न जीर्णमलवद्वासा भवेद् वै विभवे सति
He should not wear old or dirty clothes if he has the means.
नोपानहौ स्त्रजं चाथ पादुके च प्रयोजयेत्
He should not use shoes, a garland, or sandals.
नापसव्यं परीदध्याद् वासो न विकृतं वसेत्
He should not wear a garment over the left shoulder, nor should he wear deformed clothing.
रूपलक्षणसंयुक्तान् योनिदोषविवर्जितान्
He should wear those adorned with proper form and marks, free from defects of origin.
आहरेद् ब्राह्मणो भार्यां शीलशौचसमन्विताम्
A brāhmaṇa should take a wife who is endowed with good conduct and purity.
वर्जयेत् प्रतिषिद्धानि प्रयत्नेन दिनानि तु
He should diligently avoid what is forbidden, at all times.
ब्रह्मचारी भवेन्नित्यं तद्वज्जन्मत्रयाहनि
He should always remain celibate, just as on the days of the threefold birth-rites.
व्रतानि स्नातको नित्यं पावनानि च पालयेत्
The initiated householder should always observe the vows and purificatory practices.
अकुर्वाणः पतत्याशु नरकानतिभीषणान्
One who does not do so quickly falls into terrifying hells.
कुर्याद् गृह्याणि कर्माणि संध्योपासनमेव च
He should perform the household rites and the worship at twilight.
दैवतान्यपि गच्छेत कुर्याद् भार्याभिपोषणम्
He should also visit the deities and provide for the welfare of his wife.
कुर्वोतात्महितं नित्यं सर्वभूतानिकम्पकः
He should always act for his own good, showing compassion to all beings.
वेषवाग्बुद्धिसारूप्यमाचरन् विचरेत् सदा
He should always conduct himself with harmony in dress, speech, and mind.
तमाचारं निषेवेत नेहेतान्यत्र कर्हिचित्
He should follow that conduct and never pursue anything else.
तेन यायात् सतां मार्गं तेन गच्छन् न रिष्यति
By that, he attains the path of the virtuous; following it, he does not fall.
सत्यवादी जितक्रोधो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते
One who speaks truth and has conquered anger is fit for union with Brahman.
अनसूयी मृदुर्दान्तो गृहस्थः प्रेत्य वर्धते
A householder who is free from envy, gentle, and self-controlled grows after death.
सावित्रीजाप्यनिरतः श्राद्धकृन्मुच्यते गृही
A householder devoted to reciting Sāvitrī and performing ancestral rites is liberated.
दान्तो यज्वा देवभक्तो ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
One who is self-restrained, performs sacrifices, and is devoted to the gods is honored in the world of Brahman.
कुर्यादहरहर्नित्यं नमस्येत् प्रयतः सुरान्
He should worship the gods every day, with devotion and effort.
गृहस्थस्तु समाख्यातो न गृहेण गृही भवेत्
He is called a householder, but not by the house alone does one become a householder.
अध्यात्मनिरतं ज्ञानमेतद् ब्राह्मणलक्षणम्
This knowledge, devoted to the inner self, is the mark of a brāhmaṇa.
यथाशक्तिं चरन् कर्म निन्दितानि विवर्जयेत्
One should perform actions according to one's ability, and avoid those that are censured.
गृहस्थो मुच्यते बन्धात् नात्र कार्या विचारणा
A householder is freed from bondage; there is no need for further deliberation on this.
अन्यमन्युसमुत्थानां दोषाणां मर्षणं क्षमा
Forgiveness is the endurance of faults arising from the anger of others.
दयेति मुनयः प्राहुः साक्षाद् धर्मस्य साधनम्
Compassion, say the sages, is directly the means of righteousness.
विज्ञानमिति तद् विद्याद् येन धर्मो विवर्धते
Know that as knowledge by which righteousness increases.
धर्मकार्यान्निवृत्तश्चेन्न तद् विज्ञानमिष्यते
If one turns away from righteous acts, that is not considered knowledge.
यथाभूतप्रवाद् तु सत्यमाहुर्मनीषिणः
The wise declare truth to be speaking of things as they are.
अध्यात्ममक्षरं विद्याद् यत्र गत्वा न शोचति
Know the imperishable as the inner self, upon reaching which one does not grieve.