Shloka 4

Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path

Ethics of Non-attachment

Devanagari script

द्विकालमन्निं जुद्दान: शुचिर्भूत्वा समाहित: । धारयीत सदा दण्डं बैल्वं पालाशमेव वा,पवित्र और एकाग्रचित्त होकर दोनों समय अग्निमें हवन करे। सदा बेल या पलाशका दण्ड लिये रहे

Transliteration

dvikālam agniṃ juhuyāt śucir bhūtvā samāhitaḥ | dhārayīta sadā daṇḍaṃ bailvaṃ pālāśam eva vā ||

Translation

風神ヴァーユは言った。「身を清め、自らを制し、心を一つに収めたなら、日々の二つの時刻に聖なる火へ供物を捧げよ。また常に、ビルヴァ（bilva）の木の杖、あるいはパラーシャ（palāśa）の木の杖を携えよ。かくして清浄・堅固・定められた祭祀の規律が、ダルマの礎として保たれる。」

Word by Word

द्विकालम्at the two times (morning and evening)

अग्निम्fire

जुहोत्should offer (oblation)

शुचिःpure

भूत्वाhaving become

समाहितःcollected, concentrated

धारयीतshould hold/bear

सदाalways

दण्डम्staff

बैल्वम्made of bilva wood

पालाशम्made of palāśa wood

एवindeed/just

वाor

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu-deva

Agni (sacred fire)

daṇḍa (staff)

bilva (wood/tree)

palāśa (wood/tree)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches disciplined dharmic living: maintain purity, mental concentration, perform regular fire-offerings at both daily junctions (morning and evening), and uphold a visible symbol of restraint and vow through carrying an appropriate staff.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva is giving prescriptive guidance on proper conduct—ritual regularity (twice-daily homa), inner and outer cleanliness, and the ascetic marker of a staff made from bilva or palāśa—framing these as supports for sustained righteous practice.