Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 11 — Chapter 3

DB 11 3.1

क्षमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच (शुद्धं स्मार्तं चाचमनं पौराणं वैदिकं तथा । तान्त्रिकं श्रौतमित्याहुः षड्विधं श्रुतिचोदितम् ॥ विण्मूत्रादिकशौचं च शुद्धं च परिकीर्तितम् । स्मार्तं पौराणिकं कर्म आचान्ते विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ वैदिकं श्रौत्रमित्यादि ब्रह्मयज्ञादिपूर्वकम् । अस्त्रविद्यादिकं कर्म तान्त्रिको विधिरुच्यते ॥) स्मृत्वा चोङ्कारगायत्रीं निबध्नीयाच्छिखां तथा । पुनराचम्य हृदयं बाहू स्कन्धौ च संस्पृशेत्

kṣamāhātmyavarṇanam śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca (śuddhaṃ smārtaṃ cācamanaṃ paurāṇaṃ vaidikaṃ tathā | tāntrikaṃ śrautamityāhuḥ ṣaḍvidhaṃ śruticoditam || viṇmūtrādikaśaucaṃ ca śuddhaṃ ca parikīrtitam | smārtaṃ paurāṇikaṃ karma ācānte vidhipūrvakam || vaidikaṃ śrautramityādi brahmayajñādipūrvakam | astravidyādikaṃ karma tāntriko vidhirucyate ||) smṛtvā coṅkāragāyatrīṃ nibadhnīyācchikhāṃ tathā | punarācamya hṛdayaṃ bāhū skandhau ca saṃspṛśet

The description of the greatness of forbearance. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: (They say the sipping of water is of six kinds enjoined by scripture: pure, smārta, paurāṇa, vaidika, tāntrika, and śrauta. The cleansing after faeces, urine and the like is declared to be the 'pure' one; the smārta and paurāṇika are the rites (done) when one has sipped water according to rule. The vaidika, the śrauta and so forth are preceded by the brahma-yajña and the rest; the rite involving weapon-lore and the like is called the tāntrika procedure.) And having called to mind the Oṃkāra and the Gāyatrī, he should likewise bind up his tuft of hair; then, sipping water again, he should touch the heart, the arms and the shoulders.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.2

क्षुते निष्ठीवने चैव दन्तोच्छिष्टे तथानृते । पतितानां च सम्भाषे दक्षिणं श्रवणं स्पृशेत्

kṣute niṣṭhīvane caiva dantocchiṣṭe tathānṛte | patitānāṃ ca sambhāṣe dakṣiṇaṃ śravaṇaṃ spṛśet

On sneezing, on spitting, on (contact with) food-remnants on the teeth, likewise on speaking untruth, and on conversing with the fallen, he should touch his right ear.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.3

अग्निरापश्च वेदाश्च सोमः सूर्योऽनिलस्तथा । सर्वे नारद विप्रस्य कर्णे तिष्ठन्ति दक्षिणे सदाचारनिरूपणे रुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नाम तृतीयोऽध्यायः

agnirāpaśca vedāśca somaḥ sūryo'nilastathā | sarve nārada viprasya karṇe tiṣṭhanti dakṣiṇe sadācāranirūpaṇe rudrākṣamāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāma tṛtīyo'dhyāyaḥ

Fire and the waters and the Vedas, Soma, the Sun and the Wind — all of these, Nārada, abide in the right ear of a brahmin. Thus the third chapter, called the description of the greatness of the rudrākṣa, in the exposition of good conduct.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.4

ततस्तु गत्वा नद्यादौ प्रातःस्नानं विशोधनम् । समाचरेन्मुनिश्रेष्ठ देहसंशुद्धिहेतवे

tatastu gatvā nadyādau prātaḥsnānaṃ viśodhanam | samācarenmuniśreṣṭha dehasaṃśuddhihetave

Then, having gone to a river or the like, O best of sages, he should perform the purifying morning bath, for the sake of the thorough cleansing of the body.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.5

