117 - The thirty-two offences

Varäha said:

1. O blessed goddess, now listen to the rules of food, about eating food as well as avoiding it.

2. The food has a bearing on attaining me, because the man who follows dharma reaches me even if he chances to do an inauspicious act.

3. Let the prescribed food be taken always. Vrihi and ŠhäIi   grains (cereals) are to be used

4. I shall tell you about the grains (food) prohibited, because to use them is an offence.

5. The first offence, which I always dislike is to worship me after taking another’s food.

6. The second offence, which obstructs dharma, is to touch me after a sexual contact.

7. The third offence, O earth, is to attend to me after seeing a woman in her courses.

 8. The fourth offence, one which I never tolerate, is to serve me after touching a dead body and without undergoing the necessary purification.

9. The fifth offence, which I do not brook, is to touch me after seeing a dead body and without taking achamana.

10. The sixth offence, which I do not forgive, is to go for answering calls of nature in the midst of my worship.

I l. The seventh offence, O Earth, is to serve me wearing blue cloth.

12. The eighth offence, O Earth, is to talk much while engaged in my service. 

13. The ninth offence, O Earth, is to worship me without purifying oneself according to the rules.

14. The tenth offence which displeases me, is to do me service with art angry mind.

15. The eleventh offence is to consider in my worship prohibited objects as conducive to merit.

16. The twelfth offence is to worship me wearing cloth made red with saffron.

17. The thirteenth offence is to touch me in darkness.

18. The fourteenth offence is to serve me wearing black cloth.  

19. The fifteenth offence is to serve me wearing unwashed cloth.

20. The sixteenth offence is to eat food even unknowingly (while engaged in my worship).

21. The seventeenth offence is to approach me after eating fish and meat.

22. The eighteenth. offence is to approach me after eating goose (and other water birds). 

23. The nineteenth offence, O Earth, is to come to me after touching my lamp-bearer.¹

1. The word is dipaka. What it means here is not quite clear.

24. The twentieth offence, O fair goddess, is to approach me after going to the cremation ground.

25. The twenty-first offence, O Earth, is to approach me after eating oil-cake.

26. The twenty-second offence is to take pork as food conducive to attaining me.

27. The twenty-third offence, O Earth, is to approach me after drinking liquor.

28. The twenty-fourth offence, O Earth, is to approach me after eating vegetables with saffron.

29. The twenty-fifth offence, O Earth, is to approach me putting on the garment of another.

30. The twenty-sixth offence, O Earth, is to eat fresh food without offering it first to the gods or manes.

31. The twenty-seventh offence, is to go to the tank (for bathing) with footwear on.

32. The twenty-eighth offence, O virtuous one, is to come to me after tormenting the body.

33. The twenty-ninth offence, which never takes one to heaven, is to approach me with undigested food (in the abdomen).

34. The thirtieth offence is to offer me incense without offering sandal paste and flowers.

35. The thirty-first offence, O noble one, is to open the door (of my temple) without sounding the drums.

36. The thirty-second offence should be taken as the most serious.¹

1. It is simply stated as mahäparädha. What it is, is not given.

37. I shall now tell you about Drudhavrata (strong vow) by observing which one attains me.

38. Learning the Šhästras, always remaining devoted to me and rendering service to me, following non-violence, being compassionate to all beings, affable to all, pure, clever.

39. Controlling senses completely, without committing any offence, being generous, righteous, well attached to the wife.

40. Observing the rules prescribed for the four castes, (he who worships me attains me).

41. She who is devoted to the preceptor, devoted to the husband and looks after the family (also attains me by worshipping me).

42. The man who is my devotee reaches me even if he gives up his wife, but awaits here the devoted wife.

43. I shall now tell you about the best of all actions.

44. Even sages Who follow the path of devotion are not able to easily realise me, what then about ordinary men?

45. Those sinful people who are attached to other gods, are deluded by my magical power and do not attain me.

46. O Earth, those who resort to me desirous of liberation, get purified and get places allotted (in my world).

47. I told you all this because of the fact that I hold you with great energy.

48. This should not be instructed to a slanderer, a fool, an uninitiated or the cunning.

49. Nor to the vowless, base or the impious.

50. To none other than the devotees of mine.

51. I have thus told you all this about dharma for the sake of the world. What else have you to ask me now?