Agam 21 Upang 10 Pushpika Sutra English Translation

Author(s): Dipratnasagar, Deepratnasagar
Publisher: Deepratnasagar

Page 13

Pushpika-Upang-10- Chapter-3 Brahmarshi went towards the west. He then continued the aforesaid procedure he had followed on the first breaking of fast up to... At last he himself accepted food.
Somil Brahmarshi then commenced his fourth two-day fast. He broke the fourth twoday fast following the aforesaid procedure. The only change was that this time he faced north and uttered—"O honoured Vaishraman, the guardian angel of the north, please protect me, Somil Brahmarshi, on the spiritual path and permit me to take whatever bulbous roots, roots, ... and so on up to... grass are available in the north." With these words Somil Brahmarshi went towards the north. He then continued the aforesaid procedure he had followed on the first breaking of fast up to... At last he himself accepted food. details of the procedure for all the four directions are same as those of east.
Later, some other midnight, while pondering over his ephemeral state, Somil Brahmin thought—"I am Somil Brahmarshi, a resident of Varanasi city and belonging to a very high caste Brahmin family. I have accepted vows (traditional rituals and codes)... and so on up to... installed yupas (ritual pillar in a yajna). After that I have planted many mango-orchards... and so on up to... flowering plants outside Varanasi city. And then I got made numerous cooking pans and spoons of iron. I handed over the responsibility of the family to my eldest son. Then after seeking permission from friends and my eldest son, and carrying the iron and copper utensils, I got tonsured and initiated as a hermit. After getting initiated I commenced the Disha-chakraval practice observing the austerity of continuous two-day fasts.
"But now I feel that tomorrow when the sun is at its full glow I should bid farewell to the many tapasas (hermits) who are beyond my vision, or those who have been my companions of my pre-hermit and post-hermit states. I should greet and honour with words the hundreds of residents of the hermitage, seek their permission, put on bark-garments, place my utensils and other possessions in the basket of the sling-pole, cover my mouth with a strip of wood, face northwards and depart towards north for the great journey (journey unto death)." Thus thought Somil.
Thinking thus and following his resolve Somil Brahmarshi, after dawn the next morning, bade farewell to the many tapasas (hermits) who had met him, were known to him and were his companion. Seeking their permission and gratifying hundreds of residents of the hermitage... and so on up to... covering his mouth with a strip of wood he took this vow-"It would not be proper for me to (1 resolve not to get up from a place where I slip or otherwise fall while walking, irrespective of it being water, land, difficult terrain, a depression, a hill, uneven ground, a ditch, or a cave." Thus he took a resolve.
Then Somil Brahmarshi faced northwards and moved towards north for the great journey (journey unto death). While walking he arrived near an excellent Ashoka tree in the afternoon (third quarter of the day). He placed his basket and sling-pole under that Ashoka tree. Then he made a clean platform and plastered it with purifying pastes. After that he took the grassand a pitcher, walked to the Ganges, and like Shiva Rajarshi took his bath and performed other rituals. He then came out and returned to the Ashoka tree. Back there, he prepared a sacrificial platform with grass and sand. Taking the fire-wood he prepared two pieces of wood and with their help made fire and inflamed it by adding fire-wood. After performing all other rituals including the offerings to fire (as already mentioned) he covered his mouth with a strip of wood, took the vow of silence and sat down.
Aagam -21 - Pushpika
Compiled by - Deepratnasagar
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