व्रतचर्यापरैर् ग्राह्या वेदाः पूर्वं द्विजातिभिः ततस् तु धर्मसंप्राप्तैर् यष्टव्यं विधिवद् धनैः
Previously, the Vedas were to be learned by the twice-born through observance of vows; then, sacrifices were to be performed according to rules by those established in dharma and possessing wealth.
वृथा कथा वृथा भोज्यं वृथा स्वं च द्विजन्मनाम् पतनाय तथा भाव्यं तैस् तु संयतिभिः सह
For the twice-born, idle talk, idle eating, and idle possession lead to downfall; thus, they should live with restraint.
असम्यक्करणे दोषास् तेषां सर्वेषु वस्तुषु भोज्यपेयादिकं चैषां नेच्छाप्राप्तिकरं द्विजाः
If actions are not properly performed, faults arise in all things; for them, food and drink and the like do not bring desired results, O brahmins.
पारतन्त्र्यात् समस्तेषु तेषां कार्येषु वै ततः लोकान् क्लेशेन महता यजन्ति विनयान्विताः
Because of dependence in all their tasks, they worship the worlds with great hardship, accompanied by humility.
द्विजशुश्रूषणेनैव पाकयज्ञाधिकारवान् निजं जयति वै लोकं शूद्रो धन्यतरस् ततः
By serving the twice-born alone, a Śūdra becomes eligible for the cooked offering ritual, and thus he conquers his own world; he is therefore more blessed.
भक्ष्याभक्ष्येषु नाशास्ति येषां पापेषु वा यतः नियमो मुनिशार्दूलास् तेनासौ साध्व् इतीरितम्
For those who have no restriction regarding what is edible or in sinful acts, O best of sages, that restraint is declared to be virtuous.
स्वधर्मस्याविरोधेन नरैर् लभ्यं धनं सदा प्रतिपादनीयं पात्रेषु यष्टव्यं च यथाविधि
Wealth should always be acquired by men without violating their own duty, and it should be given to worthy recipients and offerings made according to prescribed rules.
तस्यार्जने महान् क्लेशः पालनेन द्विजोत्तमाः तथा सद्विनियोगाय विज्ञेयं गहनं नृणाम्
Great hardship attends its acquisition, and its preservation, O best of twice-born; likewise, its proper use is to be understood as difficult for men.
एभिर् अन्यैस् तथा क्लेशैः पुरुषा द्विजसत्तमाः निजाञ् जयन्ति वै लोकान् प्राजापत्यादिकान् क्रमात्
By these and other hardships, O best of twice-born, men conquer their own worlds, progressing through the realms of Prajāpati and others in order.
योषिच् छुश्रूषणाद् भर्तुः कर्मणा मनसा गिरा एतद् विषयम् आप्नोति तत्सालोक्यं यतो द्विजाः
Through service to her husband—by action, mind, and speech—a woman attains this domain, and thus, O twice-born, she achieves the same world.
नातिक्लेशेन महता तान् एव पुरुषो यथा तृतीयं व्याहृतं तेन मया साध्व् इति योषितः
Without great hardship, a person attains just those worlds, as I have declared regarding women, corresponding to the third utterance.
एतद् वः कथितं विप्रा यन्निमित्तम् इहागताः तत् पृच्छध्वं यथाकामम् अहं वक्ष्यामि वः स्फुटम्
O Brāhmaṇas, I have told you that for which you have come here; now ask whatever you wish, and I will speak to you clearly.
अल्पेनैव प्रयत्नेन धर्मः सिध्यति वै कलौ नरैर् आत्मगुणाम्भोभिः क्षालिताखिलकिल्बिषैः
With little effort, righteousness is accomplished in the Kali age by men whose faults have been washed away by the waters of their own virtues.
शूद्रैश् च द्विजशुश्रूषातत्परैर् मुनिसत्तमाः तथा स्त्रीभिर् अनायासात् पतिशुश्रूषयैव हि
Likewise, O best of sages, Śūdras devoted to serving the twice-born, and women, easily attain righteousness simply by serving their husbands.
ततस् त्रितयम् अप्य् एतन् मम धन्यतमं मतम् धर्मसंराधने क्लेशो द्विजातीनां कृतादिषु
Therefore, all three of these are considered by me most blessed; the hardship in pursuing righteousness for the twice-born was in the earlier ages.
