Shloka 21

Āśauca and Udaka-kriyā: Post-Cremation Conduct, Eligibility, and Purifiers

Devanagari script

कालो ऽग्निः कर्ममृद्वायुर्मनो ज्ञानं तपो जपः (लम्) / पश्चात्ताषो निराहारः सर्वेषां शुद्धिहेतवः

Transliteration

kālo 'gniḥ karmamṛdvāyurmano jñānaṃ tapo japaḥ (lam) / paścāttāṣo nirāhāraḥ sarveṣāṃ śuddhihetavaḥ

Translation

Ang panahon, ang apoy (agni), ang gawa (karma), ang lupa (mṛd), ang hangin (vāyu), ang isip, ang kaalaman, ang pag-aayuno sa asetikong diwa (tapas), at ang japa—ang pag-uulit ng banal na tunog na “lam”; at pagkatapos, ang uhaw at ang pag-aayuno—lahat ng ito’y mga sanhi ng pagdalisay sa lahat ng nilalang.

Word by Word

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कर्म: ritual action
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मृत्: clay/earth
• मृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘मृद्’ = earth/clay

• वायुः: wind/air
• वायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• जपः: recitation (japa)
• जपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• लम्: (seed syllable) lam
• लम्: Sambandha (Mantra element/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: लम् (अव्यय/बीजाक्षर)
• Form: बीजाक्षर-रूपेण अव्यय (mantric syllable)

• पश्चात्तापः: repentance
• पश्चात्तापः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चात्ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• निराहारः: fasting
• निराहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर् + आहार (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्गयुक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘निराहार’ = उपवासः (fasting)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• शुद्धिहेतवः: are causes of purification
• शुद्धिहेतवः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘शुद्धिहेतु’ = शुद्धेः हेतु (causes of purification)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multiple śuddhi-hetus: kāla, agni, karma, mṛd, vāyu, manas, jñāna, tapas, japa (with ‘lam’), and also thirst/fasting as purifiers.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of mind) as prerequisite for knowledge; jñāna and japa as superior purifiers compared to merely external means.

Application: Use context-appropriate purification: bathing/earth/wind exposure, fire rites, disciplined action, mental restraint, study, tapas, mantra-japa, and regulated fasting when suitable.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.106 (śuddhi means)

FAQs

What is the importance of purification (śuddhi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists multiple śuddhi-hetavaḥ—time, fire, disciplined action, elements, mind-control, knowledge, austerity, and japa—showing that purity is attained through both inner transformation and outer disciplines.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing jñāna, tapaḥ, and japa alongside elemental and bodily disciplines like fasting, it points to purification as a prerequisite for the soul’s upliftment and freedom from binding impurities.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt regular japa, ethical action (karma), mindful self-restraint, and occasional fasting or austerity—paired with learning (jñāna)—as a structured approach to mental and spiritual purification.