दानं सत्यं तपो ज्ञानं विद्येज्या व्रजनं दया
Giving, truthfulness, austerity, knowledge, learning, sacrifice, pilgrimage, and compassion—
शिष्टा यस्माच्चरन्त्येनं मनुः सप्तर्षयस्तु वै
Because the worthy and Manu and the Seven Sages practice it—
विज्ञेयः श्रवणाच्छ्रौतः स्मरणात्स्मार्त्त उच्यते
That which is known by hearing is called 'śrauta'; that which is remembered is called 'smārta'.
प्रत्यङ्गानि च वक्ष्यामि धर्मस्येह तु लक्षणम्
Now I shall explain the subsidiary parts and the characteristics of dharma here.
यथा भूतप्रवादस्तु इत्येतत्सत्यलक्षणम्
Speaking as things truly are—this is the mark of truth.
इत्येतत्तपसो रूपं सुघोरं सुदुरा सदम्
This is the form of austerity: very severe and extremely difficult to endure.
ऋत्विजां दक्षिणानां च संयोगो यज्ञ उच्यते
The union of priests and offerings is called a sacrifice.
प्रवर्त्तन्ते समा दृष्टिः कृत्स्नाप्येषा दया स्मृता
To regard all as equal—this is called compassion.
वाङ्मनःकर्मभिर्वेत्ति तितिक्षैषा क्षमा स्मृता
To endure by speech, mind, and action—this is called forbearance.
परस्वानामनादानमलोभ इति कीर्त्यते
Not taking the wealth of others—this is called non-greed.
निवृत्तिर्ब्रह्मचर्यं तदच्छिद्रं तप उच्यते
Restraint and celibacy, unbroken—this is called austerity.
मिथ्या न संप्रवर्त्तन्ते शामस्यैतत्तु लक्षमम्
Falsehood does not arise—this is the mark of tranquility.
न क्रुद्ध्येत प्रतिहतः स जितात्मा विभाव्यते
One who is not angered when provoked is recognized as self-controlled.
तत्तद्गुणवते देयमित्येतद्दानलक्षणम्
Giving to those who possess the proper qualities—this is the mark of charity.
तत्र नैश्रेयसं ज्येष्ठं कनिष्ठं स्वार्थसिद्धये
Among these, the highest is for supreme good, the lowest for personal gain.
श्रुतिस्मृतिभ्यां विहितो धर्मो वर्माश्रमात्मकः
Dharma, prescribed by the Veda and Smṛti, is characterized by the stages and duties of life.
अप्रद्वेषोह्यनि ष्टेषु तथेष्टस्याभिनन्दनम्
Not hating those who are unpleasant, and rejoicing in those who are pleasant.
संन्यासः कर्मणां न्यासः कृतानामकृतैः सह
Renunciation is the abandonment of actions, both performed and unperformed.
व्यक्ता ये विशेषास्ते विकारे ऽस्मिन्नचेतने
The distinctions that are manifest are modifications in this insentient (matter).
प्रत्यङ्गानां तु धर्मस्य त्वित्येतल्लक्षणं स्मृतम्
These are remembered as the characteristics of the subsidiary parts of dharma.
अत्र वो वर्णयिष्यामि विधिं मन्वन्तरस्य यः
Here I shall describe to you the procedure pertaining to the Manvantara.
प्रतिमन्वन्तरे चैव श्रुतिरन्या विधीयते
In each Manvantara, indeed, a different tradition is established.
आभूतसंप्लवस्यापि वर्ज्यैकं शतरुद्रियम्
Even in the cosmic dissolution, only the Śatarudriya is exempted.
द्रव्यस्तोत्रं गुणस्तोत्रं फलस्तोत्रं तथैव च
There are hymns for substances, hymns for qualities, and hymns for results likewise.
मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु यथा देवा भवन्ति ये
In all the Manvantaras, the gods are as they come to be.
एवं मन्त्रगणानां तु समुत्पत्तिश्चतुर्विधा
Thus, the origin of groups of mantras is fourfold.
ऋषीणां तप्यतामुग्रं तपः परमदुष्करम्
The sages undergo intense austerity, the highest and most difficult penance.
असंतोषाद्भया द्दुःखात्सुखाच्छोकाच्च पञ्चधा
Because of dissatisfaction, fear, pain, pleasure, and sorrow—fivefold.
ऋषीणां यदृषित्वं हि तद्वक्ष्यामीह लक्षणैः
I shall now explain the characteristics of the sages' sagehood.
अतस्त्वृषीणां वक्ष्यामि तत्र ह्यार्षसमुद्भवम्
Therefore, I shall describe the origin of the sages in that context.