What Is to Be Avoided and Not Avoided

Verse 1 (markandeya.35.1)

मदालसोवाच अतः परं शृणुष्व त्वं वर्ज्यावर्ज्यप्रतिक्रियाम् । भोज्यमन्नं पर्युषितं स्नेहाक्तं चिरसंभृतम् ॥ ३५.१ ॥

madālasovāca ataḥ paraṃ śṛṇuṣva tvaṃ varjyāvarjyapratikriyām bhojyamannaṃ paryuṣitaṃ snehāktaṃ cirasaṃbhṛtam

Madalasa said: Now hear further what is to be avoided and what is not, and the remedy for each. Food that is stale may still be eaten, even if long kept, provided it is rich with ghee or oil.

Verse 2 (markandeya.35.2)

अस्नेहाश्चापि गोधूमयवगोरसविक्रियाः । शशकः कच्छपो गोधा श्वावित् खड्गोऽथ पुत्रक ॥ ३५.२ ॥

asnehāścāpi godhūmayavagorasavikriyāḥ śaśakaḥ kacchapo godhā śvāvit khaḍgo 'tha putraka

Preparations of wheat, barley, and milk may likewise be eaten even without oil; and, O child, the hare, the tortoise, the iguana, the porcupine, and the rhinoceros —

Verse 3 (markandeya.35.3)

भक्ष्या ह्येते तथा वर्ज्यौ ग्रामशूकरकुक्कुटौ । पितृदेवादिशेषश्च श्राद्धे ब्राह्मणकाम्यया ॥ ३५.३ ॥

bhakṣyā hyete tathā varjyau grāmaśūkarakukkuṭau pitṛdevādiśeṣaśca śrāddhe brāhmaṇakāmyayā

all these are permissible to eat; but the village pig and the domestic cock are to be avoided; and what remains after offering to the ancestors and gods may be eaten at a shraddha, for the pleasure of the brahmins.

Verse 4 (markandeya.35.4)

प्रोक्षितञ्चौषधार्थञ्च खादन्मांसं न दुष्यति । शङ्खाश्मस्वर्णरूप्याणां रज्जूनामथ वाससाम् ॥ ३५.४ ॥

prokṣitañcauṣadhārthañca khādanmāṃsaṃ na duṣyati śaṅkhāśmasvarṇarūpyāṇāṃ rajjūnāmatha vāsasām

Meat that has been ritually consecrated, or eaten for medicinal purposes, incurs no fault. Of conch-shell, stone, gold, and silver, of ropes and of garments —

Verse 5 (markandeya.35.5)

शाकमूलफलानाञ्च तथा विदलचर्मणाम् । मणिवज्रप्रवालानान्तथा मुक्ताफलस्य च ॥ ३५.५ ॥

śākamūlaphalānāñca tathā vidalacarmaṇām maṇivajrapravālānāntathā muktāphalasya ca

of vegetables, roots, and fruits, of split pulses and of leather, of gems, diamond, and coral, and likewise of pearls —

Verse 6 (markandeya.35.6)

गात्राणाञ्च मनुष्याणामम्बुना शौचमिष्यते । यथायसानां तोयेन ग्राव्णः सङ्घर्षणेन च ॥ ३५.६ ॥

gātrāṇāñca manuṣyāṇāmambunā śaucamiṣyate yathāyasānāṃ toyena grāvṇaḥ saṅgharṣaṇena ca

the purification of the human body is held to be by water; similarly of iron objects by water, and of stone by scouring.

