Shloka 19

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

स्नानां कुर्यात्ततो वस्त्रं दद्यादाचमनं ततः / गन्धपुष्पं तथा धूपं दीपं दद्याच्चरुं ततः

Transliteration

snānāṃ kuryāttato vastraṃ dadyādācamanaṃ tataḥ / gandhapuṣpaṃ tathā dhūpaṃ dīpaṃ dadyāccaruṃ tataḥ

Translation

پہلے شرعی/وِدھی کے مطابق غسل (سنّان) کرے، پھر کپڑا نذر کرے اور اس کے بعد آچمن کے لیے پانی دے۔ پھر خوشبو اور پھول، دھوپ اور دیپک پیش کرے؛ اور آخر میں چرو (پکا ہوا ہوی) ارپن کرے۔

Word by Word

• snānam: bath
• snānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kuryāt: should do/perform
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• tataḥ: then/after that
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Context/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time/sequence

• vastram: garment/cloth
• vastram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dadyāt: should give/offer
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• ācamanam: water for sipping
• ācamanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Context/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• gandhapuṣpam: sandal paste and flowers
• gandhapuṣpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandhapuṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (Samahara Dvandva)

• tathā: similarly/and
• tathā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• dhūpam: incense
• dhūpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dīpam: lamp/light
• dīpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dadyāt: should offer
• dadyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin (Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• carum: oblation (boiled rice/barley)
• carum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (Context/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhakti expressed through ordered upacaras—purification and offering of the best of one’s means to the deity.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upasana as a support for antahkarana-shuddhi (inner purification) leading toward Brahma-jijnasa.

Application: Maintain a consistent puja order: bathe/cleanse, offer cloth/water, then fragrance/flowers/incense/lamp, and conclude with naivedya/caru as available.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space/altar (puja-sthana)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.20-23 (continuation: pradakshina, japa, angapuja, mula-mantra)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering bath, cloth, ācamana, and devotional items in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes a sequential ritual order: purification (snāna, ācamana) followed by respectful offerings (cloth, fragrance, flowers, incense, lamp) culminating in a food-oblation (caru), indicating completeness and reverence in rite-performance.

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual conduct associated with post-death and dharmic observances; such rites are presented in the Garuda Purana as supportive duties of the living that align with dharma during transitional after-death contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a clear order in sacred observances: begin with cleanliness and inner/outer purification, then make offerings with sincerity and simplicity (light, incense, flowers), and conclude with a food offering or charity according to one’s tradition.