Books / Dharmasūtra Parallels

24. Impurity and Purification

i. Statutory Purity of Persons and Articles

Āpastamba

आअन्नप्राशनाद् गर्भा नअप्रयता भवन्ति ॥19 आ परिसंवत्सराद् इत्य् एके ॥20 यावता या दिशो न प्रजानीयुः ॥21 आउपनयनाद् इत्य् अपरम् ॥22 अत्र ह्य् अधिकारः शास्त्रैर् भवति ॥23 सा निष्ठा ॥24 स्मृतिश् च ॥25

19 Children do not become impure until the first feeding with solid food has taken place; 20 according to some, until they have completed one year; 21 or until they are able to distinguish the cardinal points; 22 or until they have undergone initiation, which is the superior position, 23 for it is through this that they come under the jurisdiction of the scriptures. 24 This last view is the authoritative one, 25 and it is the traditional teaching. [A 2.15.19–25]


Baudhāyana

अस्तमित आदित्य उदकं गृह्णीयान् न गृह्णीयाद् इतिमीमांसन्ते ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥10 नित्यं शुद्धः कारुहस्तः पण्यं यच् च प्रसारितम् ॥1 ब्रह्मचारिगतं भैक्षं नित्यं मेध्यम् इति श्रुतिः ॥1 वत्सः प्रस्नवने मेध्यः शकुनिः फलशातने ॥2 स्त्रियश् च रतिसंसर्गे श्वा मृगग्रहणे शुचिः ॥2 आकराः शुचयः सर्वे वर्जयित्वा सुराकरम् ॥3 अदूष्याः संतता धारा वातौद्भूताश् च रेणवः ॥3 अमेध्येषु च ये वृक्षा उप्ताः पुष्पफलौपगाः ॥4 तेषाम् अपि न दुष्यन्ति पुष्पाणि च फलानि च ॥4

1 The hand of an artisan is always clean, as also goods displayed for sale. Almsfood received by a student is always pure. So states a vedic text. 2 A calf is pure when it makes the milk to flow, a bird when it makes a fruit to fall, women in the act of love, and a dog when it catches a deer. 3 All factories are pure, except liquor breweries. Streams with constantly flowing water do not become polluted, as also dust blown up by the wind. 4 Flowers and fruits of flowering and fruit-bearing trees, likewise, do not become polluted even if they are growing in unclean places. ... 6 One's own bed, seat, clothes, wife, children, and water pot are pure with respect to oneself; but they are impure vis-a-vis others. 7 When seats, beds, vehicles, boats, roads, and grass come into contact with Candalas or outcastes, they are purified by just the wind. 8 Grain from a threshing floor and water from a well or reservoir, as also milk from a dairy farm-these may be consumed even if they are given by someone whose food one is not allowed to eat. 9 Gods invented three means of purification for Brahmins: being unaware that something is impure, sprinkling it with water, and getting it verbally declared as suitable. 10 Water collected on the ground sufficient for cows to slake their thirst may be used for purification, as long as it is not saturated with foul substances or has a bad odor, color, or taste. [B 1.9.1–4, 6–10]


Vasiṣṭha

श्वहतास्च मृगास्वन्यास्पातितम्च खगैस्फलम् ॥45 बालैसनुपरिक्रान्तम्स्त्रीभिसाचरितम्च यत् ॥45 प्रसारितम्च यत् पण्यम्ये दोषास्स्त्रीमुखेषु च ॥46 मशकैस्मक्षिकाभिस्च निलीनैस्नौपहन्यते ॥47 क्षितिस्थास्चएव यासापस्गवाम्तृप्तिकरास्च याः ॥47 परिसंख्याय तान् सर्वान्शुचीन् आह प्रजापतिः इति ॥47

45–7 Wild animals killed by dogs; a fruit made to fall by a bird; what has been passed around by children or handled by women; goods displayed for sale; impurities in the mouths of women; anything touched by gnats and flies settling on it; water collected on the ground sufficient to slake the thirst of cows-having enumerated all these, Prajapati declared them to be pure. [Va 3.45–7]

वत्सस्प्रस्रवणे मेध्यस्शकुनिस्फलपातने ॥8 स्त्रियस्च रतिसंसर्गे श्वा मृगग्रहणे शुचिः ॥8 अजअश्वास्मुखतस्मेध्याः गावस्मेध्याः तु सर्वतः ॥9

8 A calf is pure when it makes the milk to flow, a bird when it makes a fruit to fall, women in the act of love, and a dog when it catches a deer. 9 Pure is the mouth of a goat and horse; pure the back of a cow. Pure are the feet of a Brahmin; but a woman is pure all over. [Va 28.8–9]

राज्ञाम् आत्ययिके कार्ये सद्यस्शौचम्विधीयते ॥47 तथा नआत्ययिके नित्यम्कालसेवअत्र कारणम् इति ॥47 यमगीतम्चअत्र श्लोकम् उदाहरन्ति ॥48 नअद्य दोषसस्ति राज्ञाम्वै व्रतिनाम्न च सत्रिणाम् ॥48 ऐन्द्रस्थानम् उपासीनास्ब्रह्मभूतास्हि ते सदा इति ॥48 हि ते सदाइति ॥48

47 "The rule is that kings always become pure immediately after they carry out capital as well as non-capital punishments; the reason for this is simply time." 48 In this connection they also quote a verse proclaimed by Yama: "The stain of impurity does not affect kings, as well as people performing vows and sacrificial sessions, for they are always seated on the throne of Indra and become one with Brahman." [Va 19.47–8]

ii. Impurity from Touch

Āpastamba

मूढस्वस्तरे चअसंस्पृशन्न् अन्यान् अप्रयतान् प्रयतो मन्येत ॥13 तथा तृणकाष्ठेषु निखातेषु ॥14 दद्भिर् अपूपस्य नअपच्छिन्द्यात् ॥17

13 When he is seated alongside unclean people on a seat made with grass strewn haphazardly, he is considered pure if he does not touch them; 14 the same is true when he is seated on a bed of grass or a wooden seat fixed to the ground. ... 16 If a dog touches him, he should plunge into water with his clothes on; 17 or he becomes pure after he has washed that spot, touched it with fire, washed that spot again, as well as his feet, and sipped water. [A 1.15.13–14, 16–17]

विषमगतायअगुरवे नअभिवाद्यम् ॥15 न श्मश्रुभिर् उच्छिष्टो भवत्य् अन्तर् आस्ये सद्भिर् यावन् न हस्तेनौपस्पृशति ॥11

