Padma Purana — Svarga Khanda, Shloka 42
Procedure of Ācamana and Rules of Ritual Purity (Śauca)
न सोपानत्पादुको वा छत्री वा नांतरिक्षके । न चैवाभिमुखः स्त्रीणां गुरुब्राह्मणयोर्गवाम्
na sopānatpāduko vā chatrī vā nāṃtarikṣake | na caivābhimukhaḥ strīṇāṃ gurubrāhmaṇayorgavām
ਉੱਚੇ ਸਥਾਨ ਉੱਤੇ ਜੁੱਤੀ/ਪਾਦੁਕਾ ਨਾ ਪਹਿਨੇ, ਨਾ ਛਤਰੀ ਧਾਰੇ; ਅਤੇ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀਆਂ, ਗੁਰੂ, ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਤੇ ਗਾਂਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਬੇਅਦਬੀ ਨਾਲ ਮੁਖ ਕਰਕੇ ਨਾ ਖੜਾ ਹੋਵੇ।
Unspecified (contextual dharma-instruction within Svarga-khaṇḍa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sopānatpāduko = sopānat-pādukaḥ (final -o represents visarga sandhi in some recensions). nāṃtarikṣake = na + antarikṣake (अ + अ → आ; anusvāra by orthography). caivābhimukhaḥ = ca + eva + abhimukhaḥ. gurubrāhmaṇayor = guru-brāhmaṇayoḥ (dvandva; genitive dual).
FAQs
It teaches āchāra (proper conduct): avoid casual displays (like footwear/umbrella) in certain elevated or sacred contexts and maintain a reverential posture toward women, one’s teacher, Brahmins, and cows.
They represent traditional pillars of dharma—teacher (guidance), Brahmins (learning/ritual authority), and cows (nurture and non-violence)—and the verse emphasizes bodily and social signs of respect toward them.
As a rule of respectful demeanor: do not confront or position oneself in a manner interpreted as challenging, intrusive, or irreverent; instead, approach with humility and appropriate distance/gesture according to custom.