12.036
Library: Various kinds of sin and the atonement for the same.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said:
तपसा कर्मभिश्चैव प्रदानेन च भारत। पुनाति पापं पुरुषः पूतश्चेन्न प्रवर्तते ॥१२-३६-१॥
O Bhārata, by austerity, actions, and giving, a person purifies his sins; if he is purified, he does not engage in them again.
एककालं तु भुञ्जानश्चरन्भैक्षं स्वकर्मकृत्। कपालपाणिः खट्वाङ्गी ब्रह्मचारी सदोत्थितः ॥१२-३६-२॥
He eats only once a day, wanders for alms, performs his own duty, holds a skull in his hand, carries a staff, remains celibate, and is always alert.
अनसूयुरधःशायी कर्म लोके प्रकाशयन्। पूर्णैर्द्वादशभिर्वर्षैर्ब्रह्महा विप्रमुच्यते ॥१२-३६-३॥
A Brahmin-slayer who, free from envy, lies down below and openly performs actions in the world, is completely released after twelve full years.
षड्भिर्वर्षैः कृच्छ्रभोजी ब्रह्महा पूयते नरः। मासे मासे समश्नंस्तु त्रिभिर्वर्षैः प्रमुच्यते ॥१२-३६-४॥
A man who has killed a Brāhmaṇa is purified by eating prescribed food under penance for six years. However, if he eats prescribed food equally each month, he is released in three years.
संवत्सरेण मासाशी पूयते नात्र संशयः। तथैवोपरमन्राजन्स्वल्पेनापि प्रमुच्यते ॥१२-३६-५॥
By the passing of a year or by months, purification occurs; there is no doubt about this. Likewise, O king, even a little cessation leads to release.
क्रतुना चाश्वमेधेन पूयते नात्र संशयः। य चास्यावभृथे स्नान्ति केचिदेवंविधा नराः ॥१२-३६-६॥
There is no doubt that one is purified by the sacrifice and especially by the horse-sacrifice. And some men of this kind who bathe at its concluding bath are also purified.
ते सर्वे पूतपाप्मानो भवन्तीति परा श्रुतिः। ब्राह्मणार्थे हतो युद्धे मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया ॥१२-३६-७॥
According to the supreme revelation, all of them become purified from sin. If one is killed in battle for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa, he is freed from the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa.
गवां शतसहस्रं तु पात्रेभ्यः प्रतिपादयन्। ब्रह्महा विप्रमुच्येत सर्वपापेभ्य एव च ॥१२-३६-८॥
But if one gives one hundred thousand cows to worthy recipients, even a killer of a Brāhmaṇa is completely freed from all sins.
कपिलानां सहस्राणि यो दद्यात्पञ्चविंशतिम्। दोग्ध्रीणां स च पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यो विप्रमुच्यते ॥१२-३६-९॥
Whoever gives twenty-five thousand tawny cows, he is completely freed from all sins.
गोसहस्रं सवत्सानां दोग्ध्रीणां प्राणसंशये। साधुभ्यो वै दरिद्रेभ्यो दत्त्वा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥१२-३६-१०॥
By giving a thousand milking cows with calves, even at the risk of one's life, to the virtuous and to the poor, one is indeed freed from sin.
शतं तै यस्तु काम्बोजान्ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छति। नियतेभ्यो महीपाल स च पापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥१२-३६-११॥
O king, he who gives a hundred Kambojas to the Brāhmaṇas who are self-restrained is freed from sin.
मनोरथं तु यो दद्यादेकस्मा अपि भारत। न कीर्तयेत दत्त्वा यः स च पापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥१२-३६-१२॥
O Bhārata, even if someone gives a wish to just one person but does not proclaim it after giving, he too is freed from sin.
सुरापानं सकृत्पीत्वा योऽग्निवर्णां पिबेद्द्विजः। स पावयत्यथात्मानमिह लोके परत्र च ॥१२-३६-१३॥
If a twice-born person, after drinking liquor once, drinks the fire-colored substance, he thereby purifies himself both in this world and the next.
मेरुप्रपातं प्रपतञ्ज्वलनं वा समाविशन्। महाप्रस्थानमातिष्ठन्मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ॥१२-३६-१४॥
Whether one falls from the Meru precipice, enters fire, or undertakes the great departure, one is freed from all sins.
बृहस्पतिसवेनेष्ट्वा सुरापो ब्राह्मणः पुनः। समितिं ब्राह्मणैर्गच्छेदिति वै ब्राह्मणी श्रुतिः ॥१२-३६-१५॥
After performing the Bṛhaspati-sacrifice, a Brāhmaṇa who has drunk liquor should again approach the assembly of Brāhmaṇas; thus indeed is the statement of the Brāhmaṇī śruti (Vedic authority).
