यावन्ति तस्यां रोमाणि वत्सस्य च युधिष्ठिर। तावद्युगसहस्राणि स्वर्लोके महीयते
As many hairs as are on her and on the calf, O Yudhishthira, for that many thousands of ages is one honored in heaven.
सुवर्णनासां यः कृत्वा सखुरां कृष्णधेनुकाम्। तिलैः प्रच्छादितां दद्यात्सर्वरत्नैरलंकृताम्
He who gives a black cow with golden nose-ring and hooves, covered with sesame seeds and adorned with all jewels—
प्रतिग्रहं गृहीत्वा यः पुनर्ददति साधवे। फलानां फलमश्नाति तदा दत्त्वा च भारत
He who, after accepting a gift, gives it again to a worthy person, O Bharata, enjoys the fruit of the fruits, having given thus.
ससमुद्रगुहा तेन सशैलवनकानना। चतुरन्ता भवेद्दत्ता पृथिवी नात्र संशयः
By that act, the earth with its oceans and caves, with its mountains, forests, and groves, up to the four ends, is given—of this there is no doubt.
अन्तर्जानुशयो यस्तु भुञ्जते सक्तभाजनः। यो द्विजः शब्दरहितं संयन्तुस्तारणाय वै
He who eats food placed between the knees, or who partakes from a vessel containing remnants, and the twice-born who recites without sound, are indeed restrained for the purpose of crossing over.
ये पानीयानि ददति तथाऽन्ये ये द्विजातयः। जपन्ति संहितां सम्यक्ते नित्यं तारणक्षमाः
Those who give water, and likewise other twice-born who properly recite the Samhita daily, are capable of delivering others.
हव्यंकव्यं च यत्किंचित्सर्वं तच्छ्रोत्रियोऽर्हति। दत्तं हि श्रोत्रिये साधौज्यलितेऽग्नौ यथा हुतम्
Whatever offerings to gods or ancestors there are, all these are fit for a Shrotriya; for what is given to a Shrotriya is as pure as clarified butter poured into fire.
मन्युप्रहरणा विप्रा न विप्राः शस्त्रयोधिनः। निहन्युर्मन्युना विप्रा वज्रपाणिरिवासुरान्
Brahmins wielding anger as their weapon are not warriors with arms; yet, with their wrath, they strike like Vajrapani against the demons.
धर्माश्रितेयं तु कथा कथिता हि तवानघ। यां श्रुत्वा मुनयः प्रीता नैमिषारण्यवासिनः
This discourse rooted in Dharma has been told to you, O sinless one, which, when heard, brought joy to the sages dwelling in Naimisha forest.
वीतशोकभयक्रोधा विपाप्मानस्तथैव च। श्रुत्वेमां तु कथां राजन्भवन्तीह तु मानवाः
Free from sorrow, fear, and anger, and likewise from sin, O king, those who hear this tale become so in this world.
किं तच्छौचं भवेद्येन विप्रः शुद्धः सदा भवेत्। तदिच्छामि महाप्राज्ञ श्रोतुं धर्मभृतांवर
What is that purity by which a Brahmin is always pure? I wish to hear this, O great sage, foremost among upholders of Dharma.
वाक्शौचं क्रमशौचं च यच्च शौचं जलात्मकम्। त्रिभिः शौचैरुपेतो यः स स्वर्गी नात्र संशयः
Purity of speech, purity of conduct, and that which is purity arising from water—he who possesses these three purities, there is no doubt, attains heaven.
सायं प्रातश्च संध्यां यो ब्राह्मणोऽभ्युपसेवते। प्रजपन्पावनीं देवीं गायत्रीं वेदमातरम्
A Brahmin who serves the twilight rituals morning and evening, reciting the sacred Gayatri, the mother of the Vedas, purifies himself.
स तया पावितो देव्या ब्राह्मणो नष्टकिल्बिषः। न सीदेत्प्रतिगृह्णानो महीमपि ससागराम्
Purified by that divine goddess, the Brahmin becomes free from sin; even if he accepts the earth with its oceans, he does not falter.
ये चास् दारुणा केचिद्ग्रहाः सूर्यादयो दिवि। ते चास्य सौम्या जायन्ते शिवाः शिवतराः सदा
Those harsh planets, some among the Sun and others in the sky, become gentle for him, always auspicious and even more beneficent.
