Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

गङ्गाद्याः सरितस्तासु या रेखाः करमध्यगाः / उषः काले तु संप्राप्ते शौचं कृत्वा यथार्थवत्

Transliteration

gaṅgādyāḥ saritastāsu yā rekhāḥ karamadhyagāḥ / uṣaḥ kāle tu saṃprāpte śaucaṃ kṛtvā yathārthavat

Translation

Among sacred rivers such as the Gaṅgā are those holy lines that run through the middle of the palm; when the time of dawn has arrived, one should perform purification (śauca) properly, in the prescribed manner.

Word by Word

• गङ्गाद्याः: beginning with Gaṅgā
• गङ्गाद्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (गङ्गा-आदि = गङ्गा-प्रभृतयः)

• सरितः: rivers
• सरितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• तासु: in those (rivers)
• तासु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• या: which
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• रेखाः: lines
• रेखाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• करमध्यगाः: situated in the middle of the hand (palm)
• करमध्यगाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (गम्-धातु; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (करस्य मध्ये गाः = located in the middle of the hand); 'ग' = गम्-धातोः क्त/ग-प्रत्ययान्त-प्रातिपदिक (गः/गा)

• उषः: of dawn
• उषः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन (उषसः); कालवाचक-सम्बन्ध

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (Time-locus/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis particle)

• संप्राप्ते: when (it) has arrived
• संप्राप्ते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भव; लोके 'काले संप्राप्ते' = सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• शौचम्: purification/cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• यथार्थवत्: properly/according to the true procedure
• यथार्थवत्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At dawn, after recognizing sacred river-presences symbolically in the palm, one should perform śauca properly according to prescription.

Vedantic Theme: Outer purity supporting inner purity (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) as a prerequisite for japa, pūjā, and knowledge.

Application: Maintain a consistent dawn routine: cleanliness, orderly preparation for worship/study; use symbolic remembrance (Gaṅgā) to sacralize daily hygiene.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: river

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (morning rites; nyāsa and purification context)

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

What is the importance of dawn-time purification (uṣaḥ-kāla śauca) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that cleanliness and ritual purity should be performed at dawn in a proper, prescribed way, making one fit for dharmic duties such as worship, japa, and daily rites.

How does this verse connect sacred rivers like the Ganga with personal purification?

By mentioning rivers beginning with the Ganga alongside bodily marks/lines and śauca, the verse links external sacred purity (tīrtha, holy waters) with internal and bodily discipline through correct cleansing at dawn.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a consistent morning routine of cleanliness and mindful preparation before prayer or study—treating personal hygiene and purity as part of daily dharma.