Shloka 108
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
अथैवमुक्त उत्तड़क: स्मृत्वोवाचास्ति खलु मयोत्थितेनोपस्पृष्टं गच्छतां चेति । तं पौष्य: प्रत्युवाच--एष ते व्यतिक्रमो नोत्थितेनोपस्पृष्ट भवतीति शीघ्रं गच्छता चेति,उनके ऐसा कहनेपर उत्तंकने स्मरण करके कहा--'हाँ, अवश्य ही मुझमें अशुद्धि रह गयी है। यहाँकी यात्रा करते समय मैंने खड़े होकर चलते-चलते आचमन किया है।” तब पौष्यने उनसे कहा--'ब्रह्मन! यही आपके द्वारा विधिका उल्लंघन हुआ है। खड़े होकर और शीघ्रतापूर्वक चलते-चलते किया हुआ आचमन नहींके बराबर है”
athaivam ukta uttankaḥ smṛtvovāca—asti khalu mayotthitenopaspṛṣṭaṃ gacchatāṃ ceti | taṃ pauṣyaḥ pratyuvāca—eṣa te vyatikramo notthitenopaspṛṣṭaṃ bhavatīti śīghraṃ gacchatā ceti |
When Uttanka had been spoken to in this way, he recollected something and said, “Indeed, there is a fault in me: while traveling I performed ācamana standing up, and that too while moving along.” Pauṣya replied to him, “This is your transgression, O brāhmaṇa. Ācamana done while standing, and done while walking quickly, is as good as not done at all.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual acts are not merely symbolic; their efficacy depends on correct conduct (ācāra). Even a small lapse—performing ācamana while standing or walking hurriedly—is treated as a breach of dharma, emphasizing mindfulness and propriety in daily religious practice.
Uttanka realizes he has committed an impurity/irregularity during travel by performing ācamana improperly. King Pauṣya identifies the specific fault and states that such ācamana is effectively null, highlighting the strict standards of ritual correctness in the episode.