There is truly no fault in this matter, and no doubt remains. Thus concluded the chapter concerning expiation for chewing tooth-sticks in the sacred Varāha Purāṇa. Now begins the teaching on expiation for touching the dead. O gentle one, if after sexual union a person touches a corpse without first bathing, listen to what Nārāyaṇa revealed. The Earth, having heard these words, observed strict vows for a full year. In her sorrow, the Earth approached and asked, “How does a man come to desire such acts as drinking semen? This is my deepest grief; please explain it to me, O goddess. Hear now this supreme and secret teaching. This, O beautiful one, is the mark of the gravest supernatural offense. Merely witnessing such an act brings the consequence of the offense upon oneself. Because of this fault, purification cannot be attained. O gentle one, householders who are devoted to my prescribed actions—if they subsist on air alone for a single day, they are freed from this sin. Understanding the nature of the offense, they are no longer tainted by it. O illustrious one, expiation brings happiness to my world. Whoever, disregarding my scripture, enters the cremation ground, is reborn there as a jackal, feeding on corpses. For the welfare of all beings, sweet words were spoken: ‘O Lord, for those who have sought refuge in you, where can sin remain, O Master? Tell me the expiation by which one is freed from sin.’ Listen, O beautiful one, as you have asked me sincerely, I shall now reveal the excellent, sin-destroying method. By drinking pañcagavya, one is freed from this sin. Yet, in every way, such actions must be avoided by every devotee of Bhagavān. Once freed from all sins, there is truly no offense remaining. But if one is overcome by passion and delusion, and acts out of desire, he is reborn blind, O Devi—poor and bereft of wisdom. Having committed such an offense, there is no doubt: for your devotees, O Lord, there is liberation from the ocean of worldly existence, even if tainted by offense but devoted to your actions. Śrī Varāha said: ‘One who has committed this act should perform penance for three nights, dwelling on a bed beneath the open sky. Having become pure and devoted to my prescribed actions, he is freed from sin, O Devi, even if he has fallen from proper conduct. O Devi, whoever touches a corpse and remains in my sacred places is reborn as a caṇḍāla for ten thousand years, as a fly for three years, as a lapwing for eleven years, as an elephant for a hundred years, and as a donkey for thirty-two years. Thus, because of his own fault, he must devote himself to actions for my sake. Upon hearing these words of Hari, the listener was filled with distress and questioned further. The Earth spoke: ‘These words are exceedingly dreadful and pierce my very being. If one has fallen from proper conduct but is devoted to your actions, what then?’ Hearing the Earth’s words, Janārdana, Lord of the worlds, replied: ‘Then, one should subsist on a single meal each day for fifteen days. After completing this rite, one should drink pañcagavya. Thus, O Devi, have I instructed you regarding the expiation for touching the dead.