Shloka 100

आचारप्रशंसा

Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity

Devanagari script

आचम्य चैकहस्तेन परिप्लाव्यं तथोदकम्‌ । अंगुष्ठं चरणस्याथ दक्षिणस्यावसेचयेत्‌

Transliteration

ācamya caikahastena pariplāvyaṃ tathodakam | aṅguṣṭhaṃ caraṇasyātha dakṣiṇasyāvasecayet ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dijo: «Tras sorber agua para purificarse con una sola mano, debe asimismo enjuagarse y hacer girar el agua. Luego ha de verterse agua sobre el dedo gordo del pie derecho.»

Word by Word

• आचम्य: having sipped (water)
• आचम्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्यय), कर्तरि, पूर्वकाले (absolutive)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एकहस्तेन: with one hand
• एकहस्तेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकहस्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• परिप्लाव्यम्: is to be sprinkled/washed around
• परिप्लाव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + प्लु (धातु)
• Form: यत् (भाव्य/विधेय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• उदकम्: water
• उदकम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अङ्गुष्ठम्: the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चरणस्य: of the foot
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• दक्षिणस्य: of the right (one)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अवसेचयेत्: should pour/sprinkle
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + सिच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, विधि/आज्ञार्थ, प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• water (udaka)
• right foot (dakṣiṇa-caraṇa)
• big toe (aṅguṣṭha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches precise ritual conduct (ācāra) connected with purification: perform ācamana properly, rinse the water, and complete the act by pouring water on the right foot’s big toe—emphasizing disciplined, mindful observance of dharma in daily practice.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper observances. Here he gives a step-by-step procedural detail of a purification rite involving water (ācamana and related rinsing actions).