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.
सर्वेषु वेदशास्त्रेषु पञ्चमो नोपपद्यते
In all the Vedic scriptures, a fifth (āśrama) is not admitted.
दक्षादीन् प्राह विश्वात्मा सृजध्वं विविधाः प्रजाः
The all-pervading Self said to Daksha and the others: 'Create various beings.'
असृजन्त प्रजाः सर्वा देवमानुषपूर्विकाः
They created all beings, beginning with the gods and humans.
अहं वै पालयामीदं संहरिष्यति शूलभृत्
I indeed protect this (world); the wielder of the trident will dissolve it.
रजः सत्त्वतमोयोगात् परस्य परमात्मनः
From the union of rajas, sattva, and tamas arises the Supreme Self.
अन्योन्यं प्रणताश्चैव लीलया परमेश्वराः
The Supreme Lords bow to one another and merge in play.
तिस्त्रस्तु भावना रुद्रे वर्तन्ते सततं द्विजाः
O twice-born, three forms of meditation are always present in Rudra.
द्वितीया ब्रह्मणः प्रोक्ता देवस्याक्षरभावना
The second is declared to be the meditation on the imperishable of the god Brahman.
विभज्यस्वेच्छयात्मानं सो ऽन्यर्यामीश्वरः स्थितः
Dividing himself by his own will, that Lord abides as the inner ruler of others.
पुरुषः परतो ऽव्यक्ताद् ब्रह्मत्वं समुपागमत्
The Supreme Person, beyond the unmanifest, attained the state of Brahman.
एकस्यैव स्मृतास्तिस्त्रस्तनूः कार्यवशात् प्रभोः
It is remembered that, due to the necessity of action, the Lord has three bodies, though he is one.
यदीच्छेदचिरात् स्थानं यत्तन्मोक्षाख्यमव्ययम्
If one desires to reach that place called liberation, which is imperishable, without delay—
पूजयेद् भावयुक्तेन यावज्जीवं प्रतिज्ञया
He should worship with devotion, by vow, for his whole life.
आश्रमो वैष्णवो ब्राह्मो हराश्रम इति त्रयः
The three ashramas are Vaishnava, Brahma, and Hara's ashrama.
ध्यायेदथार्चयेदेतान् ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणः
One devoted to the knowledge of Brahman should meditate on and worship these.
सितेन भस्मना कार्यं ललाटे तु त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्
A tripuṇḍra mark should be made on the forehead with white ash.
धारयेत् सर्वदा शूलं ललाटे गन्धवारिभिः
One should always bear the trident on the forehead with fragrant waters.
तेषां ललाटे तिलकं धारणीयं तु सर्वदा
A tilaka should always be worn on their foreheads.
उपर्यधो भावयोगात् त्रिपुण्ड्रस्य तु धारणात्
By the practice of meditation above and below, and by wearing the tripuṇḍra—
धृतं त्रिशूलधरणाद् भवत्येव न संशयः
By bearing the trident, it is certainly attained—there is no doubt.