Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 49
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
एतानि मनसा ध्यात्वा अवगाहेत् ततो जलम् । तथा मुच्यति पापेन राहुणा चन्द्रमा यथा
etāni manasā dhyātvā avagāhet tato jalam | tathā mucyati pāpena rāhuṇā candramā yathā ||
释迦罗说道：“先于心中观想这些圣处，然后入水沐浴。如此便能脱离罪垢——正如月亮从罗睺的攫取中得以解脱。”
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Inner recollection and contemplation of the prescribed principles should precede outward ritual; when mental purification is joined to bathing, it becomes an effective means of release from sin—illustrated by the Moon’s release from Rāhu.
Indra (Śakra) instructs that after mentally reflecting on the preceding injunctions, one should immerse in water; this combined practice is said to remove sin, compared to the Moon emerging free after being seized by Rāhu (the eclipse motif).