Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

कर्तव्या त्वक्षाला स्यादन्तरा तत्र सा स्मृता / यदि स्यात्क्लिन्नवासा वै वारिमध्यगतश्चरेत्

Transliteration

kartavyā tvakṣālā syādantarā tatra sā smṛtā / yadi syātklinnavāsā vai vārimadhyagataścaret

Translation

ആ ഇടവേളയിൽ ദേഹശുദ്ധി (സ്നാനം/പ്രക്ഷാലനം) നിർബന്ധമായി ചെയ്യണം—ഇതുതന്നെ വിധി. വസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ നനഞ്ഞാൽ, ജലത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ തന്നെ നിന്നുകൊണ്ട് നടക്കണം.

Word by Word

• कर्तव्या: should be done / to be performed
• कर्तव्या: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective), कर्तव्यतार्थक (gerundive/future passive participle)

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• अक्षाला: washing/cleansing (ablution)
• अक्षाला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्यात्: should be / may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अन्तरा: in between / within
• अन्तरा: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्ययीभावार्थ (in between/within)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्मृता: is remembered/considered
• स्मृता: Kriya (Predicative verbal notion/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (is said/considered)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय, शर्तार्थक (conditional conjunction)

• स्यात्: should be / happens to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्लिन्नवासा: wearing wet clothes
• क्लिन्नवासा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √क्लिद्) + वासस्/वासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (क्लिन्ना वासा यस्याः/या)

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

• वारिमध्यगतः: gone into the middle of water / standing mid-water
• वारिमध्यगतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (वारिणः मध्ये गतः / in the middle of water)

• चरेत्: should move/walk/act
• चरेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (purity) and correct bodily conduct during ritual intervals.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥ-śuddhi supported by bāhya-śuddhi; discipline (niyama) as aid to sattva.

Application: Observe cleanliness rules during rites; if clothing is wet, remain in/near water and proceed as prescribed rather than acting carelessly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/riverbank/bathing-place (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.57-60 (sequence of post-cleansing acts: seating, pradakṣiṇā, ācāmana, svādhyāya, tarpaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual cleansing (tvakṣālā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bodily cleansing as a required observance in a specified interval, emphasizing āchāra (right conduct) and ritual purity as part of dharmic practice.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond death rituals?

Although the Garuda Purana is famous for afterlife themes, it also lays down practical rules of conduct; here it prescribes when and how cleansing and water-conduct should be done.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and follow context-appropriate purity disciplines; when observing water-based rites, keep conduct orderly and consistent with the intended ritual protocol.