Shloka 6

Devanagari script

अलक्ष्मीः कालकर्णो च दुः स्वप्नं दुर्विचिन्तितम् / प्रतः स्नानेन पापानि धूयन्ते नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

alakṣmīḥ kālakarṇo ca duḥ svapnaṃ durvicintitam / prataḥ snānena pāpāni dhūyante nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Misfortune (Alakṣmī), the inauspicious spirit Kālakarṇa, bad dreams, and harmful thoughts—by bathing at dawn one’s sins are washed away; of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• अलक्ष्मीः: misfortune (Alakṣmī)
• अलक्ष्मीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नित्य-एकवचन-प्रयोगः (misfortune personified)

• कालकर्णः: Kālakārṇa (a personified evil)
• कालकर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—काल + कर्ण (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/नामधारक)

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

• दुःस्वप्नम्: bad dream
• दुःस्वप्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुः + स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—दुः (दुष्टः) स्वप्नः

• दुर्विचिन्तितम्: evil thought / ill-considered thing
• दुर्विचिन्तितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + विचिन्तित (कृदन्त; √चिन्त् + वि, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन

• धूयन्ते: are washed away
• धूयन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation particle)

• अत्र: here / in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prātaḥ-snāna as śauca that removes pāpa and inauspiciousness, stabilizing mind and fortune.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as a support for dharma and higher pursuit; outer purity as an aid to inner sattva.

Application: Adopt a consistent dawn bathing/cleansing routine; pair with brief mantra/sandhyā to reset mind after bad dreams or intrusive thoughts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/ghata (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.7-10 (snāna as prerequisite; types of snāna)

Characters & Entities

• Alakshmi
• Kālakarṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of prātaḥ-snān (morning bath) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that bathing at dawn removes sins and dispels inauspicious influences like Alakṣmī, bad dreams, and harmful mental tendencies.

How does this verse relate to karma and purification?

It presents prātaḥ-snān as a practical purificatory act that reduces pāpa (demerit) and counters negative omens and mental impurities that contribute to unwholesome karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a disciplined morning routine—cleanliness and a calm, sattvic start to the day—to reduce negative rumination and support ethical conduct.