Shloka 34

Adhyaya 35 — Madālasa’s Instruction on Purity, Impurity, and Corrective Rites (Śauca and Aśauca)

Sanskrit

अवलोक्य तथोदक्यां अन्त्यजं पतितं शवम् । विधर्मि-सूतिका-षण्ढ-विवस्त्रान्त्यावसायिनः ॥

Transliteration

avalokya tathodakyām antyajaṃ patitaṃ śavam / vidharmi-sūtikā-ṣaṇḍha-vivastrāntyāvasāyinaḥ

Translation

Asimismo, al ver en el agua—un intocable, un caído o un cadáver—y al encontrarse con un hereje, una mujer en impureza por parto, un impotente, un desnudo, un intocable o alguien dedicado a oficios degradantes—(se contrae impureza y debe observarse la purificación).

Word by Word

• avalokya: having seen
• avalokya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-lok (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातुः—अवलोक् (to look at/see)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• udakyām: a menstruating woman
• udakyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udakyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्; (menstruating woman)

• antyajam: an outcaste
• antyajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antyaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• patitam: a fallen (person)
• patitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally)

• śavam: a corpse
• śavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• vidharmi-sūtikā-ṣaṇḍa-vivastra-antyāvasāyinaḥ: heretics, women in childbirth, eunuchs, naked persons, and lowly workers
• vidharmi-sūtikā-ṣaṇḍa-vivastra-antyāvasāyinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidharmin (प्रातिपदिक) + sūtikā (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + vivastra (प्रातिपदिक) + antya-avasāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (heretics, women in childbirth, eunuchs, naked persons, and lowly workers); (contextually: persons of these kinds)

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction voice within the Purāṇic discourse (didactic narration; not Devi Māhātmya)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca (purity)
• Aśauca (ritual impurity)
• Death impurity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text maps purity rules onto social and ritual categories prevalent in classical dharma literature, especially regarding death and birth impurity. Practically, it aims at maintaining ritual boundaries; ethically, it reflects a historical social taxonomy rather than a universal moral valuation.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma/ācāra material.

What is the esoteric significance?

Water is the medium of ritual purification; contamination ‘in water’ symbolizes disturbance in the very instrument of cleansing—suggesting that discernment (viveka) must precede purification practices.