अत्यन्तमलिनो देहो नवद्वारैर्मलं वहन् । सदाऽऽस्ते तच्छोधनाय प्रातःस्नानं विधीयते

atyantamalino deho navadvārairmalaṃ vahan | sadā''ste tacchodhanāya prātaḥsnānaṃ vidhīyate

The body is extremely impure, always discharging filth through its nine gates; for the cleansing of it the morning bath is prescribed.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.6

अगम्यागमनात्पापं यच्च पापं प्रतिग्रहात् । रहस्याचरितं पापं मुच्यते स्नानकर्मणा

agamyāgamanātpāpaṃ yacca pāpaṃ pratigrahāt | rahasyācaritaṃ pāpaṃ mucyate snānakarmaṇā

The sin arising from going to a woman one may not go to, and the sin from accepting gifts, and the sin committed in secret — (from these) one is released by the act of bathing.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.7

अस्नातस्य क्रियाः सर्वा भवन्ति विफला यतः । तस्मात्प्रातश्चरेत्स्नानं नित्यमेव दिने दिने

asnātasya kriyāḥ sarvā bhavanti viphalā yataḥ | tasmātprātaścaretsnānaṃ nityameva dine dine

Since for one who has not bathed all rites become fruitless, therefore one should perform the bath in the morning, invariably, day after day.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.8

दर्भयुक्तश्चरेत्स्नानं तथा सन्ध्याभिवन्दनम् । सप्ताहं प्रातरस्नायी सन्ध्याहीनस्त्रिभिर्दिनैः

darbhayuktaścaretsnānaṃ tathā sandhyābhivandanam | saptāhaṃ prātarasnāyī sandhyāhīnastribhirdinaiḥ

Provided with darbha grass he should perform the bath and likewise the salutation of the twilight. One who does not bathe in the morning for seven days, one who omits the twilight rite for three days,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.9

द्वादशाहमनग्निः सन्द्विजः शूद्रत्वमाप्नुयात् । अल्पत्वाद्धोमकालस्य बहुत्वात्स्नानकर्मणः

dvādaśāhamanagniḥ sandvijaḥ śūdratvamāpnuyāt | alpatvāddhomakālasya bahutvātsnānakarmaṇaḥ

(and) one without (tending) the fire for twelve days — such a twice-born would attain the state of a śūdra. Since the time for the fire-offering is short and the rite of bathing is lengthy,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.10

प्रातर्न तु तथा स्नायाद्धोमकाले विगर्हितः । गायत्र्यास्तु परं नास्ति इह लोके परत्र च

prātarna tu tathā snāyāddhomakāle vigarhitaḥ | gāyatryāstu paraṃ nāsti iha loke paratra ca

one should not bathe in the morning in that (protracted) way, (being) blameworthy at the time of the fire-offering. But there is nothing higher than the Gāyatrī, in this world or the next.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.11

गायन्तं त्रायते यस्माद्गायत्रीत्यभिधीयते । प्रणवेन तु संयुक्तां व्याहृतित्रयसंयुताम्

gāyantaṃ trāyate yasmādgāyatrītyabhidhīyate | praṇavena tu saṃyuktāṃ vyāhṛtitrayasaṃyutām

Because it protects the one who chants it, it is called Gāyatrī; (one should recite it) joined with the praṇava and furnished with the three vyāhṛtis.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.12

वायुं वायौ जयेद्विप्रः प्राणसंयमनत्रयात् । ब्राह्मणः श्रुतिसम्पन्नः स्वधर्मनिरतः सदा

vāyuṃ vāyau jayedvipraḥ prāṇasaṃyamanatrayāt | brāhmaṇaḥ śrutisampannaḥ svadharmanirataḥ sadā

By three restraints of the breath the brahmin should conquer the wind within the wind. A brahmin endowed with Vedic learning, always devoted to his own duty —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.13

स वैदिकं जपेन्मन्त्रं लौकिकं न कदाचन । गौशृङ्गे सर्षपो यावत् तावद्येषां न स स्थिरः

sa vaidikaṃ japenmantraṃ laukikaṃ na kadācana | gauśṛṅge sarṣapo yāvat tāvadyeṣāṃ na sa sthiraḥ

he should mutter a Vedic mantra, never a worldly one. As long as a mustard seed (stays) on a cow's horn, so long is it not steady for those (who do otherwise).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 11 3.14

