Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 11 — Chapter 14
DB 11 14.1
विभूतिधारणमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच भस्मदिग्धशरीराय यो ददाति धनं मुदा । तस्य सर्वाणि पापानि विनश्यन्ति न संशयः
vibhūtidhāraṇamāhātmyavarṇanam śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca bhasmadigdhaśarīrāya yo dadāti dhanaṃ mudā | tasya sarvāṇi pāpāni vinaśyanti na saṃśayaḥ
The description of the greatness of wearing the sacred ash. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: He who gladly gives wealth to one whose body is smeared with ash — all his sins perish, there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.2
श्रुतयः स्मृतयः सर्वाः पुराणान्यखिलान्यपि । वदन्ति भूतिमाहाम्यं तत्तस्माद्धारयेद्द्विजः
śrutayaḥ smṛtayaḥ sarvāḥ purāṇānyakhilānyapi | vadanti bhūtimāhāmyaṃ tattasmāddhārayeddvijaḥ
All the Vedic texts, the law-books, and all the Purāṇas as well declare the greatness of the sacred ash; therefore let the twice-born wear it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.3
सितेन भस्मना कुर्यात्त्रिसन्ध्यं यस्त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोके महीयते
sitena bhasmanā kuryāttrisandhyaṃ yastripuṇḍrakam | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ śivaloke mahīyate
He who makes the tripuṇḍra with white ash at the three junctures of the day is freed from all sins and is honoured in Śiva's world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.4
योगी सर्वाङ्गकं स्तानमापादतलमस्तकम् । त्रिसन्ध्यमाचरेन्नित्यमाशु योगमवाप्नुयात्
yogī sarvāṅgakaṃ stānamāpādatalamastakam | trisandhyamācarennityamāśu yogamavāpnuyāt
A yogin who performs daily, at the three junctures, the bathing of all his limbs from the soles of the feet to the head, would quickly attain yoga.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.5
भस्मस्नानेन पुरुषः कुलस्योद्धारको भवेत् । भस्मस्नानं जलस्नानादसंख्येयगुणान्वितम्
bhasmasnānena puruṣaḥ kulasyoddhārako bhavet | bhasmasnānaṃ jalasnānādasaṃkhyeyaguṇānvitam
By the ash-bath a man becomes the deliverer of his family; the ash-bath is endowed with incalculably more merit than a bath in water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.6
सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्फलम् । तत्फलं लभते सर्वं भस्मस्नानान्न संशयः
sarvatīrtheṣu yatpuṇyaṃ sarvatīrtheṣu yatphalam | tatphalaṃ labhate sarvaṃ bhasmasnānānna saṃśayaḥ
Whatever merit is in all the holy fords, whatever fruit is in all the holy fords — all that fruit he obtains from the ash-bath; there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.7
महापातकयुक्तो वा युक्तो वाप्युपपातकैः । भस्मस्नानेन तत्सर्वं दहत्यग्निरिवेन्धनम्
mahāpātakayukto vā yukto vāpyupapātakaiḥ | bhasmasnānena tatsarvaṃ dahatyagnirivendhanam
Whether one is charged with the great sins or with the lesser sins, the ash-bath burns all that as fire burns fuel.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.8
भस्मस्नानात्परं स्नानं पवित्रं नैव विद्यते । एवमुक्तं शिवेनादौ तदा स्नातः स्वयं शिवः
bhasmasnānātparaṃ snānaṃ pavitraṃ naiva vidyate | evamuktaṃ śivenādau tadā snātaḥ svayaṃ śivaḥ
There is no bath purer than the bath with ashes; thus was it said by Śiva at the beginning, and then Śiva himself bathed (so).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.9
तदाप्रभृति ब्रह्माद्या मुनयश्च शिवार्थिनः । सर्वकर्मसु यत्नेन भस्मस्नानं प्रचक्रिरे
