Shloka 11

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing/Offering the Pavitra Sacred Thread

Devanagari script

क्षीरादिभिश्च संस्नाप्य लिङ्गं गन्धादिभिर्यजेत् / दद्याद्रन्धपवित्रं तु आत्मने ब्रह्मणे हर

Transliteration

kṣīrādibhiśca saṃsnāpya liṅgaṃ gandhādibhiryajet / dadyādrandhapavitraṃ tu ātmane brahmaṇe hara

Translation

ಹಾಲು ಮೊದಲಾದವುಗಳಿಂದ ಲಿಂಗಕ್ಕೆ ಅಭಿಷೇಕ ಮಾಡಿ, ಸುಗಂಧಾದಿ ಉಪಚಾರಗಳಿಂದ ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು. ನಂತರ ರಂಧ್ರ-ಪವಿತ್ರಕವನ್ನು ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ, ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ಹರ (ಶಿವ)ನಿಗೆ ಅರ್ಪಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• kṣīra-ādibhiḥ: with milk and the like
• kṣīra-ādibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra + ādi (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (द्रव्यसमूह), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (milk etc.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• saṃsnāpya: having bathed (it)
• saṃsnāpya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ + snā (स्ना धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भाव; 'having bathed/washed'

• liṅgam: the liṅga (emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• gandha-ādibhiḥ: with perfumes and the like
• gandha-ādibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha + ādi (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समूह), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (fragrance etc.)

• yajet: should worship
• yajet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'should worship/sacrifice'

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'should give'

• randha-pavitram: the perforated pavitra (amulet)
• randha-pavitram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: randha + pavitra (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (randha-pavitra = perforated/holed purifier/amulet)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• ātmane: to oneself
• ātmane: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• brahmaṇe: to Brahman (the Absolute)
• brahmaṇe: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (ब्रह्मन्), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; देवतासम्बोधनार्थे दान-सम्प्रदान

• hara: O Hara (Śiva)
• hara: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; शिवनाम

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue instructing Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worship external form while recognizing the indwelling Self and Brahman; Hara as the locus where devotion and knowledge converge.

Vedantic Theme: Abheda-bhāva (non-separation) suggested by offering to Ātman and Brahman alongside deity-form; īśvara-upāsanā leading to inner realization.

Application: Perform abhiṣeka and pūjā with the attitude that the deity is not separate from the Self; let ritual become meditation on consciousness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: liṅga-shrine (garbhagṛha or home altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.42.10 (pavitraka preparation); Garuda Purana 1.42.12-13 (directional placements and mantras)

Characters & Entities

• Hara (Śiva)
• Brahman
• Ātman
• Liṅga

FAQs

What is the importance of bathing the liṅga with milk in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents kṣīra (milk) abhiṣeka as a key purificatory act in Śiva worship, followed by offering fragrances and related items as part of proper pūjā.

How does this verse relate to the spiritual goal beyond ritual?

By directing the offering to Ātman and Brahman as well as Hara, the verse frames pūjā as both outer worship and inner recognition of the supreme reality.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform worship with cleanliness, simple abhiṣeka and sincere offerings, while keeping the intention aligned with inner purification and remembrance of the divine.