The Essence of the Tantra· 20.46 / 65

The Essence of the Tantra20.46

20.46

ततो महोत्सवः कार्यः चातुर्मास्यं सप्तदिनं त्रिदिनं च इति मुख्यान्वापत्कल्पाः सति विभवे मासि मासि पवित्रकम् अथ वा चतुर्षु मासेषु अथ वा सकृत् तदकरणे प्रायश्चित्तं जपेत् ज्ञानी अपि सम्भवद्वित्तो ऽपि अकरणे प्रत्यवैति लोभोपहितज्ञानाकरणे ज्ञाननिन्दापत्तेः

Transliteration (IAST)

tato mahotsavaḥ kāryaḥ cāturmāsyaṃ saptadinaṃ tridinaṃ ca iti mukhyānvāpatkalpāḥ sati vibhave māsi māsi pavitrakam atha vā caturṣu māseṣu atha vā sakṛt tadakaraṇe prāyaścittaṃ japet jñānī api sambhavadvitto 'pi akaraṇe pratyavaiti lobhopahitajñānākaraṇe jñānanindāpatteḥ

— a great festival ; — is to be performed ; — lasting four months ; — seven days, three days ; — the principal and the emergency procedures ; — when there are means (wealth) ; — every month ; — the pavitraka (sacred cord-offering rite) ; — once ; — in not performing it ; — should recite an expiation ; — even one with knowledge, even one possessing wealth ; — incurs fault by non-performance ; — in not enacting knowledge when withheld through greed ; — because of incurring contempt for the knowledge

After that a great festival is to be performed — lasting four months, seven days, or three days: these are the principal and the emergency forms. When one has the means, the pavitraka should be done every month, or in four-month intervals, or at least once. For not performing it one should recite an expiation. Even one who possesses knowledge, even one who possesses the means, incurs fault by its non-performance; for when knowledge is withheld through greed and so left unenacted, contempt for the knowledge itself is incurred.