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Shloka 7

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

उपस्पृशेज्जलं वार्द्रं तृणं वा भूमिमेव वा / केशानां चात्मनः स्पर्शे वाससो ऽक्षालितस्य च

upaspṛśejjalaṃ vārdraṃ tṛṇaṃ vā bhūmimeva vā / keśānāṃ cātmanaḥ sparśe vāsaso 'kṣālitasya ca

พึงชำระอย่างย่อด้วยการสัมผัสน้ำ หญ้าที่ชื้น หรือแม้แต่พื้นดิน; โดยเฉพาะหลังสัมผัสเส้นผมหรือกายตนเอง และเมื่อสวมผ้าที่มิได้ซัก.

उपस्पृशेत्should touch (for purification)
उपस्पृशेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउप-स्पृश् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should touch/sprinkle (water)’
जलम्water
जलम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootजल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक ‘or’
आर्द्रम्wet/moist
आर्द्रम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootआर्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies जलम्)
तृणम्grass
तृणम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतृण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (alternative object)
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक ‘or’
भूमिम्earth/ground
भूमिम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootभूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (alternative object)
एवindeed/just
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारण ‘indeed/just’
वाor
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक ‘or’
केशानाम्of the hair
केशानाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक ‘and’
आत्मनःof oneself
आत्मनः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)
स्पर्शेin/at the touch
स्पर्शे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootस्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (occasion)
वाससःof the garment/clothing
वाससः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootवासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)
अक्षालितस्यunwashed
अक्षालितस्य:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअ + क्षालित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from क्षल्/क्षाल्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक (negated), विशेषण (qualifies वाससः)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक ‘and’

Sūta (narrating the dharma-teachings of the Kurma Purana to the sages)

Primary Rasa: shanta

W
Water (jala)
E
Earth (bhūmi)
P
Purificatory touch (upasparśa/ācamana)

FAQs

Indirectly: by prescribing śauca (purification), it supports the Kurma Purana’s broader teaching that inner clarity and steadiness are aided by disciplined conduct; purity of habits becomes a practical aid for realizing the Self beyond bodily impurity.

The verse emphasizes śauca (cleanliness/purification) as a preparatory limb for yoga-sādhana—maintaining ritual and bodily cleanliness (through touching water/earth as a quick purifier) to sustain sattva and readiness for japa, dhyāna, and devotional contemplation.

It reflects the Purana’s shared dharma-ground where both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths uphold śauca as a common discipline; the synthesis is shown not by sectarian polemic but by a unified code of conduct that supports devotion and yoga directed to the one Supreme.