Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

आपो वा देवताः सर्वास्तेन सम्यक् समर्चिताः / ध्यात्वा प्रणवपूर्वं वै देवं वारिसमाहितः

Transliteration

āpo vā devatāḥ sarvāstena samyak samarcitāḥ / dhyātvā praṇavapūrvaṃ vai devaṃ vārisamāhitaḥ

Translation

Water itself is to be regarded as all the deities; thus, through it, they are duly worshipped. Having meditated with the sacred syllable Oṁ as the prelude, with the mind focused upon the water, one should contemplate the Divine.

Word by Word

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (नित्यबहुवचन)

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse (Particle/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• तेन: by that (act/means)
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Discourse (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (properly)

• समर्चिताः: are duly worshipped
• समर्चिताः: Kriya (Result state/क्रियाफल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु) → समर्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थं ‘having been worshipped’

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having meditated’

• प्रणवपूर्वम्: preceded by the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवपूर्वम्: Discourse (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; क्रियाविशेषण (प्रणवेन पूर्वम् = preceded by Oṃ)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed)

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वारिसमाहितः: composed/attentive with (regard to) water
• वारिसमाहितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक) + समाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः तत्पुरुष (वारिणि समाहितः = water-focused/collected with water)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Non-sectarian unity: the one divine is approachable through water as a universal symbol; Oṁ as the gateway to contemplation.

Vedantic Theme: Ekatva-darśana (seeing one reality in many names/forms); Oṁ as praṇava pointing to Brahman; upāsanā leading toward knowledge.

Application: Use water-offering as a unifying practice: begin with Oṁ, steady attention on the water (as sacred presence), and perform worship with focused mind rather than scattered intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: water-source (river/kuṇḍa/kalasha) as ritual focus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ritual passages where water functions as substitute/summary offering and as purifier (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Āpaḥ (Water)
• Devatāḥ (Deities)
• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Deva (the Divine)

FAQs

What is the importance of water (āpaḥ) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse treats water as a universal divine medium—by honoring water properly, one symbolically honors all deities, making purification and offerings effective in ritual contexts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the ritual framework used in Garuda Purana: purity, mantra (Oṁ), and focused intention are presented as essential supports for rites that aid the departed and uphold dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing any water offering (ācamana, arghya, tarpaṇa), begin with Oṁ, keep the mind steady, and treat the act as reverence to the Divine rather than a mechanical gesture.