Description of the Rules of Purification

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.11.2.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । आचारहीनं न पुनन्ति वेदा यदप्यधीताः सह षड्भिरङ्गैः । छन्दांस्येनं मृत्युकाले त्यजन्ति नीडं शकुन्ता इव जातपक्षाः

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca ācārahīnaṁ na punanti vedā yadapyadhītāḥ saha ṣaḍbhiraṅgaiḥ chandāṁsyenaṁ mṛtyukāle tyajanti nīḍaṁ śakuntā iva jātapakṣāḥ

Shri Narayana said: The Vedas do not purify one devoid of right conduct, even though he has studied them together with their six auxiliary limbs. At the time of death the Vedic hymns abandon him, just as fledged birds abandon their nest.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.11.2.2)

ब्राह्मे मुहूर्त्ते चोत्थाय तत्सर्वं सम्यगाचरेत् । रात्रेरन्तिमयामे तु वेदाभ्यासं चरेद् बुधः

brāhme muhūrtte cotthāya tatsarvaṁ samyagācaret rātrerantimayāme tu vedābhyāsaṁ cared budhaḥ

Rising in the Brahma-muhurta, the pre-dawn hour, one should properly perform all the rites described. In the last watch of the night, the wise should practice recitation of the Veda.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.11.2.3)

किञ्चित्कालं ततः कुर्यादिष्टदेवानुचिन्तनम् । योगी तु पूर्वमार्गेण ब्रह्मध्यानं समाचरेत्

kiñcitkālaṁ tataḥ kuryādiṣṭadevānucintanam yogī tu pūrvamārgeṇa brahmadhyānaṁ samācaret

For a short while thereafter one should meditate on one's chosen deity; but the yogi should perform meditation on Brahman by the method already described.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.11.2.4)

जीवब्रह्मैक्यता येन जायते तु निरन्तरम् । जीवन्मुक्तश्च भवति तत्क्षणादेव नारद

jīvabrahmaikyatā yena jāyate tu nirantaram jīvanmuktaśca bhavati tatkṣaṇādeva nārada

O Narada, by that meditation through which the constant unity of the individual soul and Brahman arises, one becomes liberated-while-living in that very instant.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.11.2.5)

पञ्चपञ्च उषःकालः सप्तपञ्चारुणोदयः । अष्टपञ्चभवेत्प्रातः शेषः सूर्योदयः स्मृतः

pañcapañca uṣaḥkālaḥ saptapañcāruṇodayaḥ aṣṭapañcabhavetprātaḥ śeṣaḥ sūryodayaḥ smṛtaḥ

Ushahkala (dawn-time), arunodaya (the reddening of the sky), pratah (morning), and the remainder, which is remembered as sunrise itself — these are the successive divisions of the pre-dawn and dawn hours, each reckoned by its own count of muhurtas.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.11.2.6)

प्रातरुत्थाय यः कुर्याद्विण्मूत्रं द्विजसत्तमः । नैरृत्यामिषुविक्षेपमतीत्याभ्यधिकं भुवः

prātarutthāya yaḥ kuryādviṇmūtraṁ dvijasattamaḥ nairṛtyāmiṣuvikṣepamatītyābhyadhikaṁ bhuvaḥ

The best of the twice-born, rising in the morning to relieve himself, should go to the southwest, beyond a bowshot's distance from the settlement — indeed further still.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.11.2.7)

विण्मूत्रेऽपि च कर्णस्थ आश्रमे प्रथमे द्विजः । निवीतं पृष्ठतः कुर्याद्वानप्रस्थगृहस्थयोः

viṇmūtre'pi ca karṇastha āśrame prathame dvijaḥ nivītaṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ kuryādvānaprasthagṛhasthayoḥ

Even while relieving himself, the brahmachari in the first stage of life should keep the sacred thread looped over the ear; for the forest-dweller and the householder, it should hang behind, over the back.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.11.2.8)

कृत्वा यज्ञोपवीतं तु पृष्ठतः कण्ठलम्बितम् । विण्मूत्रं तु गृही कुर्यात्कर्णस्थं प्रथमाश्रमी

kṛtvā yajñopavītaṁ tu pṛṣṭhataḥ kaṇṭhalambitam viṇmūtraṁ tu gṛhī kuryātkarṇasthaṁ prathamāśramī

Having placed the sacred thread hanging from the neck around to the back, the householder should relieve himself thus; one in the first stage of life should keep it looped on the ear.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.11.2.9)

