Shloka 40

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

पञ्च पिण्डाननुद्धृत्य स्नानं दुष्यन्ति नित्यशः / मृदैकया शिरः क्षाल्यं द्वाभ्यां नाभेस्तथोपरि

Transliteration

pañca piṇḍānanuddhṛtya snānaṃ duṣyanti nityaśaḥ / mṛdaikayā śiraḥ kṣālyaṃ dvābhyāṃ nābhestathopari

Translation

หากอาบน้ำโดยไม่ชำระ “ปิณฑะ” ทั้งห้าก้อนแห่งมลทินก่อน การอาบนั้นย่อมเศร้าหมองทุกครั้ง. ใช้ดินชำระหนึ่งส่วนล้างศีรษะ; ใช้สองส่วนชำระบริเวณเหนือสะดือขึ้นไป।

Word by Word

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Vishesana (Quantifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च (अव्यय/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्ययम् (numeral, indeclinable)

• पिण्डान्: lumps/balls (of clay)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम् (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• अनुद्धृत्य: without taking out/without lifting (them)
• अनुद्धृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/Condition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु-उद्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम् (gerund/absolutive): 'having not taken out/without lifting'

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

• दुष्यन्ति: becomes spoiled/gets defiled
• दुष्यन्ति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• नित्यशः: always
• नित्यशः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यशः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'always')

• मृदा: with clay
• मृदा: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम् (feminine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (instrumental), एकवचनम् (singular)

• एकया: with one (portion)
• एकया: Karana (Instrument-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम् (feminine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (instrumental), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying मृदा)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (accusative), एकवचनम् (singular)

• क्षाल्यम्: should be washed
• क्षाल्यम्: Vidhi (Injunctive predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षाल्य (प्रातिपदिक; √क्षल्-णिच् सेव्य)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (यत्/ण्यत्) भावः: विधेय-विशेषणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अर्थः: 'to be washed/should be washed'

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two (portions)
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम् (feminine), तृतीया-विभक्तिः (instrumental), द्विवचनम् (dual); विशेषणम् (implicit: मृदा)

• नाभेः: of the navel
• नाभेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम् (feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (genitive), एकवचनम् (singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• उपरि: above
• उपरि: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb/preposition: 'above')

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bathing is invalid/defiled if preliminary impurities (‘five lumps’) are not removed; proper cleansing uses measured portions of earth for specific body regions.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline in action (karma) and attention to detail (niyama) as supports for sattva and ritual efficacy.

Application: Before snāna, perform prescribed preliminary cleansing; use appropriate amount of cleansing earth/clay: one measure for head, two for upper body (navel upward), following one’s tradition/prayoga.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.38 (mṛd and purity materials); Garuda Purana 1.50.39 (proper bathing places)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity (śauca) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that bathing is not merely contact with water; it must be preceded by removing specific impurities, otherwise the act of snāna is considered spiritually and ritually ineffective (defiled).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader framework that disciplined ācāra and śauca shape karmic outcomes; correct observance of purification rites is part of dharma that steadies one’s spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat purification as intentional: clean away visible/known impurities before bathing, and follow a consistent, mindful routine that emphasizes cleanliness, discipline, and respect for ritual actions.