Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

पञ्च पादे दशैकस्मिन्करयोः सप्तमृत्तिकाः / अर्धप्रसृतिमात्रा तु प्रथमा मृत्तिका स्मृता

Transliteration

pañca pāde daśaikasminkarayoḥ saptamṛttikāḥ / ardhaprasṛtimātrā tu prathamā mṛttikā smṛtā

Translation

Five portions are to be applied to the feet, ten to one (designated) part, and seven portions of clay to the hands. The first portion of clay is said to measure only half a prasṛti.

Word by Word

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्; अव्ययवत् (indeclinable numeral), पादे इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• पादे: on/at the foot
• पादे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्; अव्ययवत् (indeclinable numeral), (मृत्तिकाः) इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• एकस्मिन्: in one (place)
• एकस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; 'one' (in one [place])

• करयोः: of the two hands
• करयोः: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्; अव्ययवत् (indeclinable numeral), (मृत्तिकाः) इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• मृत्तिकाः: clods of earth (purificatory earth)
• मृत्तिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• अर्ध: half
• अर्ध: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषणम्; (प्रसृति) इति पदस्य पूर्वपद-निर्देशकः; 'half'

• प्रसृति: a handful (measure)
• प्रसृति: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; माप-परिमाणवाचकः (a measure: handful)

• मात्रा: of the measure/amount
• मात्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक-विशेषणम् (measured as)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/विशेषार्थे (but/indeed)

• प्रथमा: the first
• प्रथमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (मृत्तिका) इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• मृत्तिका: (the) earth (clod)
• मृत्तिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्मृता: is said/remembered (as)
• स्मृता: Karma (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय-विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca is maintained through correctly measured application of purifying clay to limbs.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥ-śuddhi supported by bāhya-śuddhi (outer purity as an aid to inner clarity).

Application: Follow the stated portions/measure (half-prasṛti first portion) when using clay for purification of feet/hands as per one’s tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/ritual space (snana-śauca area)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.33-36 (continuation on śauca timing, exceptions, bodily impurities)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of mṛttikā (clay) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse specifies how clay is apportioned and measured for ritual application, indicating that mṛttikā is used in a regulated, dharma-based purification procedure rather than casually.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rites?

It gives practical proportions for applying clay to body parts (feet and hands) and defines the first portion’s measure, aligning with the text’s broader guidance on correct performance of post-death and purificatory observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following traditional rites, use standardized measures and learned guidance (a qualified priest/ācārya) rather than improvising—this verse emphasizes precision and discipline in ritual conduct.