Shloka 3
Procedure of Ācamana and Rules of Ritual Purity (Śauca)
चत्वरं वा श्मशानं वा समाक्रम्य द्विजोत्तमः । संध्ययोरुभयोस्तद्वदाचांतोऽप्याचमेत्पुनः
catvaraṃ vā śmaśānaṃ vā samākramya dvijottamaḥ | saṃdhyayorubhayostadvadācāṃto'pyācametpunaḥ
ಹೇ ದ್ವಿಜೋತ್ತಮ! ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಚೌಕ (ಚತ್ವರ) ಅಥವಾ ಶ್ಮಶಾನಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ತುಳಿದಿದ್ದರೆ, ಪ್ರಾತಃಸಂಧ್ಯೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಯಂಸಂಧ್ಯೆ—ಎರಡರಲ್ಲಿಯೂ—ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಆಚಮನ ಮಾಡಿದರೂ ಪುನಃ ಆಚಮನ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು।
Unspecified (narrative injunction within Svargakhaṇḍa; likely delivered within a teacher-to-listener dialogue such as Pulastya to Bhīṣma, but not explicit in the provided excerpt).
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: city
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संध्ययोरुभयोः = संध्ययोः + उभयोः; तद्वदाचांतोऽप्याचमेत्पुनः = तद्वत् + आचान्तः + अपि + आचमेत् + पुनः
FAQs
The verse treats crossroads and cremation grounds as contexts associated with ritual impurity or heightened need for purification; therefore, it instructs repeating ācamana as a reaffirmation of śauca (ritual cleanliness), especially at the daily sandhyā times.
“Ubhaya-sandhyā” typically refers to the two twilight junctions observed daily—morning (prātaḥ-sandhyā) and evening (sāyaṃ-sandhyā)—when sandhyā practices such as purification and mantra recitation are performed.
It emphasizes attentiveness and discipline in daily conduct: when one has been in places considered ritually sensitive, one should consciously re-center through purification practices rather than assuming prior purification is sufficient.