भास्कर उवाच स्मृतिधर्मं वेदमूलं शृणु त्वं गरुडाग्रज
Bhaskara said: Hear from me, elder brother of Garuda, the dharma according to smriti, which is rooted in the Veda.
धर्मः क्रियात्मा निर्दिष्टः श्रेयोभ्युदयलक्षणः
Dharma is described as action-based, characterized by the attainment of welfare and prosperity.
अस्य शब्दस्यानुष्ठानात्स्वर्गो मोक्षश्च जायते
By performing the duties prescribed by this word, both heaven and liberation are attained.
कस्य भेदास्तु ते पंच ब्रूहि मे देवसत्तम
Of what are there five kinds of distinctions? Tell me, O best of gods.
भास्कर उवाच वेदधर्मः स्मृतस्त्वेक आश्रमाणां स तत्परः 1.181.
Bhaskara said: The dharma of the Veda is said to be one, and it is supreme among the ashramas.
वर्णत्वमेकमाश्रित्य अधिकारे प्रवर्तते
Relying on a single varna, eligibility is established.
वर्णाश्रमाश्रमत्वं च योधिकृत्य प्रवर्तते
And the distinction of varna and ashrama proceeds according to their respective duties.
यो गुणेन प्रवर्तेत स गुणो धर्म उच्यते
That which is performed according to quality is called the dharma of that quality.
निमित्तमेकमाश्रित्य यो धर्मः संप्रवर्तते
That dharma which proceeds relying on a single cause is established.
एष तु द्विविधः प्रोक्तः समासादविशेषतः
This, indeed, is said to be twofold: in summary and in detail.
स चतुर्धा निरूप्यस्तु स्वरूपफलसाधनैः
And it is to be explained in four ways: by its nature, its result, its means, and its purpose.
श्रुत्या सह विरोधे तु बाध्यते विषयं विना
When there is a contradiction with the shruti, it is set aside, except for its subject matter.
स्मृत्या सह विरोधेन चार्थशास्त्रस्य साधनम्
When there is a contradiction with smriti, the means of the science of wealth is considered.
अदृष्टार्थे विकल्पस्तु व्यवस्थासंभवे सति
When the meaning is not seen, and determination is not possible, an alternative is allowed.
वेदमूले स्थितं त्वेतदनुष्ठानं क्रिया सती 1.181.
This practice, truly, is established on the foundation of the Veda, and is a valid action.
निषेधविधिरूपं तु द्विधा शास्त्रं खगाधिप
O lord of birds, the scripture is twofold in the form of injunction and prohibition.
पंचप्रकाराः स्मृतय एवं शिष्यव्यवस्थिताः
Thus, the smritis are established for disciples in five forms.
दृष्टार्था तु स्मृतिः काचिददृष्टार्था तथापरा सर्वा एता वेदमूलाः स्मृता वै ऋषिभिः स्वयम्
Some smritis pertain to visible results, and others to invisible results; all these are said by the sages to be rooted in the Veda.
अरुण उवाच या एता भवता प्रोक्ताः स्मृतयः पर्वगोपने
Aruna said: The smritis you have spoken of, concerning the observance of festivals—
दृष्टार्था का मता देव अदृष्टार्था च का भवेत् अनुवादस्मृतिः का स्यादृष्टादृष्टा तु का भवेत्
Which are considered to pertain to visible results, O Deva, and which to invisible results? What is called anuvada-smriti, and what is both visible and invisible?
एवमुक्तो महातेजा भास्करो वारितस्करः
Thus addressed, the radiant Bhaskara, the remover of darkness, spoke—
समयानामुपायानां योगो व्याससमासतः
The connection of rules and methods is to be understood both in detail and in summary.
अध्यक्षाणां च निक्षेपः करणानां निरूपणम्
The duties of overseers and the determination of instruments are to be established.
संध्योपास्तिस्तथा कार्या शुनो मांसं न भक्षयेत्
One should perform the worship at twilight, and must not eat the flesh of a dog.
पालाशं धारयेद्दंडमुभयार्था विदुर्बुधाः 1.181.
One should carry a staff of palasha wood; the wise know this serves both purposes.
श्रुतौ दृष्टं यथा कार्यं स्मृतो तत्तादृशं यदि
As an act is prescribed in the Shruti, so it should be performed in the Smriti, if it is of the same kind.
उक्तो धर्मश्च संक्षेपात्परिभाषा च तद्गता
Thus, dharma has been briefly stated, along with its definitions contained therein.
ब्रह्मावर्तः परो देश ऋषिशस्तस्त्वनंतरः
Brahmavarta is the foremost land; the region praised by the sages is the next.
कृष्णसारस्तु विचरेन्मृगो यत्र स्वभावतः
Where the black antelope naturally roams, that is the land.
ब्रह्मादीनां च देवानां ब्राह्मणादेस्तथैव च
For the gods beginning with Brahma, and likewise for the brahmins,