Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

भोजने संध्ययोः स्नात्वा पीत्वा मूत्रपुरीषयोः / आचान्तो ऽप्याचमेत् सुप्त्वा सकृत्सकृदथान्यतः

Transliteration

bhojane saṃdhyayoḥ snātvā pītvā mūtrapurīṣayoḥ / ācānto 'pyācamet suptvā sakṛtsakṛdathānyataḥ

Translation

Vào lúc ăn, vào hai thời hoàng hôn (bình minh và chạng vạng), sau khi tắm, sau khi uống, và sau khi tiểu tiện hay đại tiện, nên làm ācamana (nhấp nước thanh tịnh). Dù đã nhấp nước rồi, sau khi ngủ vẫn nên làm lại, và cũng nên lặp lại trong những dịp tương tự khác.

Word by Word

• भोजने: at/after eating (at the meal)
• भोजने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of time/occasion)

• संध्ययोः: of the two twilight times (morning & evening)
• संध्ययोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘having bathed’

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘having drunk’

• मूत्रपुरीषयोः: of urine and feces
• मूत्रपुरीषयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र + पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• आचान्तः: one who has sipped (water)
• आचान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘having sipped (water)’

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• आचमेत्: should sip (water)
• आचमेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; विधि/आज्ञार्थ

• सुप्त्वा: having slept
• सुप्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘having slept’

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘once’

• सकृत्: once (again)
• सकृत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘once’ (repeated for emphasis: ‘again and again/once or twice’)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-सम्बन्धक (conjunctive particle) ‘then/and’

• अन्यतः: from elsewhere/otherwise
• अन्यतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘from elsewhere/otherwise’

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the Purāṇic injunctions on śauca and daily conduct

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ācamana
• Sandhyā
• Śauca
• Snāna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it teaches that inner realization is supported by outer discipline—purity of conduct (śauca) steadies the mind, making it fit for contemplation of the Self and of Īśvara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It emphasizes preparatory yogic discipline through śauca: repeated ācamana at key daily transitions (sandhyā, eating, sleep, bodily functions) as a niyama-like practice that cultivates mindfulness, purity, and steadiness before japa, sandhyā-vandana, or meditation.

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

By focusing on dharma and purification rather than sectarian markers, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance: the same śauca-based discipline is presented as universally supportive for worship and yoga directed to Īśvara—understood across Shaiva-Vaishnava practice.