Kurma Purana

एकविंशतिसंख्याताः प्रयाश्चित्तं वदन्ति वै

Twenty-one are said to prescribe expiation.

महापातकिनस्त्वेते यश्चैतैः सह संवसेत्

These are great sinners, and whoever lives with them—

यानशय्यासनैर्नित्यं जानन् वै पतितो भवेत्

Knowing this, one who always shares their vehicle, bed, or seat becomes fallen.

कृत्वा सद्यः पतेज्ज्ञानात् सह भोजनमेव च

If one knowingly eats with them, one falls immediately.

संवत्सरेण पतति सहाध्ययनमेव च

By studying together with them, one falls within a year.

भैक्षमात्मविशुद्ध्यर्थं कृत्वा शवशिरोध्वजम्

For the sake of self-purification, one should beg alms, bearing a skull as a banner.

विनिन्दन् स्वयमात्मानं ब्राह्मणं तं च संस्मरन्

Condemning himself and remembering that Brahmin, he should do so.

विधूमे शनकैर्नित्यं व्यङ्गारे भुक्तवज्जने

One should always eat food without smoke, gradually, as if eating what has been cooked on embers.

वन्यमूलफलैर्वापि वर्तयेद् धैर्यमाक्षितः

Or, with steadfastness, one may subsist on roots and fruits from the forest.

पूर्णे तु द्वादशे वर्षे ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

But when twelve years are completed, the sin of killing a Brahmin is removed.

कामतो मरणाच्छुद्धिर्ज्ञेया नान्येन केनचित्

Purification is to be understood as coming only from voluntary death, and not by any other means.

ज्वलन्तं वा विशेदग्निं जलं वा प्रविशेत् स्वयम्

One may enter blazing fire or water by one's own will.

ब्रह्महत्यापनोदार्थमन्तरा वा मृतस्य तु

Or, for the removal of the sin of killing a Brahmin, if one dies in the interim, that also applies.

दत्त्वा चान्नं स दुर्भिक्षे ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

By giving food during a famine, he removes the sin of killing a Brahmin.

सर्वस्वं वा वेदविदे ब्राह्मणाय प्रदाय तु

Or, by giving all his possessions to a Brahmin who knows the Veda.

शुध्येत् त्रिषवणस्नानात् त्रिरात्रोपोषितो द्विजः

A twice-born who fasts for three nights and bathes at the three sandhyas becomes purified.

ब्रह्मचर्यादिभिर्युक्तो दृष्ट्वा रुद्रं विमुच्यते

Engaged in celibacy and similar practices, upon seeing Rudra, one is released.

स्नात्वाभ्यर्च्य पितॄन् भक्त्या ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

After bathing and worshipping the ancestors with devotion, one removes the sin of killing a Brahmin.

कपालं स्थापितं पूर्वं ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः

The skull, formerly placed by Brahma, the supreme lord—

तर्पपित्वा पितॄन् स्नात्वा मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया

After satisfying the ancestors and bathing, one is freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin.

कपालं ब्रह्मणः पूर्वं स्थापितं देहजं भुवि

The skull of Brahma, formerly placed, born from the body, on the earth—

माहात्म्यं देवदेवस्य महादेवस्य धीमतः

—is the greatness of the god of gods, the wise great god.

प्रोचुः प्रणम्य लोकादिं किमेकं तत्त्वमव्ययम्

Having bowed, they said to the lord of the worlds: 'What is the one imperishable reality?'

अविज्ञाय परं भावं स्वात्मानं प्राह धर्षिणम्

Not knowing the supreme state, he spoke of his own self as the conqueror.

अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म मामभ्यर्च्य विमुच्यते

By worshipping me, the supreme Brahman, without beginning and beyond, one is released.

न विद्यते चाभ्यधिको मत्तो लोकेषु कश्चन

There is no one in all the worlds who surpasses me.

प्रोवाच प्रहसन् वाक्यं रोषताम्रविलोचनः

He spoke these words, smiling, his eyes reddened with anger.

अज्ञानयोगयुक्तस्य न त्वेतदुचितं तव

For one endowed with ignorance, this is not fitting for you.

न मामृते ऽस्य जगतो जीवनं सर्वदा क्वचित्

Without me, there is never any life in this world at any time.