11 He does not become sullied by the hair of his mustache getting into his mouth, so long as he does not touch it with his hand. ... 14 After he has come into contact with nasal mucus or tears while he is sleeping or sneezing, or with blood, hair, fire, cattle, a Brahmin, or a woman; after he has travelled on a highway; after he has touched a filthy substance or an impure man; and after wearing his lower garment, he should touch water, 15 wet cowdung, plants, or the earth. [A 1.16.11, 14–15]


Gautama

प्रेतोपस्पर्शने दशरात्रम् आशौचम् अभिसंधाय चेत् । ॥23 उक्तं वैश्यशूद्रयोः । ॥24 आर्तवीर् वा । ॥25 पूर्वयोश् च । ॥26 त्र्यहं वा । ॥27 आचार्यतत्पुत्रस्त्रीयाज्यशिष्येषु चैवम् । ॥28 अवरश् चेद् वर्णः पूर्ववर्णम् उपस्पृशेत् पूर्वोवावरं तत्र शवोक्तम् आशौचम् । ॥29 । ॥30 शवानुगमने च । ॥31 शुनश् च । ॥32 यद् उपहन्याद् इत्य् एके । ॥32

23 When someone comes into contact with a corpse, the period of impurity lasts for ten days if it is done for a consideration. 24 The period of impurity for such contact in the case of Vaiśyas and Sūdras is the same as that given above, 25 or for as many days as there are seasons in a year. 26 The latter rule is applicable also to the two higher classes; 27 or else their impurity lasts for three days, 28 as also when someone comes in contact with the corpse of his teacher, the teacher's son or wife, a man for whom he performs priestly functions, or his pupil. 29 If a person of a lower class comes in contact with the corpse of a higher class person, or a person of a higher class with the corpse of a lower class person, then the period of impurity is what is prescribed for the class to which the dead man belonged. 30 When a man touches an outcaste, a Candala, a woman who has just given birth or is menstruating, a corpse, or someone who has touched any of these, he becomes purified by bathing with his clothes on; 31 as also when he has gone behind a corpse 32 or touched a dog. 33 According to some, the spot touched by the dog should be washed. [G 14.23–33]

दन्तश्लिष्टेषु दन्तवद् अन्यत्र जिह्वाभिमर्शनात् । ॥38 प्राक्च्युतेर् इत्य् एके । ॥39 च्युतेशु आस्राववद् विद्यान् निगिरन्न् एव तच् शुचिः । ॥40 न मुख्या विप्रुष उच्छिष्टं कुर्वन्ति न चेद् अङ्गेनिपतन्ति । ॥41

38 Bits of food sticking between the teeth are like the teeth themselves, unless they are touched with the tongue 39 or, according to some, until they get detached. 40 When they get detached, a person should know that he is cleansed of them by simply swallowing, just like saliva. 41 Saliva spattering from the mouth does not make a man impure unless it falls on his body. [G 1.38–41]


Baudhāyana

परशवौपस्पर्शनेअनभिसंधिपूर्वं सचेलसपःस्पृष्ट्वा सद्यः शुद्धो भवति ॥32 अभिसंधिपूर्वं त्रिरात्रम् ॥33 ऋतुमत्यां च ॥34 यः ततो जायते ससभिशस्त इति व्याख्यातान्य् अस्यैव्रतानि ॥35 वेदविक्रयिणं यूपं पतितं चितिम् एव च ॥36 स्पृष्ट्वा समाचरेत् स्नानं ज़्वानं चण्डालम् एव च ॥36 ब्राह्मणस्य व्रणद्वारे पूयशोणितसंभवे ॥37 कृमिर् उत्पद्यते तत्र प्रायश्चित्तं कथं भवेत् ॥37 गोमूत्रं गोमयं क्षीरं दधि सर्पिः कुशौदकम् ॥38 त्र्यहं स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च कृमिदष्टः शुचिर् भवेत् ॥38 शुनाउपहतः सचेलसवगाहेत ॥39 प्रक्षाल्य वा तं देशम् अग्निना संस्पृश्य पुनः प्रक्षाल्यपादौ चआचम्य प्रयतो भवति ॥40 अथअप्य् उदाहरन्ति ॥41 शुना दष्टः तु यो विप्रो नदीं गत्वा समुद्रगाम् ॥41 प्राणआयामशतं कृत्वा घृतं प्राश्य विशुध्यति ॥41 सुवर्णरजताभ्यां वा गवां शृङ्गौदकेन वा ॥41 नवैश् च कलशैः स्नात्वा सद्य एव शुचिर् भवेत् इति ॥41

32 When someone accidentally touches the corpse of an outsider, he becomes pure immediately after taking a bath with his clothes on; 33 whereas if someone does so deliberately, he remains impure for three days. 34 The same is true in the case of a menstruating woman; 35 the observances for her are explained in the passage: "A son born from such a woman is a heinous sinner". 36 If someone touches a man who sells the Veda, a sacrificial post, an outcaste, a funeral pyre, a dog, or a Candala, he should take a bath. 37 If a Brahmin has an open wound filled with pus and bloody discharge and a worm appears in it, what penance should he observe? 38 A man who has been bitten by a worm is purified after he has bathed in and drunk a mixture of cow's urine, cowdung, milk, curd, ghee, and a decoction of Kusa grass. 39 If someone is touched by a dog, he should bathe with his clothes on. 40 Alternatively, he becomes pure by washing that spot, touching it with fire, washing it again, washing his feet, and sipping some water. 41 Now, they also quote: "If a Brahmin is bitten by a dog, he is purified by going into a river that flows into the sea, controlling his breath one hundred times, and consuming some ghee. Alternatively, he becomes pure at once by bathing with water from a golden or silver pot, from a cow's horn, or from new earthen pots." [B 1.11.32–41]

चैत्यवृक्षं चितिं यूपं चण्डालं वेदविक्रयम् ॥5 एतानि ब्राह्मणः स्पृष्ट्वा सचेलो जलम् आविशेत् ॥5

5 If a Brahmin touches a sanctuary tree, a funeral pyre, a sacrificial post, a Candala, or a man who sells the Veda, he should bathe with his clothes on. [B 1.9.5]