अन्तर्धाय तृणैर्भूमिं शिरः प्रावृत्य वाससा । वाचं नियम्य यत्नेन ष्ठीवनश्वासवर्जितः

antardhāya tṛṇairbhūmiṁ śiraḥ prāvṛtya vāsasā vācaṁ niyamya yatnena ṣṭhīvanaśvāsavarjitaḥ

Having covered the ground with grass, covered the head with cloth, restrained speech with effort, and avoided spitting and heavy breathing —

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.11.2.10)

न फालकृष्टे न जले न चितायां न पर्वते । जीर्णदेवालये कुर्यान्न वल्मीके न शाद्वले

na phālakṛṣṭe na jale na citāyāṁ na parvate jīrṇadevālaye kuryānna valmīke na śādvale

one should not relieve oneself on ploughed land, in water, on a cremation ground, on a mountain, in a ruined temple, on an anthill, or on green pasture.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.11.2.11)

न ससत्त्वेषु गर्तेषु न गच्छन्न पथि स्थितः । सन्ध्ययोरुभयोर्जप्ये भोजने दन्तधावने

na sasattveṣu garteṣu na gacchanna pathi sthitaḥ sandhyayorubhayorjapye bhojane dantadhāvane

Nor in pits inhabited by living creatures, nor while walking, nor while standing on a path; nor at either twilight, during japa, during meals, during tooth-cleaning,

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.11.2.12)

पितृकार्ये च दैवे च तथा मूत्रपुरीषयोः । उत्साहे मैथुने वापि तथा वै गुरुसन्निधौ

pitṛkārye ca daive ca tathā mūtrapurīṣayoḥ utsāhe maithune vāpi tathā vai gurusannidhau

nor during rites for the ancestors or the gods, nor while another relieves himself, nor during a festivity, nor during sexual union, nor indeed in the presence of one's guru.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.11.2.13)

यागे दाने ब्रह्मयज्ञे द्विजो मौनं समाचरेत् । देवता ऋषयः सर्वे पिशाचोरगराक्षसाः

yāge dāne brahmayajñe dvijo maunaṁ samācaret devatā ṛṣayaḥ sarve piśācoragarākṣasāḥ

During a sacrifice, during charitable giving, and during the Brahma-yajna, the twice-born should observe silence. [Before relieving himself he should say:] 'O all you gods, sages, spirits, serpents, and rakshasas —

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.11.2.14)

इतो गच्छन्तु भूतानि बहिर्भूमिं करोम्यहम् । इति सम्प्रार्थ्य पश्चात्तु कुर्याच्छौचं यथाविधि

ito gacchantu bhūtāni bahirbhūmiṁ karomyaham iti samprārthya paścāttu kuryācchaucaṁ yathāvidhi

depart from this place; I am about to relieve myself outside.' Having prayed thus, he should then perform the act of purification according to rule.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.11.2.15)

वाय्वग्नी विप्रमादित्यमापः पश्यंस्तथैव गाः । न कदाचन कुर्वीत विण्मूत्रस्य विसर्जनम्

vāyvagnī vipramādityamāpaḥ paśyaṁstathaiva gāḥ na kadācana kurvīta viṇmūtrasya visarjanam

One should never relieve oneself while facing the wind, fire, a brahmin, the sun, water, or cows.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.11.2.16)

उदङ्मुखो दिवा कुर्याद्रात्रौ चेद्दक्षिणामुखः । तत आच्छाद्य विण्मूत्रं लोष्ठपर्णतृणादिभिः

udaṅmukho divā kuryādrātrau ceddakṣiṇāmukhaḥ tata ācchādya viṇmūtraṁ loṣṭhaparṇatṛṇādibhiḥ

By day one should face north, and by night, face south. Thereafter one should cover the excrement with a clod of earth, leaves, grass, or the like.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.11.2.17)

गृहीतलिङ्ग उत्थाय स गच्छेद्वारिसन्निधौ । पात्रे जलं गहीत्वा तु गच्छेदन्यत्र चैव हि

gṛhītaliṅga utthāya sa gacchedvārisannidhau pātre jalaṁ gahītvā tu gacchedanyatra caiva hi

Having held the organ, he should rise and go to where water is; taking water in a vessel, he should then go to another spot for purification.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.11.2.18)

