Vamana Purana — Dietary Rules & Purification, Shloka 2

Dietary Rules, Purification (Śauca), and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

भोज्यमन्नं पर्युषितं स्नेहाक्तां चिरसंभृतम् अस्नेहा व्रीहयः श्लक्ष्णा विकाराः पयसस्तथा

Transliteration

bhojyamannaṃ paryuṣitaṃ snehāktāṃ cirasaṃbhṛtam asnehā vrīhayaḥ ślakṣṇā vikārāḥ payasastathā

Translation

Food that has become stale, and (food) smeared with fat and kept for a long time; rice grains that are without oil (i.e., plain/unsmeared) and fine; and likewise preparations made from milk—(these are) stated in the context of what is fit to be eaten.

Word by Word

• भोज्यम्: fit to be eaten
• भोज्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् अन्नम्

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पर्युषितम्: stale / kept overnight
• पर्युषितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-उष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् अन्नम् (stale/kept overnight)

• स्नेहाक्ताम्: smeared with ghee/oil
• स्नेहाक्ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नेह-आक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त (smeared with fat); (अन्नम् इति नपुंसकं स्यात्—पाठभेद/लिङ्गसाम्य-व्यत्ययः सम्भवः)

• चिरसंभृतम्: kept for a long time
• चिरसंभृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिर-सम्-भृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त; विशेषणम् अन्नम् (stored for long)

• अस्नेहाः: without oiliness
• अस्नेहाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् व्रीहयः (without unctuousness)

• व्रीहयः: rice grains
• व्रीहयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रीहि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• श्लक्ष्णाः: smooth / fine
• श्लक्ष्णाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् व्रीहयः

• विकाराः: preparations / products
• विकाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पयसः: of milk
• पयसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• तथा: also / likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

Speakers

• Ṛṣis (continuing the instructional discourse begun in 15.1)

Key Themes

• Āhāra-niyama
• Śauca (purity) through food
• Everyday dharma observance

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The teaching locates dharma in ordinary consumption: freshness, simplicity, and non-excess are treated as supports for bodily clarity and mental steadiness. By regulating food, one regulates impulses and maintains readiness for ritual, study, and restraint.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa?

This is ācāra/dharma material rather than sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara. It exemplifies how Purāṇas incorporate prescriptive guidance alongside cosmology and genealogy.

What is the symbolic significance?

Stale and over-kept rich foods can symbolize ‘carried-over’ impressions (saṃskāras) and indulgence; plain, well-prepared staples and milk derivatives symbolize sāttvika nourishment—supporting clarity (prasāda) and ritual fitness.