Shloka 44

Matsya Purana — Tripura’s Prosperity

Devanagari script

मूत्रं कृत्वोपस्पृशन्ति चाकृत्वा पादधावनम् संविशन्ति च शय्यासु शौचाचारविवर्जिताः //

Transliteration

mūtraṃ kṛtvopaspṛśanti cākṛtvā pādadhāvanam saṃviśanti ca śayyāsu śaucācāravivarjitāḥ //

Translation

Having urinated, they merely rinse with water and, without washing their feet, they lie down on beds—people who are devoid of the proper disciplines of cleanliness and conduct (śauca-ācāra).

Word by Word

• मूत्रं (mūtraṃ): urine/urination

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done

• उपस्पृशन्ति (upaspṛśanti): they touch/rinse with water, perform a brief washing (upasparśa)

• च (ca): and

• अकृत्वा (akṛtvā): without doing

• पादधावनम् (pādadhāvanam): washing of the feet

• संविशन्ति (saṃviśanti): they lie down, recline

• च (ca): and

• शय्यासु (śayyāsu): on beds

• शौच (śauca): purity/cleanliness

• आचार (ācāra): proper conduct/customary discipline

• विवर्जिताः (vivarjitāḥ): deprived of, lacking

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu on dharma/ācāra)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu

Tags

• Dharma
• Śauca
• Ācāra
• Householder Duties
• Ritual Purity

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about Pralaya; it focuses on śauca (ritual cleanliness) and everyday ethical discipline as part of dharma.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It underscores that disciplined cleanliness—washing properly after relieving oneself and washing the feet before resting—is a required standard of conduct; such personal ācāra is presented as foundational for householders and, by extension, rulers who must model dharmic behavior.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it emphasizes śauca: proper washing (not merely token rinsing) and pādadhāvana (washing the feet) before using a bed, reflecting purity norms that protect domestic and sacred spaces from impurity.