Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्ममाग्नेयमुद्दिष्टं वायव्यं दिव्यमेव च / वारुणं यौगिकं तद्वत्षडङ्गं स्नानमाचरेत्

Transliteration

brāhmamāgneyamuddiṣṭaṃ vāyavyaṃ divyameva ca / vāruṇaṃ yaugikaṃ tadvatṣaḍaṅgaṃ snānamācaret

Translation

വിധിപ്രകാരം ഷഡംഗസ്നാനം ആചരിക്കണം—ബ്രാഹ്മം, ആഗ്നേയം, വായവ്യം, ദിവ്യം, വാരുണം, അതുപോലെ യൗഗികം।

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मम्: Brāhma (type)
• ब्राह्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'Brahma-related' (type of bath)

• आग्नेयम्: Āgneya (type)
• आग्नेयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'Agni-related'

• उद्दिष्टम्: is mentioned
• उद्दिष्टम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + √दिश् (धातु), क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively: 'is indicated/mentioned'

• वायव्यम्: Vāyavya (type)
• वायव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'Vāyu-related'

• दिव्यम्: divine (type)
• दिव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

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

• वारुणम्: Vāruṇa (type)
• वारुणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'Varuṇa-related'

• यौगिकम्: Yaugika (yogic type)
• यौगिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यौगिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'yogic'

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison): 'likewise/in the same way'

• षडङ्गम्: sixfold / having six parts
• षडङ्गम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—षट् (संख्या) + अङ्ग; 'six-limbed' qualifying snānam

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आचरेत्: should perform
• आचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ṣaḍ-aṅga snāna: multiple legitimate modalities of śuddhi aligned with mantra, elements, and yoga.

Vedantic Theme: Outer and inner purification converge; yaugika snāna hints at internal cleansing through prāṇa and dhyāna.

Application: Choose appropriate purification: water bath when possible; ash/air/sun exposure as adjuncts; incorporate breath and mantra as 'yaugika' inner bath.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-typology (elemental/cosmic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.10 (definitions begin)

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Agni
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of sixfold bathing (ṣaḍ-aṅga snāna) in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents six recognized modes of purification, indicating that cleansing is not only physical (water) but also mantric, elemental, divine, and yogic—supporting ritual fitness and inner purity.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and preparatory rites?

Garuda Purana frequently emphasizes purity as a prerequisite for sacred acts; the sixfold bath functions as preparatory purification for dharmic observances, including rites connected with ancestors and post-death duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Along with regular bathing, incorporate mantra-recitation, disciplined breath/mental purification, and mindful conduct—treating “snāna” as both outer cleanliness and inner ethical-yogic cleansing.