Adhyaya 52

Verse 1

व्यास उवाच । भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च सुप्त्वा च स्नात्वा रथ्योपसर्पणे । ओष्ठावलोमकौ स्पृष्ट्वा वासो विपरिधाय च

Vyāsa said: “After eating, drinking, sleeping, bathing, and when approaching the street (public way), and after touching the lips and the hair of the upper lip (moustache), and after putting on garments…”

Verse 2

रेतोमूत्रपुरीषाणामुत्सर्गेऽनृतभाषणे । ष्ठीवित्वाऽध्ययनारंभे कासश्वासागमे तथा

At the discharge of semen, urine, or feces; when speaking falsehood; after spitting; at the commencement of study; and likewise when cough or breathlessness arises—one should refrain and observe proper conduct.

Verse 3

चत्वरं वा श्मशानं वा समाक्रम्य द्विजोत्तमः । संध्ययोरुभयोस्तद्वदाचांतोऽप्याचमेत्पुनः

O best of the twice-born, if one has stepped upon a crossroads or a cremation ground, then at both sandhyās (dawn and dusk) he should perform ācamana again—even if he has already sipped water.

Verse 4

चंडालम्लेच्छसंभाषे स्त्रीशूद्रोच्छिष्टभाषणे । उच्छिष्टं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा भोज्यं चापि तथाविधम्

If one converses with a Caṇḍāla or a foreigner, or speaks with a woman or a Śūdra while in a state of ritual impurity; or upon seeing a person who is ‘ucchiṣṭa’ (polluted by remnants), and likewise food of that same kind—

Verse 5

आचामेदश्रुपाते वा लोहितस्य तथैव च । भोजने संध्ययोः स्नात्वा पीत्वा मूत्रपुरीषयोः

One should perform ācamana when tears have fallen, and likewise when blood has appeared. After bathing at mealtimes and at the two sandhyās (dawn and dusk), even if one has drunk urine or feces, one should purify oneself according to rule.

Verse 6

आगतो वाचमेत्सुप्त्वा सकृत्सकृदथान्यतः । अग्नेर्गवामथालंभे स्पृष्ट्वा प्रयतमेव वा

Having come there, he should utter the sacred formula; and after sleeping—once or repeatedly—or in other such cases; and at the kindling of fire or the untying of the cows, by merely touching what is prescribed (such as water), he is indeed purified.

Verse 7

स्त्रीणामथात्मनः स्पर्शे नीलद्यं वा परिधाय च । उपस्पर्शेज्जलं वार्तं तृणं वा भूमिमेव च

If a man touches a woman—or if she touches his body—he should first don a blue (or similar) garment, and then, for purification, touch water, or something fresh and green, or grass, or even the earth itself.

Verse 8

केशानां चात्मनः स्पर्शे वाससः स्खलितस्य च । अनुष्णाभिरकेशाभिरदुष्टाभिश्च धर्मतः

When one has touched one’s hair or one’s own body, or when one’s garment has slipped, purification should be performed—according to dharma—using water that is not hot, free from hair, and uncontaminated.

Verse 9

शौचेऽप्सु सर्वदा चामेदासीनः प्रागुदङ्मुखः । शिरः प्रावृत्य कंठं वा मुक्तकेशशिखोऽपि वा

During purification with water, one should always sit on something free from grease, facing east or north; with the head covered or the throat covered, or even with the hair loosened and without a topknot.

Verse 10

अकृत्वा पादयोः शौचं मार्गतो न शुचिर्भवेत् । सोपानत्कोपानस्थो वा नोष्णीषी चाचमेद्बुधः

Without first cleansing one’s feet, a person returning from the road does not become pure. A wise person should perform ācamana while standing with footwear on (or standing upon a step/footstool), and should not do so with the head covered.

Verse 11

न चैव वर्षधाराभिर्न तिष्ठन्नुद्धृतोदकैः । नैकहस्तार्पितजलैर्विना सूत्रेण वा पुनः

Nor should it be performed amid streams of rainfall, nor while standing in water that has been drawn up; nor with water offered by many hands, nor again without the prescribed sacred thread (sūtra).