भूमिप्रदानं कुर्याद्यः सुरां पीत्वा विमत्सरः। पुनर्न च पिबेद्राजन्संस्कृतः शुध्यते नरः ॥१२-३६-१६॥
O king, a man who, having drunk liquor without envy, gives land, should not drink again; if purified, he becomes pure.
गुरुतल्पी शिलां तप्तामायसीमधिसंविशेत्। पाणावाधाय वा शेफं प्रव्रजेदूर्ध्वदर्शनः ॥१२-३६-१७॥
A person guilty of violating the teacher's bed must lie on a heated iron slab, or, placing his genitals in his hands, wander with his face turned upwards.
शरीरस्य विमोक्षेण मुच्यते कर्मणोऽशुभात्। कर्मभ्यो विप्रमुच्यन्ते यत्ताः संवत्सरं स्त्रियः ॥१२-३६-१८॥
By the release of the body, one is freed from inauspicious actions; women who are disciplined for a year are completely freed from actions.
महाव्रतं चरेद्यस्तु दद्यात्सर्वस्वमेव तु। गुर्वर्थे वा हतो युद्धे स मुच्येत्कर्मणोऽशुभात् ॥१२-३६-१९॥
Whoever observes the great vow, or gives away all his possessions, or is killed in battle for the sake of the teacher, is freed from evil deeds.
अनृतेनोपचर्ता च प्रतिरोद्धा गुरोस्तथा। उपहृत्य प्रियं तस्मै तस्मात्पापात्प्रमुच्यते ॥१२-३६-२०॥
Even if one has served or restrained the teacher with untruth, by offering something dear to him, one is released from that sin.
अवकीर्णिनिमित्तं तु ब्रह्महत्याव्रतं चरेत्। खरचर्मवासाः षण्मासं तथा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥१२-३६-२१॥
However, for the act of scattering bones, one should undertake the expiation for Brāhmaṇa-slaying; by wearing donkey skin for six months, one is thus freed from sin.
परदारापहारी च परस्यापहरन्वसु। संवत्सरं व्रती भूत्वा तथा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥१२-३६-२२॥
One who has taken another's wife or another's wealth, by observing a vow for one year, may thus be freed from sin.
स्तेयं तु यस्यापहरेत्तस्मै दद्यात्समं वसु। विविधेनाभ्युपायेन तेन मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥१२-३६-२३॥
But if someone commits theft, he should give equal wealth to the person from whom he took it. By various means, by doing so, he may be freed from sin.
कृच्छ्राद्द्वादशरात्रेण स्वभ्यस्तेन दशावरम्। परिवेत्ता भवेत्पूतः परिवित्तिश्च भारत ॥१२-३६-२४॥
O Bhārata, by performing penance for twelve nights, and by practicing self-discipline ten times, both the officiant and the assistant become purified.
निवेश्यं तु भवेत्तेन सदा तारयिता पितॄन्। न तु स्त्रिया भवेद्दोषो न तु सा तेन लिप्यते ॥१२-३६-२५॥
When it is offered, by that, the ancestors are always delivered. There is no fault for the woman, nor is she tainted by that.
भजने ह्यृतुना शुद्धं चातुर्मास्यं विधीयते। स्त्रियस्तेन विशुध्यन्ति इति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥१२-३६-२६॥
The pure four-monthly sacrifice is prescribed to be performed in the proper season. By this, women are purified, as is known by those who are learned in dharma.
स्त्रियस्त्वाशङ्किताः पापैर्नोपगम्या हि जानता। रजसा ता विशुध्यन्ते भस्मना भाजनं यथा ॥१२-३६-२७॥
Women who are suspected of sin should not be approached by the wise; just as a vessel stained by impurity is purified by ashes, so too are they purified.
चतुष्पात्सकलो धर्मो ब्राह्मणानां विधीयते। पादावकृष्टो राजन्ये तथा धर्मो विधीयते ॥१२-३६-२८॥
The complete dharma in all its four parts is prescribed for the Brāhmaṇas. For the Kṣatriyas, dharma with one part removed is similarly prescribed.
तथा वैश्ये च शूद्रे च पादः पादो विधीयते। विद्यादेवंविधेनैषां गुरुलाघवनिश्चयम् ॥१२-३६-२९॥
Similarly, for the Vaiśya and the Śūdra, a quarter share each is prescribed. Thus, one should understand the determination of the relative weight and lightness among these.
तिर्यग्योनिवधं कृत्वा द्रुमांश्छित्त्वेतरान्बहून्। त्रिरात्रं वायुभक्षः स्यात्कर्म च प्रथयेन्नरः ॥१२-३६-३०॥
After killing animals of lower birth and cutting many other trees, a man should live on air for three nights and publicly declare the act.
अगम्यागमने राजन्प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते। आर्द्रवस्त्रेण षण्मासं विहार्यं भस्मशायिना ॥१२-३६-३१॥
O king, for the act of approaching a forbidden woman, atonement is prescribed: one must live for six months wearing wet clothes and sleeping on ashes.