गृहीत्वा मृत्तिकां कूलाच्छ्वेतां ब्राह्मणसत्तमः । रक्तां पीतां तथा कृष्णां गृह्णीयुश्चान्यवर्णकाः

gṛhītvā mṛttikāṁ kūlācchvetāṁ brāhmaṇasattamaḥ raktāṁ pītāṁ tathā kṛṣṇāṁ gṛhṇīyuścānyavarṇakāḥ

The best of brahmins should take white clay from the riverbank; those of the other classes should take red, yellow, and black clay respectively.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.11.2.19)

अथवा या यत्र देशे सैव ग्राह्या द्विजोत्तमैः । अन्तर्जलाद्देवगृहाद्वल्मीकान्मूषकोत्करात्

athavā yā yatra deśe saiva grāhyā dvijottamaiḥ antarjalāddevagṛhādvalmīkānmūṣakotkarāt

Or else, whatever clay is available in a given locality, that alone should be taken by the best of the twice-born — but not clay from under water, from a temple, from an anthill, or from a rat's burrow-mound,

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.11.2.20)

कृतशौचावशिष्टाच्च न ग्राह्याः पञ्चमृत्तिकाः । मूत्रात्तु द्विगुणं शौचे मैथुने त्रिगुणं स्मृतम्

kṛtaśaucāvaśiṣṭācca na grāhyāḥ pañcamṛttikāḥ mūtrāttu dviguṇaṁ śauce maithune triguṇaṁ smṛtam

nor clay left over from someone else's purification — these five kinds of clay are not to be taken. Twice the amount is prescribed for purification after urination, and thrice after sexual union.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.11.2.21)

एका लिङ्गे करे तिस्र उभयोर्मृद्द्वयं स्मृतम् । मूत्रशौचं समाख्यातं शौचे तद् द्विगुणं स्मृतम्

ekā liṅge kare tisra ubhayormṛddvayaṁ smṛtam mūtraśaucaṁ samākhyātaṁ śauce tad dviguṇaṁ smṛtam

One portion of clay for the organ, three for the hand, and two more for both together — this is declared as purification after urination; for purification after defecation, this amount is doubled.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.11.2.22)

विट्शौचे लिङ्गदेशे तु प्रदद्यान्मृत्तिकाद्वयम् । पञ्चापाने दशैकस्मिन्नुभयोः सप्त मृत्तिकाः

viṭśauce liṅgadeśe tu pradadyānmṛttikādvayam pañcāpāne daśaikasminnubhayoḥ sapta mṛttikāḥ

In purification after defecation, two portions of clay should be applied to the organ, five to the anus, ten to one hand, and seven to both hands together.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.11.2.23)

वामपादं पुरस्कृत्य पश्चाद्दक्षिणमेव च । प्रत्येकं च चतुर्वारं मृत्तिकां लेपयेत्सुधीः

vāmapādaṁ puraskṛtya paścāddakṣiṇameva ca pratyekaṁ ca caturvāraṁ mṛttikāṁ lepayetsudhīḥ

Placing the left foot forward, then the right, the wise man should apply the clay four times to each.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.11.2.24)

एवं शौचं गृहस्थस्य द्विगुणं ब्रह्मचारिणः । त्रिगुणं वानप्रस्थस्य यतीनां च चतुर्गुणम्

evaṁ śaucaṁ gṛhasthasya dviguṇaṁ brahmacāriṇaḥ triguṇaṁ vānaprasthasya yatīnāṁ ca caturguṇam

This is the purification prescribed for the householder; twice that for the celibate student, thrice for the forest-dweller, and four times that for the ascetic.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.11.2.25)

आर्द्रामलकमाना तु मृत्तिका शौचकर्मणि । प्रत्येकं तु सदा ग्राह्या नातो न्यूना कदाचन

ārdrāmalakamānā tu mṛttikā śaucakarmaṇi pratyekaṁ tu sadā grāhyā nāto nyūnā kadācana

In the act of purification, each portion of clay taken should always be the size of a moist amalaka fruit, never less.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.11.2.26)

एतद्दिवा स्याद्विट्शौचं तदर्धं निशि कीर्तितम् । आतुरस्य तदर्धं तु मार्गस्थस्य तदर्धकम्

etaddivā syādviṭśaucaṁ tadardhaṁ niśi kīrtitam āturasya tadardhaṁ tu mārgasthasya tadardhakam

This is the purification prescribed by day; by night, half of it is declared; for the sick, half of that again; and for one who is traveling, half again.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.11.2.27)

