Vayu Purana

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).

तैस्तैः प्रीताः प्रयच्छन्ति पितरो योगवर्द्धनाः। मनसा कांक्षितान् कामांस्त्रैलोक्यप्रभवानिति ।। १६.

Pleased by such persons, the ancestors, who increase yoga, grant the desired wishes of the mind, those that hold sway over the three worlds.

अहो धीमंस्त्वया सूत श्राद्धकल्पस्तु कीर्तितः। श्रुतो नः श्राद्धकल्पो वै ऋषिभिः परिकीर्तितः ।। १७.

O Sūta, how wise you are! The procedure for śrāddha has been described; we have heard the śrāddha procedure as proclaimed by the sages.

अतीव विस्तरो यस्य विशेषेण प्रकीर्तितः। वद शेषं महाप्राज्ञ ऋषेस्तस्य यथामतम् ।। १७.

Its details have been explained at great length; now, O most wise one, tell the remainder as understood by the sage.

कीर्तयिष्यामि ते विप्रा ऋषेस्तस्य मतन्तु तत्। श्राद्धं प्रति महाभागास्तन्मे श्रृणुत विस्तरात् ।। १७.

O brāhmaṇas, I will recount to you the opinion of that sage regarding śrāddha; listen to me in detail, O highly fortunate ones.

उक्तं श्राद्धं मया पूर्वं विधिश्च श्राद्धकर्म्मणि। परिशिष्टं प्रवक्ष्यामि ब्राह्मणानां यथाक्रमम् ।। १७.

I have previously spoken of śrāddha and the proper procedure for the śrāddha rite; now I will explain what remains, in due order, concerning the brāhmaṇas.

न मीमांस्याः सदा विप्राः पवित्रं ह्येतदुत्तमम्। दैवे पित्र्ये च सततं श्रूयते वै परीक्षणम् ।। १७.

Brāhmaṇas should never doubt this, for it is supremely pure; examination is always prescribed in both divine and ancestral rites.

यस्मिन् दोषाः प्रदृश्येरन् सद्भिर्वा वर्जितस्तु यः। जानीयाद्वापि संवासाद्वर्ज्जयेत्तं प्रयत्नतः ।। १७.

If faults are seen in someone, or if he is avoided by the virtuous, or if one knows by association—he should be carefully avoided.

अविज्ञातं द्विजं श्राद्धे परीक्षेत सदा बुधः । सिद्धा हि विप्ररूपेण चरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम् ।। १७.

A wise person should always examine an unknown brāhmaṇa at a śrāddha; for perfected beings, assuming the form of brāhmaṇas, roam this earth.

तस्मादतिथिमायान्तमभिगच्छेत् कृताञ्जलिः। पूजयेच्चापि पाद्येन पादाभ्यञ्जनभोजनैः ।। १७.

Therefore, one should approach a guest who arrives, with joined palms, and honor him with water for washing the feet, anointing the feet, and food.

उर्वीं सागरपर्यन्तां देवा योगेश्वरास्तथा। नाना रूपैश्चरन्त्येते प्रजा धर्म्मेण पालयन् ।। १७.

The gods and masters of yoga, in various forms, roam this earth up to the ocean's edge, protecting the people with righteousness.