Rules of Purification and Atonement

Verse 1 (padma.4.19.1)

शौनक उवाच । अज्ञानात्प्राश्य विण्मूत्रं सुरां संस्पृश्य वा पुनः । यथा शुद्धिर्भवेत्तेषां कथयामि शृणु द्विज ।

śaunaka uvāca ajñānātprāśya viṇmūtraṁ surāṁ saṁspṛśya vā punaḥ yathā śuddhirbhavetteṣāṁ kathayāmi śṛṇu dvija

Shaunaka said: Having unknowingly eaten excrement or urine, or again having touched liquor — tell me, O Brahmin, how purification for these is achieved; I am listening.

Verse 2 (padma.4.19.2)

प्राजापत्यद्वयं कुर्य्यात्तीर्थाभिगमनं मुने । वृषैकादशगोदानं सशिखं वपनं ततः ।

prājāpatyadvayaṁ kuryyāttīrthābhigamanaṁ mune vṛṣaikādaśagodānaṁ saśikhaṁ vapanaṁ tataḥ

He should perform two Prajapatya penances, undertake pilgrimage to sacred places, O sage, give eleven bulls, and then have his head shaved with the topknot left.

Verse 3 (padma.4.19.3)

गत्वा चतुष्पथं सर्वं प्राजापत्यव्रतं तथा । गोद्वयं तु ततो दद्यात्पंचगव्यं पिबेत्ततः ।

gatvā catuṣpathaṁ sarvaṁ prājāpatyavrataṁ tathā godvayaṁ tu tato dadyātpaṁcagavyaṁ pibettataḥ

Going to a crossroads, he should also perform the Prajapatya vow; then he should give two cows and drink the panchagavya.

Verse 4 (padma.4.19.4)

ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा तु शुद्ध्यत्यत्र न संशयः । चांडालान्नं जलं चैव ज्ञानतोऽपि विपत्तिषु ।

brāhmaṇānbhojayitvā tu śuddhyatyatra na saṁśayaḥ cāṁḍālānnaṁ jalaṁ caiva jñānato'pi vipattiṣu

By feeding Brahmins he is purified — of this there is no doubt. If any man eats the food or water of a Chandala, whether knowingly or under calamity,

Verse 5 (padma.4.19.5)

यदि भुङ्क्ते नरः कश्चित्कृच्छ्रं चांद्रायणं चरेत् । सशिखं वपनं कृत्वा पंचगव्यं ततः पिबेत् ।

yadi bhuṅkte naraḥ kaścitkṛcchraṁ cāṁdrāyaṇaṁ caret saśikhaṁ vapanaṁ kṛtvā paṁcagavyaṁ tataḥ pibet

— he should perform the Krichchhra and Chandrayana penances; with his head shaved and topknot left, he should then drink the panchagavya.

Verse 6 (padma.4.19.6)

एकद्वित्रिचतुर्गावो देयाद्विप्रेष्वनुक्रमात् । वृषलान्नं सूतकान्नं अभोज्यान्नं जलं च वै ।

ekadvitricaturgāvo deyādvipreṣvanukramāt vṛṣalānnaṁ sūtakānnaṁ abhojyānnaṁ jalaṁ ca vai

He should give Brahmins one, two, three, or four cows in due order. The food of a low-born person, food touched by birth-impurity, forbidden food, and water —

Verse 7 (padma.4.19.7)

शूद्रोच्छिष्टं यदा भुंक्ते ज्ञानतो वा विपत्तिषु । प्राजापत्यद्वयं कुर्याच्चांद्रायणत्रयं तथा ।

śūdrocchiṣṭaṁ yadā bhuṁkte jñānato vā vipattiṣu prājāpatyadvayaṁ kuryāccāṁdrāyaṇatrayaṁ tathā

— if one eats the leavings of a Shudra, whether knowingly or under calamity, he should perform two Prajapatya penances and three Chandrayana penances,

Verse 8 (padma.4.19.8)

गोद्वयं तु ततो दद्यात्पंचगव्यं पिबेद्द्विज । हुत्वा ह्यग्नौ बहून्विप्रान्भोज्यशुद्धो भवेद्ध्रुवम् ।

godvayaṁ tu tato dadyātpaṁcagavyaṁ pibeddvija hutvā hyagnau bahūnviprānbhojyaśuddho bhaveddhruvam

— and then give two cows, O Brahmin, and drink the panchagavya; offering into the fire and feeding many Brahmins, he surely becomes fit again to eat with others.

