Shloka 5
Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri
Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya
जलं चाशुभ्ररूपेण पापैश्च परिदृश्यते / यावच्छुभ्रोदकं देवि तावत्सनानं च कारयेत्
jalaṃ cāśubhrarūpeṇa pāpaiśca paridṛśyate / yāvacchubhrodakaṃ devi tāvatsanānaṃ ca kārayet
El agua también puede percibirse con aspecto impuro, como si estuviera manchada por los pecados. Por ello, oh Diosa, debe realizarse el baño sólo mientras el agua permanezca clara y pura.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda; the vocative 'devi' reflects a transmitted reading/style in some recensions)
Concept: Śauca and discernment: ritual acts should be performed under conditions of purity; avoid polluted/impure water.
Vedantic Theme: Outer śauca supports inner sattva; dharma includes practical constraints and context-sensitive rules (deśa-kāla-pātra).
Application: Choose clean water and hygienic conditions for ritual bathing; stop when water becomes visibly contaminated; prioritize both sanctity and public health.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: tirtha-ghāṭa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śauca and tīrtha observance rules in dāna/vrata contexts (general)
FAQs
This verse links snāna with maintaining ritual purity: bathing is to be done with water that remains śubhra (clear/pure), emphasizing purity as a dharmic condition for rites.
It states that pāpa is perceived as a taint that can render even water ‘aśubhra’ (impure), implying that purity is not only physical but also connected to moral/ritual contamination.
Use clean water and a clean setting for any purificatory act; if the water becomes visibly unclean, replace it—prioritizing sincerity and cleanliness in observances.