न तारयन्त्युभौ पक्षौ पितॄनेकोत्तरं शतम् । सगर्भो जपसंयुक्तस्त्वगर्भो ध्यानमात्रकः

na tārayantyubhau pakṣau pitṝnekottaraṃ śatam | sagarbho japasaṃyuktastvagarbho dhyānamātrakaḥ

They do not carry across both lines (of ancestry), the one hundred and one forefathers. The 'with-womb' (recitation) is joined with muttering, the 'womb-less' consists of meditation alone.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 11 3.15

स्नानाङ्गतर्पणं कृत्वा देवर्षिपितृतोषकम् । शुद्धे वस्त्रे परीधाय जलाद्बहिरुपागतः

snānāṅgatarpaṇaṃ kṛtvā devarṣipitṛtoṣakam | śuddhe vastre parīdhāya jalādbahirupāgataḥ

Having performed the water-offering that is a part of the bath, which gratifies the gods, seers and forefathers, and having put on clean garments, he comes out of the water.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.16

विभूतिधारणं कार्यं रुद्राक्षाणां च धारणम् । क्रमयोगेन कर्तव्यं सर्वदा जपसाधकैः

vibhūtidhāraṇaṃ kāryaṃ rudrākṣāṇāṃ ca dhāraṇam | kramayogena kartavyaṃ sarvadā japasādhakaiḥ

The wearing of sacred ash is to be done, and the wearing of rudrākṣas; this is always to be done in due order by those who practise muttering.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.17

रुद्राक्षान्कण्ठदेशे दशनपरिमिता- न्मस्तके विंशती द्वे षट् षट् कर्णप्रदेशे करयुगलकृते द्वादश द्वादशैव । बाह्वोरिन्दोः कलाभिर्नयनयुगकृते त्वेकमेकं शिखायां वक्षस्यष्टाधिकं यः कलयति शतकं स स्वयं नीलकण्ठः

rudrākṣānkaṇṭhadeśe daśanaparimitā- nmastake viṃśatī dve ṣaṭ ṣaṭ karṇapradeśe karayugalakṛte dvādaśa dvādaśaiva | bāhvorindoḥ kalābhirnayanayugakṛte tvekamekaṃ śikhāyāṃ vakṣasyaṣṭādhikaṃ yaḥ kalayati śatakaṃ sa svayaṃ nīlakaṇṭhaḥ

Whoever reckons out rudrākṣa beads — ten in number at the neck, twice twenty on the head, six and six at the ears, twelve and twelve on the pair of hands, on the two arms as many as the moon's digits (sixteen), one each on the two eyes, one on the tuft of hair, and on the chest a hundred with eight more — he is Nīlakaṇṭha himself.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.18

बद्ध्वा स्वर्णेन रुद्राक्षं रजतेनाथवा मुने । शिखायां धारयेन्नित्यं कर्णयोर्वा समाहितः

baddhvā svarṇena rudrākṣaṃ rajatenāthavā mune | śikhāyāṃ dhārayennityaṃ karṇayorvā samāhitaḥ

Having bound the rudrākṣa with gold, or else with silver, O sage, one should wear it always on the tuft of hair, or on the two ears, with a collected mind.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.19

यज्ञोपवीते हस्ते वा कण्ठे तुन्देऽथवा नरः । श्रीमत्पञ्चाक्षरेणैव प्रणवेन तथापि वा

yajñopavīte haste vā kaṇṭhe tunde'thavā naraḥ | śrīmatpañcākṣareṇaiva praṇavena tathāpi vā

Or a man (may wear it) on the sacred thread, on the hand, at the neck, or on the belly, with the glorious five-syllabled (mantra), or else with the praṇava (oṃ),

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.20

निर्व्याजभक्त्या मेधावी रुद्राक्षं धारयेन्मुदा । रुद्राक्षधारणं साक्षाच्छिवज्ञानस्य साधनम्

nirvyājabhaktyā medhāvī rudrākṣaṃ dhārayenmudā | rudrākṣadhāraṇaṃ sākṣācchivajñānasya sādhanam