एष एव तु सर्वेषामकार्याणां विधिर्भवेत्। ब्राह्मणोक्तेन विधिना दृष्टान्तागमहेतुभिः ॥१२-३६-३२॥
However, for all improper acts, the rule should be as stated by the Brāhmaṇa, following the prescribed procedure, and supported by examples, scriptures, and reasoning.
सावित्रीमप्यधीयानः शुचौ देशे मिताशनः। अहिंस्रोऽमन्दकोऽजल्पन्मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ॥१२-३६-३३॥
One who recites the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī mantra) in a pure place, eats moderately, is non-violent, energetic, and refrains from idle talk is freed from all sins.
अहःसु सततं तिष्ठेदभ्याकाशं निशि स्वपेत्। त्रिरह्नस्त्रिर्निशायाश्च सवासा जलमाविशेत् ॥१२-३६-३४॥
One should always remain in the open air during the day and sleep at night. One should enter water with clothes three times during the day and three times during the night.
स्त्रीशूद्रपतितांश्चापि नाभिभाषेद्व्रतान्वितः। पापान्यज्ञानतः कृत्वा मुच्येदेवंव्रतो द्विजः ॥१२-३६-३५॥
One who observes vows should not converse with women, Śūdras, or the fallen; if a twice-born commits sins out of ignorance, he is freed by such observance.
शुभाशुभफलं प्रेत्य लभते भूतसाक्षिकः। अतिरिच्येत्तयोर्यत्तु तत्कर्ता लभते फलम् ॥१२-३६-३६॥
After death, a person obtains the results of auspicious and inauspicious actions, witnessed by beings. If one exceeds either of the two, the doer obtains the fruit of that accordingly.
तस्माद्दानेन तपसा कर्मणा च शुभं फलम्। वर्धयेदशुभं कृत्वा यथा स्यादतिरेकवान् ॥१२-३६-३७॥
Therefore, by charity, austerity, and action, one should increase the auspicious result, making the inauspicious less, so that the auspicious may become abundant.
कुर्याच्छुभानि कर्माणि निमित्ते पापकर्मणाम्। दद्यान्नित्यं च वित्तानि तथा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥१२-३६-३८॥
One should perform auspicious deeds to counteract sinful actions; one should always give wealth, and thus be freed from sin.
अनुरूपं हि पापस्य प्रायश्चित्तमुदाहृतम्। महापातकवर्जं तु प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते ॥१२-३६-३९॥
Atonement is prescribed in proportion to the sin, but not for the great sins; for those, atonement is not prescribed.
भक्ष्याभक्ष्येषु सर्वेषु वाच्यावाच्ये तथैव च। अज्ञानज्ञानयो राजन्विहितान्यनुजानते ॥१२-३६-४०॥
O king, in all matters of what is edible or inedible, speakable or unspeakable, it is according to ignorance and knowledge that the prescribed acts are permitted.
जानता तु कृतं पापं गुरु सर्वं भवत्युत। अज्ञानात्स्खलिते दोषे प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते ॥१२-३६-४१॥
A sin committed knowingly is considered especially grave. However, if a fault occurs due to ignorance or by mistake, atonement is prescribed.
शक्यते विधिना पापं यथोक्तेन व्यपोहितुम्। आस्तिके श्रद्दधाने तु विधिरेष विधीयते ॥१२-३६-४२॥
Sin can be removed by the prescribed method as stated, but this rule is laid down only for the believer, for the one who has faith.
नास्तिकाश्रद्दधानेषु पुरुषेषु कदाचन। दम्भदोषप्रधानेषु विधिरेष न दृश्यते ॥१२-३६-४३॥
This rule is never seen among atheists, those lacking faith, or those dominated by hypocrisy and fault.
शिष्टाचारश्च शिष्टश्च धर्मो धर्मभृतां वर। सेवितव्यो नरव्याघ्र प्रेत्य चेह सुखार्थिना ॥१२-३६-४४॥
O best of the upholders of dharma, O tiger among men, the conduct of the virtuous and righteousness should be followed by one who desires happiness, both here and after death.
स राजन्मोक्ष्यसे पापात्तेन पूर्वेण हेतुना। त्राणार्थं वा वधेनैषामथ वा नृपकर्मणा ॥१२-३६-४५॥
O king, you will be freed from sin either due to that previous cause, or for the sake of protection, or by killing these, or by performing the duty of a king.
अथ वा ते घृणा काचित्प्रायश्चित्तं चरिष्यसि। मा त्वेवानार्यजुष्टेन कर्मणा निधनं गमः ॥१२-३६-४६॥
Alternatively, if you feel any remorse, you may perform atonement. But do not, by an ignoble act, bring about your own destruction.
