Shloka 31

Snāna-Śauca Krama: Varuṇa–Āpaḥ Mantras, Aghamarṣaṇa, Sūrya-Upasthāna, and Sarva-Tarpaṇa

Devanagari script

आचान्ते पुनाराचामेन्मन्त्रेण स्नानभोजने / द्रुपदां च त्रिरावर्त्य तथा चैवाघमर्षणम्

Transliteration

ācānte punārācāmenmantreṇa snānabhojane / drupadāṃ ca trirāvartya tathā caivāghamarṣaṇam

Translation

After sipping water for purification (ācāmana), one should perform ācāmana again with the prescribed mantra—especially at the times of bathing and eating. One should also repeat the Drupadā (hymn) three times, and likewise perform the Aghamarṣaṇa rite for the removal of sin.

Word by Word

• आचान्ते: after sipping (ācamana)
• आचान्ते: Kriya-vishesana (Condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ√चम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used adverbially; लोके ‘आचान्ते’ = आचम्य (having sipped); सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण (locative absolute-like)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय

• आचामेत्: should sip (perform ācamana)
• आचामेत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√चम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• मन्त्रेण: with a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• स्नान: bathing
• स्नान: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• भोजने: at bathing and eating
• भोजने: Adhikarana (Occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; स्नान-भोजने = स्नाने च भोजने च (द्वन्द्व, locative)

• द्रुपदाम्: the ‘Drupadā’ (hymn)
• द्रुपदाम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुपदा (प्रातिपदिक; mantra-name)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• त्रिः: three times
• त्रिः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक अव्यय (frequency)

• आवर्त्य: having repeated/recited
• आवर्त्य: Kriya-vishesana (Absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√वृत् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• अघमर्षणम्: the Aghamarṣaṇa (sin-dispelling rite/mantra)
• अघमर्षणम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघमर्षण (प्रातिपदिक; rite/mantra-name)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Regularized purification of speech/body through ācāmana with mantra; repetition of sin-destroying hymns as moral-ritual maintenance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-śuddhi and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi through disciplined repetition (abhyāsa) and sacred sound (śabda).

Application: Perform ācāmana before/after bathing and before eating; recite Drupadā thrice and Aghamarṣaṇa as a periodic conscience-cleansing practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting (before worship/meal)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.29 (purification mantras; ‘pavitrā’ theme); Garuda Purana 1.214.30 (post-bath cleanliness); Garuda Purana 1.214.32 (sun-veneration after purification)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Aghamarṣaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Aghamarṣaṇa as a dedicated purificatory act meant to ‘scrape away’ (marṣaṇa) sin (agha), reinforcing ritual and inner cleanliness during key daily transitions like bathing and eating.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey or afterlife teachings?

The Garuda Purana repeatedly links purity of conduct and rites to one’s karmic condition; this verse emphasizes that disciplined purification (ācāmana, mantra-recitation, aghamarṣaṇa) supports dharmic living, which in turn shapes post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain mindful cleanliness before meals and after bathing, and pair external hygiene with a brief mantra-based pause for self-purification and ethical intention-setting.