Shloka 57

Brahmin Right Conduct: Morning Remembrance, Bathing, Purification, and Tarpaṇa Method

Devanagari script

धृत्वानामिकया रत्नमंजलेरक्षयंफलं । स्नानार्थमभिगच्छंतं देवाः पितृगणैः सह

Transliteration

dhṛtvānāmikayā ratnamaṃjalerakṣayaṃphalaṃ | snānārthamabhigacchaṃtaṃ devāḥ pitṛgaṇaiḥ saha

Translation

അനാമികയിൽ രത്നമഞ്ജരി ധരിച്ചതാൽ അക്ഷയഫലം ലഭിക്കുന്നു. സ്നാനാർത്ഥം പോകുന്ന അവനെ ദേവന്മാർ പിതൃഗണങ്ങളോടൊപ്പം സമീപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• dhṛtvā: having worn/held
• dhṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): ‘having held/worn’

• anāmikayā: with/on the ring finger
• anāmikayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anāmikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘with/on the ring finger’

• ratna-maṃjaleḥ: of a handful of gems
• ratna-maṃjaleḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + maṃjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘of a handful (añjali) of gems’

• akṣayam: imperishable
• akṣayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘imperishable’ (phalam इति विशेषणम्)

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• snāna-artham: for bathing
• snāna-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (accusative adverbial): ‘for the purpose of bathing’

• abhigacchantam: the one who is approaching
• abhigacchantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + gam (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘approaching/going towards’ (कर्मरूपेण)

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• pitṛ-gaṇaiḥ: with the groups of ancestors
• pitṛ-gaṇaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/साकम्), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘with the groups of ancestors’

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (postposition): ‘together with’ (तृतीया-सहयोगे)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa 49)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: river

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: dhṛtvānāmikayā = dhṛtvā + anāmikayā; ratnamaṃjalerakṣayaṃphalaṃ = ratnamaṃjaleḥ + akṣayam + phalam; abhigacchaṃtaṃ = abhigacchantam (अनुस्वार-लेखन).

Characters & Entities

• Devāḥ
• Pitṛgaṇa (Pitṛs/ancestors)

FAQs

What does this verse suggest about the spiritual value of bathing (snāna) in the Padma Purana?

It frames snāna as a spiritually significant act that draws divine and ancestral attention, implying that ritual purity and sacred bathing can be linked with lasting (akṣaya) merit.

Why are the Pitṛs mentioned alongside the gods in this verse?

The pairing of Devāḥ and Pitṛgaṇa reflects the Purāṇic view that both divine beings and ancestral lineages participate in, witness, or benefit from meritorious rites—especially those connected with purity, offerings, and dharma.

What is the ethical or devotional lesson implied by the phrase 'akṣayaṁ phalam' (inexhaustible fruit)?

It emphasizes that certain dharmic actions—performed with proper intent and sanctity—yield enduring results, encouraging consistency in righteous conduct rather than short-term, worldly motivations.