Shloka 39

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

भद्रङ्कर्णेत्यथ स्नात्वा सूत्रवल्कलजेन तु / संस्नाप्य लक्षणोद्धारं कुर्यात्तूर्यादि (दूराभि) वादनैः

Transliteration

bhadraṅkarṇetyatha snātvā sūtravalkalajena tu / saṃsnāpya lakṣaṇoddhāraṃ kuryāttūryādi (dūrābhi) vādanaiḥ

Translation

Then, having bathed while reciting “bhadraṅkarṇa,” one should cleanse by washing with water prepared with the sacred thread and bark-fibre; and, accompanied by the sounding of trumpets and other instruments (even from afar), one should perform the rite called “lakṣaṇoddhāra.”

Word by Word

• भद्रम्: ‘bhadra’ (auspicious word)
• भद्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (उक्तिविषय)

• कर्णे: in the ear
• कर्णे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यादि-निपात (quotative particle)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kala (Time/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequence particle)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• सूत्रवल्कलजेन: with that made of thread and bark-cloth
• सूत्रवल्कलजेन: Karana (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूत्र-वल्कल-ज (प्रातिपदिक; सूत्र + वल्कल + ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (qualifying implied वस्त्र/आवरण)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle)

• संस्नाप्य: having bathed (him) thoroughly
• संस्नाप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-√स्ना (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (absolutive; "having bathed/washed thoroughly")

• लक्षणोद्धारम्: the removal/clearing of (ritual) marks/defects
• लक्षणोद्धारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण-उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक; लक्षण + उद्धार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person singular

• तूर्यादि: musical instruments etc.
• तूर्यादि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूर्य-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; तूर्य + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; indeclinable-like nominal used as qualifier ("etc.")

• दूराभिः: with (loud) sounds/at a distance (uncertain reading)
• दूराभिः: Karana (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (reading uncertain; parenthetical)

• वादनैः: with playing/sounding (music)
• वादनैः: Karana (Instrument/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वादन (प्रातिपदिक; √वद्/√वाद् + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification by mantra and prescribed materials; auspicious sound as a ritual seal for saṃskāra.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi through disciplined saṃskāra; external rites supporting inner recollection and steadiness.

Application: Use intentional cues (mantra/affirmation, clean materials, supportive ambience) to mark important transitions and commitments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: snāna-sthāna within temple/maṇḍapa complex

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (snāna, mantra-ucchāraṇa, lakṣaṇoddhāra, tūrya-vādya)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of lakṣaṇoddhāra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents lakṣaṇoddhāra as a specific, required step within the post-death ritual sequence, performed after bathing and ritual ablution, indicating its role in properly completing the transition-rite.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual handling of the body and rites (snāna, saṃsnāpana, prescribed procedures), which in the Garuda Purana framework supports orderly passage into the preta-stage and onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow tradition-specific last-rites with cleanliness, mantra-recitation, and disciplined procedure; if instruments/processions are not feasible, preserve the intent—reverence, order, and proper guidance from qualified priests.