Shloka 13

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

आत्मतीर्थमिति ख्यातं सेवितं ब्रह्मवादिभिः / क्षीरवृक्षसमुद्भूतं मालतीसम्भवं शुभम्

Transliteration

ātmatīrthamiti khyātaṃ sevitaṃ brahmavādibhiḥ / kṣīravṛkṣasamudbhūtaṃ mālatīsambhavaṃ śubham

Translation

ഇത് ‘ആത്മതീർത്ഥം’ എന്ന പേരിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്; ബ്രഹ്മവാദികൾ ഇതിനെ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നു. ക്ഷീരവൃക്ഷത്തിൽ നിന്നുയർന്നതും, മാലതി പുഷ്പത്തിൽ നിന്നു ജനിച്ചതും, സ്വഭാവത്തിൽ തന്നെ മംഗളകരവുമാണ്.

Word by Word

• आत्मतीर्थम्: the ‘self’ as a sacred ford (ātma-tīrtha)
• आत्मतीर्थम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्मनः तीर्थम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• इति: thus/as
• इति: Quotation marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातम्: is known/called
• ख्यातम्: Predicate participle (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) → ख्यात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘known/called’

• सेवितम्: is resorted to
• सेवितम्: Predicate participle (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेवित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘served/visited’

• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: by the expounders of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः वादिनः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• क्षीरवृक्षसमुद्भूतम्: arisen from the milk-tree
• क्षीरवृक्षसमुद्भूतम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीरवृक्ष + समुद्भूत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षीरवृक्षात् समुद्भूतम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मालतीसम्भवम्: born of mālatī (jasmine)
• मालतीसम्भवम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालती + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मालत्याः सम्भवम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The highest tīrtha is the Self—approached by Brahmavādins; purity is rooted in inner realization rather than mere external travel.

Vedantic Theme: Ātman as the ultimate refuge and purifier; inner sacred geography superseding outer rites when knowledge dawns.

Application: Treat daily contemplation/self-inquiry as ‘inner pilgrimage’; cultivate sāttvika surroundings (fragrance, cleanliness) to support steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: symbolic inner pilgrimage-site; also garden/forest imagery (milky tree, mālatī)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.12 (mānasa snāna = ātma-vedana)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmavadins

FAQs

What is the importance of Ātma-tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Ātma-tīrtha as a highly auspicious sacred locus, esteemed enough to be frequented by Brahman-realization teachers, implying strong purificatory and contemplative value.

How does this verse connect pilgrimage with inner spiritual practice?

By naming the place ‘Ātma-tīrtha’ (a ‘tīrtha of the Self’) and associating it with Brahmavādins, the verse frames tīrtha-sevana as supportive of Self-knowledge and Brahman-oriented contemplation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred places (or any ritual act) with the intention of inner purification and self-inquiry—seeking the ‘tīrtha’ within, not merely external merit.