating that ritual purity supports the efficacy and correctness of worship/rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct ritual sequence and purification, it reflects the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that dharmic observance and properly performed rites aid spiritual order and beneficial outcomes for the individual and family.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any prayer or rite, keep a clean space, bathe or wash, perform a simple ācamana (mindful purification), and offer flowers/incense/fruit with sincerity—prioritizing inner and outer cleanliness.