Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

त्नानकाले स्मरेद्विष्णमापो नारायणो यतः / प्रेक्ष्य ओङ्कारमादित्यं त्रिर्निमज्जेज्जलाशये

Transliteration

tnānakāle smaredviṣṇamāpo nārāyaṇo yataḥ / prekṣya oṅkāramādityaṃ trirnimajjejjalāśaye

Translation

സ്നാനസമയത്ത് വിഷ്ണുവിനെ സ്മരിക്കണം; കാരണം ജലം നാരായണസ്വരൂപമാണ്. ഓങ്കാരരൂപനായ ആദിത്യനെ ദർശിച്ച് ജലാശയത്തിൽ മൂന്നു പ്രാവശ്യം മുങ്ങണം।

Word by Word

• स्नानकाले: at the time of bathing
• स्नानकाले: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + काल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘स्नानस्य काले’

• स्मरेत्: should remember
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यतः: because/since
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (हेतु/कारण-because)

• प्रेक्ष्य: having looked at
• प्रेक्ष्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रेक्ष्य (कृदन्त; √ईक्ष् (धातु) + प्र)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive): ‘प्रेक्ष्य’ (having looked at)

• ओङ्कारम्: the syllable Oṃ (oṅkāra)
• ओङ्कारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आदित्यम्: the Sun (Āditya)
• आदित्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्रिः: thrice
• त्रिः: Sambandha (Frequency/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (संख्यावाचक क्रियाविशेषण): ‘त्रिवारम्’

• निमज्जेत्: should immerse/dip
• निमज्जेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मज्ज् (धातु) + नि
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जलाशये: in a water-body/reservoir
• जलाशये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + आशय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘जले आशयः’ (water-reservoir)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āpaḥ as Nārāyaṇa; snāna becomes Viṣṇu-smaraṇa; Oṃ and Āditya contemplation integrates mantra and deity.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā leading toward śānta-citta; seeing the divine pervading elements (sarva-vyāpitva).

Application: During bathing, consciously remember Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa; coordinate breath and triple immersion with a short Oṃ contemplation and respectful sunward attention (as appropriate/safe).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/waters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.45 (ācāmana mantra following snāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narayana
• Aditya (Sun)
• Om (Pranava)

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Vishnu during bathing in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that water is to be regarded as belonging to Nārāyaṇa; therefore bathing becomes a devotional purification when accompanied by remembrance of Viṣṇu.

How does this verse relate to purification and the soul’s path in Garuda Purana teachings?

While Garuda Purana discusses post-death outcomes, it also emphasizes preventive dharma: daily acts like sacred bathing with Oṁ and devotion cultivate purity (śuddhi) and merit that support a better destiny.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

During a bath, consciously remember Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa, offer a respectful glance to the Sun with the sense of Oṁ, and perform three mindful immersions (or symbolic rinses) as a disciplined purification practice.