The Procedure for Judging a Nagara's Petition

Verse 1 (skanda.6.201.1)

विश्वामित्र उवाच अथ ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे भर्तृयज्ञं महामतिम् कृतांजलिपुटा भूत्वा स्तुतिं कृत्वा वचोऽब्रुवन्

viśvāmitra uvāca atha te brāhmaṇāḥ sarve bhartṛyajñaṁ mahāmatim kṛtāṁjalipuṭā bhūtvā stutiṁ kṛtvā vaco'bruvan

Vishvamitra said: Then all those brahmins, with joined palms, having offered praise to the wise Bhartriyajna, spoke these words.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.201.2)

यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तं शोधितो यो भवेद्द्विजः श्राद्धस्य कन्यकायाश्च सोमपानस्य सोऽर्हति

yadetadbhavatā proktaṁ śodhito yo bhaveddvijaḥ śrāddhasya kanyakāyāśca somapānasya so'rhati

'You have declared that whatever brahmin has been thus certified pure is fit for the shraddha, for the giving of a maiden, and for the Soma-drinking rite.'

Verse 3 (skanda.6.201.3)

कथं शुद्धिः प्रकर्तव्या तस्य सर्वं ब्रवीहि नः नागरस्य समस्तस्य देशांतरगतस्य च

kathaṁ śuddhiḥ prakartavyā tasya sarvaṁ bravīhi naḥ nāgarasya samastasya deśāṁtaragatasya ca

'Tell us all — how is this certification to be carried out, for every Nagara, whether he has gone to another land,'

Verse 4 (skanda.6.201.4)

देशांतरप्रजातस्य तत्र जातस्य वा पुनः अज्ञातपितृवर्गस्य सामान्यं पदमिच्छतः

deśāṁtaraprajātasya tatra jātasya vā punaḥ ajñātapitṛvargasya sāmānyaṁ padamicchataḥ

'— or was born in another land, or again was born here itself, whose paternal lineage is unknown, and who desires the ordinary standing of a Nagara.'

Verse 5 (skanda.6.201.5)

एतन्नः सर्वमाचक्ष्व विस्तरेण महामते

etannaḥ sarvamācakṣva vistareṇa mahāmate

'Tell us all of this, O wise one, at length.'

Verse 6 (skanda.6.201.6)

विश्वामित्र उवाच तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणानां नृपोत्तम अब्रवीद्भर्तृयज्ञस्तु स्वाभिप्रायं सुसंमतम्

viśvāmitra uvāca teṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā brāhmaṇānāṁ nṛpottama abravīdbhartṛyajñastu svābhiprāyaṁ susaṁmatam

Vishvamitra said: O best of kings, hearing this word of the brahmins, Bhartriyajna declared his own well-considered view.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.201.7)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच प्रश्नभारो महानेष भवद्भिः समुदाहृतः तथापि कथयिष्यामि नमस्कृत्य स्वयंभुवम्

bhartṛyajña uvāca praśnabhāro mahāneṣa bhavadbhiḥ samudāhṛtaḥ tathāpi kathayiṣyāmi namaskṛtya svayaṁbhuvam

Bhartriyajna said: 'This question you have raised is a heavy burden indeed. Nevertheless, having bowed to the Self-Existent One, I shall declare it.'

Verse 8 (skanda.6.201.8)

अज्ञातपितृवंशो यो दूरादपि समागतः सामान्यं वांछते पद्यं नागरोऽस्मीति कीर्तयन्

ajñātapitṛvaṁśo yo dūrādapi samāgataḥ sāmānyaṁ vāṁchate padyaṁ nāgaro'smīti kīrtayan

'Whoever, his paternal lineage unknown, comes even from afar, declaring himself a Nagara, and desiring the ordinary standing —'

Verse 9 (skanda.6.201.9)

तस्य शुद्धिः प्रदा तव्या मुख्यैः शांतैः शुभैर्द्विजैः गर्तातीर्थोद्भवं विप्रं कृत्वा चैव पुरःसरम्

tasya śuddhiḥ pradā tavyā mukhyaiḥ śāṁtaiḥ śubhairdvijaiḥ gartātīrthodbhavaṁ vipraṁ kṛtvā caiva puraḥsaram

'— certification of purity should be granted to him by leading, tranquil, virtuous brahmins, with a brahmin born of the Garta-tirtha placed foremost among them.'