Verse 12

न पादुकासनस्थो वा बहिर्जानुरथापि वा । न जल्पन्न हसन्प्रेक्षन्शयानस्तल्प एव च

One should not do this while seated on a footstool or low seat, nor with the knees drawn up; nor while talking, laughing, looking about, nor while lying upon the bed.

Verse 13

नाविक्षिताभिः फेनाद्यैरुपेताभिरथापि वा । शूद्राशुचिकरोन्मुक्तैर्नक्षाराभिस्तथैव च

Nor (should one use) that which is mixed with foam and the like, or otherwise; likewise that which is tainted with alkaline impurities released by impure hands, even those of a Śūdra.

Verse 14

न चैवांगुलिभिः शब्दं न कुर्यान्नान्यमानसः । न वर्णरसदुष्टाभिर्न चैव प्रदरोदकैः

Nor should one make noise with the fingers, nor let the mind wander elsewhere. One should not (do so) with things corrupted in color and taste, nor with water that is foul and oozing.

Verse 15

न पाणिक्षुभिताभिर्वा न बहिर्गंध एव वा । हृद्गाभिः पूयते विप्रः कंठ्याभिः क्षत्रियः शुचिः

A brāhmaṇa is not purified by water merely stirred by the hand, nor by fragrance applied outwardly; rather, the brāhmaṇa is purified by purity of the heart, and the kṣatriya becomes clean by truthful, honorable words spoken from the throat.

Verse 16

प्राशिताभिस्तथा वैश्यः स्त्रीशूद्रौ स्पर्शतोंऽततः । अंगुष्ठमूलांतरतो रेखायां ब्राह्ममुच्यते

A Vaiśya is (said to be purified) by what has been eaten—the remnants; a woman and a Śūdra by mere touch; but a Brāhmaṇa is declared (purified) by the line of water that lies between the base of the thumb and (the index finger).

Verse 17

अंतरांगुष्ठदेशिन्यैः पितॄणां तीर्थमुच्यते । कनिष्ठामूलतः पश्चात्प्राजापत्यं प्रचक्षते

The space between the thumb and the index finger is said to be the sacred place of the Pitṛs (ancestors). Behind, at the root of the little finger, they declare the Prājāpatya tīrtha.

Verse 18

अंगुल्यग्रं स्मृतं दैवं तदेवार्षं प्रकीर्तितम् । मूलेन दैवमार्षं स्यादाग्नेयं मध्यतः स्मृतम्

The fingertip is remembered as “divine”; that very point is also proclaimed to be “of the Ṛṣis (sages)”. At the finger-root it becomes “divine-and-sage” together, while the middle portion is remembered as “Agneya”, pertaining to Agni.

Verse 19

तदेव सौमिकं तीर्थमेतज्ज्ञात्वा न मुह्यति । ब्राह्मेणैव तु तीर्थेन द्विजो नित्यमुपस्पृशेत्

This indeed is the Saumika tīrtha; knowing it, one is not deluded. A twice-born should regularly perform ācamana (ritual sipping for purification) using the Brahma-tīrtha alone.

Verse 20

होमयेद्वाथ दैवेन न तु पित्र्येण वै द्विजाः । त्रिःप्राश्नीयादपः पूर्वं ब्राह्मेण प्रयतस्ततः

Then a twice-born should perform the homa (oblation) by the rite meant for the devas, not by the ancestral (pitr̥ya) rite. First he should sip water three times; then, disciplined and pure, proceed with the Brahma-rite.

Verse 21

संमृज्यांगुष्ठमूलेन मुखं वै समुपस्पृशेत् । अंगुष्ठानामिकाभ्यां तु स्पृशेन्नेत्रद्वयं ततः

After wiping, one should touch the mouth with the base of the thumb for purification. Then, with the thumb and ring finger, one should touch both eyes.

Verse 22

तर्जन्यंगुष्ठयोगेन स्पृशेन्नासापुटद्वयम् । कनिष्ठांगुष्ठयोगेन श्रवणे समुस्पृशेत्

With the index finger joined to the thumb, one should touch both nostrils; with the little finger joined to the thumb, one should touch and close the ears.

Verse 23

सर्वासामथयोगेन हृदयं तु तनवा । स्पृशेद्वै शिरसस्तद्वदंगुष्ठेनांसकद्वयम्

Then, by the proper yogic method, one should touch the heart with the hands; likewise one should touch the head, and in the same way touch both shoulders with the thumbs.

