यश् च विप्रत्वम् उत्सृज्य क्षत्रधर्मान् निषेवते ब्राह्मण्यात् स परिभ्रष्टः क्षत्रयोनौ प्रजायते
And he who, abandoning the status of a Brahmin, takes up the duties of a Kshatriya—having fallen from Brahminhood, he is born in a Kshatriya womb.
वैश्यकर्म च यो विप्रो लोभमोहव्यपाश्रयः ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्लभं प्राप्य करोत्य् अल्पमतिः सदा
A Brahmin who, out of greed and delusion, performs the work of a Vaishya—having attained the rare state of Brahminhood, he always acts foolishly.
स द्विजो वैश्यताम् एति वैश्यो वा शूद्रताम् इयात् स्वधर्मात् प्रच्युतो विप्रस् ततः शूद्रत्वम् आप्नुयात्
Such a twice-born becomes a Vaishya, and a Vaishya may become a Shudra; a Brahmin who deviates from his own duty thus attains the state of a Shudra.
तत्रासौ निरयं प्राप्तो वर्णभ्रष्टो बहिष्कृतः ब्रह्मलोकात् परिभ्रष्टः शूद्रयोनौ प्रजायते
There, having fallen, he reaches hell, cast out for abandoning his class; fallen from the world of Brahma, he is born in a Shudra womb.
क्षत्रियो वा महाभागे वैश्यो वा धर्मचारिणि स्वानि कर्माण्य् अपाकृत्य शूद्रकर्म निषेवते
And if a Kshatriya, O noble one, or a Vaishya, forsaking his own duties, takes up the work of a Shudra—
स्वस्थानात् स परिभ्रष्टो वर्णसंकरतां गतः ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रत्वं याति तादृशः
He, fallen from his own place, enters the state of mixed classes; such a Brahmin, Kshatriya, or Vaishya attains the condition of a Shudra.
यस् तु शूद्रः स्वधर्मेण ज्ञानविज्ञानवाञ् शुचिः धर्मज्ञो धर्मनिरतः स धर्मफलम् अश्नुते
But a Shudra who, by his own duty, is endowed with knowledge and understanding, is pure, knows righteousness, and is devoted to righteousness—he enjoys the fruit of righteousness.
इदं चैवापरं देवि ब्रह्मणा समुदाहृतम् अध्यात्मं नैष्ठिकी सिद्धिर् धर्मकामैर् निषेव्यते
And this, O goddess, is further declared by Brahma: the supreme spiritual accomplishment is pursued by those who desire righteousness.
उग्रान्नं गर्हितं देवि गणान्नं श्राद्धसूतकम् घुष्टान्नं नैव भोक्तव्यं शूद्रान्नं नैव वा क्वचित्
Food that is harsh, censured, or communal, food from a funeral or birth ceremony, or food that is proclaimed unclean—such food, or food from a Shudra, must never be eaten anywhere, O goddess.
शूद्रान्नं गर्हितं देवि सदा देवैर् महात्मभिः पितामहमुखोत्सृष्टं प्रमाणम् इति मे मतिः
Food from a Shudra is always condemned, O goddess, by the gods and the great souls; this is the authority established by the ancestors, in my view.
शूद्रान्नेनावशेषेण जठरे म्रियते द्विजः आहिताग्निस् तथा यज्वा स शूद्रगतिभाग् भवेत्
If a twice-born, or one who maintains sacred fires, or a sacrificer, dies with food from a Shudra remaining in his stomach, he attains the state of a Shudra.
तेन शूद्रान्नशेषेण ब्रह्मस्थानाद् अपाकृतः ब्राह्मणः शूद्रताम् एति नास्ति तत्र विचारणा
Therefore, by the remaining food of a Shudra, a Brahmin is cast out from the state of Brahminhood and becomes a Shudra; there is no doubt about this.
यस्यान्नेनावशेषेण जठरे म्रियते द्विजः तां तां योनिं व्रजेद् विप्रो यस्यान्नम् उपजीवति
By whose food, if any remains in the stomach when a twice-born dies, the Brahmin enters whatever womb belongs to the one whose food he has lived upon.
ब्राह्मणत्वं सुखं प्राप्य दुर्लभं यो ऽवमन्यते अभोज्यान्नानि वाश्नाति स द्विजत्वात् पतेत वै
He who, having easily attained the rare state of Brahminhood, disregards it or eats forbidden food, surely falls from the status of a twice-born.