tadāprabhṛti brahmādyā munayaśca śivārthinaḥ | sarvakarmasu yatnena bhasmasnānaṃ pracakrire
From that time on, Brahmā and the others, and the sages who seek Śiva, carefully performed the ash-bath in all their rites.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.10
तस्मादेतच्छिरःस्नानमाग्नेयं यः समाचरेत् । अनेनैव शरीरेण स हि रुद्रो न संशयः
tasmādetacchiraḥsnānamāgneyaṃ yaḥ samācaret | anenaiva śarīreṇa sa hi rudro na saṃśayaḥ
Therefore, whoever performs this fiery bath of the head — he, in this very body, is indeed Rudra; there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.11
ये भस्मधारिणं दृष्ट्वा परितृप्ता भवन्ति ते । देवासुरमुनीन्द्रैश्च पूज्या नित्यं न संशयः
ye bhasmadhāriṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā paritṛptā bhavanti te | devāsuramunīndraiśca pūjyā nityaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
Those who, on seeing one who wears ashes, become fully satisfied — they are ever to be honoured by gods, demons and the chief of sages; there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.12
भस्मसञ्छन्नसर्वाङ्गं दृष्ट्वोत्तिष्ठति यः पुमान् । तं दृष्ट्वा देवराजोऽपि दण्डवत्प्रणमिष्यति
bhasmasañchannasarvāṅgaṃ dṛṣṭvottiṣṭhati yaḥ pumān | taṃ dṛṣṭvā devarājo'pi daṇḍavatpraṇamiṣyati
The man who, seeing (another) with all his limbs covered with ashes, rises up — seeing him, even the king of the gods will bow down like a rod.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.13
अभक्ष्यभक्षणं येषां भस्मधारणपूर्वकम् । तेषां तद्भक्ष्यमेव स्यान्मुने नात्र विचारणा
abhakṣyabhakṣaṇaṃ yeṣāṃ bhasmadhāraṇapūrvakam | teṣāṃ tadbhakṣyameva syānmune nātra vicāraṇā
Those whose eating of what should not be eaten is preceded by the wearing of ashes — for them that very (food) becomes edible, O sage; there is no debating this.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.14
यः स्नाति भस्मना नित्यं जले स्नात्वा ततः परम् । ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थो वा वानप्रस्थोऽऽथवादरात् विभूतिधारणमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः
yaḥ snāti bhasmanā nityaṃ jale snātvā tataḥ param | brahmacārī gṛhastho vā vānaprastho''thavādarāt vibhūtidhāraṇamāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāma caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ
He who daily bathes with ashes, and thereafter having bathed in water — whether a student of the Veda, a householder, or a forest-dweller — (does so) with reverence... [The chapter titled "The Description of the Greatness of Wearing Ashes," the fourteenth chapter.]
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 14.15
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः स याति परमां गतिम् । आग्नेयं भस्मना स्नानं यतीनां च विशिष्यते
sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ sa yāti paramāṃ gatim | āgneyaṃ bhasmanā snānaṃ yatīnāṃ ca viśiṣyate
Freed from all sins, he goes to the highest goal; and the fiery bath with ashes is especially (prescribed) for ascetics.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.16
आर्द्रस्नानाद्वरं भस्मस्नानमार्द्रवधो ध्रुवः । आर्द्रं तु प्रकृतिं विद्यात्प्रकृतिं बन्धनं विदुः
ārdrasnānādvaraṃ bhasmasnānamārdravadho dhruvaḥ | ārdraṃ tu prakṛtiṃ vidyātprakṛtiṃ bandhanaṃ viduḥ
Better than the wet (water) bath is the ash-bath; the destruction of the wet is certain. And one should know the wet to be prakṛti (nature/moisture), and prakṛti they know as bondage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 14.17
