Shloka 37

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing Hari with the Pavitra

Devanagari script

अष्टोत्तरशतेनैव दद्यादेकपवित्रकम् / आदौ दत्त्वार्घ्यमादित्ये तत्र चैकं पवित्रकम्

Transliteration

aṣṭottaraśatenaiva dadyādekapavitrakam / ādau dattvārghyamāditye tatra caikaṃ pavitrakam

Translation

With one hundred and eight (offerings), one should give a single pavitra, a sacred ring of kuśa-grass. First, after offering arghya (water oblation) to Āditya, one should place there also one pavitra.

Word by Word

• अष्टोत्तरशतेन: with (a count of) one hundred and eight
• अष्टोत्तरशतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन — द्विगु-समासः (108)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (restrictive particle: only/indeed)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘he should give’

• एकपवित्रकम्: one pavitraka (sacred ring/thread)
• एकपवित्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + पवित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन — ‘एक-पवित्रक’ (one sacred thread/ring)

• आदौ: at the beginning
• आदौ: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदौ (अव्यय/सप्तमी-रूप)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; कालवाचक (at first/initially)

• दत्त्वा: having offered
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्य — ‘having given’

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya (respectful offering)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• आदित्ये: to the Sun (Āditya)
• आदित्ये: Sampradana/Adhikarana (Recipient/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति; एकवचन — अधिकरण (to/at the Sun)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• च: and
• च: Connector (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction ‘and’)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन — संख्याविशेषण

• पवित्रकम्: pavitraka (sacred ring/thread)
• पवित्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual sanctity is reinforced through prescribed counts (108) and purity devices (pavitra), beginning with honoring Āditya via arghya.

Vedantic Theme: Cosmic alignment (āditya as witness) supporting inner discipline; karma as preparatory purifier.

Application: Begin worship with a brief solar salutation/arghya (where appropriate) and maintain purity aids (pavitra/kuśa) with mindful intent; use 108-count japa/offerings for steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual threshold/courtyard

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (pavitra-dhāraṇa and mantra-krama around arcana)

Characters & Entities

• Aditya (Surya)

FAQs

What is the importance of pavitra (kuśa ring) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse presents pavitra as a required purificatory implement—offered/placed as part of a prescribed rite—signifying ritual cleanliness and sanctification of the act.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual procedure (beginning with arghya to the Sun and use of pavitra), which in Garuda Purana contexts supports dharmic observance connected with post-death rites and merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin sacred observances with mindful purification and respectful offerings (such as arghya), and follow a consistent, disciplined count (like 108) to cultivate attention, reverence, and ritual integrity.