Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

इदमापः प्रवहतव्याहृतिभिस्तथैव च / ततो ऽभिमन्त्रितं तोपमापो हिष्ठादिमन्त्रकैः

Transliteration

idamāpaḥ pravahatavyāhṛtibhistathaiva ca / tato 'bhimantritaṃ topamāpo hiṣṭhādimantrakaiḥ

Translation

These waters should be poured out while reciting the sacred vyāhṛtis. Thereafter the water should be ritually consecrated by mantra-recitation, beginning with “Āpo hi ṣṭhā…” and the related water-mantras.

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (object, ‘this [water]’) / deictic
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (agent of ‘flow/let flow’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• प्रवहत: flow forth; carry along
• प्रवहत: Kriyā (injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्याहृतिभिः: with the vyāhṛtis
• व्याहृतिभिः: Karaṇa (instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याहृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (thereafter)

• अभिमन्त्रितम्: consecrated; duly enchanted (by mantra)
• अभिमन्त्रितम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (qualified object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि+मन्त्र् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पाठे ‘तोपम्’ इति अशुद्ध/भ्रष्ट, ‘तोयम्’ अपेक्षितम्

• आपः: O waters
• आपः: Karta (mantra-address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हिष्ठादि-मन्त्रकैः: with the mantras beginning ‘hiṣṭhā…’
• हिष्ठादि-मन्त्रकैः: Karaṇa (instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हिष्ठा-आदि-नामक-मन्त्रकैः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, as the primary dialogue frame of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra empowers action: physical water becomes a vehicle of purification when joined to vyāhṛti and Vedic ṛk.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as a means to citta-śuddhi: correct intention and mantra transform ordinary elements into instruments of dharma and devotion.

Application: When performing mārjana/ācamana, pour and consecrate water with vyāhṛtis, then recite ‘Āpo hi ṣṭhā…’ to internalize purification rather than treating it as mere routine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual water source (river/pond/vessel)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.47-50 (water-mantra and mārjana sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vyāhṛtis
• Āpo hi ṣṭhā (water hymn/mantra)

FAQs

What is the importance of consecrating water (abhi-mantraṇa) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse emphasizes that water used in rites should not be offered casually; it is first poured with the vyāhṛtis and then sanctified with specific Vedic water-mantras, making the offering ritually valid and spiritually efficacious.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In Garuda Purana’s ritual framework, properly performed offerings (including consecrated water) support the departed’s post-death transition by aligning the rite with mantra and dharma, which are repeatedly presented as aids to the preta’s welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or remembrance rites, follow a disciplined procedure: offer water with sacred recitations (vyāhṛtis) and sanctify it with appropriate mantras—maintaining reverence, cleanliness, and correct intention.