अधिकं चापि विद्येत स सोमं पातुमर्हति
And if he knows more, he is worthy to drink Soma.
सोमेनाराधयेद् देवं सोमलोकमहेश्वरम्
With Soma, he should worship the god, the great lord of the Soma world.
समो वा विद्यते तस्मात् सोमेनाभ्यर्चयेत् परम्
Or if he is equal, therefore he should worship the supreme with Soma.
धर्मो विमुक्तये साक्षाच्छ्रौतः स्मार्तो द्विधा पुनः
Dharma is directly for liberation; Vedic and Smṛti rites are its twofold form.
श्रेयस्करतमः श्रौतस्तस्माच्छ्रौतं समाचरेत्
Of all, the Vedic rite is the most beneficial; therefore, one should perform the Vedic rite.
शिष्टाचारस्तृतीयः स्याच्छ्रतिस्मृत्योरलाभतः
The conduct of the learned is the third authority, in the absence of Veda and Smṛti.
ते शिष्टा ब्राह्मणाः प्रोक्ता नित्यमात्मगुणान्विताः
Those are called learned Brāhmaṇas who are always endowed with inner virtues.
स धर्मः कथितः सद्भिर्नान्येषामिति धारणा
That is called dharma by the virtuous; not that of others—this is the understanding.
एकस्माद् ब्रह्मविज्ञानं धर्मज्ञानं तथैकतः
From one comes knowledge of Brahman, and likewise, knowledge of dharma from one source.
धर्मशास्त्रं पुराणं तद् ब्रह्मज्ञाने परा प्रमा
The Dharmaśāstra and Purāṇa are the highest authority regarding knowledge of Brahman.
तस्माद् धर्मं पुराणं च श्रद्धातव्यं द्विजातिभिः
Therefore, the twice-born should have faith in dharma and the Purāṇa.
द्विजातेः परमो धर्मो वर्तनानि निबोधत
Now hear the supreme dharma and modes of livelihood for the twice-born.
कुसीदकृषिवाणिज्यं प्रकुर्वोतास्वयङ्कृतम्
Moneylending, agriculture, and trade—one should not engage in these on one's own.
आपत्कल्पो ह्यं ज्ञेयः पूर्वोक्तो मुख्य इष्यते
These are to be known as emergency measures; the previously mentioned are to be considered primary.
कष्टा पापीयसी वृत्तिः कुसीदं तद् विवर्जयेत्
Moneylending is a harsh and sinful livelihood; therefore, one should avoid it.
तस्मात् क्षात्रेण वर्तेत वर्तनेनापदि द्विजः
Therefore, a twice-born should follow the Kṣatriya's livelihood only in distress.
न कथञ्चन कुर्वोत ब्राह्मणः कर्म कर्षणम्
A Brāhmaṇa should never perform the work of tilling the soil.
ते तृप्तास्तस्य तं दोषं शमयन्ति न संशयः
Those who are satisfied remove his fault—of this there is no doubt.
त्रिंशद्भागं ब्राह्मणानां कृषिं कुर्वन् न दुष्यति
By cultivating only a thirtieth part for Brāhmaṇas, one does not incur sin.
कृषीवलो न दोषेण युज्यते नात्र संशयः
The cultivator is not associated with fault—of this there is no doubt.
विद्याशिल्पादयस्त्वन्ये बहवो वृत्तिहेतवः
Other means of livelihood are many, such as knowledge, crafts, and so on.
शिलोञ्छे तस्य कथिते द्वे वृत्ती परमर्षिभिः
The two livelihoods called gleaning and picking are described by the great sages.
अयाचितं स्यादमृतं मृतं भेक्षं तु याचितम्
Unasked-for food is like nectar; begged food is as if dead.
त्र्यहैहिको वापि भवेदश्वस्तनिक एव च
It may be for three days, or even just for the next day.
श्रेयान् परः परो ज्ञेयो धर्मतो लोकजित्तमः
The one who surpasses others in righteousness is to be known as the best among those who conquer the world.
द्वाभ्यामेकश्चतुर्थस्तु ब्रह्मसत्रेण जीवति
By two, one; but the fourth lives by the Brahmasatra.
इष्टीः पार्वायणान्तीयाः केवला निर्वपेत् सदा
One should always offer pure oblations at the end of each half-year.
अजिह्मामशठां शुद्धां जीवेद् ब्राह्मणजीविकाम्
One should live by the livelihood of a Brahmin, which is straightforward, without deceit, and pure.
याचयेद् वा शुचिं दान्तं न तृप्येत स्वयं ततः
Or, one may beg from a pure and self-restrained person, but should not be satisfied oneself from that.
देवान् पितृंश्च विधिना शुनां योनिं व्रजत्यसौ
By performing the prescribed rites for the gods and ancestors, one does not enter the womb of dogs.