Rules of Purity (Shauca) — Rules of Purity (Śauca), Permissible Foods, and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller
ततस्तु शौचार्थमुपाहरेन्मृदं गुदे त्रयं पाणितले च सप्त तथोभयोः पञ्च चतुस्तथैकां लिङ्गे तथैकां मृदमाहरेत
tatastu śaucārthamupāharenmṛdaṃ gude trayaṃ pāṇitale ca sapta tathobhayoḥ pañca catustathaikāṃ liṅge tathaikāṃ mṛdamāhareta
Ensuite, pour la purification, on doit prendre de la terre (argile) : trois applications pour l’anus, sept pour la paume, cinq pour les deux mains, quatre, et de même une pour le liṅga (organe génital) ; puis encore une application de terre doit être prise.
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Outer cleanliness (bāhya-śauca) is treated as a support for inner discipline: the regulated use of earth and water trains mindfulness, modesty, and respect for purity in daily conduct.
This passage is outside the five hallmark topics (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita) and belongs to ancillary purāṇic material: dharma/ācāra and ritual observance.
Earth (mṛdā) symbolizes the absorbing, purifying power of prakṛti; the counted applications reflect a codified order (niyama) that channels bodily functions into a dharmic routine.