Shloka 37

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

लाला मूत्रं तथा शुक्रं मज्जार रक्तञ्च पञ्चमम् / आपः पञ्चगुणाः प्रोक्ता ज्ञातव्यास्ते प्रयत्नतः

Transliteration

lālā mūtraṃ tathā śukraṃ majjāra raktañca pañcamam / āpaḥ pañcaguṇāḥ proktā jñātavyāste prayatnataḥ

Translation

لعاب، پیشاب، منی، مغزِ ہڈی، اور پانچواں خون—یہ ‘آپَہ’ یعنی جسمانی پانیوں کے پانچ گُن کہے گئے ہیں؛ انہیں کوشش کے ساتھ سمجھنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• लाला: saliva
• लाला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मूत्रम्: urine
• मूत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकार (also/likewise)

• शुक्रम्: semen
• शुक्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मज्जा: marrow
• मज्जा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रक्तम्: blood
• रक्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (the fifth)

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आप्/आपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पञ्च-गुणाः: having five qualities
• पञ्च-गुणाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः द्विगुः (पञ्च गुणाः यस्याः/येषां ते)

• प्रोक्ताः: are stated
• प्रोक्ताः: Karma (Patient/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (भूतकर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ज्ञातव्याः: should be known
• ज्ञातव्याः: Karma (Patient/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—तव्यत् (कर्तव्य/भाव्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘to be known’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रयत्नतः: carefully/with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: Avyaya (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियाविशेषण (ablatival adverb: with effort)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Elemental ‘water’ manifests as bodily fluids; careful understanding supports realism about the body and loosens attachment.

Vedantic Theme: Ashubha-bhavana (contemplation of the body’s impure constituents) as an aid to vairagya; anatma-viveka.

Application: Use sober reflection on bodily composition to counter vanity and craving; cultivate cleanliness and health without obsession.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: physiological interior

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32 (water qualities/manifestations in the body)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'five bodily waters' (pañcaguṇā āpaḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse classifies key bodily fluids—saliva, urine, semen, marrow, and blood—as a fivefold set of ‘waters,’ a framework used to discuss purity/impurity and bodily constitution in ritual and post-death contexts.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

In the Preta Kanda, such classifications support rules of cleanliness and handling of the body and remnants; understanding what counts as bodily ‘waters’ informs ritual caution during antyeṣṭi and śrāddha-related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the body and its fluids with mindful hygiene and respect, and when performing traditional rites (antyeṣṭi/śrāddha), follow cleanliness disciplines that prevent ritual and practical contamination.