Chapter 64

Vishnu Smriti 64

He shall not perform bathing in another's pond. // Vi_64.1 //

In a time of distress, he may do so after taking out five lumps of earth and water. // Vi_64.2 //

Not when he has indigestion. // Vi_64.3 //

Not when he is sick. // Vi_64.4 //

Not naked. // Vi_64.5 //

Not at night. // Vi_64.6 //

Except when an eclipse is visible. // Vi_64.7 //

Not at the twilights. // Vi_64.8 //

One who is accustomed to bathing in the morning shall bathe after seeing the eastern sky become reddish-tawny. // Vi_64.9 //

Having bathed, he shall not shake his head. // Vi_64.10 //

He shall not wring out water from his limbs. // Vi_64.11 //

He shall not touch anything oily. // Vi_64.12 //

He shall not wear a previously worn garment that has not been washed. // Vi_64.13 //

Having bathed, he shall put on two washed garments and a turban. // Vi_64.14 //

He shall not converse with Mlecchas, outcastes, or fallen persons. // Vi_64.15 //

He shall bathe in springs, man-made ponds, and lakes. // Vi_64.16 //

Water taken from the ground is holy; flowing water is holier than stationary water; water from a river is holier than that; water consecrated by good men is holier than that; and water from the Ganges is holiest of all. // Vi_64.17 //

Having removed impurities with earth and water, having submerged himself and sat in the water, he shall consecrate the sacred bathing place with the three verses beginning "āpo hi ṣṭhā," the four beginning "hiraṇyavarṇāḥ," and the one beginning "idam āpaḥ pravahata." // Vi_64.18 //

Then, submerged in the water, he shall mutter the Aghamarṣaṇa prayer three times. // Vi_64.19 //

Or the verse "tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam." // Vi_64.20 //

And the Drupadā Sāvitrī. // Vi_64.21 //

Or the section beginning "yuñjate manaḥ." // Vi_64.22 //

Or the Puruṣasūkta. // Vi_64.23 //

Having bathed, and while still in wet clothes, he shall perform tarpaṇa (water oblations) to the gods and ancestors while standing in the water. // Vi_64.24 //

If he has changed his clothes, then after coming out of the water. // Vi_64.25 //

Without having performed tarpaṇa to the gods and ancestors, he shall not wring out his bathing garment. // Vi_64.26 //

Having bathed and rinsed his mouth, he shall perform the ritual sipping of water according to the rule. // Vi_64.27 //

With the Puruṣasūkta, he shall give flowers to Puruṣa with each verse. // Vi_64.28 //

And handfuls of water. // Vi_64.29 //

First, with the Daiva tīrtha, he shall perform tarpaṇa to the gods. // Vi_64.30 //

After that, with the Pitrya tīrtha, to the ancestors. // Vi_64.31 //

There, he shall first perform tarpaṇa for his own lineage. // Vi_64.32 //

Then for his relatives and kinsmen. // Vi_64.33 //

Then for his friends. // Vi_64.34 //

Thus he shall be one who bathes daily. // Vi_64.35 //

And having bathed, he shall mutter sacred prayers according to his ability. // Vi_64.36 //

Especially the Sāvitrī. // Vi_64.37 //

And the Puruṣasūkta. // Vi_64.38 //

There is nothing greater than these two. // Vi_64.39 //

One who has bathed becomes fit for rites for the gods and ancestors, / And for the muttering of sacred prayers, and for charity prescribed by the rule. || Vi_64.40 ||

Misfortune, the goddess of evil times, a bad dream, and an evil thought, / For one who has been sprinkled with mere water, these perish—this is the firm belief. || Vi_64.41 ||

The suffering of torment in the realm of Yama, one who bathes daily does not see; / By daily bathing, even those men who are sinners are purified. || Vi_64.42 ||