Verse 24

त्रिःप्राश्नीयाद्यदंभस्तु प्रीतास्तेनास्य देवताः । ब्रह्माविष्णुर्महेशश्च भवंतीत्यनुशुश्रुम

One should sip that water three times; by this his deities are pleased. Thus have we heard that Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśa become propitious and favorable to him.

Verse 25

गंगा च यमुना चैव प्रीयेते परिमार्जनात् । संस्पृष्टयोर्लोचनयोः प्रीयेते शशिभास्करौ

Gaṅgā and Yamunā are indeed pleased by the act of cleansing. And when the eyes are touched and thus purified, the Moon and the Sun are pleased.

Verse 26

नासत्यदस्रौ प्रीयेते स्पृशेन्नासापुटद्वयम् । कर्णयोः स्पृष्टयोस्तद्वत्प्रीयेते चानिलानलौ

The twin Aśvins—Nāsatya and Dasra—are pleased when one touches both nostrils; likewise, when the ears are touched, Vāyu (Wind) and Agni (Fire) are pleased.

Verse 27

संस्पृष्टे हृदये चास्य प्रीयंते सर्वदेवताः । मूर्ध्नि संस्पर्शनादेकः प्रीतः स पुरुषो भवेत्

When his heart is touched, all the deities are pleased; but by touching the crown of the head, that One Supreme Person alone is pleased.

Verse 28

नोच्छिष्टं कुर्वते वक्त्रे विप्रुषोंगे लगंति याः । दंतवद्दंतलग्नेषु जिह्वास्पर्शे शुचिर्भवेत्

If droplets cling to one’s body, one should not render the mouth ‘impure’ by spitting out remnants. When particles remain stuck between the teeth, by touching them with the tongue one becomes clean.

Verse 29

स्पृशंति बिंदवः पादौ य आचामयतः परान् । भूमिपांशुसमा ज्ञेया न तैरस्पृश्यता भवेत्

If droplets touch the feet of those who are giving others ācamana, those drops should be understood to be like ordinary dust from the ground; by them, no impurity or untouchability is incurred.

Verse 30

मधुपर्के च सोमे च तांबूलस्य च भक्षणे । फलमूले चेक्षुदंडेन दोषं प्राह वै मनुः

Regarding the madhuparka offering, soma, the chewing of tāmbūla (betel), and also fruits and roots—Manu has indeed declared a fault when these are taken together with a sugarcane stalk as an accompaniment.

Verse 31

प्रचरंश्चान्नपानेषु द्रव्यहस्तो भवेन्नरः । भूमौ निक्षिप्य तद्द्रव्यमाचम्याभ्युक्षयेत्तु तत्

While engaged in matters of food and drink, if a man happens to be holding some article in his hand, he should place it on the ground, perform ācamana, and then sprinkle that item with purified water.

Verse 32

तैजसं वै समादाय यद्युच्छिष्टो भवेद्द्विजः । भूमौ निक्षिप्य तद्द्रव्यमाचम्याभ्युक्षयेत्तु तत्

If a twice-born becomes ritually impure through food-remnants, he should take the taijasa vessel, set the item upon the ground, perform ācamana, and then sprinkle it with purifying water.

Verse 33

यद्यद्द्रव्यं समादाय भवेदुच्छेषणान्वितः । अनिधायैव तद्द्रव्यं भूमौ त्वशुचितामियात्

Whatever substance one takes up while tainted by food-remnants—if, without first placing it upon a clean support, it is set down on the ground—becomes impure.

Verse 34

वस्त्रादिषु विकल्पः स्यात्तत्संस्पृश्याचमेदिह । अरण्ये निर्जने रात्रौ चौरव्याघ्राकुले पथि

In matters such as garments and the like, an alternative rule applies here: having merely touched them, one should perform ācamana—especially in a forest, in a lonely place, at night, or on a road troubled by thieves and tigers.

Verse 35

कृत्वा मूत्रं पुरीषं वा द्रव्यहस्तो न दुष्यति । निधाय दक्षिणे कर्णे ब्रह्मसूत्रमुदङ्मुखः

After urinating or evacuating, one who is holding ritual materials is not deemed impure, provided he places the sacred thread upon the right ear and faces north.

