Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

अन्यथा च शुचौ भूम्यां दर्भेषु च समाहितः / प्रदक्षिणं समावृत्य नमस्कृत्य ततः क्षितौ

Transliteration

anyathā ca śucau bhūmyāṃ darbheṣu ca samāhitaḥ / pradakṣiṇaṃ samāvṛtya namaskṛtya tataḥ kṣitau

Translation

അല്ലെങ്കിൽ, ശുദ്ധമായ ഭൂമിയിൽ പവിത്ര ദർഭാസനത്തിൽ മനസ്സിനെ ഏകാഗ്രമാക്കി ഇരുന്നു, ദക്ഷിണാവർത്തമായി പ്രദക്ഷിണം ചെയ്ത്, നമസ്കാരം അർപ്പിച്ച്, തുടർന്ന് ഭൂമിയിൽ ദണ്ഡവത് പ്രണാമം ചെയ്യണം.

Word by Word

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: otherwise)

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

• शुचौ: in a clean (place)
• शुचौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (in a clean [place])

• भूम्याम्: on the ground
• भूम्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• दर्भेषु: on/among darbha-grass (blades)
• दर्भेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

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

• समाहितः: composed, attentive
• समाहितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (collected/concentrated)

• प्रदक्षिणम्: clockwise / to the right
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया-एकवचन (accusative used adverbially: keeping to the right)

• समावृत्य: having turned/covered (around)
• समावृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• नमस्कृत्य: having saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस्-√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• क्षितौ: on the earth/ground
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual composure (samādhāna), auspicious circumambulation, and humility through namaskāra.

Vedantic Theme: Ego-softening (ahaṅkāra-kṣaya) through praṇāma; sattva cultivation via ordered conduct.

Application: Before offerings or recitation, sit on a clean seat (darbha), steady attention, perform clockwise circumambulation of the sacred focus, then prostrate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground/altar-side/riverbank platform (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.56 (preceding cleansing); Garuda Purana 1.50.58-60 (ācāmana, svādhyāya, tarpaṇa; sequence of rite)

Characters & Entities

• Darbha (sacred grass)

FAQs

What is the importance of darbha grass and pure ground in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse emphasizes ritual purity and mental steadiness: sitting on clean ground and darbha grass is presented as a proper, sanctifying base for performing respectful acts like pradakṣiṇā and namaskāra.

How does this verse describe the correct ritual gesture of reverence?

It outlines a sequence: be composed on a purified seat (darbha), perform clockwise circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā), offer salutations (namaskāra), and finally bow down to the earth—signs of humility and auspicious observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness, mental focus, and humility during worship or ancestral/rite-related observances: begin with a pure setting, perform actions mindfully, and end with sincere reverence.