Verse 10 (skanda.6.201.10)

विशुद्धिं याचमानस्य यदि यच्छंति नो द्विजाः कामाद्वा यदि वा क्रोधात्प्रद्वेषाद्वा च्युतेर्भयात्

viśuddhiṁ yācamānasya yadi yacchaṁti no dvijāḥ kāmādvā yadi vā krodhātpradveṣādvā cyuterbhayāt

'If the brahmins, out of desire, or anger, or malice, or fear of losing standing, do not grant certification to one who seeks it —'

Verse 11 (skanda.6.201.11)

ब्रह्महत्योद्भवं पापं सर्वेषां तत्र जायते तस्मादभ्यागतो यस्तु दूरादपि विशेषतः

brahmahatyodbhavaṁ pāpaṁ sarveṣāṁ tatra jāyate tasmādabhyāgato yastu dūrādapi viśeṣataḥ

'— the sin arising from the killing of a brahmin falls upon them all. Therefore, whoever has come, especially from afar,'

Verse 12 (skanda.6.201.12)

तस्य शुद्धिः प्रदातव्या प्रयत्नेन द्विजोत्तमैः शुद्धिं तु त्रिविधां प्राप्तो मम वाक्यसमुद्भवाम्

tasya śuddhiḥ pradātavyā prayatnena dvijottamaiḥ śuddhiṁ tu trividhāṁ prāpto mama vākyasamudbhavām

'— to him, certification of purity should be granted, with due effort, by the best of brahmins. Having attained the threefold certification arising from my own declaration —'

Verse 13 (skanda.6.201.13)

स शुद्धो नागरो ज्ञेयो जातो देशांतरेष्वपि पूर्वं विशोधयेद्वंशं ततो मातृकुलं स्मृतम्

sa śuddho nāgaro jñeyo jāto deśāṁtareṣvapi pūrvaṁ viśodhayedvaṁśaṁ tato mātṛkulaṁ smṛtam

'— he is to be known as a pure Nagara, even if born in another land. First his paternal lineage should be verified, and then, it is taught, his mother's family.'

Verse 14 (skanda.6.201.14)

ततः शीलं त्रिभिः शुद्धः सामान्यं पदमर्हति

tataḥ śīlaṁ tribhiḥ śuddhaḥ sāmānyaṁ padamarhati

'And then his character — purified through these three, he becomes fit for the ordinary standing.'

Verse 15 (skanda.6.201.15)

सर्वेषामपि विप्राणां वर्षांते समुपस्थिते शुद्धिः कार्या प्रयत्नेन स्वस्थानस्य विशुद्धये

sarveṣāmapi viprāṇāṁ varṣāṁte samupasthite śuddhiḥ kāryā prayatnena svasthānasya viśuddhaye

'For all brahmins alike, when the year's end has come, purification should be performed with due effort, for the purification of their own community.'

Verse 16 (skanda.6.201.16)

तदर्थं शरदश्चांते शुभर्त्तौ ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः चातुश्चरणसंपन्नाः संस्थाप्याः षोडशैव तु

tadarthaṁ śaradaścāṁte śubharttau brāhmaṇottamāḥ cātuścaraṇasaṁpannāḥ saṁsthāpyāḥ ṣoḍaśaiva tu

'For this purpose, O best of brahmins, at the end of autumn, in an auspicious season, sixteen brahmins alone, complete in all four branches of learning, should be seated.'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.201.17)

ब्राह्मणाः पुरतः सर्वे शांता दांता जितेंद्रियाः गर्त्तातीर्थोद्भवं विप्रं तेषां मध्ये निवेशयेत्

brāhmaṇāḥ purataḥ sarve śāṁtā dāṁtā jiteṁdriyāḥ garttātīrthodbhavaṁ vipraṁ teṣāṁ madhye niveśayet

'All the brahmins, tranquil, self-controlled, with senses subdued, should be placed in front; and among them, one born of the Garta-tirtha should be seated in the middle.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.201.18)

