Shloka 3

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing/Offering the Pavitra Sacred Thread

Devanagari script

सौवर्णरौप्यताम्रं च सूत्रं कार्पासिकं क्रमात् / ज्ञेयं कुजादौ संग्राह्यं कन्यया कर्तितं च यत्

Transliteration

sauvarṇaraupyatāmraṃ ca sūtraṃ kārpāsikaṃ kramāt / jñeyaṃ kujādau saṃgrāhyaṃ kanyayā kartitaṃ ca yat

Translation

In due order, one should procure thread made of gold, silver, and copper, and also cotton thread; it should be understood that these are to be gathered beginning from Tuesday (the day of Kuja/Maṅgala), and that the thread twisted/prepared by an unmarried maiden is especially prescribed.

Word by Word

• सौवर्ण: golden
• सौवर्ण: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) → सौवर्ण (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); तद्धित-निर्मित (made of gold)

• रौप्य: silver
• रौप्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप्य (प्रातिपदिक) → रौप्य (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); तद्धित (made of silver)

• ताम्रम्: copper
• ताम्रम्: Karma (कर्म—item listed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• सूत्रम्: thread/cord
• सूत्रम्: Karma (कर्म—item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कार्पासिकम्: cotton (made of cotton)
• कार्पासिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्पास (प्रातिपदिक) → कार्पासिक (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तद्धित (made of cotton)

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Manner/Order (प्रकार/क्रम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverbial: in order)

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भविष्यत्कृदन्त/विधेयार्थ (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be known)

• कुजादौ: starting with Mars, etc.
• कुजादौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण—context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुज + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (beginning with Mars)

• संग्राह्यम्: to be collected/obtained
• संग्राह्यम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + ग्रह् (धातु) → संग्राह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत् (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be collected/accepted’

• कन्यया: by a maiden
• कन्यया: Kartr̥/Agent-instrument (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• कर्तितम्: made/prepared
• कर्तितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत् (धातु) (causative/denom.) → कर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘made/cut/prepared’

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Anvaya-link (सम्बन्ध—relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correct materials and procurement rules (gold/silver/copper/cotton; beginning from Tuesday; made by an unmarried maiden) are part of ritual correctness and auspiciousness.

Vedantic Theme: Outer order as a support for inner order; symbolic purity (kanyā-kṛta) and sattva in ritual implements.

Application: Attend to integrity of means: use clean, well-prepared tools and ethically sourced materials; let ‘purity of preparation’ reflect sincerity and care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: workshop/household preparation space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.42.1–2 (pavitra-āropaṇa rite and timing)

Characters & Entities

• Kuja (Mars)

FAQs

What is the importance of prescribed thread materials in the Garuda Purana?

This verse specifies acceptable thread substances (gold, silver, copper, and cotton) and purity conditions, indicating that ritual efficacy depends on correct materials and proper preparation.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual discipline (ācāra)?

Rather than describing the afterlife, it lays down procedural discipline—what to procure, in what order, and under what purity norms—showing that correct ācāra is foundational to Garuda Purana’s broader dharmic teaching.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing traditional rites, follow lineage/śāstra-based material guidelines and maintain cleanliness and intentionality in preparation; if exact materials aren’t feasible, prioritize sincerity and consult a qualified priest for acceptable substitutions.