Vayu Purana

हिमवत्प्रभवा नद्यो याश्चान्या ऋषिपूजिताः । सरस्तीर्थाभिसंवेद्या नदी नववहास्तथा ।। १७.

The rivers that arise from the Himalayas, and others honored by sages, the lakes and sacred fords, and likewise the nine-flowing rivers—

गत्वैतान् मुच्यते पापैः स्वर्गे नित्यं महीयते। दशरात्रमशौचन्तु प्रोक्तं वै मृतसूतके ।। १७.

Having gone to these, one is freed from sins and is always honored in heaven; ten nights of impurity are prescribed for death and birth.

ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण क्षत्रिये द्वादश स्मृतम्। अर्द्धं मासन्तु वैश्यस्य मासाच्छूद्रस्तु शुध्यति ।। १७.

Especially for a Brahmin, twelve nights are prescribed for a Kshatriya; for a Vaishya, half a month, and a Shudra is purified after a month.

उदक्या सर्ववर्णानां त्रिरात्रेण तु शुद्धयति। उदक्यां सूतिकाञ्चैव श्वानमन्त्यावसायिनम् ।। १७.

For all castes, impurity due to a woman who fetches water is removed in three nights; for a woman in childbirth, and for one who handles corpses or dogs.

नग्नादीन् मृतहारांश्च स्पृष्ट्वाऽशौचं विधीयते। स्नात्वा सचैलो मृद्भिस्तु द्वादशभिस्तु शुध्यति ।। १७.

Touching the naked, those who carry the dead, impurity is prescribed; after bathing with clothes and with twelve applications of clay, one is purified.

एतदेव भवेच्छौचं मैथुने नवभिस्तथा। मृदा प्रक्षाल्य हस्तौ तु कुर्याच्छौचविधिन्नरः ।। १७.

This same purification applies after sexual union, with nine applications; after washing the hands with clay, a man should perform the rite of purification.

प्रक्षाल्य चाद्भिर्हस्तौ च स्नात्वा चैव मृदा पुनः। मृदं गुह्ये ततो द्विस्तु पुनरेव मृदं बुधः ।। १७.

After washing the hands with water, and bathing again with clay, and applying clay to the private parts twice, the wise should again use clay.

एवं शौच विधिर्दृष्टः सर्ववर्णेषु नित्यदा। परिदद्यान्मृदस्तिस्रो हस्तपादावसेचनम् ।। १७.

Thus, the rule of purification is always observed among all castes; one should apply clay three times for washing hands and feet.

आरण्यं शौचमेतत्तु ग्राम्यं वक्ष्याम्यतः परम्। मृदस्तिस्रः पादयोस्तु हस्तयोस्तिस्र एव च ।। १७.

This is the rule of purification in the forest; I will now speak of the village practice: three applications of clay to the feet, and likewise three to the hands.

मृदः पञ्चदशामेध्ये हस्तादीनां विभागशः। अनिर्णिक्ते मृदं दद्यान्मृदन्ते त्वद्भिरेव तु ।। १७.

Fifteen applications of clay are prescribed for the hands and other limbs in the case of defilement; if the place is not determined, one should use clay, and at the end, water.

कण्ठं शिरो वा प्रावृत्य रथ्या पादगतस्तु वा। अकृत्वा पादयोः शौचमाचान्तोऽप्यशुचिर्भवेत् ।। १७.

If, covering the neck or head, or walking in the street with soiled feet, one does not cleanse the feet, even if one has rinsed the mouth, one remains impure.

प्रक्षाल्य पात्रं निःक्षिप्य आचम्याभ्युक्षणं पुनः। द्रव्यस्यान्यस्य तु तथा कुर्यादभ्युक्षणं पुनः ।। १७.

After rinsing the vessel and setting it aside, one should sip water and perform sprinkling again; likewise, for any other substance, one should perform sprinkling again.

पुष्पादीनां तृणानाञ्च प्रोक्षणं हविषान्तथा। पराहृतानां द्रव्याणां निधायाभ्युक्षणं तथा ।। १७.

Sprinkling should be done for flowers and grasses, as well as for offerings; for substances brought from elsewhere, after placing them down, one should likewise perform sprinkling.

प्रोक्षितन्तु हरेत् किञ्चि च्छ्राद्धे दैव तथा पुनः। उत्तरेण हरेद्वेद्यां दक्षिणेन विसर्जयेत् ।। १७.

Whatever has been sprinkled should be taken up during a śrāddha or for the gods, and again; on the altar, it should be taken up from the north, and discarded to the south.

विच्छिन्नं स्याद्विपर्यासे दैवे पित्र्ये तथैव च। दक्षिणेन तु हस्तेन दक्षिणां वेदिमालिखेत् ।। १७.