नीवीं विस्रस्य परिधायअप उपस्पृशेत् ॥16 आर्द्रं तृणं गोमयं भूमिं वा समुपस्पृशेत् ॥17 नाभेर् अधः स्पर्शनं कर्मयुक्तो वर्जयेत् ॥18 ऊर्ध्वं वै पुरुषस्य नाभ्यै मेध्यम् अवाचीनम् अमेध्यम् इतिश्रुतिः ॥19

16 After tying or untying the lower garment, he should wash himself 17 or else touch wet grass, cowdung, or the earth. 18 When he is engaged in ritual activity, he should avoid touching below the navel, 19 for a vedic text states: "A man's body is clean above the navel and unclean below the navel". [B 1.10.16–19]

पुररेणुकुण्ठितशरीरः तत्परिपुर्णनेत्रवदनश् च ॥33 नगरे वसन् सुनियतआत्मा सिद्धिम् अवाप्स्यतिइति न तदस्ति ॥33 रथअश्वगजधान्यानां गवां चएव रजः शुभम् ॥34 अप्रशस्तं समूहन्याः श्वअजअविखरवाससाम् ॥34

33 "A man who keeps himself well under control will attain final bliss even if he lives in a city with his body covered with the city dust and his eyes and face coated with it"-now that is something impossible. 34 The dust coming from carriages, horses, elephants, grain, and cows is auspicious, whereas the dust of brooms, dogs, goats, sheep, donkeys; and garments is dirty. [B 2.6.33–34]


Vasiṣṭha

न मुख्यास्विप्रुषसुच्छिष्टम्कुर्वन्तिअनङ्गस्पृष्टाः ॥37

37 Saliva spattering from the mouth does not make a person impure if it does not touch his body. 0 No taint is created by the hair of the beard getting into the mouth. 41 Bits of food sticking between the teeth are like the teeth themselves, as also whatever is in the mouth and what remains after sipping. One becomes purified by simply swallowing them. 42 Even when someone pours water for others to sip and drops splash on his feet, they do not make him unclean; they are said to be the same as the ground. 43 If a person touches something unclean while handling food, he should lay that food on the ground, sip some water, and continue with his activity once again. [Va 3.37, 40–3]

यूपचितिश्मशानरजस्वलासूतिकाअशुचीन्च स्पृष्ट्वा सशिरस्कसभ्युपेयातपसितिअपसिति ॥38

38 If someone touches a sacrificial post, a pyre, a cemetery, a menstruating woman, a woman who has just given birth, and sordid men, he should enter water submerging his body and head under water. [Va 4.38]

मानुषअस्थि स्निग्धम्स्पृष्ट्वा त्रिरात्रम् आशौचम् ॥24 अस्निग्धे तुअहर्रात्रम् ॥25 शवअनुगमने चएवम् ॥26 ब्राह्मणः तु शुना दष्टस्नदीम्गत्वा समुद्रगाम् ॥31 प्राणायामशतम्कृत्वा घृतम्प्राश्य ततस्शुचिः इति ॥31 श्वचाण्डालपतितौपस्पर्शने सचैलम्स्नातस्सद्यस्पूतस्भवतिइति विज्ञायते ॥33

24 If someone touches a human bone with soft tissue attached to it, he remains impure for three days; 25 while if it has no soft tissue attached to it, he is impure for a day and night, 26 as also when he follows a corpse in a funeral procession. 31 If a Brahmin is bitten by a dog, he is purified by going into a river that flows into the sea, controlling his breath one hundred times, and consuming some ghee. 33 "If someone touches a dog, a Cāṇḍāla, or an outcaste," it is stated, "he becomes pure immediately by bathing with his clothes on." [Va 23.24–6, 31, 33]

iii. Purification of Persons

Āpastamba

रिक्तपाणिर् वयस उद्यम्यअप उपस्पृशेत् ॥7 शक्तिविषये न मुहूर्तम् अप्य् अप्रयतः स्यात् , नग्नो वा ॥8–9 नअप्सु सतः प्रयमणम् विद्यते ॥10 उत्तीर्य त्व् आचामेत् ॥11 यस्मिंश् चअन्ने केशः स्यात् ॥23

7 If he lifts up his empty hands against birds, he should touch water. 8 If he is capable, he should not, even for a moment, remain impure 9 or naked. 10 He should not perform his purification while he is standing in l1 only after coming out should he sip water. 16 If a dog touches him, he should plunge into water with his clothes on; 17 or he becomes pure after he has washed that spot, touched it with fire, washed that spot again, as well as his feet, and sipped water. 18 When he is impure he should not go near the fire-19 according to some, not nearer than the length of an arrow-20 nor should he blow on it 21 or place it under his bed. 22 The proper place for a Brahmin to live is a village where there is a lot of firewood and water and where he is able to perform his purifications on his own. 23 When he has washed away the stains of urine or excrement after going to the toilet, the stains of food, the stains from eating, and the stains of semen, and then washed his feet and sipped water, he becomes pure. [A 1.15.7–11, 16–23]


Gautama

द्रव्यहस्त उच्छिष्टो अनिधायाचामेत् । ॥28

28 If, while holding something in his hand, he happens to become impure, he should sip water after laying it down. 42 A person stained by a filthy substance is purified when their stains and smell are removed. 43 It is done by washing first with water and then with earth and water, 44 which is done also when urine, excrement, or semen falls on a person, or when one is stained with the remnants of food. 45 In cases covered by vedic rules, purification is carried out in the manner prescribed in the Veda. [G 1.28, 42–5]


