Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

आचम्य च यथाशास्त्रं शक्त्या स्वाध्यायमाचरेत् / ततः सन्तर्पयेद्देवानृषीन्पितृगणांस्तथा

Transliteration

ācamya ca yathāśāstraṃ śaktyā svādhyāyamācaret / tataḥ santarpayeddevānṛṣīnpitṛgaṇāṃstathā

Translation

ശാസ്ത്രവിധിപ്രകാരം ആചമനം ചെയ്ത്, കഴിയുന്നത്ര സ്വാധ്യായം ചെയ്യണം. തുടർന്ന് ദേവന്മാരെയും ഋഷിമാരെയും പിതൃഗണങ്ങളെയും തർപ്പണത്തോടെ തൃപ്തിപ്പെടുത്തണം.

Word by Word

• आचम्य: having sipped (water)
• आचम्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव

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

• यथाशास्त्रम्: according to the śāstra
• यथाशास्त्रम्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (according to scripture)

• शक्त्या: with (one’s) ability
• शक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-अर्थ (as per one’s ability)

• स्वाध्यायम्: self-study/recitation
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आचरेत्: should practice/perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• सन्तर्पयेत्: should satisfy/offer libations to
• सन्तर्पयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-तृप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• ऋषीन्: the sages
• ऋषीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• पितृगणान्: the groups of ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितृगणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां गणाः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (likewise/also)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Nitya (daily) or prescribed occasions; typically near water after purification

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purify speech/body (ācāmana), cultivate knowledge (svādhyāya), and repay the three debts via offerings (deva-ṛṣi-pitṛ tarpaṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Yajña-spirit and ṛṇa-traya (debts) as preparatory purification; knowledge practice aligned with dharma supports inner steadiness.

Application: Begin rites with ācāmana; maintain regular scriptural study within capacity; include tarpaṇa as remembrance and gratitude to devas, sages, and ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: gṛhya-ritual space/riverbank/tīrtha (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.59-60 (tarpaṇa mantric framing; following procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Rishis
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of ācamana, svādhyāya, and tarpana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a dharmic order of practice: first ritual purification (ācamana), then scriptural self-study (svādhyāya), and finally offerings of satisfaction (tarpana) to Devas, Ṛṣis, and Pitṛs—linking personal discipline with cosmic and ancestral obligations.

How does this verse relate to death rituals and Pitṛ obligations in the Garuda Purana?

By explicitly naming the Pitṛgaṇas for tarpana, the verse anchors ancestor-propitiation as a regular duty; such ongoing Pitṛ-care is a foundation for broader śrāddha and post-death rites emphasized in Garuda Purana traditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a simple, capacity-based routine: begin with a brief purification (ācamana), do some daily scriptural reading/recitation, and periodically offer tarpana (or a respectful ancestor remembrance) as a disciplined expression of gratitude and dharma.