अथर्वशिरसो ऽध्येता वेदान्ताभ्यासतत्परः
He should study the Atharvaśiras, devoted to the practice of Vedānta.
कृष्णाजिनी सोत्तरीयः शुक्लयज्ञोपवीतवान्
Clad in a black antelope skin with an upper garment, and wearing a white sacred thread.
अनग्निरनिकेतः स्यान्मुनिर्मोक्षपरो भवेत्
He should be without fire and without a fixed abode, a sage intent on liberation.
गृहमेधिषु चान्येषु द्विजेषु वनवासिषु
Among householders, other twice-born, and forest-dwellers.
प्रतिगृह्य पुटेनैव पाणिना शकलेन वा
He should receive alms only in the hollow of his hand or with a shard.
विद्याविशेषान् सावित्रीं रुद्राध्यायं तथैव च
He should master special branches of knowledge, the Sāvitrī, and also the Rudra recitation.
अग्निप्रवेशमन्यद् वा ब्रर्ह्मार्पणविधौ स्थितः
He may enter fire, or else remain established in the rite of offering to Brahman.
याति यत्र जगतो ऽस्य संस्थितिः
He goes to where the dissolution of this world takes place.
चतुर्थमायुषो भागं संन्यासेन नयेत् क्रमात्
He should spend the fourth part of his life in renunciation, in due order.
योगाभ्यासरतः शान्तो ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणः
Engaged in the practice of yoga, peaceful, and devoted to the knowledge of Brahman.
तदा संन्यासमिच्छेच्च पतितः स्याद् विपर्यये
At that time, he should desire renunciation; if he acts otherwise, he falls.
दान्तः पक्वकषायो ऽसौ ब्रह्माश्रममुपाश्रयेत्
Self-controlled, with matured passions, he should take refuge in the hermitage of Brahman.
कर्मसंन्यासिनस्त्वन्ये त्रिविधाः परिकीर्तिताः
But others who renounce action are said to be of three kinds.
प्रोच्यते ज्ञानसंन्यासी स्वात्मन्येव व्यवस्थितः
He is called a renouncer of knowledge who abides solely in his own self.
प्रोच्यते वेदसंन्यासी मुमुक्षुर्विजितेन्द्रियः
He is called a renouncer of the Vedas, desiring liberation and having conquered his senses.
ज्ञेयः स कर्मसंन्यासी महायज्ञपरायणः
He should be known as a renouncer of action, devoted to the great sacrifices.
न तस्य विद्यते कार्यं न लिङ्गं वा विपश्चितः
For him, the wise, there is no prescribed duty nor any external mark.
जीर्णकौपीनवासाः स्यान्नग्नो वा ध्यानतत्परः
He may wear old loincloths or be naked, intent on meditation.
अध्यात्ममतिरासीत निरपेक्षो निरामिषः
He should have his mind set on the Self, be indifferent, and free from desire.
नाभिनन्देत मरणं नाभिनन्देत जीवितम्
He should neither welcome death nor long for life.
एवं ज्ञात्वा परो योगी ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते
Knowing thus, the supreme yogi becomes fit for union with Brahman.
काषायवासाः सततं ध्यानयोगपरायणः
Always wearing ochre robes, devoted to meditation and yoga.
भैक्ष्येण वर्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादी भवेत् क्वचित्
He should always live by alms, never being one who eats at only one house.
न तस्य निष्कृतिः काचिद् धर्मशास्त्रेषु कथ्यते
For him, no expiation is prescribed in the scriptures of dharma.
प्राणिहंसानिवृत्तश्च मौनी स्यात् सर्वनिस्पृहः
He should refrain from harming living beings, be silent, and free from all desires.
सत्यपूतां वदेद् वाणीं मनः पूतं समाचरेत्
He should speak words purified by truth and act with a mind that is pure.
स्नानशौचरतो नित्यं कमण्डलुकरः शुचिः
Always devoted to bathing and purity, holding a water-pot, he remains clean.
मोक्षशास्त्रेषु निरतो ब्रह्मसूत्री जितेन्द्रियः
Engaged in the scriptures of liberation, disciplined in the Brahma-sūtras, he has conquered his senses.
आत्मज्ञानगुणोपेतो यतिर्मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्
A renunciant endowed with the quality of self-knowledge attains liberation.
स्नात्वाचम्य विधानेन शुचिर्देवालयादिषु
Having bathed and sipped water according to rule, pure, he enters temples and other sacred places.