Vamana Purana — Rules of Purity (Shauca), Shloka 32
Rules of Purity (Śauca), Permissible Foods, and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller
नान्तर्जलाद्राक्षस मूषिकस्थलात् शौचावशिष्टा शरणात् तथान्या वल्मीकमृच्चैव हि शौचनाय ग्राह्य सदाचारविदा नरेण
nāntarjalādrākṣasa mūṣikasthalāt śaucāvaśiṣṭā śaraṇāt tathānyā valmīkamṛccaiva hi śaucanāya grāhya sadācāravidā nareṇa
No debe tomarse tierra para la limpieza desde el interior del agua, desde lugares frecuentados por rākṣasas, desde madrigueras o terrenos de ratas, desde lo que queda tras la limpieza de otro, desde refugios, ni desde otros lugares semejantes. En cambio, la tierra de un hormiguero/termitero (valmīka-mṛt) debe tomarse para la purificación por quien conoce la buena conducta.
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FAQs
Purity is not only an act but also a discernment (viveka): one must choose uncontaminated means, reflecting an ethic of carefulness and non-negligence in daily religious life.
Ancillary dharma/ācāra material (ritual hygiene norms), not one of the five defining purāṇic characteristics.
The rejection of ‘mixed’ or ‘dwelt-in’ earth underscores the idea that ritual tools carry saṃskāra (impressions/contagion). Anthill earth is treated as naturally processed/filtered and thus ritually suitable.