Shloka 4
Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra
Devanagari script
शौचमावश्यकं कृत्वा देवतानां च तर्पणम् । धर्ममाहुर्मनुष्याणामुपस्मृश्य नदीं तरेत्
Translation
Having performed the daily purification that is required and done ācamana, one should bathe in a river; and after the sandhyā worship according to one’s station, one should offer tarpaṇa—libations of water—to the gods and other worthy recipients. The learned declare this to be the dharma for all humankind.
Word by Word
शौचम्purification, cleanliness
शौचम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशौच
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आवश्यकम्necessary, obligatory
आवश्यकम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootआवश्यक
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कृत्वाhaving done
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral), Non-finite
देवतानाम्of the deities
देवतानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootदेवता
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
तर्पणम्libation/oblation (act of satisfying)
तर्पणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतर्पण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
धर्मम्duty, righteousness
धर्मम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आहुःthey say, they call
आहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootअह्
FormLat (present), Parasmaipada, Third, Plural
मनुष्याणाम्of humans
मनुष्याणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootमनुष्य
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
उपस्मृश्यhaving remembered, calling to mind
उपस्मृश्य:
TypeVerb
Rootउपस्मृ
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral), Non-finite
नदीम्a river
नदीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनदी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
तरेत्should cross
तरेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootतॄ
FormVidhi-lin (optative), Parasmaipada, Third, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes