Pātāla-khaṇḍa · Chapter 108
Sourceश्रीराम उवाच- भस्मोत्पत्तिं महाभाग भस्ममाहात्म्यमेव च । भस्मसंधारणे पुण्यं भस्मदाने च तद्वद १। शंभुरुवाच- भस्मोत्पत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् । स्मरणात्कीर्तनाद्राम तां शृणुष्व नराधिप २। य एकः शाश्वतो देवो ब्रह्मवंद्यः सदाशिवः । त्रिलोचनो गुणाधारो गुणातीतोऽक्षरोव्ययः ३। सिसृक्षा तस्य जाताथ वीक्ष्यात्मस्थं गुणत्रयम् । वेदत्रयमिदं ज्ञेयं गुणत्रयमिदं हि यत् ४। पृथक्कृत्वात्मनस्तात तत्रस्थानं विभज्य च । दक्षिणांगेसृजत्पुत्रं ब्रह्माणं वामतो हरिम् ५। पृष्ठदेशे महेशानं त्रीन्पुत्रानसृजद्विभुः । जातमात्रास्त्रयो देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः ६। इदमूचुर्वचः स्पष्टं को भवान्के वयंत्विति । तानाह च शिवः पुत्रान्यूयं पुत्रा अहं पिता ७। इदं गुणत्रयं पुत्रा भजध्वं कर्महेतुकम् । पुत्रा ऊचुः - कं वा गुणं को भजतां कियंतं कालमीश्वर ८। कथं गुणनिवृत्तिश्च भवेदेतद्वदस्व नः । शिव उवाच- यावज्ज्ञानं हि भवतां यावदायुरथापि वा ९। धारणं तावदेवस्यादेकैकस्य गुणस्य च । सत्वं ब्रह्मा रजोविष्णुर्भजेन्महेश्वरस्तमः १०। इत्युक्तमात्रे देवेशे ब्रह्मा सत्वमथाग्रहीत् । न च चालयितुं शक्तो धारणे किमु शक्तिमान् ११। तं गुणं तु तिरस्कृत्य रजोगुणमथाग्रहीत् । न च चालयितुं शक्तो जग्राहाथ तमोगुणम् १२। न च चालयितुं शक्तो निपपात रुरोद च । विष्णुश्च वामहस्तेन रजोगुणमधारयत् १३। अंगुलीभ्यां महेशोऽपि तमोगुणमधारयत् । सत्वमेकोंगुलीभ्यां च सत्वं विष्णुमथादधात् १४। ब्रह्माणं पादपीठे च दधार च ननर्त च १५। नृत्यंतमत्यंतविलासरूपं गोक्षीररूपं तरुणं त्रिनेत्रम् । सर्वं दधानं कृतकौतुकं शिवं समीक्ष्य पुत्रान्वरदो बभाषे १६। शिव उवाच- प्रीतोऽस्मि तव पुत्राहं वरं वृणु यथेप्सितम् । अथाह पितरं पुत्रो वरमेनं ददस्व मे १७। मामुद्दिश्य कृता पूजा तव पूजा भवेच्छिव । तिष्ठेर्मयि सदा त्वं च त्वमेवाहं च वाव्ययः १८। शिव उवाच- एवमेतन्महाभाग भविष्यति न संशयः । रक्तगौराविमौ पुत्रौ ब्रह्मविष्णू ममैव तु १९। बाहुमूलस्थरोमौ च ममाकारौ तथानघौ । अथ ब्रह्माणमाहेदं भजत्वेकं गुणं भवान् २०। ब्रह्मोवाच- त्वन्निर्दिष्टं गुणमहं धर्तुं शक्तो न हीश्वर । धारयिष्ये रजो देव सत्वं भजतु वै हरिः २१। अवशिष्टं गुणं चायमीश्वरो धारयिष्यति । शंभुरुवाच- गुणानादायते देवा नशेकुर्नित्यधारणम् २२। कर्तुं भरणशक्त्यर्थं शिवमित्यवदत्पुनः । गुणान्वयं सर्वकालं न च धारयितुं क्षमाः २३। दीयतां भगवञ्छक्तिर्यदि भोस्त्वं वरप्रदः । अथ तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शिवो वाक्यमभाषत २४। शिव उवाच- विद्याशक्तिः समस्तानां शक्तिरित्यभिधीयते । गुणत्रयाश्रया विद्या अविद्या च तदाश्रया २५। गुणत्रयं च दग्ध्वैव तत्सारं धर्तुमर्हथ । यच्च किंचिद्भवेत्तत्र भवद्भिर्ध्रियतां हि तत् २६। अथाहुस्तत्सुता वाक्यं न दाहो ज्वलनं विना । शिवः प्राह महेशस्य लोचने वह्निरस्ति वै २७। गुणत्रयमिदं धेनुर्विद्या स्याद्गोमयं शुभम् । मूत्रं चोपनिषत्प्रोक्तं कुर्याद्भस्म ततः परम् २८। वत्सास्तु स्मृतयो यस्यास्तत्संभूतं तु गोमयम् । आगाव इति मंत्रेण धेनुं तत्राभिमंत्रयेत् २९। गावो गावो गाव इति प्राशयेत्तु तृणं जलम् । उपोष्य च चतुर्द्दश्यां शुक्ले कृष्णेऽथवा व्रती ३०। परेद्युः प्रातरुत्थाय शुचिर्भूत्वा समाहितः । कृतस्नानो धौतवस्त्रो गोमयार्थं व्रजेत्तु गाम् ३१। उत्थाप्य तां प्रयत्नेन गायत्र्या मूत्रमाहरेत् । सौवर्णे राजते ताम्रे धारयेन्मृन्मये घटे ३२। पौष्करे वा पलाशे वा पात्रे गोशृंग एव वा । आदधीत हि गोमूत्रं गंधद्वारेति गोमयम् ३३। अभूमिपातं गृह्णीयात्पात्रे पूर्वोदितेऽधिके । गोमयं शोधयेद्विद्वाञ्छ्रीर्मे भजतु मंत्रतः ३४। अलक्ष्मीर्मयीति मंत्रेण गोमयस्यापमार्जनम् । सं त्वा सिंचामि मंत्रेण गोमूत्रं गोमये क्षिपेत् ३५। पंचानां त्वेति मंत्रेण पिंडांश्चैव चतुर्द्दश । कुर्यात्संशोष्य किरणैस्तरणेराहरेत्तु तान् ३६। निदध्यादथ पूर्वोक्तपात्रे गोमयपिंडकान् । स्वगृह्योक्तविधानेन प्रतिष्ठाप्याग्निमिंधयेत् ३७। पिंडान्विनिक्षिपेत्तत्तदर्णदेवाय पिंडकान् । आघारावाज्यभागौ च प्रक्षिप्य द्वौ हुनेत्सुधीः ३८। ततो निधनपतये त्रयोदशजयादयः । होतव्याः पंचब्रह्माणि नमो हिरण्यबाहवे ३९। इति सर्वाहुतीर्हुत्वा चतुर्थ्यंतैस्तु मंत्रकैः । ततः शर्वाय रुद्राय यस्य वैकंकतीति च ४०। एतैस्तु जुहुयाद्विद्वाननाज्ञातत्रयं तथा । व्याहृतीरथ हुत्वा तु ततः स्विष्टकृतं हुनेत् ४१। इध्मशेषं तु निर्वर्त्य पूर्णपात्रोदकं ततः । पूर्णमासांतयजुषा जलेनान्येन बृंहयेत् ४२। ब्राह्मणेष्वमृतमिति तज्जलं शिरसि क्षिपेत् । प्राच्यामिति दिशां लिंगैर्दिक्षु तोयं विनिक्षिपेत् ४३। ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां दत्वा शांते पुलकमाहरेत् । आहरिष्यामि देवानां सर्वेषां कर्मगुप्तये ४४। जातवेदसमेने त्वां पुलाकं च्छादयाद्य मे । मंत्रेणानेन तं वह्निं पुलाके छादयेदथ ४५। त्रिदिनं ज्वलनस्थित्यै छादनं पुलकैः स्मृतम् । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेद्भक्त्या स्वयं भुंजीत वाग्यतः ४६। भस्माधिकमभीप्संस्तु ह्यधिकं गोमयं हरेत् । दिनत्रयेण यदि वा एकस्मिन्दिवसे बहु ४७। तृतीये वा चतुर्थे वा प्रातःस्नात्वा सितांबरः । शुक्लयज्ञोपवीती च शुक्लमाल्यानुलेपनः ४८। शुक्लदंतो भस्मदिग्धो मंत्रेणानेन मंत्रवित् । तद्वेति चोच्चारयित्वा भस्मसत्यं न संत्यजेत् ४९। तत आवाहनमुखा उपचारास्तु षोडश । कर्तव्या हुतदानेन ततोऽग्निमुपसंहरेत् ५०। अग्ने भस्मेति मंत्रेण गृह्णीयाद्भस्म चोद्भवम् । अग्निरस्मीति मंत्रेण प्रमृज्य च ततः परम् ५१। संयोज्य गंगासलिलैः कपिलापयसाथवा । चंद्रं कुंकुमकाश्मीरमुशीरं चंदनं तथा ५२। अगुरुद्वितयं चैव चूर्णयित्वा तु सूक्ष्मतः । क्षिपेद्भस्मनि तच्चूर्णमोमिति ब्रह्ममंत्रतः ५३। ततः पयः सेचने च गदितः कपिला मनुः । अमृतं देवि ते क्षीरं पवित्रमिह वर्द्धितम् ५४। तवप्रसादान्मुच्यंते मनुजाः सर्वपाप्मनः । प्रणवेनावहेद्विद्वान्भस्मनो वटकानथ ५५। अणोरणीयानिति हि मंत्रेण तु विचक्षणम् । शंभुरुवाच- इत्थं तु भस्मसंपाद्य शुष्कमादाय मंत्रवित् ५६। प्रणवेन विमृज्याथ सप्तप्रणवमंत्रितम् । ईशानेन शिरोदेशं मुखं तत्पुरुषेण च ५७। उरोदेशमघोरेण गुह्यं वामेन मंत्रयेत् । सद्योजातेन वै पादौ सर्वांगं प्रणवेन तु ५८। तत उद्धूल्य सर्वांगमापादतलमस्तकम् । तत आचम्य वसनं धौतं श्वेतं प्रधारयेत् ५९। पुनराचम्य कर्म स्वं कर्तुमर्हति सर्वतः । ततो भस्मसमादाय प्रमृज्य प्रणवेन तु ६०। त्रिनेत्रं त्रिगुणाधारं त्रयाणां जनकं विभुम् । स्मरन्नमः शिवायेति ललाटे तु त्रिपुंड्रकम् ६१। नमः शिवाभ्यामित्युक्त्वा बाह्वोर्वापि त्रिपुंड्रकम् । अघोराय नम इति उभाभ्यां च प्रकोष्ठयोः ६२। भीमायेति ततः पृष्ठे शिरोधि पश्चिमे तथा । नीलकंठाय शिरसि क्षिपेत्सर्वात्मने नमः ६३। प्रक्षाल्याथ ततो हस्तौ कर्मानुष्ठानमाचरेत् । शिव उवाच- यूयमेवं प्रकारेण भस्म कृत्वा प्रघृष्य च ६४। गुणान्धारयितुं शक्तास्ततः स्रक्ष्यथ वै प्रजाः । शंभुरुवाच- इत्थं शिवोदिता देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः ६५। तथा कृत्वा च विधिना हमहमिकया तदा । अन्योन्यबोधनाशक्ताः प्रणम्य शिवमूचिरे ६६। कं गुणं धारयेत्को वा शिवः प्राह सुतानथ । कर्मशक्तिं तथा ज्ञानं मुखरेण्वैव नश्यति ६७। अल्पायुर्दृश्यते ब्रह्मा मनुभिश्चास्य जीवितम् । योऽहं ब्रह्मांडमालाभिर्भूषितो ब्रह्मगोपनम् ६८। रजोगुणमवष्टभ्य न च जानासि मां तदा । ब्रह्माधिकबलो विष्णुरायुषि ब्रह्मणोऽधिकः ६९। ब्रह्मांडमालाभरणे महेशस्य ममैव तु । चतुर्निःश्वासमात्रेण विष्णोरायुरुदाहृतम् ७०। ब्रह्मणोऽधिकसत्वत्वात्सत्वमालंबतां हरिः । जानाति सर्वकालं मां क्वचिदेव न विस्मरेत् ७१। सात्विकैकैव पूजास्य राजसी तामसी न तु । शांतं शिवं सत्वगुणं रजवक्त्रावमानतः ७२। नभोनीलं तथा चैव गुणं शंभुस्तथाभजत् । सत्वं रजस्तमश्चापि दधार च पुरा किल ७३। अतोऽस्य विविधा पूजा शंकरस्य विधीयते । रजश्च तमसायुक्तं दारुणं परिकीर्तितम् ७४। दारुणापि ततः पूजा शंकरे गतिदा मता । रजश्च तमसायुक्तमलं शास्त्रप्रवर्तकम् ७५। विच्छिन्नापि ततः पूजा शंकरे फलदा मता । तमश्च सत्वसंयुक्तं मिश्रकं च प्रवर्तकम् ७६। मिश्रपूजा विफलदा शंकरे लोकशंकरे । यादृशं तादृशं वापि नियमेनार्चनं विभोः ७७। शंकरस्याशुफलदं यादृशस्यापि देहिनः । शंभुरुवाच- एतत्संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तं विधानं भस्मनोऽनघ ७८। वक्तृश्रोतृजनानां च समस्ताघविनाशनम् ७९। इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शिवराघवसंवादे भस्मोत्पत्तिविधानं नामाष्टोत्तरशततमोऽध्यायः १०८।
śrīrāma uvāca- bhasmotpattiṃ mahābhāga bhasmamāhātmyameva ca | bhasmasaṃdhāraṇe puṇyaṃ bhasmadāne ca tadvada 1| śaṃbhuruvāca- bhasmotpattiṃ pravakṣyāmi sarvapāpapraṇāśinīm | smaraṇātkīrtanādrāma tāṃ śṛṇuṣva narādhipa 2| ya ekaḥ śāśvato devo brahmavaṃdyaḥ sadāśivaḥ | trilocano guṇādhāro guṇātīto'kṣarovyayaḥ 3| sisṛkṣā tasya jātātha vīkṣyātmasthaṃ guṇatrayam | vedatrayamidaṃ jñeyaṃ guṇatrayamidaṃ hi yat 4| pṛthakkṛtvātmanastāta tatrasthānaṃ vibhajya ca | dakṣiṇāṃgesṛjatputraṃ brahmāṇaṃ vāmato harim 5| pṛṣṭhadeśe maheśānaṃ trīnputrānasṛjadvibhuḥ | jātamātrāstrayo devā brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ 6| idamūcurvacaḥ spaṣṭaṃ ko bhavānke vayaṃtviti | tānāha ca śivaḥ putrānyūyaṃ putrā ahaṃ pitā 7| idaṃ guṇatrayaṃ putrā bhajadhvaṃ karmahetukam | putrā ūcuḥ - kaṃ vā guṇaṃ ko bhajatāṃ kiyaṃtaṃ kālamīśvara 8| kathaṃ guṇanivṛttiśca bhavedetadvadasva naḥ | śiva uvāca- yāvajjñānaṃ hi bhavatāṃ yāvadāyurathāpi vā 9| dhāraṇaṃ tāvadevasyādekaikasya guṇasya ca | satvaṃ brahmā rajoviṣṇurbhajenmaheśvarastamaḥ 10| ityuktamātre deveśe brahmā satvamathāgrahīt | na ca cālayituṃ śakto dhāraṇe kimu śaktimān 11| taṃ guṇaṃ tu tiraskṛtya rajoguṇamathāgrahīt | na ca cālayituṃ śakto jagrāhātha tamoguṇam 12| na ca cālayituṃ śakto nipapāta ruroda ca | viṣṇuśca vāmahastena rajoguṇamadhārayat 13| aṃgulībhyāṃ maheśo'pi tamoguṇamadhārayat | satvamekoṃgulībhyāṃ ca satvaṃ viṣṇumathādadhāt 14| brahmāṇaṃ pādapīṭhe ca dadhāra ca nanarta ca 15| nṛtyaṃtamatyaṃtavilāsarūpaṃ gokṣīrarūpaṃ taruṇaṃ trinetram | sarvaṃ dadhānaṃ kṛtakautukaṃ śivaṃ samīkṣya putrānvarado babhāṣe 16| śiva uvāca- prīto'smi tava putrāhaṃ varaṃ vṛṇu yathepsitam | athāha pitaraṃ putro varamenaṃ dadasva me 17| māmuddiśya kṛtā pūjā tava pūjā bhavecchiva | tiṣṭhermayi sadā tvaṃ ca tvamevāhaṃ ca vāvyayaḥ 18| śiva uvāca- evametanmahābhāga bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ | raktagaurāvimau putrau brahmaviṣṇū mamaiva tu 19| bāhumūlastharomau ca mamākārau tathānaghau | atha brahmāṇamāhedaṃ bhajatvekaṃ guṇaṃ bhavān 20| brahmovāca- tvannirdiṣṭaṃ guṇamahaṃ dhartuṃ śakto na hīśvara | dhārayiṣye rajo deva satvaṃ bhajatu vai hariḥ 21| avaśiṣṭaṃ guṇaṃ cāyamīśvaro dhārayiṣyati | śaṃbhuruvāca- guṇānādāyate devā naśekurnityadhāraṇam 22| kartuṃ bharaṇaśaktyarthaṃ śivamityavadatpunaḥ | guṇānvayaṃ sarvakālaṃ na ca dhārayituṃ kṣamāḥ 23| dīyatāṃ bhagavañchaktiryadi bhostvaṃ varapradaḥ | atha tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śivo vākyamabhāṣata 24| śiva uvāca- vidyāśaktiḥ samastānāṃ śaktirityabhidhīyate | guṇatrayāśrayā vidyā avidyā ca tadāśrayā 25| guṇatrayaṃ ca dagdhvaiva tatsāraṃ dhartumarhatha | yacca kiṃcidbhavettatra bhavadbhirdhriyatāṃ hi tat 26| athāhustatsutā vākyaṃ na dāho jvalanaṃ vinā | śivaḥ prāha maheśasya locane vahnirasti vai 27| guṇatrayamidaṃ dhenurvidyā syādgomayaṃ śubham | mūtraṃ copaniṣatproktaṃ kuryādbhasma tataḥ param 28| vatsāstu smṛtayo yasyāstatsaṃbhūtaṃ tu gomayam | āgāva iti maṃtreṇa dhenuṃ tatrābhimaṃtrayet 29| gāvo gāvo gāva iti prāśayettu tṛṇaṃ jalam | upoṣya ca caturddaśyāṃ śukle kṛṣṇe'thavā vratī 30| paredyuḥ prātarutthāya śucirbhūtvā samāhitaḥ | kṛtasnāno dhautavastro gomayārthaṃ vrajettu gām 31| utthāpya tāṃ prayatnena gāyatryā mūtramāharet | sauvarṇe rājate tāmre dhārayenmṛnmaye ghaṭe 32| pauṣkare vā palāśe vā pātre gośṛṃga eva vā | ādadhīta hi gomūtraṃ gaṃdhadvāreti gomayam 33| abhūmipātaṃ gṛhṇīyātpātre pūrvodite'dhike | gomayaṃ śodhayedvidvāñchrīrme bhajatu maṃtrataḥ 34| alakṣmīrmayīti maṃtreṇa gomayasyāpamārjanam | saṃ tvā siṃcāmi maṃtreṇa gomūtraṃ gomaye kṣipet 35| paṃcānāṃ tveti maṃtreṇa piṃḍāṃścaiva caturddaśa | kuryātsaṃśoṣya kiraṇaistaraṇerāharettu tān 36| nidadhyādatha pūrvoktapātre gomayapiṃḍakān | svagṛhyoktavidhānena pratiṣṭhāpyāgnimiṃdhayet 37| piṃḍānvinikṣipettattadarṇadevāya piṃḍakān | āghārāvājyabhāgau ca prakṣipya dvau hunetsudhīḥ 38| tato nidhanapataye trayodaśajayādayaḥ | hotavyāḥ paṃcabrahmāṇi namo hiraṇyabāhave 39| iti sarvāhutīrhutvā caturthyaṃtaistu maṃtrakaiḥ | tataḥ śarvāya rudrāya yasya vaikaṃkatīti ca 40| etaistu juhuyādvidvānanājñātatrayaṃ tathā | vyāhṛtīratha hutvā tu tataḥ sviṣṭakṛtaṃ hunet 41| idhmaśeṣaṃ tu nirvartya pūrṇapātrodakaṃ tataḥ | pūrṇamāsāṃtayajuṣā jalenānyena bṛṃhayet 42| brāhmaṇeṣvamṛtamiti tajjalaṃ śirasi kṣipet | prācyāmiti diśāṃ liṃgairdikṣu toyaṃ vinikṣipet 43| brahmaṇe dakṣiṇāṃ datvā śāṃte pulakamāharet | āhariṣyāmi devānāṃ sarveṣāṃ karmaguptaye 44| jātavedasamene tvāṃ pulākaṃ cchādayādya me | maṃtreṇānena taṃ vahniṃ pulāke chādayedatha 45| tridinaṃ jvalanasthityai chādanaṃ pulakaiḥ smṛtam | brāhmaṇānbhojayedbhaktyā svayaṃ bhuṃjīta vāgyataḥ 46| bhasmādhikamabhīpsaṃstu hyadhikaṃ gomayaṃ haret | dinatrayeṇa yadi vā ekasmindivase bahu 47| tṛtīye vā caturthe vā prātaḥsnātvā sitāṃbaraḥ | śuklayajñopavītī ca śuklamālyānulepanaḥ 48| śukladaṃto bhasmadigdho maṃtreṇānena maṃtravit | tadveti coccārayitvā bhasmasatyaṃ na saṃtyajet 49| tata āvāhanamukhā upacārāstu ṣoḍaśa | kartavyā hutadānena tato'gnimupasaṃharet 50| agne bhasmeti maṃtreṇa gṛhṇīyādbhasma codbhavam | agnirasmīti maṃtreṇa pramṛjya ca tataḥ param 51| saṃyojya gaṃgāsalilaiḥ kapilāpayasāthavā | caṃdraṃ kuṃkumakāśmīramuśīraṃ caṃdanaṃ tathā 52| agurudvitayaṃ caiva cūrṇayitvā tu sūkṣmataḥ | kṣipedbhasmani taccūrṇamomiti brahmamaṃtrataḥ 53| tataḥ payaḥ secane ca gaditaḥ kapilā manuḥ | amṛtaṃ devi te kṣīraṃ pavitramiha varddhitam 54| tavaprasādānmucyaṃte manujāḥ sarvapāpmanaḥ | praṇavenāvahedvidvānbhasmano vaṭakānatha 55| aṇoraṇīyāniti hi maṃtreṇa tu vicakṣaṇam | śaṃbhuruvāca- itthaṃ tu bhasmasaṃpādya śuṣkamādāya maṃtravit 56| praṇavena vimṛjyātha saptapraṇavamaṃtritam | īśānena śirodeśaṃ mukhaṃ tatpuruṣeṇa ca 57| urodeśamaghoreṇa guhyaṃ vāmena maṃtrayet | sadyojātena vai pādau sarvāṃgaṃ praṇavena tu 58| tata uddhūlya sarvāṃgamāpādatalamastakam | tata ācamya vasanaṃ dhautaṃ śvetaṃ pradhārayet 59| punarācamya karma svaṃ kartumarhati sarvataḥ | tato bhasmasamādāya pramṛjya praṇavena tu 60| trinetraṃ triguṇādhāraṃ trayāṇāṃ janakaṃ vibhum | smarannamaḥ śivāyeti lalāṭe tu tripuṃḍrakam 61| namaḥ śivābhyāmityuktvā bāhvorvāpi tripuṃḍrakam | aghorāya nama iti ubhābhyāṃ ca prakoṣṭhayoḥ 62| bhīmāyeti tataḥ pṛṣṭhe śirodhi paścime tathā | nīlakaṃṭhāya śirasi kṣipetsarvātmane namaḥ 63| prakṣālyātha tato hastau karmānuṣṭhānamācaret | śiva uvāca- yūyamevaṃ prakāreṇa bhasma kṛtvā praghṛṣya ca 64| guṇāndhārayituṃ śaktāstataḥ srakṣyatha vai prajāḥ | śaṃbhuruvāca- itthaṃ śivoditā devā brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ 65| tathā kṛtvā ca vidhinā hamahamikayā tadā | anyonyabodhanāśaktāḥ praṇamya śivamūcire 66| kaṃ guṇaṃ dhārayetko vā śivaḥ prāha sutānatha | karmaśaktiṃ tathā jñānaṃ mukhareṇvaiva naśyati 67| alpāyurdṛśyate brahmā manubhiścāsya jīvitam | yo'haṃ brahmāṃḍamālābhirbhūṣito brahmagopanam 68| rajoguṇamavaṣṭabhya na ca jānāsi māṃ tadā | brahmādhikabalo viṣṇurāyuṣi brahmaṇo'dhikaḥ 69| brahmāṃḍamālābharaṇe maheśasya mamaiva tu | caturniḥśvāsamātreṇa viṣṇorāyurudāhṛtam 70| brahmaṇo'dhikasatvatvātsatvamālaṃbatāṃ hariḥ | jānāti sarvakālaṃ māṃ kvacideva na vismaret 71| sātvikaikaiva pūjāsya rājasī tāmasī na tu | śāṃtaṃ śivaṃ satvaguṇaṃ rajavaktrāvamānataḥ 72| nabhonīlaṃ tathā caiva guṇaṃ śaṃbhustathābhajat | satvaṃ rajastamaścāpi dadhāra ca purā kila 73| ato'sya vividhā pūjā śaṃkarasya vidhīyate | rajaśca tamasāyuktaṃ dāruṇaṃ parikīrtitam 74| dāruṇāpi tataḥ pūjā śaṃkare gatidā matā | rajaśca tamasāyuktamalaṃ śāstrapravartakam 75| vicchinnāpi tataḥ pūjā śaṃkare phaladā matā | tamaśca satvasaṃyuktaṃ miśrakaṃ ca pravartakam 76| miśrapūjā viphaladā śaṃkare lokaśaṃkare | yādṛśaṃ tādṛśaṃ vāpi niyamenārcanaṃ vibhoḥ 77| śaṃkarasyāśuphaladaṃ yādṛśasyāpi dehinaḥ | śaṃbhuruvāca- etatsaṃkṣepataḥ proktaṃ vidhānaṃ bhasmano'nagha 78| vaktṛśrotṛjanānāṃ ca samastāghavināśanam 79| iti śrīpadmapurāṇe pātālakhaṃḍe śivarāghavasaṃvāde bhasmotpattividhānaṃ nāmāṣṭottaraśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ 108|
English translation
Śrī Rāma said :
1. O illustrious one, tell about the origin of the sacred ash, the greatness of the sacred ash, and the religious merit (earned) through the application of the sacred ash.
Śambhu said :
2-8a. O Rāma , I shall tell you about the origin of the sacred ash. (I shall tell you about its effect) by (just) remembering or telling about it. O king, listen to it. He who is that eternal god Sadāśiva , who is saluted by Brahmā , who has three eyes, who is the prop of virtues, who is beyond qualities, who is unchangeable and immutable, had once a desire to create on seeing the three qualities in himself—this triad of qualities should be known as the three Vedas . O dear one, having divided himself and the region there, he created on his right side the son, viz. Brahmā and Hari from his left side. At the back side he created Maheśāna (i.e. Śiva ); thus the mighty one created three sons. As soon as they were born they became the three gods—Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva. They distinctly spoke these words: “Who are you? Who are we?” To those sons Śiva said: “You are the sons, (and) I am your father. O sons, resort to these three qualities which are the cause of (all) acts.”
The sons said :
8b-16. O lord, who should resort to which quality and how long? How can there be the cessation from the qualities? Tell this to us.
Śiva said :
As long as you have (i.e. retain your) knowledge or as long as you live, each one of these qualities should be retained by you. Brahma should retain the quality of Sattva (i.e. goodness), Viṣṇu should retain Rajas (i.e. activity) and Maheśvara (should keep) Tamas (i.e. ignorance or darkness).
As soon as the lord of gods had said this, Brahmā took up Sattva. He could not move it; then how could he be capable of holding it? Abandoning that quality, he took up the quality of Rajas. He was not able to move it; (so) he took up the Tamas quality. He was not able to move it. He fell down and wept; and Viṣṇu held the Rajas quality with his left hand. (Then) Maheśa held the Tamas quality with his two fingers; one, i.e. Viṣṇu, with his two fingers, took up the Sattva (quality). He sustained Brahmā at the footstool, and danced. The giver of the boons, having seen Śiva who was dancing, who had a graceful form, whose form was (fair) like the cow’s milk, who was young and had three eyes, who held everything, who caused joy, said to his sons:
Śivā said :
17-18. O son, I am pleased (with you). Ask for a boon as desired (by you).
Then the son said to the father: “Give this boon to me: O auspicious one, let the worship intended for me be yours. You should always remain in me; you, the immutable one, are me only.”
Śiva said :
19-20. O magnanimous one, this will happen; there is no doubt. These two reddish and fair, Brahmā and Viṣṇu are my two sons. They are the fine soft hair of the armpits, they have my form and are innocent.
Then he said to Brahmā: “You resort to (i.e. take) this one quality.”
Brahmā said :
21-22a. O lord, I am not able to hold the quality indicated by you. O god, I shall sustain the Rajas (quality); let Hari resort to the Sattva (quality). This god will hold the remaining quality.
Śambhu said :
22b-24. After having taken the qualities, those gods were not able always to hold them. For being able to sustain (them) they again said to Śiva (i.e. the lord): “We are not able to hold these qualities for all the time. O lord if you are the giver of boons, (then) give us the capacity (to hold them).” Then hearing their words, Śiva said (these) words.
Śiva said :
25-28. Of all (powers), the power of knowledge (alone) is called power. Vidyā (i.e. knowledge) resorts to the three qualities. Ignorance also resorts to them. Please hold the essence of the three qualities after burning them. You should hold that what would be (remaining) there.
Then his son said (these) words: “There cannot be burning without fire.” Śiva said: “Fire certainly exists in the eye of Śaṅkara . These three qualities are the cow; and knowledge would be (i e. is) the auspicious cowdung. Upaniṣad is said to be the urine (of the cow). Then one should prepare the sacred ash from them.
29-30a. One should consecrate the cow; the dung ofher whose calves are dead, with the hymn Āgāvaḥ . (Uttering the hymn) one should make the cow eat the grass and drink the water with the hymn Gāvo gāvo gāvaḥ .
30b-34a. Or the one who observes the vow, should observe a fast on the fourteenth day of the bright and the dark fortnights. Then the next day one should get up in the morning and being pure and composed and having bathed, having put on garments that are washed, should go to the cow for the dung. Having carefully got her up, one should get the urine from the cow. One should hold it in a pitcher made of gold, silver, copper or clay; or (one should hold it) in a blue lotus, or a vessel made of palāśa (-leaves) or in a horn. One should have the cow-urine and a little cow-dung also. One should take in an excellent pot as told before, without letting it fall on the ground.
34b-35a. The wise one should purify the cow-dung with the hymn Śrīḥ me bhajatu (‘May prosperity resort to me’). With the hymn Alakṣmīrmayi (‘Prosperity should not come to me’). one should purify the cowdung.
35b. With the hymn Saṃ tvā siñcāmi (‘I sprinkle you’), he should put the cow-urine into the cow-dung.
36-38a. With the hymn Pañcānāṃ tvā one should prepare fourteen piṇḍas . Having dried them with the rays of the sun, one should put the balls of the cow-dung in the vessel already referred to. According to the rule in his own Gṛhya ( Sūtra ), he should install them and kindle fire. Then one should put balls (saying) ‘to Arṇadeva’.
38b-39a. The wise one should perform the two rites called Āghāra (i.e. sprinkling clarified butter upon fire) and Ājyabhāga (offering two portions of clarified butter to Agni and Soma ). Then he should make offerings to the lord of destruction. Then thirteen offerings like Jaya etc. should be made.
39b-42. Then five hymns like Namo Hiraṇyabāhave (should be recited). Thus having made all offerings ending with the fourth with the accompaniment of hymns, he should offer (an oblation) to Rudra , Śarva with the hymn Yasya vai kaṅkati . A wise man should offer with these the three that are known. Having made the Vyāhṛtis (i.e. uttering the words like Bhūr, Bhuvas etc.), he should offer the right sacrifice (to Agni). Then having withheld the remaining fuel, he should add other water to the water in the full vessel with the Yajus formula Pūrnamāsāmta .
43-47a. He should sprinkle that water on his head with the hymn Brāhmaṇeṣu amṛtam . Then with the hymn Prācyām he should sprinkle the water in the directions. He shouldgive a present to a brāhmaṇa . He should bring a ball of boiled rice. With the hymn ‘For the protection of the rite of all gods, I shall bring this to you, O fire; cover this one of mine today’, he should cover the fire with that ball. The covering by it is said to be remaining in fire for three days. He should feed the brāhmaṇas , and being restrained in speech, should himself eat. If he desires more sacred ash, he should bring more cow-dung.