सुरापो ब्रह्महा स्तेयी चौरो भग्नव्रतो ऽशुचिः स्वाध्यायवर्जितः पापो लुब्धो नैकृतिकः शठः
A drinker of liquor, a Brahmin-killer, a thief, a robber, one who breaks vows, impure, neglectful of study, sinful, greedy, deceitful, or wicked—
अव्रती वृषलीभर्ता कुण्डाशी सोमविक्रयी विहीनसेवी विप्रो हि पतते ब्रह्मयोनितः
One without vows, who keeps company with outcast women, who eats from a common vessel, who sells Soma, or who serves the unworthy—a Brahmin thus falls from the Brahmin lineage.
गुरुतल्पी गुरुद्वेषी गुरुकुत्सारतिश् च यः ब्रह्मद्विड् वापि पतति ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मयोनितः
He who violates his teacher's bed, hates his teacher, delights in mocking the teacher, or hates Brahman—such a Brahmin falls from the Brahmin lineage.
एभिस् तु कर्मभिर् देवि शुभैर् आचरितैस् तथा शूद्रो ब्राह्मणतां गच्छेद् वैश्यः क्षत्रियतां व्रजेत्
But, O goddess, by performing these good deeds, a Shudra may attain Brahminhood, and a Vaishya may become a Kshatriya.
शूद्रः कर्माणि सर्वाणि यथान्यायं यथाविधि सर्वातिथ्यम् उपातिष्ठञ् शेषान्नकृतभोजनः
A Shudra, performing all duties according to justice and prescribed rules, serves all guests and eats only the remnants of food left over.
शुश्रूषां परिचर्यां यो ज्येष्ठवर्णे प्रयत्नतः कुर्याद् अविमनाः श्रेष्ठः सततं सत्पथे स्थितः
He who diligently and without resentment attends to service and care for the elder caste, is excellent and always established on the path of virtue.
देवद्विजातिसत्कर्ता सर्वातिथ्यकृतव्रतः ऋतुकालाभिगामी च नियतो नियताशनः
Honoring gods and twice-born, undertaking the vow of serving all guests, approaching at proper times, disciplined and moderate in eating.
दक्षः शिष्टजनान्वेषी शेषान्नकृतभोजनः वृथा मांसं न भुञ्जीत शूद्रो वैश्यत्वम् ऋच्छति
Skillful, seeking out learned people, eating only the remnants of food, not consuming meat without purpose—a Shudra attains the status of a Vaishya.
ऋतवाग् अनहंवादी निर्द्वंद्वः सामकोविदः यजते नित्ययज्ञैश् च स्वाध्यायपरमः शुचिः
Truthful in speech, free from pride, without duality, skilled in Sama hymns, performing daily sacrifices, devoted to study, and pure.
दान्तो ब्राह्मणसत्कर्ता सर्ववर्णानसूयकः गृहस्थव्रतम् आतिष्ठन् द्विकालकृतभोजनः
Self-controlled, honoring Brahmins, not disparaging any caste, observing the householder's vow, eating twice daily.
शेषाशी विजिताहारो निष्कामो निरहंवदः अग्निहोत्रम् उपासीनो जुह्वानश् च यथाविधि
Eating leftovers, having conquered appetite, free from desire and pride, sitting by the sacred fire, offering oblations as prescribed.
सर्वातिथ्यम् उपातिष्ठञ् शेषान्नकृतभोजनः त्रेताग्निमात्रविहितं वैश्यो भवति च द्विजः
Serving all guests, eating only remnants, performing rites prescribed for the three sacred fires—a Vaishya becomes a twice-born.
स वैश्यः क्षत्रियकुले शुचिर् महति जायते स वैश्यः क्षत्रियो जातो जन्मप्रभृति संस्कृतः
Such a Vaishya, pure, is born in a great Kshatriya family; such a Vaishya, born as a Kshatriya, is sanctified from birth.
उपनीतो व्रतपरो द्विजो भवति संस्कृतः ददाति यजते यज्ञैः समृद्धैर् आप्तदक्षिणैः
Initiated and devoted to vows, he becomes sanctified as a twice-born, gives gifts, performs sacrifices with abundant offerings and proper rewards.
अधीत्य स्वर्गम् अन्विच्छंस् त्रेताग्निशरणः सदा आर्द्रहस्तप्रदो नित्यं प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्
Having studied, seeking heaven, always taking refuge in the three sacred fires, ever giving with moist hands, protecting people through righteousness.
सत्यः सत्यानि कुरुते नित्यं यः शुद्धिदर्शनः धर्मदण्डेन निर्दग्धो धर्मकामार्थसाधकः
Truthful, always acting truthfully, ever showing purity, scorched by the rod of righteousness, accomplishing the aims of dharma, desire, and wealth.