Shloka 13

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

आत्मतीर्थमिति ख्यातं सेवितं ब्रह्मवादिभिः / क्षीरवृक्षसमुद्भूतं मालतीसम्भवं शुभम्

Transliteration

ātmatīrthamiti khyātaṃ sevitaṃ brahmavādibhiḥ / kṣīravṛkṣasamudbhūtaṃ mālatīsambhavaṃ śubham

Translation

یہ ‘آتما تیرتھ’ کے نام سے مشہور ہے اور برہماوادین (برہمن کے شارحین) اسے اختیار کرتے ہیں۔ یہ ‘کشیروَृکش’ سے پیدا ہوا، ‘مالتی’ سے جنما، اور اپنی فطرت میں مبارک ہے۔

Word by Word

• आत्मतीर्थम्: the ‘self’ as a sacred ford (ātma-tīrtha)
• आत्मतीर्थम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आत्मनः तीर्थम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• इति: thus/as
• इति: Quotation marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातम्: is known/called
• ख्यातम्: Predicate participle (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) → ख्यात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘known/called’

• सेवितम्: is resorted to
• सेवितम्: Predicate participle (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेवित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘served/visited’

• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: by the expounders of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवादिभिः: Kartr-karana (Agent in passive/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः वादिनः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• क्षीरवृक्षसमुद्भूतम्: arisen from the milk-tree
• क्षीरवृक्षसमुद्भूतम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीरवृक्ष + समुद्भूत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षीरवृक्षात् समुद्भूतम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मालतीसम्भवम्: born of mālatī (jasmine)
• मालतीसम्भवम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालती + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मालत्याः सम्भवम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The highest tīrtha is the Self—approached by Brahmavādins; purity is rooted in inner realization rather than mere external travel.

Vedantic Theme: Ātman as the ultimate refuge and purifier; inner sacred geography superseding outer rites when knowledge dawns.

Application: Treat daily contemplation/self-inquiry as ‘inner pilgrimage’; cultivate sāttvika surroundings (fragrance, cleanliness) to support steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: symbolic inner pilgrimage-site; also garden/forest imagery (milky tree, mālatī)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.12 (mānasa snāna = ātma-vedana)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmavadins

FAQs

What is the importance of Ātma-tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Ātma-tīrtha as a highly auspicious sacred locus, esteemed enough to be frequented by Brahman-realization teachers, implying strong purificatory and contemplative value.

How does this verse connect pilgrimage with inner spiritual practice?

By naming the place ‘Ātma-tīrtha’ (a ‘tīrtha of the Self’) and associating it with Brahmavādins, the verse frames tīrtha-sevana as supportive of Self-knowledge and Brahman-oriented contemplation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred places (or any ritual act) with the intention of inner purification and self-inquiry—seeking the ‘tīrtha’ within, not merely external merit.