Institutes of Vishnu — XLVI.

XLVI. | Internet Sacred Text ArchiveSacred Texts Hinduism Index Previous Next # XLVI. 1. Now follow the penances. 2. Let a man fast for three days; 3. And let him perform each day the three ablutions (at dawn, noon, and sunset); 4. And let him, at every ablution, plunge into the water three times; 5. And let him mutter the Aghamarsha*n*a three times, after having plunged into the water; 6. During day-time let him be standing; 7. At night let him continue in a sitting position; 8. At the close of the ceremony let him give a milch cow (to a Brâhma*n*a). 9. Thus has the penance Aghamarsha*n*a been described. [XLVI. 10, 11, 18, 19. M. XI, 212, 213, 215, 216.--10, 11, 13, 18-20, 22, 23. Y. III, 315-323.--10. Âpast. I, 9, 27, 7.--10, 11, 13. Gaut. XXIII, 2; XXVI, 1-5, 20.--24, 25. M. XI, 224, 225. 9. Nand. thinks that the word iti, 'thus,' has a double meaning {footnote p. 150} here, and refers to another kind of Aghamarshana penance at the same time, which is described by *S*ankha, and consists simply in fasting for three days and muttering the Aghamarsha*n*a hymn three times.] 10. Let a man for three days eat in the evening only; for other three days, in the morning only; for further three days, food (given to him) unsolicited; (and let him fast entirely for three days): that is the Prâ*g*âpatya (the penance invented by Pra*g*âpati). 11. Let him drink for three days hot water; for other three days, hot clarified butter; and for further three days, hot milk; and let him fast for three days: that is the Taptak*rikkh*ra (hot penance). 12. Taking the same (liquids) cold is called the *S*îtak*rikkh*ra (cold penance). 13. The K*rikkh*râtik*rikkh*ra (the most difficult penance) consists in subsisting on milk only for twenty-one days. 14. Eating (nothing but) ground barley mixed with water for a whole month is called the Udakak*rikkh*ra (water penance). 15. Eating nothing but lotus-fibres (for a whole month) is called the Mûlak*rikkh*ra (root penance). 16. Eating nothing but Bèl fruit (for a whole month) is called the *S*rîphalak*rikkh*ra (Bèl fruit penance). 17. Or (this penance is performed) by (eating) lotus-seeds. 18. A total fast for twelve days is called Parâka. 19. Subsisting for one day on the urine and fæces of a cow, milk, sour milk, butter, and water [17. According to Nand., the particle vâ, 'or,' here indicates another alternative, that of performing this penance with Âmalakas (Emblica Officinalis Gaertn.)] in which Ku*s*a grass has been boiled, and fasting the next day, is called Sântapana (the tormenting penance). 20. Swallowing (the same six things, viz.) cow-urine and the rest, each for one day, is called Mahâsântapana (the particularly tormenting penance). 21. Swallowing each for three days is called Atisântapana (the extremely tormenting penance). 22. Swallowing oil-cakes, foam of boiled rice, buttermilk, water, and ground barley (each for one day), with a fasting day between (every, two days), is called Tulâpurusha (a man's weight). 23. Drinking water boiled with Kusa grass, leaves of the Palâsa and Udumbara trees, of lotuses, of the *S*ankhapushpî plant, of the banyan tree, and of the Brahmasuvar*k*alâ plant, each (for one day), is called Par*n*ak*rikkh*ra (leaves penance). 24. Let a man perform all those penances after having shorn his hair and his beard, and let him bathe at morning, noon, and evening every day, lying on a low couch, and restraining his passions, 25. And let him (while engaged in performing them) avoid to converse with women, *S*ûdras, or outcasts, and let him constantly, to the best of his ability, mutter purifying Ma*n*tras and make oblations in the fire. Next: XLVII.