Shloka 3

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

भस्मस्नानं तर्पणं च ॐ हां स्वाहा सर्वमन्त्रकाः / सर्वे देवाः सर्वमुनिर्नमो ऽन्तो वौषडन्तकः

Transliteration

bhasmasnānaṃ tarpaṇaṃ ca oṃ hāṃ svāhā sarvamantrakāḥ / sarve devāḥ sarvamunirnamo 'nto vauṣaḍantakaḥ

Translation

Qu’on accomplisse le bain ou l’onction de bhasma (cendre sacrée) et l’offrande d’eau (tarpaṇa) ; et les syllabes « oṁ », « hāṃ » et « svāhā » sont tenues pour des finales de mantra d’usage universel. De même, les invocations « tous les Deva » et « tous les sages (muni) », ainsi que les finales « namaḥ », « vauṣaṭ » et « svadhā », sont aussi des formules rituelles universelles.

Word by Word

• bhasmasnānam: bath with ash
• bhasmasnānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasma + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—भस्मना स्नानम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• tarpaṇam: libation/oblation (tarpana)
• tarpaṇam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• oṃ: oṃ
• oṃ: Mantra-marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: मन्त्रबीज/प्रणव

• hāṃ: hāṃ
• hāṃ: Mantra-marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hāṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: बीजाक्षर

• svāhā: svāhā
• svāhā: Mantra-marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svāhā (अव्यय)
• Form: मन्त्रान्त-निपात

• sarvamantrakāḥ: all the mantras (mantra-formulas)
• sarvamantrakāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + mantra + ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—सर्वे मन्त्राः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष) + क-प्रत्यय (agent/possessor sense)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• devāḥ: gods
• devāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• sarvamuniḥ: the all-sage / universal sage
• sarvamuniḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + muni (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—सर्वः मुनिः

• namo: salutation
• namo: Sambandha (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्-शब्दः अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; नमो + (दत्तिविभक्ति/चतुर्थी) इति प्रायः

• antaḥ: end/ending
• antaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (पाठे ‘अन्तो’ इति रूपान्तरम्)

• vauṣaḍantakaḥ: having the ending “vauṣaṭ”
• vauṣaḍantakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vauṣaṭ + anta + ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—वौषट् अन्तः यस्य (वौषडन्त) + क-प्रत्यय

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, typical dialogue frame of the Garuḍa Purāṇa)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During pitṛ-kārya/tarpaṇa segments of śrāddha or daily/periodic tarpaṇa (as per family tradition).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purificatory acts (bhasma-snāna, tarpaṇa) and the ‘universal’ applicability of certain mantra particles/endings (oṁ, svāhā, namaḥ, vauṣaṭ, svadhā) and collective invocations.

Vedantic Theme: Ritual as ordered action aligning speech and intention; śabda as a regulating power for karma and saṃskāra.

Application: When specific mantras are unknown/unavailable, employ sanctioned universal formulae and collective invocations with correct endings appropriate to the offering context.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śrāddha portions distinguish svadhā for pitṛs and svāhā for devas; tarpaṇa frequently prescribed

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Munis (Rishis)

FAQs

What is the importance of tarpaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents tarpaṇa as a core rite of ritual nourishment/propitiation, paired with purification (bhasma-snāna), and supported by universally accepted mantra formulae used across offerings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct ritual procedure (purification and offerings) and proper mantra-endings, it supports the broader Garuḍa Purāṇa framework where rites for deities/ṛṣis/pitṛs aid order, merit (puṇya), and the deceased’s post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing homa, tarpaṇa, or śrāddha-related rites, use the appropriate standard endings (svāhā/namaḥ/vauṣaṭ) and maintain ritual purity—this verse treats these as universally valid supports for correct observance.