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.
ध्यायेदनादिमद्वैतमानन्दादिगुणालयम्
One should meditate on the beginningless, nondual one, the abode of bliss and other qualities.
सितेतरारुणाकारं महेशं विश्वरूपिणम्
One should meditate on the great lord, of white, dark, and red form, who has the form of the universe.
आकाशे देवमीशानं ध्यायीताकाशमध्यगम्
One should meditate in the sky on the god Īśāna, who dwells in the midst of space.
पुराणं पुरुषं शंभुं ध्यायन् मुच्येत बन्धनात्
Meditating on the ancient person, Śambhu, one is freed from bondage.
विचिन्त्य परमं व्योम सर्वभूतैककारणम्
Contemplating the supreme ether, the sole cause of all beings.
आनन्दं ब्रह्मणः सूक्ष्मं यत् पश्यन्ति मुमुक्षवः
The subtle bliss of Brahman, which those seeking liberation behold.
अनन्तं सत्यमीशानं विचिन्त्यासीत संयतः
One should sit, self-controlled, contemplating the infinite, true Lord.
यो ऽनुतिष्ठेन्महेशेन सो ऽश्नुते योगमैश्वरम्
Whoever follows the command of the great Lord attains yogic lordship.
ज्ञानं समभ्यसेद् ब्राह्मं येन मुच्येत बन्धनात्
One should practice Brahman-knowledge, by which one is freed from bondage.
आनन्दमजरं ज्ञानं ध्यायीत च पुनः परम्
Again, one should meditate on supreme bliss, undecaying knowledge.