Shloka 41

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

अधश्च तिसृभिः क्षाल्यं पादौ षट्भिस्तथैव च / मृत्तिका च समुद्दिष्टा वृद्धामलकमात्निका

Transliteration

adhaśca tisṛbhiḥ kṣālyaṃ pādau ṣaṭbhistathaiva ca / mṛttikā ca samuddiṣṭā vṛddhāmalakamātnikā

Translation

En la parte inferior del cuerpo, lávese con tres puñados de agua, y del mismo modo los pies con seis. También se prescribe la tierra purificadora (mṛttikā) que ha de usarse: la clase llamada vṛddhāmalaka-mātnikā.

Word by Word

• अधः: below/downwards
• अधः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘नीचे’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक/conjunction)

• तिसृभिः: with three (times/handfuls)
• तिसृभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (instrumental: ‘by three’)

• क्षाल्यम्: to be washed/should be washed
• क्षाल्यम्: Karya (Obligation/कार्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षाल्य (कृदन्त; √क्षल् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण/भाव्य (gerundive): ‘धावनीयम्/क्षालयितव्यम्’

• पादौ: the two feet
• पादौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), द्विवचन

• षट्भिः: with six (times/handfuls)
• षट्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग) तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (instrumental: ‘by six’)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘एवम्’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चय/अवधारण particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक/conjunction)

• मृत्तिका: clay/earth
• मृत्तिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक/conjunction)

• समुद्दिष्टा: is prescribed/has been stated
• समुद्दिष्टा: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: समुद्दिष्ट (कृदन्त; √दिश् (धातु) + सम्+उद्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate): ‘निर्दिष्टा/उक्ता’

• वृद्धामलकमात्निका: of the measure ‘vṛddhāmalaka-mātrā’ (old āmalaka-sized)
• वृद्धामलकमात्निका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध + आमलक + मातृका (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विशेषण): ‘वृद्ध-आमलक-मातृका’ (a kind/measure described as ‘old āmalaka-mātrā’)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (purificatory discipline) through regulated washing and prescribed mṛttikā.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥ-śuddhi supported by bāhya-śuddhi (outer purity as aid to inner clarity).

Application: Follow measured cleansing steps (lower body/feet) and use the specified cleansing earth as per rule before worship or daily rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.42-45 (sequence of purification, ācamana, snāna, smaraṇa of Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual washing and mṛttikā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats washing and the use of prescribed cleansing earth (mṛttikā) as a formal component of śauca (ritual purity), specifying exact measures to standardize proper conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing disciplined purity practices, it supports dharmic living, which the Garuda Purana connects to the soul’s post-death condition and the consequences of karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistent cleanliness and intentional purification before prayer, ancestral rites, or temple worship—treating purity as a mindful discipline rather than a casual habit.