एकाश्रमं गृहस्थस्य त्रयाणां मूर्तिदर्शनम्
For the householder, one āśrama is the vision of the three forms.
परित्यजेदर्थकामौ यौ स्यातां धर्मवर्जितौ
One should abandon wealth and desire if they are devoid of dharma.
तडागस्य च सान्निध्ये तडागं परिवर्जयेत्
Even in the presence of a pond, one should avoid the pond.
धर्मात्संजायते ह्यर्थो धर्मात्कामोऽभिजायते
From dharma arises wealth, and from dharma, desire is also born.
धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च त्रिवर्गस्त्रिगुणो मतः 2.1.1.
Dharma, artha, and kāma are considered the threefold aim, possessing three qualities.
ऊर्ध्वं गच्छंति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठंति राजसाः
Those established in sattva rise upward; those in rajas remain in the middle.
यस्मिन्धर्मः समायुक्तो ह्यर्थकामौ व्यवस्थितौ
In that in which righteousness is joined, and the pursuits of wealth and desire are established,
तस्मादर्थं च कामं च युक्त्वा धर्मं समाश्रयेत्
Therefore, one should unite wealth and desire with righteousness and take refuge in righteousness.
एवं धर्मस्य मध्येऽयं चतुर्वर्गः प्रदर्शितः माहात्म्यं वानुतिष्ठेच्च स चानंत्याय कल्पते
Thus, in the midst of righteousness, this fourfold aim of life is shown; and one who upholds its greatness attains the eternal.
तस्मादर्थं च कामं च मुक्त्वा धर्मं समाचरेत्
Therefore, setting aside wealth and desire, one should practice righteousness.
धर्मेण धार्यते सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजंगमम्
By righteousness, all the world—both moving and unmoving—is sustained.
कर्मणा प्राप्यते धर्मो ज्ञानेन च न संशयः
Righteousness is attained through action and through knowledge; of this there is no doubt.
प्रवृत्तिश्च निवृत्तिश्च द्विविधं कर्म वैदिकम्
There are two kinds of Vedic action: engagement and withdrawal.
निवृत्तिं सेवमानस्तु याति तत्परमं पदम्
But one who practices withdrawal attains that supreme state.
शमो दमो दया दानमलोभस्त्याग एव च 2.1.1.
Calmness, self-control, compassion, charity, absence of greed, and renunciation—
सत्यं संतोष आस्तिक्यं श्रद्धा चेन्द्रियनिग्रहः
Truthfulness, contentment, faith in the divine, trust, and control of the senses—
अहिंसा सत्यवादित्वमपैशुन्यं सुकल्पता
Nonviolence, speaking truth, absence of malice, and good resolve—
श्रद्धापूर्वाः स्मृता धर्माः श्रद्धामध्ये तु संस्थिताः
Righteous acts are said to arise from faith, and they are established within faith.
प्राजापत्यं ब्राह्मणानां श्रुतं स्थानं क्रियावताम्
For Brahmins who perform rituals, the place of the progenitors and the Vedas is declared.
वैश्यानाममृतं स्थानं स्वधर्ममनुवर्तताम्
For Vaisyas who follow their own duty, the place of immortality is declared.
अष्टाशीति सहस्राणां मुनीनामूर्ध्वरेतसाम्
For the eighty-eight thousand sages who are celibate,
सप्तर्षीणां तु यत्स्थानं श्रुतं तद्वै वनौकसाम्
The place of the seven seers is said to be that of the forest-dwellers.
यतीनां यतचित्तानां तदेव वनवासिनाम्
For ascetics whose minds are restrained, that is indeed the place of those who dwell in the forest.
योगिनाममृतं स्थानं व्योमाख्यं परमाकरम्
For yogis, the place of immortality is the supreme abode called the sky.
सृष्टिवर्णनम् वक्ष्ये कल्पानुसारेण मन्वतरशतानुगम्
I shall describe creation in accordance with the cycles of time, following the hundreds of Manvantaras.
आसीत्तमोमयं सर्वमप्रज्ञातमलक्षणम्
All was composed of darkness, unmanifest, without discernible characteristics.
आत्मना स्वयमात्मानं सञ्चित्य भगवान्विभुः
The Lord, the all-pervading one, having gathered Himself by His own power, manifested Himself.
अहंकारात्प्रजानाति महाभूतानि पञ्च च
From ego, He produces the living beings and the five great elements.
शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गंधस्तथैव च
Sound, touch, form, taste, and likewise smell.
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव गुणाः प्रोक्तास्तु ते त्रयः
Sattva, rajas, and tamas—these three are declared to be the qualities.