The Rule of Expiation Prescribed to Gautama

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.25.1)

सूत उवाच । कदाचिद्गौतमेनैव जलार्थं प्रेषिता निजाः । शिष्यास्तत्र गता भक्त्या कमण्डलुकरा द्विजाः ॥ 25.1 ॥

sūta uvāca kadācidgautamenaiva jalārthaṁ preṣitā nijāḥ śiṣyāstatra gatā bhaktyā kamaṇḍalukarā dvijāḥ

Suta said: Once, sent by Gautama himself to fetch water, his own disciples — brahmins carrying water-pots in hand — went there with devotion.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.25.2)

शिष्यान् जलसमीपे तु गतान्दृष्ट्वा न्यषेधयन् । जलार्थमागतास्तत्र चर्षिपत्न्योऽप्यनेकशः ॥ 25.2 ॥

śiṣyān jalasamīpe tu gatāndṛṣṭvā nyaṣedhayan jalārthamāgatāstatra carṣipatnyo’pyanekaśaḥ

Seeing the disciples arrive near the water, the many wives of the sages, who had also come there for water, stopped them.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.25.3)

ऋषिपत्न्यो वयं पूर्वं ग्रहीष्यामो विदूरतः । पश्चाच्चैव जलं ग्राह्यमित्येवं पर्यभर्त्सयन् ॥ 25.3 ॥

ṛṣipatnyo vayaṁ pūrvaṁ grahīṣyāmo vidūrataḥ paścāccaiva jalaṁ grāhyamityevaṁ paryabhartsayan

"We, the sages' wives, shall draw water first, from a distance; only afterward may water be taken" — thus they rebuked the disciples.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.25.4)

परावृत्य तदा तैश्च ऋषिपत्न्यै निवेदितम् । सा चापि तान्समादाय समाश्वास्य च तैः स्वयम् ॥ 25.4 ॥

parāvṛtya tadā taiśca ṛṣipatnyai niveditam sā cāpi tānsamādāya samāśvāsya ca taiḥ svayam

Then, turning back, the disciples reported this to Gautama's wife; and she, taking them with her and consoling them herself,

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.25.5)

जलं नीत्वा ददौ तस्मै गौतमाय तपस्विनी । नित्यं निर्वाहयामास जलेन ऋषिसत्तमः ॥ 25.5 ॥

jalaṁ nītvā dadau tasmai gautamāya tapasvinī nityaṁ nirvāhayāmāsa jalena ṛṣisattamaḥ

brought water and gave it to Gautama; thus that ascetic woman daily sustained the best of sages with water.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.25.6)

ताश्चैवमृषिपत्न्यस्तु क्रुद्धास्तां पर्यभर्त्सयन् । परावृत्य गताः सर्वास्तूटजान्कुटिलाशयाः ॥ 25.6 ॥

tāścaivamṛṣipatnyastu kruddhāstāṁ paryabhartsayan parāvṛtya gatāḥ sarvāstūṭajānkuṭilāśayāḥ

But those sages' wives, angered at this, reviled her, and, evil of heart, all turned back and went to their huts.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.25.7)

स्वाम्यग्रे विपरीतं च तद्वृत्तं निखिलं ततः । दुष्टाशयाभिः स्त्रीभिश्च ताभिर्वै विनिवेदितम् ॥ 25.7 ॥

svāmyagre viparītaṁ ca tadvṛttaṁ nikhilaṁ tataḥ duṣṭāśayābhiḥ strībhiśca tābhirvai viniveditam

Then those wicked-minded women reported that whole matter to their husbands in a distorted way.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.25.8)

अथ तासां वचः श्रुत्वा भाविकर्मवशात्तदा । गौतमाय च सङ्क्रुद्धाश्चासंस्ते परमर्षयः ॥ 25.8 ॥

atha tāsāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā bhāvikarmavaśāttadā gautamāya ca saṅkruddhāścāsaṁste paramarṣayaḥ

Hearing their words, and swayed by what fate had ordained to come, those great sages grew furious with Gautama.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.25.9)

विघ्नार्थं गौतमस्यैव नानापूजोपहारकैः । गणेशं पूजयामासुः सङ्क्रुद्धास्ते कुबुद्धयः ॥ 25.9 ॥

vighnārthaṁ gautamasyaiva nānāpūjopahārakaiḥ gaṇeśaṁ pūjayāmāsuḥ saṅkruddhāste kubuddhayaḥ

