युधिष्ठिरैवमर्थेषु न स्पृहां कर्तुमर्हसि। धर्मेण यदि ते कार्यं विमुक्तेच्छो भवार्थतः
Yudhishthira, you should not desire such things; if you wish to act according to righteousness, seek liberation from material aims.
नार्थोपभोगलिप्सार्थमियमर्थेप्सुता मम। भरणार्थं तु विप्राणां ब्रह्मन्काङ्क्षे न लोभतः
My desire for wealth is not for enjoyment or indulgence, but only to provide for the Brahmins, not out of greed.
कथं ह्यस्मद्विधो ब्रह्मन्वर्तमानो गृहाश्रमे। भरणं पालनं चापि न कुर्यादनुयायिनाम्
How could someone like me, O Brahmin, living in the householder's stage, fail to provide for and protect those who depend on him?
संविभागो हि भूतानां सर्वेषामेव दृश्यते। तथैवापचमानेभ्यः प्रदेयं गृहमेधिना
Sharing is seen among all beings; likewise, a householder should give to those who come seeking.
तृणानि भूमिरुदकं वाक्चतुर्थी च सूनृता। सतामेतानि गेहेषु नोच्छिद्यन्ते कदाचन
Grass, earth, water, kind words, and truthful speech—these five things are never lacking in the homes of the virtuous.
देयमार्तस्य शयनं स्थितश्रान्तस्य चासनम्। तृषितस्य च पानीयं क्षुधितस्य च भोजनम्
A bed should be given to the distressed, a seat to the weary who stand, water to the thirsty, and food to the hungry.
चक्षुर्दद्यान्मनो दद्याद्वाचं दद्याच्च सूनृताम्। उत्थाय चासनं दद्यादेष धर्मः सनातनः। प्रत्युत्थायाभिगमनं कुर्यान्न्यायेन चार्चनाम्
One should give one's gaze, one's mind, one's words, and also speak kindly; rising up, one should offer a seat—this is the eternal law. One should rise to greet and properly honor a guest.
अग्निहोत्रमनड्वांश्च ज्ञातयोऽतिथिवान्धवाः। पुत्रा दाराश्च भृत्याश्च निर्दहेयुरपूजिताः
If not honored, the sacred fire, the grass for sitting, relatives, guests, the blind, sons, wives, and servants would all burn up (in anger or misfortune).
आत्मार्थं पाचयेन्नान्नं न वृथा घातयेत्पशून्। न चैकः स्वयमश्नीयाद्विधिवर्जं न निर्वपेत्
One should not cook food solely for oneself, nor kill animals needlessly; nor should one eat alone, or make offerings contrary to the prescribed rules.
श्वभ्यश्च श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद्भुवि। वैश्वदेवं हि नामैतत्सायं प्रातश्च दीयते
One should offer food on the ground to dogs, outcastes, and birds; this is called the Vaisvadeva offering, which is to be given both in the evening and in the morning.
विघसाशी भवेत्तस्मान्नित्यं चामृतभोजनः। विघसो भुक्तशेषं तु यज्ञशेषं तथाऽमृतम्
Therefore, one should always eat the remnants (vighasa), for such food is like nectar; vighasa is the leftover from what has been offered in sacrifice, and is indeed considered amrita (immortal nectar).
चक्षुर्दद्यान्मनो दद्याद्वाचं दद्याच्च सूनृताम्। अनुव्रजेदुपासीत स यज्ञः पञ्चदक्षिणः
One should give one's gaze, one's mind, one's words, and also speak kindly; one should follow and serve, for such a sacrifice is fivefold in its gifts.
यो दद्यादपरिक्लिष्टमन्नमद्वनि वर्तते। श्रान्तायादृष्टपूर्वाय तस्य पुण्यफलं महत्
Whoever gives unspoiled food to a weary traveler in the wilderness, to one never seen before, attains great merit.
एवं यो वर्तते वृत्तिं वर्तमानो गृहाश्रमे। तस्य धर्मं परंप्राहुः कथं वा विप्र मन्यसे
Thus, one who lives in the householder's stage in this way is said to follow the highest righteousness; what do you think, O Brahmin?