Verse 9 (padma.4.19.9)

आखुनकुलमार्ज्जारैरन्नं चेद्भक्षितं द्विज । तिलदर्भोदकैः प्रोक्ष्य शुद्ध्यत्येव न संशयः ।

ākhunakulamārjjārairannaṁ cedbhakṣitaṁ dvija tiladarbhodakaiḥ prokṣya śuddhyatyeva na saṁśayaḥ

If food touched by a mouse, a mongoose, or a cat has been eaten, O Brahmin, sprinkling it with sesame, kusha grass, and water surely purifies it, without doubt.

Verse 10 (padma.4.19.10)

पलांडुं लशुनं शिग्रुमलाबुं गृंजनं पलम् । भुंक्ते यो वै नरो ब्रह्मन्व्रतं चांद्रायणं चरेत् ।

palāṁḍuṁ laśunaṁ śigrumalābuṁ gṛṁjanaṁ palam bhuṁkte yo vai naro brahmanvrataṁ cāṁdrāyaṇaṁ caret

Whatever man eats onion, garlic, drumstick, bottle gourd, or a root such as carrot, O Brahmin, should perform the Chandrayana vow.

Verse 11 (padma.4.19.11)

मद्यमांसप्रियं शूद्रं नीचकर्म्मानुवर्त्तनैः । तं शूद्रं वर्जयेद्विप्र श्वपाकमिव दूरतः ।

madyamāṁsapriyaṁ śūdraṁ nīcakarmmānuvarttanaiḥ taṁ śūdraṁ varjayedvipra śvapākamiva dūrataḥ

A Shudra devoted to liquor and meat, given to base conduct, O Brahmin, should be avoided from a distance just as a dog-cooker is avoided.

Verse 12 (padma.4.19.12)

द्विजसेवानुरक्ता ये मद्यमांसविवर्जिताः । दान स्वकर्म्मनिरतास्ते ज्ञेया वृषलोत्तमाः ।

dvijasevānuraktā ye madyamāṁsavivarjitāḥ dāna svakarmmaniratāste jñeyā vṛṣalottamāḥ

Those Shudras who are devoted to the service of Brahmins, free of liquor and meat, given to charity and their own proper work, should be known as the best among the low-born.

Verse 13 (padma.4.19.13)

अज्ञानाद्भुंजते विप्र सूतके मृतके यदि । गायत्रीदशभिर्विप्रः सहस्रैश्च शुचिर्भवेत् ।

ajñānādbhuṁjate vipra sūtake mṛtake yadi gāyatrīdaśabhirvipraḥ sahasraiśca śucirbhavet

If a Brahmin unknowingly eats food during a period of birth-impurity or death-impurity, he becomes pure through ten thousand recitations of the Gayatri.

Verse 14 (padma.4.19.14)

सहस्रैः क्षत्रियश्चैव वैश्यः पंचसहस्रकैः । पंचगव्यैर्भवेच्छुद्धो वृषलोऽपि तपोधन ।

sahasraiḥ kṣatriyaścaiva vaiśyaḥ paṁcasahasrakaiḥ paṁcagavyairbhavecchuddho vṛṣalo'pi tapodhana

A Kshatriya through a thousand recitations, and a Vaishya through five thousand; even a low-born person, O ascetic, becomes pure through the five products of the cow.

Verse 15 (padma.4.19.15)

आज्यं तु तोयं नीचस्य भांडस्थं दधि यः पिबेत् । अज्ञानतोऽपि यो वर्णः प्राजापत्यव्रतं चरेत् ।

ājyaṁ tu toyaṁ nīcasya bhāṁḍasthaṁ dadhi yaḥ pibet ajñānato'pi yo varṇaḥ prājāpatyavrataṁ caret

Whoever drinks ghee, water, or curd kept in a low-caste person's vessel — of whatever varna, even unknowingly — should perform the Prajapatya vow,

Verse 16 (padma.4.19.16)

दानं बहुतरं दद्याच्छुद्धो ह्यग्नौ यथाविधि । शूद्राणां नोपवासोऽपि दानेनैव विशुद्ध्यति ।

dānaṁ bahutaraṁ dadyācchuddho hyagnau yathāvidhi śūdrāṇāṁ nopavāso'pi dānenaiva viśuddhyati

— and give abundant charity; offering into the fire, he becomes duly purified. For Shudras, fasting is not required; they are purified by gift alone.

