Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

अभिषिच्य तथात्मानं निमज्याचम्य वै पुनः / दर्भेण पाययेन्मन्त्रैरलिङ्गैः पावनैरिमैः

Transliteration

abhiṣicya tathātmānaṃ nimajyācamya vai punaḥ / darbheṇa pāyayenmantrairaliṅgaiḥ pāvanairimaiḥ

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ജലത്താൽ സ്വയം അഭിഷേകം ചെയ്ത്, തുടർന്ന് മുങ്ങി, വീണ്ടും ആചമനം ചെയ്ത്, ദർഭപുല്ലാൽ ഈ പാവനമായ അലിംഗ (അസംപ്രദായിക) മന്ത്രങ്ങളാൽ കർമ്മം സിദ്ധമാക്കണം।

Word by Word

• abhiṣicya: Having sprinkled/consecrated
• abhiṣicya: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sic (सिच्) with abhi
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• tathā: Thus/In that manner
• tathā: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (तथा)
• Form: Adverb

• ātmānam: Oneself
• ātmānam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• nimajya: Having submerged/bathed
• nimajya: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: masj (मस्ज्) with ni
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• ācamya: Having sipped water
• ācamya: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cam (चम्) with ā
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya (Absolutive)

• vai: Indeed
• vai: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (वै)
• Form: Particle

• punaḥ: Again
• punaḥ: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (पुनर्)
• Form: Adverb

• darbheṇa: With Darbha grass
• darbheṇa: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (दर्भ)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular

• pāyayet: Should make drink
• pāyayet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा)
• Form: Causal Optative (णिच् विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• mantraiḥ: With mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (मन्त्र)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

• aliṅgaiḥ: Without specific marks/characteristics
• aliṅgaiḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to mantraiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aliṅga (अलिङ्ग)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

• pāvanaiḥ: Purifying
• pāvanaiḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to mantraiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvana (पावन)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

• imaiḥ: With these
• imaiḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to mantraiḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity is consolidated through repeated cleansing acts and the use of darbha as a sanctifying medium; purity mantras can be universal (aliṅga) rather than sect-marked.

Vedantic Theme: Śuddhi (purification) as a preparatory discipline; external order supporting internal clarity.

Application: After any sacred or solemn act, complete the ‘cool-down’ steps: cleanse, sip water mindfully, and seal intention with a simple universal prayer.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: snana/ācamanīya area adjacent to ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.14-16 (abhisheka and avabhṛtha mantras that precede these closure acts)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Darbha (Kuśa grass)

FAQs

What is the importance of purification (snāna and ācamana) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse makes purification a prerequisite: sprinkling, bathing/immersing, and ācamana prepare the practitioner so the subsequent mantras and darbha-based procedure function as a “pāvana” (cleansing) rite.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha preparation?

It describes the standard preparatory sequence used before rites meant to benefit the departed—self-purification first, then employing darbha and purifying mantras—reflecting the text’s emphasis on ritual purity in post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any solemn prayer or ancestral rite, begin with a brief, mindful cleansing (wash/bathe, sip water as ācamana if you follow the tradition), and recite universally purifying mantras with a calm, non-sectarian intent.