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.
अविभागे तु वेदानामनिर्देश्ये तमोमये
When the Vedas are undivided and indeterminate, enveloped in darkness,
चेतनाबुद्धिपूर्वं तु चेतनेन प्रवर्त्तते
Consciousness and intellect come first, and through consciousness, activity proceeds.
चेतनाधिष्ठितं सत्त्वं प्रवर्त्तति गुणात्मकम्
The sattva, governed by consciousness, acts according to its qualities.
विषयो विषयित्वाच्च अर्थेर्ऽथत्वात्तथैव च
Through the relation of subject and object, and likewise through the relation of meaning and meaningfulness,
संसिध्यन्ति तदा व्यक्ताः क्रमेण महदादयः
Then, the manifest entities such as Mahat and others are perfected in succession.
भूतभेदाश्च भूतेभ्यो जज्ञिरे स्म परस्परम्
The divisions of elements are born from the elements themselves, mutually.
यथोल्मुकात्तु त्रुटयः एककालाद्भवन्ति हि
Just as sparks arise from a firebrand, so do they come forth simultaneously.
यथान्धकारे खद्योतः सहसा संप्रदृश्यते
Just as a firefly is suddenly seen in the darkness.
स माहन्सशरीरस्तु यत्रैवायमवर्त्तत
That great soul, in his own body, existed right there.
महांस्तु तमसः पारे वैलक्षण्याद्विभाव्यते
The Mahat is discerned beyond darkness, distinguished by its unique nature.