Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

निधाय दक्षिणे कर्णे ब्रह्मसूत्रमुदङ्मुखः / अह्नि कुर्याच्छकृन्मूत्रं रात्रौ चेद् दक्षिणामुखः

Transliteration

nidhāya dakṣiṇe karṇe brahmasūtramudaṅmukhaḥ / ahni kuryācchakṛnmūtraṃ rātrau ced dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ

Translation

బ్రహ్మసూత్రాన్ని (యజ్ఞోపవీతాన్ని) కుడి చెవిపై ఉంచి ఉత్తరాభిముఖుడై ఉండాలి. పగలు అలా మల‑మూత్ర విసర్జన చేయాలి; రాత్రి అయితే దక్షిణాభిముఖుడై చేయాలి.

Word by Word

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having placed’

• दक्षिणे: in the right (one)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचन (Neuter Loc. Sg.), ‘कर्णे’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कर्णे: in the ear
• कर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचन (Masculine Loc. Sg.)

• ब्रह्मसूत्रम्: the sacred thread
• ब्रह्मसूत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘ब्रह्मणः सूत्रम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter Acc. Sg.)

• उदङ्मुखः: facing north
• उदङ्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदङ् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (possessive) ‘उदङ् मुखं यस्य’ (one whose face is northward); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine Nom. Sg.)

• अह्नि: by day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचन (Neuter Loc. Sg.)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg.)

• शकृत्: feces/defecation
• शकृत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter Acc. Sg.)

• मूत्रम्: urine/urination
• मूत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter Acc. Sg.)

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचन (Feminine Loc. Sg.)

• चेत्: if/when
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त/नियमार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle: if/when)

• दक्षिणामुखः: facing south
• दक्षिणामुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणा + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (possessive) ‘दक्षिणा मुखं यस्य’ (one whose face is southward); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine Nom. Sg.)

Speaker

Traditional narrator (Purāṇic instruction on ācāra; presented as prescriptive dharma-teaching within the Kurma Purana’s discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Brahmasutra (Yajñopavita)
• Dharma (Ācāra)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It does not directly define Ātman; it supports a dharmic framework where bodily discipline and purity (śauca) stabilize the mind, which later becomes fit for higher knowledge and yoga taught elsewhere in the Kurma Purana.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No meditation technique is taught explicitly; the verse gives ācāra-based purity rules (handling of yajñopavīta and directional etiquette) that function as preparatory discipline (yama/niyama-like foundations) for sustained sādhana.

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

It does not address Shiva–Vishnu unity directly; it reflects the shared Purāṇic dharma-ethos upheld across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams, where correct conduct and purity are prerequisites for worship and yoga.