Shloka 65

Adhyaya 34 — Madālāsā’s Instruction on Sadācāra (Householder Conduct, Purity, and Daily Rites)

Sanskrit

आचामेत् पुत्र ! पुण्याभिः प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखोऽपि वा ।

अन्तर्जलादावसथाद्वल्मीकान्मूषिकस्थलात् ॥

Transliteration

ācāmet putra puṇyābhiḥ prāṅmukhodaṅmukho 'pi vā | antarjalād āvasathād valmīkān mūṣikasthalāt ||

Translation

Ô mon fils, on doit accomplir l’ācamana avec une eau pure, le visage tourné vers l’est—ou aussi vers le nord. Il faut éviter l’eau des lieux clos ou stagnants, des habitations, des fourmilières, et des endroits où se trouvent souris ou rats.

Word by Word

• ācāmet: let (one) perform ācamana / sip (water)
• ācāmet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-cam (आ + चम धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada; injunctive/imperative sense ‘let him sip’

• putra: O son
• putra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• puṇyābhiḥ: with pure/holy (waters)
• puṇyābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying adbhiḥ (understood)

• prāṅmukhaḥ: facing east
• prāṅmukhaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṅ (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘east-facing’ (lit. ‘having face to the east’)

• udaṅmukhaḥ: facing north
• udaṅmukhaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udaṅ (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘north-facing’

• api: also / even
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक)

• antar-jalāt: from water (in the interior/standing water)
• antar-jalāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antar (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘inside-water’ i.e., water within/standing water

• āvasathāt: from a dwelling/shelter
• āvasathāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvasatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• valmīkāt: from an anthill
• valmīkāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valmīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• mūṣika-sthalāt: from a rat-hole/rat-infested spot
• mūṣika-sthalāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūṣika (प्रातिपदिक) + sthala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘mouse-place’ i.e., a rat-hole/rat area

Speakers

• Unspecified in input (instructional voice addressing putra)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca
• Ācamana
• Directional discipline
• Avoidance of contamination

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purity includes orientation and source-control: choosing clean water and auspicious direction reflects intentionality in small acts, believed to shape character and ritual eligibility.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Facing east/north aligns with symbolic ‘light’ and ‘uttara’ (higher) movement; rejecting contaminated sources signals guarding the subtle body from tamasic influences.