Verse 7 (markandeya.35.7)

सस्त्रेहानाञ्च भाण्डानां शुद्धिरुष्णेन वारिणा । शूर्पधान्याजिनानाञ्च मुषलोलूखलस्य च ॥ ३५.७ ॥

sastrehānāñca bhāṇḍānāṃ śuddhiruṣṇena vāriṇā śūrpadhānyājinānāñca muṣalolūkhalasya ca

of greasy vessels, purification is by hot water; and of the winnowing-basket, grain, hide, the pestle, and the mortar —

Verse 8 (markandeya.35.8)

संहतानाञ्च वस्त्राणां प्रोक्षणात् सञ्चयस्य च । वल्कलानामशेषाणामम्बुमृच्छौचमिष्यते ॥ ३५.८ ॥

saṃhatānāñca vastrāṇāṃ prokṣaṇāt sañcayasya ca valkalānāmaśeṣāṇāmambumṛcchaucamiṣyate

of tightly-woven cloth, purification is by sprinkling, as it is for stored stock; the purification of all bark-garments is held to be by water and earth.

Verse 9 (markandeya.35.9)

तृणकाष्ठौषधीनाञ्च प्रोक्षणात् शुद्धिरिष्यते । आविकानां समस्तानां केशानाञ्चापि मेध्यता ॥ ३५.९ ॥

tṛṇakāṣṭhauṣadhīnāñca prokṣaṇāt śuddhiriṣyate āvikānāṃ samastānāṃ keśānāñcāpi medhyatā

Of grass, wood, and herbs, purification by sprinkling is prescribed; and the purity of all woollen things and of hair likewise.

Verse 10 (markandeya.35.10)

सिद्धार्थकानां कल्केन तिलकल्केन वा पुनः । साम्बुना तात ! भवति उपघातवतां सदा ॥ ३५.१० ॥

siddhārthakānāṃ kalkena tilakalkena vā punaḥ sāmbunā tāta ! bhavati upaghātavatāṃ sadā

O dear one, by a paste of white mustard, or again by a paste of sesame, together with water, purification is always achieved for things that have been soiled or damaged.

Verse 11 (markandeya.35.11)

तथा कार्पासिकानाञ्च विशुद्धिर्जलभस्मना । दारुदन्तास्थिशृङ्गाणां तक्षणाच्छुद्धिरिष्यते ॥ ३५.११ ॥

tathā kārpāsikānāñca viśuddhirjalabhasmanā dārudantāsthiśṛṅgāṇāṃ takṣaṇācchuddhiriṣyate

Likewise, purification of cotton articles is by water and ash; purification of wood, ivory, bone, and horn is achieved by scraping the surface.

Verse 12 (markandeya.35.12)

पुनः पाकेन भाण्डानां पार्थिवानाञ्च मेध्यता । शुचिर्भैक्षं कारुहस्तः पण्यं योषिन्मुखं तथा ॥ ३५.१२ ॥

punaḥ pākena bhāṇḍānāṃ pārthivānāñca medhyatā śucirbhaikṣaṃ kāruhastaḥ paṇyaṃ yoṣinmukhaṃ tathā

Of earthen vessels, purity is achieved by re-firing; alms-food, a craftsman's hand, an article of merchandise, and likewise a woman's mouth in intimacy are held to be inherently pure.

Verse 13 (markandeya.35.13)

रथ्यागतमविज्ञातं दासवर्गादिनाहृतम् । वाक्रप्रशास्तं चिरातीतमनेकान्तरितं लघु ॥ ३५.१३ ॥

rathyāgatamavijñātaṃ dāsavargādināhṛtam vākrapraśāstaṃ cirātītamanekāntaritaṃ laghu

What comes from the roadway, what is of unknown source, what is brought by servants, what is sanctioned by common custom, what is long past its freshness, what has passed through many hands, and what is trifling in quantity —

Verse 14 (markandeya.35.14)

अतिप्रभूतं बालञ्च वृद्धातुरविचेष्टितम् । कर्मान्ताङ्गाराशालाश्च स्तनन्धयसुताः स्त्रियः ॥ ३५.१४ ॥

atiprabhūtaṃ bālañca vṛddhāturaviceṣṭitam karmāntāṅgārāśālāśca stanandhayasutāḥ striyaḥ

even in great quantity, are not thereby impure; nor is the involuntary act of a child, an old person, or an invalid; nor a workshop or a room with a hearth-fire, nor women nursing infants.

