स्त्रीषु राजसु सर्पेषु स्वाध्यायप्रभुशत्रुषु । भोगेष्वायुषि विश्वासं कः प्राज्ञः कर्तुमर्हति
Who, being wise, would place trust in women, kings, serpents, those learned in recitation, masters, enemies, pleasures, or life itself?
प्रज्ञाशरेणाभिहतस्य जन्तो- श्चिकित्सकाः सन्ति न चौषधानि । न होममन्त्रा न च मङ्गलानि नाथर्वणा नाप्यगदाः सुसिद्धाः
For a person struck by the arrow of wisdom, there are healers but no medicines; neither sacrificial mantras, nor auspicious rites, nor Atharvan spells, nor even well-prepared antidotes are effective.
सर्पश्चाग्निश्च सिंहश्च कुलपुत्रश्च भारत। नावज्ञेया मनुष्येण सर्वे ह्येतेऽतितेजसः
O descendant of Bharata, a serpent, fire, lion, and a noble son—none of these should be underestimated by a person, for all of them possess immense power.
अग्निस्तेजो महल्लोके गूढस्तिष्ठति दारुषु। न चोपयुङ्क्ते तद्दारु यावन्नोद्दीप्यते परैः
The brilliance of fire, though great in the world, remains hidden within wood; that wood does not manifest fire until it is kindled by others.
स एव खलु दारुभ्यो यदा निर्मथ्य दीप्यते। तद्दारु च वनं चान्यन्निर्दहत्याशु तेजसा
But when that very fire is produced by friction from the wood, it quickly burns that wood and the entire forest with its energy.
एवमेव कुले जाताः पावकोपमतेजसः। क्षमावन्तो निराकाराः काष्ठेऽग्निरिव शेरते
In the same way, those born in noble families, possessing fire-like energy, remain patient and unassuming, lying dormant like fire in wood.
लताधर्मा त्वं सपुत्रः सालः पाण्डुसुता मताः। न लता वर्धते जातु महाद्रुममनाश्रिता
You and your sons, O son of Pāṇḍu, are considered like a creeper, while the Sāla tree is your support; a creeper never grows without clinging to a great tree.
वनं राजंस्तव पुत्रोऽम्बिकेय सिंहान्वने पाण्डवांस्तात विद्धि। सिंहैर्विहीनं हि वनं विनश्येत् सिंहा विनश्येयुर्ऋते वनेन
O King, your son is the forest, and the sons of Ambikā are the lions in that forest; know, father, that if the lions leave, the forest perishes, and without the forest, the lions too would be destroyed.
ऊर्ध्वं प्राणा ह्युत्क्रामन्ति यूनः स्थविर आयति। प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादाभ्यां पुनस्तान्प्रतिपद्यते
The life-breaths depart upwards from a young man when an elder approaches; by rising and offering respect, he regains them once more.
पीठं दत्त्वा साधवेऽभ्यागताय आनीयापः परिनिर्णिज्य पादौ। सुखं पृष्ट्वा प्रतिवेद्यात्मसंस्थां ततो दद्यादन्नमवेक्ष्य धीरः
Having offered a seat to a worthy guest who has arrived, bringing water and washing his feet, after inquiring about his comfort and reporting one's own well-being, the wise man should then offer food, having considered carefully.
यस्योदकं मधुपर्कं च गां च न मन्त्रवित्प्रतिगृह्णाति गेहे । लोभाद्भयादथ कार्पण्यतो वा तस्यानर्थं जीवितमाहुरर्याः
If a guest who knows the mantras does not accept water, the madhuparka, or a cow in someone's house—whether from greed, fear, or miserliness—the noble say that person's life is fruitless.
चिकित्सकः शल्यकर्तावकीर्णी स्तेनः क्रूरो मद्यपो भ्रूणहा च। सेनाजीवी श्रुतिविक्रायकश्च भृशं प्रियोऽप्यतिथिर्नोदकार्हः
A physician, a surgeon, an outcaste, a thief, a cruel man, a drunkard, a slayer of the unborn, a mercenary, a seller of sacred knowledge—even if dear, such a guest does not deserve water.
अविक्रेयं लवणं पक्वमन्नं दधि क्षीरं मधु तैलं घृतं च। तिला मांसं फलमूलानि शाकं रक्तं वासः सर्वगन्धा गुडाश्च
Salt, cooked food, curd, milk, honey, oil, and ghee; sesame, meat, fruits and roots, vegetables, red cloth, all perfumes, and jaggery—these must never be sold.
अरोषणो यः समलोष्ठाश्मकाञ्चनः प्रहीणशोको गतसन्धिविग्रहः । निन्दाप्रशंसोपरतः प्रियाप्रिये त्यजन्नुदासीनवदेष भिक्षुकः
He who is without anger, regards clod, stone, and gold alike, is free from sorrow, has abandoned all disputes, is indifferent to praise and blame, to pleasant and unpleasant things, and lives detached—such is the true mendicant.
