श्रोतुम् इच्छामहे ब्रह्मन् वर्णधर्मान् विशेषतः चतुराश्रमधर्मांश् च द्विजवर्य ब्रवीहि तान्
O Brahman, we wish to hear especially about the duties of the varnas; please tell us, O best of twice-born, also about the duties of the four ashramas.
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च यथाक्रमम् शृणुध्वं संयता भूत्वा वर्णधर्मान् मयोदितान्
Listen, with self-control, to the duties of the varnas as declared by me, in order: Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.
दानदयातपोदेवयज्ञस्वाध्यायतत्परः नित्योदकी भवेद् विप्रः कुर्याच् चाग्निपरिग्रहम्
A Brahmana should be devoted to giving, compassion, austerity, worship of the gods, and study; he should always have water, and should undertake the keeping of the sacred fire.
वृत्त्यर्थं याजयेत् त्व् अन्यान् द्विजान् अध्यापयेत् तथा कुर्यात् प्रतिग्रहादानं यज्ञार्थं ज्ञानतो द्विजाः
For livelihood, he may officiate for others in sacrifices, teach other twice-born, and accept gifts for the sake of sacrifice, with understanding, O twice-born.
सर्वलोकहितं कुर्यान् नाहितं कस्यचिद् द्विजाः मैत्री समस्तसत्त्वेषु ब्राह्मणस्योत्तमं धनम्
He should act for the welfare of all worlds, and not for harm to anyone, O twice-born; friendship with all beings is the highest wealth of a Brahmana.
गवि रत्ने च पारक्ये समबुद्धिर् भवेद् द्विजाः ऋताव् अभिगमः पत्न्यां शस्यते वास्य भो द्विजाः
He should have equal regard for a cow, a jewel, and another's property, O twice-born; union with his wife at the proper time is praised, O twice-born.
दानानि दद्याद् इच्छातो द्विजेभ्यः क्षत्रियो ऽपि हि यजेच् च विविधैर् यज्ञैर् अधीयीत च भो द्विजाः
A Kshatriya too should give gifts as he wishes to the twice-born, perform various sacrifices, and study, O twice-born.
शस्त्राजीवो महीरक्षा प्रवरा तस्य जीविका तस्यापि प्रथमे कल्पे पृथिवीपरिपालनम्
Living by the sword and protecting the earth are his best means of livelihood; in the first arrangement, the protection of the earth is foremost.
धरित्रीपालनेनैव कृतकृत्या नराधिपाः भवन्ति नृपते रक्षा यतो यज्ञादिकर्मणाम्
By protecting the earth, kings fulfill their duty; for the king's protection is the basis of sacrifices and other rites.
दुष्टानां शासनाद् राजा शिष्टानां परिपालनात् प्राप्नोत्य् अभिमतांल् लोकान् वर्णसंस्थापको नृपः
By punishing the wicked and protecting the virtuous, the king attains the desired worlds; the king who establishes the varnas.
पाशुपाल्यं वणिज्यां च कृषिं च मुनिसत्तमाः वैश्याय जीविकां ब्रह्मा ददौ लोकपितामहः
O best of sages, the livelihood given by Brahma, the grandfather of the world, to the Vaishya is animal husbandry, trade, and agriculture.
तस्याप्य् अध्ययनं यज्ञो दानं धर्मश् च शस्यते नित्यनैमित्तिकादीनाम् अनुष्ठानं च कर्मणाम्
For him also, study, sacrifice, giving, and dharma are praised, as well as the performance of daily and occasional duties.
द्विजातिसंश्रयं कर्म तदर्थं तेन पोषणम् क्रयविक्रयजैर् वापि धनैः कारुभवैस् तु वा
He should support the twice-born by work for their sake, with wealth gained through buying and selling, or through crafts.
दानं दद्याच् च शूद्रो ऽपि पाकयज्ञैर् यजेत च पित्र्यादिकं च वै सर्वं शूद्रः कुर्वीत तेन वै
A Shudra too may give gifts, perform cooked offerings, and do all rites for ancestors and others; thus should a Shudra act.
भृत्यादिभरणार्थाय सर्वेषां च परिग्रहाः ऋतुकालाभिगमनं स्वदारेषु द्विजोत्तमाः
For the support of servants and others, all may accept possessions; union with one's own wife at the proper time, O best of twice-born.
