अशुद्धं च विशुद्धस्य कर्मबंधविनिर्मितम् । शुक्रशोणितसंयोगाद्देहः संजायते क्वचित्
Impure, yet belonging to the pure, constructed by the bonds of karma, the body is sometimes produced from the union of semen and blood.
नित्यं विण्मूत्रसंयुक्तस्तेनायमशुचिः स्मृतः । यथा वै विष्ठया पूर्णः शुचिः सांतर्बहिर्घटः
Always joined with excrement and urine, therefore it is called impure; just as a pot filled with filth is clean only on the outside.
शौचेन शोध्यमानोपि देहोयमशुचिर्भवेत् । यं प्राप्यातिपवित्राणि पंचगव्य हवींषि च
Even when this body is purified by cleanliness, it remains impure; yet, by attaining it, even the most sacred offerings and the five products of the cow become utterly impure.
अशुचित्वं प्रयांत्याशु देहोयमशुचिस्ततः । हृद्यान्यप्यन्नपानानि यं प्राप्य सुरभीणि च
Because of this body's impurity, even the most delightful foods and drinks, as well as fragrant substances, quickly lose their purity upon contact with it.
अशुचित्वं प्रयांत्याशु कोऽन्य स्यादशुचिस्ततः । हे जनाः किं न पश्यध्वं यन्निर्याति दिनेदिने
Because of this, what else could be more impure? O people, do you not see what leaves the body day after day?
देहानुगो मलः पूतिस्तदाधारः कथं शुचिः । देहः संशोध्यमानोपि पंचगव्यकुशांबुभिः
The filth that follows the body is its stench—how can its container be pure? Even when the body is cleansed with the five products of the cow and with sacred grass-water,
घृष्यमाण इवांगारो निर्मलत्वं न गच्छति । स्रोतांसि यस्य सततं प्रवहंति गिरेरिव
Just as charcoal, even when scrubbed, does not become spotless, so too the body's channels constantly flow like streams from a mountain.
कफमूत्राद्यमशुचिः स देहः शुध्यते कथम् । सर्वाशुचिनिधानस्य शरीरस्य न विद्यते
How can that body, which is impure with phlegm, urine, and the like, ever be purified? There is no part of the body, the repository of all impurities,
शुचिरेकप्रदेशोपि शुचिर्न स्यादृतेऽपि वा । दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ मृत्तोयैः शोध्यते करः
that is truly pure, even if a single spot appears clean. Whether by day or night, even if the hand is washed with clay and water,
तथापि शुचिभाङ्नस्यान्न विरज्यंति ते नराः । कायोयमग्र्यधूपाद्यैर्यत्नेनापि सुसंस्कृतः
still, people do not turn away from the enjoyment of what is associated with the body. Even if this body is carefully adorned with the finest incense and such,
न जहाति स्वभावं हि श्वपुच्छमिव नामितम् । तथा जात्यैव कृष्णोर्णा न शुक्ला जातु जायते
it does not abandon its nature, just as a dog's tail cannot be straightened. Likewise, black wool by its very nature never becomes white.
संशोध्यमानापि तथा भवेन्मूर्तिर्न निर्मला । जिघ्रन्नपि स्वदुर्गंधं पश्यन्नपि मलं स्वकम्
In the same way, even when purified, the form does not become spotless. Even when smelling its own foul odor or seeing its own filth,
न विरज्यति लोकोऽयं पीडयन्नपि नासिकाम् । अहो मोहस्य माहात्म्यं येन व्यामोहितं जगत्
people do not turn away from it, even while pinching their noses. Ah, such is the greatness of delusion, by which the world is bewildered.
जिघ्रन्पश्यन्स्वकान्दोषान्कायस्य न विरज्यते । स्वदेहस्य विगंधेन विरज्येत न यो नरः
Even while smelling and seeing the body's own faults, people do not turn away from it. The man who does not turn away from his own body's stench,
विरागकारणं तस्य किमन्यदुपदिश्यते । सर्वमेव जगत्पूतं देहमेवाशुचिः परम्
what other cause for detachment could be taught to him? The whole world is pure; only the body is supremely impure.
