Shloka 40

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

मृत्तिकानां सहस्रेण चोदकानां शतेन हि / न शुध्यति दुराचारो भावोपहतचेतनः

Transliteration

mṛttikānāṃ sahasreṇa codakānāṃ śatena hi / na śudhyati durācāro bhāvopahatacetanaḥ

Translation

ಸಾವಿರ ಬಾರಿ ಮಣ್ಣಿನಿಂದಲೂ ನೂರು ಬಾರಿ ನೀರಿನಿಂದಲೂ ಶುದ್ಧಿಗೊಳಿಸಿದರೂ ದುರುಚಾರಿಯು ಶುದ್ಧನಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಅವನ ಚೇತನವು ದುಷ್ಭಾವಗಳಿಂದ ಆಘಾತಗೊಂಡಿದೆ.

Word by Word

• मृत्तिकानाम्: of clods of earth (clay)
• मृत्तिकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• सहस्रेण: with a thousand (times/amount)
• सहस्रेण: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

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

• उदकानाम्: of waters
• उदकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• शतेन: with a hundred (times/amount)
• शतेन: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• शुध्यति: becomes purified
• शुध्यति: Kriya (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुराचारः: a wicked person/evil conduct (person of bad conduct)
• दुराचारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुराचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भावोपहतचेतनः: whose mind is overpowered by passions
• भावोपहतचेतनः: Karta (Qualifier of subject/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + उपहत (कृदन्त; उप-√हन्, क्त) + चेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (भावेन उपहतं चेतनं यस्य) — ‘whose consciousness is struck/overpowered by passions’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Durācāra (wicked conduct) cannot be purified by repeated external washing; inner disposition determines purity.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa/saṃskāra-driven mind: when bhāva is corrupted, external acts do not cleanse; need for inner transformation.

Application: Focus on reforming habits, intentions, and character; use rituals as supports, not substitutes for ethical change.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.113.37 (external vs food/inner purity); Garuda Purana 1.113.39 (virtue over grand ritual)

FAQs

What is the importance of inner purity (bhāva-śuddhi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that external cleansing (earth and water) fails when one’s mind is dominated by corrupt dispositions; real purity requires ethical reform and inner transformation.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana guidance on sin and purification?

It draws a boundary between mere ritual śauca and true dharmic purification, implying that repentance and abandoning durācāra are necessary for cleansing the consequences of wrongdoing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use rituals as support, but prioritize correcting harmful habits, cultivating self-control, and aligning intentions with dharma—otherwise external practices remain ineffective.