— the wise man should wear the rudrākṣa gladly, with guileless devotion; the wearing of rudrākṣa is directly a means to the knowledge of Śiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.21

रुद्राक्षं यच्छिखायां तत्तारतत्त्वमिति स्मरेत् । कर्णयोरुभयोर्ब्रह्मन् देवं देवीं च भावयेत्

rudrākṣaṃ yacchikhāyāṃ tattāratattvamiti smaret | karṇayorubhayorbrahman devaṃ devīṃ ca bhāvayet

The rudrākṣa that is on the tuft — one should remember it as the Tāra principle (oṃ); on the two ears, O brahmin, one should meditate on the God and the Goddess.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.22

यज्ञोपवीते वेदांश्च तथा हस्ते दिशः स्मरेत् । कण्ठे सरस्वतीं देवीं पावकं चापि भावयेत्

yajñopavīte vedāṃśca tathā haste diśaḥ smaret | kaṇṭhe sarasvatīṃ devīṃ pāvakaṃ cāpi bhāvayet

On the sacred thread one should remember the Vedas, and on the hand the directions; at the neck one should meditate on the goddess Sarasvatī, and also on Fire.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.23

सर्वाश्रमाणां वर्णानां रुद्राक्षाणां च धारणम् । कर्तव्यं मन्त्रतः प्रोक्तं द्विजानां नान्यवर्णिनाम्

sarvāśramāṇāṃ varṇānāṃ rudrākṣāṇāṃ ca dhāraṇam | kartavyaṃ mantrataḥ proktaṃ dvijānāṃ nānyavarṇinām

The wearing of rudrākṣas is to be done by (people of) all stages of life and all classes; (but) with mantra it is prescribed for the twice-born, not for those of other classes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.24

रुद्राक्षधारणाद्रुद्रो भवत्येव न संशयः । पश्यन्नपि निषिद्धांश्च तथा शृण्वन्नपि स्मरन्

rudrākṣadhāraṇādrudro bhavatyeva na saṃśayaḥ | paśyannapi niṣiddhāṃśca tathā śṛṇvannapi smaran

By wearing the rudrākṣa one indeed becomes Rudra, there is no doubt; even while looking at forbidden things, and likewise while hearing (them), while remembering (them),

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.25

जिघ्रन्नपि तथा चाश्नन् प्रलपन्नपि सन्ततम् । कुर्वन्नपि सदा गच्छन्विसृजन्नपि मानवः

jighrannapi tathā cāśnan pralapannapi santatam | kurvannapi sadā gacchanvisṛjannapi mānavaḥ

while also smelling, and eating, while babbling continually, while acting too, and always while walking, and while excreting, a man

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.26

रुद्राक्षधारणादेव सर्वपापैर्न लिप्यते । अनेन भुक्तं देवेन भुक्तं यत्तु तथा भवेत्

rudrākṣadhāraṇādeva sarvapāpairna lipyate | anena bhuktaṃ devena bhuktaṃ yattu tathā bhavet

is not stained by any sins, simply by wearing the rudrākṣa. What has been eaten by him becomes as though eaten by the God;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.27

पीतं रुद्रेण तत्पीतं घ्रातं घ्रातं शिवेन तत् । रुद्राक्षधारणे लज्जा येषामस्ति महामुने

pītaṃ rudreṇa tatpītaṃ ghrātaṃ ghrātaṃ śivena tat | rudrākṣadhāraṇe lajjā yeṣāmasti mahāmune

what he has drunk is drunk by Rudra, what he has smelled is smelled by Śiva. Those who feel shame at wearing the rudrākṣa, O great sage —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.28

तेषां नास्ति विनिर्मोक्षः संसाराज्जन्मकोटिभिः । रुद्राक्षधारिणं दृष्ट्वा परिवादं करोति यः

teṣāṃ nāsti vinirmokṣaḥ saṃsārājjanmakoṭibhiḥ | rudrākṣadhāriṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā parivādaṃ karoti yaḥ

for them there is no release from the round of rebirth through crores of births. Whoever, on seeing one who wears rudrākṣa, speaks abuse (of him) —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.29