Verse 15 (markandeya.35.15)

शुचिन्यश्च तथैवापः स्त्रन्त्योऽगन्धबुद्बुदाः । भूमिर्विशुध्यते कालाद्दाहमार्जनगोक्रमैः ॥ ३५.१५ ॥

śucinyaśca tathaivāpaḥ strantyo 'gandhabudbudāḥ bhūmirviśudhyate kālāddāhamārjanagokramaiḥ

Likewise, flowing water free of smell and foam is held to be pure; the ground is purified over time by burning, sweeping, and the passage of cattle across it.

Verse 16 (markandeya.35.16)

लेपादुल्लेखनात् सेकाद्वेश्मसंमार्जनार्चनात् । केशकीटावपन्ने च गोघ्राते मक्षिकान्विते ॥ ३५.१६ ॥

lepādullekhanāt sekādveśmasaṃmārjanārcanāt keśakīṭāvapanne ca goghrāte makṣikānvite

the ground is likewise purified by plastering, scraping, sprinkling, by sweeping the dwelling, and by ritual worship; and where hair or insects have fallen, or a cow has sniffed, or flies have settled —

Verse 17 (markandeya.35.17)

मृदम्बुभस्मना तात ! प्रोक्षितव्यं विशुद्धये । औदुम्बराणामम्लेन क्षारेण त्रपुसीसयोः ॥ ३५.१७ ॥

mṛdambubhasmanā tāta ! prokṣitavyaṃ viśuddhaye audumbarāṇāmamlena kṣāreṇa trapusīsayoḥ

O dear one, it should be sprinkled with earth, water, and ash for purification; of copper vessels, purification is by something sour or by alkali, and likewise of tin and lead —

Verse 18 (markandeya.35.18)

भस्माम्बुभिश्च कांस्यानां शुद्धिः प्लावाद् द्रवस्य च । अमेध्याक्तस्य मृत्तोयैर्गन्धापहरणेन च ॥ ३५.१८ ॥

bhasmāmbubhiśca kāṃsyānāṃ śuddhiḥ plāvād dravasya ca amedhyāktasya mṛttoyairgandhāpaharaṇena ca

of bronze vessels, purification is by ash and water; of a liquid, by pouring it out; and of something smeared with what is impure, by earth and water, through the removal of the odor.

Verse 19 (markandeya.35.19)

अन्येषाञ्चैव तद्द्रव्यैर्वर्णगन्धापहारतः । शुचि गोतृप्तिकृत्तोयं प्रकृतिस्थं महीगतम् ॥ ३५.१९ ॥

anyeṣāñcaiva taddravyairvarṇagandhāpahārataḥ śuci gotṛptikṛttoyaṃ prakṛtisthaṃ mahīgatam

other things too are purified by their own respective substances, through the removal of color and smell; water is pure that would satisfy a cow, that remains in its natural state, and that belongs to a natural source upon the earth.

Verse 20 (markandeya.35.20)

तथा मांसञ्च चण्डालक्राव्यादादिनिपातितम् । रथ्यागतञ्च चेलादि तात ! वातात् शुचि स्मृतम् ॥ ३५.२० ॥

tathā māṃsañca caṇḍālakrāvyādādinipātitam rathyāgatañca celādi tāta ! vātāt śuci smṛtam

Likewise, meat felled by an outcaste, by a carrion-eating creature, or the like is impure; but cloth and the like found on the roadside, O dear one, is held pure by the mere touch of the wind.

Verse 21 (markandeya.35.21)

रजोऽग्निरश्वो गौश्छाया रश्मयः पवनो मही । विप्रुषो मक्षिकाद्याश्च दुष्टसङ्गाददोषिणः ॥ ३५.२१ ॥

rajo 'gniraśvo gauśchāyā raśmayaḥ pavano mahī vipruṣo makṣikādyāśca duṣṭasaṅgādadoṣiṇaḥ

Dust, fire, a horse, a cow, shadow, light-rays, wind, earth, water-droplets, and flies and the like are not tainted merely through contact with something impure.

