Shloka 110

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

चाण्डालशवविष्ठाद्यान्स्पृष्ट्वा स्नानं रजस्वलाम् / स्नानार्हस्तु यदा स्नाति स्नानं नैमित्तिकं हि तत्

Transliteration

cāṇḍālaśavaviṣṭhādyānspṛṣṭvā snānaṃ rajasvalām / snānārhastu yadā snāti snānaṃ naimittikaṃ hi tat

Translation

Sesudah menyentuh caṇḍāla, mayat, najis dan seumpamanya—atau setelah bersentuhan dengan wanita yang sedang haid—apabila orang yang wajib mandi itu mandi, maka mandi tersebut sesungguhnya ialah mandi naimittika (penyucian kerana sebab).

Word by Word

• चाण्डाल: outcastes (cāṇḍālas)
• चाण्डाल: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (समासान्ते -आद्यān)

• शव: corpses
• शव: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (समासान्ते -आद्यān)

• विष्ठ: excrement
• विष्ठ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (समासान्ते -आद्यān)

• आद्यान्: and similar (things/beings)
• आद्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘and the like’ (पूर्वोक्त-समूहस्य)

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having touched)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• रजस्वलाम्: a menstruating woman
• रजस्वलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्वला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• स्नानार्हः: one who is required to bathe
• स्नानार्हः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (स्नानम् अर्हति इति)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्ययम् (particle)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal conjunction: when)

• स्नाति: bathes
• स्नाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• स्नानम्: the bath
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नैमित्तिकम्: occasional (causal)
• नैमित्तिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैमित्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (स्नानम् इति)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतु-अव्ययम् (particle: indeed/for)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshya (Predicate complement/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Ācāra discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Naimittika purification is triggered by contact with impure substances/persons; dharma provides remedial pathways rather than mere prohibition.

Vedantic Theme: Regulation of conduct to preserve sattva and ritual order; recognition of guṇa-impact from environment and contact.

Application: After exposure to contaminating contexts, perform appropriate cleansing promptly; translate ‘impurity’ today as biohygiene and respectful boundary-keeping while avoiding cruelty or stigma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: wherever impurity-contact occurs; then to a water source

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.108 (naimittika category)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of naimittika snāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines naimittika snāna as a duty-bound bath performed specifically due to a triggering cause (nimitta) of impurity—i.e., contact with polluting substances or persons—so that ritual and daily dharma can be resumed in a purified state.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

While not describing the after-death journey directly, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework where purity, śauca, and dharmic conduct are emphasized as preparatory disciplines that shape karma and one’s post-mortem outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat purification as intentional reset after exposure to contaminating situations—maintaining cleanliness, mindful boundaries, and respectful observance of one’s tradition’s hygiene/ritual practices to sustain clarity in worship and ethical living.