Vamana Purana — Rules of Purity (Shauca), Shloka 32

Rules of Purity (Śauca), Permissible Foods, and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

नान्तर्जलाद्राक्षस मूषिकस्थलात् शौचावशिष्टा शरणात् तथान्या वल्मीकमृच्चैव हि शौचनाय ग्राह्य सदाचारविदा नरेण

Transliteration

nāntarjalādrākṣasa mūṣikasthalāt śaucāvaśiṣṭā śaraṇāt tathānyā valmīkamṛccaiva hi śaucanāya grāhya sadācāravidā nareṇa

Translation

Не следует брать землю для очищения из воды, из мест, где обитают ракшасы, из крысиных нор и крысиных мест, из остатков после очищения другого человека, из убежищ и из иных подобных мест. Но землю из муравейника/термитника (валмика-мрит) следует брать для очищения тому, кто знает правила благого поведения.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation

• अन्तर्जलात्: from inside water
• अन्तर्जलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), पञ्चमी (Abl, 5th), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुषः: ‘जलस्य अन्तरम्’ = ‘inside water’

• राक्षस: O Rākṣasa / demon
• राक्षस: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), प्रथमा (Nom, 1st), एकवचन (sg); संबोधन/उक्तिप्रयोगः (address) possible in context

• मूषिक-स्थलात्: from a rat’s place/hole
• मूषिक-स्थलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषिक (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), पञ्चमी (Abl, 5th), एकवचन (sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘मूषिकस्य स्थलम्’

• शौच-अवशिष्टात्: from leftover (earth) of cleansing
• शौच-अवशिष्टात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक) + अवशिष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), पञ्चमी (Abl, 5th), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुषः: ‘शौचस्य अवशिष्टम्’ = ‘leftover from cleansing’

• शरणात्: from a shelter/refuge
• शरणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), पञ्चमी (Abl, 5th), एकवचन (sg)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘and likewise’

• अन्या: other (such)
• अन्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), प्रथमा (Nom, 1st), एकवचन (sg); used elliptically ‘other (earth)’

• वल्मीकि-मृत्: anthill earth
• वल्मीकि-मृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्मीकि (प्रातिपदिक) + मृद्/मृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), प्रथमा (Nom, 1st), एकवचन (sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘वल्मीकस्य मृद्’ = ‘anthill earth’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; nīpāta ‘indeed/for’

• शौचनाय: for cleansing
• शौचनाय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), चतुर्थी (Dat, 4th), एकवचन (sg); purpose dative ‘for cleansing’

• ग्राह्या: should be taken
• ग्राह्या: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), प्रथमा (Nom, 1st), एकवचन (sg); ‘to be taken/acceptable’

• सदाचार-विदा: by one who knows proper conduct
• सदाचार-विदा: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदाचार (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘knower’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), तृतीया (Instr, 3rd), एकवचन (sg); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘सदाचारं वेत्ति’ = ‘knower of right conduct’

• नरेण: by a man
• नरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), तृतीया (Instr, 3rd), एकवचन (sg)

Speakers

• Narrative frame not explicit in the provided excerpt; prescriptive dharma-voice (ācāra instruction).

Key Themes

• Vrata/Rituals
• Dharma-śāstra style purity rules
• Avoidance of contamination (aśauca sources)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purity is not only an act but also a discernment (viveka): one must choose uncontaminated means, reflecting an ethic of carefulness and non-negligence in daily religious life.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa?

Ancillary dharma/ācāra material (ritual hygiene norms), not one of the five defining purāṇic characteristics.

What is the symbolic significance?

The rejection of ‘mixed’ or ‘dwelt-in’ earth underscores the idea that ritual tools carry saṃskāra (impressions/contagion). Anthill earth is treated as naturally processed/filtered and thus ritually suitable.