Critical Edition
व्यास उवाच तपसा कर्मभिश्चैव प्रदानेन च भारत पुनाति पापं पुरुषः पूतश्चेन्न प्रवर्तते
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said ‘By penances, religious rites, and gifts, O Bharata, a man purify his sins if he does not commit them again.
एककालं तु भुञ्जानश्चरन्भैक्षं स्वकर्मकृत् कपालपाणिः खट्वाङ्गी ब्रह्मचारी सदोत्थितः
AI Translation: Eating once a day, wandering for alms, performing his own duties, With a skull in his hand, wearing a staff, celibate, always rising,
अनसूयुरधःशायी कर्म लोके प्रकाशयन् पूर्णैर्द्वादशभिर्वर्षैर्ब्रह्महा विप्रमुच्यते
AI Translation: One who is not envious, who is not greedy, who is free from false pride, egotism and hypocrisy, who is self-realized and who has attained perfection, he is fit to approach Me. One who is not envious but is sympathetic to all living entities; who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who
Supplementary Passages:
12.36.3 After 3, K4.5 V1 B D (except D1.4.7) ins. (=[var.] Manu. 11.73, 75ab, 76ab, 76cd, 79cd): *48 लक्ष्यः शस्त्रभृतां वा स्याद्विदुषामिच्छयात्मनः प्रास्येदात्मानमग्नौ वा समिद्धे त्रिरवाक्शिराः जपन्वान्यतमं वेदं योजनानां शतं व्रजेत् सर्वस्वं वा वेदविदे ब्राह्मणायोपपादयेत् धनं वा जीवनायालं गृहं वा सपरिच्छदम् मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्याया गोप्ता गोब्राह्मणस्य च
षड्भिर्वर्षैः कृच्छ्रभोजी ब्रह्महा पूयते नरः मासे मासे समश्नंस्तु त्रिभिर्वर्षैः प्रमुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: By living upon poor diet every day for six years. a person may be purged off that sin. By observing a more difficult vow about food one may be cleansed in three years.
संवत्सरेण मासाशी पूयते नात्र संशयः तथैवोपरमन्राजन्स्वल्पेनापि प्रमुच्यते
AI Translation: One who eats once a month is purified in a year, there is no doubt about it. Similarly, O king, one is released even by a little bit of fasting.
क्रतुना चाश्वमेधेन पूयते नात्र संशयः ये चास्यावभृथे स्नान्ति केचिदेवंविधा नराः
AI Translation: By the horse sacrifice, one is purified. There is no doubt about this. Those who bathe in its Avabhṛtha, some men of this kind,
ते सर्वे पूतपाप्मानो भवन्तीति परा श्रुतिः ब्राह्मणार्थे हतो युद्धे मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया
AI Translation: All of them become free from sin, so says the supreme scripture. One who is killed in battle for the sake of a brahmin is freed from the sin of killing a brahmin.
गवां शतसहस्रं तु पात्रेभ्यः प्रतिपादयन् ब्रह्महा विप्रमुच्येत सर्वपापेभ्य एव च
M. N. Dutt: By giving away a hundred thousand kine to deserving persons, one becomes cleansed of the sin of Brahmanicide as also of all other sins.
कपिलानां सहस्राणि यो दद्यात्पञ्चविंशतिम् दोग्ध्रीणां स च पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यो विप्रमुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: One that gives away twenty-five thousand kine of the Kapila breed all of them having calves becomes cleansed of all his sins.
गोसहस्रं सवत्सानां दोग्ध्रीणां प्राणसंशये साधुभ्यो वै दरिद्रेभ्यो दत्त्वा मुच्येत किल्बिषात्
M. N. Dutt: One who, at the time of death, presents a thousand kine with calves to poor but deserving persons, becomes freed for sin.
शतं वै यस्तु काम्बोजान्ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छति नियतेभ्यो महीपाल स च पापात्प्रमुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: That man, o king, who gives away a hundred horse of the Kamvoja breed to Brahmanas of regulated conduct, becomes freed from sin.
मनोरथं तु यो दद्यादेकस्मा अपि भारत न कीर्तयेत दत्त्वा यः स च पापात्प्रमुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: That man, O Bharata, who gives to even one man all that he asks for, and who, having given it, does not advertise his act, becomes freed from sin,
सुरापानं सकृत्पीत्वा योऽग्निवर्णां पिबेद्द्विजः स पावयत्यथात्मानमिह लोके परत्र च
M. N. Dutt: If a person who has once taken wine, drinks hot water, he purifies himself both here and hereafter.
मेरुप्रपातं प्रपतञ्ज्वलनं वा समाविशन् महाप्रस्थानमातिष्ठन्मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः
M. N. Dutt: By falling from the summit of a mountain or entering a burning fire, or by going on journey for ever after renouncing the world, one is freed from all sins.
बृहस्पतिसवेनेष्ट्वा सुरापो ब्राह्मणः पुनः समितिं ब्राह्मणैर्गच्छेदिति वै ब्राह्मणी श्रुतिः
M. N. Dutt: By celebrating the sacrifice laid down by Brihaspati, a Brahmana who drinks wine may obtain the region of Brahmana this has been said by Brahma himself.
