History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c34.102.1

v2.c34.102.1

The actual bath is described differently in different sūtras, smṛtis and digests. Gobhila-smṛti (I. 137) says¹⁵⁶⁹ that the morning bath contains the same procedure as the mid-day bath. The morning bath has to be brief, as already stated, in the case of one who has consecrated the śrauta fires. The procedure of bathing will be indicated by a few brief extracts. The Viṣṇu Dh. S. (64. 18-22) says 'having removed¹⁵⁷⁰ the dirt from his body with water and loose earth, he should plunge in water, he should invoke the water with the three verses 'āpo hi ṣṭhā' (Ṛg. X. 9. 1-3), with the four verses 'hiraṇyavarṇāḥ' (Tai. S. V. 6. 1. 1-2) and with the verse 'idamāpaḥ pravahata' (Ṛg. I. 23. 22 or X. 9. 8). Then while still plunged in water he should thrice mutter the Aghamarṣaṇa hymn (Ṛg. X. 190. 1-3, ṛtam ca satyam &c.) or he may mutter 'tad viṣṇoḥ paramam padam' (Ṛg. I. 22. 20) or the Drupadā Sāvitrī verse (Vāj. S. 20. 20) or the anuvāka beginning with 'yuñjate mana' (Ṛg. V. 81. 1-5) or the Puruṣasūkta (Ṛg. X. 90. 1-16). 'Having bathed he should, with his garment still wet, perform *tarpaṇa* of gods and Manes while still in the water. But if he has changed his clothes, then he may do it (*tarpaṇa*) after coming out of the water'. Even now many brāhmaṇas mutter the Puruṣasūkta while bathing.