अयोनिजोऽहं विप्रर्षे योनौ मे कीदृशी मतिः । न वाञ्छाम्यहमग्रेऽपि योनावेव समुद्भवम्
I am not born from a womb, O sage among Brāhmaṇas; what attachment could I have to the womb? Even in the future, I do not desire birth from a womb.
विट्सुखं किमु वाञ्छामि त्यक्त्वाऽऽत्मसुखमद्भुतम् । आत्मारामश्च भूयोऽपि न भवत्यतिलोलुपः
Why would I desire the pleasure of excrement, abandoning the wondrous joy of the Self? One who delights in the Self does not become excessively greedy.
प्रथमं पठिता वेदा मया विस्तारिताश्च ते । हिंसामयास्ते पतिताः कर्ममार्गप्रवर्तकाः
I first studied the Vedas and explained them to you; but they are filled with violence and lead to the path of ritual action.
बृहस्पतिर्गुरुः प्राप्तः सोऽपि मग्नो गृहार्णवे । अविद्याग्रस्तहृदयः कथं तारयितुं क्षमः
Bṛhaspati, the guru, was attained, but he too is sunk in the ocean of household life; his heart seized by ignorance, how can he save others?
रोगग्रस्तो यथा वैद्यः पररोगचिकित्सकः । तथा गुरुर्मुमुक्षोर्मे गृहस्थोऽयं विडम्बना
Just as a physician afflicted by disease treats the illness of others, so too is a householder as a guru for one seeking liberation—a contradiction.
कृत्वा प्रणामं गुरवे त्वत्समीपमुपागतः । त्राहि मां तत्त्वबोधेन भीतं संसारसर्पतः
Having bowed to my guru, I have come to you; save me, who am afraid of the serpent of worldly existence, by the knowledge of truth.
संसारेऽस्मिन्महाघोरे भ्रमणं नभचक्रवत् । न च विश्रमणं क्यापि सूर्यस्येव दिवानिशि
In this terrible world, wandering is like the movement of the sun in the sky; there is no rest at any time, just as for the sun day and night.
किं सुखं तात संसारे निजतत्त्वविचारणात् । मूढानां सुखबुद्धिस्तु विट्सु कीटसुखं यथा
What happiness, father, is there in worldly life apart from inquiry into one's true nature? The happiness of fools is like the pleasure of worms in filth.
अधीत्य वेदशास्त्राणि संसारे रागिणश्च ये । तेभ्यः परो न मूर्खोऽस्ति सधर्मा श्वाश्वसूकरैः
Those who study the Vedas and scriptures but remain attached to worldly life are not superior to fools; they are like dogs, donkeys, and pigs.
मानुष्यं दुर्लभं प्राप्य वेदशास्त्राण्यधीत्य च । बध्यते यदि संसारे को विमुच्येत मानवः
Having attained the rare human birth and studied the Vedas and scriptures, if one is still bound in worldly existence, who among humans can be freed?
नातः परतरं लोके क्वचिदाश्चर्यमद्भुतम् । पुत्रदारगृहासक्तः पण्डितः परिगीयते
There is no greater wonder or marvel in the world than this: a person attached to children, wife, and home is praised as a wise man.
न बाध्यते यः संसारे नरो मायागुणैस्त्रिभिः । स विद्वान्स च मेधावी शास्त्रपारं गतो हि सः
He who is not afflicted in worldly life by the three qualities of Māyā—he is wise, he is intelligent, he has truly mastered the scriptures.
किं वृथाध्ययनेनात्र दृढबन्धकरेण च । पठितव्यं तदेवाशु मोचयेद्भवबन्धनात्
What is the use of pointless study here, which only strengthens bondage? One should quickly recite that which liberates from the bonds of worldly existence.
गह्णाति पुरुषं यस्माद्गृहं तेन प्रकीर्तितम् । क्व सुखं बन्धनागारे तेन भीतोऽस्म्यहं पितः
Because it binds a person, it is called a house. Where is happiness in a prison of bondage? Therefore, father, I am afraid.
येऽबुधा मन्दमतयो विधिना मुषिताश्च ये । ते प्राप्य मानुषं जन्म पुनर्बन्धं विशन्त्युत
Those who are ignorant, dull-minded, and deceived by fate, after attaining human birth, again enter bondage.
