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.
गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थो धारयेच्च त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् । मेधावीत्यादिना वापि ब्रह्मचारी दिने दिने
A householder or forest-dweller should wear the tripuṇḍra; and a student, being intelligent, should also wear it daily.
भस्मना सजलेनापि धारयेच्च त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् । ब्राह्मणो विधिनोत्पन्नस्त्रिपुण्ड्रभस्मनैव तु
The tripuṇḍra should be worn with ash, or even with water; but a brāhmaṇa, properly initiated, must wear the tripuṇḍra only with sacred ash.
ललाटे धारयेन्नित्यं तिर्यग्भस्मावगुण्ठनम् । (महादेवस्य सम्बन्धात्तद्धर्मेऽप्यस्ति सङ्गतिः ।) सम्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रधर्मं च ब्राह्मणो नित्यमाचरेत्
One should always wear, on the forehead, the transverse covering of ash; (because of its connection with Mahādeva, it is relevant in this dharma as well); a brāhmaṇa should always properly observe the dharma of the tripuṇḍra.
आदिब्राह्मणभूतेन त्रिपुण्ड्रं भस्मना धृतम् । यतोऽत एव विप्रस्तु त्रिपुण्ड्रं धारयेत्सदा
The tripuṇḍra was worn with ash by the primordial brāhmaṇa; therefore, a brāhmaṇa should always wear the tripuṇḍra.
भस्मना वेदसिद्धेन त्रिपुण्ड्रं देहगुण्ठनम् । रुद्रलिङ्गार्चनं वापि मोहतोऽपि च न त्यजेत्
The tripuṇḍra, the covering of the body with ash established by the Veda, or the worship of the liṅga of Rudra—one should never abandon these, even out of delusion.
त्रियम्बकेन मन्त्रेण सतारेण तथैव च । पञ्चाक्षरेण मन्त्रेण प्रणवेन तथैव च
With the Triyambaka mantra, the Satarā mantra, the Pañcākṣara mantra, and the Praṇava as well,
ललाटे हृदये चैव दोर्द्वन्द्वे च महामुने । त्रिपुण्ड्रं धारयेन्नित्यं संन्यासाश्रममाश्रितः
One who has entered the renounced order should always wear the tripuṇḍra on the forehead, the heart, and both arms, O great sage.
त्रियायुषेण मन्त्रेण मेधावीत्यादिनाथवा । गौणेन भस्मना धार्यं त्रिपुण्ड्रं ब्रह्मचारिणा
With the Triyāyuṣa mantra, or with the Medhāvī mantra and others, or with secondary ash, the student should wear the tripuṇḍra.
नमोऽन्तेन शिवेनैव शूद्रः शुश्रूषणे रतः । उद्धूलनं त्रिपुण्ड्रं च नित्यं भक्त्या समाचरेत्
A śūdra, devoted to service, should always perform the sprinkling and the tripuṇḍra with devotion, using the Śiva mantra ending with 'namaḥ.'
अन्येषामपि सर्वेषां विना मन्त्रेण सुव्रत । उद्धूलनं त्रिपुण्ड्रं च कर्तव्यं भक्तितो मुने
For all others as well, O virtuous one, even without a mantra, the sprinkling and the tripuṇḍra should be performed with devotion, O sage.
भूत्यैवोद्धूलनं तिर्यक् त्रिपुण्ड्रस्य च धारणम् । वरेण्यं सर्वधर्मेभ्यस्तस्मान्नित्यं समाचरेत्
The sprinkling with sacred ash and the transverse wearing of the tripuṇḍra are to be esteemed above all dharmas; therefore, one should always perform them.
भस्माग्निहोत्रजं वाथ विरजाग्निसमुद्भवम् । आदरेण समादाय शुद्धे पात्रे निधाय तत्
One should respectfully take ash produced from the fire sacrifice or from the pure fire, and place it in a clean vessel.
प्रक्षाल्य पादौ हस्तौ च द्विराचम्य समाहितः । गृहीत्वा भस्म तत्पञ्चब्रह्ममन्त्रैः शनैः शनैः
After washing the feet and hands, bowing twice with concentration, one should take that ash and, with the five Brahma mantras, recite them slowly.
प्राणायामत्रयं कृत्वा अग्निरित्यादिमन्त्रितम् । तैरेव सप्तभिर्मन्त्रैस्त्रिवारमभिमन्त्रयेत्
Having performed the threefold regulation of breath, and reciting the mantra beginning with 'Agni,' with those seven mantras, one should consecrate it three times.
ओमापोज्योतिरित्युक्त्वा ध्यात्वा मन्त्रानुदीरयेत् । सितेन भस्मना पूर्वं समुद्धूल्य शरीरकम्
Having uttered 'Om āpo jyotir', one should meditate and recite the mantra, then first cleanse the body with white ash.
विपापो विरजो मर्त्यो जायते नात्र संशयः । ततो ध्यात्वा महाविष्णुं जगन्नाथं जलाधिपम्
Freed from impurity, freed from passion, mortal becomes pure—there is no doubt of this; then, meditating on Mahāviṣṇu, Lord of the Universe, and the Lord of Waters.
संयोज्य भस्मना तोयमग्निरित्यादिभिः पुनः । विमृज्य साम्बं ध्यात्वा च समुद्धूल्योर्ध्वमस्तकम्
Mixing water with ash, again with 'Agni' and other mantras, one should rub it, meditate on Sambha, and sprinkle it upwards on the head.
तेन भावनया ब्राह्मभूतेन सितभस्मना । ललाटवक्षःस्कन्धेषु स्वाश्रमोचितमन्त्रतः
With that contemplation, with the ash made Brahman by thought, one should apply it to the forehead, chest, and shoulders, using mantras proper to one's āśrama.
मध्यमानामिकाङ्गुष्ठैरनुलोमविलोमतः । त्रिपुण्ड्रं धारयेन्नित्यं त्रिकालेष्वपि भक्तितः
With the middle, ring, and thumb fingers, in both directions, one should always wear the tripuṇḍra, with devotion, three times daily.
भस्ममाहात्म्ये पाशुपतव्रतवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच आग्नेयं गौणमज्ञानध्वंसकं ज्ञानसाधकम् । गौणं नानाविधं विद्धि ब्रह्मन्ब्रह्मविदांवर
On the greatness of ash and the description of the Pāśupata vow. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: The fire-born ash is secondary, destroys ignorance, and brings knowledge; know that the secondary is of many kinds, O best of Brahman-knowers.