History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.280

v5.c72.280

The word *āśauca* is formed from śuci (pure) according to Pāṇ. V. 1. 131596a and Pāṇ. VII. 3. 30 (vide note below) with the negative particle na (a). In some smṛtis such as that of Devala the form 'āśucya' also is found (see Hāralatā pp. 2, 9, 36 in quotations from Devala596b). Another word which is often used as a synonym for āśauca is 'agha'. It has been seen above (p. 6) that the word *agha* means 'sin' in the Vedic Literature (as in Ṛg. I. 97. 1-8, X. 117.6). But in the Śāṅ. Śr. IV. 15. 11, Manu V. 84 (na vardhayed-aghāhāni) the word 'agha' has come to mean the same thing as āśauca.⁵⁹⁷ The Padmapurāṇa II. 66. 73-74 states that since the outlets of the body always emit mucus, urine &c. it is always impure.