विशुद्धमुकुराकारं जपन्बीजं विहायसः । मूर्धादिपादपर्यन्तान्यङ्गानि रचयेत्सुधीः
Contemplating the pure, mirror-like form, the wise should, reciting the seed-syllable of ether, form the limbs from the crown of the head to the tips of the feet.
आकाशादीनि भूतानि पुनरुत्पादयेच्चितः । सोऽहं मन्त्रेण चात्मानमानयेद्धृदयाम्बुजे
Then, one should mentally recreate the elements beginning with ether, and with the mantra 'so'ham', bring the self into the lotus of the heart.
कुण्डलीजीवमादाय परसङ्गात्सुधामयम् । संस्थाप्य हृदयाम्भोजे मूलाधारगतां स्मरेत्
Taking the life-force of Kuṇḍalinī, made of nectar, from the association with the supreme, one should establish it in the lotus of the heart and remember it as residing in the root center.
रक्ताम्भोधिस्थपोतोल्लसदरुण- सरोजाधिरूढा कराब्जैः शूलं कोदण्डमिक्षूद्भवमणिगुण- मप्यङ्कुशं पञ्चबाणान् । बिभ्राणासृक्कपालं त्रिनयन- लसिता पीनवक्षोरुहाढ्या देवी बालार्कवर्णा भवतु सुखकरी प्राणशक्तिः परा नः
May the supreme life-force, the Goddess, who is seated upon a radiant red lotus rising from the ocean of blood, holding in her lotus hands a trident, a bow, sugarcane, a string of jewels, a goad, and five arrows, bearing a skull cup with blood, adorned with three eyes, endowed with full breasts, and shining with the color of the rising sun, bring us happiness.
एवं ध्यात्वा प्राणशक्तिं परमात्मस्वरूपिणीम् । विभूतिधारणं कार्यं सर्वाधिकृतिसिद्धये
Having thus meditated on the life-force as the very form of the Supreme Self, one should perform the wearing of sacred ash for the attainment of all authority and success.
विभूतेर्विस्तरं वक्ष्ये धारणे च महाफलम् । श्रुतिस्मृतिप्रमाणोक्तं भस्मधारणमुत्तमम्
I shall now declare the full extent of the sacred ash and the great fruit of its application; the wearing of ash, as taught in the scriptures and tradition, is supreme.
सशिरोव्रतं त्रिपुण्डधारणवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच इदं शिरोव्रतं चीर्णं विधिवद्यैर्द्विजातिभिः । तेषामेव परां विद्यां वदेदज्ञानबाधिकाम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: This head-vow, when properly observed by the twice-born, grants them the supreme knowledge that dispels ignorance.
विधिवच्छ्रद्धया सार्धं न चीर्णं यैः शिरोव्रतम् । श्रौतस्मार्तसमाचारस्तेषामनुपकारकः
For those who have not properly performed the head-vow with faith, the practices prescribed by the Vedas and Smṛtis are of no benefit.
शिरोव्रतसमाचारादेव ब्रह्मादिदेवताः । देवता अभवन्विद्वन् खलु नान्येन हेतुना
It is solely through the observance of the Śirovrata that Brahmā and the other deities became gods, O wise one, and not by any other cause.
शिरोव्रतस्य माहात्म्यं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् । ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च देवताः सकला अपि
The greatness of the Śirovrata was established by those of old; Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and all the deities indeed.
सर्वपातकयुक्तोऽपि मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः । शिरोव्रतमिदं येन चरितं विधिवद्बुधैः
Even one burdened with all sins is freed from every sin, if he has properly observed this Śirovrata according to the wise.
शिरोव्रतमिदं नाम शिरस्याथर्वणश्रुतेः । यदुक्तं तद्धि नैवान्यत्तत्तु पुण्येन लभ्यते
This vow called Śirovrata, as spoken in the Atharvaṇa Veda, is not found elsewhere; it is attained only through merit.
शाखाभेदेषु नामानि व्रतस्यास्य विभेदतः । पठ्यन्ते मुनिशार्दूल शाखास्वेकव्रतं हि तत्
O best of sages, the names of this vow differ according to the branches, but in each branch it is indeed the same vow.
सर्वशाखासु वस्त्वेकं शिवाख्यं सत्यचिद्घनम् । तथा तद्विषयं ज्ञानं तथैव च शिरोतव्रतम्
In all the branches, the true essence is one—called Śiva, dense with truth and consciousness; likewise, the knowledge concerning it and the Śirovrata itself.
शिरोव्रतविहीनस्तु सर्वधर्मविवर्जितः । अपि सर्वासु विद्यासु सोऽधिकारी न संशयः
One who is without the Śirovrata is devoid of all dharmas; even if learned in all sciences, he is not qualified—there is no doubt.
