Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.10.48
जटा निर्मुच्य विधिवत् कुलवृद्धै: समं गुरु: ।
अभ्यषिञ्चद् यथैवेन्द्रं चतु:सिन्धुजलादिभि: ॥ ४८ ॥
jaṭā nirmucya vidhivat
[jataa nirmuchya vidhivat]
kula-vṛddhaiḥ samaṁ guruḥ
[kula-vriddhaih samam guruh]
abhyaṣiñcad yathaivendraṁ
[abhyashinchad yathaivendram]
catuḥ-sindhu-jalādibhiḥ
[chatuh-sindhu-jalaadibhih]
Word-for-word
jaṭāḥ
—
the matted locks of hair on the head
nirmucya
—
shaving clean
vidhi-vat
—
according to regulative principles
kula-vṛddhaiḥ
—
the elderly persons in the family
samam
—
with
guruḥ
—
the family priest or spiritual master, Vasiṣṭha
abhyaṣiñcat
—
performed the abhiṣeka ceremony of Lord Rāmacandra
yathā
—
as
eva
—
like
indram
—
unto King Indra
catuḥ-sindhu-jala
—
with the water of the four oceans
ādibhiḥ
—
and with other paraphernalia for bathing.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jaṭā nirmucya vidhivat
jaṭāḥ
the matted locks of hair on the head
nirmucya
shaving clean
vidhi-vat
according to regulative principles
kula-vṛddhaiḥ samaṁ guruḥ
kula-vṛddhaiḥ
the elderly persons in the family
samam
with
guruḥ
the family priest or spiritual master, Vasiṣṭha
abhyaṣiñcad yathaivendraṁ
abhyaṣiñcat
performed the abhiṣeka ceremony of Lord Rāmacandra
yathā
as
eva
like
catuḥ-sindhu-jalādibhiḥ
indram
unto King Indra
catuḥ-sindhu-jala
with the water of the four oceans
ādibhiḥ
and with other paraphernalia for bathing.
The family priest or spiritual master, Vasiṣṭha, had Lord Rāmacandra cleanly shaved, freeing Him from His matted locks of hair. Then, with the cooperation of the elderly members of the family, he performed the bathing ceremony [abhiṣeka] for Lord Rāmacandra with the water of the four seas and with other substances, just as it was performed for King Indra.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The family priest Vasiṣṭha had Rāmacandra cleanly shave off his matted locks. Then, with the cooperation of the elderly members of the family, he performed the bathing ceremony for Rāmacandra with the water of the four seas and other substances, just as it was performed for King Indra.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Vasiṣṭha cleanly shaves Rāma's matted locks and bathes Him with water from the four seas. The proper end of any āśrama transition is marked by ritual purification under qualified guidance — not casual self-declaration.
Reflection Questions
- What life transition of mine has lacked ritual closure and qualified blessing?
- Where could I invite an elder to officiate over a passage I have just rushed through?
My note
Source: vedabase.io