Chapter 1

Chapter 1

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Chapter 2

The Toga of Isvara. Isvara said :

This perfect knowledge of mine is an eternal mystery and secret. It cannot be adequately expressed. Devas do not know it even though they strive for it, O twiceborn ones.

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Chapter 3

Prakrti and Puru^a Ikara said :

Kala (Time), Pradhana or Prakrti and the supreme Purusa originated from the unmanifest (Brahman). All these (objects of the universe) were born of them. Hence the universe is identical with Brahman.

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Chapter 4

Chapter 4

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Chapter 5

Chapter 5

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Chapter 6

Chapter 6

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Chapter 7

Chapter 7

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Chapter 8

The Means of Crossing the Ocean of Worldly Existence. Isvara said :

O leading Brahmanas I shall tell you another esoteric knowledge whereby the creature (the Jiva) can cross the terri¬ ble ocean of worldly existence.

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Chapter 9

The unsullied {Ni^kala) form of Siva

O Mahadeva, the Supreme God is unsullied, pure, eternal and devoid of activities. Hence, explain to us how you become identical with universe in form. Isvara replied :

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Chapter 10

The form of the Supreme Brahman Siva—the Parabrahman livara said :

It has been concluded definitely that Brahman is Lifigas (Symbols) ; it is one (without a second) and unmanifest is its characteristic feature. It is self-luminous, supreme, premier. It is established in the sky (transcending the pheno¬ menal world).

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Chapter 11

The Path of liberation of the individual soul from bondage. Isvara said :

Henceforth, I shall explain a Yoga that is very diffi¬ cult of access and whereby the devotees visualize the Atman, the Isvara (brilliant) like the sun.

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Chapter 12

Chapter 12

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Chapter 13

The usages of §i}tas. Good Conduct. Vydsa said : 1-3. An excellent Brahmana should perform the Acamana* rite (sipping water) in these circumstances (even though he had done so previously) : after taking food, after drinking any beverage, after sleeping, after bath, after walking in a street, on touching the lips without the hair, after wearing garments, after the dis¬ charge of semen, urine or faeces, on uttering an improper word, after spitting, at the beginning ofVedic study, at the time of hiccough or sigh, on coming from a quadrangle or a cremation ground and at the time of the two Sandhyas i.e. dawn and dusk. In the last case, he shall perform the Acamana twice. 4-10. The Acamana rite is to be performed in the following- circumstances also :- After talking to a Candala or a Mleccha;

