Shloka 3

Ācamana-vidhi, Śauca, and Conduct Rules for Study, Eating, and Bodily Functions

Devanagari script

चत्वरं वा श्मशानं वा समाक्रम्य द्विजोत्तमः / संध्ययोरुभयोस्तद्वदाचान्तो ऽप्याचमेत् पुनः

Transliteration

catvaraṃ vā śmaśānaṃ vā samākramya dvijottamaḥ / saṃdhyayorubhayostadvadācānto 'pyācamet punaḥ

Translation

ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଦ୍ୱିଜ ଯଦି ଚତ୍ୱର (ଚଉମୁହାଣି) କିମ୍ବା ଶ୍ମଶାନରେ ପଦାର୍ପଣ କରେ, ତେବେ ଉଭୟ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟାକାଳରେ (ପ୍ରାତଃ ଓ ସାୟଂ) ସେହିପରି ଆଚମନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ଆଚମନ କରିଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପୁଣି ଆଚମନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• चत्वरम्: a crossroads/public square
• चत्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• श्मशानम्: a cremation ground
• श्मशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (particle)

• समाक्रम्य: having entered/stepped into
• समाक्रम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having stepped on/entered’

• द्विज-उत्तमः: the best brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• द्विज-उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Nominative singular); तत्पुरुष (‘best of the twice-born’)

• संध्ययोः: at the two twilight times
• संध्ययोः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन (Gen/Loc dual)

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन (Gen/Loc dual)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यतावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘likewise/in the same way’)

• आचान्तः: having sipped (water)
• आचान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having sipped (ācamana) / purified’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• आचमेत्: should sip (water)
• आचमेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘again’)

Speaker

Traditional Purāṇic narrator instructing dharma/ācāra (within the Kurma Purana’s didactic discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Sandhyā
• Ācamana
• Dvija
• Śmaśāna

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Directly it does not define Ātman; it teaches the preparatory discipline (śauca) that steadies the mind for sandhyā practice, which in the Kurma Purana supports higher contemplations that culminate in Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes sandhyā observance supported by ritual purification (ācamana). In the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, such outer purity functions as a prerequisite for mantra-japa, breath-regulation, and meditative steadiness aligned with Pāśupata-oriented discipline.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

This verse is primarily about dharmic conduct, not deity identity. Indirectly, it reflects the Purana’s integrative approach: shared Vedic purity-and-sandhyā norms underpin devotion and yoga directed to the one Supreme honored as both Hari (Vishnu/Kurma) and Hara (Shiva) in the text’s wider theology.