Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

जलमध्यस्थितस्यैव मार्जनं तु विधीयते / अन्तर्जले जपेन्मन्त्रं त्रिः कृत्वा चाघमर्षणम्

Transliteration

jalamadhyasthitasyaiva mārjanaṃ tu vidhīyate / antarjale japenmantraṃ triḥ kṛtvā cāghamarṣaṇam

Translation

ജലത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ നിൽക്കുന്നവനു മാർജനവിധി നിർദ്ദേശിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ജലത്തിനുള്ളിൽ തന്നെയிருந்து മന്ത്രം ജപിച്ച് അഘമർഷണം മൂന്നു പ്രാവശ്യം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• जल: water
• जल: Adhikarana (Locative context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• मध्य: in the middle
• मध्य: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular) [समासाङ्ग]

• स्थितस्य: of one who is standing/being situated
• स्थितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular) [समासाङ्ग]

• जलमध्यस्थितस्य: of one situated in mid-water
• जलमध्यस्थितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (one who is situated in the middle of water)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• मार्जनम्: cleansing/purification
• मार्जनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्ज् (धातु) → मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक/भाववाचक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative, Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (adversative/contrast particle)

• विधीयते: is prescribed/is enjoined
• विधीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + वि- (उपसर्ग) → विधीयते
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, कर्मणि प्रयोग (Present, 3rd person, Singular, Passive)

• अन्तर्जले: in the water/within water
• अन्तर्जले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular); तत्पुरुषः (within water)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जपेत्
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada)

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• त्रिः: thrice
• त्रिः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• अघमर्षणम्: Aghamarṣaṇa (sin-destroying mantra/rite)
• अघमर्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघ (प्रातिपदिक) + मर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); तत्पुरुषः (sin-destroying [mantra/act])

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification through prescribed japa and mārjana while immersed in water; repetition (triḥ) as ritual completeness.

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

Application: During snāna, perform mārjana and recite Aghamarṣaṇa three times with steady breath and focused mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/jala-sthana

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.24-27 (mantra options; Vishnu remembrance in waters)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of mārjana and Aghamarṣaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats them as prescribed purificatory acts: while standing in water, one performs mārjana and repeats the sin-dispelling Aghamarṣaṇa three times to establish ritual cleanliness and inner clarity.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey or after-death rites?

Although not describing the afterlife directly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader framework where purity of body, speech, and mind is required for rites (including śrāddha and offerings) that aid the departed and uphold dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before prayer or ancestral rites, adopt a disciplined purification routine—bathe, recite a purificatory mantra with focus, and repeat it consistently (here, three times) as a practice of both hygiene and ethical self-cleansing.