To create an obstacle for Gautama, those enraged, evil-minded sages worshipped Ganesha with many kinds of offerings.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.25.10)

आविर्बभूव च तदा प्रसन्नो हि गणेश्वरः । उवाच वचनं तत्र भक्ताधीनः फलप्रदः ॥ 25.10 ॥

āvirbabhūva ca tadā prasanno hi gaṇeśvaraḥ uvāca vacanaṁ tatra bhaktādhīnaḥ phalapradaḥ

Then Ganesha, pleased, appeared there; being ever subject to his devotees and the bestower of fruits, he spoke these words.

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.25.11)

गणेश उवाच । प्रसन्नोऽस्मि वरं ब्रूत यूयं किं करवाण्यहम् । तदीयं तद्वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषयस्तेऽब्रुवंस्तदा ॥ 25.11 ॥

gaṇeśa uvāca prasanno’smi varaṁ brūta yūyaṁ kiṁ karavāṇyaham tadīyaṁ tadvacaḥ śrutvā ṛṣayaste’bruvaṁstadā

Ganesha said: "I am pleased; ask a boon — what shall I do for you?" Hearing his words, the sages then spoke.

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.25.12)

ऋषय ऊचुः । त्वया यदि वरो देयो गौतमः स्वाश्रमाद बहिः । निष्काश्यमानो ऋषिभिः परिभर्त्स्य तथा कुरु ॥ 25.12 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ tvayā yadi varo deyo gautamaḥ svāśramāda bahiḥ niṣkāśyamāno ṛṣibhiḥ paribhartsya tathā kuru

The sages said: "If you would grant us a boon, then act so that Gautama is driven out of his own hermitage, rebuked and expelled by the sages."

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.25.13)

सूत उवाच । स एवं प्रार्थितस्तैस्तु विहस्य वचनं पुनः । प्रोवाचेभमुखः प्रीत्या बोधयंस्तान्सतां गतिः ॥ 25.13 ॥

sūta uvāca sa evaṁ prārthitastaistu vihasya vacanaṁ punaḥ provācebhamukhaḥ prītyā bodhayaṁstānsatāṁ gatiḥ

Suta said: Thus entreated by them, the elephant-faced lord, refuge of the virtuous, smiling, spoke again, kindly instructing them.

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.25.14)

गणेश उवाच । श्रूयतामृषयः सर्वे युक्तं न क्रियतेऽधुना । अपराधं विना तस्मै क्रुध्यतां हानिरेव च ॥ 25.14 ॥

gaṇeśa uvāca śrūyatāmṛṣayaḥ sarve yuktaṁ na kriyate’dhunā aparādhaṁ vinā tasmai krudhyatāṁ hānireva ca

Ganesha said: "Listen, all you sages — what is now being urged is not proper. To be angry at him without any fault of his brings nothing but loss."

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.25.15)

उपस्कृतं पुरा यैस्तु तेभ्यो दुःखं हितं न हि । यदा च दीयते दुःखं तदा नाशो भवेदिह ॥ 25.15 ॥

upaskṛtaṁ purā yaistu tebhyo duḥkhaṁ hitaṁ na hi yadā ca dīyate duḥkhaṁ tadā nāśo bhavediha

It is not good to give sorrow to one who has formerly done us a kindness; when sorrow is given to such a one, ruin alone follows here.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.25.16)

ईदृशं च तपः कृत्वा साध्यते फलमुत्तमम् । शुभं फलं स्वयं हित्वा साध्यते नाहितं पुनः ॥ 25.16 ॥

īdṛśaṁ ca tapaḥ kṛtvā sādhyate phalamuttamam śubhaṁ phalaṁ svayaṁ hitvā sādhyate nāhitaṁ punaḥ

By such austerity the highest fruit is attained; having oneself forsaken an auspicious fruit, one should not again pursue an unbeneficial one.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.25.17)

सूत उवाच । इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा तस्य ते मुनिसत्तमाः । बुद्धिमोहं तदा प्राप्ता इदमेव वचोऽब्रुवन् ॥ 25.17 ॥

sūta uvāca ityevaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā tasya te munisattamāḥ buddhimohaṁ tadā prāptā idameva vaco’bruvan

Suta said: Hearing these words of his, those foremost sages, their minds seized by delusion, spoke this very word.

