साक्षाद् देवो महादेवस्तज्ज्ञानमिति कीर्तितम्
Directly, the great god is declared to be that knowledge.
महायज्ञपरो विप्रो लभते तदनुत्तमम्
A Brahmin devoted to great sacrifices attains that unsurpassed state.
न हि देहं विना रुद्रः पुरुषैर्विद्यते परः
Indeed, without a body, Rudra does not exist as the supreme among persons.
न धर्मवर्जितं काममर्थं वा मनसा स्मरेत्
One should not even mentally contemplate desire or wealth devoid of righteousness.
धर्मो हि भगवान् देवो गतिः सर्वेषु जन्तुषु
For righteousness is the blessed Lord, the god, the path for all beings.
न वेददेवतानिन्दां कुर्यात् तैश्च न संवसेत्
One should not revile the Vedas or the gods, nor associate with those who do.
अध्यापयेत् श्रावयेद् वा ब्रह्मलोके महीयते
One who teaches or causes others to hear is honored in the world of Brahma.
नाहितं नाप्रियं वाक्यं न स्तेनः स्याद् कदाचन
One should never speak words that are harmful or unpleasant, nor ever be a thief.
परस्यापहरञ्जन्तुर्नरकं प्रतिपद्यते
A being who takes what belongs to another attains hell.
न चान्यस्मादशक्तश्च निन्दितान् वर्जयेद् बुधः
And a wise person, even if unable, should not avoid censured acts because of another.
प्राणानपहरत्येवं याचकस्तस्य दुर्मतिः
In this way, the beggar with evil intent takes away the very life-breath of that person.
ब्रह्मस्वं वा नापहरेदापद्यपि कदाचन
One must never take the property of Brahmins, not even in times of distress.
देवस्वं चापि यत्नेन सदा परिहरेत् ततः
And one should always, with effort, avoid taking the property of the gods.
अदत्तादानमस्तेयं मनुः प्राह प्रजापतिः
Taking what has not been given is theft; so declared Manu, the lord of creatures.
नैकस्मादेव नियतमननुज्ञाय केवलम्
It is not permitted to take from just one person, without proper authorization.
धर्मार्थं केवलं विप्रा ह्यन्यथा पतितो भवेत्
O Brahmins, only for the sake of righteousness may it be done; otherwise, one falls.
क्षुधार्तैर्नान्यथा विप्रा धर्मविद्भिरिति स्थितिः
This is the rule: Brahmins who know dharma, when afflicted by hunger, may act thus, but not otherwise.
व्रतेन पापं प्रच्छाद्य कुर्वन् स्त्रीशूद्रदम्भनम्
By concealing sin with a vow, one deceives women and Shudras.
छद्मनाचरितं यच्च व्रतं रक्षांसि गच्छति
And whatever vow is performed deceitfully, that vow goes to the demons.
स लिङ्गिनां हरेदेनस्तिर्यग्योनौ च जायते
He who steals from ascetics is born in the animal realm.
सद्यः पतन्ति पापेषु कर्मणस्तस्य तत् फलम्
They immediately fall into sinful states; such is the fruit of their actions.
पञ्चरात्रान् पाशुपतान् वाङ्मात्रेणापि नार्चयेत्
One must not worship the Pañcarātra or Pāśupata doctrines, even verbally.
द्विजनिन्दारतांश्चैव मनसापि न चिन्तयेत्
Nor should one even think in the mind of those who delight in reviling the twice-born.
कुर्वाणः पतते जन्तुस्तस्माद् यत्नेन वर्जयेत्
Whoever acts thus falls; therefore, one should avoid it with effort.
ज्ञानापवादो नास्तिक्यं तस्मात् कोटिगुणाधिकम्
The denial of knowledge, atheism, is a sin a million times greater.
कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति यानि हीनानि धर्मतः
Families become ignoble when they neglect righteousness.
कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति ब्राह्मणातिक्रमेण च
Families become ignoble through transgression against Brahmins.
अश्रौतधर्माचरणात् क्षिप्रं नश्यति वै कुलम्
A family quickly perishes from the practice of non-scriptural dharma.
विहिताचारहीनेषु क्षिप्रं नश्यति वै कुलम्
A family quickly perishes among those who do not observe proper conduct.
न शूद्रराज्ये निवसेन्न पाषण्डजनैर्वृते
One should not dwell in a land ruled by a Śūdra, nor in a place filled with heretics.