सर्वेनानुगतं चैनं दारुणाः पिशिताशनाः। घोररूपा महाकाया धर्षयन्ति द्विजोत्तमम्
All those fierce, flesh-eating beings of dreadful form and great size follow him and assail the foremost of twice-born.
नाध्यापनाद्याजनाद्वा अन्यायाद्वा प्रतिग्रहात्। दोषो भवति विप्राणां ज्वलिताग्निससा द्विजाः
From teaching, officiating, or accepting gifts unjustly, no fault arises for Brahmins; twice-born are as pure as blazing fire.
दुर्वेदा वा सुवेदा वा प्राकृताः संस्कृतास्तथा। ब्राह्मणा नावमन्तव्या भस्मच्छन्ना इवाग्नयः
Whether poorly versed or well versed, unrefined or refined, Brahmins should not be despised, for they are like fires covered with ashes.
यथा श्मशाने दीप्तौजाः पावको नैव दुष्यति। एवं विद्वानविद्वान्वा ब्राह्मणो दैवतं महत्
Just as fire burning brightly in a cremation ground is not defiled, so too, whether learned or unlearned, a Brahmin is a great divinity.
प्राकरैश्च पुरद्वारैः प्रासादैश्च पृथग्विधैः। नगराणि न शोभन्ते हीनानि ब्राह्मणोत्तमैः
Cities adorned with walls, gates, and various palaces do not shine if they lack eminent Brahmins.
वेदाढ्ञा वृत्संपन्ना ज्ञानवन्तस्तपस्विनः। यत्रतिष्न्ति वै विप्रास्तन्नाम नगरं नृप
Where Brahmins reside, learned in the Vedas, possessing herds, knowledgeable and austere, that place, O king, is called a city.
व्रजे वाऽप्यथवाऽरण्ये यत्रसन्ति बहुश्रुताः। तत्तन्नगरमित्याहुः पार्थ तीर्थं च तद्भवेत्
Whether in a village or in a forest, wherever many learned ones dwell, that is called a city, O Partha, and that place becomes a sacred site.
रक्षितारं च राजानं ब्राह्मणं च तपस्विनम्। अभिगम्याभिपूज्याथ सद्यः पापात्प्रमुच्यते
By approaching and duly honoring a king who protects, or a Brahmin devoted to austerity, one is immediately freed from sin.
पुण्यतीर्थाभिषेकं च पवित्राणां च कीर्तनम्। सद्भिः संभाषणं चैव प्रशस्तं कीर्त्यते बुधैः
Bathing at holy fords, reciting the names of the pure, and conversing with the virtuous—these are praised by the wise.
साधुसङ्गमपूतेन वाक्सुभाषितवारिणा। पवित्रीकृतमात्मानं सन्तो मन्न्ति नित्यशः
The good declare that one whose self is purified by the company of the righteous and by the water of well-spoken words is ever pure.
त्रिदण्डधारणं मौनं जटाभारोऽथ मुण्डनम्। वल्कलाजिनसंवेष्टं व्रतचर्याऽभिषेचनम्
Carrying the triple staff, silence, matted locks or a shaven head, wearing bark or skins, and performing vows—
अग्निहोत्रं वने वासः शरीरपरिशोषणम्। सर्वाण्येतानि मिथ्या स्युर्यदि भावो न निर्मलः
Agnihotra, dwelling in the forest, mortifying the body—all these are in vain if the mind is not pure.
विशुद्धिं चक्षुरादीनां षण्णामिन्द्रियगामिनाम्। विकारि तेषां राजेन्द्र सुदुष्करतरं मनः
O king, purification of the six senses—sight and the rest—is possible, but the mind, which is ever restless, is most difficult to master.
ये पापानि न कुर्वन्ति मनोवाक्कर्मबुद्धिभिः। ते तपन्ति महात्मानो न शरीरस्य शोषणम्
Those great souls who do not commit sins by mind, speech, action, or intellect truly practice austerity, not those who merely torment the body.
न ज्ञातिभ्यो दया यस्य शुक्लदेहोऽविकल्मषः। हिंसा सा तपसस्तस्य नानाशित्वं तपः स्मृतम्
He whose heart is not compassionate to his kin, though his body be pure and unstained, his violence is called austerity, and diverse eating is considered penance.