Shloka 50

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

त्रिदिनं समुपोष्याथ गत्वा पापविनाशनम् / तत्रस्नात्वा विवाहार्थमेकान्तं प्रययावथ

Transliteration

tridinaṃ samupoṣyātha gatvā pāpavināśanam / tatrasnātvā vivāhārthamekāntaṃ prayayāvatha

Translation

പിന്നീട് മൂന്നു ദിവസം ഉപവസിച്ച് അവൻ പാപനാശകമായ തീർത്ഥത്തിലേക്ക് പോയി. അവിടെ സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് വിവാഹാർത്ഥം ഏകാന്തമായി മുന്നേറി.

Word by Word

• tri-dinam: for three days
• tri-dinam: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tri + dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (कालवाचक-द्वितीया) formed as dvigu compound; अर्थः—for three days

• sam-upoṣya: having fasted
• sam-upoṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-vas (उपवस् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय; उपसर्गः सम्+उप), अव्ययकृदन्त; अर्थः—having fasted

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequential particle (अनन्तरबोधक-अव्यय) अर्थः—then

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्ययकृदन्त) अर्थः—having gone

• pāpa-vināśanam: (place) that destroys sin
• pāpa-vināśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa + vināśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पापस्य विनाशनम्)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय) अर्थः—there

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (स्ना धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्ययकृदन्त) अर्थः—having bathed

• vivāha-artham: for the purpose of marriage
• vivāha-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāha + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विवाहस्य अर्थः/प्रयोजनम्)

• ekāntam: to a secluded place
• ekāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prayayau: went forth
• prayayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (या धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then/indeed
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) used for continuation/emphasis; in some recensions read as 'atha' after verb

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: upavāsa (fasting) and snāna (sacred bath) as purificatory karma supporting a major saṃskāra (vivāha)

Vedantic Theme: citta-śuddhi through niyama; outer purification as aid to inner steadiness

Application: use periodic fasting/abstinence and mindful cleansing to prepare for important commitments; set a clear saṅkalpa and reduce distractions

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.51 (solitary tapas); Garuda Purana 3.19.52 (meditation and stotra)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Tirtha

FAQs

What is the importance of fasting and tīrtha-snāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a standard purification sequence—three-day fasting followed by bathing at a pāpavināśana tīrtha—used to cleanse impurities and prepare oneself for a major dharmic rite.

How does this verse connect purification with dharmic life events?

It links inner restraint (fasting) and external purification (sacred bath) with readiness for saṃskāras such as marriage, implying that major transitions should be approached with ritual and ethical preparation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before significant commitments, practice restraint (e.g., a short fast or disciplined routine), cultivate mental solitude, and perform a meaningful act of purification—prayer, charity, or a sacred bath—aligning intent with dharma.