शूद्रो ऽपि द्विजवत् सेव्य इति ब्रह्माब्रवीत् स्वयम् स्वभावकर्मणा चैव यत्र शूद्रो ऽधितिष्ठति
Even a Śūdra is to be served like a twice-born—so Brahmā himself declared; and by his own natural actions, wherever a Śūdra stands.
विशुद्धः स द्विजातिभ्यो विज्ञेय इति मे मतिः न योनिर् नापि संस्कारो न श्रुतिर् न च संततिः
He, being purified, is to be known as superior to the twice-born—this is my view; neither birth, nor refinement, nor learning, nor lineage is the cause.
कारणानि द्विजत्वस्य वृत्तम् एव तु कारणम् सर्वो ऽयं ब्राह्मणो लोके वृत्तेन तु विधीयते
The causes of being twice-born are only conduct; indeed, all are called Brāhmaṇa in this world by conduct alone.
वृत्ते स्थितश् च शूद्रो ऽपि ब्राह्मणत्वं च गच्छति ब्रह्मस्वभावः सुश्रोणि समः सर्वत्र मे मतः
Even a Śūdra, established in conduct, attains Brāhmaṇa-hood; the nature of Brahman, O lovely one, is, in my view, equal in all.
निर्गुणं निर्मलं ब्रह्म यत्र तिष्ठति स द्विजः एते ये विमला देवि स्थानभावनिदर्शकाः
Where the qualityless, pure Brahman abides, that is the twice-born; these, O Goddess, are the pure ones, showing the marks of their station.
स्वयं च वरदेनोक्ता ब्रह्मणा सृजता प्रजाः ब्रह्मणो हि महत् क्षेत्रं लोके चरति पादवत्
And this was declared by the boon-giving Brahmā himself, creator of beings; for the great field of Brahman moves in the world like a footprint.
यत् तत्र बीजं पतति सा कृषिः प्रेत्य भाविनी संतुष्टेन सदा भाव्यं सत्पथालम्बिना सदा
Whatever seed falls there, that is the crop that will come after death; one should always be content, always adhering to the good path.
ब्राह्मं हि मार्गम् आक्रम्य वर्तितव्यं बुभूषता संहिताध्यायिना भाव्यं गृहे वै गृहमेधिना
One desiring wisdom must follow the Brāhmaṇa path; a householder studying the Saṃhitā should act accordingly in his home.
नित्यं स्वाध्याययुक्तेन न चाध्ययनजीविना एवंभूतो हि यो विप्रः सततं सत्पथे स्थितः
Always engaged in self-study, not living by study alone—such a Brāhmaṇa, ever established on the good path, is as he should be.
आहिताग्निर् अधीयानो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ब्राह्मण्यं देवि संप्राप्य रक्षितव्यं यतात्मना
One who maintains the sacred fire and studies becomes fit for Brahmanhood; having attained Brāhmaṇa-hood, O Goddess, one must protect it with self-restraint.
योनिप्रतिग्रहादानैः कर्मभिश् च शुचिस्मिते एतत् ते गुह्यम् आख्यातं यथा शूद्रो भवेद् द्विजः ब्राह्मणो वा च्युतो धर्माद् यथा शूद्रत्वम् आप्नुयात्
By birth, acceptance, and actions, O fair-smiling one, this secret has been told to you: how a Śūdra becomes a twice-born, and how a Brāhmaṇa, fallen from dharma, becomes a Śūdra.
भगवन् सर्वभूतेश सुरासुरनमस्कृत धर्माधर्मे नृणां देव ब्रूहि मे संशयं विभो
O Lord, master of all beings, honored by gods and demons, tell me, O mighty one, my doubt concerning dharma and adharma among men.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा त्रिविधैर् देहिनः सदा बध्यन्ते बन्धनैः कैर् वा मुच्यन्ते वा कथं वद
By actions, mind, and speech—the threefold bonds—embodied beings are always bound; by which of these are they freed, and how? Tell me.
केन शीलेन वै देव कर्मणा कीदृशेन वा समाचारैर् गुणैः कैर् वा स्वर्गं यान्तीह मानवाः
By what character, O God, or by what kind of action, or by what conduct and qualities do humans attain heaven here?