दया समस्तभूतेषु तितिक्षा नाभिमानिता सत्यं शौचम् अनायासो मङ्गलं प्रियवादिता
Compassion toward all beings, endurance, absence of pride, truthfulness, purity, effortlessness, auspiciousness, and speaking pleasantly.
मैत्री चैवास्पृहा तद्वद् अकार्पण्यं द्विजोत्तमाः अनसूया च सामान्या वर्णानां कथिता गुणाः
Friendliness, absence of covetousness, likewise non-miserliness, O best of twice-born; and non-jealousy—these qualities are declared as common to all castes.
आश्रमाणां च सर्वेषाम् एते सामान्यलक्षणाः गुणास् तथोपधर्माश् च विप्रादीनाम् इमे द्विजाः
For all stages of life, these are the common characteristics; likewise, these virtues and subsidiary duties are prescribed for Brahmins and others, O twice-born.
क्षात्रं कर्म द्विजस्योक्तं वैश्यकर्म तथापदि राजन्यस्य च वैश्योक्तं शूद्रकर्माणि चैतयोः
The warrior's duty is assigned to the twice-born, and the merchant's duty likewise in emergency; for the royal caste, the merchant's duty is prescribed, and the duties of the servant for both.
ससामर्थ्ये सति त्याज्यम् उभाभ्याम् अपि च द्विजाः तद् एवापदि कर्तव्यं न कुर्यात् कर्मसंकरम्
If capable, both should renounce these duties, O twice-born; only in emergency should they be performed, but one should not mix duties.
इत्य् एते कथिता विप्रा वर्णधर्मा मयाद्य वै धर्मम् आश्रमिणां सम्यग् ब्रुवतो ऽपि निबोधत
Thus, O Brahmins, the duties of the castes have been declared by me today; now listen properly as I explain the duties of the stages of life.
बालः कृतोपनयनो वेदाहरणतत्परः गुरोर् गेहे वसन् विप्रा ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः
A boy who has undergone initiation, devoted to reciting the Vedas, residing in the teacher’s house, O Brahmins, is a focused student.
शौचाचाररतस् तत्र कार्यं शुश्रूषणं गुरोः व्रतानि चरता ग्राह्यो वेदश् च कृतबुद्धिना
There, he should be engaged in purity and good conduct, serve the teacher, observe vows, and learn the Veda with a determined mind.
उभे संध्ये रविं विप्रास् तथैवाग्निं समाहितः उपतिष्ठेत् तथा कुर्याद् गुरोर् अप्य् अभिवादनम्
At both twilights, O Brahmins, he should worship the sun and fire with concentration, and likewise offer salutations to the teacher.
स्थिते तिष्ठेद् व्रजेद् याति नीचैर् आसीत चासिते शिष्यो गुरौ द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रतिकूलं च संत्यजेत्
When the teacher stands, he should stand; when he goes, he should follow; when seated, he should sit lower; O best of twice-born, the student should avoid anything contrary.
तेनैवोक्तं पठेद् वेदं नान्यचित्तः पुरस्थितः अनुज्ञातं च भिक्षान्नम् अश्नीयाद् गुरुणा ततः
He should recite the Veda as instructed, with undistracted mind, facing the teacher; and eat food permitted by the teacher.
अवगाहेद् अपः पूर्वम् आचार्येणावगाहिताः समिज्जलादिकं चास्य कल्यकल्यम् उपानयेत्
He should first bathe after the teacher has bathed, and bring water and other items for the teacher, as appropriate.
गृहीतग्राह्यवेदश् च ततो ऽनुज्ञाम् अवाप्य वै गार्हस्थ्यम् आवसेत् प्राज्ञो निष्पन्नगुरुनिष्कृतिः
Having learned and mastered the Veda, and having received permission, the wise one should enter household life, after fulfilling the teacher’s requirements.
विधिनावाप्तदारस् तु धनं प्राप्य स्वकर्मणा गृहस्थकार्यम् अखिलं कुर्याद् विप्राः स्वशक्तितः
Having obtained a wife according to the prescribed rite, and wealth through his own duty, the Brahmin should perform all household duties according to his capacity.
निर्वापेण पितॄन् अर्च्य यज्ञैर् देवांस् तथातिथीन् अन्नैर् मुनींश् च स्वाध्यायैर् अपत्येन प्रजापतिम्
He should honor ancestors with oblations, gods with sacrifices, guests with food, sages with study, and the creator with offspring.