किंस्वित्कृत्वा लभते तात लोका- न्मर्त्यः श्रेष्ठांस्तपसा विद्यया च। तन्मे पृष्टः शंस सर्वं यथाव- च्छुभाँल्लोकान्येन गच्छेत्क्रमेण
By what actions does a mortal, O dear one, attain the highest worlds—by austerity or by knowledge? Asked by me, tell me all this as it is, by which one may gradually reach auspicious worlds.
पुंसः सदैवेति वदन्ति सन्तः
The wise always say this is the way for a person.
अधीयानः पण्डितंमन्यमानो यो विद्यया हन्ति यशः परेषाम्। तस्यान्तवन्तश्च भवन्ति लोका न चास्य तद्ब्रह्म फलं ददाति
He who, considering himself learned, studies but destroys the fame of others by his knowledge—his worlds are perishable, and that Brahman does not grant him its fruit.
चत्वारि कर्माण्यभयङ्कराणि भयं प्रयच्छन्त्ययथाकृतानि। मानाग्निहोत्रमुत मानमौनं मानेनाधीतमुत मानयज्ञः
There are four acts, dangerous and fearsome, which, if performed improperly, bring fear: pride in the fire-offering, pride in silence, pride in study, and pride in sacrifice.
न मानमान्यो मुदमाददीत न सन्तापं प्राप्नुयाच्चावमानात्। सन्तः सतः पूजयन्तीह लोके नासाधवः साधुबुद्धिं लभन्ते
Let no one take joy in being honored, nor suffer distress from being dishonored. The good honor the good in this world; the wicked do not attain the mind of the virtuous.
इति दद्यामिति यज इत्यदीय इति व्रतम्। इत्येतानि भयान्याहुस्तानि वर्ज्यानि सर्वशः
"I will give," "I will sacrifice," "This is mine," "This is my vow"—these, they say, are causes of fear, and all these should be completely avoided.
ये चाश्रयं वेदयन्ते पुराणं मनीषिणो मानसमार्गरुद्धम्। तन्निःश्रेयस्तेन संयोगमेत्य परां शान्तिं प्रत्युः प्रेत्य चेह
Those wise ones who realize the ancient refuge, whose minds are restrained on the path of thought, attain supreme blessedness by union with that, and after death, and here, they reach the highest peace.
चरन्गृहस्थः कथमेति धर्मान्कथं भिक्षुः कथमाचार्यकर्मा। वानप्रस्थः सत्पथे सन्निविष्टो बहून्यस्मिन्संप्रति वेदयन्ति
How does the wandering householder practice righteousness? How does the mendicant? How does the teacher perform his duties? The forest-dweller, established on the right path, experiences many things in this life.
आहूताध्यायी गुरुकर्मस्वचोद्यः पूर्वोत्थायी चरमं चोपशायी। मृदुर्दान्तो धृतिमानप्रमत्तः स्वाध्याशीलः सिध्यति ब्रह्मचारी
He who is called to study, serves the teacher, rises early, and lies down last; who is gentle, self-controlled, steadfast, and vigilant, devoted to self-study—such a brahmacārin succeeds.
धर्मागतं प्राप्य धनं यजेत दद्यात्सदैवातिथीन्भोजयेच्च। अनाददानश्च परैरदत्तं सैषा गृहस्थोपनिषत्पुराणी
Having obtained wealth by righteous means, one should perform sacrifices, always give, and feed guests; not taking what is not given by others—this is the ancient teaching for the householder.
स्ववीर्यजीवी वृजिनान्निवृत्तो दाता परेभ्यो न परोपतापी। तादृङ्मुनिः सिद्धिमुपैति मुख्यां वसन्नरण्ये नियताहारचेष्टः
Living by his own strength, abstaining from wrongdoing, giving to others and never causing harm, such a sage—dwelling in the forest, disciplined in food and conduct—attains the highest perfection.
अशिल्पजीवी गुणवांश्चैव नित्यं जितेन्द्रियः सर्वतो विप्रयुक्तः। अनोकशायी लघुरल्पप्रसार- श्चरन्देशानेकचरः स भिक्षुः
He does not live by crafts, is ever virtuous, has mastered his senses, is detached from all, sleeps without a home, is light and of little movement, wanders through many lands—such is the mendicant.
रात्र्या यया वाऽभिजिताश्च लोका भवन्ति कामाभिजिताः सुखाश्च। तामेव रात्रिं प्रयतेत विद्वा- नरण्यसंस्थो भवितुं यतात्मा
The night by which worlds are conquered, and desires and pleasures are overcome—striving for that very night, the wise man, self-controlled and dwelling in the forest, should seek to become.
