Shloka 3

Gāyatrī-Kalpa: Sandhyā-Japa, Devī-Namaskāra, and Homa for Dharma, Kāma, and Moksha

Devanagari script

त्रिसन्ध्यं ब्रह्मलोकीस्याच्छतं जप्त्वा जलं पिबेत् / संध्यायां सर्वपापघ्नीं देवीमावाह्य पूजयेत्

Transliteration

trisandhyaṃ brahmalokīsyācchataṃ japtvā jalaṃ pibet / saṃdhyāyāṃ sarvapāpaghnīṃ devīmāvāhya pūjayet

Translation

At the three junctions of the day—dawn, noon, and dusk—one should perform Sandhyā worship and become fit for the world of Brahmā; having recited the sacred formula a hundred times, one should sip purifying water (ācamana). At Sandhyā time, invoking the Goddess who destroys all sins, one should worship and honor her.

Word by Word

• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: (the rite) for the three twilight-junctions
• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः सन्ध्याः यस्य/यत्र)

• ब्रह्मलोकीस्य: of one who attains Brahma-loka / of the Brahma-loka-goer
• ब्रह्मलोकीस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मलोकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• आच्छतम्: covered/overlaid (as read in the text)
• आच्छतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + छद् (धातु) → आच्छत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक-रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) अर्थे ‘आच्छादित/आवृत’

• शतम्: a hundred (times)
• शतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• संध्यायाम्: at the twilight (rite/time)
• संध्यायाम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सर्वपापघ्नीम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपापघ्नीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्निन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां पापानां घ्नी)

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘आवाहयित्वा’

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nitya-karma (tri-sandhyā) as purification and eligibility for higher states; devī as pāpa-hāriṇī when invoked with right procedure.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as a prerequisite for higher realization/attainment; karma as a purifier when aligned with śruti-smṛti injunctions.

Application: Keep a consistent tri-sandhyā routine: japa count discipline (100), ācamana with mindfulness, and brief devī-āvāhana-pūjā at dawn/noon/dusk.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual threshold (time-junction)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/Ācāra sections): sandhyā-vidhi, ācamana, japa-niyama (parallel procedural passages in adjacent adhyāyas)

Characters & Entities

• Sandhyā Devī
• Brahma-loka

FAQs

What is the importance of trisandhya (three daily Sandhyās) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents trisandhyā practice as a daily discipline that purifies sin and makes one fit for higher worlds, specifically associating it with Brahma-loka qualification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana terms?

By emphasizing sin-destruction through Sandhyā worship and japa, it implies that ritual purity and dharmic discipline support an auspicious post-death trajectory toward higher lokas rather than suffering states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a consistent dawn/noon/dusk spiritual routine: brief japa (e.g., 108 repetitions), ācamana/sipping water with mindfulness, and a simple Sandhyā prayer to cultivate purity, restraint, and regular devotion.