प्रकृतेस्तु प्रहाणाय भस्मना स्नानमिष्यते । भस्मना सदृशं ब्रह्यन्नास्ति लोकत्रयेष्वपि
prakṛtestu prahāṇāya bhasmanā snānamiṣyate | bhasmanā sadṛśaṃ brahyannāsti lokatrayeṣvapi
For the removal of prakṛti the bath with ashes is enjoined; there is nothing like ashes, O brahmin, even in the three worlds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.18
रक्षार्थं मङ्गलार्थं च पवित्रार्थं पुरा सुरैः । भस्म दृष्ट्वा मुने पूर्वं दत्तं देव्यै प्रियेण तु
rakṣārthaṃ maṅgalārthaṃ ca pavitrārthaṃ purā suraiḥ | bhasma dṛṣṭvā mune pūrvaṃ dattaṃ devyai priyeṇa tu
For protection, for auspiciousness, and for purification, formerly by the gods — O sage, having seen the ashes, they were of old given to the Goddess by her beloved (Śiva).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 14.19
तस्मादेतच्छिरःस्नानमाग्नेयं यः समाचरेत् । भवपाशैर्विनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोके महीयते
tasmādetacchiraḥsnānamāgneyaṃ yaḥ samācaret | bhavapāśairvinirmuktaḥ śivaloke mahīyate
Therefore whoever performs this fiery bath of the head is released from the bonds of existence and is exalted in Śiva's world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.20
ज्वररक्षःपिशाचाश्च पूतनाकुष्ठगुल्मकाः । भगन्दराणि सर्वाणि चाशीतिर्वातरोगकाः
jvararakṣaḥpiśācāśca pūtanākuṣṭhagulmakāḥ | bhagandarāṇi sarvāṇi cāśītirvātarogakāḥ
Fever, demons and goblins, pūtanā-spirits, leprosy and abdominal tumours, all fistulas, and the eighty wind-diseases,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.21
चतुःषष्टिः पित्तरोगाः श्लेष्मा सप्तत्रिपञ्चकाः । व्याघ्रचौरभयं चैवाप्यन्ये दुष्टग्रहा अपि
catuḥṣaṣṭiḥ pittarogāḥ śleṣmā saptatripañcakāḥ | vyāghracaurabhayaṃ caivāpyanye duṣṭagrahā api
the sixty-four bile-diseases, the phlegm-diseases numbering thirty-five [lit. seven-three-five], and fear of tigers and thieves, and also other evil planets —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 14.22
भस्मस्नानेन नश्यन्ति सिंहेनैव यथा गजाः । शुद्धशीतजलेनैव भस्मना च त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
bhasmasnānena naśyanti siṃhenaiva yathā gajāḥ | śuddhaśītajalenaiva bhasmanā ca tripuṇḍrakam
(these) perish by the ash-bath, as elephants (perish) by a lion. With pure cold water and with ashes, the triple mark —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.23
यो धारयेत्परं ब्रह्म स प्राप्नोति न संशयः । (भस्मना च त्रिपुण्ड्रं च यः कोऽपि धारयेत्परम् । स ब्रह्मलोकमाप्नोति मुक्तपापो न संशयः ॥) यथाविधि ललाटे वै वह्निवीर्यप्रधारणात्
yo dhārayetparaṃ brahma sa prāpnoti na saṃśayaḥ | (bhasmanā ca tripuṇḍraṃ ca yaḥ ko'pi dhārayetparam | sa brahmalokamāpnoti muktapāpo na saṃśayaḥ ||) yathāvidhi lalāṭe vai vahnivīryapradhāraṇāt
— whoever wears (it) attains the supreme brahman; there is no doubt. (Whoever wears the triple mark with ashes, he attains the world of Brahmā, freed of sin; there is no doubt.) By wearing, according to rule, on the forehead the potency of fire,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.24
नाशयेल्लिखितां यामीं ललाटस्थां लिपिं ध्रुवम् । कण्ठोपरिकृतं पापं नाशयेत्तत्प्रधारणात्
nāśayellikhitāṃ yāmīṃ lalāṭasthāṃ lipiṃ dhruvam | kaṇṭhoparikṛtaṃ pāpaṃ nāśayettatpradhāraṇāt
