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,
तस्मिन्दिने निराहारः कालशेषं समापयेत् । प्रातः पर्वणि चाप्येवं कृत्वा होमावसानतः
On that day, he should remain fasting for the rest of the time; and in the morning, on the festival day, having done likewise, after the conclusion of the fire ritual,
उपसंहृत्य रुद्राग्निं गृहीत्वा भस्म यत्नतः । ततश्च जटिलो मुण्डः शिखैकजट एव च
Having withdrawn the Rudra fire and carefully collected the ashes, then, with matted hair, shaven head, or a single topknot,
भूत्वा स्नात्वा पुनर्वीतलज्जश्चेत्स्याद्दिगम्बरः । अन्यः काषायवसनश्चर्मचीराम्बरोऽथवा
Having become so, and having bathed, he should, without shame, go about unclothed; or else, wearing ochre garments or a garment of animal skin.
एकाम्बरो वल्कलवान्भवेद्दण्डी च मेखली । प्रक्षाल्य चरणौ पश्चाद्द्विराचम्यात्मनस्तनुम्
He may wear a single garment, or bark clothing, and carry a staff and a girdle; then, after washing his feet, he should again purify his own body.
सङ्कलीकृत्य तद्भस्म विरजानलसम्भवम् । अग्निरित्यादिभिर्मन्त्रैः षड्भिराथर्वणैः क्रमात्
Having gathered that ash produced from the pure fire, with the six Atharvan mantras beginning with 'Agni,'
विमृज्याङ्गानि मूर्धादिचरणान्तं च तैः स्पृशेत् । ततस्तेन क्रमेणैव समुद्धूल्य च भस्मना
He should rub his limbs from head to feet with those mantras, and then, in the same order, sprinkle himself with the ash.
सर्वाङ्गोद्धूलनं कुर्यात्प्रणवेन शिवेन वा । ततश्च पुण्ड्रं रचयेत्त्रियायुषसमाह्वयम्
He should perform the sprinkling of ash over the whole body, with the praṇava or with the Śiva mantra; then he should mark his body with the three-lined emblem called 'triyāyuṣa.'
शिवभावं समागम्य शिवभावमथाचरेत् । कुर्यात्त्रिसन्ध्यमप्येवमेतत्पाशुपतं व्रतम्
Having attained the state of Śiva, he should then act in accordance with the state of Śiva; he should also perform the three daily rituals—thus is the Pāśupata vow.
भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं चैव पशुत्वं विनिवर्तयेत् । तत्पशुत्वं परित्यज्य कृत्वा पाशुपतं व्रतम्
It bestows both enjoyment and liberation, and removes the state of bondage; having abandoned that state of bondage, one should undertake the Pāśupata vow.
पूजनीयो महादेवो लिङ्गमूर्तिः सदाशिवः । भस्मस्नानं महापुण्यं सर्वसौख्यकरं परम्
The great god, the liṅga form, Sadāśiva, is always to be worshipped; bathing with ash is of great merit and brings supreme happiness in all ways.