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Shloka 113

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

मलापकर्षणार्थाय प्रवृत्तिस्तत्र नान्यथा / सरः सुदेवखातेषु तीर्थेषु च नदीषु च

Transliteration

malāpakarṣaṇārthāya pravṛttistatra nānyathā / saraḥ sudevakhāteṣu tīrtheṣu ca nadīṣu ca

Translation

Cette pratique du bain n’est entreprise que pour ôter l’impureté ; elle n’a pas d’autre but. Elle se fait dans les lacs et étangs, dans les tīrtha (lieux sacrés de bain) et dans les rivières, y compris les réservoirs que l’on dit creusés par les dieux.

Word by Word
मलापकर्षणार्थायfor the purpose of removing impurities
मलापकर्षणार्थाय:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootमल (प्रातिपदिक) + अपकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—(मल-अपकर्षण)-अर्थ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तस्य चतुर्थी “for the purpose of removing impurity”
प्रवृत्तिःthe activity/engagement
प्रवृत्तिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
तत्रthere/in that (context)
तत्र:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)
नnot
न:
Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध निपात (negation particle)
अन्यथाotherwise
अन्यथा:
Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्यथा (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)
सरःa lake/pond
सरः:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वैकल्पिक-रूपेण पुंवत् प्रथमा ‘सरः’)
सुदेवखातेषुin well-dug (sacred) tanks
सुदेवखातेषु:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + खात (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—सुदेव-खात (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे: “well-dug/dug by good people/devas”)
तीर्थेषुin holy places
तीर्थेषु:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootतीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)
नदीषुin rivers
नदीषु:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootनदी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)
Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual bathing is teleological: its dharmic purpose is mala-apakarṣaṇa (removal of impurity), not display or indulgence.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi as a support for higher pursuits; clarity about purpose reduces rāga-dveṣa in ritual action.

Application: Choose appropriate clean water sources for snana; when at a tīrtha, bathe with the intention of purification rather than recreation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: waterbody / pilgrimage bathing place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.112 (snana as kriyāṅga); Garuda Purana 1.213.114 (tīrtha-snana fruit); Garuda Purana 1.213.116 (alternatives when no tīrtha)

Characters & Entities
D
Devas
T
Tirthas
R
Rivers

FAQs

This verse states its core purpose is śauca—removing mala (ritual impurity). The act is framed as a dharmic cleansing practice, not a display, vow, or unrelated pursuit.

By defining bathing as mala-apakarṣaṇa (removal of impurity), it supports the wider Garuda Purana emphasis that rites for ancestors and the departed are to be performed with ritual purity, typically established through proper cleansing at rivers or tīrthas.

Approach religious bathing and pilgrimage with the intention of inner and outer cleanliness—simplicity, restraint, and readiness for dharmic duties—rather than treating it as mere tourism or status.

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