अहो बत महत्कष्टं विपरीतमिदं जगत्। येनापत्रपते साधुरसाधुस्तेन तुष्यति
Alas, how great is this suffering, how perverse is this world, where the virtuous are shamed, and the unworthy are pleased by it.
शिश्नोदरकृतेऽप्राज्ञः करोति विषसं बहु। मोहरागवशाक्रान्त इन्द्रियार्थवशानुगः
For the sake of his belly and lust, the foolish man commits many wrongs, overpowered by delusion and desire, following after the objects of the senses.
ह्रियते बुध्यमानोपि नरो हारिभिरिन्द्रियैः। विमूढसंज्ञो दुष्टाश्वैरुद्धान्तैरिव सारथिः
Even when he understands, a man is carried away by his thieving senses, his mind bewildered, like a charioteer dragged off by wild, unruly horses.
षडिन्द्रियाणि विषयं समागच्छन्ति वै यदा। तद्रा प्रादुर्भवत्यषां पूर्वसंकल्पजं मनः
When the six senses come into contact with their objects, then the mind, born of previous intentions, arises among them.
मनो यस्येन्द्रियस्येह विषयान्याति सेवितुम्। वस्यौत्सुक्यं संभवति प्रवृत्तिश्चोपजायते
When the mind of a sense seeks to enjoy its objects here, eagerness for them arises, and activity is born.
ततः संकल्पवीर्येण कामेन विषयेषुभिः। विद्धः पतति लोभाग्नौज्योतिर्लोभात्पतङ्गवत्
Then, pierced by the arrows of desire, empowered by intention, he falls into the fire of greed, like a moth drawn to a flame.
ततो दारैर्विहारैश्च मोहितश्च यथेप्सया। महामोहमुखे मग्नो नात्मानमवबुध्यते
Then, deluded by wives and pleasures as he wishes, he sinks into the jaws of great delusion, and does not recognize himself.
एवं पतति संसारे तासुतास्विह योनिषु। अविद्याकर्मतृष्णाभिर्भ्राम्यमाणोऽथ चक्रवत्
Thus he falls in the cycle of existence, here and there in various wombs, whirled about by ignorance, action, and craving, like a wheel.
ब्रह्मादिषु तृणान्तेषु भूतेषु परिवर्तते। जले भुवि तथाऽऽकाशे जायमानः पुनःपुनः
He moves among beings, from Brahma down to a blade of grass, being born again and again in water, on earth, and in the sky.
अबुधानां गतिस्त्वेषा बुधानामपि मे शृणु। ये धर्मे श्रेयसि रता विमोक्षरतयो जनाः
This is the fate of the unwise; but hear now of the wise, those devoted to the highest good, intent on liberation.
तदिदं वेदवचनं कुरु कर्म त्यजेति च। तस्माद्धर्मानिमान्सर्वान्नाभिमानात्समाचरेत्
This is the teaching of the Veda: 'Perform action, but renounce attachment.' Therefore, one should perform all these duties without pride.
इज्याध्ययनदानानि तपः सत्यं क्षमा दमः। अलोभ इतिमार्गोऽयं धर्ममस्याष्टविधः स्मृतः
Sacrifice, study, giving, austerity, truth, forgiveness, self-control, and absence of greed—this is said to be the eightfold path of dharma.
अत्र पूर्वश्चतुर्वर्गः पितृयाणपथे स्थितः। कर्तव्यमिति यत्कार्यं नाभिमानात्समाचरेत्
Of these, the first four belong to the path of the ancestors; whatever is to be done should be performed without pride.
उत्तरो देवयानस्तु सद्भिराचरितः सदा। अष्टाङ्गेनैव मार्गेण विशुद्धात्मा समाचरेत्
The higher, divine path is always practiced by the good; with a purified mind, one should follow it by the eightfold way.
सम्यक्संकल्पसंबन्धात्सम्यक्चेन्द्रियनिग्रहात्। सम्यग्द्व्रतविशेषाच्च सम्यक्च गुरुसेवनात्
Through right resolve, right restraint of the senses, right observance of vows, and right service to the teacher,
सम्यगाहारयोगाच्च सम्यक्चाध्ययनागमात्। सम्यक्कर्मोपसंन्यासात्सम्यक्चित्तनिरोधनात्
Through right practice of food, right study and learning, right renunciation of actions, and right control of the mind,