तदग्रे पीठिका देयाश्चतस्रो लक्षणान्विताः यावत्कार्त्तिकपर्यंतं चातुश्चरणकल्पिताः

tadagre pīṭhikā deyāścatasro lakṣaṇānvitāḥ yāvatkārttikaparyaṁtaṁ cātuścaraṇakalpitāḥ

'Before him, four seats, marked with the proper signs, should be placed, arranged for the four branches, up until the month of Kartika.'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.201.19)

प्रथमा बह्वृचस्यार्थे याजुषस्य तथाऽपरा सामगस्य तथैवान्या तथाऽऽद्यस्य चतुर्थिका

prathamā bahvṛcasyārthe yājuṣasya tathā'parā sāmagasya tathaivānyā tathā''dyasya caturthikā

'The first for the sake of the Rig-Vedic priest, another for the Yajur-Vedic priest, another likewise for the Sama-Vedic priest, and a fourth for the foremost officiant.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.201.20)

मुद्रिकार्थं तथैवान्या पंचमी परिकीर्तिता श्रीसूक्तं पावमानं च शाकुनं विष्णुदैवतम्

mudrikārthaṁ tathaivānyā paṁcamī parikīrtitā śrīsūktaṁ pāvamānaṁ ca śākunaṁ viṣṇudaivatam

'And a fifth seat, likewise, is declared for the sake of the seal-bearer. He should recite the Shri-sukta, the Pavamana hymn, the Shakuna hymn addressed to Vishnu,'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.201.21)

पारावतं तथा सूक्तं जीवसूक्तेन संयुतम् बह्वृचः कीर्तयेत्तत्र शांतिकं च तथापरम्

pārāvataṁ tathā sūktaṁ jīvasūktena saṁyutam bahvṛcaḥ kīrtayettatra śāṁtikaṁ ca tathāparam

'— the Paravata hymn, together with the Jiva-sukta; the Rig-Vedic priest should recite these there, and other propitiatory hymns as well.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.201.22)

शांतिकं शिवसंकल्पमृषिकल्पं चतुर्विधम् मंडलंब्राह्मणं चैव गायत्रीब्राह्मणं तथा

śāṁtikaṁ śivasaṁkalpamṛṣikalpaṁ caturvidham maṁḍalaṁbrāhmaṇaṁ caiva gāyatrībrāhmaṇaṁ tathā

'The propitiatory Shiva-sankalpa hymn, the fourfold Rishi-kalpa, the Mandala-brahmana, and likewise the Gayatri-brahmana —'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.201.23)

तथा पुरुषसूक्तं च मधुब्राह्मणमेव च अध्वर्युः कीर्तयेत्तत्र रुद्रान्पंचांगसंयुतान्

tathā puruṣasūktaṁ ca madhubrāhmaṇameva ca adhvaryuḥ kīrtayettatra rudrānpaṁcāṁgasaṁyutān

'— and likewise the Purusha-sukta, and the Madhu-brahmana: the Adhvaryu priest should recite these there, together with the Rudra-hymns and their five ancillary parts.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.201.24)

देवव्रतं च गायत्रं सोमसूर्यव्रते तथा एकविंशतिपर्यंतं तथान्यच्च रथंतरम्

devavrataṁ ca gāyatraṁ somasūryavrate tathā ekaviṁśatiparyaṁtaṁ tathānyacca rathaṁtaram

'The Devavrata and the Gayatra chants, the Soma and Surya vratas, up to the twenty-first, and likewise the Rathantara chant;'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.201.25)

सौव्रतं संहिता विष्णोर्ज्येष्ठसाम तथैव च सामवेदोक्तरुद्रांश्च भारुंडैः सामभिर्युतान्

sauvrataṁ saṁhitā viṣṇorjyeṣṭhasāma tathaiva ca sāmavedoktarudrāṁśca bhāruṁḍaiḥ sāmabhiryutān

'— the Sauvrata, the Vishnu-samhita, and likewise the Jyeshtha-sama; and the Rudra-hymns declared in the Sama-Veda, joined with the Bharunda chants —'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.201.26)

