अब्रुवन्कस्यचिन्निन्दामात्मपूजामवर्णयन्। न कश्चिद्गुणसंपन्नः प्रकाशो भुवि दृश्यते
One who speaks ill of others and praises himself—no one endowed with virtue and brilliance is seen on earth behaving thus.
विकर्मणा तप्यमानः पापाद्विपरिमुच्यते। न तत्कुर्यां पुनरिति द्वितीयात्परिमुच्यते
One who is tormented by his own misdeeds is freed from sin; by resolving, 'I will not do this again,' he is released a second time.
कर्मणा येन केनापि पापात्मा द्विजसत्तम। एवं श्रुतिरियं ब्रह्मन्धर्मेषु प्रतिदृश्यते
By any act whatsoever, O best of twice-born, a sinful person—so it is heard in the scriptures—can be seen to be freed from sin in the teachings on righteousness.
पापनि बुद्ध्वेह पुरा कृतानि स्वधर्मशीलो विनिहन्ति पश्चात्। धर्मो ब्रह्मन्नुदते ब्राह्मणानां यत्कुर्वते पापमिह प्रमादात्
Having recognized the sins committed before, one devoted to his own duty destroys them afterwards; O Brahman, righteousness rises up for Brahmins when they, through negligence, commit sin here.
पापं कृत्वा हि मन्येत नाहमस्मीति पूरुषः। [तं तु देवाः प्रपश्यन्ति स्वस्यैवान्तरपूरुषः]
After committing sin, a person may think, 'I am not that'; but the gods, and his own inner self, truly see him.
चिकीर्षेदेव कल्यायणं श्रद्दधानोऽनसूयकः
One should act only for the good, with faith and without envy.
वसनस्येव च्छिद्राणइ साधूनां विवृणोति यः। `अपश्यन्नात्मनो दोषान्स पापः प्रेत्य नश्यति
Just as the holes in a garment reveal what is within, so too, one who does not see his own faults—such a sinner perishes after death.
पापं चेत्पुरुषः कृत्वा कल्याणमभिपद्यते। मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो महाभ्रेणेव चन्द्रमाः
If a person, having committed sin, turns toward the good, he is freed from all sins, like the moon emerging from a great cloud.
यथाऽऽदित्यः समुद्यन्वै तमः सर्वं व्यपोहति। एवं कल्याणमातिष्ठन्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Just as the rising sun dispels all darkness, so too, by practicing virtue, one is freed from all sins.
पापानां विद्ध्यधिष्ठानं लोभमोहौ द्विजोत्तम। `तस्मात्तौ विदुषा विप्र वर्जनीयौ विशेषतः
Know that the seat of sins is greed and delusion, O best of twice-born; therefore, a wise Brahmin should especially avoid these two.
लुबधाः पापं व्यवस्यन्ति नरा नातिबहुश्रुताः। अधर्म्या धर्मरूपेण तृणैः कूपा इवावृताः
Men who are greedy and not very learned resolve to commit sin; unrighteous, though appearing righteous, like wells covered with grass.
येषां पञ् पवित्राणि प्रलापा धर्मसंश्रितः। सर्वं हि विद्यते तेषु शिष्टाचारः सुदुर्लभः
Those whose words are always pure and rooted in righteousness—among them, all good conduct is found, though true cultured behavior is very rare.
स तु विप्रो महाप्राज्ञ धर्मव्याधमपृच्छत। शिष्टाचारं कथमहं विद्यामिति नरोत्तम
Then that wise Brahmin asked the righteous hunter: 'How may I know the conduct of the virtuous, O best of men?'
पञ्च कानि पवित्राणि शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा'। एतदिच्छामि भद्रं ते श्रोतुं धर्मभृतांवर। त्वत्तो महामते व्याध तद्ब्रवीहि यथातथम्
'What are the five purities always found in the conduct of the virtuous? I wish to hear this from you, O best among upholders of righteousness. O wise hunter, tell me this truly as it is.'
यज्ञो दानं तपो वेदाः सत्यं च द्विजसत्तम। पञ्चैतानि पवित्राणि शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा
Sacrifice, charity, austerity, the Vedas, and truth—these five are always pure among those of noble conduct, O best of twice-born.
