कनिष्ठा रक्षणीया सा जपकर्मणि शोभने अङ्गुष्ठेन जपेज्जप्यम् अन्यैरङ्गुलिभिः सह
The little finger is to be protected in the act of recitation, O auspicious one; the recitation should be done with the thumb together with the other fingers.
अङ्गुष्ठेन विना कर्म कृतं तदफलं यतः शृणुष्व सर्वयज्ञेभ्यो जपयज्ञो विशिष्यते
Any act performed without the thumb is fruitless; therefore, listen: among all sacrifices, the sacrifice of recitation is supreme.
हिंसया ते प्रवर्तन्ते जपयज्ञो न हिंसया यावन्तः कर्मयज्ञाः स्युः प्रदानानि तपांसि च
Sacrifices involving recitation proceed without violence; those involving violence are not true recitations. All sacrificial acts, gifts, and austerities that may exist—
सर्वे ते जपयज्ञस्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् माहात्म्यं वाचिकस्यैव जपयज्ञस्य कीर्तितम्
—none of these equal even a sixteenth part of the recitation-sacrifice. The greatness of the vocal recitation-sacrifice is thus proclaimed.
तस्माच्छतगुणोपांशुः सहस्रो मानसः स्मृतः यद् उच्चनीचस्वरितैः शब्दैः स्पष्टपदाक्षरैः
Therefore, the whispered recitation is said to be a hundred times greater, and the mental recitation a thousand times greater than the vocal, which is performed with high and low tones, with clear words and syllables.
मन्त्रमुच्चारयेद्वाचा जपयज्ञः स वाचिकः शनैरुच्चारयेन्मन्त्रम् ईषद् ओष्ठौ तु चालयेत्
When one utters the mantra aloud with the voice, that is called vocal recitation; let one recite the mantra slowly, moving the lips just a little.
किंचित् कर्णान्तरं विद्याद् उपांशुः स जपः स्मृतः धिया यदक्षरश्रेण्या वर्णाद्वर्णं पदात्पदम्
If only the reciter himself hears a little, that is known as whispered recitation. When, with the mind, one contemplates each letter, syllable by syllable, word by word—
शब्दार्थं चिन्तयेद्भूयः स तूक्तो मानसो जपः त्रयाणां जपयज्ञानां श्रेयान् स्यादुत्तरोत्तरः
—and reflects repeatedly on the meaning of the words, that is called mental recitation. Of these three types of recitation-sacrifice, each subsequent one is superior to the previous.
भवेद्यज्ञविशेषेण वैशिष्ट्यं तत्फलस्य च जपेन देवता नित्यं स्तूयमाना प्रसीदति
There is a special excellence and result in each kind of sacrifice; by recitation, the deity, being constantly praised, becomes pleased.
प्रसन्ना विपुलान् भोगान् दद्यान्मुक्तिं च शाश्वतीम् यक्षरक्षःपिशाचाश् च ग्रहाः सर्वे च भीषणाः जापिनं नोपसर्पन्ति भयभीताः समन्ततः
When pleased, she grants abundant enjoyments and eternal liberation. All yakṣas, rākṣasas, piśācas, and terrifying spirits do not approach the reciter, being afraid on all sides.
जपेन भोगान् जयते च मृत्युं जपेन सिद्धिं लभते च मुक्तिम्
By recitation one conquers enjoyments and death; by recitation one attains accomplishment and liberation.
एवं लब्ध्वा शिवं ज्ञानं ज्ञात्वा जपविधिक्रमम्
Thus, having obtained the knowledge of Śiva and understanding the proper order of recitation—
सदाचारी जपन्नित्यं ध्यायन् भद्रं समश्नुते सदाचारं प्रवक्ष्यामि सम्यग्धर्मस्य साधनम्
—one who always recites with good conduct, meditating, attains auspiciousness. I will now properly declare good conduct, the means of true righteousness.
यस्मादाचारहीनस्य साधनं निष्फलं भवेत् आचारः परमो धर्म आचारः परमं तपः
For one lacking good conduct, all practice becomes fruitless. Good conduct is the highest dharma; good conduct is the highest austerity.
आचारः परमा विद्या आचारः परमा गतिः सदाचारवतां पुंसां सर्वत्राप्यभयं भवेत्
Good conduct is the highest knowledge; good conduct is the highest path. For those who possess good conduct, there is fearlessness everywhere.
