Shloka 19

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

स्नानां कुर्यात्ततो वस्त्रं दद्यादाचमनं ततः / गन्धपुष्पं तथा धूपं दीपं दद्याच्चरुं ततः

Transliteration

snānāṃ kuryāttato vastraṃ dadyādācamanaṃ tataḥ / gandhapuṣpaṃ tathā dhūpaṃ dīpaṃ dadyāccaruṃ tataḥ

Translation

प्रथमं स्नानं कुर्यात्, ततः वस्त्रं दद्यात्, अनन्तरम् आचमनं दद्यात्। ततः गन्धं पुष्पं च, धूपं दीपं च दद्यात्; पश्चात् चरुं हविर्दद्यात्।

Word by Word

• snānam: bath
• snānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kuryāt: should do/perform
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• tataḥ: then/after that
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Context/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time/sequence

• vastram: garment/cloth
• vastram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dadyāt: should give/offer
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• ācamanam: water for sipping
• ācamanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Context/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• gandhapuṣpam: sandal paste and flowers
• gandhapuṣpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandhapuṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (Samahara Dvandva)

• tathā: similarly/and
• tathā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• dhūpam: incense
• dhūpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dīpam: lamp/light
• dīpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dadyāt: should offer
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• carum: oblation (boiled rice/barley)
• carum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Context/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhakti expressed through ordered upacaras—purification and offering of the best of one’s means to the deity.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upasana as a support for antahkarana-shuddhi (inner purification) leading toward Brahma-jijnasa.

Application: Maintain a consistent puja order: bathe/cleanse, offer cloth/water, then fragrance/flowers/incense/lamp, and conclude with naivedya/caru as available.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space/altar (puja-sthana)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.20-23 (continuation: pradakshina, japa, angapuja, mula-mantra)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering bath, cloth, ācamana, and devotional items in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes a sequential ritual order: purification (snāna, ācamana) followed by respectful offerings (cloth, fragrance, flowers, incense, lamp) culminating in a food-oblation (caru), indicating completeness and reverence in rite-performance.

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual conduct associated with post-death and dharmic observances; such rites are presented in the Garuda Purana as supportive duties of the living that align with dharma during transitional after-death contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a clear order in sacred observances: begin with cleanliness and inner/outer purification, then make offerings with sincerity and simplicity (light, incense, flowers), and conclude with a food offering or charity according to one’s tradition.