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.25.18)

ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ कर्तव्यं हि त्वया स्वामिन्निदमेव न चान्यथा । इत्युक्तस्तु तदा देवो गणेशो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 25.18 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kartavyaṁ hi tvayā svāminnidameva na cānyathā ityuktastu tadā devo gaṇeśo vākyamabravīt

The sages said: "This alone must be done by you, O Lord, and nothing else." Thus addressed, the god Ganesha then spoke this word.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.25.19)

गणेश उवाच । असाधुः साधुतां चैव साधुश्चासाधुतां तथा । कदाचिदपि नाप्नोति ब्रह्मोक्तमिति निश्चितम् ॥ 25.19 ॥

gaṇeśa uvāca asādhuḥ sādhutāṁ caiva sādhuścāsādhutāṁ tathā kadācidapi nāpnoti brahmoktamiti niścitam

Ganesha said: "It is certain, as declared by Brahma, that the wicked never attain the state of the virtuous, nor does the virtuous ever attain the state of the wicked."

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.25.20)

यदा च भवतां दुःखं जातं चानशनात्पुरा । तदा सुखं प्रदत्तं वै गौतमेन महर्षिणा ॥ 25.20 ॥

yadā ca bhavatāṁ duḥkhaṁ jātaṁ cānaśanātpurā tadā sukhaṁ pradattaṁ vai gautamena maharṣiṇā

When, in former times, sorrow arose among you from fasting, it was the great sage Gautama who gave you relief and happiness.

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.25.21)

इदानीं वै भवद्भिश्च तस्मै दुःखं प्रदीयते । नैतद्युक्ततमं लोके सर्वथा सुविचार्यताम् ॥ 25.21 ॥

idānīṁ vai bhavadbhiśca tasmai duḥkhaṁ pradīyate naitadyuktatamaṁ loke sarvathā suvicāryatām

Now you are giving sorrow to that very man; this is by no means fitting in the world — consider it well, in every respect.

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.25.22)

स्त्रीबलान्मोहिता यूयं न मे वाक्यं करिष्यथ । एतद्धिततमं तस्य भविष्यति न संशयः ॥ 25.22 ॥

strībalānmohitā yūyaṁ na me vākyaṁ kariṣyatha etaddhitatamaṁ tasya bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

Deluded by the influence of your women, you will not heed my word; yet without doubt, this very thing will prove to be his greatest good.

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.25.23)

पुनश्चायमृषिश्रेष्ठो दास्यते वः सुखं ध्रुवम् । तारणं न च युक्तं स्याद्वरमन्यं वृणीत वै ॥ 25.23 ॥

punaścāyamṛṣiśreṣṭho dāsyate vaḥ sukhaṁ dhruvam tāraṇaṁ na ca yuktaṁ syādvaramanyaṁ vṛṇīta vai

Moreover, this excellent sage will surely give you happiness again; to lend aid to this deed would not be right — choose instead some other boon.

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.25.24)

सूत उवाच । इत्येवं वचनं तेन गणेशेन महात्मना । यद्यप्युक्तमृषिभ्यश्च तदप्येते न मेनिरे ॥ 25.24 ॥

sūta uvāca ityevaṁ vacanaṁ tena gaṇeśena mahātmanā yadyapyuktamṛṣibhyaśca tadapyete na menire

Suta said: Although these words were thus spoken by the great-souled Ganesha to the sages, they still did not accept them.

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.25.25)

भक्ताधीनतया सोऽथ शिवपुत्रोऽब्रवीत्तदा । उदासीनेन मनसा तानृषीन्दुष्टशेमुषीन् ॥ 25.25 ॥

bhaktādhīnatayā so’tha śivaputro’bravīttadā udāsīnena manasā tānṛṣīnduṣṭaśemuṣīn

Then, being ever subject to his devotees, Shiva's son spoke to those evil-minded sages, his mind detached.

