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.
उपकुर्वाणको ज्ञेयो नैष्ठिको मरणान्तिकः
The upakurvāṇa is to be known as such; the naiṣṭhika continues until death.
कुटुम्बभरणे यत्तः साधको ऽसौ गृही भवेत्
The practitioner who is engaged in supporting his family is called a householder.
एकाकी यस्तु विचरेदुदासीनः स मौक्षिकः
He who wanders alone, indifferent, is called a seeker of liberation.
स्वाध्याये चैव निरतो वनस्थस्तापसो मतः
He who is devoted to self-study in the forest is regarded as an ascetic.
सांन्यासिकः स विज्ञेयो वानप्रस्थाश्रमे स्थितः
He who abides in the forest-dweller stage is to be known as a renunciant.
ज्ञानाय वर्तते भिक्षुः प्रोच्यते पारमेष्ठिकः
The mendicant who pursues knowledge is called a supreme renunciant.
सम्यग् दर्शनसंपन्नः स योगी भिक्षुरुच्यते
He who is endowed with true vision is called a yogi and a mendicant.
कर्मसन्यासिनः केचित् त्रिविधाः परामेष्ठिकाः
Some renouncers of action are of three kinds, known as supreme renunciants.
तृतीयोत्याश्रमी प्रोक्ती योगमुत्तममास्थितः
The one established in the highest yoga is said to be in the third and last stage of life.
तृतीये चान्तिमा प्रोक्ता भावना पारमेश्वरी
In the third stage, the supreme contemplation is declared to be the final one.