Baudhāyana

शक्तिविषये मुहूर्तम् अपि नअप्रयतः स्यात् ॥30

30 If he is able, he should not remain impure even for a moment. [B 1.3.30]

अथ कमण्डलुचर्याम् उपदिशन्ति ॥1 छागस्य दक्षिणे कर्णे पाणौ विप्रस्य दक्षिणे ॥2 अप्सु चएव कुशस्तम्बे पावकः परिपठ्यते ॥2 तस्मात्शौचं कृत्वा पाणिना परिमृजीत पर्यग्निकरणं हितत् उद्दीप्यस्व जातवेद इति पुनर्दाहाद् विशिष्यते ॥2 तत्रअपि किंचित् संस्पृष्टं मनसि मन्येत कुशैर्वा तृणैर् वा प्रज्वाल्य प्रदक्षिणं परिदहनम् ॥3 अत ऊर्ध्वं श्ववायसप्रभृत्युपहतानाम् अग्निवर्ण इत्युपदिशन्ति ॥4 मूत्रपुरीषलोहितरेतःप्रभृत्युपहतानामुत्सर्गः ॥5 भग्ने कमण्डलौ व्याहृतिभिः शतं जुहुयाज् जपेद् वा ॥6 भूमिर् भूमिम् अगान् माता मातरम् अप्य् अगात् भूयास्मपुत्रैः पशुभिर् यो नो द्वेष्टि स भिद्यताम् इति ॥7 कपालानि संहृत्यअप्सु प्रक्षिप्य सावित्रीं दशअवरांकृत्वा पुनर् एवअन्यं गृह्णीयात् ॥7 वरुणम् आश्रित्य एतत् ते वरुण पुनर् एव माम् ओं इति अक्षरं ध्यायेत् ॥8 शूद्राद् गृह्य शतं कुर्याद् वैश्याद् अर्धशतं स्मृतम् ॥9 क्षत्रियात् पञ्चविंशत् तु ब्राह्मणाद् दश कीर्तिताः ॥9 अस्तमित आदित्य उदकं गृह्णीयान् न गृह्णीयाद् इतिमीमांसन्ते ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥10 गृह्णीयाद् इत्य् एतद् अपरम् ॥11 यावद् उदकं गृह्णीयात् तावत् प्राणम् आयच्छेत् ॥12 अग्निर् ह वै ह्य् उदकं गृह्णाति ॥13 कमण्डलुउदकेनअभिषिक्तपाणिपादो यावद् आर्द्रं तावदशुचिः परेषाम् आत्मानम् एव पूतम् करोति नअन्यत् कर्मकुर्वीतैति विज्ञायते ॥14 अपि वा प्रतिशौचम् आ मणिबन्धात्शुचिर् इति बौधायनः ॥15 अथअप्य् उदाहरन्ति ॥16 कमण्डलुर् द्विजातीनां शौचअर्थं विहितः पुरा ॥1 ब्रह्मणा मुनिमुख्यैश् च तस्मात् तं धारयेत् सदा ॥1 ततः शौचं ततः पानं संध्याउपासनम् एव च ॥1 निर्विशङ्केन कर्तव्यं यदिइच्छेत् श्रेय आत्मनः ॥1 कुर्यात्शुद्धेन मनसा न चित्तं दूषयेद् बुधः सहकमण्डलुनाउत्पन्नः स्वयंभूः तस्मात् कमण्डलुना चरेत् ॥2 मूत्रपुरीषे कुर्वन् दक्षिणे हस्ते गृह्णाति सव्य आचमनीयम् एतत् सिध्यति साधूनाम् ॥3 यथा हि सोमसंयोगाच् चमसो मेध्य उच्यते ॥4 अपां तथाएव संयोगान् नित्यो मेध्यः कमण्डलुः ॥4 पितृदेवअग्निकार्येषु तस्मात् तं परिवर्जयेत् ॥5 तस्माद् विना कमण्डलुना नअध्वानं व्रजेन् न सीमन्तं नगृहाद् गृहम् ॥6 पदम् अपि न गच्छेद् इषुमात्राद् इत्य् एके ॥7 यद् इच्छेद् धर्मसंततिम् इति बौधायनः ॥8 ऋग्विधेनैति वाग् वदति ऋग्विधेनैति वाग् वदति ॥9

1 Now, they prescribed for him the use of a water pot. 2 Fire is said to reside in the right ear of a billy goat and in the right hand of a Brahmin, as well as in a pot of water and in a clump of Kusa grass. After performing his purification, therefore, he should rub the water pot all around with his hand, while reciting "Blaze up, O Fire ... ". This, indeed, amounts to surrounding it with fire and is better than firing the pot again. 3–4 Nevertheless, they point out the following: "If in his mind he has an inkling that the pot has been slightly sullied, he should set fire to some Kusa or ordinary grass and burn the pot all around in a clockwise pattern. When pots have been touched by dogs, crows, and the like, he should burn them even more until they become fiery red." 5 When they have come into contact with urine, feces, blood, semen, and the like, they should be thrown away. 6 If his water pot breaks, he should offer a hundred oblations of ghee reciting the Calls or simply recite them softly a hundred times. 7 While reciting, "Earth has gone to earth, the mother has joined the mother. May we become rich in sons and cattle, and may he who hates us shatter apart," he should collect the broken pieces, throw them into water, recite the Savitri verse ten times, and once again take another pot. 8 Taking refuge in Varuna by reciting "That is yours, Varuna. Once again it has come to me. OM", let him meditate on this syllable. 9 If he accepts the pot from a Śūdra, he should recite the Savitri verse one hundred times; from a Vaiśya, tradition says, fifty times; from a Kṣatriya, twenty-five times; and from a Brahmin, they say, ten times. 10 Vedic savants ponder the question: "After the sun has set, is it or is it not permissible for a man to take water?" 11 The superior view is that it is permissible for him to do so; 12 he should control his breath while he is taking water, 13 for fire undoubtedly takes up water. 14 "When someone has washed his hands and feet with water from his pot," it is stated, "he remains impure vis-a-vis others as long as he remains wet. He uses that water only to purify himself; he should not use it for other rites." 15 "Or else," says Baudhayana, "he becomes pure at each purification by washing his hands up to the wrists." 16 Now they also quote: 1 "The water pot was ordained in ancient times by Brahman and the foremost of sages for the purification of twice-born people. One should, therefore, carry it at all times. If a man cares for his own well-being, he should use it without hesitation- to purify himself, to drink, and to perform his twilight devotions. 2 Let him perform them with a clear mind. A wise man should not sully his mind. The Self-existent One came into being carrying a water pot. Therefore, he should go about carrying a water pot." 3 While he is voiding urine or excrement, he should hold the water pot in his right hand; and while he is sipping water, he should hold it in his left hand. That is the settled practice among good people. 4 As the sacrificial cup is said to be pure because it comes into contact with Soma, so the water pot remains always pure because it comes into contact with water. 5 Let him, therefore, avoid using it in rites for ancestors and gods, and in fire rituals. 6 He should, therefore, never go on the road without his water pot, not even to the village boundary or from one house to another, 7 or, according to some, even a step beyond the length of an arrow. 8 "He needs to do so only if he wants to perform his rites without interruption," says Baudhayana. 9 And scripture states that there is a Rgvedic verse to this effect. [B 1.6.1–16; 1.7.1–9]

