Shloka 18

Brahmin Right Conduct: Morning Remembrance, Bathing, Purification, and Tarpaṇa Method

Devanagari script

ततस्तु वेदपूर्वेण स्नानं कुर्याद्विचक्षणः । नदे नद्यां तथा कूपे पुष्करिण्यां तटाकके

Transliteration

tatastu vedapūrveṇa snānaṃ kuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ | nade nadyāṃ tathā kūpe puṣkariṇyāṃ taṭākake

Translation

จากนั้นผู้มีปัญญาพึงอาบน้ำตามวิธีที่พระเวทกำหนด ไม่ว่าจะในลำธาร ในแม่น้ำ ในบ่อ ในสระบัว หรือในทะเลสาบ

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात), emphasis/contrast

• veda-pūrveṇa: with Vedic preliminaries
• veda-pūrveṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) agreeing with implied ‘vidhinā/krameṇa’; sense: ‘preceded by Veda/with Vedic preliminaries’

• snānam: bathing
• snānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Dhātu: √kṛ (कृ); Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vicakṣaṇaḥ: the discerning person
• vicakṣaṇaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nade: in a river
• nade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• nadyām: in a river (stream)
• nadyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• kūpe: in a well
• kūpe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• puṣkariṇyām: in a lotus-pond
• puṣkariṇyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣkariṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• taṭāke: in a tank/pond
• taṭāke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṭāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative instruction within the Adhyāya; exact dialogue speaker not provided in the excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: tatastu → tataḥ + tu; kuryādvicakṣaṇaḥ → kuryāt + vicakṣaṇaḥ (final -t before v); verse-ending taṭākake normalized as taṭāke (loc. sg.).

FAQs

What does this verse teach about acceptable places for ritual bathing (snāna)?

It broadens ritual bathing beyond major rivers: a wise person may bathe in a stream, river, well, pond, or lake—so long as it is done in a Veda-aligned manner (veda-pūrveṇa).

How does this verse relate to the idea of tīrtha and purity in the Padma Purana?

It implies that purity is not only about a famous location; correct procedure and intention—following Vedic injunction—also sanctify the act, even in ordinary water sources.

What ethical or practical lesson is implied for daily religious practice?

The verse encourages disciplined, scripture-guided practice and accessibility: one should maintain ritual cleanliness properly even when grand pilgrimage sites are unavailable.