13.130
Umā said.
In the beautiful regions, at the waterfalls of the mountains, among the streams, in the bowers, and in the mountain groves. (13-130-1)
Those with fixed vows, concentrated, dwell in lands that are various and fruitful, and in lands with roots. (13-130-2)
O Śaṅkara, I also wish to hear about the virtuous procedure of those vānaprasthas, O lord of the gods, who sustain themselves by their own labor. (13-130-3)
The great lord said.
Hear from me attentively the duty among forest-dwellers. Having heard, O goddess, be intent on understanding dharma with one-pointed mind. (13-130-4)
Listen to the kind of action that must be performed by perfected, self-controlled, virtuous forest-dwellers who have come to live in the forest. (13-130-5)
Actions such as thrice-daily ablutions, worship of ancestors and gods, performance of the agnihotra ritual, as well as the procedures for iṣṭi and homa sacrifices, (are prescribed). (13-130-6)
Taking wild rice and also using fruits and roots, and using the oils of iṅgudī and castor for the purpose of unctuousness. (13-130-7)
The abandonment of desire and anger is by the perfected yogis, by those who reside on the warrior's bed, and by those who attend to the warrior's place. (13-130-8)
By people devoted to yoga practices, by the virtuous, in the summer, by five-fire ascetics likewise, and by those disciplined in frog-posture who practice according to proper rules. (13-130-9)
Those with a mind intent on righteousness should always practice (austerities) such as sitting in the vīrāsana posture on the floor or on beds; both cold and fire disciplines must be undertaken. (13-130-10)
By those who subsist only on water, on air, and on moss, and by those who eat by grinding with stones, as well as by the self-controlled, by those who thoroughly cleanse their food, and by others as well. (13-130-11)
The undertaking should be performed, as prescribed, by those clad in bark garments and deer skins, in accordance with time, dharma, and prescribed rules. (13-130-12)
Those who always live in the forest, forest-dwellers, inhabitants of the woods, and those who move among the forests, having approached the forest as one would a teacher, should dwell in it. (13-130-13)
For them, the ritual of oblation is a duty, along with the performance of the five yajñas and observance of the nāga-pañcama sacrifice as enjoined in the Vedas. (13-130-14)
Devotion towards sacrifices on the eighth lunar day and performance of the four-monthly observances; but the sacrifice on the full-moon day is considered a perpetual (nitya) sacrifice in the same way. (13-130-15)
Freed from union with wives, from all mixtures, and from all sins, the sages wander in the forest. (13-130-16)
Those whose highest goal is the sacrificial ladle and vessel, who always take refuge in the three sacrificial fires, who are ever devoted to the righteous path—such virtuous ones attain the supreme state. (13-130-17)
The perfected sages reach the greatly meritorious Brahma-world and the eternal Soma-world by relying upon the dharma of sages. (13-130-18)
O goddess, this auspicious duty pertaining to the vānaprastha stage has been stated by me in summary as well as in detail, endowed with meaning. (13-130-19)
Umā said.
O blessed Lord, lord of the lords of the gods, worshipped by all beings, tell me that righteousness of the assembly of sages which prevails in discussions about accomplishment. (13-130-20)
Among those established in the doctrines of success, and likewise among forest dwellers—those who live independently and with their wives—how is their duty described? (13-130-21)
The great lord Śiva said.
O goddess, the ascetics are independent—indeed, all of them live with wives. For them, being shaven-headed, wearing ochre robes, and both day and night, are merely causes (for such behavior). (13-130-22)
Consecration performed three times daily and sacrificial offering—especially as carried out by the great sages—concentration, abiding in the true path, and observance as prescribed. (13-130-23)
If the forest-dwellers practice those previously mentioned dharmas, they attain the fruit of austerity. (13-130-24)
And those who observe duties of married couples, approach only their own wives, control their senses, and act according to prescribed rules—approaching at the proper season—are such as described. (13-130-25)
The dharma established by sages is proper for the righteous; those who understand dharma should not pursue any desire arising from mere desire. (13-130-26)
Whoever rightly gives the gift of fearlessness to all beings, whose self is free from violence and anger, he indeed is truly united with dharma. (13-130-27)
He who is compassionate to all beings, who is devoted to honesty towards all beings, and who regards himself as the self of all beings—indeed, he is united with righteousness. (13-130-28)
Bathing in all the Vedas and straightforwardness towards all beings—these two may be considered equal, but straightforwardness is regarded as superior. (13-130-29)
They say that straightforwardness is virtue, and that crookedness is called vice. A man endowed with straightforwardness here is united with virtue. (13-130-30)
Straightforwardness always resides in the world in the presence of the immortals; therefore, one who desires virtue for himself should always be steadfast in straightforwardness. (13-130-31)
A man who is patient, self-controlled, free from anger, abides in righteousness, is non-violent, and whose mind is always devoted to righteousness, is united with righteousness. (13-130-32)
A person who is free from drowsiness, whose nature is righteousness, who has resorted to the good path, who is supremely devoted to conduct and is wise, becomes eligible for attaining the state of Brahman. (13-130-33)
Umā said.