छंदोगः कीर्तयेत्तत्र यच्चान्यच्छांतिकं भवेत् गर्भोपनिषदं चैव स्कंदसूक्तं तथापरम्

chaṁdogaḥ kīrtayettatra yaccānyacchāṁtikaṁ bhavet garbhopaniṣadaṁ caiva skaṁdasūktaṁ tathāparam

'— the Chandoga priest should recite these there, and whatever other propitiatory hymns there may be, together with the Garbha-upanishad and likewise the Skanda-sukta.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.201.27)

नीलरुद्रैः समोपेतान्प्राणरुद्रांस्तथापरान् नवरुद्रांश्च क्षुरिकानाद्यस्तत्र प्रकीर्तयेत्

nīlarudraiḥ samopetānprāṇarudrāṁstathāparān navarudrāṁśca kṣurikānādyastatra prakīrtayet

'And, joined together with the Nila-Rudra hymns, together with the other Prana-Rudra hymns, and the Nava-Rudra and Kshurika hymns — let the first officiant recite these there.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.201.28)

ततः पुण्याहघोषेण गीतवादित्रनिस्वनैः शुक्लमाल्यांबरधरः शुक्लचंदनचर्चितः

tataḥ puṇyāhaghoṣeṇa gītavāditranisvanaiḥ śuklamālyāṁbaradharaḥ śuklacaṁdanacarcitaḥ

'Then, amid the auspicious cry of Punyaham and the sound of song and instrument, wearing white garlands and white garments, anointed with white sandal-paste,'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.201.29)

शुद्धिकामो व्रजेत्तत्र यत्र ते ब्राह्मणाः स्थिताः प्रणम्य शिरसा तेषां ततोवाच्यस्तु मध्यगः

śuddhikāmo vrajettatra yatra te brāhmaṇāḥ sthitāḥ praṇamya śirasā teṣāṁ tatovācyastu madhyagaḥ

'— the seeker of purification should go to where those brahmins are seated; and, having bowed his head to them, he should then be addressed by the presiding one.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.201.30)

मदर्थं प्रार्थय त्वं हि सर्वानेतान्द्विजोत्तमान् यतः शुद्धिं प्रयच्छंति प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि

madarthaṁ prārthaya tvaṁ hi sarvānetāndvijottamān yataḥ śuddhiṁ prayacchaṁti prasādaṁ kartumarhasi

'You should entreat, on my behalf, all these excellent brahmins, so that they may be pleased to grant certification of purity.'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.201.31)

ततस्तु प्रार्थयेद्विप्रांस्तदर्थं च विशुद्धये गर्तातीर्थोद्भवो विप्रो विनयावनतः स्थितः

tatastu prārthayedviprāṁstadarthaṁ ca viśuddhaye gartātīrthodbhavo vipro vinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ

Then that brahmin, born of the Garta-tirtha, standing bowed in humility, should entreat the brahmins for that purpose, for the seeker's purification.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.201.32)

गोचर्मणि समालग्नः शुद्धिकामस्य तस्य च प्रष्टव्यास्तु ततस्तेन सर्व एव द्विजोत्तमाः

gocarmaṇi samālagnaḥ śuddhikāmasya tasya ca praṣṭavyāstu tatastena sarva eva dvijottamāḥ

Standing upon a cow-hide, on behalf of that seeker of purification, he should then ask all of those excellent brahmins:

Verse 33 (skanda.6.201.33)

एष शुद्धिकृते प्राप्तः सुदूरान्नागरो द्विजः अस्य शुद्धिः प्रदातव्या युष्माकं रोचते यदि

eṣa śuddhikṛte prāptaḥ sudūrānnāgaro dvijaḥ asya śuddhiḥ pradātavyā yuṣmākaṁ rocate yadi

'This Nagara brahmin has come from very far, for the sake of purification. If it be pleasing to you, let certification of purity be granted to him.'

Verse 34 (skanda.6.201.34)

अथ तैर्वेदसूक्तेन निषेधो वा प्रवर्तनम् वक्तव्यं वचसा नैव मम वाक्यमिदं स्थितम्

atha tairvedasūktena niṣedho vā pravartanam vaktavyaṁ vacasā naiva mama vākyamidaṁ sthitam

'Then, whether refusal or approval, it should be expressed by them through Vedic recitation, never in ordinary speech — this is my settled ruling.'