कामक्रोधौ वशे कृत्वा दम्भं लोभमनार्जवम्। धर्ममित्येवं संतुष्टास्ते शिष्टाः शिष्टसंमताः
Having subdued desire and anger, and abandoning hypocrisy, greed, and dishonesty, those who are content in righteousness are the noble ones, esteemed by the noble.
न तेषां भिद्यते वृत्तं यज्ञस्वाध्यायशीलिनाम्। आचारपालनं चैव द्वितीयं शिष्टलक्षणम्
Their conduct does not deviate—those devoted to sacrifice and study; and the observance of proper conduct is indeed the second mark of the noble.
गुरुशुश्रूषणं सत्यमक्रोधो दानमेव च। एतच्चतुष्टयं ब्रह्मञ्शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा
Service to the teacher, truthfulness, absence of anger, and charity—these four, O Brahman, are always found among those of noble conduct.
शिष्टाचारे मनः कृत्वा प्रतिष्ठाप्य च सर्वशः। यामयं लभते तुष्टिं सा न शक्या ह्यतोऽन्यथा
Having fixed the mind on noble conduct and established it completely, the satisfaction one attains thereby cannot be gained otherwise.
वेदस्योपनिषत्सत्यं सत्यस्योपनिषद्दमः। दमस्योपनिषत्त्यागः शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा
Truth is the essence of the Veda; self-restraint is the essence of truth; renunciation is the essence of self-restraint—these are always among those of noble conduct.
ये तु धर्मानसूयन्ते बुद्धिमोहान्विता नराः। अपथा गच्छतां तेषामनुयाता च पीड्यते
But those men who, deluded in understanding, find fault with righteousness, they follow a wrong path, and whoever follows them is afflicted.
ये तु शिष्टाः सुनियताः श्रुतित्यागपरायणाः। धर्मपन्थानमारूढाः सत्यधर्मपरायणाः
But those noble ones, well-disciplined, devoted to study and renunciation, who have ascended the path of righteousness, are devoted to truth and righteousness.
नियच्छन्ति परां बुद्धिं शिष्टाचारान्विता जनाः। उपाध्यायमते युक्ताः स्थित्या धर्मार्थदर्शिनः
People endowed with noble conduct restrain their highest intelligence, are aligned with the teacher’s view, and, by steadfastness, perceive righteousness and purpose.
नास्तिकान्भिन्नमर्यादान्क्रूरान्पापमतौ स्थितान्। त्यज ताञ्ज्ञानमाश्रित्य धार्मिकानुपसेव्य च
Abandon those who are atheists, who violate boundaries, who are cruel and intent on evil—relying on discernment, associate with the righteous.
कामलोभग्रहाकीर्णं पञ्चेन्द्रियजलां नदीम्। नावं धृतिमयीं कृत्वा जन्मदुर्गाणि संतर
The river of the five senses is filled with the crocodiles of desire and greed; make a boat of steadfastness and cross the difficult straits of birth.
क्रमेण संचितो धर्मो बुद्धियोगमयो महान्। शिष्टाचारे भवेत्साधू रागः शुक्ले व वाससि
Righteousness, gradually accumulated and consisting of the union of intellect and discipline, becomes excellent in noble conduct, just as dye in a white garment.
अहिंसा सत्यवचनं सर्वभूतहितं परम्। अहिंसा परमो धर्मः स च सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः। सत्यं कृत्वा प्रतिष्ठां तु प्रवर्तन्ते प्रवृत्तयः
Non-injury, truthful speech, and the highest good for all beings—non-injury is the highest righteousness, and it is established in truth; when truth is established, all virtues proceed.
सत्यमेव गरीयस्तु शिष्टाचारनिषेवितम्। आचारश्च सतां धर्मः सन्तो ह्याचारलक्षणाः
Truth alone is weightier, practiced by those of noble conduct; and conduct is the righteousness of the good, for the good are characterized by conduct.
यो यथा प्रकृतिर्जन्तुः स स्वां प्रकृतिमश्नुते। पापात्मा क्रोधकामादीन्दोषानाप्नोत्यनात्मवान्
Whatever the nature of a being, so does it attain its own nature; one of evil mind, due to faults like anger and desire, attains those faults, lacking self-control.
आरम्भो न्याययुक्तो यः स हि धऱ्म इति स्मृतः। अनाचारस्त्वध्रमेति एतच्छिष्टानुशासनम्
That undertaking which is in accord with justice is called righteousness; improper conduct is unrighteousness—this is the instruction of the noble.