Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

न च स्नानं विना पुंसां प्राशस्त्यं कर्म संस्मृतम् / होमे जप्ये विशेषेण तस्मात्स्नानं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

na ca snānaṃ vinā puṃsāṃ prāśastyaṃ karma saṃsmṛtam / home japye viśeṣeṇa tasmātsnānaṃ samācaret

Translation

หากไม่อาบน้ำ กรรมอันเป็นมงคลของมนุษย์ย่อมไม่ถือว่าน่าสรรเสริญ; โดยเฉพาะในโฮมะและการสวดมนต์ (ชปะ). เพราะฉะนั้นควรอาบน้ำตามพิธี।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-अव्यय (preposition-like), तृतीया/पञ्चमी-अर्थे; here: 'without' governing accusative/ablative sense

• पुंसाम्: of men / for people
• पुंसाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्राशस्त्यम्: praiseworthiness / propriety
• प्राशस्त्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राशस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्म: act, rite
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संस्मृतम्: is stated/remembered (as)
• संस्मृतम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √स्मृ (धातु), क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively: 'is declared/remembered'

• होमे: in (the act of) homa
• होमे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• जप्ये: in japa (muttering)
• जप्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; 'japa' as a rite (that which is to be muttered)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे—'especially'

• तस्मात्: therefore / from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: one should perform/practice
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (bathing) is a necessary precondition for prāśastya (commendability) of rites, especially homa and japa.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with purity and right preparation supports sattva and steadiness of mind; outer order scaffolds inner recollection.

Application: Before mantra practice, meditation, pūjā, or any solemn vow, perform bathing/cleansing and simple ācamana to align body and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: household shrine/agnikunda setting (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.6 (snāna removes pāpa); Garuda Purana 1.50.8 (alternatives when unable); Garuda Purana 1.50.9-10 (types of snāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse states that bathing is a prerequisite for rites to be considered truly auspicious, serving as the basic purifier before religious acts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By emphasizing purity before homa and japa, it highlights dharmic discipline that supports spiritual merit (puṇya), which the Garuda Purana connects to one’s post-death condition and journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before prayer, mantra japa, or any sacred observance, maintain cleanliness—bathe when possible and approach practice with physical and mental purity.