Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

आपोहिष्ठेति तिसृभिरिदमापो हविष्मतीः / देवीराप इति द्वाभ्यां आपोदेवा इति त्र्यृचा

Transliteration

āpohiṣṭheti tisṛbhiridamāpo haviṣmatīḥ / devīrāpa iti dvābhyāṃ āpodevā iti tryṛcā

Translation

'ആപോ ഹി ഷ്ഠാ' എന്നു തുടങ്ങുന്ന മൂന്നു ഋക്കുകൾ, 'ഇദമാപോ ഹവിഷ്മതീഃ' എന്ന സൂക്തം, 'ദേവീരാപഃ' എന്ന രണ്ടു മന്ത്രങ്ങൾ, 'ആപോ ദേവാ' എന്ന മൂന്നു ഋക്കുകൾ എന്നിവയാൽ ഈ കർമ്മം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

• इष्ठा: most desired
• इष्ठा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ठ (कृदन्त; √इष्/इच्छ्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• इति: thus/“…”
• इति: Quotation marker (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यादि-बोधक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• तिसृभिः: with three (verses)
• तिसृभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Sambandha (Apposition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• हविष्मतीः: bearing oblation/with offerings
• हविष्मतीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हविष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• देवीः: goddesses
• देवीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Sambandha (Apposition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• इति: thus/“…”
• इति: Quotation marker (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यादि-बोधक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two (verses)
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Sambandha (Apposition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• देवाः: gods/divine ones
• देवाः: Sambandha (Apposition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• इति: thus/“…”
• इति: Quotation marker (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यादि-बोधक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• त्र्यृचा: a set of three ṛc-verses
• त्र्यृचा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋच्/ऋचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयः ऋचः यस्याः सा)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śuddhi (purification) is effected through correctly applied Vedic mantra and sequence (krama).

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as a prerequisite for higher knowledge and devotion.

Application: Follow a disciplined mantra-krama for bathing/ablution rites; prioritize correctness and attentiveness over mere external action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (snana/abhiṣeka area)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa/ācāra sections): recurring emphasis on snāna, śuddhi, and mantra-krama before rites; Garuda Purana: later śrāddha/antyeṣṭi passages typically require prior śuddhi and ācamana

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Apah (Waters)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking the Waters (Āpaḥ) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse prescribes specific Vedic water-hymns to sanctify the rite, treating water as a divine medium that carries oblations and purifies the performer and the offering.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals like tarpaṇa or śrāddha?

It functions as a procedural instruction: the rite involving water is to be accompanied by recognized Apah-related ṛks, aligning the offering with Vedic authority and ensuring correct mantra-usage during water-based oblations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing water-offerings (tarpaṇa/ācamanam-related rites), use authentic mantras with correct counts (three-verse and two-verse sets) and approach water as a sacred, purifying carrier of intention and offering.