Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

नदीषु देवखातेषु तडागेषु सरः सु च / स्नानं समाचरेन्नैव परकीये कदाचन

Transliteration

nadīṣu devakhāteṣu taḍāgeṣu saraḥ su ca / snānaṃ samācarennaiva parakīye kadācana

Translation

One should bathe in rivers, in sacred waterworks as though fashioned by the gods, in ponds and in lakes; but never, at any time, should one bathe in water that belongs to another without right or permission.

Word by Word

• नदीषु: in rivers
• नदीषु: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम् (feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (locative), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• देवखातेषु: in sacred excavated ponds/wells
• देवखातेषु: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + खात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (locative), बहुवचनम् (plural); तत्पुरुष-समासः ('in god-made/temple-dug tanks/wells')

• तडागेषु: in ponds
• तडागेषु: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (locative), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• सरः: in a lake
• सरः: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (locative), एकवचनम् (singular) (वैकल्पिक-रूपम्: सरसि)

• सु: well/indeed
• सु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/निपातः (particle; intensifier/approving)

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

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation particle)

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्ययम् (emphasis)

• परकीये: in another’s (belonging to others)
• परकीये: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परकीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (locative), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम् (implicit: 'in another's [place/water]')

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of time)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bathe in appropriate public/sacred waters; do not bathe in another’s privately owned water without right—purity includes ethical restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as non-appropriation (asteya) supporting sattva; outer purity is invalid if gained through adharma.

Application: Use designated public/sacred bathing places; seek permission for private wells/tanks; respect communal resources and property rights as part of religious discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: waterbody

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.38 (snāna preparation); Garuda Purana 1.50.40 (snāna purity rules)

FAQs

What is the importance of proper bathing (snāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bathing as a dharmic act tied to purity, but stresses that ritual practice must not violate ethics—one should not use another’s water unlawfully.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it reinforces that everyday conduct (ācāra) forms karma; even acts meant for purity become karmically faulty if done through wrongdoing like taking what belongs to others.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and spiritual discipline, but respect ownership and consent—use public/sanctioned water sources or obtain permission before using private ones.