Shloka 37

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

लाला मूत्रं तथा शुक्रं मज्जार रक्तञ्च पञ्चमम् / आपः पञ्चगुणाः प्रोक्ता ज्ञातव्यास्ते प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

lālā mūtraṃ tathā śukraṃ majjāra raktañca pañcamam / āpaḥ pañcaguṇāḥ proktā jñātavyāste prayatnataḥ

Translation

ലാലം, മൂത്രം, ശുക്രം, മജ്ജ, അഞ്ചാമത് രക്തം—ഇവയാണ് ‘ആപഃ’ എന്ന ദേഹജലങ്ങളുടെ അഞ്ചു ഗുണങ്ങൾ; അവയെ പരിശ്രമത്തോടെ ഗ്രഹിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• लाला: saliva
• लाला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मूत्रम्: urine
• मूत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकार (also/likewise)

• शुक्रम्: semen
• शुक्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मज्जा: marrow
• मज्जा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रक्तम्: blood
• रक्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (the fifth)

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप्/आपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पञ्च-गुणाः: having five qualities
• पञ्च-गुणाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः द्विगुः (पञ्च गुणाः यस्याः/येषां ते)

• प्रोक्ताः: are stated
• प्रोक्ताः: Karma (Patient/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (भूतकर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ज्ञातव्याः: should be known
• ज्ञातव्याः: Karma (Patient/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—तव्यत् (कर्तव्य/भाव्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘to be known’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रयत्नतः: carefully/with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: Avyaya (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियाविशेषण (ablatival adverb: with effort)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Elemental ‘water’ manifests as bodily fluids; careful understanding supports realism about the body and loosens attachment.

Vedantic Theme: Ashubha-bhavana (contemplation of the body’s impure constituents) as an aid to vairagya; anatma-viveka.

Application: Use sober reflection on bodily composition to counter vanity and craving; cultivate cleanliness and health without obsession.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: physiological interior

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32 (water qualities/manifestations in the body)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'five bodily waters' (pañcaguṇā āpaḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies key bodily fluids—saliva, urine, semen, marrow, and blood—as a fivefold set of ‘waters,’ a framework used to discuss purity/impurity and bodily constitution in ritual and post-death contexts.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

In the Preta Kanda, such classifications support rules of cleanliness and handling of the body and remnants; understanding what counts as bodily ‘waters’ informs ritual caution during antyeṣṭi and śrāddha-related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the body and its fluids with mindful hygiene and respect, and when performing traditional rites (antyeṣṭi/śrāddha), follow cleanliness disciplines that prevent ritual and practical contamination.