Atri Smriti 1
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Contents
1.p1
Now begins the Atrismṛti.
1.p2
Obeisance to holy Gaṇeśa.
1.1
O Keśava, for one blinded by the darkness of ignorance and covered by it, / be gracious with a benign face, O Lord, and grant the vision of knowledge.
1.2
Having approached Atri, best among the learned in the Veda, / seated after offering the agnihotra, the sages of praised vows inquired:
1.3
"O Blessed One, by what gift, silent recitation, or observance / are those burdened with sins purified? Tell us that, O great sage."
1.4
"For faults that have been confessed, as well as for grave sins, / and for all minor sins, I shall explain purification in truth:
1.4.p1
By breath control, purifying [hymns], gifts, fire oblations, and silent recitation, / those desiring purification are released from sins; of this there is no doubt.
1.6
Seated with purifying kuśa grass in hand, repeating the daily sacred text, / [performing] breath controls, purifying [prayers], the sacred utterances, and the praṇava (Om),
1.7
always disciplined, one should repeatedly practice breath controls; / from the tips of the hair to the ends of the nails, one performs the highest austerity.
1.7.p1
Faults committed through the skin, hide, flesh, blood, fat, marrow, and bones, / as well as those committed by the senses, are burned away by restraint of breath.
1.8
From retention wind is generated; from wind, indeed, fire is produced; / from heat, water arises; thus one is purified internally by the three.
1.9
Likewise skin and bodiless faults arrive according to nature; / thus the faults produced by the senses are burned away by the restraint of breath.
1.10
Through breath controls one should burn faults, and through concentrations, guilt; / through withdrawal, sense objects; and through meditation, unspiritual qualities.
1.11
Neither by severe austerity, nor by Vedic study, nor by sacrifice / are the gods able to attain that wisdom which they attain through yoga.
1.12
From yoga knowledge is attained; from yoga comes the characteristic of dharma; / yoga is the highest, constant austerity; therefore one should always be disciplined.
1.13
The Vedas begin with the praṇava and are established in the praṇava; / everything of speech consists of the praṇava; therefore one should repeat the praṇava.
1.14
For one devoted to the praṇava, to the seven sacred utterances, / and to the three-footed Gāyatrī mantra, there is no fear anywhere.
1.15
The single syllable is the supreme Brahman; breath control is the highest austerity; / and the Gāyatrī is the Brahman-power; it is handed down as the supreme purifier.
1.16
With the sacred utterances, with the praṇava, and together with the head verse, / one who holds the breath should recite the Gāyatrī three times; that is called breath control.
1.16.p1
Thus ends the first chapter in the Smṛti of Atri.
Linked texts (1)
- Atrismṛti (Atrisaṃhitā) — Atri, Sanskrit