तद्वदाचारहीनानां सर्वत्रैव भयं भवेत् सदाचारेण देवत्वम् ऋषित्वं च वरानने
But for those lacking good conduct, there is fear everywhere. By good conduct, one attains divinity and sagehood, O beautiful one.
उपयान्ति कुयोनित्वं तद्वद् आचारलङ्घनात् आचारहीनः पुरुषो लोके भवति निन्दितः
By transgressing good conduct, one falls into evil birth; a person without good conduct is reviled in the world.
तस्मात्संसिद्धिमन्विच्छन् सम्यगाचारवान् भवेत् दुर्वृत्तः शुद्धिभूयिष्ठः पापीयान् ज्ञानदूषकः
Therefore, one who seeks perfection should possess proper conduct. The wicked, though outwardly pure, are more sinful and corrupt knowledge.
वर्णाश्रमविधानोक्तं धर्मं कुर्वीत यत्नतः
One should diligently perform the dharma prescribed by the rules of varṇa and āśrama.
यस्य यद्विहितं कर्म तत्कुर्वन्मत्प्रियः सदा संध्योपासनशीलः स्यात् सायं प्रातः प्रसन्नधीः
Whoever performs the actions enjoined for him is always dear to me. He should practice worship at the twilights, in the evening and morning, with a clear mind.
उदयास्तमयात्पूर्वम् आरम्य विधिना शुचिः कामान्मोहाद्भयाल्लोभात् संध्यां नातिक्रमेद्द्विजः
Before sunrise and sunset, having ritually prepared oneself and being pure, a twice-born should not neglect the twilight worship out of desire, delusion, fear, or greed.
संध्यातिक्रमणाद्विप्रो ब्राह्मण्यात्पतते यतः असत्यं न वदेत् किंचिन् न सत्यं च परित्यजेत्
By neglecting the twilight worship, a Brahmin falls from Brahminhood; therefore, one should not speak untruth, nor should one abandon truth.
यत्सत्यं ब्रह्म इत्याहुर् असत्यं ब्रह्मदूषणम् अनृतं परुषं शाठ्यं पैशुन्यं पापहेतुकम्
That which is truth is said to be Brahman; untruth is a defilement of Brahman—falsehood, harshness, deceit, slander, and actions arising from sin.
परदारान्परद्रव्यं परहिंसां च सर्वदा क्वचिच्चापि न कुर्वीत वाचा च मनसा तथा
One should never commit adultery, theft, or harm to others, whether by speech or in thought.
शूद्रान्नं यातयामान्नं नैवेद्यं श्राद्धमेव च गणान्नं समुदायान्नं राजान्नं च विवर्जयेत्
One should avoid food from Shudras, stale food, offerings, funeral food, food from groups, food from gatherings, and food from kings.
अन्नशुद्धौ सत्त्वशुद्धिर् न मृदा न जलेन वै सत्त्वशुद्धौ भवेत्सिद्धिस् ततो ऽन्नं परिशोधयेत्
Purity of food leads to purity of mind, not by clay or water; when the mind is pure, success is attained—therefore, one should purify food.
राजप्रतिग्रहैर् दग्धान् ब्राह्मणान् ब्रह्मवादिनः स्विन्नानामपि बीजानां पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते
Brahmins devoted to Brahman who are corrupted by royal gifts, like seeds scorched by heat, do not have rebirth.
राजप्रतिग्रहो घोरो बुद्ध्वा चादौ विषोपमः बुधेन परिहर्तव्यः श्वमांसं चापि वर्जयेत्
Knowing that royal gifts are dreadful and at first like poison, the wise should avoid them, and also abstain from eating dog meat.
अस्नात्वा न च भुञ्जीयाद् अजपो ऽग्निमपूज्य च पर्णपृष्ठे न भुञ्जीयाद् रात्रौ दीपं विना तथा
One should not eat without bathing, nor without worshipping the fire, nor eat on a leaf's back, nor at night without a lamp.
भिन्नभाण्डे च रथ्यायां पतितानां च संनिधौ शूद्रशेषं न भुञ्जीयात् सहान्नं शिशुकैरपि
One should not eat in a broken vessel, in the street, in the presence of outcasts, remnants from Shudras, or food shared with children.