पर्ववर्जं गृहस्थस्य ब्रह्मचर्यमुदाहृतम्
For the householder, celibacy is prescribed except during sacred festivals.
अकुर्वाणस्तु विप्रेन्द्रा भ्रूणहा तु प्रजायते
But, O best of Brahmins, one who does not observe this is born as a slayer of the embryo.
गृहस्थस्य परो धर्मो देवताभ्यर्चनं तथा
The highest duty of the householder is also the worship of the deities.
देशान्तरगतो वाथ मृतपत्नीक एव वा
Whether he has gone to another country or his wife has died,
अन्ये तमुपजीवन्ति तस्माच्छ्रेयान् गृहाश्रमी
Others depend on him; therefore, the householder’s life is superior.
तस्माद् गार्हस्थ्यमेवैकं विज्ञेयं धर्मसाधनम्
Therefore, householdership alone should be understood as the means to righteousness.
सर्वलोकविरुद्धं च धर्ममप्याचरेन्न तु
One should not practice even righteousness if it is opposed by all people.
धर्म एवापवर्गाय तस्माद् धर्मं समाश्रयेत्
Righteousness alone leads to liberation; therefore, one should resort to righteousness.
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चेति तस्माद्धर्मं समाश्रयेत्
Since there are the qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas, therefore one should resort to righteousness.
जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसाः
Those who remain in the conduct of the lowest quality, tamas, go downward.
इह लोके सुखी भूत्वा प्रेत्यानन्त्याय कल्पते
Here in this world, one becomes happy, and after death, attains the eternal.
एवं साधनसाध्यत्वं चातुर्विध्ये प्रदर्शितम्
Thus, the means and their attainments have been shown as fourfold.
माहात्म्यं चानुतिष्ठेत स चानन्त्याय कल्पते
One who observes this greatness also attains the eternal.
धर्मात् संजायते सर्वमित्याहुर्ब्रह्मवादिनः
Everything arises from dharma—so say the knowers of Brahman.
अनादिनिधना शक्तिः सैषा ब्राह्मी द्विजोत्तमाः
This power, O best of twice-born, is Brahmanic, without beginning or end.
तस्माज्ज्ञानेन सहितं कर्मयोगं समाचरेत्
Therefore, one should practice karma-yoga together with knowledge.
ज्ञानपूर्वं निवृत्तं स्यात् प्रवृत्तं यदतो ऽन्यथा
That which is preceded by knowledge is renunciation; otherwise, it is engagement in action.
तस्मान्निवृत्तं संसेव्यमन्यथा संसरेत् पुनः
Therefore, one should pursue renunciation; otherwise, one is born again.
आर्जवं चानसूया च तीर्थानुसरणं तथा
Straightforwardness, absence of envy, and pilgrimage to holy places—
देवताभ्यर्चनं पूजा ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः
Worship of deities, and especially the honoring of Brahmins—
सामासिकमिमं धर्मं चातुर्वर्ण्ये ऽब्रवीन्मनुः
Manu declared this concise dharma for the four varṇas.
स्थानमैन्द्रं क्षत्रियाणां संग्रामेष्वपलायिनाम्
The station of Indra is for kṣatriyas who do not flee in battle.
गान्धर्वं शूद्रजातीनां परिचारेण वर्तताम्
The Gandharva realm is for those of the śūdra class who live by service.
स्मृतं तेषां तु यत्स्थानं तदेव गुरुवासिनाम्
The place prescribed for them is that of those who dwell with their teacher.
प्राजापत्यं गृहस्थानां स्थानमुक्तं स्वयंभुवा
The householder's station is called prājāpatya, as declared by the self-born.
हैरण्यगर्भं तत् स्थानं यस्मान्नावर्तते पुनः
That station is called Hiraṇyagarbha, from which there is no return.
आनन्दमैश्वरं धाम सा काष्ठा सा परागतिः
The abode of bliss and lordship—that is the highest state, the supreme goal.
चत्वारो ह्याश्रमाः प्रोक्ता योगिनामेक उच्यते
Four āśramas are taught, but for yogins, only one is said.
य आस्ते निश्चलो योगी स संन्यासी न पञ्चमः
The yogi who sits unmoving is a renunciant; there is no fifth (state).
ब्रह्मचार्युपकुर्वाणो नैष्ठिको ब्रह्मतत्परः
He who observes the vow of brahmacharya, whether as an upakurvāṇa or a naiṣṭhika, is devoted to the essence of Brahman.