Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

पञ्च पिण्डाननुद्धृत्य न स्नायात्परवारिषु / स्नायान्नदीप्रस्त्रवणदेवखातह्रदेषु च

Transliteration

pañca piṇḍānanuddhṛtya na snāyātparavāriṣu / snāyānnadīprastravaṇadevakhātahradeṣu ca

Translation

Without first lifting and collecting the five piṇḍa offerings, one should not bathe in another person’s water (water set aside for others). One may, however, bathe in rivers, in natural streams and springs, and in ponds or lakes excavated and maintained for the gods.

Word by Word

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (numeral used indeclinably)

• पिण्डान्: rice-balls (piṇḍas)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• अनुद्धृत्य: without having removed
• अनुद्धृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु-उद्-√हृ (धातु) → अनुद्धृत्य (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having not taken out/removed’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परवारिषु: in another’s water (reservoirs)
• परवारिषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (परस्य वारि—‘others’ water’)

• स्नायात्: may/should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नदीप्रस्त्रवणदेवखातह्रदेषु: in rivers, springs, deity-dug tanks, and lakes
• नदीप्रस्त्रवणदेवखातह्रदेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रस्त्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + खात (कृदन्त; √खन् धातु) + ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः—नद्यां च प्रस्त्रवणे च देवखाते च ह्रदे च

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: Before bathing (snāna) when piṇḍas have been placed; remove/collect the five piṇḍas first

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and ritual propriety around water use: respect others’ designated water; complete piṇḍa-related obligations before bathing; prefer legitimate tīrtha waters.

Vedantic Theme: Outer purity as support for inner purity; disciplined action (karma) aligned with dharma reduces agitation and supports contemplation.

Application: Do not appropriate others’ resources; complete ritual duties before personal acts; choose clean, appropriate bathing places; respect communal water ethics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/waterbody

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.96 (śauca; water/bathing norms)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of the five piṇḍas (pañca piṇḍa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the five piṇḍas as a formal, protected part of the rite—one should not proceed to bathing until they are properly gathered/removed, indicating completion and respect for the offering to the departed/Pitṛs.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana guidance on death rituals and ritual purity?

It gives a concrete snāna-niyama (bathing rule) tied to pinda-dāna: after offerings are placed, they must be properly handled before bathing, and one should avoid using water reserved for others, while permitting bathing in common sacred/natural water sources like rivers and temple tanks.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or pinda-related rites, follow the sequence carefully, treat offerings respectfully, and observe basic cleanliness and boundaries—use appropriate bathing places and avoid using water set aside for someone else’s ritual needs.