Verse 35 (skanda.6.201.35)

ततश्च बहुलान्दृष्ट्वा ऋगध्वर्यूंस्ततः परम् छादोग्यांश्च तथाद्यांश्च क्रमेण तु द्विजोत्तमाः

tataśca bahulāndṛṣṭvā ṛgadhvaryūṁstataḥ param chādogyāṁśca tathādyāṁśca krameṇa tu dvijottamāḥ

'O best of brahmins, and then, having observed closely, in turn, the many Rig-Vedic priests, then the Adhvaryu priests, and the Chandogyas and the foremost officiant as well —'

Verse 36 (skanda.6.201.36)

यदि तेषां मनस्तुष्टिर्जायते द्विजसत्तमाः ततः सूक्तानि वाक्यानि सौम्यानि सुशुभानि च वारुणानि तथैंद्राणि मांगल्यप्रभवाणि च

yadi teṣāṁ manastuṣṭirjāyate dvijasattamāḥ tataḥ sūktāni vākyāni saumyāni suśubhāni ca vāruṇāni tathaiṁdrāṇi māṁgalyaprabhavāṇi ca

'— if, O best of brahmins, contentment of mind arises in them, then the hymns and verses recited will be gentle and truly auspicious — those belonging to Varuna and to Indra, arising from good fortune,'

Verse 37 (skanda.6.201.37)

श्रेष्ठानि मंत्रलिंगानि वृद्धितुष्टिकराणि च यदि नो मानसी तुष्टिस्तेषां चैव प्रजायते

śreṣṭhāni maṁtraliṁgāni vṛddhituṣṭikarāṇi ca yadi no mānasī tuṣṭisteṣāṁ caiva prajāyate

'— excellent in their mantric character, bringing increase and satisfaction. But if no contentment of mind arises in them —'

Verse 38 (skanda.6.201.38)

तदा रौद्राणि याम्यानि नैर्ऋत्यानि विशेषतः आग्नेयानि त्वनिष्टानि तथा नाशकराणि च

tadā raudrāṇi yāmyāni nairṛtyāni viśeṣataḥ āgneyāni tvaniṣṭāni tathā nāśakarāṇi ca

'— then the hymns recited will be those of Rudra, of Yama, and especially those of Nirriti; those of Agni too will be inauspicious, and destructive.'

Verse 39 (skanda.6.201.39)

अथ ये तत्र मूर्खाः स्युर्न वेदपठने रताः पुष्पदानं तु वक्तव्यं तैः संतुष्टैर्द्विजोत्तमैः

atha ye tatra mūrkhāḥ syurna vedapaṭhane ratāḥ puṣpadānaṁ tu vaktavyaṁ taiḥ saṁtuṣṭairdvijottamaiḥ

'And whatever unlettered brahmins are present there, not versed in Vedic recitation — their approval, if satisfied, should be expressed through the offering of a flower.'

Verse 40 (skanda.6.201.40)

सीत्कारः कुपितैः कार्यः संतोषेण विवर्जितैः एवं सर्वेषु कृत्येषु न च कार्यो विनिर्णयः

sītkāraḥ kupitaiḥ kāryaḥ saṁtoṣeṇa vivarjitaiḥ evaṁ sarveṣu kṛtyeṣu na ca kāryo vinirṇayaḥ

'A hissing sound of displeasure should be made by those who are angry, devoid of satisfaction. Thus, in every such matter, judgment should never be rendered —'

Verse 41 (skanda.6.201.41)

प्राकृतैर्वचनैश्चैव यथा कुर्वंति मानवाः तथैव निर्णयस्यांते मध्यगेन विपश्चिता

prākṛtairvacanaiścaiva yathā kurvaṁti mānavāḥ tathaiva nirṇayasyāṁte madhyagena vipaścitā

'— by ordinary words, as men commonly do; rather, in just this manner, the judgment is at last to be pronounced by the wise presiding elder.'

Verse 42 (skanda.6.201.42)

देयं तालत्रयं सम्यक्सर्वेषां निर्णयोद्भवे

deyaṁ tālatrayaṁ samyaksarveṣāṁ nirṇayodbhave

'And when the judgment has thus been rightly reached with the consent of all, the three ceremonial claps should be given.'