Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

वाचं वागीश्वरीं पुष्टिं तुष्टिञ्च परितर्पयेत् / उमामरुन्धतीं चैव शचीं मातरमेव च

Transliteration

vācaṃ vāgīśvarīṃ puṣṭiṃ tuṣṭiñca paritarpayet / umāmarundhatīṃ caiva śacīṃ mātarameva ca

Translation

വാക് (വാച്), വാഗീശ്വരി, പുഷ്ടി, തുഷ്ടി എന്നിവർക്കു വിധിപൂർവ്വം തർപ്പണം അർപ്പിക്കണം; അതുപോലെ ഉമ, അരുന്ധതി, ശചീ, ദിവ്യമാതാവിനെയും തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തണം।

Word by Word

• वाचम्: speech (Vāc)
• वाचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वागीश्वरीम्: Vāgīśvarī (goddess of speech)
• वागीश्वरीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वागीश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक) = वाक् + ईश्वरī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुष्टिम्: nourishment, prosperity (Puṣṭi)
• पुष्टिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तुष्टिम्: contentment (Tuṣṭi)
• तुष्टिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• परितर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libation to
• परितर्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु) + परि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उमाम्: Umā
• उमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अरुन्धतीम्: Arundhatī
• अरुन्धतीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुन्धती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• शचीम्: Śacī
• शचीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

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

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During daily/periodic tarpaṇa within śrāddha or ancillary rites (as prescribed in the chapter context).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Propitiation (tarpana/ārādhana) of presiding deities of faculties and virtues to harmonize life and ritual efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-śakti as the functional order (ṛta/dharma) manifesting as speech, nourishment, contentment, and auspicious feminine powers.

Application: Before study, discourse, or rites, perform respectful invocation/tarpaṇa to Vāc/Vāgīśvarī and allied devīs, cultivating truthful speech, gratitude for nourishment, and contentment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.39-41 (continuation of devatā-tarpaṇa and universal tarpaṇa formula); Garuda Purana 1.215.1 (tarpaṇa rite introduction)

Characters & Entities

• Vāc
• Vāgīśvarī
• Puṣṭi
• Tuṣṭi
• Umā
• Arundhatī
• Śacī
• Divine Mother

FAQs

What is the importance of propitiating Vāc and Vāgīśvarī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that auspicious rites should include honoring Speech and its presiding goddess, implying that mantra, truthful utterance, and sacred recitation are foundational for ritual efficacy and dharmic merit.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader ritual framework?

By listing divine feminine powers such as Puṣṭi and Tuṣṭi along with Umā and Śacī, the text frames ritual completeness as including nourishment, contentment, and protective Devī-forces—supporting the overall aim of auspicious outcomes in prescribed rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain purity and truthfulness in speech, recite prayers with clarity, and include gratitude for nourishment and contentment; during family rituals, remember the Divine Mother and exemplars of dharma (like Arundhatī) as guiding ideals.