अथअतः शौचअधिष्ठानम् ॥1 अद्भिः शुध्यन्ति गात्राणि बुद्धिर् ज्ञानेन शुध्यति ॥2 अहिंसया च भूतात्मा मनः सत्येन शुध्यति इति ॥2 मनःशुद्धिर् अन्तःशौचम् ॥3 बहिःशौचं व्याख्यास्यामः ॥4 प्राङ्मुख उदङ्मुखो वाआसीनः शौचम् आरभेत शुचौ देशेदक्षिणम् बाहुं जानुअन्तरा कृत्वा प्रक्षाल्य पादौ पाणी चआमणिबन्धात् ॥11

1 Next, the method of purification. 2 Water cleanses the body, and knowledge the understanding. Abstaining from hurting others cleanses one's inner being, and truth cleanses the mind. 3 Internal purification is the cleansing of the mind. 4 We will explain external purification. ... 11 He should perform his purification seated on his haunches in a clean spot and facing the east or the north. Placing his right arm between his knees, he should wash his feet and then his hands up to the wrists. ... 25 Now they also quote: "Bits of food sticking to the teeth are to be treated like the teeth themselves. A man is purified by just swallowing whatever is in the mouth or what remains in the mouth after sipping." 26 Then he should apply water to the cavities of his head; to his feet, navel, and head; and finally to his left hand. If he is sullied while he is holding a metal utensil, he should set it down, sip some water, and sprinkle water on it as he picks it up again. 28 And if he is sullied while he is holding a dish of food, he should set it down, sip some water, and sprinkle water on it as he picks it up again. 29 And if he is sullied while he is holding a pot of water, he should set it down, sip some water, and sprinkle water on it as he picks it up again. 3 The same should be done, but in the opposite way, in the case of earthenware, 31 while there is an option in the case of wooden utensils. [B 1.8.1–4, 11, 25–31]

मूत्रे मृदाअद्भिः प्रक्षालनम् ॥11 त्रिः पाणेः ॥12 तद्वत् पुरीषे ॥13 पर्यायात् त्रिः त्रिः पायोः पाणेश् च ॥14 मूत्रवद् रेतस उत्सर्गे ॥15

11 After voiding urine, he should first wash the organ with earth and water 12 and then the left hand three times. 13 He should do the same after voiding excrement, 14 but three times in turn for the anus and the left hand. 15 After a seminal discharge, he should do the same as after voiding urine. [B 1.10.11–15]

अथअप्य् उदाहरन्ति प्रणवो व्याहृतयः सावित्री चैत्य् एतेपञ्च ब्रह्मयज्ञा अहरहर् ब्राह्मणं किल्बिषात् पावयन्ति ॥13

13 Now, they also quote: "The syllable OM, the three Calls, and the Savitrī verse-these five veda-sacrifices purify a Brahmin from sin every day." [B 2.8.13]


Vasiṣṭha

कालोऽग्निर्मनसः शुद्धिरुदकार्कावलोकनम् । अविज्ञानं च भूतानां षड्विधा शुद्धिरिष्यत इति ॥32

32 These six means of purification are recommended for creatures: time, fire, purifying the mind, water, looking at the sun, and being unaware that something is impure. [Va 23.32]

उद्धृताभिसद्भिस्कार्यम्कुर्यात् ॥14 स्नानम् अनुद्धृताभिसपि ॥15 आहरेत्मृत्तिकाम्विप्रस्कूलात् ससिकता तु या ॥16 अन्तर्जले देवगृहे वल्मीके मूषकस्थले ॥17 कृतशौचअवशिष्टास्वा न ग्राह्यास्पञ्च मृत्तिकाः ॥17 एका लिङ्गे करे तिस्रसुभयोस्मृद्द्वयम्स्मृतम् ॥18 पञ्चअपाने दशएकस्मिनुभयोस्सप्त मृत्तिकाः ॥18 एतत्शौचम्गृहस्थानाम्द्विगुणम्ब्रह्मचारिणाम् ॥19 त्रिगुणम्वानप्रस्थानाम्यतीनाम्तत्चतुस्गुणम् इति ॥19

14 He should perform rites with water that has been drawn out, 15 but he may bathe even with water that has not been drawn out. 16 A Brahmin should fetch some sandy earth from the bank of a river. 17 Earth from under water, a temple, an anthill, or a mound over a rat-hole, and earth left behind by someone after his purification-he should not take these five types of earth. 18 Tradition lays down one application of earth on the penis, three on the left hand, and two on both hands; and five applications on the anus, ten on the left hand, and seven on both hands. 19 This is the purification for householders. It is twice that much for students, three times for forest hermits, and four times for ascetics. [Va 6.14–19]

कृत्वा चअवश्यकर्माणि आचामेत्शौचवित्तमः इति ॥17

7 After he has answered a call of nature, a man with a sound knowledge of the rules of purification should sip some water. [Va 12.17]

सर्ववेदपवित्राणि वक्ष्यामिअहम् अतस्परम् ॥10 येषाम्जपैस्च होमैस्च पूयन्ते नअत्र संशयः ॥10 अघमर्षणम्देवकृतम्शुद्धवत्यः तरत्समाः ॥11 कूष्माण्डानि पावमान्यस्दुर्गासावित्रिसेव च ॥11 अतीषङ्गास्पदस्तोभास्सामानि व्याहृतीः तथा ॥12 भारुण्डानि सामानि च गायत्रम्रैवतम्तथा ॥12 पुरुषव्रतम्च भासम्च तथा देवव्रतानि च ॥13 अब्लिङ्गम्बार्हस्पत्यम्तु वाच्सूक्तम्मधुऋचः तथा ॥13 शतरुद्रियम् अथर्वशिरः त्रिसुपर्णम्महाव्रतम् ॥14 गोसूक्तम्चअश्वसूक्तम्च शुद्धाशुद्धीये सामनी ॥14 त्रीण् आज्यदोहानि रथन्तरम्च अग्नेस्व्रतम्वामदेव्यम्बृहत्च ॥15 एतानि जप्तानि पुनन्ति जन्तून्जातिस्मरत्वम्लभते यदिइच्छेत् ॥15