one would surely destroy the writing of Yama inscribed upon the forehead; by wearing it (on the neck) one would destroy the sin committed above the neck.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.25
कण्ठे च धारणात्कण्ठभोगादिकृतपातकम् । बाह्वोर्बाहुकृतं पापं वक्षसा मनसा कृतम्
kaṇṭhe ca dhāraṇātkaṇṭhabhogādikṛtapātakam | bāhvorbāhukṛtaṃ pāpaṃ vakṣasā manasā kṛtam
And by wearing (it) on the throat, the sin committed through the enjoyments of the throat and the like; on the two arms, the sin done by the arms; on the chest, that done by the mind;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.26
नाभ्यां शिश्नकृतं पापं गुदे गुदकृतं हरेत् । पार्श्वयोर्धारणाद्ब्रह्मन् परस्त्र्यालिङ्गनादिकम्
nābhyāṃ śiśnakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ gude gudakṛtaṃ haret | pārśvayordhāraṇādbrahman parastryāliṅganādikam
on the navel it would remove the sin done by the penis, on the anus that done by the anus; and by wearing it on the two sides, O brahmin, (the sin) of embracing another's wife and the like.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.27
तद्भस्मधारणं शस्तं सर्वत्रैव त्रिलिङ्गकम् । ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानां त्रय्यग्नीनां च धारणम्
tadbhasmadhāraṇaṃ śastaṃ sarvatraiva triliṅgakam | brahmaviṣṇumaheśānāṃ trayyagnīnāṃ ca dhāraṇam
That wearing of ashes, having three marks, is commended everywhere; it is the wearing of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa, and of the three fires,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.28
गुणलोकत्रयाणां च धारणं तेन वै कृतम् । भस्मच्छन्नो द्विजो विद्वान्महापातकसम्भवैः
guṇalokatrayāṇāṃ ca dhāraṇaṃ tena vai kṛtam | bhasmacchanno dvijo vidvānmahāpātakasambhavaiḥ
And by that (the wearer) has indeed made the bearing of the three qualities and the three worlds; a twice-born, learned man covered with ash is (freed) from the faults that arise from the great sins—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.29
दोषैर्वियुज्यते सद्यो मुच्यते च न संशयः । भस्मनिष्ठस्य दह्यन्ते दोषा भस्माग्निसङ्गमात्
doṣairviyujyate sadyo mucyate ca na saṃśayaḥ | bhasmaniṣṭhasya dahyante doṣā bhasmāgnisaṅgamāt
he is at once separated from the faults, and is liberated—there is no doubt. For one devoted to ash, the faults are burnt up through contact with the fire that is the ash.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.30
भस्मस्नानविशुद्धात्मा आत्मनिष्ठ इति स्मृतः । भस्मना दिग्धसर्वाङ्गो भस्मदीप्तत्रिपुण्ड्रकः
bhasmasnānaviśuddhātmā ātmaniṣṭha iti smṛtaḥ | bhasmanā digdhasarvāṅgo bhasmadīptatripuṇḍrakaḥ
He whose self is purified by the ash-bath is called 'established in the Self'. With all his limbs smeared with ash, with the triple mark shining with ash,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.31
भस्मशायी च पुरुषो भस्मनिष्ठ इति स्मृतः । भूतप्रेतपिशाचाद्या रोगाश्चातीव दुःसहाः
bhasmaśāyī ca puruṣo bhasmaniṣṭha iti smṛtaḥ | bhūtapretapiśācādyā rogāścātīva duḥsahāḥ
and a man who lies on ash is called 'devoted to ash'. Ghosts, spirits, goblins and the like, and diseases very hard to bear,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.32
भस्मनिष्ठस्य सान्निध्याद्विद्रवन्ति न संशयः । भासनाद्भसितं प्रोक्तं भस्म कल्मषभक्षणात्
bhasmaniṣṭhasya sānnidhyādvidravanti na saṃśayaḥ | bhāsanādbhasitaṃ proktaṃ bhasma kalmaṣabhakṣaṇāt