यन्मलावयवस्पर्शाच्छुचिरप्यशुचिर्भवेत् । गंधलेपापनोदाय शौचं देहस्य कीर्तितम्
By contact with the body's excretions and parts, even the pure becomes impure. Cleanliness is prescribed for the body only to remove odor and stains.
द्वयस्यापगमात्पश्चाद्भावशुद्ध्या विशुद्ध्यति । गंगातोयेन सर्वेण मृद्भारैर्गात्रलेपनैः
Only after both are removed does true purity arise. Even with all the water of the Ganges and with clay and ointments applied to the limbs,
मर्त्यो दुर्गंधदेहोसौ भावदुष्टो न शुध्यति । तीर्थस्नानैस्तपोभिश्च दुष्टात्मा न च शुध्यति
a mortal with a foul-smelling body and impure mind is not purified. Even by bathing at holy places and performing austerities, the corrupted soul is not purified.
स्वमूर्तिः क्षालिता तीर्थे न शुद्धिमधिगच्छति । अंतर्भावप्रदुष्टस्य विशतोपि हुताशनम्
Even if one's own form is washed at a sacred place, it does not attain purity. For one whose inner disposition is tainted, even entering the sacrificial fire,
न स्वर्गो नापवर्गश्च देहनिर्दहनं परम् । भावशुद्धिः परं शौचं प्रमाणं सर्वकर्मसु
neither heaven nor liberation is attained by merely burning the body. Purity of mind is the highest cleanliness and the standard in all actions.
अन्यथा लिंग्यते कांता भावेन दुहितान्यथा । मनसा भिद्यते वृत्तिरभिन्नेष्वपि वस्तुषु
A woman is perceived differently as a beloved or as a daughter; the mind's disposition changes even when the objects themselves are not different.
अन्यथैव सती पुत्रं चिंतयेदन्यथा पतिम् । यथायथा स्वभावस्य महाभाग उदाहृतम्
A woman, though the same, thinks of her son in one way and her husband in another; thus, the nature of things is illustrated, O noble one.
परिष्वक्तोपि यद्भार्यां भावहीनां न कारयेत् । नाद्याद्विविधमन्नाद्यं रस्यानि सुरभीणि च
Even when embracing his wife, a man should not act without feeling; nor should he eat various delicious and fragrant foods without appetite.
अभावेन नरस्तस्माद्भावः सर्वत्र कारणम् । चित्तं शोधय यत्नेन किमन्यैर्बाह्यशोधनैः
Therefore, in the absence of feeling, feeling is the cause everywhere; purify your mind with effort—what use are other external purifications?
भावतः शुचिशुद्धात्मा स्वर्गं मोक्षं च विंदति । ज्ञानामलांभसा पुंसः सवैराग्यमृदापुनः
Through feeling, one whose mind is pure and clean attains heaven and liberation; by the pure water of knowledge, a person gains detachment and gentleness again.
अविद्या रागविण्मूत्र लेपो नश्येद्विशोधनैः । एवमेतच्छरीरं हि निसर्गादशुचिं विदुः
The stains of ignorance, passion, and excrement are destroyed by purification; thus, this body is naturally known to be impure.
विद्यादसार निःसारं कदलीसारसन्निभम् । ज्ञात्वैवं दोषवद्देहं यः प्राज्ञः शिथिली भवेत्
Know that knowledge is without essence, lacking substance, like the core of a banana tree; understanding thus, the wise become relaxed regarding the faults of the body.
सोतिक्रामति संसारं दृढग्राहोवतिष्ठति । एवमेतन्महाकष्टं जन्मदुःखं प्रकीर्तितम्
He crosses over worldly existence and stands firm with a strong grasp; thus, the great suffering of birth has been described.
पुंसामज्ञानदोषेण नानाकर्मवशेन च । गर्भस्थस्य मतिर्यासीत्सा जातस्य प्रणश्यति
Because of the fault of ignorance and the influence of various actions, the mind of one in the womb is lost after birth.
सुमूर्च्छितस्य दुःखेन योनियंत्रनिपीडनात् । बाह्येन वायुना चास्य मोहसंगेन देहिनाम्
When deeply afflicted by pain from the constraints of the womb and by external air, the embodied beings are overcome by delusion.