Shloka 5
Prāyaścitta for Faults (Water/Fire/Confinement), Child Culpability, and Purification in Menstruation and Illness-Contact
आतुरे स्नान उत्पन्ने दशकृत्वो ह्यनातुरः / स्नात्वास्नात्वास्पृशेदेनं ततः शुध्येत् स आतुरः
āture snāna utpanne daśakṛtvo hyanāturaḥ / snātvāsnātvāspṛśedenaṃ tataḥ śudhyet sa āturaḥ
ആതുരനാൽ സ്നാനം ആവശ്യമായാൽ, അനാതുരൻ പത്തു പ്രാവശ്യം സ്നാനം ചെയ്യണം; ഓരോ സ്നാനത്തിനും ശേഷം ആ ആത്മുരനെ സ്പർശിക്കണം—അപ്പോൾ ആ ആത്മുരൻ ശുദ്ധനാകുന്നു।
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Purification around illness can be mediated by repeated bathing of the healthy caregiver and ritualized contact, culminating in the patient’s śuddhi.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as harmonizing social duty (seva) with śauca; action (karma) used to restore order and reduce doṣa.
Application: Care for the sick while maintaining hygiene protocols; repeated cleansing and mindful contact reduce impurity anxiety and support recovery routines.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: household
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: śauca rules connected to illness and contact; prāyaścitta/śuddhi procedures
FAQs
This verse treats snāna as a practical means of restoring ritual purity, prescribing repeated baths and contact as a formal procedure to remove impurity connected with illness.
In the Preta Kanda, purity regulations support correct performance of rites; this instruction clarifies how one maintains or restores śuddhi in situations involving bodily impurity and care of the sick.
It underscores disciplined hygiene and ritual mindfulness while caring for the ill, and the broader principle of maintaining cleanliness and propriety before performing religious observances.