13.111
शौचानुपृच्छा
enquiry regarding purity
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
यद्वरं सर्वतीर्थानां तद्ब्रवीहि पितामह। यत्र वै परमं शौचं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥१३-१११-१॥
O Grandsire, tell me which is the best of all sacred places. Where the highest purity is found, please explain that to me. (13-111-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
सर्वाणि खलु तीर्थानि गुणवन्ति मनीषिणाम्। यत्तु तीर्थं च शौचं च तन्मे शृणु समाहितः ॥१३-१११-२॥
All holy places are indeed virtuous for the wise; but listen attentively as I tell you which holy place and purity are meant. (13-111-2)
अगाधे विमले शुद्धे सत्यतोये धृतिह्रदे। स्नातव्यं मानसे तीर्थे सत्त्वमालम्ब्य शाश्वतम् ॥१३-१११-३॥
One should bathe in the unfathomable, pure, immaculate water of truth, in the lake of steadfastness, at the mental holy place, relying upon eternal steadfastness. (13-111-3)
तीर्थशौचमनर्थित्वमार्दवं सत्यमार्जवम्। अहिंसा सर्वभूतानामानृशंस्यं दमः शमः ॥१३-१११-४॥
Purity at holy places, freedom from meaningless acts, gentleness, truth, straightforwardness, non-injury to all beings, compassion, self-restraint, and tranquility. (13-111-4)
निर्ममा निरहङ्कारा निर्द्वंद्वा निष्परिग्रहाः। शुचयस्तीर्थभूतास्ते ये भैक्षमुपभुञ्जते ॥१३-१११-५॥
Those who are free from possessiveness, ego, and dualities, who are without possessions, pure, and have become like sacred fords—those who partake of alms—are such as these. (13-111-5)
तत्त्ववित्त्वनहम्बुद्धिस्तीर्थं परममुच्यते। शौचलक्षणमेतत्ते सर्वत्रैवान्ववेक्षणम् ॥१३-१११-६॥
The highest holy place is said to be the state where one knows reality and has no sense of ego. This, for you, is the sign of purity: to examine everywhere. (13-111-6)
रजस्तमः सत्त्वमथो येषां निर्धौतमात्मनः। शौचाशौचे न ते सक्ताः स्वकार्यपरिमार्गिणः ॥१३-१११-७॥
Those whose self has been cleansed of passion, darkness, and purity are not attached to purity or impurity; they are seekers of their own work. (13-111-7)
सर्वत्यागेष्वभिरताः सर्वज्ञाः सर्वदर्शिनः। शौचेन वृत्तशौचार्थास्ते तीर्थाः शुचयश्च ते ॥१३-१११-८॥
Devoted to all forms of renunciation, all-knowing, all-seeing; by purity, whose conduct seeks purity, they are the truly holy and pure individuals. (13-111-8)
नोदकक्लिन्नगात्रस्तु स्नात इत्यभिधीयते। स स्नातो यो दमस्नातः सबाह्याभ्यन्तरः शुचिः ॥१३-१११-९॥
One is not called bathed merely by having his body moistened with water, but he is called bathed who is bathed in self-restraint; he is pure both externally and internally. (13-111-9)
अतीतेष्वनपेक्षा ये प्राप्तेष्वर्थेषु निर्ममाः। शौचमेव परं तेषां येषां नोत्पद्यते स्पृहा ॥१३-१११-१०॥
For those who have no expectation for things past and are free from possessiveness regarding obtained objects—purity alone is supreme for them, since no longing arises in them. (13-111-10)
प्रज्ञानं शौचमेवेह शरीरस्य विशेषतः। तथा निष्किञ्चनत्वं च मनसश्च प्रसन्नता ॥१३-१११-११॥
Above all, higher knowledge and purity are especially characteristic of the body here; likewise, freedom from attachments and serenity belong to the mind. (13-111-11)
वृत्तशौचं मनःशौचं तीर्थशौचं परं हितम्। ज्ञानोत्पन्नं च यच्छौचं तच्छौचं परमं मतम् ॥१३-१११-१२॥
Purity of conduct, of mind, and of pilgrimage are greatly beneficial; but purity arising from knowledge is considered to be the highest. (13-111-12)
मनसाथ प्रदीपेन ब्रह्मज्ञानबलेन च। स्नाता ये मानसे तीर्थे तज्ज्ञाः क्षेत्रज्ञदर्शिनः ॥१३-१११-१३॥
Those who, with the mind, with the lamp, and with the strength of the knowledge of Brahman, have bathed in the sacred ford of the mind are knowers of that and seers of the knower of the field. (13-111-13)
समारोपितशौचस्तु नित्यं भावसमन्वितः। केवलं गुणसम्पन्नः शुचिरेव नरः सदा ॥१३-१११-१४॥
But although a person may have only apparent purity and is always accompanied by true intent, only a virtuous man is truly ever pure. (13-111-14)
शरीरस्थानि तीर्थानि प्रोक्तान्येतानि भारत। पृथिव्यां यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यानि शृणु तान्यपि ॥१३-१११-१५॥
These sacred places situated in the body have been described, O Bhārata. Now, hear also about those sacred and meritorious places on the earth. (13-111-15)
यथा शरीरस्योद्देशाः शुचयः परिनिर्मिताः। तथा पृथिव्या भागाश्च पुण्यानि सलिलानि च ॥१३-१११-१६॥
Just as pure regions are formed in the body, so also are auspicious places and waters on the earth. (13-111-16)
प्रार्थनाच्चैव तीर्थस्य स्नानाच्च पितृतर्पणात्। धुनन्ति पापं तीर्थेषु पूता यान्ति दिवं सुखम् ॥१३-१११-१७॥
Through prayer, bathing at holy places, and offerings to the ancestors, people are purified of sin; at holy pilgrimages, the purified go happily to heaven. (13-111-17)
परिग्रहाच्च साधूनां पृथिव्याश्चैव तेजसा। अतीव पुण्यास्ते भागाः सलिलस्य च तेजसा ॥१३-१११-१८॥
The portions of the virtuous, as well as of the earth by its splendor, and the portions of water by its brilliance, are extremely meritorious. (13-111-18)
मनसश्च पृथिव्याश्च पुण्यतीर्थास्तथापरे। उभयोरेव यः स्नातः स सिद्धिं शीघ्रमाप्नुयात् ॥१३-१११-१९॥
Whoever bathes in the sacred bathing places both of the mind and of the earth, indeed, he may quickly attain success. (13-111-19)
यथा बलं क्रियाहीनं क्रिया वा बलवर्जिता। नेह साधयते कार्यं समायुक्तस्तु सिध्यति ॥१३-१११-२०॥
Just as strength without action, or action without strength, does not accomplish the task here; but one who possesses both succeeds. (13-111-20)
एवं शरीरशौचेन तीर्थशौचेन चान्वितः। ततः सिद्धिमवाप्नोति द्विविधं शौचमुत्तमम् ॥१३-१११-२१॥
Thus, being endowed with bodily purity and sacred-place purity, thereafter he attains the highest twofold purity. (13-111-21)