47b-50a. After three days or one day, on the third or fourth day, he, having bathed in the morning, having put on white garments, having worn a white sacred thread, having put on white flowers and unguents, with his teeth (brushed) white, (his body) besmeared with the sacred ash, with the utterance of the hymn Tad vā should, indeed, not give up the sacred ash. Having offered presents, he should observe the sixteen formalities like invocation.
50b-55. Then he should collect the fire. With (the utterance of) the hymn Agne , bhasma , he should take the sacred ash produced (from the cow-dung). Then, he should clean it with (the utterance of) the hymn Agnirasmi (‘I am fire’), then mix it with the water of Gaṅgā or the milk of a cow. Then having powdered camphor, Kāśmīra -saffron, uśīra , sandal with agaru (a kind of sandal) well, he should drop that powder into the sacred ash with sacred hymn (i.e. syllable) Om. Then the hymn (that is said i.e. prescribed) at the time of sprinkling the milk is: ‘O goddess, your sacred milk, giving intelligence, is nectar here (i.e. on the earth); due to your favour men are freed from all sins’. Then the learned one should invoke the small lumps of the sacred ash with the utterance of Om. With (the utterance of) the hymn, Aṇoraṇīyān the wise one (should do so).
Śambhu said :
56-61. Having thus procured the sacred ash and having taken it (in his hands), the knower of the hymns should clean it with Om and should get it hallowed with seven hymns. (He should apply it) to his head with (a hymn addressed) to Īśāna . (He should apply it) to his face with (the hymn) Tat Puruṣa . He should hallow the chest with the Aghora (hymn) and, the private parts with the Vāma (hymn), the feet with the Sadyojāta hymn, and the entire body with Om . Then he should dust the entire body from the soles of his feet to his head (with sacred ash). Then he should sip water, and should put on a white, washed garment. Having sipped water again, he should do his rites fully. Then having taken the sacred ash and cleaned it with (the utterance of) Om, he should, recollecting (Śiva) the three-eyed one, the support of the three qualities, the creator of the three (Vedas) and the mighty one, with the hymn Namaḥ Śivāya , put the mark consisting of three lines on his forehead.
62-64a. Saying (the hymn) Namaḥ Śivābhyām , he should also put the mark consisting of three lines on both his arms. Saying (the hymn) Aghorāya namaḥ he should put (a similar mark) on both his forearms. Then (uttering the hymn) Bhīmāya he (should put the mark consisting of three lines) on his back, and the backside of his head. (Saying) ‘salutation to Nīlakaṇṭha , the soul of all’ he should put it on his head. Then having washed both his hands, he should perform (the proper) rites.
Śiva said :
64b-65a. Having, in this way, prepared and applied the sacred ash, you will be able to sustain the (three) qualities, and then create the beings.
Śambhu said :
65b-70. The gods Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara, thus addressed by (Śiva) did like that according to the (proper) rule, and vied with each other, being unable to recognise one another, they saluted and said to Śiva: “Who should sustain which quality?” Then Śiva said to his sons: “Due to the (particles of) dust the power of doing rites and knowledge also perish. Brahma is seen to have a short life. He lives (longer) due to hymns. I was formerly decorated with the rows of ‘Brahmā’s eggs’. Having rested upon the Rajas quality, you are not recognising me.
71-78a. Viṣṇu has more power than Brahma, and has also longer life than Brahmā in sustaining the row of ‘Brahmā’s eggs’. The life of Viṣṇu is said to be of the measure of four inhalings of Maheśa and me. May that Viṣṇu support you due to his having more of the Sattva (quality) than Brahmā (has). He knows me the entire time, and would not forget me. His only worship is Sāttvikā, and neither Rājasī nor Tāmasī . Salutation to the Tranquil, Auspicious, of the Sattva quality; his possession of the Rajas quality is to be inferred. Salutation to Nīla , so the (Tamas) quality. Śambhu resorted to (it) like that. Formerly, he indeed possessed Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Therefore, worship of three kinds is laid down (in the case) of Śiva. Rajas, conjoined with Tamas is said to be awful. Śiva’s worship, even more awful than that is regarded as giving a good course (i.e. salvation); and Rajas conjoined with Tamas is capable of propagating the sacred precepts. The worship even more interrupted than that is said to give fruit. Tamas mixed with Sattva promotes a mixture. A mixed worship of Śiva, causing the good of the world, is fruitless. This way or that way (but) worship of the lord should be regularly done. (The worship) of Śaṅkara in whatever way is said to give a quick fruit to a man.”
Śambhu said :
78b-79. In brief this rule about the application of the sacred ash is told, O sinless one. It destroys all the sins of the speaker and the listeners.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 44074, revision 333746 (2022-03-16T02:25:59Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365420.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.