व्यास उवाच- भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च सुप्त्वा च स्नात्वा रथ्योपसर्पणे । ओष्ठावलोमकौ स्पृष्ट्वा वासो विपरिधाय च
Vyasa said: After eating, drinking, sleeping, bathing, approaching a street, touching the lips or body hair, or putting on a garment—
रेतोमूत्रपुरीषाणामुत्सर्गेऽनृतभाषणे । ष्ठीवित्वाऽध्ययनारंभे कासश्वासागमे तथा
After discharging semen, urine, or feces, speaking falsehood, spitting, beginning study, or when coughing or breathing heavily—
चत्वरं वा श्मशानं वा समाक्रम्य द्विजोत्तमः । संध्ययोरुभयोस्तद्वदाचांतोऽप्याचमेत्पुनः
Or after stepping on a crossroads or a cremation ground, O best of twice-born, and likewise at both twilights, even if already purified, he should perform purification again.
चंडालम्लेच्छसंभाषे स्त्रीशूद्रोच्छिष्टभाषणे । उच्छिष्टं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा भोज्यं चापि तथाविधम्
After conversing with a Chandala or a foreigner, or after speaking with a woman or Shudra who is impure, or after seeing a person or food that is similarly impure—
आचामेदश्रुपाते वा लोहितस्य तथैव च । भोजने संध्ययोः स्नात्वा पीत्वा मूत्रपुरीषयोः
One should perform ācamana after shedding tears or blood, after eating, at the two twilights, after bathing, and after passing urine or feces.
आगतो वाचमेत्सुप्त्वा सकृत्सकृदथान्यतः । अग्नेर्गवामथालंभे स्पृष्ट्वा प्रयतमेव वा
One should perform ācamana after waking from sleep, after speaking, after sneezing, after touching fire, a cow, or after touching something impure, or even after touching something pure.
स्त्रीणामथात्मनः स्पर्शे नीलद्यं वा परिधाय च । उपस्पर्शेज्जलं वार्तं तृणं वा भूमिमेव च
After touching a woman or oneself, or after putting on blue or wet garments, or after touching water, mud, grass, or the ground, one should perform ācamana.
केशानां चात्मनः स्पर्शे वाससः स्खलितस्य च । अनुष्णाभिरकेशाभिरदुष्टाभिश्च धर्मतः
After touching one's own hair or garments, or after stumbling, one should perform ācamana with water that is not hot, not mixed with hair, and not impure, as prescribed by dharma.
शौचेऽप्सु सर्वदा चामेदासीनः प्रागुदङ्मुखः । शिरः प्रावृत्य कंठं वा मुक्तकेशशिखोऽपि वा
For purification, one should always perform ācamana while seated, facing east or north, covering the head or neck, or even with hair untied or in a topknot.
अकृत्वा पादयोः शौचं मार्गतो न शुचिर्भवेत् । सोपानत्कोपानस्थो वा नोष्णीषी चाचमेद्बुधः
Without cleansing the feet, one is not pure on the path; one should not perform ācamana while wearing shoes or sandals, nor with a turban on the head.
न चैव वर्षधाराभिर्न तिष्ठन्नुद्धृतोदकैः । नैकहस्तार्पितजलैर्विना सूत्रेण वा पुनः
One should not perform ācamana with water falling from rain, nor while standing with water lifted up, nor with water offered by one hand only, nor without a thread.
न पादुकासनस्थो वा बहिर्जानुरथापि वा । न जल्पन्न हसन्प्रेक्षन्शयानस्तल्प एव च
One should not perform ācamana while seated on sandals or a seat, nor with knees outside, nor while talking, laughing, looking around, or lying on a bed.
नाविक्षिताभिः फेनाद्यैरुपेताभिरथापि वा । शूद्राशुचिकरोन्मुक्तैर्नक्षाराभिस्तथैव च
One should not perform ācamana with water mixed with foam or other impurities, nor with water touched by Śūdras, the impure, the insane, nor with alkaline substances.
न चैवांगुलिभिः शब्दं न कुर्यान्नान्यमानसः । न वर्णरसदुष्टाभिर्न चैव प्रदरोदकैः
One should not make noise with the fingers, nor be distracted in mind, nor use water that is discolored, tasteless, or foul, nor water that is flowing out.
न पाणिक्षुभिताभिर्वा न बहिर्गंध एव वा । हृद्गाभिः पूयते विप्रः कंठ्याभिः क्षत्रियः शुचिः
One should not use water stirred by the hand, nor water with an external odor; a Brāhmaṇa is purified by water that reaches the heart, a Kṣatriya by water that reaches the throat.