भूमिप्रदानं कुर्याद्यः सुरां पीत्वा विमत्सरः पुनर्न च पिबेद्राजन्संस्कृतः शुध्यते नरः
M. N. Dutt: If a person, after having drunk wine, becomes humble and makes a gift of land, and abstains himself from it ever afterwards he becomes purified and cleansed.
गुरुतल्पी शिलां तप्तामायसीमधिसंविशेत् पाणावाधाय वा शेफं प्रव्रजेदूर्ध्वदर्शनः
M. N. Dutt: The person that has violated his preceptor's bed, should lie down on a sheet of heated iron, and having cut off the male organ, should leave the world and live in the woods, with eyes always turned upwards.
शरीरस्य विमोक्षेण मुच्यते कर्मणोऽशुभात् कर्मभ्यो विप्रमुच्यन्ते यत्ताः संवत्सरं स्त्रियः
M. N. Dutt: By renouncing one's body, one become cleansed of all his sins. Women, by leading a regular life for one year, becomes freed off of all their sins.
महाव्रतं चरेद्यस्तु दद्यात्सर्वस्वमेव तु गुर्वर्थे वा हतो युद्धे स मुच्येत्कर्मणोऽशुभात्
M. N. Dutt: The person who practises a very rigid vow, or gives away the whole of his wealth, or dies in a battle fought for the sake of his preceptor, becomes freed off of all his sins.
अनृतेनोपचर्ता च प्रतिरोद्धा गुरोस्तथा उपहृत्य प्रियं तस्मै तस्मात्पापात्प्रमुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: One who utters untruth before one's preceptor or acts against his wishes, becomes freed of that sin by doing something agreeable to one's preceptor.
अवकीर्णिनिमित्तं तु ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं चरेत् खरचर्मवासाः षण्मासं तथा मुच्येत किल्बिषात्
M. N. Dutt: One who has deviated from the vow of celibacy may become freed of that sin by being clad in a hide of a cow for six months and observing the penances laid down for Brahmanicide.
परदारापहारी च परस्यापहरन्वसु संवत्सरं व्रती भूत्वा तथा मुच्येत किल्बिषात्
M. N. Dutt: One who has been guilty of adultery or of theft, is purified by practising rigid vows for a year.
स्तेयं तु यस्यापहरेत्तस्मै दद्यात्समं वसु विविधेनाभ्युपायेन तेन मुच्येत किल्बिषात्
M. N. Dutt: When one steals another's property, one should, by all means in his power, return to the said party another property of the value of what has been stolen. One may then be freed of the sin.
कृच्छ्राद्द्वादशरात्रेण स्वभ्यस्तेन दशावरम् परिवेत्ता भवेत्पूतः परिवित्तिश्च भारत
M. N. Dutt: The younger brother who has married before his elder brother is married, as also the elder brother whose younger brother has married before him, becomes freed by observing a rigid vow, with controlled mind for twelve nights.
निवेश्यं तु भवेत्तेन सदा तारयिता पितॄन् न तु स्त्रिया भवेद्दोषो न तु सा तेन लिप्यते
M. N. Dutt: The younger brother, however, should marry again for rescuing his departed manes. Upon such second marriage the first wife becomes purified and her husband himself would not commit sin by taking her.
भजने ह्यृतुना शुद्धं चातुर्मास्यं विधीयते स्त्रियस्तेन विशुध्यन्ति इति धर्मविदो विदुः
M. N. Dutt: Men well read in the scriptures say that women may be freed of even the greatest sins by practising the vow of Chaturmasya living all the while upon restricted and pure diet.
स्त्रियस्त्वाशङ्किताः पापैर्नोपगम्या हि जानता रजसा ता विशुध्यन्ते भस्मना भाजनं यथा
M. N. Dutt: Persons well read in the scriptures take no notice of the sins that women may commit at heart. Whatever their sins may be they are cleaned by their menstrual course like a metallic plate that is cleansed with ashes.
Supplementary Passages:
12.36.27 After 27, K5 V1 B D (except D4; D7 om.) ins.: *49 पादजोच्छिष्टकांस्यं च गवाघ्रातमथापि वा गण्डूषोच्छिष्टमपि वा विशुद्ध्येद्दशभिस्तु तत्
चतुष्पात्सकलो धर्मो ब्राह्मणानां विधीयते पादावकृष्टो राजन्ये तथा धर्मो विधीयते
M. N. Dutt: It has been ordained that a Brahmana should acquire and practise all the virtues. For a Kshatriya it has been ordained that he should acquire and practise one fourth of all virtues.
तथा वैश्ये च शूद्रे च पादः पादो विधीयते विद्यादेवंविधेनैषां गुरुलाघवनिश्चयम्
M. N. Dutt: So, a Vaishya should practise less (than a Kshatriya's) by a fourth, and a Shudra less (than a Vaishya's) for a fourth. The gravity or lightness of sins of each of the four orders, should thus be ascertained.
