Shloka 117

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

Devanagari script

ततो ऽपि सारसं पुण्यं तस्मान्नादेयमुच्यते / तीर्थतोयं ततः पुण्यं गागं पुण्यं तु सर्वतः

Transliteration

tato 'pi sārasaṃ puṇyaṃ tasmānnādeyamucyate / tīrthatoyaṃ tataḥ puṇyaṃ gāgaṃ puṇyaṃ tu sarvataḥ

Translation

അതിലും അധികം പുണ്യം സരോവരജലം; അതിനാൽ അത് നിരസിക്കരുതെന്ന് പറയുന്നു. അതിലും അധികം പുണ്യം തീർത്ഥജലം; ഗംഗയോ എല്ലായിടത്തും എല്ലാകാലവും പരമപുണ്യദായിനിയാണ്.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: from that; thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थे: 'तस्मात्/ततः' (from that/thereafter)

• api: also; even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/समुच्चय) = particle; अर्थे: 'also/even'

• sārasaṃ: (that which is) of the lake/lotus-lake; sārasa
• sārasaṃ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sārasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular); विशेषण

• puṇyam: merit; holy (thing)
• puṇyam: Karma/Predicative (Object/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• tasmāt: therefore; from that
• tasmāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् = सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक 'तद्' का पञ्चमी-एकवचन रूप, अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग (ablatival adverb) = 'therefore/from that'

• nādeyam: not to be taken/accepted
• nādeyam: Karma/Predicative (Object/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: na + ādeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular); न-प्रत्ययेन निषेध (negated)

• ucyate: is said; is called
• ucyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Present Indicative, 3rd sg, Passive)

• tīrtha-toyam: water of a pilgrimage-place
• tīrtha-toyam: Karma/Predicative (Object/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/संबन्ध): 'तीर्थस्य तोयम्'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• tataḥ: than that; thereafter
• tataḥ: Apadana/Comparison (Source/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'thereafter/than that' (comparative sense by context)

• puṇyam: meritorious; holy
• puṇyam: Predicative (Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• gāgaṃ: Gāgā (Ganga water)
• gāgaṃ: Karma/Predicative (Object/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक 'गागा' (गङ्गा-पर्याय/पाठभेद), नपुंसकवत् रूपेण प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as transmitted)

• puṇyam: merit; holiness
• puṇyam: Predicative (Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) = emphatic/contrastive particle

• sarvataḥ: everywhere; in every way
• sarvataḥ: Adhikarana (Scope/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'from all sides/everywhere/altogether'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-jala as a dharmic purifier; accepting sacred water is itself auspicious and refusal is discouraged.

Vedantic Theme: Shuddhi (purification) as a preparatory aid for sattva and spiritual practice; sanctity mediated through sacred loci.

Application: Accept and use tīrtha-water respectfully (ācamana/snāna/abhisheka); prioritize Gaṅgā-jala when available; cultivate reverence for sacred waters.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred waterscape

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-mahātmyas and śrāddha-related purity discussions in adjacent adhyāyas of Preta/Śrāddha sections (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Tīrtha

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred water (tīrtha-jala) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse ranks waters by sanctity—lake water is meritorious and should not be refused, tīrtha-water is higher, and Gaṅgā water is praised as universally purifying—supporting its ritual use for purification and merit.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana death rituals?

In Garuda Purana practice, pure and consecrated waters are used for rites connected with death and remembrance; the verse underscores that accepting and using such waters (especially tīrtha and Gaṅgā) is spiritually beneficial and purificatory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred water offered in a religious context with respect—do not refuse it casually—and, where appropriate, use tīrtha/ Gaṅgā water for prayer, remembrance rites, and personal purification with a sincere intention.