Verse 17 (padma.4.19.17)

सशिखं वपनं कुर्यादहोरात्रोपवासतः । नीचैर्दंडादिभिश्चैव ताडितो यो नरो द्विज ।

saśikhaṁ vapanaṁ kuryādahorātropavāsataḥ nīcairdaṁḍādibhiścaiva tāḍito yo naro dvija

He should have his head shaved with the topknot left, and fast a full day and night. O Brahmin, whatever man is struck by a low person with a rod or the like,

Verse 18 (padma.4.19.18)

प्राज्ञापत्यव्रतं कुर्य्याच्चांद्रायणव्रतं तु वा । सशिखं वपनं चैव पंचगव्यं पिबेत्ततः ।

prājñāpatyavrataṁ kuryyāccāṁdrāyaṇavrataṁ tu vā saśikhaṁ vapanaṁ caiva paṁcagavyaṁ pibettataḥ

— should perform the Prajapatya vow, or else the Chandrayana vow; his head shaved with the topknot left, he should then drink the panchagavya.

Verse 19 (padma.4.19.19)

गोद्वयं तु ततो दद्यादग्नौ चान्नादिकं हुतम् । मद्यपानं गृहे विप्र ज्ञानतोऽपि यदृच्छया ।

godvayaṁ tu tato dadyādagnau cānnādikaṁ hutam madyapānaṁ gṛhe vipra jñānato'pi yadṛcchayā

He should then give two cows, and offer food and the like as oblation into the fire. O Brahmin, whatever man drinks liquor at home, whether knowingly or by chance,

Verse 20 (padma.4.19.20)

यदि भुंक्ते नरः कश्चित्पात्यः सोऽपि कुलान्नरः । गोबीजहंता यो विप्रच्छेदकश्च दलस्य च ।

yadi bhuṁkte naraḥ kaścitpātyaḥ so'pi kulānnaraḥ gobījahaṁtā yo vipracchedakaśca dalasya ca

— such a man, even one born into a good family, falls from his caste. Whoever destroys a cow's unborn calf, or kills a Brahmin, or severs a sacred leaf,

Verse 21 (padma.4.19.21)

स्वर्णस्तेयी भवेत्कृच्छ्रं प्राजापत्यत्रयं चरेत् । सशिखं वपनं कृत्वा पंचगव्यं तथा पिबेत् ।

svarṇasteyī bhavetkṛcchraṁ prājāpatyatrayaṁ caret saśikhaṁ vapanaṁ kṛtvā paṁcagavyaṁ tathā pibet

— and whoever steals gold, should perform the severe Krichchhra penance and three Prajapatya penances; with head shaved and topknot left, he should then drink the panchagavya,

Verse 22 (padma.4.19.22)

यथाविधिहुतं चाग्नौ दद्याद्धेनुत्रयं तथा । तस्य भुक्तं जलं चैव ग्राह्यं स्याद्वै तपोधन ।

yathāvidhihutaṁ cāgnau dadyāddhenutrayaṁ tathā tasya bhuktaṁ jalaṁ caiva grāhyaṁ syādvai tapodhana

— and, offering duly into the fire, give three cows as well. Then, O ascetic, his food and drink become acceptable to others once more.

Verse 23 (padma.4.19.23)

प्रातस्त्र्यहं तु चाश्नीयात्र्यहं सायमयाचितम् । त्र्यहं चैव तु नाश्नीयात्प्राजापत्यमिदं व्रतम् ।

prātastryahaṁ tu cāśnīyātryahaṁ sāyamayācitam tryahaṁ caiva tu nāśnīyātprājāpatyamidaṁ vratam

One should eat in the morning for three days, eat only unsolicited food in the evening for three days, and eat nothing at all for three days — this is the vow called Prajapatya.

