Verse 5.134

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

एका लिङ्गे गुदे तिस्रस्तथैकत्र करे दश ।
उभयोः सप्त दातव्या मृदः शुद्धिमभीप्सता ॥ १३४ ॥

ekā liṅge gude tisrastathaikatra kare daśa |
ubhayoḥ sapta dātavyā mṛdaḥ śuddhimabhīpsatā || 134 ||

One who desires cleanliness should apply earth—once to the urinary organ, thrice to the anus, ten times to one hand and seven times to both hands.—(134).

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

After the passing of urine and faeces, for the cleansing of the urinary organ, earth should be applied to it once.

In another Smṛti it has been laid down that one should take as much earth mixed with water as can be contained in one hand. What I assert is that in view of what has been said regarding the using of as much earth and water as may be necessary, the proper quantity would be what is stated in the present text. Some people quote, in this connection, the following saying—‘The hand bring filled up, the first (and largest) measure of it is called Prasṛti, the second is half of it; and the third part of it is called mṛttikā.’ But this measure applies to the case of anus-cleansing only. In all other cases, as much is to be used as may be necessary.

In the case of a single evacuation also, the number of applications is to be as here prescribed; and what is prescribed is the repetition of the act (of rubbing and washing).

There is a distinction among the various kinds of ‘earth’, just as there is among the various kinds of the ‘cow’ and other things. In present connection, for instance, it has been declared that ‘earth should be got from a place far removed from an ant-hill, us also from the stables’ and so forth. No account need be taken however of the distinction into ‘white’, ‘black’, ‘red’ and so forth.

‘Who desires’—who wishes.—(134).

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

(Verse 136 of others.)

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 36);—in Nityācārapradīpa (p. 255);—in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 215);—in Śuddhikaumudī (p. 334), which explains ‘ekatra’ as ‘in the left hand’;—in Smṛtitattva (p. 330), which explains ‘ubhayoḥ’ as ‘over the two hands’;—in Vīramitrodaya (Āhnika, p. 46), which explains ‘ekatra’ as ‘over the left hand’; it notes the reading ‘vāmakare’; and explains ‘ubhayoḥ’ as ‘over the two hands’;—in Madanapārijāta (p. 46);—in Smṛtikaumudī (p. 57) which explains ‘ekatra’ as ‘vāme,’ ‘over the left hand’;—in Yatidharmasaṅgraha (p. 53);—in Kṛtyasārasamuccaya (p. 46), which explains ‘ekatra’ as ‘over the left hand’ and, ‘ubhayoḥ’ as ‘over both the hands’;—and in Smṛtisāroddhāra (p. 266), which says that ‘śuddhi’ here stands for purity, and not cleanliness or freedom from smell &c., as this latter could be secured by even a lesser number of applications.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Vaśiṣṭha (6.18).—‘The organ is cleansed by one application of earth, the right hand by three, the feet by two, the arms by five, the left hand by ten, and both hands and feet by seven.’

Viṣṇu (60.25).—‘The organ should be cleaned by earth once, the hind parts three times, the left hand ten times, both hands together seven times, and both feet together three times.’

Baudhāyana (1.10.11-14).—‘After urinating, he shall clean the organ with earth and water,—the hand three times...... the number of applications is thrice three for both hand and feet.’

Śāṅkha (Aparārka, p. 36).—‘To the arms, earth should be applied seven times, to the urinary organ, twice, to one hand, twenty times, and to both hands fourteen times.’

Hārīta (Do.).—Applying earth ten times to the left hand, six times on the back, seven times to both hands, and to the feet three times,—he shall wash.’

Śātātapa (Parāśaramādhava, p. 215).—‘Once to the urinary organ, three times to the left hand, twice to both hands,—this is the purification laid down on passing urine; it should be thrice this on passing faeces.’

Baudhāyana (Parāśaramādhava, p. 215)—‘Earth shall be applied to the anus five times, to the left hand and feet thrice each.’

Vaśiṣṭha (Do., pp. 215-216).—‘Earth shall be applied five times to the anus, ten times to one hand and seven times to both hands, seven to both feet, and two to the urinary organ.’

Ādityapurāṇa (Do.).—‘Twenty times to one hand and fourteen times to both... Half of this serves to purify Śūdras and women. The purification at night is to be half of what it is during the day; and a quarter of this latter, on a journey; one in distress may do as much as he can.’