Verse 22 (markandeya.35.22)

अजाश्वौ मुखतो मेध्यौ न गोर्वत्सस्य चाननम् । मातुः प्रस्त्रवणं मेध्यं शकुनिः फलपातने ॥ ३५.२२ ॥

ajāśvau mukhato medhyau na gorvatsasya cānanam mātuḥ prastravaṇaṃ medhyaṃ śakuniḥ phalapātane

The goat's and the horse's mouth are pure, but not the mouth of a cow's calf; a mother's milk is pure; a bird is held pure in causing fruit to fall.

Verse 23 (markandeya.35.23)

आसनं शयनं यानं नावः पथि तृणानि च । सोमसूर्यांशुपवनैः शुध्यन्ते तानि पण्यवत् ॥ ३५.२३ ॥

āsanaṃ śayanaṃ yānaṃ nāvaḥ pathi tṛṇāni ca somasūryāṃśupavanaiḥ śudhyante tāni paṇyavat

A seat, a bed, a vehicle, boats, and roadside grass — all these are purified by the rays of the moon and sun, and by the wind, just like ordinary merchandise.

Verse 24 (markandeya.35.24)

रथ्यावसर्पण-स्त्रान-क्षुत्पान-म्लानकर्मसु । आचामेत यथान्यायं वासो विपरिधाय च ॥ ३५.२४ ॥

rathyāvasarpaṇa-strāna-kṣutpāna-mlānakarmasu ācāmeta yathānyāyaṃ vāso viparidhāya ca

After walking on the road, alighting from a vehicle, bathing, sneezing, drinking water, or any exhausting task, one should duly sip water and also change one's garment.

Verse 25 (markandeya.35.25)

स्पृष्टानामप्यसंसर्गैर्विरथ्याकर्दमाम्भसाम् । पक्वेष्टरचितानाञ्च मेध्यता वायुसङ्गमात् ॥ ३५.२५ ॥

spṛṣṭānāmapyasaṃsargairvirathyākardamāmbhasām pakveṣṭaracitānāñca medhyatā vāyusaṅgamāt

Even touched things, absent direct contact, do not spread their fault — like roadside mud and puddles; and things built of baked brick are purified by mere contact with air.

Verse 26 (markandeya.35.26)

प्रभूतोपहतादन्नादग्रमुद्धृत्य सन्त्यजेत् । शेषस्य प्रोक्षणं कुर्यादाचम्यादिभस्तथा मृदा ॥ ३५.२६ ॥

prabhūtopahatādannādagramuddhṛtya santyajet śeṣasya prokṣaṇaṃ kuryādācamyādibhastathā mṛdā

From food that has become greatly contaminated, the topmost portion should be removed and discarded; the remainder should be purified by sprinkling, by sipping water, and also with earth.

Verse 27 (markandeya.35.27)

उपवासस्त्रिरात्रन्तु दुष्टभक्ताशिनो भवेत् । अज्ञाते ज्ञानपूर्वन्तु तद्दोषोपशमेन तु ॥ ३५.२७ ॥

upavāsastrirātrantu duṣṭabhaktāśino bhavet ajñāte jñānapūrvantu taddoṣopaśamena tu

One who has eaten contaminated food should observe a three-night fast; whether done unknowingly or knowingly, its expiation follows according to the severity of that fault.

Verse 28 (markandeya.35.28)

उदक्याश्वशृगालादीन् सूतिकान्त्यावसायिनः । स्पृष्ट्वा स्नायीत शौचार्थं तथैव मृतहारिणः ॥ ३५.२८ ॥

udakyāśvaśṛgālādīn sūtikāntyāvasāyinaḥ spṛṣṭvā snāyīta śaucārthaṃ tathaiva mṛtahāriṇaḥ

Having touched a menstruating woman, a dog, a jackal and the like, a woman just delivered of a child, or an antyavasayin, one should bathe for purification; likewise after touching one who has carried a corpse.

