Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

त्रिधा कृत्वा मृदं तां तु गोमयं च विचक्षणः / अद्भिर्मृद्भिश्च चरणौ प्रक्षाल्याथ करौ तथा

Transliteration

tridhā kṛtvā mṛdaṃ tāṃ tu gomayaṃ ca vicakṣaṇaḥ / adbhirmṛdbhiśca caraṇau prakṣālyātha karau tathā

Translation

เมื่อแบ่งดินนั้นเป็นสามส่วน และแบ่งมูลโคเช่นเดียวกัน ผู้มีปัญญาพึงล้างเท้าด้วยน้ำและดิน แล้วจึงล้างมือด้วยเช่นกัน

Word by Word

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि + धा (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-निर्माण)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘threefold/in three parts’

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया — ‘having done/made’

• मृदम्: earth/clay
• मृदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ताम्: that (it)
• ताम्: Visheshya-anvaya (Pronominal determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-nipata (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle) — विरोध/अन्वयार्थ

• गोमयम्: cow-dung
• गोमयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/Conjunction)

• विचक्षणः: the discerning person
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अद्भिः: with water
• अद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/अद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• मृद्भिः: with earth/clay
• मृद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/Conjunction)

• चरणौ: the two feet
• चरणौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), द्विवचन

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Purvakala-kriya (Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव — ‘having washed’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-anukrama (Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/sequence particle)

• करौ: the two hands
• करौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), द्विवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमान/रीति—‘likewise’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (external purity) as a gateway to adhikāra for mantra and rite.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi begins with disciplined conduct; outer purity supports inner sattva.

Application: Before japa, pūjā, śrāddha, or sandhyā: wash feet/hands properly; keep dedicated clay/ash/soap substitute and clean water; treat hygiene as sacred attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (near water source)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.214 (śauca/ācamanādi-krama)

Characters & Entities

• Cow (Gau)
• Water (Ap)
• Earth/Clay (Mṛd)

FAQs

What is the importance of using clay and cow-dung in Garuda Purana purification rites?

This verse presents a practical shaucha method: clay (mṛd) and cow-dung (gomaya), along with water, are used as purifying substances to prepare the performer for sacred duties, especially rites connected with death and post-death observances.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals (antyeṣṭi and related observances)?

It gives a preparatory step—washing feet and hands with water and clay—indicating that ritual actions in the Preta Kanda are to be preceded by bodily purification, reinforcing the discipline and sanctity required in funerary and post-funeral rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before prayer or any solemn rite, cultivate cleanliness and mindfulness—wash hands and feet (or bathe) and begin actions with a purified, attentive state, honoring the principle of shaucha.