flee away from the presence of one devoted to ash—there is no doubt. It is called bhasita from its shining (bhāsana), and bhasma from its devouring (bhakṣaṇa) of impurity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.33
भूतिर्भूतिकरी पुंसां रक्षा रक्षाकरी पुरा । त्रिपुण्ड्रधारिणं दृष्ट्वा भूतप्रेतपुरःसराः
bhūtirbhūtikarī puṃsāṃ rakṣā rakṣākarī purā | tripuṇḍradhāriṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhūtapretapuraḥsarāḥ
Ash (bhūti) is the producer of prosperity (bhūti) for men; of old it is protection, the maker of protection. On seeing one who wears the triple mark, ghosts and spirits and those who go before them,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.34
भीताः प्रकम्पिताः शीघ्रं नश्यन्त्येव न संशयः । स्मरणादेव रुद्रस्य यथा पापं प्रणश्यति
bhītāḥ prakampitāḥ śīghraṃ naśyantyeva na saṃśayaḥ | smaraṇādeva rudrasya yathā pāpaṃ praṇaśyati
frightened and trembling, quickly perish indeed—there is no doubt. Just as sin utterly perishes by the mere remembrance of Rudra,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.35
अप्यकार्यसहस्राणि कृत्वा यः स्नाति भस्मना । तत्सर्वं दहते भस्म यथाग्निस्तेजसा वनम्
apyakāryasahasrāṇi kṛtvā yaḥ snāti bhasmanā | tatsarvaṃ dahate bhasma yathāgnistejasā vanam
so, even having committed thousands of forbidden deeds, whoever bathes with ash—the ash burns all that away, as fire burns a forest by its heat.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.36
कृत्वापि चातुलं पापं मृत्युकालेऽपि यो द्विजः । भस्मस्नायी भवेत्कश्चित्क्षिप्रं पापैः प्रमुच्यते
kṛtvāpi cātulaṃ pāpaṃ mṛtyukāle'pi yo dvijaḥ | bhasmasnāyī bhavetkaścitkṣipraṃ pāpaiḥ pramucyate
Even having committed incomparable sin, whatever twice-born man becomes one who bathes in ash, even at the hour of death, he is quickly released from his sins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.37
भस्मस्नानाद्धि शुद्धात्मा जितक्रोधो जितेन्द्रियः । मत्समीपं समागम्य न स भूयोऽभिवर्तते
bhasmasnānāddhi śuddhātmā jitakrodho jitendriyaḥ | matsamīpaṃ samāgamya na sa bhūyo'bhivartate
For by the ash-bath, his self purified, his anger conquered, his senses conquered, having come near to me he does not return again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.38
वनस्पतिगते सोमे भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहः । अर्चितं शङ्करं दृष्ट्वा सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
vanaspatigate some bhasmoddhūlitavigrahaḥ | arcitaṃ śaṅkaraṃ dṛṣṭvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate
When the moon stands in (the asterism) of a great tree, one whose body is dusted with ash, having beheld Śaṅkara worshipped, is released from all sins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 11 14.39
आयुष्कामोऽथवा विद्वान्भूतिकामोऽथवा नरः । नित्यं वै धारयेद्भस्म मोक्षकामी च वै द्विजः
āyuṣkāmo'thavā vidvānbhūtikāmo'thavā naraḥ | nityaṃ vai dhārayedbhasma mokṣakāmī ca vai dvijaḥ
A man, whether learned and desiring long life, or desiring prosperity, and likewise a twice-born desiring liberation, should constantly wear ash.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.40
त्रिपुण्ड्रं परमं पुण्यं ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकम् । ये घोरा राक्षसाः प्रेता ये चान्ये क्षुद्रजन्तवः
tripuṇḍraṃ paramaṃ puṇyaṃ brahmaviṣṇuśivātmakam | ye ghorā rākṣasāḥ pretā ye cānye kṣudrajantavaḥ
The triple mark is supremely holy, consisting of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva. Whatever dreadful rākṣasas and ghosts there are, and whatever other petty creatures,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.41
