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Shloka 19

Procedure of Ācamana and Rules of Ritual Purity (Śauca)

तदेव सौमिकं तीर्थमेतज्ज्ञात्वा न मुह्यति । ब्राह्मेणैव तु तीर्थेन द्विजो नित्यमुपस्पृशेत्

tadeva saumikaṃ tīrthametajjñātvā na muhyati | brāhmeṇaiva tu tīrthena dvijo nityamupaspṛśet

นั่นแลคือทีรถะโสมิกะ; เมื่อรู้ดังนี้แล้ว ย่อมไม่หลงผิด ทวิชะพึงทำอาจมนะ/ชำระตนเป็นนิตย์ ด้วยพรหมทีรถะเท่านั้น

tatthat
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun
evaindeed/only
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात)
saumikaṃgentle/auspicious (Saumika)
saumikaṃ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsaumika (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying tīrtham
tīrthamsacred ford/pilgrimage place
tīrtham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
etatthis
etat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun
jñātvāhaving known
jñātvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootjñā (धाातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; ‘having known’
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
muhyatiis deluded/confused
muhyati:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootmuh (मुह् धातु)
FormPresent tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
brāhmeṇaby the Brahmic (rite)
brāhmeṇa:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbrāhma (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying tīrthena
evaindeed/only
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात)
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormConjunction/particle (समुच्चय/विरोध-निपात)
tīrthenaby/with the tīrtha
tīrthena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Roottīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
dvijaḥa twice-born (Brahmin)
dvijaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
nityamalways
nityam:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnitya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया एकवचन)
upaspṛśetshould perform sipping/touching (ācamana)
upaspṛśet:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootupa√spṛś (स्पृश् धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Unspecified (context-dependent within Svarga-khaṇḍa narration)

Concept: Right knowledge of tīrtha and right method of purification dispels delusion; daily discipline (nitya-upaspṛśa) anchors the twice-born in śuddhi and steadiness.

Application: Keep a consistent daily purification routine (ācamana, cleanliness, mindful intention) before prayer, study, or service; reduce ‘ritual anxiety’ by following a clear, trusted procedure.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Type: tirtha

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene river-ford marked by a small stone platform labeled ‘Brahma-tīrtha’, where a disciplined dvija stands facing east, palms cupped for ācamana. Subtle divine presence is suggested by a faint lotus aura above the water, as if Brahmā’s sanctity permeates the ford, while the pilgrim’s face shows calm certainty—‘not deluded’.","primary_figures":["a dvija practitioner (brahmin householder or student)","subtle symbolic presence of Brahmā (lotus-seat motif)","optional: Viṣṇu’s lotus-navel emblem as a distant sky-sign"],"setting":"riverbank tīrtha with ghāṭ steps, kusa grass, a small water-pot (kamaṇḍalu), and a carved marker-stone for ‘Brahma-tīrtha’.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["river-jade green","lotus pink","saffron ochre","stone gray","gold leaf"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a dvija at Brahma-tīrtha performing ācamana at a ghāṭ, with a lotus emblem hovering above the water and a faint Brahmā icon in the background; heavy gold leaf on the halo-like lotus aura, rich vermilion and emerald garments, gem-studded ornaments on the symbolic deity motifs, crisp South Indian temple-ghāṭ architecture.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: quiet river-ford scene with delicate brushwork; a dvija in white dhoti and shawl performs ācamana beside a small inscribed tīrtha-stone; cool morning haze, soft ripples, distant trees and low hills; refined facial features and lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; the tīrtha rendered as stylized waves, lotus medallion indicating Brahma-tīrtha; the dvija in simplified iconic posture; warm red/yellow/green palette with temple-lamp accents along the ghāṭ.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: river-ford framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; central figure performing ācamana; background filled with stylized lotuses and peacocks; deep indigo water with gold highlights, devotional symmetry, subtle Vaishnava symbols (śaṅkha-cakra) worked into the border."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","soft temple bells","morning birds","conch shell (distant)","silence between phrases"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: tadeva = tat + eva; tīrthametajjñātvā = tīrtham + etat + jñātvā; brāhmeṇaiva = brāhmeṇa + eva; nityamupaspṛśet = nityam + upaspṛśet

B
Brahma (by epithet: brāhma-tīrtha)
S
Saumika Tirtha

FAQs

It highlights a specific tīrtha (Saumika) as a source of clarity—proper knowledge of a tīrtha’s status and method prevents confusion or delusion in practice.

It indicates performing purification/ācamana with the prescribed ‘Brahma-tīrtha’ method or at a Brahma-associated sacred point, emphasizing a correct, authoritative ritual procedure.

Regular discipline (nityam) and correct understanding (jñātvā) should guide religious practice, rather than uncertainty or improvisation.