If there is interruption or reversal, whether in rites for the gods or ancestors, one should trace the southern altar with the right hand.

कराभ्यामेव देवानां पितॄणां विकरं शुभम्। क्षुभितस्वप्नयोश्चैव तथा मूत्रपुरीषयोः ।। १७.

With both hands, one should perform the auspicious act for the gods and ancestors, as well as in cases of disturbed sleep, and after urination or defecation.

निष्ठीविते यथा व्यक्ते भुक्त्वा विपरिधाय च। उच्छिष्टस्य च संस्पर्शे तथा पादावसेचने ।। १७.

After spitting clearly, after eating and putting on upper garments, upon touching leftovers, and after washing the feet, one should act accordingly.

उत्सृष्टस्य सुमम्भाषे ह्यशुचिं प्रयतस्य च। सन्देहेषु च सर्वेषु शिखां मुक्त्वा तथैव च ।। १७.

After discarding water, after speaking harshly, when impure, or when in doubt, and whenever the topknot is untied, one should act in the same way.

विना यज्ञोपवीतेन मोहात्तु यद्युपस्पृषेत्। औष्ठस्य दन्तसंस्पर्शे दर्शने चान्त्यवासिनाम् ।। १७.

If, out of confusion, one sips water without the sacred thread, or upon touching the lips or teeth, or seeing those who dwell at the end of the village, one should act accordingly.

जिङ्वया चैव संस्पृश्य दन्तासक्तं तथैव च। सशब्दमङ्गुलीभिश्च प्रणतश्चावलो कयन् ।। १७.

Upon touching the teeth with the tongue, or when something is stuck to the teeth, or making sound with the fingers, or bowing down and looking up, one should act accordingly.

यश्चाधर्मे स्थितो मोहादायान्तोऽप्यशुचिर्भवेत्। उपविश्य शुचौ देशे प्रणतः प्रागुदङ्मुखः ।। १७.

Whoever, out of confusion, remains in a state of impurity, should sit in a clean place, bowing, facing east or north.

पादौ प्रक्षाल्य हस्तौ तु अन्तर्जानुरुप स्पृशेत्। प्रसन्नास्त्रिः पिबेच्चापः प्रयतः सुसमाहितः ।। १७.

After washing the feet and hands, one should touch the knees with the hands, and, with a clear mind, sip water three times, being attentive and composed.

द्विरेव मार्जनं कुर्यात्सकृदभ्युक्षणं ततः। खानि मूर्द्धानमात्मानं हस्तौ पादौ तथैव च ।। १७.

One should wash twice, then sprinkle water once; then cleanse the orifices, head, body, hands, and feet likewise.

अभ्युक्षणं तथा तस्य यद्यमीमांसितं भवेत्। एवमाचमनं तस्य वेदा यज्ञास्तपांसि च ।। १७.

If he has a doubt about the sprinkling, he should do it again; thus, his sipping of water, study of the Vedas, sacrifices, and austerities become effective.

दानानि ब्रह्मचर्यञ्च भवन्ति सफलास्तथा। क्रियां यः कुरुते मोहादनाचम्यैव नास्तिकः ।। १७.

Charity and celibacy likewise become fruitful; but if someone, out of confusion or disbelief, performs a rite without sipping water, it is in vain.

भवन्ति च वृथा तस्य क्रिया ह्येता न संशयः। वाग्भावशुद्धनिर्णिक्तमदुष्टं वाप्यनिन्दितम् ।। १७.

His acts become fruitless—of this there is no doubt; only those performed with purity of speech and mind, without fault or reproach, are effective.

मेध्यान्येतानि ज्ञेयानि दुष्टमेभ्यो विपर्ययः। न वक्तव्यः सदा विप्रः क्षुधितो नास्ति किञ्चन ।। १७.

These acts should be known as pure; the opposite of these is impure. A Brahmin should never say, 'I am hungry, I have nothing.'

तस्मै सत्कृत्य यो दद्यादयूपो यज्ञ उच्यते। अप्लुष्टान्नं श्रृतान्नन्तु कृशवृत्तिमयाचकम् ।। १७.

To him, if someone gives respectfully, that is called a sacrifice; but food not sprinkled with water, or food begged by one of poor conduct, is not so.

एकान्तशीलं ह्रीमन्तं सदा श्राद्धेषु भोजयेत् । यो ददात्यान्तिमभ्येश्च स ब्रह्मघ्नो दुरात्मवान् ।। १७.

One should always feed at śrāddha a person of steady character and modesty; but whoever gives to the unworthy at the end is a slayer of Brahmins, of evil nature.