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.
शुद्धान्नं स्निग्धम् अश्नीयात् संस्कृतं चाभिमन्त्रितम् भोक्ता शिव इति स्मृत्वा मौनी चैकाग्रमानसः
One should eat pure, unctuous, well-prepared, and consecrated food, remembering 'I am Shiva the enjoyer,' in silence and with a focused mind.
आस्येन न पिबेत्तोयं तिष्ठन्नञ्जलिनापि वा वामहस्तेन शय्यायां तथैवान्यंकरेण वा
One should not drink water with the mouth directly, nor while standing with cupped hands, nor with the left hand, nor lying on a bed, nor with any other limb.
विभीतकार्ककारञ्जस्नुहिच्छायां न चाश्रयेत् स्तंभदीपमनुष्याणाम् अन्येषां प्राणिनां तथा
One should not take shelter in the shade of the vibhītaka, arka, kāranja, or snuhi trees, nor near posts, lamps, or among people or other living beings.
एको न गच्छेदध्वानं बाहुभ्यां नोत्तरेन्नदीम् नावरोहेत कूपादिं नारोहेदुच्चपादपान्
One should not travel alone on a road, nor cross a river with the arms, nor descend into a well or similar place, nor climb tall trees.
सूर्याग्निजलदेवानां गुरूणां विमुखः शुभे न कुर्यादिह कार्याणि जपकर्म शुभानि वा
Facing away from the sun, fire, water, gods, or teachers, one should not perform auspicious acts, recitations, or sacred rites.
अग्नौ न तापयेत्पादौ हस्तं पद्भ्यां न संस्पृशेत् अग्नेर्नोच्छ्रयम् आसीत नाग्नौ किंचिन् मलं त्यजेत्
One should not warm the feet at the fire, nor touch the fire with the feet or hands, nor sit higher than the fire, nor cast any impurity into the fire.
न जलं ताडयेत्पद्भ्यां नांभस्यङ्गमलं त्यजेत् मलं प्रक्षालयेत् तीरे प्रक्षाल्य स्नानमाचरेत्
One should not strike water with the feet, nor cast bodily impurities into water; impurities should be cleansed on the bank, and after cleansing, one should bathe.
नखाग्रकेशनिर्धूतस्नानवस्त्रघटोदकम् अश्रीकरं मनुष्याणाम् अशुद्धं संस्पृशेद्यदि
Water that has been touched by fingernails, hair, after bathing, or by used garments or pots is inauspicious for people and impure if touched.
अजाश्वानखुरोष्ट्राणां मार्जनात् तुषरेणुकान् संस्पृशेद् यदि मूढात्मा श्रियं हन्ति हरेरपि
If a deluded person touches the dust or husks swept up from goats, horses, animals with uncloven hooves, or camels, he destroys his own prosperity, even that given by Hari.
मार्जारश् च गृहे यस्य सो ऽप्यन्त्यजसमो नरः भोजयेद्यस्तु विप्रेन्द्रान् मार्जारसंनिधौ यदि
A man whose house contains a cat is considered equal to an outcaste; and if he feeds revered Brahmins in the presence of a cat,