Verse 29 (markandeya.35.29)

नारं स्पृष्ट्वास्थि सस्त्रेहं स्त्रातः शुध्यति मानवः । आचम्यैव तु निः स्त्रेहं गामालभ्यार्कमीक्ष्य वा ॥ ३५.२९ ॥

nāraṃ spṛṣṭvāsthi sastrehaṃ strātaḥ śudhyati mānavaḥ ācamyaiva tu niḥ strehaṃ gāmālabhyārkamīkṣya vā

Having touched a human bone still bearing flesh, a man is purified by bathing; but by touching a bone without flesh, he is purified merely by sipping water, or by touching a cow, or by looking at the sun.

Verse 30 (markandeya.35.30)

न लङ्घयेत् तथैवासृक्ष्ठीवनोद्वर्तनानि च । नोद्यानादौ विकालेषु प्राज्ञस्तिष्ठेत् कदाचन ॥ ३५.३० ॥

na laṅghayet tathaivāsṛkṣṭhīvanodvartanāni ca nodyānādau vikāleṣu prājñastiṣṭhet kadācana

Likewise, one should not step over blood, spittle, or the scourings of a bath; the wise man should never linger in a garden or similar place at improper hours.

Verse 31 (markandeya.35.31)

न चालपेज्जनद्विष्टां वीरहीनान्तथा स्त्रियम् । गृहादुच्छिष्टविण्मूत्रपादाम्भांसि क्षिपेद्वहिः ॥ ३५.३१ ॥

na cālapejjanadviṣṭāṃ vīrahīnāntathā striyam gṛhāducchiṣṭaviṇmūtrapādāmbhāṃsi kṣipedvahiḥ

One should not converse with a woman held in ill repute, nor with one who is without a protector; leftover food, excrement, urine, and foot-washing water should be thrown outside the house.

Verse 32 (markandeya.35.32)

पञ्च पिण्डाननुधृत्य न स्त्रायात् परवारिणि । स्त्रायीत देवखातेषु गङ्गा-ह्रदृसरित्सु च ॥ ३५.३२ ॥

pañca piṇḍānanudhṛtya na strāyāt paravāriṇi strāyīta devakhāteṣu gaṅgā-hradṛsaritsu ca

Without first offering five handfuls of earth, one should not bathe in another's reservoir; one should bathe in the pools dug by the gods, in the Ganga, in natural lakes and rivers.

Verse 33 (markandeya.35.33)

देवता-पितृ-सच्छास्त्र-यज्ञ-मन्त्रादिनिन्दकैः । कृत्वा तु स्पर्शनालापं शुध्येतार्कावलोकनात् ॥ ३५.३३ ॥

devatā-pitṛ-sacchāstra-yajña-mantrādinindakaiḥ kṛtvā tu sparśanālāpaṃ śudhyetārkāvalokanāt

If one has had contact or conversation with those who revile the gods, the ancestors, the true scriptures, sacrifice, or the sacred mantras, purification comes through looking at the sun.

Verse 34 (markandeya.35.34)

अवलोक्य तथोदक्यामन्त्यजं पतितं शवम् । विधर्मि-सूतिका-षण्ड-विवस्त्रान्त्यावसायिनः ॥ ३५.३४ ॥

avalokya tathodakyāmantyajaṃ patitaṃ śavam vidharmi-sūtikā-ṣaṇḍa-vivastrāntyāvasāyinaḥ

Likewise, having looked upon a menstruating woman, an outcaste, a fallen person, a corpse, one contrary to dharma, a woman just delivered, a eunuch, a naked person, or an antyavasayin —

Verse 35 (markandeya.35.35)

सूतनिर्यातकांश्चैव परदाररताश्च ये । एतदेव हि कर्तव्यं प्राज्ञैः शोधनमात्मनः ॥ ३५.३५ ॥

sūtaniryātakāṃścaiva paradāraratāśca ye etadeva hi kartavyaṃ prājñaiḥ śodhanamātmanaḥ

and having looked upon midwife-attendants and men devoted to adultery — the wise should likewise do this very thing, looking at the sun, for their own purification.