Verse 36

अह्नि कुर्याच्छकृन्मूत्रं रात्रौ चेद्दक्षिणामुखः । अंतर्धाय महीं काष्टैः पत्रैर्लोष्टतृणेन वा

In the daytime one should pass stool and urine facing north; but at night, if one faces south, one should afterward cover the earth with pieces of wood, leaves, clods of soil, or grass.

Verse 37

प्रावृत्य च शिरः कुर्याद्विण्मूत्रस्य विसर्जनम् । छायाकूपनदीगोष्ठचैत्यांभः पथि भस्मसु

With one’s head covered, one should void feces and urine—never in shade, near a well or river, in a cowshed, at a shrine, in water, on a roadway, or upon ashes.

Verse 38

अग्नौ चैव श्मशाने च विण्मूत्रं न समाचरेत् । न गोमयेन काष्ठे वा महावृक्षेऽथ शाद्वले

One should not pass stool or urine in fire or in a cremation-ground; nor on cow-dung, on firewood, at the foot of a great tree, or upon grassy ground.

Verse 39

न तिष्ठन्न च निर्वासा न च पर्वतमंडले । न जीर्णदेवायतने वल्मीके न कदाचन

One should not stay in a deserted place, nor in a mountain region; nor should one ever reside in a dilapidated temple, nor in an anthill.

Verse 40

न ससत्वेषु गर्तेषु न गच्छन्न समाचरेत् । तुषांगारकपालेषु राजमार्गे तथैव च

One should not walk or behave carelessly near pits inhabited by living creatures; likewise, one should not do so on heaps of chaff, on beds of live embers, on shards of pottery, or on the king’s highway.

Verse 41

न क्षेत्रे न बिले वापि न तीर्थे न चतुष्पथे । नोद्यानेऽपासमीपे वा नोषरे नगराशये

Neither in a sacred field, nor in a pit, nor at a ford (tīrtha), nor at a crossroads; neither in a garden, nor near water, nor on barren saline ground, nor within a city dwelling—one should not do it in these places.

Verse 42

न सोपानत्पादुको वा छत्री वा नांतरिक्षके । न चैवाभिमुखः स्त्रीणां गुरुब्राह्मणयोर्गवाम्

One should not wear footwear or sandals, nor carry an umbrella, in an elevated place; and one should not stand facing women, nor one’s teacher, Brahmins, or cows, in a manner devoid of due reverence.

Verse 43

न देवदेवालययोरपामपि कदाचन । न ज्योतींषि निरीक्षन्वानवाप्रतिमुखोथ वा

Never, at any time, should one pass between the deity and the temple, nor between waters; nor should one stare fixedly at the heavenly lights, nor turn one’s face away in disrespect.

Verse 44

प्रत्यादित्यं प्रत्यनलं प्रतिसोमं तथैव च । आहृत्य मृत्तिकां कूलाल्लेपगंधापकर्षणीम्

Facing the Sun, facing Fire, and likewise facing the Moon, one should bring clay from the riverbank—clay fit for smearing and that removes foul odors.

Verse 45

कुर्यादतंद्रितः शौचं विशुद्धैरुद्धृतोदकैः । नाहरेन्मृतिकां विप्रः पांशुलां न सकर्दमाम्

One should diligently perform purification with clean water drawn from a pure source. A brāhmaṇa should not take earth for cleansing that is dusty, nor that which is mixed with mud or filth.

Verse 46

न मार्गान्नोषराद्देशाच्छौचशिष्टां परस्य च । न देवायतनात्कूपाद्धाम्नो न च जलात्तथा

One should not take it (for purification) from a public road, nor from barren or uncultivated land, nor from a place deemed improper; nor from what remains after another’s purification; nor from a temple precinct, nor from a well, nor from a residence, nor likewise from water.

Verse 47

उपस्पृशेत्ततो नित्यं पूर्वोक्तेन विधानतः

Thereafter, each day one should perform ācamanā—the purificatory sipping and touching with water—according to the procedure taught earlier.

Verse 52

इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे कर्मयोगकथने । द्विपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the fifty-second chapter, the narration on Karma Yoga, in the Svarga-khaṇḍa of the revered Padma Mahāpurāṇa.