त्रिपुण्ड्रधारणं दृष्ट्वा पलायन्ते न संशयः । कृत्वा शौचादिकं कर्म स्नात्वा तु विमले जले
tripuṇḍradhāraṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā palāyante na saṃśayaḥ | kṛtvā śaucādikaṃ karma snātvā tu vimale jale
they flee on seeing the wearing of the triple mark—there is no doubt. Having performed the purificatory and other rites, and bathed in clear water,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.42
भस्मनोद्धूलनं कार्यमापादतलमस्तकम् । केवलं वारुणं स्नानं देहे बाह्यमलापहम्
bhasmanoddhūlanaṃ kāryamāpādatalamastakam | kevalaṃ vāruṇaṃ snānaṃ dehe bāhyamalāpaham
one should dust oneself with ash from the soles of the feet to the head. A bath in water alone removes (only) the external dirt on the body;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.43
विभूतिस्तानमनघं बाह्यान्तरमलापहम् । त्यक्त्वापि वारुणं स्नानं तत्परः स्यान्न संशयः
vibhūtistānamanaghaṃ bāhyāntaramalāpaham | tyaktvāpi vāruṇaṃ snānaṃ tatparaḥ syānna saṃśayaḥ
the ash-bath is faultless, removing dirt both outer and inner. Even abandoning the water-bath, one should be devoted to that—there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.44
कृतमप्यकृतं सत्यं भस्मस्नानं विना मुने । भस्मस्नानं श्रुतिप्रोक्तमाग्नेयं स्नानमुच्यते
kṛtamapyakṛtaṃ satyaṃ bhasmasnānaṃ vinā mune | bhasmasnānaṃ śrutiproktamāgneyaṃ snānamucyate
Truly, without the ash-bath, what has been done is as if not done, O sage. The ash-bath, declared in the Veda, is called the bath of fire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.45
अन्तर्बहिश्च संशुद्धं शिवपूजाफलं लभेत् । यद्बाह्यमलमात्रस्य नाशकं स्तानमस्ति तत्
antarbahiśca saṃśuddhaṃ śivapūjāphalaṃ labhet | yadbāhyamalamātrasya nāśakaṃ stānamasti tat
Purified within and without, one would obtain the fruit of the worship of Śiva. That bath which destroys only the external dirt—(such is the water-bath);
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.46
तन्नाशयति तीव्रेण प्राणिबाह्यान्तरं मलम् । कृत्वापि कोटिशो नित्यं वारुणं स्नानमादरात्
tannāśayati tīvreṇa prāṇibāhyāntaraṃ malam | kṛtvāpi koṭiśo nityaṃ vāruṇaṃ snānamādarāt
but that (ash-bath) destroys forcefully the dirt of a living being, both outer and inner. Even having performed the water-bath ten million times, daily and with reverence,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.47
न भवत्येव पूतात्मा भस्मस्नानं विना मुने । यद्भस्मस्नानमाहाम्यं तद्वेदो वेद तत्त्वतः
na bhavatyeva pūtātmā bhasmasnānaṃ vinā mune | yadbhasmasnānamāhāmyaṃ tadvedo veda tattvataḥ
one does not become pure of self at all without the ash-bath, O sage. What the greatness of the ash-bath is, that the Veda knows in its truth,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.48
यद्वा वेद महादेवः सर्वदेवशिखामणिः । भस्मस्नानमकृत्वैव यः कुर्यात्कर्म वैदिकम्
yadvā veda mahādevaḥ sarvadevaśikhāmaṇiḥ | bhasmasnānamakṛtvaiva yaḥ kuryātkarma vaidikam
Or Mahādeva, the crest-jewel of all the gods, knows (it). He who would perform a Vedic rite without having done the ash-bath —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.49
स तत्कर्मकलार्धार्धमपि नाप्नोति वस्तुतः । यः करिष्यति यत्नेन भस्मस्नानं यथाविधि
sa tatkarmakalārdhārdhamapi nāpnoti vastutaḥ | yaḥ kariṣyati yatnena bhasmasnānaṃ yathāvidhi
