Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 50
ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मतीर्थेन दृष्टिपूताभिराचमेत् । कण्ठगाभिर्नृपः शुध्येत्तालुगाभिस्तथोरुजः
brāhmaṇo brahmatīrthena dṛṣṭipūtābhirācamet | kaṇṭhagābhirnṛpaḥ śudhyettālugābhistathorujaḥ
Le brāhmane doit accomplir l’ācamana avec une eau sanctifiée par son regard, en usant du Brahma-tīrtha (la base du pouce). Le roi est purifié lorsque l’eau atteint la gorge ; de même le vaiśya lorsqu’elle atteint le palais.
Sūta (deduced, Brāhma Khaṇḍa narration style)
Tirtha: Brahma-tīrtha (hand-tīrtha: base of thumb)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A ritual practitioner seated facing east, holding a small water vessel; right hand forms Brahma-tīrtha at the thumb-base while sipping; subtle indication of ‘dṛṣṭi-pūta’—eyes focused on the water before sipping.
FAQs
Purity in dharma is maintained through disciplined, correctly performed daily rites such as ācamana, done with mindfulness and proper method.
No geographic tīrtha is praised; the verse refers to the hand’s ritual ‘tīrtha’ (Brahma-tīrtha) used in ācamana.
Ācamana is prescribed with the Brahma-tīrtha; the depth to which water is sipped differs by social role (throat for a king, palate for a Vaiśya).