दशैव पूर्वान्दश चापरांश्च ज्ञातीनथात्मानमथैकविंशम्। अरण्यवासी सुकृते दधाति विमुच्यारण्ये स्वशरीरधातून्
He regards ten ancestors before, ten descendants after, and himself as the twenty-first; the forest-dweller, performing good deeds, relinquishes his bodily elements in the forest and is freed.
कतिस्विदेव मुनयः कति मौनानि चाप्युत। भवन्तीति तदाचक्ष्व श्रोतुमिच्छामहे वयम्
How many sages are there, and how many forms of silence exist? Tell us this, for we wish to hear.
अरण्ये वसतो यस्य ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः। ग्रामे वा वसतोऽरण्यं स मुनिः स्याज्जनाधिप
For one who dwells in the forest, if a village lies behind him, or for one who lives in a village, if the forest lies behind him, that sage is lord among men.
कथंस्विद्वसतोऽरण्ये ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः। ग्रामे वा वसतोऽरण्यं कथं भवति पृष्ठतः
How does it happen that, while dwelling in the forest, a village lies behind, or while living in a village, the forest lies behind?
न ग्राम्यमुपयुञ्जीत य आरण्यो मुनिर्भवेत्। तथास्य वसतोऽरण्ये ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः
The sage who is a forest-dweller should not use anything belonging to the village; thus, while he dwells in the forest, the village lies behind him.
अनग्निरनिकेतश्चाप्यगोत्रचरणो मुनिः। कौपीनाच्छादनं यावत्तावदिच्छेच्च चीवरम्
The sage is without fire, without a fixed abode, and wanders without family ties; as long as he has only a loincloth for covering, so long should he desire a robe.
यावत्प्राणाभिसन्धानं तावदिच्छेच्च भोजनम्। तथाऽस्य वसतो ग्रामेऽरण्यं भवति पृष्ठतः
As long as the intention to sustain life remains, so long should he desire food; thus, while dwelling in the village, the forest lies behind him.
यस्तु कामान्परित्यज्य त्यक्तकर्मा जितेन्द्रियः। आतिष्ठेच्च मुनिर्मौनं स लोके सिद्धिमाप्नुयात्
He who, abandoning desires and actions, having mastered his senses, adopts the sage's silence—such a one attains perfection in this world.
धौतदन्तं कृत्तनखं सदा स्नातमलङ्कृतम्। असितं सितकर्माणं कस्तमर्हति नार्चितुम्
Who would not worship one whose teeth are clean, nails trimmed, always bathed and adorned, who is dark but performs pure deeds?
तपसा कर्शितः क्षामः क्षीणमांसास्थिशोणितः। स च लोकमिमं जित्वा लोकं विजयते परम्
Emaciated by austerity, thin, with flesh, bones, and blood diminished—having conquered this world, he attains the higher world.
यदा भवति निर्द्वन्द्वो मुनिर्मौनं समास्थितः। अथ लोकमिमं जित्वा लोकं विजयते परम्
When the sage, established in silence, becomes free from dualities, then, having conquered this world, he attains the supreme world.
आस्येन तु यदाऽहारं गोवन्मृगयते मुनिः। अथास्य लोकः सर्वोऽयं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते
When the sage seeks his food with his mouth like a cow, then this entire world becomes fit for his immortality.
सामान्यधर्मः सर्वेषां क्रोधो लोभो द्रुहाऽक्षमा। विहाय मत्सरं शाठ्यं दर्पं दम्भं च पैशुनम्। क्रोधं लोभं ममत्वं च यस्य नास्ति स धर्मवित्
The common duty for all is to abandon anger, greed, malice, and impatience; forsaking envy, deceit, pride, hypocrisy, and slander—he who has no anger, greed, or possessiveness is a knower of dharma.
नित्याशनो ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थो वनगो मुनिः। नाधर्ममशनात्प्राप्येत्कथं ब्रूहीह पृच्छते
Whether always eating, a celibate, a householder, a forest-dweller, or a sage—one should not incur unrighteousness through food; tell us how this is so, for we ask.
अष्टौ ग्रासा मुनेः प्रोक्ताः षोडशारण्यवासिनः। द्वात्रिंशत्तु गृहस्थस्य अमितं ब्रह्मचारिणः
Eight mouthfuls are prescribed for the sage, sixteen for the forest-dweller, thirty-two for the householder, and unlimited for the celibate.
इत्येवं कारणैर्ज्ञेयमष्टकैतच्छुभाशुभम्
Thus, by these reasons, one should understand the auspicious and inauspicious results of the Aṣṭakā.
कतरस्त्वनयोः पूर्वं देवानामेति साम्यताम्। उभयोर्धावतो राजन्सूर्याचन्द्रमसोरिव
Which of these two, O King, reaches the gods first, as they both hasten like the sun and the moon?