Since ancient times Acamana or sipping of -water before, in and after certain acts, occasions etc. was regarded essential from the purificatory point of view. Elaborate rules for Acamana rite are prescribed in Dharma Sutras e.g. Apastamba 1.5.15.2-11; 16.1-16) and Smrtis like Manu II. 58-62, Yaj. I. 18-21. The occasions for draTnana detailed here, were already pres¬ cribed in Apastamba Dh. S. 1.5.16.15-16, Manu V. 138 & 145 & Yajna- valkya 1.196. 396 Kurma Purana after conversing with women, Sudra and a person defiled by Ucchi^ta (stale leaving), after touching a person who is defiled by Ucchi^ta as well as food-stuff of that sort. When one sheds tears or spills blood, after taking food, performance of the sandhya prayer at dawn and dusk, after taking a bath, after discharging urine and faeces and shall perform Acamana twice; after sleeping, he should perform the rite only once; after touching fire, or cows. After touching women or after binding the knot of the waist-cloth, he should perform Acamana. He should touch the grass, water or the earth, when he touches his hair or touches a cloth that is not washed; for the purpose of Acamana the water should not be hot nor shall it contain foam. It should be pure. He should be silent at that time. A person seeking purity shall sit facing the east or the north at the time of Acamana. If one performs Acamana covering his head or neck with dhoti (waist- cloth) worn loosely without knot or tucking and the knot of the tuft of the hair united and without washing feet, one remains im¬ pure despite Acamana. A wise person should not perform Acamana with shoes on, standing in water, wearing a turban. 11 -15a. No sensible man should perform Acamana when the hand is defiled by Ucchifta (leavings of food) nor should he per¬ form the Acamana with the water by means of the shower, nor should he perform Acamana with water supplied by a single hand. It should not be without the sacred thread. He should not be seated with shoes on (?) or on the knees. The hand shall not reach outside the knees. The water shall not be poured out by Vaisya Sudra etc. by means of their hands. Nor should they be defiled by Ucchi^ta. Acamana should not be performed by touching water with fingers. One should not produce sounds (at the time of Aca¬ mana) . His mind should not be dwelling on other topics. The water should not be defective in colour or taste. The water should not be in short supply. The water should not be agitated with the hands. It should not be performed outside the room (?). A Brahmana is sanctified when the water (of the Acamana rite) reaches his heart. A Ksatriya is sanctified when the water reaches the throat. A Vaisya is purified as soon as the water is drunk. A woman and a Sudra are purified by merely touching the water. II.13.15b-24 397 15b-18. The (holy place) on the line at the root of the thumb is called Brahmya (Brahma Tirtha) (i.e. Brahma Tirtha is presumed to exist there). The root of the index finger is the excellent Pitrtirtha. The space after (beyond) the root of small finger is called Prajapatya (Tirtha). At the tip of the fingers is remembered Daiva Tirtha. It is glorified for the sake of the Deva (?). Or it is enjoined at the root (of the fingers) that per¬ taining to Agni is remembered in the middle finger. The same itself is the Saumika (pertaining to Soma) Tirtha. Realising thus one is not deluded. A Brahmana should always perform the Acamana rite through the Brahma Tirtha.

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Chapter 14

Chapter 14

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Chapter 15

The Duties of The Householder''-

The stage of householder being the main stay of the subsistence of other asramas (stages) in life, has been considered as the best Asrama at least since the old Sutra period (Gautama III. 3, Manu III. 77-78, Mbh. Santi. 270.6-7). Hence the duties (dharmas) of householders are discussed in details in Smrtis, Puranas and digests on Dharma-sastra. For example vide Manu IV. 33 ff. Yajna-Valkya 1.96-127, NP. I. 26.3-27, VP. III. 9.7-16, Pd. P. Svarga 54.2-42, SMC, Parasara-Madhava (acarakanda) and others. II.15.2-10 411

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Chapter 16

The Duties of the House Holder^ Rules of Good Conduct

One should not injure any living being. On no occasion should he speak falsehood. One shall not speak un¬ palatable and unwholesome things. One should by no means be a thief.

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Chapter 17

Decision about Acceptable and Prohibited Food^

A Brahmana should not eat food offered by a Sudra whether out of delusion or otherwise. He who eats it, except in an emergency, is born as a Sudra.

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Chapter 18

Chapter 18

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Chapter 19

Daily Duties of a Householder ; Mode of taking meals'^ Vydsa said :

Facing the east or the sun, one should be seated on a good clean seat with his feet resting on the ground and take food.

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Chapter 20

Procedure of Performance of Sraddho} Vydsa said :

When it is the New Moon day, the Sraddha called Piriddnvaharyaka^ should be devotedly performed by excellent Brahmanas. This bestows worldly pleasures and salvation (as its fruit).

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Chapter 21

Rides governing Sraddha {contd.) Vydsa said :

On the new moon day, a Brahmana should take his bath and propitiate the Pitrs as mentiond before. With purity and gentlemanliness, he should perform the Sraddha called Pin^ anvdhdryaka.

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Chapter 22

Rules for performance of Sraddha^ {contd.) Vydsa said : 1-2. Having purified the ground with cowdung and water on the day previous to that of Sraddha, the performer of iSraddha should invite the Brahmanas with the above-mentioned quilifications, through good persons with the invitation : “Tomorrow there will be Sraddka at my place.” If this is not possible, he may invite on the next day® (i.e, on the day of Sraddha.

