Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

सर्वाभिस्तु शिरः पश्चाद्बाहू चाग्रेण संस्पृशेत् / ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि त्रिः पठन्प्रीणयेत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

sarvābhistu śiraḥ paścādbāhū cāgreṇa saṃspṛśet / ṛco yajūṃṣi sāmāni triḥ paṭhanprīṇayetkramāt

Translation

With those sacred utterances one should touch the head from behind and the arms from the front; then, reciting in order the Ṛk, Yajus, and Sāman three times, one should duly satisfy and sanctify them step by step.

Word by Word

• सर्वाभिः: with all (of them)
• सर्वाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; ‘with all (fingers)’

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Sambandha (Sequential/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/कालवाचक (afterwards)

• बाहू: (both) arms
• बाहू: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), द्विवचन; accusative dual

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• अग्रेण: with the tip/front
• अग्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular; ‘with the tip/front (of the hand/fingers)’

• संस्पृशेत्: should touch
• संस्पृशेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular; परस्मैपद

• ऋचः: Ṛg (verses of Ṛgveda)
• ऋचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• यजूंषि: Yajus (formulas of Yajurveda)
• यजूंषि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• सामानि: Sāman (chants of Sāmaveda)
• सामानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; accusative plural

• त्रिः: three times
• त्रिः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (thrice)

• पठन्: reciting
• पठन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) → पठत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; present active participle; ‘while reciting’

• प्रीणयेत्: should satisfy/propitiate
• प्रीणयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु) (causative) → प्रीणय (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative, 3rd person singular; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5) एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभाव (adverbial ablative): ‘in order/stepwise’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Touch head (from behind) and arms (from the front) with the sacred utterances; then recite Ṛk, Yajus, and Sāman in order three times to duly ‘satisfy/sanctify’ them.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-brahman as purifier; disciplined recitation aligns body-mind with sacred order (ṛta).

Application: Maintain a consistent, correct recitation practice (even brief) with attention to sequence and repetition; let sound discipline stabilize conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.37-40 (śauca and aṅga-sparśa sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Rigveda
• Yajurveda
• Samaveda

FAQs

What is the importance of reciting Ṛk, Yajus, and Sāman in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a stepwise Vedic method: reciting the three Vedic streams in order—three times—serves to ritually “satisfy” (prīṇayet) and sanctify the act, ensuring correctness and spiritual efficacy.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and purification rites?

Garuda Purana often frames ritual actions with precise mantra-usage; here it describes a bodily purification/empowerment gesture (touching head and arms) paired with ordered Vedic recitation, aligning the performer with Vedic authority used in samskara and śānti contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing traditional rites, keep sequence and repetition disciplined: follow an established order, recite clearly, and treat ritual gestures as mindful acts of purification rather than mere formalities.