स्त्रीशूद्राणामशक्तानां बालानां शौचकर्मणि । यथा गन्धक्षयः स्यात्तु तथा कुर्यादसङ्ख्यकम्

strīśūdrāṇāmaśaktānāṁ bālānāṁ śaucakarmaṇi yathā gandhakṣayaḥ syāttu tathā kuryādasaṅkhyakam

For women, shudras, the infirm, and children, in the act of purification, one should apply the clay without a fixed count, until the odor is gone.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.11.2.28)

गन्धलेपक्षयो यावत्तावच्छौचं विधीयते । सर्वेषामेव वर्णानामित्याह भगवान्मनुः

gandhalepakṣayo yāvattāvacchaucaṁ vidhīyate sarveṣāmeva varṇānāmityāha bhagavānmanuḥ

The blessed Manu has declared that purification is prescribed, for people of every class alike, to continue until the odor and residue are entirely gone.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.11.2.29)

वामहस्तेन शौचं तु कुर्याद्वै दक्षिणेन न । नाभेरधो वामहस्तो नाभेरूर्ध्वं तु दक्षिणः

vāmahastena śaucaṁ tu kuryādvai dakṣiṇena na nābheradho vāmahasto nābherūrdhvaṁ tu dakṣiṇaḥ

Purification should be done with the left hand, never with the right. Below the navel the left hand is used; above the navel, the right hand.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.11.2.30)

शौचकर्मणि विज्ञेयो नान्यथा द्विजपुङ्गवैः । जलपात्रं न गृह्णीयाद्विण्मूत्रोत्सर्जने बुधः

śaucakarmaṇi vijñeyo nānyathā dvijapuṅgavaiḥ jalapātraṁ na gṛhṇīyādviṇmūtrotsarjane budhaḥ

The foremost of the twice-born should know this rule in the act of purification, never otherwise. The wise should not hold the water-vessel while relieving themselves.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.11.2.31)

गृह्णीयाद्यदि मोहेन प्रायश्चित्तं चरेत्ततः । मोहाद्वाप्यथवाऽऽलस्यान्न कुर्याच्छौचमात्मनः

gṛhṇīyādyadi mohena prāyaścittaṁ carettataḥ mohādvāpyathavā''lasyānna kuryācchaucamātmanaḥ

If through confusion he does hold it, he should perform expiation. If out of confusion or laziness one fails to perform one's own purification —

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.11.2.32)

जलाहारस्त्रिरात्रः स्यात्ततो जापाच्च शुध्यति । देशकालद्रव्यशक्तिस्वोपपत्तीश्च सर्वशः

jalāhārastrirātraḥ syāttato jāpācca śudhyati deśakāladravyaśaktisvopapattīśca sarvaśaḥ

he should subsist on water alone for three nights, and thereafter is purified through japa. Having fully considered place, time, materials, one's own capacity, and what is fitting —

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.11.2.33)

ज्ञात्वा शौचं प्रकर्तव्यमालस्यं नात्र धारयेत् । पुरीषोत्सर्जने कुर्याद् गण्डूषान्द्वादशैव तु

jñātvā śaucaṁ prakartavyamālasyaṁ nātra dhārayet purīṣotsarjane kuryād gaṇḍūṣāndvādaśaiva tu

one should perform purification and never allow laziness here. After defecation, one should take exactly twelve mouth-rinses,

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.11.2.34)

चतुरो मूत्रविक्षेपे नातो न्यूनान्कदाचन । अधोमुखं नरः कृत्वा त्यजेत्तं वामतः शनैः

caturo mūtravikṣepe nāto nyūnānkadācana adhomukhaṁ naraḥ kṛtvā tyajettaṁ vāmataḥ śanaiḥ

and four after urination, never fewer. A man should let the water fall slowly to his left, with his face lowered.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.11.2.35)

आचम्य च ततः कुर्याद्दन्तधावनमादरात् । कण्टकिक्षीरवृक्षोत्थं द्वादशाङ्गुलमव्रणम्

ācamya ca tataḥ kuryāddantadhāvanamādarāt kaṇṭakikṣīravṛkṣotthaṁ dvādaśāṅgulamavraṇam

Having sipped water for purification, one should then reverently clean the teeth with a twig twelve fingers long, unblemished, taken from a thorny, milk-sapped tree,

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.11.2.36)

