Shloka 111

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

Devanagari script

पुष्यस्नानादिकं स्नानं दैवज्ञविधिचोदितम् / तद्धि काम्यं समुद्दिष्टं नाकामस्तत्प्रयोजयेत्

Transliteration

puṣyasnānādikaṃ snānaṃ daivajñavidhicoditam / taddhi kāmyaṃ samuddiṣṭaṃ nākāmastatprayojayet

Translation

การอาบน้ำเช่นปุษยะสฺนาน เป็นต้น ที่กำหนดตามกฎซึ่งนักโหราศาสตร์ (ไทวชญะ) ชี้แนะนั้น จัดเป็นกรรมเพื่อผลปรารถนา (กามยะ) เพราะฉะนั้นผู้ไร้ความปรารถนาไม่พึงประกอบ.

Word by Word

• पुष्यस्नानादिकम्: such as bathing on Puṣya (asterism), etc.
• पुष्यस्नानादिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (पुष्ये स्नानम् इत्यादि यस्य तत्) विशेषणम् (स्नानम् इति)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दैवज्ञविधिचोदितम्: enjoined by the rule of an astrologer
• दैवज्ञविधिचोदितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैवज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + चोदित (चुद्/चोद् धातोः क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त-विशेषणम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (दैवज्ञस्य विधिना चोदितम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतु-अव्ययम् (particle)

• काम्यम्: desire-motivated/optional
• काम्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (तत् इति)

• समुद्दिष्टम्: is prescribed/stated
• समुद्दिष्टम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-दिश् (धातु) + त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्तः, नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः ‘is stated’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation)

• अकामः: one without desire
• अकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नञ्-पूर्वकः; कर्तृपदं (प्रयोजयेत् इति)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• प्रयोजयेत्: should employ/undertake
• प्रयोजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-युज् (धातु, णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्तः (causative)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāmya rites are motivated by specific desires and results; one who is akāma (desire-free) should not engage them—hinting at niṣkāma orientation.

Vedantic Theme: Movement from kāmya-karma toward niṣkāma-karma/vairāgya; reducing saṅkalpa-driven action to purify intention.

Application: Be honest about motivation: undertake optional ‘result-seeking’ observances only with clear purpose; otherwise prioritize simple daily duties and devotion without bargaining for outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting under astrological timing

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.108 (kāmya as a category within eightfold purification)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Daivajna

FAQs

What is the importance of kāmya (desire-based) rituals in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies astrologer-prescribed special baths (like Puṣya-snāna) as kāmya—meant for obtaining specific outcomes—thereby distinguishing them from fruitless (niṣkāma) dharmic practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By discouraging desire-driven rites for the desireless, it implies that spiritual progress is tied to reducing attachment to results—shifting from merit-seeking actions toward inner purification and detachment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform rituals with clarity of intent: if you are seeking a particular worldly result, kāmya rites may be appropriate; if cultivating detachment, prioritize simple purity, prayer, and duty without result-fixation.