Shloka 4

Devanagari script

गृहीतशिश्रश्चोत्थाय मृद्भिरभ्युद्धृतैर्जलैः / गन्धलेपक्षयकरं शौचं कुर्यान्महाव्रतः

Transliteration

gṛhītaśiśraścotthāya mṛdbhirabhyuddhṛtairjalaiḥ / gandhalepakṣayakaraṃ śaucaṃ kuryānmahāvrataḥ

Translation

Having grasped the organ and then rising, the man of strict vow should perform purification (śauca) with earth and with drawn water, in a manner that removes any lingering smell and bodily residue.

Word by Word

• गृहीतशिश्रः: having held the penis (i.e., after holding it)
• गृहीतशिश्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् धातु) + शिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case); एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषण (qualifying subject)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• उत्थाय: having risen/stood up
• उत्थाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• मृद्भिः: with earth/clods (soil)
• मृद्भिः: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd case); बहुवचन

• अभ्युद्धृतैः: drawn up, taken out
• अभ्युद्धृतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + उद् + धृ (धातु) → उद्धृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd case); बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying जलैः)

• जलैः: with water
• जलैः: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd case); बहुवचन

• गन्धलेपक्षयकरम्: causing removal of smell and smeared impurity
• गन्धलेपक्षयकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + लेप (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case); एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; विशेषण (qualifying शौचम्)

• शौचम्: purification, cleansing
• शौचम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case); एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महाव्रतः: one of great vow/discipline
• महाव्रतः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case); एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After grasping the organ and rising, the strict-vowed person should cleanse with earth and drawn water to remove odor and residue.

Vedantic Theme: Outer purity as support for inner purity; niyama strengthens sattva and steadies the mind for higher practices.

Application: Practice thorough post-elimination hygiene (washing with water, cleaning with appropriate agents); maintain cleanliness as part of disciplined living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: near water source / cleansing area (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.94.3 (directional etiquette preceding śauca)

FAQs

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

This verse frames śauca as a mandatory dharmic discipline: cleansing with earth and water to remove both visible residue and lingering odor, emphasizing purity as a daily vow-based practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana ethic that bodily discipline and purity (ācāra) uphold dharma, which in turn shapes karmic outcomes discussed in later afterlife teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain strict personal hygiene and mindful cleanliness after elimination; treat purity as a daily discipline rather than a mere social habit.