Hearing that the time of Sraddha has arrived, his manes will mentally communicate with each other and with the speed of the mind, they gather near him.

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Chapter 23

Rules regarding Impurities caused by Birth or DeathI Vydsa said :

O excellent Brahmanas ! They (the authorities) enjoined that if Sapindas (to whom Pindas are to be offerd—six

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Chapter 24

The Duties of Agnihotrin Vydsa said :

One should perform the Agnihotra rite both in the morning and the evening. On Darsa (the new moon) days after the conclusion of a beneficial rite and on reaping the harvest afresh this rite shall be performed. *

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Chapter 25

Chapter 25

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Chapter 26

Rules of offering religious gifts Vydsa said :

Now I shall recount the excellent dharma of charit¬ able gifts,1 formerly narrated by Brahma to the sages, expounders of Brahman.

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Chapter 27

Duties in Vdnaprastha (Hermit’s) Stage'- Vydsa said :

After staying in the householder’s stage of life thus in the second part of life, one should pass on to the stage of the forest hermit, accompanied by his wife or (alone but) maintaining the sacrificial fires.

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Chapter 28

Duties of Tatis [recluses)

After staying in the stage of life as the forest-hermit during the third period of his life, thus, he should spend the fourth period of his life by renunciation.

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Chapter 29

Duties of an Ascetic

In this way the sustenance of ascetics of restrained soul (mind) who strictly adhere to the stage of their life, has been declared to be on begging alms or on fruits, roots etc.

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Chapter 30

Rules of expiation

Henceforth I shall expound auspicious procedure of expiation^ for the welfare of all Brahmanas (v.l. people) and for dispelling sins.

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Chapter 31

Importance of Kapala-mocana Tirtha Emplacement of God Brahma’s Skull

Formerly, how was the skull severed from the body of Brahma, placed on the Earth by Lord Rudra, Sankara, of excessive brilliance ? Suta narrated :

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Chapter 32

Expiatory rites

An (otherwise) excellent Brahmana taking to wine- drinkingi should drink it fiery-red (i.e. red hot). His body being scorched with the same, he shall be liberated (from that sin).

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Chapter 33

Narration of Expiatory rites ( continued)

The definite decision is this that a Brahmana who knowingly indulges in sexual intercourse with his daughter, sister or daughter-in-law should enter the blazing fire.

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Chapter 34

Expiatory rites^ (continued)

For the sin of abducting men or women, of seizing a house, well, tank or a water (reservoir), the purificatory rite is Candrayana.

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Chapter 35

Chapter 35

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Chapter 36

Chapter 36

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Chapter 37

The Glory of Mahalaya and other holy centres

This is another holy spot that is very great and very- mysterious and full of miracles, pertaining to Lord Mahadeva. It is well known as Mahalaya.^

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Chapter 38

Chapter 38

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Chapter 39

The Entry into the forest of Devadaru

O lord of all immortal beings, tell us, how we can see that Pinaka-bearing lord once again. You are the saviour of of those who seek refuge. Brahma said^ ;

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Chapter 40

Chapter 40

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Chapter 41

The Glory of different sacred places on the Narmada^ Markaiideya said :

It has been told formerly by sages as well as by the self-born deity that Narmada, the destroyer of all sins, is the best among all rivers.

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Chapter 42

The greatness of the various holy centres on Narmada Markandeya said :

O leading king, thereafter, one should go to the excellent Bhrgutirthad Formerly holy lord Bhrgu propitiated Rudra there.

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Chapter 43

Greatness of Naimifdranya} and Japyesvara

This excellent holy centre Naimisa is well known in the three worlds. Being more liked by Mahadeva (than any other Tirtha), it is destructive of great sins.

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Chapter 44

Description of sacred places (contd.)

Near the holy centre Japyesvara there is another excel¬ lent Tirtha named Pancanada.^ It is sacred and destructive of all sins.

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