नीवारमूलेङ्गुदशाकवृत्तिः सुसंयतात्माग्निकार्येषु चोद्यः। वने वसन्नतिथिष्वप्रमत्तो धुरन्धरः पुण्यकृदेष तापसः
One who lives on wild rice, ingudi fruit, and vegetables, who is self-controlled, diligent in tending the sacred fire, dwelling in the forest, attentive to guests, bearing burdens, and performing virtuous acts—such is the true ascetic.
अपकृत्य बुद्धिमतो दूरस्थोऽस्मीति नाश्वसेत्। दीर्घौ बुद्धिमतो बाहू याभ्यां हिंसति हिंसितः
Having wronged a wise man, let no one feel secure by thinking, 'I am far away'; for the arms of the wise are long, and he strikes even those who have harmed him from afar.
न विश्वसेदविश्वस्ते विश्वस्ते नातिविश्वसेत्। विश्वासाद्भयमुत्पन्नं मूलान्यपि निकृन्तति
One should not trust the untrustworthy, nor place excessive trust in the trustworthy; from trust arises fear, and it can even cut down the very roots.
अनीर्षुर्गुप्तदारश्च संविभागी प्रियंवदः। श्लक्ष्णो मधुरवाक्स्त्रीणां न चासां वशगो भवेत्
He who is without envy, guards another's wife, shares with others, speaks kindly, is gentle and sweet in speech to women, but does not become subject to them—such is the ideal.
पूजनीया महाभागाः पुण्याश्च गृहदीप्तयः। स्त्रियः श्रियो गृहस्योक्तास्तस्माद्रक्ष्या विशेषतः
Women of great fortune are to be honored; they are auspicious, the lights of the household. Women are said to be the prosperity of the home; therefore, they must be especially protected.
पितुरन्तःपुरं दद्यान्मातुर्दद्यान्महानसम्। गोषु चात्मसमं दद्यात्स्वयमेव कृषिं व्रजेत्। भृत्यैर्वाणिज्यचारं च पुत्रैः सेवेत च द्विजान्
One should assign the inner apartments to the father, the kitchen to the mother, and regard cows as oneself. One should personally go to the fields, and entrust trade and travel to servants, and service to the twice-born to sons.
अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम्। तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति
Fire arises from water, the warrior class from the priestly, and iron from stone; the energy of each, though present everywhere, subsides in its own source.
नित्यं सन्तं कुले जाताः पावकोपमतेजसः। क्षमावन्तो निराकाराः काष्ठेऽग्निरिव शेरते
Those born in noble families are always present, possessing the brilliance of fire; patient and without arrogance, they lie dormant like fire in wood.
यस्य मन्त्रं न जानन्ति बाह्याश्चाभ्यन्तराश्च ये। स राजा सर्वतश्चक्षुश्चिरमैश्वर्यमश्नुते
The king whose secrets are unknown to both outsiders and insiders enjoys sovereignty for a long time, seeing all with his eyes.
करिष्यन्न प्रभाषेत कृतान्येव तु दर्शयेत्। धर्मकामार्थकार्याणि तथा मन्त्रो न भिद्यते
One should not speak of what is to be done, but show only what has been accomplished; thus, matters of righteousness, desire, and wealth, as well as counsel, are not divulged.
गिरिपृष्ठमुपारुह्य प्रासादं वा रहोगतः। अरण्ये निःशलाके वा तत्र मन्त्रोऽभिधीयते
Ascending a mountain slope, or in a secluded palace, or in a forest without huts—there, counsel is to be discussed.
नासुहृत्परमं मन्त्रं भारतार्हति वेदितुम्। अपण्डितो वापि सुहृत्पण्डितो वाप्यनात्मवान्
O Bharata, a true friend does not deserve to know the highest counsel, nor does an unlearned friend, nor a learned one who lacks self-control.
नापरीक्ष्य महीपालः कुर्यात्सचिवमात्मनः। अमात्ये ह्यर्थलिप्सा च मन्त्ररक्षणमेव च
A ruler should not appoint a minister without examination; for in a minister, both desire for gain and the protection of counsel exist.
कृतानि सर्वकार्याणि यस्य पारिषदा विदुः। धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च स राजा राजसत्तमः
He whose counselors know all his affairs—concerning righteousness, wealth, and desire—he is the foremost among kings.
गूढमन्त्रस्य नृपतेस्तस्य सिद्धिरसंशयम् ।। अप्रशस्तानि कार्याणि यो मोहादनुतिष्ठति
There is no doubt that the king whose counsel is secret attains success. One who, out of delusion, undertakes unworthy actions—
स तेषां विपरिभ्रंशाद्भ्रश्यते जीवितादपि ।। कर्मणां तु प्रशस्तानामनुष्ठानं सुखावहम्
He, by deviating from them, falls even from life itself. But the performance of worthy deeds brings happiness.