O divine one, those ascetic sages, attached to āśramas, whose wealth is austerity and who shine with radiance—by what conduct do they become so? (13-130-34)
O Lord, by what action do kings, princes, the poor or the very wealthy attain great benefit? (13-130-35)
O god, having always come to the place, smeared with divine sandalwood, by what action do they become forest-dwellers? (13-130-36)
O three-eyed one, O destroyer of Tripura, please declare fully and without omission this auspicious doubt of mine that has arisen from ascetic practice. (13-130-37)
The great lord spoke.
Those who are self-restrained by fasting and vows, non-violent, truth-speaking, and perfected, after death rejoice together with the Gandharvas, free from all affliction. (13-130-38)
He who lies in the frog posture, at the proper place and in the proper manner, practises initiation righteously; he rejoices together with the nāgas. (13-130-39)
He who, being consecrated and rejoicing, partakes together with the deer of the tender grass left by their mouths, goes to Amaravati (the city of the immortals). (13-130-40)
Whoever practises the vow of subsisting only on water-plants or dried leaves, constantly cultivating union with cold, he attains the highest goal. (13-130-41)
Whether living on air, on water, or even on fruits and roots, he enjoys sovereignty among the Yakṣas, delighting in the company of the Apsarases. (13-130-42)
He who bears the connection to fire in summer and performs the prescribed ritual for twelve years becomes a king, a ruler. (13-130-43)
Having observed food regulation, the sage for twelve years, having accomplished austerities in the desert by effort, becomes an earthly king. (13-130-44)
He, having surrounded himself with pure ether on all sides on the ground, entered therein, and, endowed with joy, undertook the twelve-year initiation. (13-130-45)
O splendid lady, they say the results for Sthaṇḍila are vehicles, beds, and houses that are very costly and shining white like the moon. (13-130-46)
He who sustains himself, is self-controlled, eats regulated food, and giving up the body by fasting, attains heaven. (13-130-47)
Who, subsisting on himself, undertakes a twelve-year discipline, and after abandoning his body in the great ocean, attains the world of Varuṇa. (13-130-48)
He who must support himself, after undergoing the twelve-year initiation, piercing his feet with a stone in secret places, rejoices. (13-130-49)
Having achieved self-mastery through his own effort, being free from duality and without possessions, having observed a single initiation resolved in his mind for twelve years, he attains the heavenly world and enjoys bliss together with the gods. (13-130-50)
One who, having sustained himself, undergoes consecration for twelve years, and after offering oblations into the fire abandons his body, becomes glorified in the world of fire. (13-130-51)
But he, O goddess, who, being consecrated and self-controlled as per right procedure, is a twice-born, having placed the self within the self, free from dualities and without possessions. (13-130-52)
After completing twelve years of the single vow contemplated in his mind, having fastened the araṇi fire-sticks to his shoulder, he proceeds without covering. (13-130-53)
He who always keeps his mind intent on the heroic path, who is engaged in heroic postures, and who constantly abides in heroism—he attains the way of the hero. (13-130-54)
He, having reached the world of Indra, ever attended by all enjoyments, surrounded by divine flowers and adorned with divine sandalwood, dwells in happiness in heaven together with the groups of gods, being a righteous soul. (13-130-55)
He who, having gone to the world of heroes, always bears the union of heroism, established in purity, having abandoned all, who is initiated, self-controlled, and pure, should attain the heroic path; his worlds are eternal. (13-130-56)
He travels at will in a wish-fulfilling chariot; reaching the sphere of Indra, the fortunate one rejoices and is free from suffering. (13-130-57)