Verse 36 (markandeya.35.36)

अभोज्यं सूतिका-षण्ड-मार्जाराखुश्वकुक्कुटान् । पतिताविद्धचण्डाल-मृतहारांश्च धर्मवित् ॥ ३५.३६ ॥

abhojyaṃ sūtikā-ṣaṇḍa-mārjārākhuśvakukkuṭān patitāviddhacaṇḍāla-mṛtahārāṃśca dharmavit

The knower of dharma should not eat food touched by a woman just delivered, a eunuch, a cat, a rat, a dog, a domestic cock, a fallen or outcast person, a chandala, or one who carries corpses.

Verse 37 (markandeya.35.37)

संस्पृश्य शुध्यते स्त्रानादुदक्या ग्रामशूकरौ । तद्वच्च सूतिकाशौचदूषितौ पुरुषावपि ॥ ३५.३७ ॥

saṃspṛśya śudhyate strānādudakyā grāmaśūkarau tadvacca sūtikāśaucadūṣitau puruṣāvapi

Having touched a menstruating woman or a village pig, one is purified by bathing; likewise, two men defiled by the impurity of childbirth are purified in the same way.

Verse 38 (markandeya.35.38)

यस्य चानुदिनं हानिर्गृहे नित्यस्य कर्मणः । यश्च ब्राह्मणसन्त्यक्तः किल्विषी स नराधमः ॥ ३५.३८ ॥

yasya cānudinaṃ hānirgṛhe nityasya karmaṇaḥ yaśca brāhmaṇasantyaktaḥ kilviṣī sa narādhamaḥ

He in whose house the daily rite is neglected day after day, and he who has been shunned by brahmins — such a sinful man is the lowest of men.

Verse 39 (markandeya.35.39)

नित्यस्य कर्मणो हानिं न कुर्वोत कदाचन । तस्य त्वकरणे बन्धः केवलं मृतजन्मसु ॥ ३५.३९ ॥

nityasya karmaṇo hāniṃ na kurvota kadācana tasya tvakaraṇe bandhaḥ kevalaṃ mṛtajanmasu

The daily rite should never be neglected; its omission incurs no fault only on the occasions of death or birth in the family.

Verse 40 (markandeya.35.40)

दशाहं ब्राह्मणस्तिष्ठेद्दानहोमादिवर्जितः । क्षत्रियो द्वादशाहञ्च वैश्यो मासार्धमेव च ॥ ३५.४० ॥

daśāhaṃ brāhmaṇastiṣṭheddānahomādivarjitaḥ kṣatriyo dvādaśāhañca vaiśyo māsārdhameva ca

A brahmin should remain, for ten days, excluded from charity, the fire-oblation, and the like; a kshatriya for twelve days; and a vaishya for half a month.

Verse 41 (markandeya.35.41)

शूद्रस्तु मासमासीत निजकर्मविवर्जितः । ततः परं निजं कर्म कुर्युः सर्वे यथोदितम् ॥ ३५.४१ ॥

śūdrastu māsamāsīta nijakarmavivarjitaḥ tataḥ paraṃ nijaṃ karma kuryuḥ sarve yathoditam

And a shudra should remain, excluded from his own duties, for a full month; after that period, all classes should resume their own rites as prescribed.

Verse 42 (markandeya.35.42)

प्रोताय सलिलं देयं बहिर्दग्ध्वा तु गोत्रिकैः । प्रथमेऽह्नि चतुर्थे च सप्तमे नवमे तथा ॥ ३५.४२ ॥

protāya salilaṃ deyaṃ bahirdagdhvā tu gotrikaiḥ prathame 'hni caturthe ca saptame navame tathā

Having cremated the body outside the village, the kinsmen should offer water to the departed on the first day, the fourth, the seventh, and likewise the ninth.

Verse 43 (markandeya.35.43)

भस्मास्थिचयनं कार्यं चतुर्थे गोत्रिकैर्दिने । उर्ध्वं संचयनात् तेषामङ्गस्पर्शो विधीयते ॥ ३५.४३ ॥

bhasmāsthicayanaṃ kāryaṃ caturthe gotrikairdine urdhvaṃ saṃcayanāt teṣāmaṅgasparśo vidhīyate

On the fourth day, the kinsmen should gather the ashes and bones; only after that gathering is mutual touching among them permitted.

