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

ଶୁଚି ଓ ସଂଯତ ହୋଇ, ମନ ଏକାଗ୍ର କରି, ଦୁଇ ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟାକାଳରେ ପବିତ୍ର ଅଗ୍ନିରେ ହୋମ କରିବ। ସଦା ବିଲ୍ବ କିମ୍ବା ପଲାଶ କାଠର ଦଣ୍ଡ ଧାରଣ କରିବ।

Word by Word

• द्विकालम्: at the two times (morning and evening)
• द्विकालम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विकाल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जुहोत्: should offer (oblation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु
• Form: Imperative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूत्वा: having become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada

• समाहितः: collected, concentrated
• समाहितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• धारयीत: should hold/bear
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ
• Form: Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• दण्डम्: staff
• दण्डम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बैल्वम्: made of bilva wood
• बैल्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बैल्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पालाशम्: made of palāśa wood
• पालाशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पालाश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu-deva
• Agni (sacred fire)
• daṇḍa (staff)
• bilva (wood/tree)
• palāśa (wood/tree)

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.