उत्पत्तौ तस्य साङ्कर्यमस्त्वेवेति विनिश्चयः । रुद्राक्षधारणादेव रुद्रो रुद्रत्वमाप्नुयात्

utpattau tasya sāṅkaryamastveveti viniścayaḥ | rudrākṣadhāraṇādeva rudro rudratvamāpnuyāt

it is certain that in his birth there was mixture (of caste). By the wearing of the rudrākṣa alone Rudra attained Rudra-hood,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.30

मुनयः सत्यसङ्कल्पा ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मत्वमागतः । रुद्राक्षधारणाच्छ्रेष्ठं न किञ्चिदपि विद्यते

munayaḥ satyasaṅkalpā brahmā brahmatvamāgataḥ | rudrākṣadhāraṇācchreṣṭhaṃ na kiñcidapi vidyate

the sages became of true resolve, and Brahmā attained Brahmā-hood. Nothing whatsoever is found superior to the wearing of the rudrākṣa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.31

रुद्राक्षधारिणे भक्त्या वस्त्रं धान्यं ददाति यः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोकं स गच्छति

rudrākṣadhāriṇe bhaktyā vastraṃ dhānyaṃ dadāti yaḥ | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ śivalokaṃ sa gacchati

Whoever with devotion gives a garment or grain to one who wears rudrākṣa, he is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Śiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.32

रुद्राक्षधारिणं श्राद्धे भोजयेत विमोदतः । पितृलोकमवाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा

rudrākṣadhāriṇaṃ śrāddhe bhojayeta vimodataḥ | pitṛlokamavāpnoti nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

One should feed a wearer of rudrākṣa at a śrāddha rite with gladness; (thereby) one attains the world of the fathers — no doubt need be entertained here.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.33

रुद्राक्षधारिणः पादौ प्रक्षाल्याद्भिः पिबेन्नरः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोके महीयते

rudrākṣadhāriṇaḥ pādau prakṣālyādbhiḥ pibennaraḥ | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ śivaloke mahīyate

A man who washes the feet of a wearer of rudrākṣa and drinks the water is freed from all sins and is honoured in the world of Śiva.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.34

हारं वा कटकं वापि सुवर्णं वा द्विजोत्तमः । रुद्राक्षसहितं भक्त्या धारयन् रुद्रतामियात्

hāraṃ vā kaṭakaṃ vāpi suvarṇaṃ vā dvijottamaḥ | rudrākṣasahitaṃ bhaktyā dhārayan rudratāmiyāt

A necklace, or a bracelet, or gold — the best of the twice-born, wearing it with devotion together with rudrākṣa, would attain Rudra-hood.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.35

रुद्राक्षं केवलं वापि यत्र कुत्र महामते । समन्त्रकं वा मन्त्रेण रहितं भाववर्जितम्

rudrākṣaṃ kevalaṃ vāpi yatra kutra mahāmate | samantrakaṃ vā mantreṇa rahitaṃ bhāvavarjitam

Or even a rudrākṣa alone, anywhere at all, O greatly wise one, whether with a mantra or without a mantra, devoid of (proper) feeling —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.36

यो वा को वा नरो भक्त्या धारयेल्लज्जयापि वा । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः सम्यग्ज्ञानमवाप्नुयात्

yo vā ko vā naro bhaktyā dhārayellajjayāpi vā | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ samyagjñānamavāpnuyāt

whoever the man may be, if he wears it with devotion, or even out of embarrassment, he is freed from all sins and would attain right knowledge.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 11 3.37

अहो रुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं मया वक्तुं न शक्यते । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कुर्याद्रुद्राक्षधारणम्

aho rudrākṣamāhātmyaṃ mayā vaktuṃ na śakyate | tasmātsarvaprayatnena kuryādrudrākṣadhāraṇam

Ah, the greatness of the rudrākṣa cannot be told by me; therefore with every effort one should wear the rudrākṣa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition