Shloka 11
Snāna-Śauca Krama: Varuṇa–Āpaḥ Mantras, Aghamarṣaṇa, Sūrya-Upasthāna, and Sarva-Tarpaṇa
ॐ आपो अस्मान्मातरः शुन्धयन्तु घृतेन नो घृतष्वः पुनन्तु / विश्वं हि रिप्रं प्रवहन्ति देवीरुदिदाभ्यः शुचिरापूत एमि
oṃ āpo asmānmātaraḥ śundhayantu ghṛtena no ghṛtaṣvaḥ punantu / viśvaṃ hi ripraṃ pravahanti devīrudidābhyaḥ śucirāpūta emi
Om. Que las Aguas—nuestras madres—nos purifiquen. Que aquellas cuya esencia es el ghee nos purifiquen con ghee. Pues las Aguas divinas arrastran toda mancha; de ellas me elevo, limpio y purificado.
Lord Vishnu (as a Vedic purification mantra cited within the Garuda Purana discourse to Garuda)
Concept: Impurity (ripra) is removable; divine forces (Āpaḥ) carry away stains—symbolizing the possibility of inner purification and renewal.
Vedantic Theme: Śuddhi as a condition for clarity (viveka); the ‘rising purified’ hints at inner awakening after cleansing of mala.
Application: Use this mantra (or its sense) as a reflective reset: acknowledge mental ‘stains’ (anger, guilt, distraction) and consciously release them during washing/bathing.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: water body / ritual water source
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.10 (instruction to recite this ṛk during immersion)
FAQs
This verse frames purification as both ritual and spiritual: the divine Waters remove “ripra” (stain/impurity), preparing a person for dharmic rites such as śrāddha, pindadāna, and other samskāras performed with inner and outer cleanliness.
In Garuda Purana contexts, mantras of water-purification support snāna, ācamana, and preparatory shuddhi before performing antyeṣṭi-related observances (e.g., offerings, prayers, and śrāddha), emphasizing that impurity is to be ‘carried away’ before sacred acts.
Use it as a reminder that ethical clarity and cleanliness matter: begin prayers or family rites with a simple bath/hand-washing and a conscious intention to release negativity and harmful actions—cultivating śauca in daily life.