Shloka 107

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्थे च तथा भागे स्नानार्थं मृद माहरेत् / तिलपुष्पकुशादीनि स्नानं चाकृत्रिमे जले

Transliteration

caturthe ca tathā bhāge snānārthaṃ mṛda māharet / tilapuṣpakuśādīni snānaṃ cākṛtrime jale

Translation

ในส่วนที่สี่ พึงนำดินสะอาดสำหรับการอาบน้ำมา แล้วถือเอางา ดอกไม้ หญ้าคุศะ เป็นต้น อาบในน้ำธรรมชาติที่มิได้ปรุงแต่ง.

Word by Word

• चतुर्थे: in the fourth
• चतुर्थे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरणे/Locative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (भागे इति)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति/प्रकार-अव्ययम् (adverb: in that manner)

• भागे: in a portion/part
• भागे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम्

• स्नानार्थम्: for the purpose of bathing
• स्नानार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचनम्; अर्थ-तत्पुरुषः (स्नानस्य अर्थः)

• मृदः: of clay/earth (clay)
• मृदः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्; (मृदः = मृदः/मृदः इति रूपम्)

• आहरेत्: should bring/collect
• आहरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• तिलपुष्पकुशादीनि: sesame, flowers, kuśa, etc.
• तिलपुष्पकुशादीनि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), बहुवचनम्; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (तिल-पुष्प-कुश-आदि-समूहः)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• अकृत्रिमे: in natural (unartificial)
• अकृत्रिमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकृत्रिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (जले इति)

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External purity (bahya-śauca) as a prerequisite and support for inner discipline and ritual eligibility.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi as an aid (sādhana) though not itself mokṣa; karma-kāṇḍa discipline preparing the mind.

Application: Prefer bathing in clean natural water; use simple purifiers (clay/earth, sesame, flowers, kuśa) and keep the act intentional rather than cosmetic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha or natural waterbody

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.108-110 (classification and necessity of snāna; naimittika causes)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Kuśa

FAQs

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

This verse frames snāna as a dharmic purification act: collecting clean earth and using sacred items like sesame, flowers, and kuśa, then bathing in natural water to support ritual cleanliness and spiritual readiness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing purity and correct observance, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that disciplined ritual conduct (ācāra) prepares one for righteous living and for the proper performance of rites connected with death and the afterlife.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing religious observances, prioritize cleanliness and simplicity: use pure water (preferably natural sources where appropriate), and traditional sanctifying items (til, flowers, kuśa) to cultivate reverence, attention, and ritual integrity.