Shloka 10

Snāna-Śauca Krama: Varuṇa–Āpaḥ Mantras, Aghamarṣaṇa, Sūrya-Upasthāna, and Sarva-Tarpaṇa

Devanagari script

मार्जयेद्वै मृदाङ्गानि इदं विष्णुरिति त्वृचा / भास्कराभिमुखो मज्जेदापो अस्मानितित्यृचा

Transliteration

mārjayedvai mṛdāṅgāni idaṃ viṣṇuriti tvṛcā / bhāskarābhimukho majjedāpo asmānitityṛcā

Translation

‘ఇదం విష్ణుః’ అనే ఋచను పఠిస్తూ మట్టితో అవయవాలను రుద్ది శుద్ధి చేయాలి; తరువాత సూర్యుని ఎదురుగా నిలిచి ‘ఆపో అస్మాన్…’ ఋచతో నీటిలో మునిగి పైకి రావాలి।

Word by Word

• मार्जयेत्: should cleanse/wipe
• मार्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed)

• मृदाङ्गानि: limbs/parts (with clay)
• मृदाङ्गानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मृदः अङ्गानि = clay-limbs/parts smeared with clay)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इति: thus/“…”
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ऋचा: with the ṛc (Vedic verse)
• ऋचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच्/ऋचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• भास्कराभिमुखः: facing the sun
• भास्कराभिमुखः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्कर + अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भास्करस्य अभिमुखः = facing the sun)

• मज्जेत्: should immerse/bathe
• मज्जेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (pluralia tantum)

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ऋचा: with the ṛc (verse)
• ऋचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca is completed by mantra and right orientation (dik/āditya-sammukhatā), integrating body, speech, and mind.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with mantra and awareness refines the mind (sattva-śuddhi), preparing for higher knowledge/bhakti.

Application: When bathing before worship, keep a brief, consistent mantra; face natural light (morning sun) to reinforce alertness and ritual intentionality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ghāṭa / open bathing place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.9 (Viṣṇu ṛk + ācamana); Garuda Purana 1.214.11 (Āpo asmān mantra expanded)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bhaskara (Surya)
• Apah (sacred waters)

FAQs

What is the importance of purification (snāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames purification as a mantra-guided act: cleansing the body with earth and bathing in water while invoking Vishnu, Surya, and the sacred Waters—preparing one for dharmic rites and auspicious actions.

How does this verse connect mantra recitation with physical cleansing?

It prescribes specific Ṛgvedic mantras during each step—rubbing with clay and immersion in water—showing that inner sanctification (mantra) and outer cleanliness (snāna) are performed together.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before worship, śrāddha-related duties, or important vows, perform a mindful bath: face the rising Sun when possible, and pair cleanliness with remembrance of Vishnu and the purifying power of water.