व्यास उवाच न गृहं बन्धनागारं बन्धने न च कारणम् । मनसा यो विनिर्मुक्तो गृहस्थोऽपि विमुच्यते
Vyasa said: The house is not a prison, nor is it the cause of bondage. One who is freed in mind, even while living as a householder, is liberated.
न्यायागतधनः कुर्वन्वेदोक्तं विधिवत्क्रमात् । गृहस्थोऽपि विमुच्येत श्राद्धकृत्सत्यवाक् शुचिः
A householder who acquires wealth lawfully, acts according to the Vedic injunctions, performs rites, speaks truth, and is pure, can also be liberated.
ब्रह्मचारी यतिश्चैव वानप्रस्थो व्रतस्थितः । गृहस्थं समुपासन्ते मध्याह्नातिक्रमे सदा
Brahmacharins, ascetics, forest-dwellers, and those observing vows always approach the householder after midday.
श्रद्धया चान्नदानेन वाचा सूनृतया तथा । उपकुर्वन्ति धर्मस्था गृहाश्रमनिवासिनः
Those established in righteousness assist householders with faith, by giving food, with truthful speech, and generosity.
गृहाश्रमात्परो धर्मो न दृष्टो न च वै श्रुतः । वसिष्ठादिभिराचार्यैर्ज्ञानिभिः समुपाश्रितः
No higher dharma than the householder's is seen or heard, even by teachers like Vasistha and other wise ones who have followed it.
किमसाध्यं महाभाग वेदोक्तानि च कुर्वतः । स्वर्गं मोक्षं च सज्जन्म यद्यद्वाञ्छति तद्भवेत्
O fortunate one, what is unattainable for one who acts according to the Vedas? Heaven, liberation, or noble birth—whatever is desired, that is attained.
आश्रमादाश्रमं गच्छेदिति धर्मविदो विदुः । तस्मादग्निं समाधाय कुरु कर्माण्यतन्द्रितः
Those who know dharma say one should move from one stage of life to another. Therefore, establish the sacred fire and perform your duties diligently.
देवान्पितॄन्मनुष्यांश्च सन्तर्प्य विधिवत्सुत । पुत्रमुत्पाद्य धर्मज्ञ संयोज्य च गृहाश्रमे
Satisfy the gods, ancestors, and humans according to the rules, O son. Beget a son, knowing dharma, and establish him in the householder's stage.
त्यक्त्वागृहं वनं गत्वा कर्तासि व्रतमुत्तमम् । वानप्रस्थाश्रमं कृत्वा संन्यासं च ततः परम्
After leaving the house and going to the forest, you should undertake the highest vow, enter the forest-dweller's stage, and then renunciation thereafter.
इन्द्रियाणि महाभाग मादकानि सुनिश्चितम् । अदारस्य दुरन्तानि पञ्चैव मनसा सह
O fortunate one, the senses are certainly intoxicating, and the five, along with the mind, are exceedingly difficult to restrain without a wife.
तस्माद्दारान्प्रकुर्वीत तज्जयाय महामते । वार्धके तप आतिष्ठेदिति शास्त्रोदितं वचः
Therefore, O wise one, one should marry for victory over them; in old age, one should undertake austerity—this is the teaching of scripture.
विश्वामित्रो महाभाग तपः कृत्वातिदुश्चरम् । त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि निराहारो जितेन्द्रियः
O fortunate one, Vishvamitra performed extremely difficult austerities for three thousand years, fasting and mastering his senses.
मोहितश्च महातेजा वने मेनकया स्थितः । शकुन्तला समुत्पन्ना पुत्री तद्वीर्यजा शुभा
The great ascetic, though powerful, was deluded in the forest by Menaka, and Shakuntala, his virtuous daughter, was born from that union.
दृष्ट्वा दाशसुतां कालीं पिता मम पराशरः । कामबाणार्दितः कन्यां तां जग्राहोडुपे स्थितः
Seeing Kali, the daughter of a fisherman, my father Parashara, struck by the arrows of desire, took her while she was standing by the boat.
ब्रह्मापि स्वसुतां दृष्ट्वा पञ्चबाणप्रपीडितः । धावमानश्च रुद्रेण मूर्च्छितश्च निवारितः
Even Brahma, seeing his own daughter, afflicted by the five arrows of desire, ran after her, but was stopped and made unconscious by Rudra.