Shloka 7

Sandhyā-Upāsanā Vidhi: Prāṇāyāma, Water Purification, Aghāmarpaṇa, Sūrya Worship, Nyāsa, and Gāyatrī Japa

Devanagari script

समुद्धृत्योदकं पाणौ जप्त्वा च द्रुपदां क्षिपेत् / त्रिपडष्टौ द्वादशधा वर्तयेदघमर्पणम्

Transliteration

samuddhṛtyodakaṃ pāṇau japtvā ca drupadāṃ kṣipet / tripaḍaṣṭau dvādaśadhā vartayedaghamarpaṇam

Translation

ตักน้ำขึ้นบนฝ่ามือ แล้วสวดมนต์ จากนั้นโปรยลงสู่พื้นดิน. เมื่อประกอบ ‘ตรีปทาษฏะ’ ตามลำดับสิบสองครั้ง ก็เป็นการทำ ‘อฆามรฺปณะ’ คือการถวายเพื่อถ่ายถอนและสลายบาป.

Word by Word

• samuddhṛtya: having lifted up
• samuddhṛtya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ud-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• udakam: water
• udakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (neuter accusative singular)

• pāṇau: in the hand
• pāṇau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (masculine locative singular)

• japtvā: having recited (muttered)
• japtvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• drupadām: (a) drupadā (ritual formula/verse-name)
• drupadām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: drupadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (feminine accusative singular)

• kṣipet: should cast/throw
• kṣipet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/विधान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (optative, 3rd sg; ‘should throw’)

• tripaṭ-aṣṭau: (as) tripaṭ and eight (i.e., counts/units)
• tripaṭ-aṣṭau: Measure (परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tripaṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭau (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (समाहार/इतरेतर), द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन/बहुवचन-प्रयोगः; संख्या-सूचक (dvandva numeral expression; used as count)

• dvādaśadhā: twelvefold
• dvādaśadhā: Modifier (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + dhā (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner: ‘in twelve ways’)

• vartayet: should perform/execute
• vartayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु; causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (optative, 3rd sg; causative ‘should perform/turn’)

• agha-marpaṇam: sin-offering / expiation rite
• agha-marpaṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agha (प्रातिपदिक) + marpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव (neuter accusative singular)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-infused water (udaka) and prescribed sequence (tripadāṣṭa, twelvefold) function as prāyaścitta—ritual action that neutralizes pāpa through intention, sound, and symbolic offering.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as citta-śuddhi; ritual as a means to attenuate pāpa-vāsanā and prepare for higher knowledge.

Application: Perform sandhyā-related aghāmarpaṇa with correct sankalpa, mantra, and gesture; emphasize cleanliness, attention, and consistency over mechanical repetition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.36 (context: sandhyā, aghāmarpaṇa, gāyatrī-japa as prāyaścitta)

FAQs

What is the importance of aghāmarpaṇa in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents aghāmarpaṇa as a concrete expiatory act: mantra-recited water is ritually cast to the ground to symbolically transfer/dispense sin and restore ritual purity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes purification through prāyaścitta so one’s karmic burden is reduced—an essential preparatory discipline in the Purāṇic framework that affects post-death outcomes and the subtle journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle: pair repentance and ethical correction with disciplined practice (japa, cleanliness, and simple water-offering rites as taught by one’s tradition) to cultivate accountability and reduce harmful tendencies.