Shloka 10

Gāyatrī–Sandhyā Upāsanā: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, and Japa-Viniyoga

Devanagari script

श्वेतपद्मसनासीना श्वेतपुष्पोपशोभिता / ॐ आपो हिष्ठा मयो भुवस्ता न उर्जे दधात नः

Transliteration

śvetapadmasanāsīnā śvetapuṣpopaśobhitā / oṃ āpo hiṣṭhā mayo bhuvastā na urje dadhāta naḥ

Translation

Seated upon a white lotus-seat and adorned with white flowers, one should recite: “Oṃ—O Waters, you are indeed bliss-giving; grant us nourishment and strength.”

Word by Word

• श्वेतपद्मसनासीना: seated on a white lotus-seat
• श्वेतपद्मसनासीना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत-पद्म-आसन-आसीना (कृदन्त; √आस् (धातु) + क्त; घटकाः: श्वेत + पद्म + आसन + आसीना)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘श्वेतपद्मासने आसीना’ (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• श्वेतपुष्पोपशोभिता: adorned with white flowers
• श्वेतपुष्पोपशोभिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत-पुष्प-उप-शोभिता (कृदन्त; उप-√शुभ्/√शोभ् (धातु) + क्त; घटकाः: श्वेत + पुष्प + उपशोभिता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘श्वेतपुष्पैः उपशोभिता’ (तृतीया-सम्बन्ध)

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रणव-रूपम् अव्यय (sacred syllable/particle)

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अप्-शब्दः), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; वैदिक-प्रयोगः

• हिष्ठाः: most beneficial
• हिष्ठाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; superlative)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अतिशय-विशेषण (superlative)

• मयः: bliss, happiness
• मयः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; वैदिक ‘सुखम्/आनन्दः’

• भुवः: well-being, prosperity
• भुवः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक; भुवस्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वैदिक ‘भूतिः/कल्याणम्’

• ताः: those (they)
• ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• नः: for us / our
• नः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/4th: genitive/dative), बहुवचन; ‘our/to us’ (enclitic)

• ऊर्जे: for nourishment/strength
• ऊर्जे: Prayojana (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; ‘ऊर्जे’ = ‘ऊर्जायै’ वैदिक-रूपम्

• दधात: place, bestow
• दधात: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; वैदिक-रूपम्

• नः: us
• नः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘us’ (enclitic)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification through Vedic mantra and elemental sanctification; waters as bliss-giving and strength-bestowing.

Vedantic Theme: Outer śauca supports inner śuddhi; ritual action (karma) as preparatory discipline for mental clarity and devotion.

Application: Recite ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā…’ during ācamana, snāna, or before study/pujā; consciously link the act to cultivating calm, nourishment, and resilience.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_element

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.217.11 (extended āpaḥ mantras and purification imagery)

Characters & Entities

• Apah (sacred waters)

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking sacred waters (Āpaḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames water as a bliss-giving purifier and a giver of strength, supporting ritual cleanliness and inner steadiness before performing dharmic rites.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in Garuda Purana teachings?

By emphasizing purification and nourishment through sacred waters, it supports the preparatory framework of rites that are taught to aid the departed and uphold dharma for the living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use water with reverence—begin prayers or ancestral rites with a purification intention and recite the mantra as a reminder to cultivate clarity, restraint, and strength.