Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अशक्तावशिरस्कं तु स्नानमस्य विधीयते / आर्द्रेण वाससा वापि मार्जनं कायिकं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

aśaktāvaśiraskaṃ tu snānamasya vidhīyate / ārdreṇa vāsasā vāpi mārjanaṃ kāyikaṃ smṛtam

Translation

For one who is incapable of performing a full bath, a headless (i.e., partial) bathing rite is prescribed. Alternatively, wiping the body with a wet cloth is also regarded as bodily purification.

Word by Word

• अशक्त: (when one is) unable
• अशक्त: Adhikarana (Condition/Locus)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; 'अशक्ते' इत्यर्थे (for one who is unable)

• अवशिरस्कम्: without (washing) the head
• अवशिरस्कम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः—अव (विना/अधः) + शिरस्; अर्थः 'without the head (i.e., without washing the head)'

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अस्य: for him / of this person
• अस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विधीयते: is prescribed
• विधीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'is prescribed'

• आर्द्रेण: with wet
• आर्द्रेण: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; 'wet' qualifying vāsasā

• वाससा: cloth/garment
• वाससा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (also/even)

• मार्जनम्: wiping/cleansing
• मार्जनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक; √मृज्, ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव/क्रिया-नाम

• कायिकम्: bodily
• कायिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कायिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'bodily' qualifying mārjanam

• स्मृतम्: is said/considered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु), क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively: 'is considered/declared'

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anukalpa (substitute observance): partial bath or wet-cloth wiping counts as bodily purification when one is unable.

Vedantic Theme: Intent and feasibility (adhikāra) matter; disciplined purity is upheld without cruelty to the body.

Application: When ill, disabled, traveling, or water-limited, perform partial wash (head/face/hands/feet) or wet-cloth wipe with mantra/intent of śauca.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: gṛha (domestic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.7 (snāna prerequisite); Garuda Purana 1.50.9-10 (formal types of snāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of bodily purification (śauca) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes that physical purity is required for rites, but the tradition also allows compassionate alternatives when a person cannot perform a full bath.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it supports the correct performance of prescribed rites and purity practices that accompany death-related observances, which the Garuda Purana links to orderly transition and dharmic conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If someone is ill, elderly, or otherwise unable to bathe, a simplified cleansing—such as wiping with a clean wet cloth—can be used to maintain ritual cleanliness without causing harm.