Shloka 126

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

Devanagari script

श्रीकामः सर्वदा स्नानं कुर्वोतामलकैर्नरः / सन्तापः कीर्तिरल्पायुर्धनं निधनमेव च

Transliteration

śrīkāmaḥ sarvadā snānaṃ kurvotāmalakairnaraḥ / santāpaḥ kīrtiralpāyurdhanaṃ nidhanameva ca

Translation

శ్రీ (సంపద) కోరుకునే మనిషి ఎల్లప్పుడూ ఆమలకీ (ఉసిరి)తో స్నానం చేయాలి. దానివల్ల (వివిధంగా) సంతాపం, కీర్తి, అల్పాయువు, ధనం, అంతేకాదు మరణమూ కలుగుతాయి.

Word by Word

• श्रीकामः: one who desires prosperity
• श्रीकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + काम (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: श्रियाः कामः (one desiring prosperity)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• कुर्वोत: should do / do
• कुर्वोत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन; वैदिक/छान्दस रूप: कुर्वोत = कुरु + उत्/ओत् (injunctive/imperative variant)

• आमलकैः: with āmalaka fruits
• आमलकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचन

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• सन्तापः: affliction
• सन्तापः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• कीर्तिः: fame
• कीर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• अल्पायुः: short life
• अल्पायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मधारय: अल्पम् आयुः यस्य (short lifespan)

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• निधनम्: death / destruction
• निधनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Discourse (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: only/indeed)

• च: and
• च: Discourse (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: and)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-phala is multifactorial: the same observance (āmalaka-associated snana) may coincide with varied outcomes due to prior karma, intention, and context; ritual is not a simplistic guarantee.

Vedantic Theme: Prarabdha and karma-vipaka complexity; external acts aid purification but do not override all karmic determinants; cultivate viveka and surrender.

Application: Practice āmalakī-related observances as devotion/purification, not as transactional magic; interpret life outcomes with discernment and continue dharma steadily.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: snana (with āmalaka)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis that karma ripens in diverse ways; ritual supports but does not erase all prarabdha; Garuda Purana: āmalakī/Ekādaśī-related merits in adjacent verses

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of āmalaka (amla) bathing in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents āmalaka-snānā as a ritual means sought by one desiring śrī (prosperity), while also warning that its outcomes can manifest in multiple ways depending on karma.

How does this verse explain karmic results connected to rituals?

It implies that even an auspicious act (like purificatory bathing) does not yield a single fixed result; the fruit—fame, wealth, hardship, shortened life, or even death—unfolds according to the doer’s karmic conditions and context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform purification practices with right intention and moderation, and avoid assuming guaranteed results; pair rituals with ethical living (dharma) and health-conscious discipline.