Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

स्त्रायान्नदीषु शुद्धासु शौचं कृत्वा यथाविधि / प्रतः स्नानेन पूयन्ते ये ऽपि पापकृतो जनाः

Transliteration

strāyānnadīṣu śuddhāsu śaucaṃ kṛtvā yathāvidhi / prataḥ snānena pūyante ye 'pi pāpakṛto janāḥ

Translation

ശുദ്ധമായ നദികളിൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം ശൗചം ചെയ്ത് പ്രാതഃസ്നാനം ചെയ്യണം. പ്രാതഃസ്നാനത്താൽ പാപം ചെയ്തവരും ശുദ്ധരാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नदीषु: in rivers
• नदीषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• शुद्धासु: pure
• शुद्धासु: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; नदीषु-विशेषण

• शौचम्: purification/cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• यथा: according to
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकार (adverb: as/according to)

• विधि: prescribed rule
• विधि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; यथा-सम्बद्ध (elliptic: ‘as per the rule’)

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• स्नानेन: by bathing
• स्नानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• पूयन्ते: are purified
• पूयन्ते: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: even/also)

• पापकृतः: sin-committers
• पापकृतः: Visheshya (Appositional descriptor/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘पापं कृतवन्तः’ इति (sin-doers)

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper śauca and morning bath in pure rivers purify even sinners—ritual action as a purifier when done vidhi-pūrvaka.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (preparatory purification) enabling higher knowledge and devotion.

Application: Maintain ritual cleanliness: bathe early; if possible bathe in clean natural water; otherwise emulate with clean water and right intention, following one’s tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river/ghāṭa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: ācamana, snāna, śauca as prerequisites for japa, homa, pūjā

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of śauca (purification) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents śauca, performed properly and supported by morning bathing in a pure river, as a key daily discipline that removes ritual impurity and helps cleanse the effects of sinful conduct.

Does this verse describe afterlife punishments or Yama’s realm?

No—this verse belongs to the conduct-focused section (Ācāra) and emphasizes preventive purification practices in life rather than punishments after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily cleanliness and disciplined routine—especially a morning bath and mindful purification practices—treating them as supports for ethical living and self-restraint, not as a license to repeat wrongdoing.