Shloka 8

Procedure of Ācamana and Rules of Ritual Purity (Śauca)

Devanagari script

केशानां चात्मनः स्पर्शे वाससः स्खलितस्य च । अनुष्णाभिरकेशाभिरदुष्टाभिश्च धर्मतः

Transliteration

keśānāṃ cātmanaḥ sparśe vāsasaḥ skhalitasya ca | anuṣṇābhirakeśābhiraduṣṭābhiśca dharmataḥ

Translation

إذا لمس المرءُ شعره أو جسده، أو انزلق ثوبه، فليؤدِّ التطهير—وفقاً للدارما—بماءٍ غير ساخن، خالٍ من الشعر، غير ملوَّث.

Word by Word

• केशानाम्: of hair
• केशानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• स्पर्शे: upon touch/contact
• स्पर्शे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वाससः: of a garment/clothing
• वाससः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• स्खलितस्य: that has slipped/fallen out of place
• स्खलितस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्खलित (प्रातिपदिक; √स्खल् ‘to slip’ से क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार वाससः इति षष्ठी-एकवचनस्य विशेषणम्), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अनुष्णाभिः: with cool (waters)
• अनुष्णाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (न उष्णा = not hot/cool)

• अकेशाभिः: with hairless/clean (ones)
• अकेशाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (केशरहित/without hair—i.e., strained/clean, or hairless items)

• अदुष्टाभिः: with undefiled (ones)
• अदुष्टाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (not defiled/untainted)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धर्मतः: according to dharma / as prescribed
• धर्मतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय; अव्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (adverb; ‘according to’)

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent within Svarga-khaṇḍa Adhyāya 52)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: चात्मनः = च + आत्मनः; अदुष्टाभिश्च = अदुष्टाभिः + च; धर्मतः = धर्म + तः

FAQs

What practical rule of śauca (purity) does this verse teach?

It prescribes a simple purification after touching hair/body or when clothing slips, emphasizing clean, uncontaminated (and not hot) water in accordance with dharma.

Why does the verse specify water that is not hot and free from hair?

It highlights ritual suitability: the water used should be physically clean (no hair or impurities) and appropriate in temperature, reflecting careful observance of purity norms.

What is the ethical lesson behind this instruction?

It encourages mindfulness and cleanliness in daily conduct, presenting purity as a disciplined habit aligned with dharma rather than mere formality.