10 Next, I will declare the purificatory texts of all the Vedas by whose soft recitation or use in fire sacrifices people are undoubtedly purified. 11–15 They are: Aghamarṣaṇa, Devakṛta, Śuddhavatī, Taratsama, Kūṣmāṇda, Pāvamānī, Durgāsāvitrī, Atīṣanga Sāman, Padastobha Sāman, Vyāhrti Sāmans, Bhāruṇda Sāmans, Gāyatra Sāman, Raivata Sāman, Puruṣavrata Sāmans, Bhāsa Sāman, Devavrata Sāmans, Ablinga, Bārhaspatya Sāman, Vāksūkta, "Honey" verses, Satarudrīya, Atharvaśiras, Trisuparṇa, Mahāvrata, Gosūkta, Aśvasūkta, the two Śuddhāśuddhīya Sāmans, the three Ājyadoha Sāmans, the Rathantara Saman, the Agnervrata Sāman, the Vāmadevya Sāman, and the Brhat Saman. When these are recited softly, they purify creatures, and, if someone so desires, he will acquire the memory of past lives. [Va 28.10–15]

त्रिणाचिकेतस्पञ्चअग्निः त्रिसुपर्णस्चतुस्मेधा वाजसनेयी षटङ्गविद्ब्रह्मदेयअनुसन्तानस्छन्दोगस्ज्येष्ठसामगस्मन्त्रब्राह्मणविद्यस्च धर्मान् अधीते यस्य च दशपुरुषम्मातृपितृवंशस्श्रोत्रियस्विज्ञायते विद्वांसस्स्नातकास्चएते पङ्क्तिपावनास्भवन्ति ॥19

19 An expert in the three Nāciketa fire altars; a man who maintains the five sacred fires; a man who knows the three "Bird" verses; an expert in the four types of sacrifices; a man who knows the White Yajur Veda; a man who knows the six Vedic Supplements; a son of a woman given in marriage according to the "Brahma" rite; a man who knows the Sama Veda; a man who sings the Jyestha Saman; a man who knows both the mantra and the liturgical portions of the Veda; a man who studies the Laws; a man in whose family nine generations of ancestors on both the father's and mother's side are known to have been learned Brahmins; learned men; and bath-graduates—these are persons who purify those alongside whom they eat. [Va 3.19]

iv. Sipping

Āpastamba

भूमिगतास्व् अप्स्व् आचम्य प्रयतो भवति ॥2 यं वा प्रयत आचामयेत् ॥3 न वर्षधारास्व् आचामेत् ॥4 तथा प्रदरौदके ॥5 तप्ताभिश् चअकारणात् ॥6

2 He becomes pure by sipping water collected on the ground, 3 or when a pure person gives him water to sip. 4 He should not sip rain water 5 or water in a crevice, 6 as also warm water without a good reason. [A 1.15.2–6]

अथ ब्राह्मणौक्ता विधयः ॥13 तिष्ठन्न् आचामेत् प्रह्वो वा ॥1 आसीनः त्रिर् आचामेद्धृदयङ्गमाभिर् अद्भिः ॥2 त्रिर् ओष्ठौ परिमृजेत् , द्विर् इत्य् एके ॥3–4 सकृद् उपस्पृशेत् , द्विर् इत्य् एके ॥5–6 दक्षिणेन पाणिना सव्यं प्रोक्ष्य पादौ शिरश् चैन्द्रियाण्य् उपस्पृशेच् चक्षुषी नासिके श्रोत्रे च ॥7 अथअप उपस्पृशेत् ॥8 भोक्ष्यमाणः तु प्रयतो ऽअपि द्विर् आचामेद् द्विः परिमृजेत् सकृद् उपस्पृशेत् ॥9 श्यावअन्तपर्यन्ताव् ओष्ठाव् उपस्पृश्यआचामेत् ॥10

1 He should not sip water standing or stooping. 2 Let him sip thrice seated on his haunches and with water sufficient to reach his heart, 3 wipe his lips three times 4 or, according to some, twice, 5 and touch them with water once 6 or, according to some, twice. 7 With his right hand he should sprinkle water on his left hand and on his feet and head, and then touch the organs, namely, the eyes, the nostrils, and the ears, with water. 8 He should then wash his hands with water. 9 Even though he is already pure, however, when he is preparing to take his meal, he should sip water twice, wipe his lips twice, touch his lips with water once, 10 rub the inside of his lips, and then sip water. 12 Sipping water is prescribed when one sees drops of saliva falling from one's mouth. 13 According to some, sipping is unnecessary if they fall on the ground. [A 1.16.1–10, 12–13]


Gautama

प्राङ्मुख उदङ्मुखो वा शौचम् आरभेत । ॥35 वाग्यतोहृदयस्पृशः त्रिश् चतुर् वाप आचामेद् । ॥36 द्विः परिमृज्यते । ॥36 पादौ चाभ्युक्षेत् । ॥36 खानि चोपस्पृशेच् शीर्षण्यानि । ॥36 मूर्धनि च दद्यात् । ॥36 सुप्त्वा भुक्त्वा क्षुत्वा च पुनः । ॥37

35 He should commence his personal purification facing either the east or the north. 36 Seated on a clean spot, placing his right arm between his knees, and wearing his upper garment over his left shoulder and under his right arm, he should wash both his hands up to the wrists. Then, he should silently sip three or four times an amount of water sufficient to reach his heart, wipe his lips twice, sprinkle water on his feet, rub water on the cavities of his head, and place his hand on the crown of his head. 37 After sleeping, eating, sneezing, he should sip water over again. [G 1.35–7]


Baudhāyana

पादप्रक्षालनौच्छेषणेन नआचामेत् ॥12 यद्य् आचामेद् भूमौ स्रावयित्वाआचामेत् ॥13 ब्राह्मेण तीर्थेनआचामेत् ॥14 अङ्गुष्ठमूलं ब्राह्मं तीर्थम् ॥15 अङ्गुष्ठअग्रं पित्र्यम् अङ्गुल्यग्रं दैवम् अङ्गुलिमूलम् आर्षम् ॥16 नअङ्गुलीभिर् न सबुद्बुदाभिर् न सफेनाभिर् नौष्णाभिर्न क्षाराभिर् न लवणाभिर् न कलुषाभिर् न विवर्णाभिर् नदुर्गन्धरसाभिः ॥17 न हसन् न जल्पन् न तिष्ठन् न विलोकयन् न प्रह्वो न प्रणतोन मुक्तशिखो न प्रावृतकण्ठो न वेष्टितशिरा न त्वरमाणोनअयज्ञोपवीती न प्रसारितपादो न बद्धकक्ष्यो न बहिर्जानुःशब्दम् अकुर्वन् ॥18 त्रिर् अपो हृदयंगमाः पिबेत् ॥19 त्रिः परिमृजेत् ॥20 द्विर् इत्य् एके ॥21 सकृद् उभयं शूद्रस्य स्त्रियाश् च ॥22 अथअप्य् उदाहरन्ति ॥23 गताभिर् हृदयं विप्रः कण्ठ्याभिः क्षत्रियः शुचिः ॥23 वैश्यसद्भिः प्राशिताभिः स्यात् स्त्रीशूद्रौ स्पृश्यचअन्ततः इति ॥23 दन्तवद् दन्तसक्तेषु दन्तवत् तेषु धारणात् ॥24 स्रस्तेषु तेषु नआचामेत् तेषां संस्राववत्शुचिः इति ॥24