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.25.26)

गणेश उवाच । भवद्भिः प्रार्थ्यते यच्च करिष्येऽहं तथा खलु । पश्चाद्भावि भवेदेव इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे पुनः ॥ 25.26 ॥

gaṇeśa uvāca bhavadbhiḥ prārthyate yacca kariṣye’haṁ tathā khalu paścādbhāvi bhavedeva ityuktvāntardadhe punaḥ

Ganesha said: "What you request, that indeed I shall do; what is destined to follow will surely come to pass." Having said this, he vanished again.

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.25.27)

गौतमः स न जानाति मुनीनां वै दुराशयम् । आनन्दमनसा नित्यं पत्न्या कर्म चकार तत् ॥ 25.27 ॥

gautamaḥ sa na jānāti munīnāṁ vai durāśayam ānandamanasā nityaṁ patnyā karma cakāra tat

Gautama knew nothing of the sages' ill will; with a joyful mind he went on daily performing his rites together with his wife.

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.25.28)

तदन्तरे च यज्जातं चरित्रं वरयोगतः । तद्दुष्टर्षिप्रभावात्तु श्रूयतां तन्मुनीश्वराः ॥ 25.28 ॥

tadantare ca yajjātaṁ caritraṁ varayogataḥ tadduṣṭarṣiprabhāvāttu śrūyatāṁ tanmunīśvarāḥ

Meanwhile, hear, O lords of sages, of that event which came to pass through the working of the boon, by the influence of those wicked sages.

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.25.29)

गौतमस्य च केदारे तत्रासन्व्रीहयो यवाः । गणेशस्तत्र गौर्भूत्वा जगाम किल दुर्बला ॥ 25.29 ॥

gautamasya ca kedāre tatrāsanvrīhayo yavāḥ gaṇeśastatra gaurbhūtvā jagāma kila durbalā

In Gautama's field stood rice and barley; there Ganesha, becoming a cow — a feeble one — went.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.25.30)

कम्पमाना च सा गत्वा तत्र तद्वरयोगतः । व्रीहीन्सम्भक्षयामास यवांश्च मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ 25.30 ॥

kampamānā ca sā gatvā tatra tadvarayogataḥ vrīhīnsambhakṣayāmāsa yavāṁśca munisattamāḥ

Trembling, that cow, having gone there, by the power of that boon, devoured the rice and the barley, O best of sages.

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.25.31)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे दैवाद् गौतमस्तत्र चागतः । स दयालुस्तृणस्तम्बैर्वारयामास तां तदा ॥ 25.31 ॥

etasminnantare daivād gautamastatra cāgataḥ sa dayālustṛṇastambairvārayāmāsa tāṁ tadā

Meanwhile, by fate, Gautama arrived there; being compassionate, he then tried to drive her off with a bunch of grass.

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.25.32)

तृणस्तम्बेन सा स्पृष्टा पपात पृथिवीतले । मृता च तत्क्षणादेव तदृषेः पश्यतस्तदा ॥ 25.32 ॥

tṛṇastambena sā spṛṣṭā papāta pṛthivītale mṛtā ca tatkṣaṇādeva tadṛṣeḥ paśyatastadā

Touched by the bunch of grass, she fell to the ground, and died that very instant, before the sage's own eyes.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.25.33)

ऋषयश्छन्नरूपास्ते ऋषिपत्न्यस्तथाशुभाः । ऊचुस्तत्र तदा सर्वे किं कृतं गौतमेन च ॥ 25.33 ॥

ṛṣayaśchannarūpāste ṛṣipatnyastathāśubhāḥ ūcustatra tadā sarve kiṁ kṛtaṁ gautamena ca

Those sages in disguise, and likewise those wicked wives of sages, all appeared there and cried out: "What has Gautama done!"

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.25.34)

गौतमोऽपि तथाहल्यामाहूयासीत्सुविस्मितः । उवाच दुःखतो विप्रा दूयमानेन चेतसा ॥ 25.34 ॥

gautamo’pi tathāhalyāmāhūyāsītsuvismitaḥ uvāca duḥkhato viprā dūyamānena cetasā

Gautama too, greatly astonished, called Ahalya, and, O brahmins, spoke sorrowfully, his heart in anguish.