देवि धर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञे धर्मनित्ये उमे सदा सर्वप्राणिहितः प्रश्नः श्रूयतां बुद्धिवर्धनः
O goddess, knower of the essence of righteousness and purpose, ever steadfast in dharma, O Uma, always intent on the welfare of all beings—may this question, which increases wisdom, be heard.
सत्यधर्मरताः शान्ताः सर्वलिङ्गविवर्जिताः नाधर्मेण न धर्मेण बध्यन्ते छिन्नसंशयाः
Those who delight in truth and righteousness, who are peaceful, free from all marks of distinction, are not bound by unrighteousness or righteousness, their doubts having been cut away.
प्रलयोत्पत्तितत्त्वज्ञाः सर्वज्ञाः सर्वदर्शिनः वीतरागा विमुच्यन्ते पुरुषाः कर्मबन्धनैः
Those who know the truth of dissolution and creation, who are all-knowing and all-seeing, free from passion, are released from the bonds of action.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ये न हिंसन्ति किंचन ये न मज्जन्ति कस्मिंश्चित् ते न बध्नन्ति कर्मभिः
Those who do not harm anything by deed, mind, or speech, who do not become immersed in anything—these are not bound by actions.
प्राणातिपाताद् विरताः शीलवन्तो दयान्विताः तुल्यद्वेष्यप्रिया दान्ता मुच्यन्ते कर्मबन्धनैः
Those who refrain from taking life, who are virtuous, endowed with compassion, equal toward those they love and those they dislike, self-controlled—these are freed from the bonds of action.
सर्वभूतदयावन्तो विश्वास्याः सर्वजन्तुषु त्यक्तहिंस्रसमाचारास् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who are compassionate to all beings, trustworthy among all creatures, who have abandoned violent conduct—these people are destined for heaven.
परस्वनिर्ममा नित्यं परदारविवर्जिकाः धर्मलब्धार्थभोक्तारस् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who are always free from possessiveness regarding others' property, who avoid others' spouses, who enjoy wealth gained through righteousness—these people are destined for heaven.
मातृवत् स्वसृवच् चैव नित्यं दुहितृवच् च ये परदारेषु वर्तन्ते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who always regard the wives of others as mothers, sisters, or daughters—these people are destined for heaven.
स्वदारनिरता ये च ऋतुकालाभिगामिनः अग्राम्यसुखभोगाश् च ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who are devoted to their own wives, who approach them at the proper time, and who avoid base pleasures—these people are destined for heaven.
स्तैन्यान् निवृत्ताः सततं संतुष्टाः स्वधनेन च स्वभाग्यान्य् उपजीवन्ति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who always refrain from stealing, who are content with their own wealth, who live according to their own fortune—these people are destined for heaven.
परदारेषु ये नित्यं चारित्रावृतलोचनाः जितेन्द्रियाः शीलपरास् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who always keep their eyes modestly averted from others' wives, who have conquered their senses, who are devoted to virtue—these people are destined for heaven.
एष दैवकृतो मार्गः सेवितव्यः सदा नरैः अकषायकृतश् चैव मार्गः सेव्यः सदा बुधैः
This is the path established by the gods, to be always followed by people; and the path free from affliction is always to be followed by the wise.
अवृथापकृतश् चैव मार्गः सेव्यः सदा बुधैः दानकर्मतपोयुक्तः शीलशौचदयात्मकः स्वर्गमार्गम् अभीप्सद्भिर् न सेव्यस् त्व् अत उत्तरः
And the path not leading to futility is always to be followed by the wise; endowed with giving, right action, austerity, virtue, purity, and compassion—those who desire the path to heaven should not follow any other.
वाचा तु बध्यते येन मुच्यते ह्य् अथवा पुनः तानि कर्माणि मे देव वद भूतपते ऽनघ
By speech one is bound, and by it one is also released again; O Lord of beings, O sinless one, tell me, what are those actions, O god?
आत्महेतोः परार्थे वा अधर्माश्रितम् एव च ये मृषा न वदन्तीह ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who, whether for their own sake or for another's, or even when resorting to unrighteousness, do not speak falsehood here—these people are destined for heaven.
वृत्त्यर्थं धर्महेतोर् वा कामकारात् तथैव च अनृतं ये न भाषन्ते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who, whether for livelihood, for the sake of righteousness, or out of desire, do not utter falsehood—these people are destined for heaven.