Verse 44 (markandeya.35.44)

सोदकैस्तु क्रियाः सर्वाः कार्याः संचयनात्परम् । स्पर्श एव सपिण्डानां मृताहनि तथोभयोः ॥ ३५.४४ ॥

sodakaistu kriyāḥ sarvāḥ kāryāḥ saṃcayanātparam sparśa eva sapiṇḍānāṃ mṛtāhani tathobhayoḥ

After the gathering, all rites should be performed by the sodakas, those more distant kin who share only water-offering; for the sapindas, mere touch suffices on the day of death itself, and likewise for both groups.

Verse 45 (markandeya.35.45)

अन्वेकमृक्षमाशस्त्र-तोयोद्बन्धन-वह्निषु । विषप्रपातादिमृते प्रायोनाशकयोरपि ॥ ३५.४५ ॥

anvekamṛkṣamāśastra-toyodbandhana-vahniṣu viṣaprapātādimṛte prāyonāśakayorapi

In the case of death by weapon, by drowning, by hanging, by fire, by poison, by falling, or by the fast unto death —

Verse 46 (markandeya.35.46)

बाले देशान्तरस्थे च तथा प्रव्रजिते मृते । सद्यः शौचमथान्यैश्च त्र्यहमुक्तमशौचकम् ॥ ३५.४६ ॥

bāle deśāntarasthe ca tathā pravrajite mṛte sadyaḥ śaucamathānyaiśca tryahamuktamaśaucakam

and in the death of a child, of one dwelling in a foreign land, or of a renunciate, purification is immediate; for all other kin, a three-day impurity period is declared.

Verse 47 (markandeya.35.47)

सपिण्डानां सपिण्डस्तु मृतेऽन्यस्मिन्मृतो यदि । पूर्वाशौचसमाख्यातैः कार्यास्त्वत्र दिनैः क्रियाः ॥ ३५.४७ ॥

sapiṇḍānāṃ sapiṇḍastu mṛte 'nyasminmṛto yadi pūrvāśaucasamākhyātaiḥ kāryāstvatra dinaiḥ kriyāḥ

If, among sapindas, another sapinda dies while the impurity from an earlier death is still ongoing, the rites here should be performed according to the days already declared for that earlier impurity.

Verse 48 (markandeya.35.48)

एष एव विधिर्दृष्टो जन्मन्यपि हि सूतके । सपिण्डानां सपिण्डेषु यथावत्सोदकेषु च ॥ ३५.४८ ॥

eṣa eva vidhirdṛṣṭo janmanyapi hi sūtake sapiṇḍānāṃ sapiṇḍeṣu yathāvatsodakeṣu ca

This same rule is seen to apply also in the impurity of birth — among sapindas in relation to sapindas, and duly among sodakas as well.

Verse 49 (markandeya.35.49)

जाते पुत्रे पितुः स्त्रानं सचेलन्तु विधीयते । तत्रापि यदि चान्यस्मिन् जाते जायेत चापरः ॥ ३५.४९ ॥

jāte putre pituḥ strānaṃ sacelantu vidhīyate tatrāpi yadi cānyasmin jāte jāyeta cāparaḥ

When a son is born, the father is enjoined to bathe with his clothes on; and if, within that same period, another child is born to a relative —

Verse 50 (markandeya.35.50)

तत्रापि शुद्धिरुद्दिष्टा पूर्वजन्मवतो दिनैः । दशद्वादशमासार्ध-माससंख्यैर्दिनैर्गतैः ॥ ३५.५० ॥

tatrāpi śuddhiruddiṣṭā pūrvajanmavato dinaiḥ daśadvādaśamāsārdha-māsasaṃkhyairdinairgataiḥ

there too purification is declared according to the days already elapsed from the earlier birth — upon the completion of the ten, twelve, or half-month count.

