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.
अग्निहोत्राग्निजं तद्वद्विरजानलजं मुने । औपासनसमुत्पन्नं समिदग्निसमुद्भवम्
Ash produced from the fire of agnihotra, and likewise from the pure fire, O sage, from the fire used in worship, and from the fire of sacrificial sticks.
पचनाग्निसमुत्पन्नं दावानलसमुद्भवम् । त्रैवर्णिकानां सर्वेषामग्निहोत्रसमुद्भवम्
Ash produced from the cooking fire, from the forest fire, and for all three varṇas, ash from the agnihotra fire.
विरजानलजं चैव धार्यं भस्म महामुने । औपासनसमुत्पन्नं गृहस्थानां विशेषतः
Ash from the pure fire should be worn, O great sage; ash from the worship fire is especially for householders.
समिदग्निसमुत्पन्नं धार्यं वै ब्रह्मचारिणा । शूद्राणां श्रोत्रियागारपचनाग्निसमुद्भवम्
Ash from the fire of sacrificial sticks should be worn by brahmacārins; for Śūdras, ash from the cooking fire of a learned Brahmin's house.
अन्येषामपि सर्वेषां धार्यं दावानलोद्भवम् । कालश्चित्रा पौर्णमासी देशः स्वीयः परिग्रहः
For all others, ash from the forest fire should be worn; the time is varied, the full moon, the place is one's own, and the acquisition is personal.
क्षेत्रारामाद्यरण्यं वा प्रशस्तः शुभलक्षणः । तत्र पूर्वत्रयोदश्यां सुस्नातः सुकृताह्निकः
A field, garden, or forest is recommended, having auspicious marks; there, on the thirteenth day, having bathed well and performed good daily rites.
अनुज्ञाप्य स्वमाचार्यं संपूज्य प्रणिपत्य च । पूजां वैशेषिकीं कृत्वा शुक्लाम्बरधरः स्वयम्
Having obtained permission from one's teacher, worshipped and bowed, having performed special worship, wearing white garments oneself.
शुद्धयज्ञोपवीती च शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनः । दर्भासने समासीनो दर्भमुष्टिं प्रगृह्य च
With a pure sacred thread, adorned with white garlands and ointments, seated on a darbha mat, holding a fistful of darbha grass.
प्राणायामत्रयं कृत्वा प्राङ्मुखो वाप्युदङ्मुखः । ध्यात्वा देवं च देवीं च तद्विज्ञापनवर्त्मना
Having performed the threefold prāṇāyāma, facing east or north, meditating on the god and goddess, in the manner of their invocation.
व्रतमेतत्करोमीति भवेत्सङ्कल्पदीक्षितः । यावच्छरीरपातं वा द्वादशाब्दमथापि वा
One should resolve, 'I undertake this vow,' thus becoming initiated, either until the body's fall or for twelve years.
तदर्धं वा तदर्धं वा मासद्वादशकं तु वा । तदर्धं वा तदर्धं वा मासमेकमथापि वा
Or for half that, or for half of that, or for twelve months; or for half that, or for half of that, or for one month.
दिनद्वादशकं वापि दिनषट्कमथापि वा । तदर्धं दिनमेकं वा व्रतसङ्कल्पनावधि
Or for twelve days, or for six days; or for half that, or for one day—the limit of the vow's resolve.
अग्निमाधाय विधिवद्विरजाहोमकारणात् । हुत्वाऽऽज्येन समिद्भिश्च चरुणा च यथाविधि
Having properly kindled the fire according to the prescribed method, one should offer oblations with ghee, with sticks of wood, and with the sacrificial mixture, as is ordained.
पूताहात्पुरतो भूयस्तत्त्वानां शुद्धिमुद्दिशन् । जुहुयान्मूलमन्त्रेण तैरेव समिदादिभिः
Having purified himself, and facing east, intending the purification of the elements, he should offer oblations with the root mantra, using those same sticks and other materials.
तत्त्वान्येतानि मे देहे शुध्यन्तामित्यनुस्मरन् । पश्चाद्भूतादितन्मात्राः पञ्चकर्मेन्द्रियाणि च
Recalling, 'May these elements in my body be purified,' he should then proceed with the five great elements, the subtle elements, and the five organs of action.
ज्ञानकर्मविभेदेन पञ्च पञ्च विभागशः । त्वगादिधातवः सप्त पञ्च प्राणादिवायवः
Distinguishing between knowledge and action, he should consider the five groups of five: the seven bodily substances beginning with skin, and the five vital airs starting with prāṇa.
मनो बुद्धिरहङ्कारो गुणाः प्रकृतिपूरुषौ । रागो विद्या कला चैव नियतिः काल एव च
Mind, intellect, ego, the three guṇas, nature and spirit, attachment, knowledge, the powers, order, and time as well.
माया च शुद्धविद्या च महेश्वरसदाशिवौ । शक्तिश्च शिवतत्त्वं च तत्त्वानि क्रमशो विदुः
Māyā, pure knowledge, Maheśvara, Sadāśiva, Śakti, and the principle of Śiva—these are known as the successive principles.
मन्त्रैस्तु विरजैर्हुत्वा होतासौ विरजो भवेत् । अथ गोमयमादाय पिण्डीकृत्याभिमन्त्र्य च
Having offered oblations with pure mantras, the sacrificer becomes purified; then, taking cow dung, shaping it into a lump, and consecrating it,
न्यस्याग्नौ तं च संरक्ष्य दिने तस्मिन् हविष्यभुक् । प्रभाते च चतुर्दश्यां कृत्वा सर्वं पुरोदितम्
He should place it in the fire, preserve it, and on that day, having eaten the sacrificial food, in the morning of the fourteenth day, having performed all the prescribed rites,