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.25.35)

गौतम उवाच । किं जातं च कथं देवि कुपितः परमेश्वरः । किं कर्तव्यं क्व गन्तव्यं हत्या च समुपस्थिता ॥ 25.35 ॥

gautama uvāca kiṁ jātaṁ ca kathaṁ devi kupitaḥ parameśvaraḥ kiṁ kartavyaṁ kva gantavyaṁ hatyā ca samupasthitā

Gautama said: "What has happened, my lady, and how? Has the Supreme Lord grown angry? What is to be done, where must I go — for the sin of cow-slaughter has fallen upon us."

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.25.36)

सूत उवाच । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विप्रा गौतमं पर्यभर्त्सयन् । विप्रपत्न्यस्तथाहल्यां दुर्वचोभिर्व्यथां ददुः ॥ 25.36 ॥

sūta uvāca etasminnantare viprā gautamaṁ paryabhartsayan viprapatnyastathāhalyāṁ durvacobhirvyathāṁ daduḥ

Suta said: Meanwhile the brahmins reviled Gautama, and the brahmins' wives likewise distressed Ahalya with harsh words.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.25.37)

दुर्बुद्धयश्च तच्छिष्याः सुतास्तेषां तथैव च । गौतमं परिभर्त्स्यैव प्रत्यूचुर्धिग्वचो मुहुः ॥ 25.37 ॥

durbuddhayaśca tacchiṣyāḥ sutāsteṣāṁ tathaiva ca gautamaṁ paribhartsyaiva pratyūcurdhigvaco muhuḥ

Their evil-minded disciples and their sons too, reviling Gautama, repeatedly uttered words of reproach, crying "Shame!"

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.25.38)

ऋषय ऊचुः । मुखं न दर्शनीयं ते गम्यतां गम्यतामिति । दृष्ट्वा गोघ्नमुखं सद्यः सचैलं स्नानमाचरेत् ॥ 25.38 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ mukhaṁ na darśanīyaṁ te gamyatāṁ gamyatāmiti dṛṣṭvā goghnamukhaṁ sadyaḥ sacailaṁ snānamācaret

The sages said: "Your face is not fit to be seen — begone, begone! Whoever has seen the face of a cow-killer must at once bathe, clothes and all."

Verse 39 (shiva.kotirudra.25.39)

यावदाश्रममध्ये त्वं तावदेव हविर्भुजः । पितरश्च न गृह्णन्ति ह्यस्मद्दत्तं हि किञ्चन ॥ 25.39 ॥

yāvadāśramamadhye tvaṁ tāvadeva havirbhujaḥ pitaraśca na gṛhṇanti hyasmaddattaṁ hi kiñcana

As long as you remain within this hermitage, the fire and the ancestors will accept nothing whatsoever offered by us.

Verse 40 (shiva.kotirudra.25.40)

तस्माद्गच्छान्यतस्त्वं च परिवारसमन्वितः । विलम्बं कुरु नैव त्वं धेनुहन्पापकारक ॥ 25.40 ॥

tasmādgacchānyatastvaṁ ca parivārasamanvitaḥ vilambaṁ kuru naiva tvaṁ dhenuhanpāpakāraka

Therefore go elsewhere, taking your family with you; do not delay, O cow-slaying sinner!

Verse 41 (shiva.kotirudra.25.41)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा ते च तं सर्वे पाषाणैः समताडयन् । व्यथां ददुरतीवास्मै त्वहल्यां च दुरुक्तिभिः ॥ 25.41 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktvā te ca taṁ sarve pāṣāṇaiḥ samatāḍayan vyathāṁ daduratīvāsmai tvahalyāṁ ca duruktibhiḥ

Suta said: Having said this, they all struck him with stones, causing him great pain, and distressed Ahalya too with harsh words.

Verse 42 (shiva.kotirudra.25.42)

ताडितो भर्त्सितो दुष्टैर्गौतमो गिरमब्रवीत् । इतो गच्छामि मुनयो ह्यन्यत्र निवसाम्यहम् ॥ 25.42 ॥

tāḍito bhartsito duṣṭairgautamo giramabravīt ito gacchāmi munayo hyanyatra nivasāmyaham

Struck and reviled by those wicked men, Gautama spoke: "I shall go from here, O sages; I shall dwell elsewhere."

