Shloka 113

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

Devanagari script

मलापकर्षणार्थाय प्रवृत्तिस्तत्र नान्यथा / सरः सुदेवखातेषु तीर्थेषु च नदीषु च

Transliteration

malāpakarṣaṇārthāya pravṛttistatra nānyathā / saraḥ sudevakhāteṣu tīrtheṣu ca nadīṣu ca

Translation

اس غسل کی روش صرف میل و ناپاکی دور کرنے کے لیے ہے، اس کے سوا کوئی مقصد نہیں؛ یہ تالابوں، دیوتاؤں کے کھدوائے ہوئے کہے جانے والے کنڈوں، تیرتھوں اور ندیوں میں کیا جائے۔

Word by Word

• मलापकर्षणार्थाय: for the purpose of removing impurities
• मलापकर्षणार्थाय: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक) + अपकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—(मल-अपकर्षण)-अर्थ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तस्य चतुर्थी “for the purpose of removing impurity”

• प्रवृत्तिः: the activity/engagement
• प्रवृत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: there/in that (context)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध निपात (negation particle)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• सरः: a lake/pond
• सरः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वैकल्पिक-रूपेण पुंवत् प्रथमा ‘सरः’)

• सुदेवखातेषु: in well-dug (sacred) tanks
• सुदेवखातेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + खात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—सुदेव-खात (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे: “well-dug/dug by good people/devas”)

• तीर्थेषु: in holy places
• तीर्थेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

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

• नदीषु: in rivers
• नदीषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual bathing is teleological: its dharmic purpose is mala-apakarṣaṇa (removal of impurity), not display or indulgence.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi as a support for higher pursuits; clarity about purpose reduces rāga-dveṣa in ritual action.

Application: Choose appropriate clean water sources for snana; when at a tīrtha, bathe with the intention of purification rather than recreation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: waterbody / pilgrimage bathing place

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.112 (snana as kriyāṅga); Garuda Purana 1.213.114 (tīrtha-snana fruit); Garuda Purana 1.213.116 (alternatives when no tīrtha)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Tirthas
• Rivers

FAQs

What is the importance of tīrtha-bathing (tīrtha-snān) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states its core purpose is śauca—removing mala (ritual impurity). The act is framed as a dharmic cleansing practice, not a display, vow, or unrelated pursuit.

How does this verse connect purification to Garuda Purana rites like śrāddha?

By defining bathing as mala-apakarṣaṇa (removal of impurity), it supports the wider Garuda Purana emphasis that rites for ancestors and the departed are to be performed with ritual purity, typically established through proper cleansing at rivers or tīrthas.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach religious bathing and pilgrimage with the intention of inner and outer cleanliness—simplicity, restraint, and readiness for dharmic duties—rather than treating it as mere tourism or status.