तिर्यग्योनिवधं कृत्वा द्रुमांश्छित्त्वेतरान्बहून् त्रिरात्रं वायुभक्षः स्यात्कर्म च प्रथयेन्नरः
M. N. Dutt: Having killed a bird or an animal, or cut down living trees, a person should declare his sin publicly and fast for three nights.
अगम्यागमने राजन्प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते आर्द्रवस्त्रेण षण्मासं विहार्यं भस्मशायिना
M. N. Dutt: By having intercourse with one whom intercourse is forbidden, the expiation consists in wandering in wet clothes and sleeping on a bed of ashes.
एष एव तु सर्वेषामकार्याणां विधिर्भवेत् ब्राह्मणोक्तेन विधिना दृष्टान्तागमहेतुभिः
M. N. Dutt: These, O king, are the expiations for sins, as laid down in scriptures and by Brahmana himself.
सावित्रीमप्यधीयानः शुचौ देशे मिताशनः अहिंस्रोऽमन्दकोऽजल्पन्मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः
M. N. Dutt: A Brahmana may be freed off all sins by reciting the Gayatri in a sacred place, living all the while upon restricted fare, casting off malice, abandoning anger and hate, unaffected by praise and blame, and observing the vow of silence.
अहःसु सततं तिष्ठेदभ्याकाशं निशि स्वपेत् त्रिरह्नस्त्रिर्निशायाश्च सवासा जलमाविशेत्
M. N. Dutt: He should during the day be under shelter of the sky and should sleep in the same way at night, thrice during the day, and thrice during the night, he should also plunge with the clothes into a river or lake for performing his ablutions.
स्त्रीशूद्रपतितांश्चापि नाभिभाषेद्व्रतान्वितः पापान्यज्ञानतः कृत्वा मुच्येदेवंव्रतो द्विजः
M. N. Dutt: Practising rigid vows, he should abstain from speaking with women, Shudras, and degraded persons. A Brahmana by observing such rules may be freed off of all sins unconsciously committed by him.
शुभाशुभफलं प्रेत्य लभते भूतसाक्षिकः अतिरिच्येत्तयोर्यत्तु तत्कर्ता लभते फलम्
M. N. Dutt: A person reaps in the next world the fruits, good or bad, of his acts here which are all seen by the elements. Proportionate to virtue or vice, one enjoys or suffers the consequences.
तस्माद्दानेन तपसा कर्मणा च शुभं फलम् वर्धयेदशुभं कृत्वा यथा स्यादतिरेकवान्
M. N. Dutt: By knowledge, by penances, and by pious acts, therefore, one multiplies his happiness. One, therefore, may likewise increase his misery by committing sinful acts.
कुर्याच्छुभानि कर्माणि निमित्ते पापकर्मणाम् दद्यान्नित्यं च वित्तानि तथा मुच्येत किल्बिषात्
M. N. Dutt: One should, therefore, perform righteous deeds and avoid altogether sinful ones.
अनुरूपं हि पापस्य प्रायश्चित्तमुदाहृतम् महापातकवर्जं तु प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते
M. N. Dutt: I have now described what the expiations of the sins are. There is expiation for every sin except those that are (highly heinous.)
भक्ष्याभक्ष्येषु सर्वेषु वाच्यावाच्ये तथैव च अज्ञानज्ञानयो राजन्विहितान्यनुजानते
M. N. Dutt: As regards sins regarding unclean food and the like, and improper speeches, etc., they are of two classes, viz., those committed knowingly and those that committed unconsciously.
जानता तु कृतं पापं गुरु सर्वं भवत्युत अज्ञानात्स्खलिते दोषे प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते
M. N. Dutt: All sins that are committed knowingly are serious, while those that are committed unwittingly are light. there is expiation for both.
शक्यते विधिना पापं यथोक्तेन व्यपोहितुम् आस्तिके श्रद्दधाने तु विधिरेष विधीयते
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, sin is capable of being washed away by following the ordinances. Those ordinances, however, have been laid down only for them who have faith in God.
नास्तिकाश्रद्दधानेषु पुरुषेषु कदाचन दम्भदोषप्रधानेषु विधिरेष न दृश्यते
M. N. Dutt: They are not for atheists or those that have no faith, or those who are full of pride and malice.
शिष्टाचारश्च शिष्टश्च धर्मो धर्मभृतां वर सेवितव्यो नरव्याघ्र प्रेत्य चेह सुखार्थिना
M. N. Dutt: A person, O foremost of men, who seeks well-being both here and hereafter should, O foremost of virtuous men, always follow virtue, hear the righteous, and satisfy the duties that have been ordained for him.
स राजन्मोक्ष्यसे पापात्तेन पूर्वेण हेतुना त्राणार्थं वा वधेनैषामथ वा नृपकर्मणा
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, for the reasons already pointed out by me, you, O king, shall be freed off of all your sins, for you have slain your enemies in the discharge of your duties as a king and for the protection of your life and inheritance,
अथ वा ते घृणा काचित्प्रायश्चित्तं चरिष्यसि मा त्वेवानार्यजुष्टेन कर्मणा निधनं गमः
M. N. Dutt: Or, if despite it, you still consider yourself sinful, perform expiation. Do not cast away your life for such grief that does not become a wise man.'