Verse 43 (shiva.kotirudra.25.43)

इत्युक्त्वा गौतमस्तस्मात्स्थानाच्च निर्गतस्तदा । गत्वा क्रोशं तदा चक्रे ह्याश्रमं तदनुज्ञया ॥ 25.43 ॥

ityuktvā gautamastasmātsthānācca nirgatastadā gatvā krośaṁ tadā cakre hyāśramaṁ tadanujñayā

Having said this, Gautama departed from that place, and, going about a krosha's distance, built a hermitage there, with their leave.

Verse 44 (shiva.kotirudra.25.44)

यावच्चैवाभिशापो वै तावत्कार्यं न किञ्चन । न कर्मण्यधिकारोऽस्ति दैवे पित्र्येऽथ वैदिके ॥ 25.44 ॥

yāvaccaivābhiśāpo vai tāvatkāryaṁ na kiñcana na karmaṇyadhikāro’sti daive pitrye’tha vaidike

As long as such a curse remains, so long no rite whatever may be performed; one loses the right to divine, ancestral, or Vedic rites alike.

Verse 45 (shiva.kotirudra.25.45)

मासार्धं च ततो नीत्वा मुनीन्सम्प्रार्थयत्तदा । गौतमो मुनिवर्यः स तेन दुःखेन दुखितः ॥ 25.45 ॥

māsārdhaṁ ca tato nītvā munīnsamprārthayattadā gautamo munivaryaḥ sa tena duḥkhena dukhitaḥ

Then, when half a month had passed, that excellent sage Gautama, grieved by that sorrow, entreated the sages.

Verse 46 (shiva.kotirudra.25.46)

गौतम उवाच । अनुकम्प्यो भवद्भिश्च कथ्यतां क्रियते मया । यथा मदीयं पापं च गच्छत्विति निवेद्यताम् ॥ 25.46 ॥

gautama uvāca anukampyo bhavadbhiśca kathyatāṁ kriyate mayā yathā madīyaṁ pāpaṁ ca gacchatviti nivedyatām

Gautama said: "Show compassion to me, and tell me what I should do, so that this sin of mine may depart — pray instruct me."

Verse 47 (shiva.kotirudra.25.47)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तास्ते तदा विप्रा नोचुश्चैव परस्परम् । अत्यन्तं सेवया पृष्टा मिलिता ह्येकतः स्थिताः ॥ 25.47 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktāste tadā viprā nocuścaiva parasparam atyantaṁ sevayā pṛṣṭā militā hyekataḥ sthitāḥ

Suta said: Thus addressed, those brahmins spoke nothing to one another; deeply moved by his devoted service, they gathered and stood together.

Verse 48 (shiva.kotirudra.25.48)

गौतमो दूरतः स्थित्वा नत्वा तानृषिसत्तमान् । पप्रच्छ विनयाविष्टः किं कार्यं हि मयाधुना ॥ 25.48 ॥

gautamo dūrataḥ sthitvā natvā tānṛṣisattamān papraccha vinayāviṣṭaḥ kiṁ kāryaṁ hi mayādhunā

Gautama, standing at a distance, bowed to those foremost sages and, filled with humility, asked: "What indeed must I do now?"

Verse 49 (shiva.kotirudra.25.49)

इत्युक्ते मुनिना तेन गौतमेन महात्मना । मिलिताः सकलास्ते वै मुनयो वाक्यमब्रुवन् ॥ 25.49 ॥

ityukte muninā tena gautamena mahātmanā militāḥ sakalāste vai munayo vākyamabruvan

When the great-souled sage Gautama had spoken thus, all those assembled sages together spoke these words.

Verse 50 (shiva.kotirudra.25.50)

ऋषय ऊचुः । निष्कृतिं हि विना शुद्धिर्जायते न कदाचन । तस्मात्त्वं देहशुद्ध्यर्थं प्रायश्चित्तं समाचर ॥ 25.50 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ niṣkṛtiṁ hi vinā śuddhirjāyate na kadācana tasmāttvaṁ dehaśuddhyarthaṁ prāyaścittaṁ samācara

The sages said: "Without expiation, purification never comes about. Therefore, for the purifying of your body, perform an act of atonement."

