Shloka 5

Rules of Purity (Shauca) — Rules of Purity (Śauca), Permissible Foods, and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायो ऽथाग्निशुश्रुषा स्नानं भिक्षाटनं तथा गुरोर्निंवेद्य तच्चाद्यमनुज्ञातेन सर्वदा

Transliteration

svādhyāyo 'thāgniśuśruṣā snānaṃ bhikṣāṭanaṃ tathā gurorniṃvedya taccādyamanujñātena sarvadā

Translation

„Selbststudium (svādhyāya), Dienst am heiligen Feuer (agni), rituelles Bad und das Erbitten von Almosenspeise — nachdem er es dem Guru gemeldet hat, soll er jene Speise stets nur dann essen, wenn sie vom Lehrer erlaubt wurde.“

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study (Vedic recitation)
• स्वाध्यायः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ-बोधक (particle: then/now)

• अग्नि-शुश्रूषा: service to the sacred fire
• अग्नि-शुश्रूषा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अग्नेः शुश्रूषा)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिक्षाटनम्: going for alms
• भिक्षाटनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षाटन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकार-बोधक (also/likewise)

• गुरोः: of/to the teacher
• गुरोः: Sampradana/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निवेद्य: having informed / having offered
• निवेद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive): ‘having informed/offered’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (here: ‘that’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• आद्यम्: first (portion)
• आद्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनुज्ञातेन: with what is permitted / by permission
• अनुज्ञातेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुज्ञात (अनु-ज्ञा धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (permitted/approved)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speakers

• Ṛṣis (sages) continuing instruction (narrative frame not explicit in the given excerpt)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Brahmacarya
• Vedic study (svādhyāya)
• Ritual discipline (agni)
• Begging for alms (bhikṣā)
• Guru authority

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Learning is paired with purification and restraint: the student sustains himself through alms (minimizing possessiveness) and remains accountable to the guru, cultivating obedience and non-indulgence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

As with many Purāṇas, this is an instructional dharma segment embedded within the larger narrative; it functions as normative guidance rather than a direct lakṣaṇa unit.

What is the symbolic significance?

Agni-service and bathing signify inner and outer purification; bhikṣā represents humility and dependence on dharma rather than personal wealth; eating only with permission reinforces mastery over appetite and ego.