कोटिहोमेन यत्प्रोक्तं फलमन्यत्र सूरिभिः
The fruit declared elsewhere by the wise as arising from a million fire-offerings—
यो जपेद्रुद्रसूक्तानि काश्यां विश्वेशसन्निधौ
Whoever recites the Rudra hymns in Kāśī in the presence of Viśveśa—
तस्य पुण्यं न जानामि चिंतिते चाक्षरे परे
I do not know the merit of one who contemplates each supreme syllable.
आपद्यपि हि घोरायां काशी त्याज्या न कुत्रचित्
Even in the most terrible calamity, Kāśī should never be abandoned anywhere.
अवंध्यं दिवसं कुर्यात्स्नानदानजपादिभिः
One should make each day fruitful by bathing, giving, reciting, and the like.
कृच्छ्रचांद्रायणादीनि कर्तव्यानि प्रयत्नतः
Atonements such as Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa should be performed diligently.
यदींद्रियाणि कुर्वंति विक्रियामिह देहिनाम् 4.2.96.
If the senses here cause disturbances in embodied beings—
तेषां स्वरूपमाख्याहि स्कंदेंद्रिय विशुद्धये
Describe their true nature, O Skanda, for the purification of the senses.
यानि कृत्वात्र मनुजो देहशुद्धिं लभेत्पराम्
By performing these acts here, a person attains supreme purification of the body.
एकभक्तेन नक्तेन तथैवायाचितेन च
With a single meal, at night, or by food obtained through begging, likewise.
वटोदुंबरराजीव बिल्वपत्रकुशोदकम्
Banyan, cluster fig, lotus, bilva leaves, and water with sacred grass.
पिण्याकघृततक्रांबु सक्तूनां प्रतिवासरम्
Oil-cake, ghee, buttermilk, water, and roasted flour, each day.
हविषा प्रातरश्नीत हविषा सायमेव च
He should eat sacrificial food in the morning, and sacrificial food again in the evening.
एकैकग्रासमश्नीयादहानि त्रीणि पूर्ववत्
He should eat a single morsel each day for three days, as before.
कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रं पयसा दिवसानेकविंशतिः
The 'kṛcchrātikṛcchra' is performed with milk for twenty-one days.
त्र्यहं प्रातस्त्रयहं सायं त्र्यहमद्यादयाचितम्
For three days, eat in the morning; for three days, eat in the evening; for three days, eat food obtained by begging.
गोमूत्रं गोमयं क्षीरं दधिसर्पिः कुशोदकम् 4.2.96.
Cow urine, cow dung, milk, curd, ghee, and water with sacred grass.
पृथक्सांतपनद्रव्यैः षडहः सोपवासकः
With separate purifying substances, for six days, accompanied by fasting.
तप्तकृच्छ्रं चरन्विप्रो जलक्षीरघृतानिलान्
A Brahmin performing the 'taptakṛcchra' should consume water, milk, ghee, and air.
त्र्यहमुष्णाः पिबेदापस्त्र्यहमुष्णं पयः पिबेत्
For three days, he should drink warm water; for three days, he should drink warm milk.
पलमेकं पयः पीत्वा सर्पिषश्च पलद्वयम्
After drinking one pala of milk, and two palas of ghee.
गोमूत्रेण समायुक्तं यावकं यः प्रयोजयेत्
One who uses barley mixed with cow urine.
हस्तावुत्तानतः कृत्वा दिवसं मारुताशनः
Keeping the hands raised upward, he should subsist on air for a day.
एकैकं ह्रासयेद्ग्रासं कृष्णे शुक्ले च वर्धयेत्
He should decrease a morsel each day during the dark fortnight, and increase during the bright fortnight.
एकैकं वर्धयेद्ग्रासं शुक्ले कृष्णे च ह्रासयेत्
He should increase a morsel each day during the bright fortnight, and decrease during the dark fortnight.
चतुरः प्रातरश्नीयात्पिंडान्विप्रः समाहितः
A Brahmin, intent, should eat four morsels in the morning.
अष्टावष्टौ समश्नीयात्पिंडान्मध्यंदिने स्थिते 4.2.96.
One should eat eight or sixteen morsels when midday has arrived.
यथाकथंचित्पिंडानां तिस्रोशीतीः समाहितः
If unable, one should mindfully take three morsels of food, however possible.
अद्भिर्गात्राणि शुध्यंति मनः सत्येन शुद्ध्यति
The body is purified by water; the mind is purified by truth.
तच्च ज्ञानं भवेत्पुंसां सम्यक्काशीनिषेवणात्
And that knowledge arises in people through proper observance of fasting.