Shloka 118

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

Devanagari script

गागं पयः पुनात्याशु पापमामरणान्तिकम् / गयायां च कुरुक्षेत्रे यत्तोयं समुपस्थितम्

Transliteration

gāgaṃ payaḥ punātyāśu pāpamāmaraṇāntikam / gayāyāṃ ca kurukṣetre yattoyaṃ samupasthitam

Translation

గంగాజలం మరణాంతం వరకు అంటుకున్న పాపాలను కూడా త్వరగా శుద్ధి చేస్తుంది. అలాగే గయా మరియు కురుక్షేత్రాలలో లభించే జలమూ పరమ పవిత్రం.

Word by Word

• gāgaṃ: Gāgā (Ganga water)
• gāgaṃ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (पाठानुसार) प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; गङ्गाजल-पर्यायशब्दः

• payaḥ: water; milk (here: water)
• payaḥ: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• punāti: purifies
• punāti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pū (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present Indicative, 3rd sg, Active)

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'quickly'

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Acc., Singular)

• āmaraṇa-āntikam: lasting until death
• āmaraṇa-āntikam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-maraṇa (अव्यय/उपपद) + āntika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास: 'आमरणम् अन्तिकम्' = 'up to death'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (pāpam)

• gayāyām: in Gayā
• gayāyām: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Feminine, Loc., Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय) = conjunction

• kurukṣetre: in Kurukṣetra
• kurukṣetre: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kurukṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Neuter, Loc., Singular)

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular); सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• toyam: water
• toyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular)

• samupasthitam: present; obtained; available
• samupasthitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + upa + sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय (क्त) = past passive participle; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'समुपस्थित' = present/available

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāpa can be attenuated/removed through contact with highly sanctified tīrtha-jala; purification remains meaningful even near death.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kṣaya via śuddhi-upāya; external purification supporting inner sattva and remembrance of the Divine at life’s end.

Application: Undertake tīrtha-snāna/ācamana with repentance and resolve; if near death, arrange Gaṅgā-jala/holy water for sipping and ritual purity; visit Gayā/Kurukṣetra when possible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: major pilgrimage tīrthas

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Gayā-śrāddha and tīrtha-śuddhi passages elsewhere in the Śrāddha/Preta material (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Gayā
• Kurukṣetra

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred water (Gaṅgā, Gayā, Kurukṣetra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that such tīrtha-waters are powerful means of rapid purification, capable of cleansing sins that otherwise remain attached up to the time of death.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death rites and the soul’s journey?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa context, purification at life’s end supports auspicious passage after death; tīrtha-water and pilgrimage-linked rites (especially at Gayā) are presented as practical aids for reducing pāpa that obstructs the post-death journey.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Maintain reverence for tīrthas, use sanctified water in daily worship, and—when possible—perform or support śrāddha/charity connected with sacred places, focusing on ethical living alongside ritual purification.