Vayu Purana

पवित्रं परमं ह्येतत् प्रत्यक्षमपि वर्त्तते। अग्नौ निक्षिप्य बध्नीयाद्धस्तौ प्रक्षिप्य यत्नतः ।। १६.

This is the highest purity, indeed, and is also visible; one should place it in the fire, tie it up, and carefully immerse the hands.

गमयेन्मस्तकं चैव ब्रह्मतीर्थं हि तत्स्मृतम्। द्रव्याणां प्रोक्षणं कार्य्यं तथैवावपनं पुनः ।। १६.

One should touch the head, for that is called the sacred water of Brahman; the purification of substances should be done, and again, their immersion.

निधाय चाद्भिः सिञ्चेत तथैवाप्सु निवेशनम्। अरिष्टतुमुले बिल्वं त्विङ्गुदश्वदनान्यपि ।। १६.

After placing them down, one should sprinkle with water, and likewise immerse them in water; at the root of the arishta tree, bilva, and also the bark of the inguda tree.

विदलानाञ्च सर्व्वेषां धर्मवच्छौचमिष्यते। तथा दन्तास्थिदारूणां श्रृङ्गाणाञ्चावलेखनम् ।। १६.

For all types of pulses, purity is prescribed by dharma; likewise, for teeth, bones, wood, and horns, scraping is enjoined.

सर्वेषां मृन्मयानान्तु पुनर्दाह उदाहृतः। मणिवज्रप्रवालानां मुक्ताशङ्खमणेस्तथा ।। १६.

For all earthen vessels, re-burning is prescribed; for gems, diamonds, coral, pearls, conch, and crystal as well.

सिद्धार्थकानां कल्केन तिलकल्केन वा पुनः । स्याच्छौचं सर्ववालानामाविकानाञ्च सर्वशः ।। १६.

For siddhārtha seeds, purification is done with their paste, or with sesame paste; this is the rule for all kinds of wool and for all sheep.

आवि कानाञ्च सर्व्वेषां मृद्भिरद्भिर्विधीयते। आद्यन्तयोस्तु शौचानामद्भिः प्रक्षालनं पुनः ।। १६.

For all sheep, purification is done with earth and water; at the beginning and end of purification, washing with water is again prescribed.

तथा कार्प्पासिकानाञ्च भस्मना समुदाहृतम्। फलपुष्प शलाकानां प्लावनञ्चाद्भिरिष्यते ।। १६.

In the same way, ashes are prescribed for those who work with cotton, and washing with water is enjoined for those who handle fruits, flowers, and sticks.

संमार्जनं प्रोक्षणञ्च भूमेश्चैवोपलेपनम्। निष्क्रम्य बाह्यतो ग्रामाद्वायुपूता वसुन्धरा ।। १६.

Sweeping, sprinkling with water, and smearing the ground are prescribed; after leaving the village, the earth purified by the wind is to be used.

धनुष्मत्पक्षिणाञ्चैव मृद्भिः शौचं विधीयते। एवमेष समुद्दिष्टः शौचानां विधिरुत्तमः। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः श्रृणु ।। १६.

For those who use bows or birds, purification is done with clay; thus, the excellent rule of purification has been declared. Now, I shall explain further—listen to me attentively.

प्रातर्गृहात्पश्चिमदक्षिणेन इषुक्षेपञ्चाक्षमात्रं पदञ्च। कुर्य्यात्पुरीषं शिरोवगुण्ठ्य न च स्पृशेत्तत्र शिरः करेण ।। १६.

In the morning, after leaving the house toward the southwest, at a distance of five arrows' length, one should relieve oneself, covering the head, and should not touch the head there with the hand.

शुष्कैस्तृणैर्वा काष्ठैर्वा पत्रैर्वेणुदलेन वा। मृण्मयैर्भाजनैर्वापि तिरोधाय वसुन्धराम् ।। १६.

With dry grass, sticks, leaves, bamboo pieces, or earthen vessels, one should cover the ground.

उद्धृतोदकमादाय मृत्तिकाञ्चैव वाग्यतः। दिवा उदङ्मुखः कुर्य्याद्रात्रौ वै दक्षिणामुखः ।। १६.

Taking up water that has been drawn and clay, with speech restrained, one should face north during the day and south at night.

दक्षिणेन च हस्तेन गृह्णीयाद्वै कमण्डलुम्। शौचञ्च वामहस्तेन गुदे तिस्रस्तु मृत्तिकाः ।। १६.

One should hold the water pot with the right hand, and with the left hand, use clay for cleansing the anus, using three pieces of clay.

