Shloka 112

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

जप्तुकामः पवित्राणि अर्चिष्यन्देवतातिथीन् / स्नानं समाचरेद्यस्तु क्रियाङ्गं तच्च कीर्तितम्

Transliteration

japtukāmaḥ pavitrāṇi arciṣyandevatātithīn / snānaṃ samācaredyastu kriyāṅgaṃ tacca kīrtitam

Translation

جو جپ کرنا، پاکیزہ اشیا استعمال کرنا، دیوتاؤں کی ارچنا اور مہمانوں کی تعظیم کرنا چاہے، اسے پہلے اسنان کرنا چاہیے؛ یہی اسنان کرِیا کا لازمی اَنگ کہا گیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• जप्तुकामः: desirous of reciting (japa)
• जप्तुकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“जप्तुं कामः” (desirous of reciting)

• पवित्राणि: purifying (items/acts)
• पवित्राणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अर्चिष्यन्: worshipping
• अर्चिष्यन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी—“worshipping”

• देवता: deities
• देवता: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद/पूर्वपद)

• अतिथीन्: guests
• अतिथीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• क्रियाङ्गम्: a component of the rite
• क्रियाङ्गम्: Pradhana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“क्रियायाः अङ्गम्” (a limb/part of ritual)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Pradhana/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• कीर्तितम्: is declared
• कीर्तितम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि—“has been declared”

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca (purity) as an aṅga (essential limb) of ritual action; inner intention is supported by outer purification.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: purity of instruments (body-mind) supports sattva and steadiness for japa and worship.

Application: Before daily japa/puja and before honoring guests, bathe (or perform prescribed purification) as a deliberate preparatory step.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.113-116 (snana purpose, places, fruits, alternatives)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Atithi (Guest)

FAQs

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

This verse states that bathing is a kriyāṅga—an indispensable component of religious acts—especially before japa, worship, and hosting guests.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on dharma?

It frames purity as practical dharma: bodily cleansing (snāna) supports correct performance of sacred duties like mantra-recitation, deity-worship, and atithi-satkara (honoring guests).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before prayer, mantra practice, or a formal puja, maintain cleanliness (at least a bath or thorough washing) and approach worship and guests with a purified, respectful mindset.