Shloka 1

Purification of Substances (Dravya-Śuddhi) and Rules of Ācamana

Devanagari script

नाम षण्णवतितमो ऽध्यायः याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच / द्रव्यशुद्धिंप्रवक्ष्यामि तन्निबोधत सत्तमाः / सौवर्णराजताब्जानां शङ्खरज्ज्वादिचर्मणाम्

Transliteration

nāma ṣaṇṇavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ yājñavalkya uvāca / dravyaśuddhiṃpravakṣyāmi tannibodhata sattamāḥ / sauvarṇarājatābjānāṃ śaṅkharajjvādicarmaṇām

Translation

此名为第九十七章。雅若那伐迦（Yājñavalkya）曰：“我将宣说诸物之净化；诸贤最上者，当专心谛听——金银器皿之净化，以及海螺（śaṅkha）、绳索与皮革等物之净化。”

Word by Word

• नाम: named; called
• नाम: Nipāta (Discourse marker/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात; ‘namely/called’)

• षण्णवतितमः: ninety-sixth
• षण्णवतितमः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षण्णवति + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष (ordinal: ‘of ninety-six’ + तम)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta/Viṣaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• याज्ञवल्क्यः: Yājñavalkya
• याज्ञवल्क्यः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञवल्क्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी

• द्रव्य: substance; material
• द्रव्य: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (stem used in compound)

• शुद्धिम्: purification
• शुद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्रव्यस्य शुद्धिः)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (pronoun)

• निबोधत: understand; take note
• निबोधत: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदी; उपसर्ग: नि-

• सत्तमाः: O best ones
• सत्तमाः: Sambodhana-prayojya (Addressee/सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; गुणवाचक-तत्पुरुष/उपपद (श्रेष्ठतमाः)

• सौवर्ण: of gold
• सौवर्ण: Samāsa-aṅga (Qualifier in compound/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (stem used in compound; ‘golden/of gold’)

• राजत: silver
• राजत: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (stem used in compound)

• अब्जानाम्: of golden and silver vessels (and lotus-born items)
• अब्जानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (सौवर्ण + राजत + अब्ज)

• शङ्ख: conch
• शङ्ख: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (stem used in compound)

• रज्जु: rope
• रज्जु: Samāsa-aṅga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रज्जु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (stem used in compound)

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Samāsa-aṅga (Etc.-marker/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शङ्ख-रज्जु-आदि = etc.)

• चर्मणाम्: of skins/leathers
• चर्मणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शङ्ख-रज्जु-आदि-चर्मणाम् = of skins/leathers of such items)

Speaker

Yājñavalkya

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dravya-śuddhi: substances and ritual implements (gold, silver vessels; conch; rope; leather, etc.) require prescribed purification to be fit for sacred use.

Vedantic Theme: Outer purity as support for inner discipline; śuddhi as enabling condition for sattvic karma and focused worship.

Application: Before rites, purify utensils and materials according to śāstric procedure; maintain cleanliness standards for objects used in worship and śrāddha.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.97 (subsequent verses on specific purification methods)

Characters & Entities

• Yājñavalkya

FAQs

What is the importance of dravya-śuddhi (purification of materials) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces the topic that ritual substances and implements must be purified, indicating that correct observance of dharma includes maintaining purity of the items used in rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it sets up procedural dharma (purity rules) that supports proper performance of rites, which the Garuda Purana connects with merit (puṇya) and auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing pūjā or śrāddha-related rites, keep utensils and ritual items clean and appropriately purified according to one’s tradition, emphasizing care, cleanliness, and disciplined practice.