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.
अक्रुध्यन्तोऽनसूयन्तो निरहंकारमत्सराः। ऋजवः शमसंपन्नाः शिष्टाचारा भवन्ति ते
Those who do not become angry, do not find fault, are free from pride and envy, straightforward and endowed with calm—these are the ones of noble conduct.
त्रैविद्यवृद्धाः शुचयो वृत्तवन्तो मनस्विनः। गुरुशुश्रूषवो दान्ताः शिष्टाचारा भवन्त्युत
Those advanced in the threefold Veda, pure, of good conduct, disciplined in mind, devoted to serving their teachers, and self-restrained—these indeed are of noble conduct.
तेषामहीनसत्वानां दुष्कराचारकर्मणाम्। स्वैः कर्मभिः सत्कृतानां घोरत्वं संप्रणश्यति
For those of weak character, engaged in difficult and improper deeds, the severity of their condition is dispelled by their own virtuous actions.
तं तदाचारमाश्चर्यं पुराणं शाश्वतं ध्रुवम्। धर्म्यं धर्मेण पश्यन्तः स्वर्गं यान्ति मनीषिणः
Seeing that ancient, wondrous, eternal, and certain conduct, which is righteous by its very nature, the wise attain heaven.
आस्तिका मानहीनाश्च द्विजातिजनपूजकाः। श्रुतवृत्तोपसंपन्नास्ते सन्तः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who are faithful, free from arrogance, who honor twice-born people and elders, and who are endowed with learning and good conduct—these virtuous ones go to heaven.
वेदोक्तः प्रथमो धर्मो धर्मशास्त्रेषु चापरः। शिष्टाचीर्णश् शिष्टानां त्रिविधं धर्मलक्षणम्
The first kind of dharma is that declared in the Vedas; another is found in the treatises on dharma; and the conduct practiced by the virtuous—these are the three marks of dharma.
धारणं चापि वेदानां तीर्थानामवगाहनम्। क्षमा सत्यार्जवं शौचं शिष्टाचारनिदर्शनम्
The retention of the Vedas, bathing in sacred waters, patience, truthfulness, straightforwardness, purity—these are the signs of the conduct of the virtuous.
सर्वभूतदयावन्तो ह्यहिंसानिरताः सदा। परुषं च न भाषन्ते सदा सन्तो द्विजप्रियाः
Always compassionate to all beings, ever devoted to nonviolence, they do not speak harsh words; such virtuous ones are always dear to the twice-born.
शुभानामशुभानां च कर्मणां सबलाश्रयम्। विपाकमभिजानन्ति ते शिष्टाः शिष्टसंमताः
Those virtuous ones, esteemed by the virtuous, know the results, with their strengths, of both good and bad actions.
न्यायोपेता गुणोपेताः सर्वलोकहितैषिणः। सन्तः स्वर्गजितः शक्त्या सन्निविष्टाश्च सत्पथे। दातारः संविभक्तारो दीनानुग्रहकारिणः
Upright and endowed with virtues, wishing for the welfare of all worlds, the virtuous conquer heaven by their power, remain established on the good path, are givers, distributors, and benefactors of the distressed.