Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

शोकदुः खप्रशमनं गङ्गास्नानवदाचरेत् / अद्य हस्ते तु नक्षत्रे दशम्यां ज्येष्ठके सिते

Transliteration

śokaduḥ khapraśamanaṃ gaṅgāsnānavadācaret / adya haste tu nakṣatre daśamyāṃ jyeṣṭhake site

Translation

To soothe grief and suffering, one should perform this observance as though bathing in the Gaṅgā. Today—when the nakṣatra is Hasta, on the tenth tithi, in the bright fortnight of the month Jyeṣṭha—it is especially to be undertaken.

Word by Word

• शोकदुःखप्रशमनम्: removal of grief and sorrow
• शोकदुःखप्रशमनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रशमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; समाहार-द्वन्द्वपूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः (शोकं च दुःखं च तयोः प्रशमनम्)

• गङ्गास्नानवत्: like (a) Ganga-bath
• गङ्गास्नानवत्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverbial -vat) = ‘like’; गङ्गास्नानवत् = like bathing in the Ganga

• आचरेत्: should practice/perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (today)

• हस्ते: in (the) Hasta (nakshatra)
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (Time/Occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; नक्षत्र-नाम (Hasta)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle)

• नक्षत्रे: in the lunar mansion
• नक्षत्रे: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• दशम्याम्: on the tenth (tithi)
• दशम्याम्: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• ज्येष्ठके: in (the month of) Jyeṣṭha
• ज्येष्ठके: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; मास-नाम (Jyeṣṭha)

• सिते: in the bright (fortnight)
• सिते: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचनम्; पक्षविशेषणम् (शुक्लपक्षे)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Perform the observance to pacify sorrow as if bathing in the Gaṅgā; timing by nakṣatra/tithi is highlighted for efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Grace through śraddhā and śauca: sacred time and sacred water as supports for inner purification and mental relief.

Application: When distressed, adopt a structured purificatory practice (bath, prayer, charity) on auspicious timings; if Gaṅgā is inaccessible, emulate with intention and mantra at home or local water source.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred river

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.53-55 (snāna praised; mental serenity and benefits)

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Nakṣatra (Hasta)
• Tithi (Daśamī)
• Jyeṣṭha (month)

FAQs

What is the importance of performing an observance 'like Gaṅgā-snāna' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the act as highly purificatory and merit-giving—comparable to bathing in the Gaṅgā—specifically aimed at calming grief and inner distress.

How does this verse guide ritual timing in the Garuda Purana?

It specifies an auspicious combination—Hasta nakṣatra, Daśamī tithi, Jyeṣṭha month, bright fortnight—indicating that the efficacy of a śānti/remedial act is strengthened when done at prescribed times.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When facing intense sorrow, undertake a purifying, dharmic practice (prayer, charity, tīrtha-bath or its substitute) and, if possible, align it with traditional auspicious calendrical timings to support steadiness and healing.