12 He should not use the water left over from washing his feet for sipping; 13 or, if he uses it, he should pour some on the ground before sipping. 14 He should sip using the part of the hand sacred to Brahman. 15 The base of the thumb is the part of the hand sacred to Brahman; 16 the top of the thumb is the part sacred to ancestors; the tips of the fingers is the part sacred to gods; and the base of the fingers is the part sacred to seers. 17 He shall not use for sipping water that drips from the fingers; water with bubbles or froth; water that is warm, pungent, salty, muddy, or discolored; or water that has a bad odor or taste. 18–19 Three times he should sip water sufficient to reach his heart-without laughing, talking, standing, or looking around; without bowing his head or stooping; never with his topknot untied, his neck wrapped, or his head covered; never hurriedly or and without wearing his sacrificial cord over his left shoulder and under his right arm; never with his feet spread apart or his loins wrapped, or without holding his right arm between his knees; and without making a noise. 20 He should wipe his lips three time; 21 twice, according to some. 22 Śūdras and women do both the sipping and the wiping just once. 23 Now, they also quote: "A Brahmin is purified by water reaching the heart, a Kṣatriya by water reaching the throat, and a Vaiśya by water taken into the mouth; whereas a woman and a Śūdra are purified by wetting the lips." 24 "Drops clinging to the teeth are to be treated like the teeth themselves, because a man bears them like the teeth themselves; he does not have to sip water when they drop. A man is purified from them just as he would from his own saliva." [B 1.8.12–24]

स्पृशन्ति बिन्दवः पादौ य आचामयतः परान् ॥34 न तैर् उच्छिष्टभावः स्यात् तुल्याः ते भूमिगैः सह इति ॥34

34 When a man pours water for others to sip and drops of that water fall on his feet, they do not make him impure. They are just like water that collects on the ground. [B 1.10.34]


Vasiṣṭha

प्रक्षाल्य पादौ पाणी चआ मणिबन्धात् प्राक्वाउदक्वाआसीनसङ्गुष्ठमूलस्यौत्तररेखा ब्राह्मम्तीर्थम्तेन त्रिसाचामेतशब्दवत् ॥26 द्विस्परिमृजीत ॥27 खानिअद्भिस्संस्पृशेत् ॥28 मूर्धनिअपस्निनयेत् सव्ये च पाणौ ॥29 व्रजन्तिष्ठन्शयानस्प्रणतस्वा नआचामेत् ॥30 हृदयङ्गमाभिसद्भिसबुद्बुदाभिसफेनाभिस्ब्राह्मणः ॥31 कण्ठगाभिः तु क्षत्रियः ॥32 वैश्यसद्भिस्प्राशिताभिः ॥33 स्त्रीशूद्रम्स्पृष्टाभिसेव च ॥34 प्रदरातपि यास्गोः तपर्णसमर्थास्स्युः ॥35 न वर्णगन्धरसदुष्टाभिस्यास्च स्युसशुभागमाः ॥36

26 Having washed his feet and his hand up to the wrists and seated on his haunches facing the east or the north, he should sip water three times without making any sound and using the part of the hand sacred to Brahman, that is, the line above the base of the thumb; 27 wipe his lips twice; 28 rub water on the cavities of his head; 29 and pour water on his head and on his left hand. 30 He should not sip water while he is walking, standing, lying down, or stooping. 31 A Brahmin is purified by water free of bubbles and reaching the heart; 32 a Kṣatriya by water reaching the throat; 33 a Vaiśya by water taken into the mouth; 34 and a woman or Śūdra by water merely touching the lips. 35 Even water from a crevice may be used if it is sufficient to slake the thirst of a cow, 36 but not water contaminated with coloring, perfume, or seasonings, or collected in a foul place. ... 38 After sleeping, eating, sneezing, bathing, drinking, or crying, he should sip water over again even if he had already sipped water, as also after putting on a garment 39 or touching a hairless part of the lips. [Va 3.26–36, 38–39]

अङ्गुलिकनिष्ठिकामूले दैवम्तीर्थम् ॥64 अङ्गुल्यम् ऋषीणाम् ॥65 अङ्गुलिअग्रेषु मानुषम् ॥66 पाणिमध्य आग्नेयम् ॥67 प्रदेशिनीअङ्गुष्ठयोसन्तरा पित्र्यम् ॥68

64 The base of the little finger is the part of the hand sacred to the gods; 65 the middle of the fingers is the part sacred to the seers; 66 the tips of the fingers is the part sacred to human beings; 67 the middle of the palm is the part sacred to Fire; 68 and the part between the forefinger and the thumb is sacred to the ancestors. [Va 3.64–8]

v. Purification of Articles

Āpastamba

अनाप्रीते मृन्मये भोक्तव्यम् ॥9 आप्रीतं चेद् अभिदग्धे ॥10 परिमृष्टं लौहं प्रयतम् ॥11 निर्लिखितं दारुमयम् ॥12 यथाआगमं यज्ञे ॥13

9 He should eat out of a clay vessel that has not been used before, 10 or, if it has been used, only after scorching it with fire. 11 A vessel made of metal purified by scrubbing, 12 and one made of wood by scraping. 13 During a sacrifice, vessels are purified in the manner prescribed by the vedic texts. [A 1.17.9–13]

नअप्रोक्षितम् इन्धनम् अग्नाव् आदध्यात् ॥12 प्रोक्ष्य वास उपयोजयेत् ॥15

12 He shall not put firewood in the sacred fire without first sprinkling the wood with water. 15 He should wear a garment only after sprinkling it with water. [A 1.15.12, 15]


Gautama

। ॥29 तैजसवदुपलमणिशङ्खमुक्तानाम् । ॥30 दारुवदस्थिभूम्योः । ॥31 आवपनं च

भूमेः । ॥32 चेलवद् रज्जुविदलचर्मणाम् । ॥33 उत्सर्गो वात्यन्तोपहतानाम् । ॥34

29 Articles made of metal, clay, wood, and cloth are cleaned by scrubbing, scorching, scraping, and washing, respectively. 30 Stone, gem, shell, and mother-of-pearl are cleaned in the same way as metal; 31 bone articles, in the same way as wood; 32 mud also by plastering; 33 and ropes, wicker, skin, in the same way as cloth. 34 Articles that have become extremely unclean, on the other hand, should be thrown away. [G 1.29–34]