शिरोव्रतमिदं कार्यं पापकान्तारदाहकम् । साधनं सर्वविद्यानां यतस्तत्सम्यगाचरेत्
This Śirovrata must be performed, for it burns away the root of sin; it is the means to all knowledge, therefore one should practice it properly.
श्रुतिराथर्वणी सूक्ष्मा सूक्ष्मार्थस्य प्रकाशिनी । यदुवाच व्रतं प्रीत्या तन्नित्यं सम्यगाचरेत्
The Atharvaṇa Śruti is subtle, revealing the subtle meaning; the vow it prescribes should always be properly observed with devotion.
अग्निरित्यादिभिर्मन्त्रैः षड्भिः शुद्धेन भस्मना । सर्वाङ्गोद्धूलनं कुर्याच्छिरोव्रतसमाह्वयम्
With six mantras beginning with 'Agni', and with pure ashes, one should sanctify all limbs—this is called the Śirovrata.
एतच्छिरोव्रतं कुर्यात्सन्ध्याकालेषु सादरम् । यावद्विद्योदयस्तावत्तस्य विद्या खलूत्तमा
This Śirovrata should be performed with reverence at the times of twilight; as long as knowledge arises, his knowledge will indeed be supreme.
द्वादशाब्दमथाब्दं वा तदर्धं च तदर्धकम् । प्रकुर्याद्द्वादशाहं वा सङ्कल्पेन शिरोव्रतम्
One should perform the Śirovrata for twelve years, or a year, or half of that, or half of that again, or for twelve days with resolve.
शिरोव्रतेन यः स्नातस्तं तु नोपदिशेत्तु यः । तस्य विद्या विनष्टा स्यान्निर्घृणः स गुरुः खलु
He who has bathed with the Śirovrata should not be instructed by one who has not; his knowledge will be lost, and such a teacher is indeed cruel.
ब्रह्मविद्यागुरुः साक्षान्मुनिः कारुणिकः खलु । यथा सर्वेश्वरः श्रीमान्मृदुः कारुणिकः खलु
The teacher of Brahmavidyā is directly a sage, compassionate indeed, just as the glorious Lord of all is gentle and compassionate.
जन्मान्तरसहस्रेषु नरा ये धर्मचारिणः । तेषामेव खलु श्रद्धा जायते न कदाचन
Among men who practice dharma for thousands of births, only in them does faith arise; never in others.
प्रत्युताज्ञानबाहुल्याद्द्वेष एव विजायते । अतः प्रद्वेषयुक्तस्य न भवेदात्मवेदनम्
On the contrary, due to abundance of ignorance, only hatred arises; therefore, for one filled with aversion, there is no realization of the Self.
ब्रह्मविद्योपदेशस्य साक्षादेवाधिकारिणः । त एव नेतरे विद्वन् ये तु स्नाताः शिरोव्रतैः
Those alone are truly qualified for the direct teaching of Brahmavidyā, O wise one, who have bathed with the Śirovrata, not others.
व्रतं पाशुपतं चीर्णं यैर्द्विजैरादरेण तु । तेषामेवोपदेष्टव्यमिति वेदानुशासनम्
According to the command of the Veda, only those twice-born who have diligently observed the Pāśupata vow should be instructed.
यः पशुस्तत्पशुत्वं च व्रतेनानेन सन्त्यजेत् । तान्हत्वा न स पापीयान्भवेद्वेदान्तनिश्चयः
Whoever is an animal, and his animal nature, may abandon it through this vow; having slain them, he does not become more sinful—this is the settled conclusion of Vedānta.
त्रिपुण्ड्रधारणं प्रोक्तं जाबालैरादरेण तु । त्रियम्बकेन मन्त्रेण सतारेण शिवेन च
The wearing of the tripuṇḍra is taught by the Jābāla sages with reverence, with the Triyambaka mantra, the Satarā mantra, and by Śiva.
त्रिपुण्ड्रं धारयेन्नित्यं गहस्थाश्रममाश्रितः । ओङ्कारेण त्रिरुक्तेन सहंसेन त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
One who has entered the householder stage should always wear the tripuṇḍra, using the Oṃkāra mantra recited three times, together with the Saham̐sa mantra for the tripuṇḍra.
धारयेद्भिक्षुको नित्यमिति जाबालिकी श्रुतिः । त्रियम्बकेन मन्त्रेण प्रणवेन शिवेन च
A mendicant should always wear it—so declares the Jābāla scripture—with the Triyambaka mantra, the Praṇava, and by Śiva.