Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

उपस्पृशेज्जलं वार्द्रं तृणं वा भूमिमेव वा / केशानां चात्मनः स्पर्शे वाससो ऽक्षालितस्य च

Transliteration

upaspṛśejjalaṃ vārdraṃ tṛṇaṃ vā bhūmimeva vā / keśānāṃ cātmanaḥ sparśe vāsaso 'kṣālitasya ca

Translation

ଜଳ, ଭିଜା ତୃଣ, କିମ୍ବା ଭୂମିକୁ ସ୍ପର୍ଶ କରି ସଂକ୍ଷିପ୍ତ ଶୁଦ୍ଧି କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ବିଶେଷକରି କେଶ କିମ୍ବା ନିଜ ଦେହ ସ୍ପର୍ଶ ପରେ, ଏବଂ ଅକ୍ଷାଳିତ (ନ ଧୋଇଥିବା) ବସ୍ତ୍ର ଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• उपस्पृशेत्: should touch (for purification)
• उपस्पृशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should touch/sprinkle (water)’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक ‘or’

• आर्द्रम्: wet/moist
• आर्द्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies जलम्)

• तृणम्: grass
• तृणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (alternative object)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक ‘or’

• भूमिम्: earth/ground
• भूमिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (alternative object)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण ‘indeed/just’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक ‘or’

• केशानाम्: of the hair
• केशानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक ‘and’

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• स्पर्शे: in/at the touch
• स्पर्शे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (occasion)

• वाससः: of the garment/clothing
• वाससः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• अक्षालितस्य: unwashed
• अक्षालितस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + क्षालित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from क्षल्/क्षाल्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक (negated), विशेषण (qualifies वाससः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक ‘and’

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the dharma-teachings of the Kurma Purana to the sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Water (jala)
• Earth (bhūmi)
• Purificatory touch (upasparśa/ācamana)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing śauca (purification), it supports the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching that inner clarity and steadiness are aided by disciplined conduct; purity of habits becomes a practical aid for realizing the Self beyond bodily impurity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śauca (cleanliness/purification) as a preparatory limb for yoga-sādhana—maintaining ritual and bodily cleanliness (through touching water/earth as a quick purifier) to sustain sattva and readiness for japa, dhyāna, and devotional contemplation.

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

It reflects the Purana’s shared dharma-ground where both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths uphold śauca as a common discipline; the synthesis is shown not by sectarian polemic but by a unified code of conduct that supports devotion and yoga directed to the one Supreme.