Shloka 44

Procedure of Ācamana and Rules of Ritual Purity (Śauca)

Devanagari script

प्रत्यादित्यं प्रत्यनलं प्रतिसोमं तथैव च । आहृत्य मृत्तिकां कूलाल्लेपगंधापकर्षणीम्

Transliteration

pratyādityaṃ pratyanalaṃ pratisomaṃ tathaiva ca | āhṛtya mṛttikāṃ kūlāllepagaṃdhāpakarṣaṇīm

Translation

సూర్యుని ఎదురుగా, అగ్నిని ఎదురుగా, అలాగే చంద్రుని ఎదురుగా నిలిచి, నది తీరంనుండి లేపనానికి యోగ్యమైన, దుర్గంధాన్ని తొలగించే మట్టిని తెచ్చుకోవాలి.

Word by Word

• प्रति: towards/with reference to
• प्रति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like prefix), direction/association marker

• आदित्यम्: the Sun
• आदित्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (accusative singular)

• प्रति: towards/with reference to
• प्रति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like prefix)

• अनलम्: fire
• अनलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (accusative singular)

• प्रति: towards/with reference to
• प्रति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preposition-like prefix)

• सोमम्: Soma/Moon
• सोमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (accusative singular)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis

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

• आहृत्य: having brought
• आहृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having brought’

• मृत्तिकाम्: clay/earth
• मृत्तिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (accusative singular)

• कूलात्: from the bank/shore
• कूलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन (ablative singular)

• लेपगन्धापकर्षणीम्: removing the smell of smearing/impurity
• लेपगन्धापकर्षणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लेप + गन्ध + अपकर्षणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of मृत्तिकाम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (determinative): ‘लेपस्य गन्धस्य अपकर्षणी’

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative instruction within the chapter; likely within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue frame for Svarga-khaṇḍa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रत्यादित्यं = प्रति + आदित्यम्; प्रत्यनलं = प्रति + अनलम्; प्रतिसोमं = प्रति + सोमम्; कूलाल्लेप… = कूलात् + लेप… (त् + ल् → ल्ल्); लेपगन्धापकर्षणीम् treated as a tatpuruṣa compound qualifying मृत्तिकाम्.

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Aditya)
• Agni
• Soma (Chandra)

FAQs

Why does the verse mention facing the Sun, Fire, and Moon while collecting clay?

It frames the act as a consecrated purification practice aligned with major cosmic witnesses (Sūrya, Agni, Soma), emphasizing ritual correctness and sanctity.

What is the purpose of using this specific clay from the riverbank?

The verse describes it as suitable for smearing (lepa) and as removing bad odor, indicating a hygienic and ritually purifying application (often associated with bathing and cleansing rites).

What ethical or spiritual lesson is implied by this instruction?

Cleanliness is treated as a form of discipline: careful, mindful preparation for worship or vows underscores respect for sacred practice and self-purification.