Shloka 14

Dietary Rules & Purification — Dietary Rules, Purification (Śauca), and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

अमेध्याक्तस्य मृत्तोयैर्गन्धापहरणेन च अन्येषामपि द्रव्याणां शुद्धिर्गन्धापहारतः

Transliteration

amedhyāktasya mṛttoyairgandhāpaharaṇena ca anyeṣāmapi dravyāṇāṃ śuddhirgandhāpahārataḥ

Translation

Pour ce qui est enduit d’une matière impure, la purification s’accomplit par la terre et l’eau, ainsi que par l’élimination de l’odeur; et pour les autres substances aussi, la pureté est obtenue par la suppression de la mauvaise senteur.

Word by Word

• amedhya-āktasya: of (something) smeared with impurity
• amedhya-āktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amedhya (प्रातिपदिक) + ā-kta (कृदन्त, √añj/√añj?; here ā-kta from √añj 'to smear/anoint')
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य (context-dependent); कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘आक्त’

• mṛt-toyaiḥ: with earth and water
• mṛt-toyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); द्वन्द्वसमासः (copulative)

• gandha-apaharaṇena: by removal of smell
• gandha-apaharaṇena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + apaharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gandhasya apaharaṇam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anyeṣām: of other (things)
• anyeṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine) (used adjectivally)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’

• dravyāṇām: of substances/materials
• dravyāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• śuddhiḥ: purification
• śuddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• gandha-apahārataḥ: due to removal of smell
• gandha-apahārataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + apahāra (प्रातिपदिक) + -tas (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’ = ‘from/because of’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gandhasya apahāraḥ) + तः

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (standard frame; specific attribution not explicit in the verse)

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Dharma (Ācāra)
• Śauca (Purity)
• Ethics of cleanliness

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purity is not merely formal; it is perceptible and functional. The text treats foul odor as an indicator of remaining impurity, so ethical cleanliness includes restoring a wholesome environment for communal living and worship.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Ancillary ācāra material (prakīrṇaka) supporting dharma in daily conduct, outside the main pañcalakṣaṇa narrative categories.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Odor’ stands for residual taint (mala/saṃskāra). Removing it symbolizes the completion of purification—external cleansing aligned with inner readiness for sacred acts.