कनिष्ठिकाग्रवत्स्थूलं पूर्वार्धे कृतकूर्चकम् । करञ्जोदुम्बरौ चूतः कदम्बो लोध्रचम्पकौ । बदरीति द्रुमाश्चेति प्रोक्ता दन्तप्रधावने

kaniṣṭhikāgravatsthūlaṁ pūrvārdhe kṛtakūrcakam karañjodumbarau cūtaḥ kadambo lodhracampakau badarīti drumāśceti proktā dantapradhāvane

as thick as the tip of the little finger, its forward end frayed into a brush. For cleaning the teeth, the karanja, gular, mango, kadamba, lodhra, champa, and jujube trees are prescribed.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.11.2.37)

अन्नाद्याय व्यूहध्वंसे सोमो राजायमागमत् । स मे मुखं प्रक्षाल्य तेजसा च भगेन च

annādyāya vyūhadhvaṁse somo rājāyamāgamat sa me mukhaṁ prakṣālya tejasā ca bhagena ca

[While cleaning the teeth one recites:] 'For the sake of food, at the destruction of the array of darkness, this King Soma has come. Having washed my mouth with splendor and with good fortune —

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.11.2.38)

आयुर्बलं यशो वर्चः प्रजाः पशुवसूनि च । ब्रह्मप्रज्ञां च मेधां च त्वन्नो देहि वनस्पते

āyurbalaṁ yaśo varcaḥ prajāḥ paśuvasūni ca brahmaprajñāṁ ca medhāṁ ca tvanno dehi vanaspate

O Lord of the forest, grant to us long life, strength, fame, vital luster, progeny, cattle, and wealth, and grant us sacred wisdom and intellect as well.'

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.11.2.39)

अभावे दन्तकाष्ठस्य प्रतिषिद्धदिनेषु च । अपां द्वादशगण्डूषैर्विदध्याद्दन्तधावनम्

abhāve dantakāṣṭhasya pratiṣiddhadineṣu ca apāṁ dvādaśagaṇḍūṣairvidadhyāddantadhāvanam

In the absence of a tooth-twig, and on days when its use is forbidden, one should perform the cleaning of the teeth with twelve mouth-rinses of water instead.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.11.2.40)

रवेर्दिने यः कुरुते प्राणी दन्तस्य धावनम् । सविता भक्षितस्तेन स्वकुलं तेन घातितम्

raverdine yaḥ kurute prāṇī dantasya dhāvanam savitā bhakṣitastena svakulaṁ tena ghātitam

Whatever person cleans his teeth with a twig on the day of the Sun, by him the Sun himself is, as it were, devoured, and by him his own family is destroyed.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.11.2.41)

प्रतिपद्दर्शषष्ठीषु नवम्येकादशीरवौ । दन्तानां काष्ठसंयोगाद्दहत्यासप्तमं कुलम्

pratipaddarśaṣaṣṭhīṣu navamyekādaśīravau dantānāṁ kāṣṭhasaṁyogāddahatyāsaptamaṁ kulam

On the first lunar day, the new-moon day, the sixth, the ninth, the eleventh, and on Sunday — by the use of a tooth-twig on these days one burns one's family down to the seventh generation.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.11.2.42)

कृत्वालं पादशौचं ह्यमलमथ जलं त्रिःपिबेद् द्विर्विमृज्य तर्जन्याङ्गुष्ठवत्या सजलमभिमृशे- न्नासिकारन्ध्रयुग्मम् । अङ्गुष्ठानामिकाभ्यां नयनयुगयुतं कर्णयुग्मं कनिष्ठा- ङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नाभिदेशे हृदयमथ तले- नाङ्गुलीभिः शिरांसि

kṛtvālaṁ pādaśaucaṁ hyamalamatha jalaṁ triḥpibed dvirvimṛjya tarjanyāṅguṣṭhavatyā sajalamabhimṛśe- nnāsikārandhrayugmam aṅguṣṭhānāmikābhyāṁ nayanayugayutaṁ karṇayugmaṁ kaniṣṭhā- ṅguṣṭhābhyāṁ nābhideśe hṛdayamatha tale- nāṅgulībhiḥ śirāṁsi

Having thoroughly washed the feet, one should then drink pure water three times and wipe the lips twice; then, with thumb and forefinger moistened with water, one should touch both nostrils; with thumb and ring-finger, both eyes; with little finger and thumb, both ears; and then touch the navel-region and the heart, and finally the head, with the flat of the fingers.