Chapter 48

Vishnu Smriti 48

Now, if by his deeds he considers himself gravely sinful, he shall cook for himself a handful of barley gruel. // Vi_48.1 //

He shall not offer an oblation from it into the fire. // Vi_48.2 //

[^6]: A textual variant reads ācārthaḥ. [^7]: A textual variant reads pravrajitāyāḥ ni.

And there shall be no offering of a bali (ritual food offering) here. // Vi_48.3 //

He shall consecrate the barley when it is unhusked, while it is being cooked, and when it is cooked. // Vi_48.4 //

While it is being cooked, he shall perform a rite of protection. // Vi_48.5 //

Brahma is the pathfinder of the gods, the poet of poets, the sage of the wise, the buffalo among beasts, / The hawk among vultures, the axe among woods; Soma, roaring, passes through the filter. || Vi_48.6 ||

With this verse, he binds the darbha grass. // Vi_48.6 //

And having poured the cooked gruel into a vessel, he shall eat it. // Vi_48.7 //

"May those gods who are born of the mind, who delight in the mind, the most skillful, the fathers of skill—may they protect us, may they help us, salutation to them, svāhā to them!" With this, he shall offer it into himself. // Vi_48.8 //

Then, having rinsed his mouth, he shall touch his navel. // Vi_48.9 //

"Bathed and drunk you are, O you waters, and you barleys in our belly. May you be for us without disease, without consumption, without sin, O divine, immortal ones, who increase the sacred order." // Vi_48.10 //

One who desires intelligence shall do this for three nights. // Vi_48.11 //

A sinner, for six nights. // Vi_48.12 //

Having drunk it for seven nights, he purifies himself from any one of the great sins. // Vi_48.13 //

By a twelve-night penance, he burns away even the sin committed by a previous generation. // Vi_48.14 //

Having drunk it for a month, he is purified of all sins. // Vi_48.15 //

And for twenty-one nights, with barley that has passed through a cow. // Vi_48.16 //

You are barley, you are the king of grains, belonging to Varuṇa, mixed with honey; / The expeller of all sins, held as a purifier by the sages. || Vi_48.17 ||

Clarified butter are you barleys, honey are you barleys, waters and nectar are you barleys; / Purify me of all sin, whatever evil I have done. || Vi_48.18 ||

What was done by speech, done by deed, ill-conceived by the mind, / The misfortune and the evil spirit—destroy them, O you barleys of mine. || Vi_48.19 ||

What has been licked by dogs and pigs, and what has been defiled by leftovers, / And disobedience to mother and father—purify me of this, O you barleys of mine. || Vi_48.20 ||

Food from a corporation, food from a courtesan, food from a Śūdra, food from a śrāddha or a birth impurity, / Food from a thief, a new śrāddha—and purify me of this, O you barleys of mine. || Vi_48.21 ||

The cheating of a child, unrighteousness, and what is done at the king's gate, / The theft of gold, the state of a vrātya, and sacrificing for one for whom it is forbidden to sacrifice, / Slander of Brāhmaṇas—and purify me of this, O you barleys of mine. || Vi_48.22 ||