प्राशिताभिस्तथा वैश्यः स्त्रीशूद्रौ स्पर्शतोंऽततः । अंगुष्ठमूलांतरतो रेखायां ब्राह्ममुच्यते
Likewise, a Vaiśya is purified by water that is swallowed, while women and Śūdras by touch; water taken between the root of the thumb and the forefinger is called Brāhma.
अंतरांगुष्ठदेशिन्यैः पितॄणां तीर्थमुच्यते । कनिष्ठामूलतः पश्चात्प्राजापत्यं प्रचक्षते
Water taken between the thumb and the index finger is called the water of the ancestors; water taken from the root of the little finger is called Prājāpatya.
अंगुल्यग्रं स्मृतं दैवं तदेवार्षं प्रकीर्तितम् । मूलेन दैवमार्षं स्यादाग्नेयं मध्यतः स्मृतम्
Water taken at the tip of the fingers is called Daiva and also Ārṣa; water taken at the base of the fingers is Daiva and Ārṣa, and water taken at the middle is called Āgneya.
तदेव सौमिकं तीर्थमेतज्ज्ञात्वा न मुह्यति । ब्राह्मेणैव तु तीर्थेन द्विजो नित्यमुपस्पृशेत्
That same water is called Saumika; knowing this, one does not become confused. A twice-born should always perform ācamana with the Brāhma water.
होमयेद्वाथ दैवेन न तु पित्र्येण वै द्विजाः । त्रिःप्राश्नीयादपः पूर्वं ब्राह्मेण प्रयतस्ततः
One may offer oblations with Daiva water, but not with Pitṛ water, O twice-born; one should sip water three times first, with Brāhma water, being pure.
संमृज्यांगुष्ठमूलेन मुखं वै समुपस्पृशेत् । अंगुष्ठानामिकाभ्यां तु स्पृशेन्नेत्रद्वयं ततः
After wiping the mouth with the root of the thumb, one should touch the face; then, with the thumb and ring finger, one should touch both eyes.
तर्जन्यंगुष्ठयोगेन स्पृशेन्नासापुटद्वयम् । कनिष्ठांगुष्ठयोगेन श्रवणे समुस्पृशेत्
With the thumb and forefinger together, one should touch both nostrils; with the thumb and little finger together, one should touch both ears.
सर्वासामथयोगेन हृदयं तु तनवा । स्पृशेद्वै शिरसस्तद्वदंगुष्ठेनांसकद्वयम्
With all his strength and concentration, he should touch his heart with his hand, and likewise touch both shoulders with his thumbs and head.
त्रिःप्राश्नीयाद्यदंभस्तु प्रीतास्तेनास्य देवताः । ब्रह्माविष्णुर्महेशश्च भवंतीत्यनुशुश्रुम
He should sip water three times; by this, the deities are pleased with him—Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha, so we have heard.
गंगा च यमुना चैव प्रीयेते परिमार्जनात् । संस्पृष्टयोर्लोचनयोः प्रीयेते शशिभास्करौ
By cleansing, the Ganga and Yamuna are pleased; when both eyes are touched, the moon and sun are likewise pleased.
नासत्यदस्रौ प्रीयेते स्पृशेन्नासापुटद्वयम् । कर्णयोः स्पृष्टयोस्तद्वत्प्रीयेते चानिलानलौ
The Ashvins are pleased when both nostrils are touched; likewise, when both ears are touched, the wind and fire are pleased.
संस्पृष्टे हृदये चास्य प्रीयंते सर्वदेवताः । मूर्ध्नि संस्पर्शनादेकः प्रीतः स पुरुषो भवेत्
When the heart is touched, all the deities are pleased with him; by touching the head, that person becomes especially favored.
नोच्छिष्टं कुर्वते वक्त्रे विप्रुषोंगे लगंति याः । दंतवद्दंतलग्नेषु जिह्वास्पर्शे शुचिर्भवेत्
Moisture that touches the mouth does not render one impure; if it adheres to the teeth or tongue, one becomes pure by touching the tongue.
स्पृशंति बिंदवः पादौ य आचामयतः परान् । भूमिपांशुसमा ज्ञेया न तैरस्पृश्यता भवेत्
Drops that touch the feet of one who is performing purification should be regarded as equal to earth and dust; they do not cause impurity.
मधुपर्के च सोमे च तांबूलस्य च भक्षणे । फलमूले चेक्षुदंडेन दोषं प्राह वै मनुः
In the case of madhuparka, soma, eating betel, fruit, roots, or sugarcane, Manu has declared there is a fault.