तथा स्वल्पेन तपसा सिद्धिं यास्यन्ति मानवाः धन्या धर्मं चरिष्यन्ति युगान्ते मुनिसत्तमाः
Thus, with little austerity, men will attain success; blessed are those who practice righteousness at the end of the age, O best of sages.
भवद्भिर् यद् अभिप्रेतं तद् एतत् कथितं मया अपृष्टेनापि धर्मज्ञाः किम् अन्यत् क्रियतां द्विजाः
What you desired has been told by me, even without being asked, O knowers of righteousness; what else should be done, O twice-born?
आसन्नं विप्रकृष्टं वा यदि कालं न विद्महे ततो द्वापरविध्वंसं युगान्तं स्पृहयामहे
Whether the end is near or far, if we do not know the time, then we long for the destruction of Dvāpara and the end of the age.
प्राप्ता वयं हि तत् कालम् अनया धर्मतृष्णया आदद्याम परं धर्मं सुखम् अल्पेन कर्मणा
We have indeed reached that time, driven by this thirst for righteousness; let us take up supreme righteousness, happiness with little action.
संत्रासोद्वेगजननं युगान्तं समुपस्थितम् प्रनष्टधर्मं धर्मज्ञ निमित्तैर् वक्तुम् अर्हसि
The end of the age has arrived, causing fear and distress; O knower of righteousness, you should declare the signs of lost righteousness.
अरक्षितारो हर्तारो बलिभागस्य पार्थिवाः युगान्ते प्रभविष्यन्ति स्वरक्षणपरायणाः
At the end of the age, kings who are supposed to protect and collect tribute will become thieves, devoted only to their own protection.
अक्षत्रियाश् च राजानो विप्राः शूद्रोपजीविनः शूद्राश् च ब्राह्मणाचारा भविष्यन्ति युगक्षये
And kings will be without the Kṣatriya spirit, Brāhmaṇas living off Śūdras, and Śūdras practicing Brāhmaṇa customs at the end of the age.
श्रोत्रियाः काण्डपृष्ठाश् च निष्कर्माणि हवींषि च एकपङ्क्त्याम् अशिष्यन्ति युगान्ते मुनिसत्तमाः
At the end of the age, O best of sages, learned priests with hunched backs and those who perform no rituals will eat the offerings together in a single row.
अशिष्टवन्तो ऽर्थपरा नरा मद्यामिषप्रियाः मित्रभार्यां भजिष्यन्ति युगान्ते पुरुषाधमाः
At the end of the age, base men, lacking blessings, devoted to wealth, fond of wine and meat, will take the wives of their friends.
राजवृत्तिस्थिताश् चौरा राजानश् चौरशीलिनः भृत्या ह्य् अनिर्दिष्टभुजो भविष्यन्ति युगक्षये
At the end of the age, thieves will hold royal occupations, and kings will possess the nature of thieves; servants will act without assigned duties.
धनानि श्लाघनीयानि सतां वृत्तम् अपूजितम् अकुत्सना च पतिते भविष्यति युगक्षये
At the end of the age, wealth will be praised, the conduct of the virtuous will be disregarded, and there will be no reproach for the fallen.
प्रनष्टनासाः पुरुषा मुक्तकेशा विरूपिणः ऊनषोडशवर्षाश् च प्रसोष्यन्ति तथा स्त्रियः
Men will be without noses, with disheveled hair, deformed in appearance, and women will bear children before reaching sixteen years of age.
अट्टशूला जनपदाः शिवशूलाश् चतुष्पथाः प्रमदाः केशशूलाश् च भविष्यन्ति युगक्षये
At the end of the age, villages will be filled with pestilence, crossroads will be haunted by evil spirits, and women will suffer from hair diseases.
सर्वे ब्रह्म वदिष्यन्ति द्विजा वाजसनेयिकाः शूद्राभा वादिनश् चैव ब्राह्मणाश् चान्त्यवासिनः
All twice-borns of the Vājasaneyi tradition will claim to speak for Brahman, but Brahmins will speak like Shudras, and Brahmins will dwell among outcastes.
शुक्लदन्ता जिताक्षाश् च मुण्डाः काषायवाससः शूद्रा धर्मं वदिष्यन्ति शाठ्यबुद्ध्योपजीविनः
Shudras with white teeth, skilled at dice, shaven-headed and clad in ochre robes, will speak of dharma, making a living through deceitful intellect.