Shloka 4

Sandhyā-Upāsanā Vidhi: Prāṇāyāma, Water Purification, Aghāmarpaṇa, Sūrya Worship, Nyāsa, and Gāyatrī Japa

Devanagari script

सायमग्निश्च मेत्युक्ता प्रातः सूर्येत्यपः पिबेत् / आपः पुनन्तु मध्याह्ने उपस्पृश्य यथाविधि

Transliteration

sāyamagniśca metyuktā prātaḥ sūryetyapaḥ pibet / āpaḥ punantu madhyāhne upaspṛśya yathāvidhi

Translation

Al atardecer, tras recitar «Agni y yo», y por la mañana, «Sol», debe beberse agua. Al mediodía, después de sorber (ācamana) según la norma, debe invocarse de nuevo: «Que las aguas me purifiquen».

Word by Word

• sāyam: in the evening
• sāyam: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāyam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• agniḥ: Agni (fire)
• agniḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• mā: me
• mā: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अस्मद्-शब्द, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• uktā: is said/called
• uktā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि भाव

• prātaḥ: in the morning
• prātaḥ: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prātaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time)

• sūryā: Sūryā (Sun as mantra-name)
• sūryā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (mantra-name usage)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• apaḥ: waters
• apaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (pluralia tantum)

• pibet: should drink/sip
• pibet: Kriyā (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• āpaḥ: waters
• āpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (pluralia tantum)

• punantu: may (they) purify
• punantu: Kriyā (Benedictive injunction/आशीर्वाद-आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• madhyāhne: at midday
• madhyāhne: Kāla/Adhikaraṇa (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyāhna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• upaspṛśya: having touched (water) / after sipping
• upaspṛśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: spṛś (धातु) + upa (उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• yathā-vidhi: according to rule
• yathā-vidhi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास, अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time-appropriate mantras and ācamana/upaspṛśya (sipping/touching water) for purification at the three junctions of the day.

Vedantic Theme: Alignment with cosmic order (ṛta) through disciplined observance; purity of body supports clarity of mind.

Application: Follow a structured daily purification: evening invocation with Agni, morning with Sūrya, midday with waters—perform ācamana as prescribed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.36.5 (Āpo hi ṣṭhā mantra and mārjana)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Surya
• Apah (Waters)

FAQs

What is the importance of water-sipping (ācamanam) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents ācamanam and water-drinking with specific invocations as a daily purification discipline—aligning the practitioner with sacred forces (Agni, Surya, Apah) to maintain ritual and mental cleanliness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana emphasis that purity, disciplined conduct, and dharmic observances shape one’s karmic trajectory—preparing the mind and subtle disposition that influence post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a consistent daily hygiene-and-mindfulness ritual: begin the day with a brief purification practice (sipping water mindfully, prayer/intent for clarity), renew at midday, and close the evening with a calming, purifying reflection.