Verse 51 (markandeya.35.51)

स्वाः स्वाः कर्मक्रियाः कुर्युः सर्वे वर्णा यथाविधि । प्रेतमुद्दिश्य कर्तव्यमेकोद्दिष्टं ततः परम् ॥ ३५.५१ ॥

svāḥ svāḥ karmakriyāḥ kuryuḥ sarve varṇā yathāvidhi pretamuddiśya kartavyamekoddiṣṭaṃ tataḥ param

All the classes should perform their own respective rites duly; after this, the ekoddishta rite dedicated to the departed should be performed.

Verse 52 (markandeya.35.52)

दाननि चैव देयानि ब्राह्मणेभ्यो मनीषिभिः । यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चापि ययितं गृहे ॥ ३५.५२ ॥

dānani caiva deyāni brāhmaṇebhyo manīṣibhiḥ yadyadiṣṭatamaṃ loke yaccāpi yayitaṃ gṛhe

The wise should give gifts to brahmins — whatever is most cherished in the world, or whatever is prized within the home —

Verse 53 (markandeya.35.53)

तत्तद् गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्षयमिच्छता । पूर्णैस्तु दिवसैः स्पृष्ट्वा सलिलं वाहनायुधम् ॥ ३५.५३ ॥

tattad guṇavate deyaṃ tadevākṣayamicchatā pūrṇaistu divasaiḥ spṛṣṭvā salilaṃ vāhanāyudham

that very thing should be given to a worthy recipient by one who desires imperishable merit; and when the days of impurity are complete, having touched water, one may resume the use of vehicles and weapons —

Verse 54 (markandeya.35.54)

प्रतोददण्डौ च तथा सम्यग्वर्णाः कृतक्रियाः । स्ववर्णधर्मनिर्दिष्टमुपादानं तथा क्रियाः ॥ ३५.५४ ॥

pratodadaṇḍau ca tathā samyagvarṇāḥ kṛtakriyāḥ svavarṇadharmanirdiṣṭamupādānaṃ tathā kriyāḥ

and likewise the goad and the staff; thus all the classes, having duly completed their rites, should resume the occupations and observances prescribed by the duty of their own class.

Verse 55 (markandeya.35.55)

कुर्युः समस्ताः शुचिनः परत्रेह च भूतिदाः । अध्येतव्या त्रयी नित्यं भवितव्यं विपश्चिता ॥ ३५.५५ ॥

kuryuḥ samastāḥ śucinaḥ paratreha ca bhūtidāḥ adhyetavyā trayī nityaṃ bhavitavyaṃ vipaścitā

Being pure, all should do this, for it bestows prosperity both here and hereafter; the wise man should always keep studying the threefold Veda.

Verse 56 (markandeya.35.56)

धर्मतो धनमाहार्यं यष्टव्यञ्चापि यत्नतः । यच्चापि कुर्वतो नात्मा जुगुप्सामेति पुत्रक ! ॥ ३५.५६ ॥

dharmato dhanamāhāryaṃ yaṣṭavyañcāpi yatnataḥ yaccāpi kurvato nātmā jugupsāmeti putraka !

Wealth should be acquired righteously, and sacrifice performed with diligence; and, O child, whatever action, in doing which a man does not come to feel disgust at himself —

Verse 57 (markandeya.35.57)

तत्कर्तव्यमशङ्केन यन्न गोप्यं महाजने । एवमाचरतो वत्स ! पुरुषस्य गृहे सतः । धर्मार्थकामसंप्राप्त्या परत्रेह च शोभनम् ॥ ३५.५७ ॥

tatkartavyamaśaṅkena yanna gopyaṃ mahājane evamācarato vatsa ! puruṣasya gṛhe sataḥ dharmārthakāmasaṃprāptyā paratreha ca śobhanam

that alone should be done, without hesitation — whatever need not be concealed before the great and the good. O child, for a householder who conducts himself thus, the attainment of dharma, artha, and kama brings excellence both in this world and the next.