दश चापि पुनर्दद्याद्वामहस्तक्रमेण तु । द्वाभ्यां वापि पुनर्दद्याद्धस्तानां पञ्च मृत्तिकाः ।। १६.

One may again apply ten pieces of clay in succession with the left hand, or again apply two, making a total of five pieces of clay with the hands.

मृदा प्रक्षाल्य पादौ च आचम्य च यथाविधि। आपस्त्याज्यास्त्रयश्चैव सूर्य्याग्निपवनाम्भसाम् ।। १६.

After washing the feet with clay and performing the proper sipping of water, three libations of water are to be offered to the waters, the sun, fire, wind, and the waters.

कुर्य्यात् सन्निहितं नित्यं प्राज्ञस्तीर्थे कमण्डलुम्। असत्कार्यं कार्यमेतैर्यथावत्पादधावनम् ।। १६.

A wise person should always keep the water pot ready at the sacred place; washing the feet properly is to be done as prescribed for both improper and proper acts.

आचमनं द्वितीयेन देवकार्यं ततः परम्। उपवास स्त्रिरात्रन्तु दुष्टहस्ते ह्युदाहृतः ।। १६.

With the second libation, one should perform the act for the gods; after that, if the hand is defiled, a three-night fast is prescribed.

विप्रकृष्टेन कृच्छ्रेण प्रायश्चित्तमुदाहृतम्। स्पृष्ट्वा श्वानं श्वपाकं वा तप्तकृच्छ्रं समाचरेत् ।। १६.

For severe defilement, expiation is prescribed; after touching a dog or an outcaste, one should perform the penance called 'taptakṛcchra.'

मानुषास्थीनि संस्पृश्य उपोष्यं शुद्धिकारणम् । त्रिरात्रमुक्तं सस्नेहमेकरात्रमतोऽन्यथा ।। १६.

After touching human bones, fasting is prescribed for purification; three nights with ghee are prescribed, or one night otherwise.

कारस्कराः पुलिन्दाश्च तथान्धशबरादय। पीत्वा चापोभूतिलये गत्वा चैव युगन्धराम् ।। १६.

Those who are robbers, Pulindas, and also Andhas and Shabaras, after drinking water at the place of excretion or going to the Yugandhara mountains—

सिन्धोरुत्तरपर्य्यन्तं तथा दिव्यन्तरे शतम्। पापदेशाश्च ये केचित्पापरध्युषिता जनैः ।। १६.

To the northern boundary of the Sindhu and also to the region called Divyantara, and all those sinful places inhabited by wicked people—

शिष्टैश्च वर्जिता ये च ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। गत्वा देशानपुण्यांस्तु कृत्स्नं पापं समश्नुते ।। १६.

And those places avoided by the virtuous and by Brahmins learned in the Vedas—by going to such impure regions, one acquires all sin.

मनोव्यक्तिरथाग्निश्च काले चैवोपलेपनम्। विख्यापनञ्च शौचानां नित्यमज्ञानमेव च ।। १६.

Mental impurity, fire, time, and smearing are also known as means of purification; but ignorance of these rules is always present.

अतोन्यथा तु यः कुर्य्यान्मोहाच्छौचस्य सङ्करम्। पिशाचान् यातुधानांश्च फलं गच्छत्यसंशयम् ।। १६.

But whoever, out of delusion, performs impurity contrary to these rules, undoubtedly attains the result of demons and evil spirits.

शौचमश्रद्दधानश्च म्लेच्छजातिषु जायते। अयज्ञाश्चैव पापो वा तिर्य्यग्योनिगतोऽपि वा ।। १६.

A person lacking purity and faith is born among foreign peoples; one who does not perform sacrifices, or who is sinful, or who enters the womb of animals.

शौचेन मोक्षं कुर्वाणः स्वर्गवासी भवेन्नरः। शुचिकामा हि देवा वै देवैरेतदुदाहृतम् ।। १६.

By purity, a man attains liberation and dwells in heaven; for the gods are indeed fond of purity—this is declared by the gods themselves.

बीभत्समशुचिञ्चैव वर्जयन्ति सुराः सदा। त्रीणि शौचानि कुर्वन्ति न्यायतः शुभकर्मणः ।। १६.

The gods always avoid what is repulsive and impure; those who act righteously perform three kinds of purity.

ब्रह्मण्यायातिथेयाय शौचयुक्ताय धीमते। पितृभक्ताय दान्ताय सानुक्रोशाय च द्विजाः ।। १६.

To one devoted to Brahman, to guests, to one endowed with purity and wisdom, to one devoted to ancestors, self-controlled, and compassionate—the twice-born offer (oblations).