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.
धौतकाषायवसनो भस्मच्छन्नतनूरहः
Wearing washed ochre garments, his body covered with ash, he moves about.
आध्यात्मिकं च सततं वेदान्ताभिहितं च यत्
He constantly pursues the spiritual discipline as taught in the Vedānta.
वेदमेवाभ्यसेन्नित्यं स याति परमां गतिम्
He should study the Veda daily; such a one attains the highest state.
क्षमा दया च सतोषो व्रतान्यस्य विशेषतः
Forgiveness, compassion, and contentment—these are especially his vows.
कुर्यादहरहः स्नात्वा भिक्षान्नेनैव तेन हि
He should bathe every day and live on alms-food alone.
स्वाध्यायं चान्वहं कुर्यात् सावित्रीं संध्ययोर्जपेत्
He should perform self-study daily and recite the Sāvitrī at the two twilights.
एकान्नं वर्जयेन्नित्यं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम्
He should always avoid food from one person, as well as desire, anger, and possession.
कमण्डलुकरो विद्वान् त्रिदण्डी याति तत्परम्
Holding a water-pot, learned, and bearing the triple staff, he attains that supreme state.
भैक्षेण वर्तनं प्रोक्तं फलमूलैरथापि वा
Living by alms is prescribed, or else by fruits and roots.
भैक्षे प्रसक्तो हि यतिर्विषयेष्वपि सज्जति
For if a renunciant becomes attached to alms, he also becomes attached to sense-objects.
प्रक्षाल्य पात्रे भुञ्जीयादद्भिः प्रक्षालयेत् तु तत्
He should wash his bowl before eating, and after eating, wash it with water.
भुक्त्वा तत् संत्यजेत् पात्रं यात्रामात्रमलोलुपः
Having eaten, he should put aside his bowl, not greedy for more than what is needed for his journey.
वृत्ते शरावसंपाते भिक्षां नित्यं यतिश्चरेत्
When his bowl is filled, the renunciant should always take alms in that measure.
भिक्षेत्युक्त्वा सकृत् तूष्णीमश्नीयाद् वाग्यतः शुचिः
Having said 'alms' once, he should eat in silence, self-controlled and pure.
आदित्ये दर्शयित्वान्नं भुञ्जीत प्राङ्मुखोत्तरः
After showing the food to the sun, one should eat facing east or north.
आचम्य देवं ब्रह्माणं ध्यायीत परमेश्वरम्
Having sipped water, one should meditate on the god Brahma, the Supreme Lord.
चत्वारि यतिपात्राणि मनुराह प्रजापतिः
Manu, the lord of creatures, spoke of four vessels for ascetics.
संध्यास्वह्नि विशेषेण चिन्तयेन्नित्यमीश्वरम्
At the junctions of the day, and especially before fire, one should always contemplate the Lord.
आत्मानं सर्वभूतानां परस्तात् तमसः स्थितम्
The self of all beings stands beyond darkness.
प्रधानपुरुषातीतमाकाशं दहनं शिवम्
He transcends both matter and spirit, is like space, is fire, is auspicious.