Shloka 2

Snāna-Śauca Krama: Varuṇa–Āpaḥ Mantras, Aghamarṣaṇa, Sūrya-Upasthāna, and Sarva-Tarpaṇa

Devanagari script

आहरेत्स्नानकाले च स्नानार्थो प्रयतः शुचिः / गन्धोदकान्तं विविक्ते (धं) स्थापयेत्तान्यथ क्षितौ

Transliteration

āharetsnānakāle ca snānārtho prayataḥ śuciḥ / gandhodakāntaṃ vivikte (dhaṃ) sthāpayettānyatha kṣitau

Translation

Au moment du bain, celui qui va se baigner—discipliné et rituellement pur—doit apporter les objets requis. Dans un lieu retiré, qu’il les dépose, jusqu’à l’eau parfumée comprise ; puis qu’il dispose le reste à même le sol selon la règle.

Word by Word

• आहरेत्: should bring
• आहरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्नानकाले: at bathing time
• स्नानकाले: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्नानस्य कालः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• स्नानार्थः: for the purpose of bathing
• स्नानार्थः: Hetu/Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्नानार्थः = स्नानाय अर्थः/उद्देश्यः); विशेषण (प्रयतः/नरः इति)

• प्रयतः: restrained, prepared
• प्रयतः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुचिः: pure/clean
• शुचिः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गन्धोदकान्तम्: up to (including) perfumed water
• गन्धोदकान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गन्धोदकस्य अन्तम्/पर्यन्तम् = up to perfumed water / including perfumed water)

• विविक्ते: in a secluded place
• विविक्ते: Adhikarana (Place locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थाने)

• स्थापयेत्: should place/set
• स्थापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) [णिच् causative: स्थापय]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• तानि: those (items)
• तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (पूर्वोक्तानि द्रव्याणि)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• क्षितौ: on the ground
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (Place locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: snāna-kāla (time of bathing)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on preparedness, cleanliness, and proper spatial arrangement of materials (including gandhodaka).

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) and purity (śauca) as supports for sattvic mind; outer order reflecting inner order.

Application: Before bathing/rite, gather all items; keep them clean; choose a quiet spot; arrange systematically to avoid interruption and maintain attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: bathing area/ritual spot

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.1 (list of requisites); Garuda Purana 1.213 (preceding dinacaryā purity context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity (śuci) during snāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that bathing-related rites should be performed by a disciplined and clean person, because purity and careful preparation are treated as prerequisites for effective ritual action.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana death-ritual practice?

In the Preta Kanda context, procedural details like collecting and placing items (including gandhodaka) support correct performance of purification and ancillary rites that accompany śrāddha and post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any religious observance, prepare materials in advance, keep the space orderly and private, and approach the act with cleanliness and self-restraint rather than haste.