THE ELEVENTH BOOK Chapter II On cleansing the several parts of the body 1-42. Nārāyaṇa said: Even if a man studies the Vedas with six Amgas (limbs of the Vedas), he cannot be pure if he be devoid of the principle of right living (Sadāchāra) and if he does not practise it. All that is in vain. As soon as

THE ELEVENTH BOOK Chapter III On the glories of the Rudrākṣa beads 1-21. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: O Nārada! There are the six kinds of Āchamana: (1) Śuddha, (2) Smārta, (3) Paurāṇik, (4) Vaidik, (5) Tāntric and(6) Śrauta. The act of cleaning after evacuating oneself of urine and faeces is known as Śuddha Śaucha. After cleaning, the Āchamana, that is performed

THE ELEVENTH BOOK Chapter IV On the greatness of the Rudrākṣa 1-11. Nārada said: O Sinless one! The greatness of the Rudrākṣa seed that you have described is verily such. Now I ask why is this Rudrākṣa so much entitled to worship by the people. Please speak clearly on this point. Nārāyaṇa spoke: O Child! This is the very question

THE ELEVENTH BOOK Chapter V On the Rudrākṣam rosaries 1-14. Iśvara said: O Kārtikeya! Now I will speak how to count the Japam (repetition of the mantra) with the rosary. Hear. The face of Rudrākṣam is Brahmā; the upper summit point is Śiva and the tail end of Rudrākṣam is Viṣṇu. The Rudrākṣam has two-fold powers: It can give Bhoga

THE ELEVENTH BOOK Chapter VI On the greatness of Rudrākṣas 1-21. Iśvara said: O Kārtikeya! Kuśagranthi, Jīvapattrī and other rosaries cannot compare to one-sixteenth part of the Rudrākṣa rosary. As Viṣṇu is the best of all the Puruṣas, the Ganga is the best of all the rivers, Kaśyapa, amongst the Munis, Uchchaiśravā amongst the horses, Mahā Deva amongst the Devas,

THE ELEVENTH BOOK Chapter VII On the greatness of one faced, etc., Rudrākṣam 1-4. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: O Nārada! When Girīśā thus explained to Kārtikeya the greatness of Rudrākṣam, he became satisfied. Now I have spoken to you of the glories of the Rudrākṣas as far as I know. Now, as to our subject of right way of acting, I

THE ELEVENTH BOOK Chapter VIII On Bhūta Śuddhi 1-21. Nārāyaṇa said: O Great Muni! Now I shall tell you the rules of Bhūta Śuddhi, i.e., the purification of the elements of the body (by respiratory attraction and replacement, etc.). Firstly, think of the Highest Deity Kundalini (the Serpent Fire) as rising up in the hollow canal Suṣumnā in the Spinal

THE ELEVENTH BOOK Chapter IX On the rules of Śirovrata 1-43. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: The Brāhmaṇas that will perform duly the Śirovrata, to be described in the following, are the only ones who will attain very easily the highest knowledge, destroying all Avidyā or Ignorance. So much so that the rules of right living and right conduct as ordained in

THE ELEVENTH BOOK Chapter X On the subject of Gauṇa Bhaṣma 1-33. Nārāyaṇa said: O Knower of Brahmā! O Nārada! The ashes prepared from ordinary fire are secondary (Gauṇa). The greatness of this secondary ashes is to be considered by no means trifling; this also destroys the darkest ignorance and reveals the highest knowledge. It is of various kinds. Amongst