Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

आचान्तः पुनराचामेन्मन्त्रेणानेन मन्त्रवित् / अन्तश्चरसि भूतेषु गुहायां विश्वतोमुखः

Transliteration

ācāntaḥ punarācāmenmantreṇānena mantravit / antaścarasi bhūteṣu guhāyāṃ viśvatomukhaḥ

Translation

Having performed ācamana, the knower of mantras should sip water again with this mantra: “You move within all beings, dwelling in the heart-cave, O All-faced One.”

Word by Word

• आचान्तः: having performed ācamana
• आचान्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचान्त (कृदन्त; √चम् (धातु) + आ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण: ‘आचमनं कृतवान्’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पुनरावृत्ति adverb)

• आचामेत्: should sip (water) ritually
• आचामेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चम् (धातु) + आ
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मन्त्रेण: with a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• अनेन: with this
• अनेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• मन्त्रवित्: knower of mantras
• मन्त्रवित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रविद् (प्रातिपदिक; मन्त्र+विद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘मन्त्रान् वेत्ति’

• अन्तः: within
• अन्तः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण): ‘अन्तर्/भीतर’

• चरसि: you move/dwell
• चरसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भूतेषु: in beings
• भूतेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• गुहायाम्: in the cave (of the heart)
• गुहायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विश्वतः: on all sides/everywhere
• विश्वतः: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विश्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्यय; ‘सर्वतः’ = from all sides)

• मुखः: faced/mouthed
• मुखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra in instructional discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antaryāmin: the Lord moves within all beings, dwelling in the heart-cave, all-faced (viśvato-mukha).

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmi-brahman and hṛdaya-guhā contemplation; unity of immanence (within) and omnipresence (all-faced).

Application: After purification, recite the mantra with attention at the heart; use it as a brief meditation on the indwelling witness before worship or daily work.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.44 (Viṣṇu-smaraṇa during snāna)

FAQs

What is the importance of ācamana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames ācamana as a mantra-supported purification act, aligning the practitioner with the indwelling Divine presence before further ritual or recitation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes the immanent Divine within all beings (“within the heart-cave”), a contemplative foundation that supports dharma and inner purity—key prerequisites for auspicious post-death outcomes described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin prayers or ritual actions with mindful purification and the remembrance that the Divine pervades all beings—encouraging reverence, self-restraint, and ethical conduct.