Verse 51 (shiva.kotirudra.25.51)

त्रिवारं पृथिवीं सर्वां क्रम पापं प्रकाशयन् । पुनरागत्य चात्रैव चर मासव्रतं तथा ॥ 25.51 ॥

trivāraṁ pṛthivīṁ sarvāṁ krama pāpaṁ prakāśayan punarāgatya cātraiva cara māsavrataṁ tathā

Circle the whole earth three times, proclaiming your sin as you go, and having returned here again, observe a month-long vow.

Verse 52 (shiva.kotirudra.25.52)

शतमेकोत्तरं चैव ब्रह्मणोऽस्य गिरेस्तथा । प्रक्रमणं विधायैवं शुद्धिस्ते च भविष्यति ॥ 25.52 ॥

śatamekottaraṁ caiva brahmaṇo’sya girestathā prakramaṇaṁ vidhāyaivaṁ śuddhiste ca bhaviṣyati

And perform one hundred and one circumambulations of this Brahma-hill; having done so, your purification will follow.

Verse 53 (shiva.kotirudra.25.53)

अथवा त्वं समानीय गङ्गास्नानं समाचर । पार्थिवानां तथा कोटिं कृत्वा देवं निषेवय ॥ 25.53 ॥

athavā tvaṁ samānīya gaṅgāsnānaṁ samācara pārthivānāṁ tathā koṭiṁ kṛtvā devaṁ niṣevaya

Or else, having brought the Ganges here, bathe in her, and, having fashioned a crore of clay lingas, worship the god with them.

Verse 54 (shiva.kotirudra.25.54)

गङ्गायां च ततः स्नात्वा पुतश्चैव भविष्यसि । पुरा दश तथा चैकं गिरेस्त्वं क्रमणं कुरु ॥ 25.54 ॥

gaṅgāyāṁ ca tataḥ snātvā putaścaiva bhaviṣyasi purā daśa tathā caikaṁ girestvaṁ kramaṇaṁ kuru

Having then bathed in the Ganges, you will become pure; before that, make eleven circumambulations of the hill.

Verse 55 (shiva.kotirudra.25.55)

शतकुम्म्भैस्तथा स्नात्वा पार्थिवं निष्कृतिर्भवेत् । इति तैरॄषिभिः प्रोक्तस्तथेत्योमिति तद्वचः ॥ 25.55 ॥

śatakummbhaistathā snātvā pārthivaṁ niṣkṛtirbhavet iti tairṝṣibhiḥ proktastathetyomiti tadvacaḥ

And by bathing the clay linga with a hundred pitchers of water, expiation will be accomplished. Thus spoken by those sages, he accepted that word, saying, "So be it, Om."

Verse 56 (shiva.kotirudra.25.56)

पार्थिवानां तथा पूजां गिरेः प्रक्रमणं तथा । करिष्यामि मुनिश्रेष्ठा आज्ञया श्रीमतामिह ॥ 25.56 ॥

pārthivānāṁ tathā pūjāṁ gireḥ prakramaṇaṁ tathā kariṣyāmi muniśreṣṭhā ājñayā śrīmatāmiha

"I shall perform the worship of the clay lingas, and likewise the circumambulation of the hill, O best of sages, here by your gracious command."

Verse 57 (shiva.kotirudra.25.57)

इत्युक्त्वा सर्षिवर्यश्च कृत्वा प्रक्रमणं गिरेः । पूजयामास निर्माय पार्थिवान्मुनिसत्तमः ॥ 25.57 ॥

ityuktvā sarṣivaryaśca kṛtvā prakramaṇaṁ gireḥ pūjayāmāsa nirmāya pārthivānmunisattamaḥ

Having said this, that foremost of sages, having circumambulated the hill, fashioned the clay lingas and worshipped them.

Verse 58 (shiva.kotirudra.25.58)

अहल्या च ततः साध्वी तच्च सर्वं चकार सा । शिष्याश्च प्रतिशिष्याश्च चक्रुः सेवां तयोस्तदा ॥ 25.58 ॥

ahalyā ca tataḥ sādhvī tacca sarvaṁ cakāra sā śiṣyāśca pratiśiṣyāśca cakruḥ sevāṁ tayostadā

And thereupon the virtuous Ahalya did all of that as well; and the disciples, together with their own disciples in turn, rendered service to the two of them.