Shloka 18

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

अत्र स्नानं यः करोति स याति परमां गतिम् / स्नानं चकार सा कन्या जले परमपावने

Transliteration

atra snānaṃ yaḥ karoti sa yāti paramāṃ gatim / snānaṃ cakāra sā kanyā jale paramapāvane

Translation

ผู้ใดอาบน้ำชำระที่นี่ ย่อมบรรลุคติอันสูงสุด แม้กุมารีนั้นก็ได้อาบในสายน้ำอันบริสุทธิ์ยิ่ง

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (sg)

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संबन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (sg)

• करोति: does
• करोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (sg)

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg)

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (sg); qualifies ‘गतिम्’

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (sg)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (sg)

• चकार: did/performed
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (sg)

• कन्या: the girl
• कन्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (sg)

• जले: in the water
• जले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), सप्तमी (Loc.7), एकवचन (sg)

• परमपावने: in the supremely purifying (water)
• परमपावने: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), सप्तमी (Loc.7), एकवचन (sg); कर्मधारय: ‘परमं पावनम्’ qualifying ‘जले’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tīrtha-snāna as a purifier that supports attainment of the highest goal when done with śraddhā and right intention.

Vedantic Theme: Śuddhi (purification) as an aid to higher realization; karma-yoga/bhakti-yoga supported by external purity leading toward inner clarity.

Application: Undertake ritual bathing or symbolic purification (cleanliness, mindful ablutions) with prayerful intention; pair outer acts with inner resolve to abandon harmful habits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha bathing spot (snāna-ghaṭa implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.27.16-17 (identification of the stream and its sanctity); Garuda Purana 3.27.19 (mantra-japa and dāna disciplines)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse states that bathing at the sacred spot grants ‘paramā gati’—the highest spiritual destination—showing tirtha-snāna as a direct purifier and merit-producing rite.

How does this verse relate to liberation (paramā gati) rather than only ritual cleanliness?

By linking the act of bathing to attaining the supreme goal, the verse frames snāna as a dharmic practice that refines karma and supports the soul’s upward movement, not merely external purity.

Practical application of this teaching today?

Approach sacred-river/temple bathing as a mindful vow—combine physical cleansing with repentance, prayer, and ethical resolve—so the ritual becomes an inner purification aligned with dharma.