he in truth does not obtain even a half of a half of a fraction of that rite('s fruit). He who will diligently perform the ash-bath according to rule —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.50
स एवैकः सर्वकर्मस्वधिकारी श्रुतिश्रुतः । पावनं पावनानां च भस्मस्नानं श्रुतिश्रुतम्
sa evaikaḥ sarvakarmasvadhikārī śrutiśrutaḥ | pāvanaṃ pāvanānāṃ ca bhasmasnānaṃ śrutiśrutam
he alone is entitled to all rites, as heard in the Veda; and the ash-bath is heard in the Veda to be the purifier of purifiers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.51
न करिष्यति यो मोहात्स महापातकी भवेत् । अनन्तैर्वारुणैः स्नानैर्यत्पुण्यं प्राप्यते द्विजैः
na kariṣyati yo mohātsa mahāpātakī bhavet | anantairvāruṇaiḥ snānairyatpuṇyaṃ prāpyate dvijaiḥ
He who out of delusion will not perform (it) becomes a great sinner. Whatever merit is obtained by twice-born men through endless baths in water,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.52
ततोऽनन्तगुणं पुण्यं भस्मस्नानादवाप्यते । कालत्रयेऽपि कर्तव्यं भस्मस्नानं प्रयत्नतः
tato'nantaguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ bhasmasnānādavāpyate | kālatraye'pi kartavyaṃ bhasmasnānaṃ prayatnataḥ
merit infinitely greater than that is obtained from the ash-bath. At all three times (of the day) too the ash-bath is to be performed with effort.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.53
भस्मस्नानं स्मृतं श्रौतं तत्त्यागी पतितो भवेत् । मूत्राद्युत्सर्जनान्ते तु भस्मस्नानं प्रयत्नतः
bhasmasnānaṃ smṛtaṃ śrautaṃ tattyāgī patito bhavet | mūtrādyutsarjanānte tu bhasmasnānaṃ prayatnataḥ
The ash-bath is taught (as) prescribed by the Veda; one who abandons it becomes fallen. And at the end of voiding urine and the rest, the ash-bath (is to be done) with effort —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.54
कर्तव्यमन्यथा पूता न भविष्यन्ति मानवाः । विधिवत्कृतशौचोऽपि भस्मस्नानं विना द्विजः
kartavyamanyathā pūtā na bhaviṣyanti mānavāḥ | vidhivatkṛtaśauco'pi bhasmasnānaṃ vinā dvijaḥ
it must be done; otherwise men will not be pure. Even a twice-born who has performed the cleansing according to rule, without the ash-bath,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.55
न भविष्यति पूतात्मा नाधिकार्यपि कर्मणि । अपानवायुनिर्याते जृम्भणे स्कन्दने क्षुते
na bhaviṣyati pūtātmā nādhikāryapi karmaṇi | apānavāyuniryāte jṛmbhaṇe skandane kṣute
will not become pure of self, nor is he entitled to (ritual) action. When the downward wind has gone out, in yawning, in spitting, in sneezing,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.56
श्लेष्मोद्गारेऽपि कर्तव्यं भस्मस्नानं प्रयत्नतः । श्रीभस्मस्नानमाहात्म्यस्यैकदेशोऽत्र वर्णितः
śleṣmodgāre'pi kartavyaṃ bhasmasnānaṃ prayatnataḥ | śrībhasmasnānamāhātmyasyaikadeśo'tra varṇitaḥ
and also in the bringing up of phlegm, the ash-bath must be performed with effort. Here one portion of the greatness of the holy ash-bath has been described.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 11 14.57
पुनश्च सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि भस्मस्नानोत्थितं फलम् । सावधानेन मनसा श्रोतव्यं मुनिपुङ्गव
punaśca sampravakṣyāmi bhasmasnānotthitaṃ phalam | sāvadhānena manasā śrotavyaṃ munipuṅgava
And again I shall fully declare the fruit that arises from the ash-bath; it should be listened to with an attentive mind, O best of sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition