Shloka 44

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

शूर्पवातो नखाग्राम्बु स्नानवस्त्रमृजोदकम् / केशाम्बु मार्जनीरेणुर्हन्ति पुण्यं पुरा कृतम्

Transliteration

śūrpavāto nakhāgrāmbu snānavastramṛjodakam / keśāmbu mārjanīreṇurhanti puṇyaṃ purā kṛtam

Translation

扬簸所起之尘、指甲尖端之水、洗浴衣物之水、净除身垢之水、洗发之水，以及扫地之尘——皆能毁坏先前所积之福德（puṇya）。

Word by Word

• शूर्पवातः: wind from/caused by a winnowing-fan
• शूर्पवातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शूर्पस्य वातः)

• नखाग्राम्बु: water from the tips of the nails
• नखाग्राम्बु: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नखाग्रस्य अम्बु)

• स्नानवस्त्रमृजोदकम्: bath-cloth and the water used for wiping/cleansing
• स्नानवस्त्रमृजोदकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मृज् (धातु) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—(स्नानस्य वस्त्रम्) + (मृज्-सम्बद्धम् उदकम्) इति तत्पुरुष-समाहारः

• केशाम्बु: water from the hair
• केशाम्बु: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (केशानाम् अम्बु)

• मार्जनीरेणुः: dust from sweeping/brush
• मार्जनीरेणुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जनी (प्रातिपदिक) + रेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मार्जन्याः रेणुः)

• हन्ति: destroy
• हन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• कृतम्: done, accumulated
• कृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘पुण्यम्’ इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aśauca-like impurities and careless handling of waste-water/dust can erode previously accrued merit; purity is a protector of dharmic fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala is subtle and can be diminished by pramāda (negligence); discipline (niyama/śauca) safeguards sattva.

Application: Treat nail-water, laundry-rinse, hair-wash water, sweeping dust, and winnowing dust as impure; dispose away from sacred areas, avoid sprinkling/stepping over, maintain cleanliness around worship and meals.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: household/ashrama space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114 (Sadācāra/śauca section, surrounding verses on conduct and purity)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that careless handling of impure remnants from grooming and cleaning is spiritually consequential, as it can negate previously accumulated merit (puṇya).

How does this verse relate to karma and consequences in the Garuda Purana?

It links everyday actions to karmic outcomes: even routine activities like washing nails, hair, or cleaning the house carry dharmic weight when done improperly, leading to loss of merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain mindful cleanliness and respectful disposal of wash-water and cleaning waste; treat daily hygiene as a disciplined practice aligned with dharma rather than a careless habit.