Vamana Purana — Rules of Purity (Shauca), Shloka 5

Rules of Purity (Śauca), Permissible Foods, and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायो ऽथाग्निशुश्रुषा स्नानं भिक्षाटनं तथा गुरोर्निंवेद्य तच्चाद्यमनुज्ञातेन सर्वदा

Transliteration

svādhyāyo 'thāgniśuśruṣā snānaṃ bhikṣāṭanaṃ tathā gurorniṃvedya taccādyamanujñātena sarvadā

Translation

“自修诵习（svādhyāya）、奉事圣火（agni）、沐浴净身、出外乞食——先向师长禀告之后，唯在师长许可时，方可恒常食用所得之食。”

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study (Vedic recitation)
• स्वाध्यायः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ-बोधक (particle: then/now)

• अग्नि-शुश्रूषा: service to the sacred fire
• अग्नि-शुश्रूषा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अग्नेः शुश्रूषा)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भिक्षाटनम्: going for alms
• भिक्षाटनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षाटन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकार-बोधक (also/likewise)

• गुरोः: of/to the teacher
• गुरोः: Sampradana/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निवेद्य: having informed / having offered
• निवेद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive): ‘having informed/offered’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (here: ‘that’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• आद्यम्: first (portion)
• आद्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनुज्ञातेन: with what is permitted / by permission
• अनुज्ञातेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुज्ञात (अनु-ज्ञा धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (permitted/approved)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speakers

• Ṛṣis (sages) continuing instruction (narrative frame not explicit in the given excerpt)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Brahmacarya
• Vedic study (svādhyāya)
• Ritual discipline (agni)
• Begging for alms (bhikṣā)
• Guru authority

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Learning is paired with purification and restraint: the student sustains himself through alms (minimizing possessiveness) and remains accountable to the guru, cultivating obedience and non-indulgence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

As with many Purāṇas, this is an instructional dharma segment embedded within the larger narrative; it functions as normative guidance rather than a direct lakṣaṇa unit.

What is the symbolic significance?

Agni-service and bathing signify inner and outer purification; bhikṣā represents humility and dependence on dharma rather than personal wealth; eating only with permission reinforces mastery over appetite and ego.