Shloka 11
Snāna-Śauca Krama: Varuṇa–Āpaḥ Mantras, Aghamarṣaṇa, Sūrya-Upasthāna, and Sarva-Tarpaṇa
ॐ आपो अस्मान्मातरः शुन्धयन्तु घृतेन नो घृतष्वः पुनन्तु / विश्वं हि रिप्रं प्रवहन्ति देवीरुदिदाभ्यः शुचिरापूत एमि
oṃ āpo asmānmātaraḥ śundhayantu ghṛtena no ghṛtaṣvaḥ punantu / viśvaṃ hi ripraṃ pravahanti devīrudidābhyaḥ śucirāpūta emi
ఓం, హే జలదేవతలారా—మా మాతలారా—మమ్మల్ని శుద్ధి చేయండి; ఘృతస్వరూపిణులారా, ఘృతంతో మమ్మల్ని పవిత్రం చేయండి. దేవీ జలాలు సమస్త మలినాన్ని కొట్టుకుపోతాయి; వాటి నుండి నేను పైకి వస్తాను—శుచిగా, సంపూర్ణంగా పవిత్రుడనై।
Lord Vishnu (as a Vedic purification mantra cited within the Garuda Purana discourse to Garuda)
Concept: Impurity (ripra) is removable; divine forces (Āpaḥ) carry away stains—symbolizing the possibility of inner purification and renewal.
Vedantic Theme: Śuddhi as a condition for clarity (viveka); the ‘rising purified’ hints at inner awakening after cleansing of mala.
Application: Use this mantra (or its sense) as a reflective reset: acknowledge mental ‘stains’ (anger, guilt, distraction) and consciously release them during washing/bathing.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: water body / ritual water source
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214.10 (instruction to recite this ṛk during immersion)
FAQs
This verse frames purification as both ritual and spiritual: the divine Waters remove “ripra” (stain/impurity), preparing a person for dharmic rites such as śrāddha, pindadāna, and other samskāras performed with inner and outer cleanliness.
In Garuda Purana contexts, mantras of water-purification support snāna, ācamana, and preparatory shuddhi before performing antyeṣṭi-related observances (e.g., offerings, prayers, and śrāddha), emphasizing that impurity is to be ‘carried away’ before sacred acts.
Use it as a reminder that ethical clarity and cleanliness matter: begin prayers or family rites with a simple bath/hand-washing and a conscious intention to release negativity and harmful actions—cultivating śauca in daily life.