Shloka 12

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

वारुणं चावगाहं च मानर्स त्वात्मवेदनम् / यौगिकं स्नानमाख्यातं योगेन हरिचिन्तनम्

Transliteration

vāruṇaṃ cāvagāhaṃ ca mānarsa tvātmavedanam / yaugikaṃ snānamākhyātaṃ yogena haricintanam

Translation

Immersion in water is called the Varuṇa bath; the mental bath is self-knowledge. The yogic bath is declared to be contemplation of Hari through yoga.

Word by Word

• वारुणम्: pertaining to water/Varuṇa (vāruṇa)
• वारुणम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक) → वारुण (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (Varuṇa-related)

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

• अवगाहम्: immersion (dip-bath)
• अवगाहम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवगाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘immersion/bathing by dipping’

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

• मानसम्: mental
• मानसम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (mental)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ/विरोध (but/indeed)

• आत्मवेदनम्: self-realization/knowledge of the Self
• आत्मवेदनम्: Predicate nominal (विधेय-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + वेदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्मनः वेदनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• यौगिकम्: yogic
• यौगिकम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) → यौगिक (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (yogic)

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• आख्यातम्: is declared
• आख्यातम्: Predicate participle (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+ख्या (धातु) → आख्यात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘declared/taught’

• योगेन: by yoga/through yoga
• योगेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• हरिचिन्तनम्: meditation on Hari
• हरिचिन्तनम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हरेः चिन्तनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True purification culminates in ātma-vedana (self-knowledge) and yogic Hari-smaraṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi leading to ātma-jñāna; īśvara-smṛti as support for samādhi.

Application: Combine outer bath with inner disciplines: cultivate self-inquiry and steady remembrance of Hari during/after daily rituals.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river/pond/ghat for immersion; inner mental space for mānasa/yaugika

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.11 (vāyavya/divya snāna); Garuda Purana 1.50.13 (ātma-tīrtha)

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of yogic bath (yaugika snāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines the yogic bath as inner purification—meditating on Hari through yoga—placing spiritual practice above mere external cleansing.

How does this verse explain purification beyond physical rituals?

It distinguishes three levels: physical water-immersion, mental purification as Self-knowledge, and the highest purification as yogic contemplation of Vishnu.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Along with outer cleanliness, cultivate daily self-inquiry and a short, focused Hari-chintana (Vishnu meditation/japa) as a core practice for inner purity.