Shloka 41

Saṅkara-jāti-nirṇaya and Gṛhastha-ācāra: Daily Rites, Purity, Anadhyāya, and Food Discipline

Devanagari script

ष्टीवनासृक्शकृन्मूत्रविषाण्यप्सु न संक्षिपेत् / पादौ प्रतापयेन्नाग्नौ न चैनमभिलङ्घयेत्

Transliteration

ṣṭīvanāsṛkśakṛnmūtraviṣāṇyapsu na saṃkṣipet / pādau pratāpayennāgnau na cainamabhilaṅghayet

Translation

One should not cast saliva, blood, feces, urine, or poison into water. One should not warm one’s feet at the fire, nor should one step over it.

Word by Word

• ṣṭīvana-āsṛk-śakṛt-mūtra-viṣāṇi: spittle, blood, feces, urine, and horn/antler (waste items)
• ṣṭīvana-āsṛk-śakṛt-mūtra-viṣāṇi: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣṭīvana (प्रातिपदिक) + āsṛk (प्रातिपदिक) + śakṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + mūtra (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• apsu: in water
• apsu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (अप् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), बहुवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• saṃkṣipet: should throw
• saṃkṣipet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-kṣip (सम्+क्षिप् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• pādau: (one’s) two feet
• pādau: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (पाद प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), द्विवचन

• pratāpayet: should warm/heat
• pratāpayet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-tap (प्र+तप् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• agnau: in/at the fire
• agnau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (अग्नि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• enam: it/that (fire)
• enam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• abhilaṅghayet: should step over/leap over
• abhilaṅghayet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-laṅgh (अभि+लङ्घ् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and ahiṃsā toward shared resources: do not contaminate water; honor fire by not treating it as a foot-warmer or stepping over it.

Vedantic Theme: Seeing the world as pervaded by order (ṛta/dharma): purity of elements supports purity of mind.

Application: Dispose of bodily waste safely; keep water sources uncontaminated; maintain respectful conduct around flames (kitchen, lamps, ritual fire).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: river/pond/well; household or yajña space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (rules on śauca and conduct around elements)

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of keeping water pure in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats water as sacred and life-sustaining; polluting it with bodily impurities or poison is adharma and a cause of demerit, so purity of water sources is a direct ethical duty.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing everyday dharma (ācāra), it shows that the soul’s post-death condition is shaped by ordinary actions; even seemingly small acts like contaminating water or disrespecting fire contribute to karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not contaminate rivers, wells, or taps with pollutants or bodily waste, and treat fire (cooking flame, ritual lamp) with respect—avoid careless behavior that symbolizes contempt for sacred elements.