Baudhāyana

तैजसानाम् उच्छिष्टानां गोशकृन्मृद्भस्मभिः परिमार्जनमन्यतमेन वा ॥32 ताम्ररजतसुवर्णानाम् अम्लैः ॥33 अमत्राणां दहनम् ॥34 दारवाणां तक्षणम् ॥35 वैणवानां गोमयेन ॥36 फलमयानां गोवालरज्ज्वा ॥37 कृष्णअजिनानां बिल्वतण्डुलैः ॥38 कुतपानाम् अरिष्टैः ॥39 और्णानाम् आदित्येन ॥40 क्षौमाणां गौरसर्षपकल्केन ॥41 मृदा चेलानाम् ॥42 चेलवच् चर्मणाम् ॥43 तैजसवद् उपलमणीनाम् ॥44 दारुवद् अस्थ्नाम् ॥45 क्षौमवत्शङ्खशृङ्गशुक्तिदन्तानाम् ॥46 पयसा वा ॥47 चक्षुर्घ्राणआनुकूल्याद् वामूत्रपुरीषअसृज्शुक्रकुणपस्पृष्टानां पूर्वौक्तानाम् अन्यतमेनत्रिःसप्तकृत्वः परिमार्जनम् ॥48 अतैजसानाम् एवंभूतानाम् उत्सर्गः ॥49 वचनाद् यज्ञे चमसपात्रानाम् ॥50 न सोमेनौच्छिष्टा भवन्तिइति श्रुतिः ॥51 कालसग्निर् मनसः शुद्धिर् उदकआद्युपलेपनम् ॥52 अविज्ञातं च भूताणां षड्विधं शौचम् उच्यते इति ॥52 अथअप्य् उदाहरन्ति ॥53 कालं देशं तथाआत्मानं द्रव्यं द्रव्यप्रयोजनम् उपपत्तिम् अवस्थां च विज्ञाय शौचं शौचज्ञः कुशलो धर्मईप्सुःसमाचरेत् ॥53

32 When articles become sullied, they are purified in the following ways-if they are metal, by scrubbing them with cowdung, earth, and water, or with just one of them; 33 if they are copper, silver, or gold, by using an acidic cleanser; 34 if they are earthenware, by firing them; 35 if they are wooden, by scraping them; 36 if they are wicker, by using cowdung; 37 if they are made of dried fruits, by using a cow's hair scourer; 38 if they are skins of the black antelope, by using wood-apple and rice; 39 if they are goat's wool blankets, by using areca nuts; 40 if they are woollen, by putting them in the sun; 41 if they are linen, by using a paste of yellow mustard; 42 and if they are cotton, by using earth. 43 Skins are purified like cotton; 44 stones and gems like metal; 45 bones like wood; 46 conch-shells, horn, mother of pearls, and ivory. like linen, 47 or by using milk. 48 Alternatively, when articles come into contact with urine, feces, blood, semen, or a corpse, they are to be and scrubbed twenty-one times using one of the scrubbing agents listed above, depending on how they strike one's eyes and nose. 49 Nonmetal articles that come into contact with them, however, should be discarded. 50 Ritual vessels used in sacrifices are cleansed in the manner prescribed in the Veda. 51 A vedic text states: "They are not sullied by coming into contact with Soma juice." 52 Time, fire, cleansing the mind, water and the like, applying cowdung, and ignorance-these, they say, are the six way of purification for creatures. 53 Now, they also quote: "The time, the place, himself, the article, the purpose of the article, the cause, and the condition-after examining these, a smart man who knows the methods of purification and wants to adhere. to the Law should perform the purification." [B 1.8.32–53]

भूमेः तु संमार्जनप्रोक्षणौपलेपनअवस्तरणौल्लेखनैर्यथास्थानं दोषविशेषात् प्रायत्यम् ॥11 अथअप्य् उदाहरन्ति ॥12 गोचर्ममात्रम् अब्बिन्दुर् भूमेः शुध्यति पातितः ॥1 समूढम् असमूढं वा यत्रअमेध्यं न लक्ष्यते इति ॥1 शाकपुष्पफलमूलओषधीनां तु प्रक्षालनम् ॥9

11 A piece of ground, on the other hand, is made pure by sweeping, sprinkling with water, smearing with cowdung, scattering clean soil, or scraping, depending on the degree of the defilement. 12 Now, they also quote: 1 Each drop of water when sprinkled purifies an area as large as a cow's hide irrespective of whether the ground has been swept or not, so long as one does not notice anything filthy on it. 9 Vegetables, flowers, fruits, roots, and herbs bought at the 'market, however, should be washed. [B 1.9.11–12; 1.10.1, 9]


Vasiṣṭha

यत्यत्मीमांस्यम्स्यातद्भिस्संस्पृशेत् ॥44

44 Whenever a person has a doubt regarding the purity of something, he should sprinkle some water on it. ... 48 Anything stained with an impure substance is purified when the stain and smell are removed with earth and water. 49 Articles made of metal are to be scrubbed with ash; earthenware is to be fired; wooden implements should be scraped; and cloth is to be washed. 50 Stones and gems are purified like metal; 51 conch shells and mother of pearl like gems; 52 bone like wood; 53 and ropes, cane, and leather like cloth. 54 Articles made of fruits are purified by rubbing them with cow's hair, 55 and those made of linen by rubbing them with a paste of yellow mustard. 56 The purity of a piece of land is restored by sweeping, smearing with cowdung, scraping, sprinkling water, and by scattering clean soil, depending on the degree of defilement. Now, they also quote: "Digging, burning, scraping, and trampling by cows-by these four means, and fifthly by smearing with cowdung, a piece of land is purified. 58 A woman is purified by her menstrual flow, a river by its current, brass with ash, and copper with an acidic cleanser. 59 Earthenware that has come into contact with liquor, urine, feces, phlegm, pus, tears, or blood cannot be purified by being fired again. The body is purified by water, the mind by truth, the spirit by knowledge and austerity, and the intellect by knowledge." 61 Gold is cleaned with just water, 62 as also silver. [Va 3.44, 48–62]