Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

स्नात्वा पीत्वा क्षुते सुप्ते भुक्त्वा रथ्याप्रसर्पणे / आचान्तः पुनराचामेद्वासो ऽन्यत्परिधाय च

Transliteration

snātvā pītvā kṣute supte bhuktvā rathyāprasarpaṇe / ācāntaḥ punarācāmedvāso 'nyatparidhāya ca

Translation

بعد الاغتسال، وبعد الشرب، وبعد العطاس، وبعد النوم، وبعد الأكل، وبعد التجوّل في الطرق العامة—حتى من كان قد أتى بالآتشامانا من قبل، فليؤدِّ الآتشامانا مرة أخرى، وليلبس ثوبًا جديدًا طاهرًا.

Word by Word

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्ययवत्; ‘having bathed’

• pītvā: having drunk
• pītvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्ययवत; ‘having drunk’

• kṣute: when (one) sneezes
• kṣute: Kāla/Avadhāraṇa (Circumstantial/काल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣu (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद/परस्मैपद-प्रयोगभेद (here: impersonal/locative absolute sense)

• supte: when asleep
• supte: Kāla/Avadhāraṇa (Circumstantial/काल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √svap (धातु) → supta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘when asleep’

• bhuktvā: having eaten
• bhuktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्ययवत; ‘having eaten’

• rathyāprasarpaṇe: in moving about on the street
• rathyāprasarpaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rathyā (प्रातिपदिक) + prasarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (determinative: ‘in crawling/going on the street’)

• ācāntaḥ: having performed sipping (ācāmana)
• ācāntaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √cam (धातु) → ācānta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having sipped (water)’

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ācāmet: should sip (water)
• ācāmet: Kriyā (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √cam (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; विधि (should)

• vāsaḥ: garment; clothing
• vāsaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• anyat: another; different
• anyat: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vāsaḥ)

• paridhāya: having put on (worn)
• paridhāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + √dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्ययवत; ‘having put on’

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purity is dynamic; certain actions and social movement require repeated ritual re-alignment (ācāmana) and external cleanliness (fresh garments).

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-śuddhi as a support for higher pursuits: outer discipline steadies inner clarity (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).

Application: Perform ācāmana again after bathing/drinking/sneezing/sleeping/eating/going into public areas; change into clean clothes before worship, study, or rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: public thoroughfare

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.97.10 (exceptions: touch right ear instead of ācāmana in five cases)

FAQs

What is the importance of ācamana in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats ācamana as a repeatable act of ritual purification, to be done again after common activities that disturb bodily/ritual cleanliness, ensuring fitness for worship and dharmic conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it establishes the discipline of śauca (purity) and correct ācāra, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly links with dharma and karmic refinement—supporting a favorable post-death trajectory rather than ritual negligence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain mindful cleanliness before prayer, japa, or temple duties: after eating, sleep, sneezing, or returning from public places, re-center with a brief purification (ācamana) and clean clothing when feasible.