Verse 24 (padma.4.19.24)

गोमूत्रं गोमयं क्षीरं दधिसर्पिः कुशोदकम् । दिनद्वयं पिबेद्विप्र चैकरात्रमुपोषितः । सर्वपापहरं कृच्छ्रं मुने सांतपनं स्मृतम् ।

gomūtraṁ gomayaṁ kṣīraṁ dadhisarpiḥ kuśodakam dinadvayaṁ pibedvipra caikarātramupoṣitaḥ sarvapāpaharaṁ kṛcchraṁ mune sāṁtapanaṁ smṛtam

Cow's urine, cow-dung, milk, curd, ghee, and kusha-water — these, O Brahmin, should be taken for two days, with one full night of fasting; this sin-removing penance, O sage, is called Santapana.

Verse 25 (padma.4.19.25)

ग्रासं त्र्यहं तु चैकैकं प्रातःसायमयाचितम् । अद्यात्त्र्यहं चोपवसेदतिकृच्छ्रमिदं व्रतम् ।

grāsaṁ tryahaṁ tu caikaikaṁ prātaḥsāyamayācitam adyāttryahaṁ copavasedatikṛcchramidaṁ vratam

One should eat a single unsolicited morsel morning and evening for three days, and fast for three more days — this is the vow called Atikrichchhra.

Verse 26 (padma.4.19.26)

प्रतित्र्यहं पिबेदुष्णं जलं क्षीरं घृतं द्विज । सकृत्स्नायी तप्तकृच्छ्रं स्मृतं पापहरं मुने ।

pratitryahaṁ pibeduṣṇaṁ jalaṁ kṣīraṁ ghṛtaṁ dvija sakṛtsnāyī taptakṛcchraṁ smṛtaṁ pāpaharaṁ mune

In each successive three-day period one should drink, in turn, hot water, milk, and ghee, O Brahmin, bathing on each occasion; this, O sage, is remembered as the sin-removing Taptakrichchhra.

Verse 27 (padma.4.19.27)

अभोजनं द्वादशाहं कृच्छ्रोऽयं पापनाशनः । पराको नाम विज्ञेयः प्रसिद्धश्च तपोधन ।

abhojanaṁ dvādaśāhaṁ kṛcchro'yaṁ pāpanāśanaḥ parāko nāma vijñeyaḥ prasiddhaśca tapodhana

Abstaining from all food for twelve days — this sin-destroying penance, O ascetic, is well known and recognized under the name Paraka.

Verse 28 (padma.4.19.28)

एकैकं वर्द्धयेत्पिंडं शुक्ले कृष्णे च ह्रासयेत् । इंदुक्षये न भुंजीत चांद्रायणव्रतं स्मृतम् ।

ekaikaṁ varddhayetpiṁḍaṁ śukle kṛṣṇe ca hrāsayet iṁdukṣaye na bhuṁjīta cāṁdrāyaṇavrataṁ smṛtam

One should increase the number of morsels by one each day through the bright fortnight and decrease them through the dark fortnight; nothing should be eaten on the new-moon day — this is called the Chandrayana vow.

Verse 29 (padma.4.19.29)

अश्नीयाच्चतुरः प्रातः पिंडान्विप्र समाहितः । चतुरोऽस्तमिते चार्के शिशुचांद्रायणं स्मृतम् ।

aśnīyāccaturaḥ prātaḥ piṁḍānvipra samāhitaḥ caturo'stamite cārke śiśucāṁdrāyaṇaṁ smṛtam

O Brahmin, one should carefully eat four morsels in the morning and four when the sun has set — this is called the Shishu-Chandrayana, the "child's Chandrayana."

Verse 30 (padma.4.19.30)

कूष्मांडघाती या नारी पंचगव्यं पिबेत्त्र्यहम् । कूष्मांडपंचकं दद्यात्ससुवर्णं सवस्त्रकम् । तस्या वारि तथा भक्तं ग्राह्यं स्याद्वै तपोधन ।

kūṣmāṁḍaghātī yā nārī paṁcagavyaṁ pibettryaham kūṣmāṁḍapaṁcakaṁ dadyātsasuvarṇaṁ savastrakam tasyā vāri tathā bhaktaṁ grāhyaṁ syādvai tapodhana

Whatever woman destroys an unborn child should drink the panchagavya for three days; she should give five pumpkins, together with gold and cloth; then, O ascetic, her water and food become acceptable again.