Shloka 95

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

स्नानेन शुचिताप्राप्तिरपावित्र्यहृतिस्ततः / ततो विष्णोः स्मृतिस्तस्य ज्ञानात्सर्वफलप्रदा

Transliteration

snānena śucitāprāptirapāvitryahṛtistataḥ / tato viṣṇoḥ smṛtistasya jñānātsarvaphalapradā

Translation

By bathing, one attains purity and the removal of impurity. From that arises remembrance of Viṣṇu; and from that remembrance comes true knowledge, which bestows every spiritual fruit.

Word by Word

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुचिताप्राप्तिः: attainment of purity
• शुचिताप्राप्तिः: Karta/Phala (Result as subject/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचिता (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शुचितायाः प्राप्तिः)

• अपावित्र्यहृतिः: removal of impurity
• अपावित्र्यहृतिः: Karta/Phala (Result as subject/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपावित्र्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अपावित्र्यस्य हृतिः)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Krama (Sequential marker/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/तदनन्तर/thereafter)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Krama (Sequential marker/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/thereupon)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्मृतिः: remembrance
• स्मृतिः: Karta/Phala (Result as subject/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञानात्: from knowledge
• ज्ञानात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वफलप्रदा: bestowing all fruits (results)
• सर्वफलप्रदा: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां फलानां प्रदा)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (purity) supports smṛti of Viṣṇu; smṛti ripens into jñāna that yields all spiritual fruits.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi → smaraṇa → jñāna; knowledge as the highest fruit while devotion/remembrance is the proximate cause.

Application: Maintain cleanliness and ritual/mental purity; after bathing, deliberately practice Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (nāma, mantra, dhyāna) to stabilize insight.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual bathing space (snāna-sthāna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.96 (snāna with tila and darbha becomes kratu-like); Garuda Purana 2.32.93 (recitation to support remembrance at death)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of snana (ritual bathing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents snana as the first step: it brings śucitā (purity) by removing apāvitrya (impurity), making the mind fit for Vishnu-smṛti and higher knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or spiritual progress?

It outlines an inner sequence—external purification (snana) supports mental purity, which supports remembrance of Vishnu; that remembrance matures into jñāna, yielding comprehensive spiritual results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain bodily cleanliness and a simple purity discipline before prayer or ancestral rites, then intentionally practice Vishnu-smaraṇa (mindful remembrance) so actions become aligned with clarity and ethical living.