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Shloka 61

Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas

लेपयित्वा तु तीरस्थस्तल्लिङ्गैरेव मन्त्रतः / प्रक्षाल्याचम्य विधिवत् ततः स्नायात् समाहितः

lepayitvā tu tīrasthastalliṅgaireva mantrataḥ / prakṣālyācamya vidhivat tataḥ snāyāt samāhitaḥ

Se tenant sur la rive du gué sacré, après avoir appliqué la pâte purificatrice avec ces mêmes signes du liṅga tout en récitant les mantras, qu’il rince, accomplisse l’ācāmana selon la règle, puis se baigne l’esprit recueilli et stable.

lepayitvāhaving anointed/smeared
lepayitvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
TypeVerb
Rootlip (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from causative stem (णिच्) of √lip; ‘having caused to smear/anoint’
tubut/then
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormParticle/connector (निपात)
tīra-sthaḥstanding on the bank
tīra-sthaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता; subject)
TypeAdjective
Roottīra (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘on the bank’
tat-liṅgaiḥwith those symbols/marks
tat-liṅgaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण; instrument/means)
TypeNoun
Roottat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘with those marks/symbols’
evaindeed/only
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (निपात)
mantrataḥwith/according to mantra (ritually)
mantrataḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; manner)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootmantra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAblatival adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्यय; -तः), ‘according to/from mantra’
prakṣālyahaving washed
prakṣālya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
TypeVerb
Rootprakṣāl (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √kṣāl with prefix pra-; ‘having washed’
ācamyahaving performed ācamana (sipping)
ācamya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
TypeVerb
Rootā-cam (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √cam with prefix ā-; ‘having sipped (water)’
vidhivatproperly/according to rule
vidhivat:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; manner)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverb (अव्यय), ‘according to rule’
tataḥthen/thereafter
tataḥ:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; sequence)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormAblatival adverb (तसिल्; -तः), ‘then/thereafter’
snāyātshould bathe
snāyāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootsnā (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
samāhitaḥcomposed/concentrated
samāhitaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता; subject qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootsam-ā-dhā (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘collected/concentrated’

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing on tīrtha-vidhi within a Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis

Primary Rasa: shanta

T
Tīrtha
L
Liṅga (symbol of Śiva)
M
Mantra
Ā
Ācamana
S
Snāna

FAQs

Indirectly: it teaches that purification is not only external (washing and bathing) but also internal—snāna is to be done samāhitaḥ, with a concentrated mind, implying inner steadiness as the real purifier aligned with the Self.

The verse emphasizes mantra-supported ritual action and mental composure (samādhāna). The key yogic element is samāhita-citta—performing purification rites as disciplined, mindful practice that steadies attention before higher contemplation.

Vishnu (as Lord Kūrma) authorizes liṅga-associated worship and mantra-based purification, reflecting the Purāṇa’s integrative stance where Śaiva symbols and Vaiṣṇava authority harmonize within one dharmic discipline.