ततः शुक्लाम्बराः स्नातास् तरुणाष्टोत्तरं शतम् ॥
स्नापकाः काञ्चनैः कुम्भैः पूर्णैः समुपतस्थिरे ॥
भद्रासने सूपविष्टः परिधायाम्बरं लघु ॥
सस्नौ चन्दनसंयुक्तैः पानीयैर् अभिमन्त्रितैः ॥
उत्सादितः कषायेण बलवद्भिः सुशिक्षितैः ॥
आप्लुतः साधिवासेन जलेन च सुगन्धिना ॥
tataḥ śuklāmbarāḥ snātās taruṇāṣṭottaraṃ śatam ||
snāpakāḥ kāñcanaiḥ kumbhaiḥ pūrṇaiḥ samupatasthire ||
bhadrāsane sūpaviṣṭaḥ paridhāyāmbaraṃ laghu ||
sasnau candanasaṃyuktaiḥ pānīyair abhimantritaiḥ ||
utsāditaḥ kaṣāyeṇa balavadbhiḥ suśikṣitaiḥ ||
āplutaḥ sādhivāsena jalena ca sugandhinā ||
Then a hundred and eight bathed youths in white, bath-attendants with full golden pitchers, presented themselves. Having seated himself on a comfortable seat, having put on a light garment, he bathed in waters mixed with sandalwood, consecrated with mantras; rubbed with an astringent [paste] by strong, well-trained [attendants], bathed with fragrant and sweet-smelling water.
6b2155e7854f · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
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The bathing is not merely bodily: the waters are "abhimantritaiḥ", consecrated with mantras. The number one hundred and eight is sacred, marking the fullness of the rite. It is telling that even care for the body in the righteous is clothed in the sacred word: outer purity is joined to inward purity. The verse teaches that in a pious order there is no realm cut off from the holy: even bathing is performed with mantra, and bodily care becomes part of the rite; thus the whole life of the righteous is sanctified by turning to the sacred.