Shloka 43

Devanagari script

लेपयित्वा तु तीरस्थस्तल्लिङ्गैरेव मन्त्रतः / अभिमन्त्र्य जलं मन्त्रैरालिङ्गैर्वारुणैः शुभैः

Transliteration

lepayitvā tu tīrasthastalliṅgaireva mantrataḥ / abhimantrya jalaṃ mantrairāliṅgairvāruṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Translation

Standing on the riverbank, one should apply the sacred substance while reciting the appropriate mantras in accord with its signs; then, having consecrated the water with auspicious Varuṇa-mantras connected with those same signs, one should proceed with the rite.

Word by Word

• लेपयित्वा: having smeared/applied
• लेपयित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लेपयित्वा (कृदन्त; √लिप् (धातु), णिच् causative)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): ‘लेपयित्वा’

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विशेषार्थ particle)

• तीरस्थः: standing on the bank
• तीरस्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष): ‘तीरे स्थितः’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• लिङ्गैः: with the signs/marks (liṅgas)
• लिङ्गैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण)

• मन्त्रतः: by means of mantras/ritually
• मन्त्रतः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्यय; ‘मन्त्रेण/मन्त्रमार्गेण’)

• अभिमन्त्र्य: having consecrated (by mantra)
• अभिमन्त्र्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभिमन्त्र्य (कृदन्त; √मन्त्र् (धातु) + अभि)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): ‘अभिमन्त्र्य’ (having consecrated by mantra)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• आलिङ्गैः: with ‘āliṅga’ (specific)
• आलिङ्गैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आलिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (मन्त्रान् विशेषयति)

• वारुणैः: Varuṇa-related
• वारुणैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण: ‘वरुणसम्बन्धिभिः’

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-saṃskāra: ritual substances and water are sanctified through appropriate mantras (Varuṇa-related).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-sambandha: the sacred is invoked into ordinary elements, aligning mind with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: When performing snāna/ritual washing, accompany actions with correct mantras and intentional consecration rather than mere physical cleansing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/riverbank

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.44 (Viṣṇu-smaraṇa during snāna); Garuda Purana 1.50.45 (ācāmana mantra)

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of consecrating water with Varuṇa-mantras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames water as ritually effective only after mantra-consecration, specifically invoking Varuṇa—so the purification and subsequent rite are performed with sanctified (not ordinary) water.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual method (mantra + purified water) as supportive dharmic practice, which the text links elsewhere to the deceased’s welfare and orderly post-death transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing any purification or ancestral rite, treat water as sacred: use clean water, recite appropriate mantras with attention, and follow a consistent, scripturally grounded procedure rather than a casual sprinkling.