CHARUCHARYA Part II

ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते पुरुषस्त्यजेन्निद्रामतन्त्रितः। प्रातः प्रबुद्धं कमलमाश्रयेच्छ्रीगुणाश्रया ॥ २॥

Brāhme prahṛtaṃ puruṣas tyajen nidrām atandritaḥ |
Prātaḥ prabuddhaṃ kamalam āśrayec chrīgaṇāśrayā || 2 ||

Translation:
          “A person, struck by the call of the Brahma-hour (early dawn), should abandon sleep and rise without laziness. Just as Lakṣmī, the embodiment of beauty and virtue, resides in the lotus that has awakened in the morning.”

A human being should give up laziness and wake up early during the Brāhma-muhūrta. Prosperity and beauty (Śrī), which depend upon good qualities, dwell in those who are alert and disciplined, just as Lakṣmī dwells in the lotus that blossoms at dawn.

पुण्यपूतश्शरीरः स्यात्‌ सततं स्नाननिर्मलः । तत्याज व्रत्रहा स्नानात्‌ पापं वृत्रवधार्जितम्‌॥२॥

Puṇya-pūtaś ca śarīraḥ syāt satataṃ snāna-nirmalaḥ |
Tatyāja vṛtrahā snānāt pāpaṃ vṛtra-vadhājitam || 3 ||

Translation:
          “The body should always be purified by meritorious acts and kept clean through regular bathing. Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, removed the sin incurred by killing Vṛtra through bathing.”

One should keep the body pure by performing virtuous deeds and maintain cleanliness through daily bathing. Just as Indra washed away the sin that arose from killing the demon Vṛtra by taking a ritual bath, a person can remove impurity and sin through cleanliness and righteous conduct.

 

न कुर्वीत क्रियां काञ्चिदनभ्यर्च्य महेश्वरम् । ईशार्चनरतं श्वेतं नाभून्नेतुं यमः क्षमः ॥ ४ ॥

Na vīta kriyāṁ kāñcid anabhyarcya Maheśvaram |
Śvetaḥ śivārataṁ śetaṁ nābhūmetuṁ Yamaḥ kṣamaḥ || 4 ||

Translation

“One should not perform any action without first worshipping Lord Maheshvara (Śiva). Because the sage Śveta was always engaged in the worship of Śiva, Yama, the god of death, was unable to take him to Yama-puri (the abode of death).”

This verse highlights the supreme importance of devotion to Lord Śiva. It teaches that no religious or worldly action should be undertaken without first remembering and worshipping God. Lord Maheshvara is described as the supreme protector of devotees. The example of Śveta Muni is given to emphasize this idea. Śveta Muni was deeply devoted to Śiva and spent his life in constant worship and meditation. Because of this unwavering devotion, Yama, the god who governs death, could not take him away at the destined time. This illustrates the belief that sincere devotion to God grants divine protection and even transcends the fear of death. The verse conveys that spiritual dedication has greater power than fate and that God’s grace can override all obstacles.

श्राद्धं श्रद्धान्वितं कुर्याच्छास्त्रोक्तेनैव वर्त्मना । स पिण्डं ददौ विद्वान् भीष्मः पाणौ न भूतले ॥ ५ ॥

Śrāddhaṁ śraddhānvitaṁ kuryāc chāstrokte naiva vartmanā |
Sa piṇḍaṁ dadau vidvān Bhīṣmaḥ pāṇau na bhūtale || 5 ||

Translation

“Śrāddha should be performed with faith and strictly according to the rules prescribed in the scriptures. Because of his firm faith, the learned Bhīṣma offered the piṇḍa (ritual food offering) directly into the hands of his father Śantanu, instead of placing it on the ground.”

This verse explains the proper performance of Śrāddha, a sacred ritual performed to honour ancestors. The scriptures prescribe specific rules and procedures for conducting this rite, and the verse emphasizes that it must be done with sincerity, faith, and correct method. Bhīṣma, who was a great scholar and righteous person, followed these principles perfectly. Due to his deep devotion and purity of intention, his father Śantanu appeared before him and personally accepted the piṇḍa (ritual food offering). This extraordinary event demonstrates the power of faith and correct ritual practice. It shows that when religious duties are performed with true devotion and adherence to scriptural guidance, the results become spiritually powerful and meaningful.