Shloka 2

Devanagari script

आहरेत्स्नानकाले च स्नानार्थो प्रयतः शुचिः / गन्धोदकान्तं विविक्ते (धं) स्थापयेत्तान्यथ क्षितौ

Transliteration

āharetsnānakāle ca snānārtho prayataḥ śuciḥ / gandhodakāntaṃ vivikte (dhaṃ) sthāpayettānyatha kṣitau

Translation

സ്നാനസമയത്ത് സ്നാനാർത്ഥി നിയന്ത്രിതനായി ശുചിയായി ആവശ്യവസ്തുക്കൾ കൊണ്ടുവരണം. ഏകാന്തസ്ഥാനത്ത് സുഗന്ധജലം വരെ അവ സ്ഥാപിച്ച്, ശേഷമുള്ളവയെ വിധിപൂർവ്വം നിലത്ത് ക്രമീകരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• आहरेत्: should bring
• आहरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्नानकाले: at bathing time
• स्नानकाले: Adhikarana (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्नानस्य कालः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (and)

• स्नानार्थः: for the purpose of bathing
• स्नानार्थः: Hetu/Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्नानार्थः = स्नानाय अर्थः/उद्देश्यः); विशेषण (प्रयतः/नरः इति)

• प्रयतः: restrained, prepared
• प्रयतः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुचिः: pure/clean
• शुचिः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गन्धोदकान्तम्: up to (including) perfumed water
• गन्धोदकान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गन्धोदकस्य अन्तम्/पर्यन्तम् = up to perfumed water / including perfumed water)

• विविक्ते: in a secluded place
• विविक्ते: Adhikarana (Place locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थाने)

• स्थापयेत्: should place/set
• स्थापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) [णिच् causative: स्थापय]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• तानि: those (items)
• तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (पूर्वोक्तानि द्रव्याणि)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• क्षितौ: on the ground
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (Place locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Timing: snāna-kāla (time of bathing)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on preparedness, cleanliness, and proper spatial arrangement of materials (including gandhodaka).

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) and purity (śauca) as supports for sattvic mind; outer order reflecting inner order.

Application: Before bathing/rite, gather all items; keep them clean; choose a quiet spot; arrange systematically to avoid interruption and maintain attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: bathing area/ritual spot

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.1 (list of requisites); Garuda Purana 1.213 (preceding dinacaryā purity context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity (śuci) during snāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that bathing-related rites should be performed by a disciplined and clean person, because purity and careful preparation are treated as prerequisites for effective ritual action.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana death-ritual practice?

In the Preta Kanda context, procedural details like collecting and placing items (including gandhodaka) support correct performance of purification and ancillary rites that accompany śrāddha and post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any religious observance, prepare materials in advance, keep the space orderly and private, and approach the act with cleanliness and self-restraint rather than haste.