Shloka 143

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

Devanagari script

स्नाने चरितमित्येतत्समुद्दिष्टं महात्मभिः / ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशां चैव मन्त्रवत्स्नानमिष्यते

Transliteration

snāne caritamityetatsamuddiṣṭaṃ mahātmabhiḥ / brahmakṣatraviśāṃ caiva mantravatsnānamiṣyate

Translation

如是，诸大圣者已宣说沐浴时应守之正行。对婆罗门、刹帝利与吠舍而言，当以圣咒相伴而浴，乃所当行。

Word by Word

• स्नाने: in bathing/at the bath
• स्नाने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• चरितम्: the procedure/practice
• चरितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; चर् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participial noun)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• समुद्दिष्टम्: has been prescribed/indicated
• समुद्दिष्टम्: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उद् + दिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थक (described/indicated)

• महात्मभिः: by great souls/sages
• महात्मभिः: Kartr-karana (Agent-instrument/कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

• ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशाम्: of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas
• ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विश्/विश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-विशः)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात

• मन्त्रवत्स्नानम्: mantra-accompanied bathing
• मन्त्रवत्स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रवत् (अव्यय/विशेषण) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मन्त्रवत् स्नानम्)

• इष्यते: is approved/is held to be
• इष्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः ‘is considered/approved’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Snāna is not merely hygienic but a prescribed conduct (ācāra) taught by mahātmas; mantra-yukta snāna is enjoined for the twice-born varṇas.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: performing prescribed acts with sanctifying awareness; purity as support for sattva and contemplation.

Application: For eligible practitioners, accompany bathing with appropriate mantras (e.g., Gāyatrī, Aghamarṣaṇa, ācamana mantras) and maintain correct bathing conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213 (snāna-ācāra sequence and varṇa-specific rules)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas
• Kshatriyas
• Vaishyas
• Mahātmas (sages)

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-bathing (mantravat snānam) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that for the three varṇas—Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, and Vaiśya—bathing is ideally performed with mantra-recitation, making it a dharmic act of purification rather than a merely physical wash.

How does this verse fit the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue style of the Garuda Purana?

It reads as an instructional rule within Vishnu’s guidance to Garuda, where ritual disciplines (like snāna and mantra) are presented as authoritative teachings of the mahātmas (sages).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat daily bathing as a mindful purification practice—recite a short, appropriate mantra or prayer with cleanliness and restraint, aligning personal hygiene with ethical and spiritual discipline.