चतुष्पदा द्विपदाः पक्षिणश्च तथाभूता गर्भभूता भवन्ति आख्यातमेतन्निखिलं हि सर्वं भूयस्तु किं पृच्छसि राजसिंह
Four-footed creatures, two-footed beings, and birds—all these come into being in the womb; this has been fully declared. What more do you ask, O lion among kings?
किं स्वित्कृत्वा लभते तात संज्ञां मर्त्यः श्रेष्ठां तपसा विद्यया वा तन्मे पृष्टः शंस सर्वं यथावच् छुभांल्लोकान् येन गच्छेत्क्रमेण
By what action does a mortal attain the highest awareness—by austerity or by knowledge? Tell me everything as you have been asked, so that one may reach auspicious worlds in due order.
तपश्च दानं च शमो दमश्च ह्रीर् आर्जवं सर्वभूतानुकम्पा स्वर्गस्य लोकस्य वदन्ति सन्तो द्वाराणि सप्तैव महान्ति पुंसाम्
Austerity, charity, tranquility, self-control, modesty, straightforwardness, and compassion for all beings—these seven great doors to the heavenly world are declared by the wise for people.
सर्वाणि चैतानि यथोदितानि तपःप्रधानान्यभिमर्षकेण नश्यन्ति मानेन तमो ऽभिभूताः पुंसः सदैवेति वदन्ति सन्तः
All these, as stated, are rooted in austerity; but if tainted by arrogance, they perish, being overcome by darkness—so the wise always say.
अधीयानः पण्डितं मन्यमानो यो विद्यया हन्ति यशः परस्य तस्यान्तवन्तः पुरुषस्य लोका न चास्य तद्ब्रह्मफलं ददाति
One who, considering himself learned, destroys another's reputation through knowledge—such a person's worlds are finite, and he does not obtain the fruit of Brahman thereby.
चत्वारि कर्माणि भयंकराणि भयं प्रयच्छन्त्ययथाकृतानि मानाग्निहोत्रमुत मानमौनं मानेनाधीतमुत मानयज्ञः
There are four actions that bring fear if performed improperly: sacrifice tainted by pride, silence tainted by pride, study tainted by pride, and charity tainted by pride.
न मान्यमानो मुदमाददीत न संतापं प्राप्नुयाच्चावमानात् सन्तः सतः पूजयन्तीह लोके नासाधवः साधुबुद्धिं लभन्ते
One who is honored should not become elated, nor should he be distressed by dishonor. The virtuous honor the virtuous in this world; the wicked do not attain the mind of the good.
इति दद्यादिति यजेद् इत्यधीयीत मे श्रुतम् इत्येतान्यभयान्याहुस् तान्य् अवर्ज्यानि नित्यशः
"Give," "sacrifice," "study," and "listen"—these are said to be free from fear and should always be practiced without exception.
येनाश्रयं वेदयन्ते पुराणं मनीषिणो मानसे मानयुक्तम् तन्निःश्रेयस् तेन संयोगमेत्य परां शान्तिं प्राप्नुयुः प्रेत्य चेह
That ancient refuge which the wise perceive in the mind, accompanied by honor—by uniting with that supreme good, they attain the highest peace here and hereafter.
चरन्गृहस्थः कथमेति देवान् कथं भिक्षुः कथम् आचार्यकर्मा वानप्रस्थः सत्पथे संनिविष्टो बहून्यस्मिन् सम्प्रति वेदयन्ति
How does a householder attain the gods? How does a mendicant? How does one engaged in the teacher's duties, or a forest-dweller established on the right path? Many now inquire about these matters.
आहूताध्यायी गुरुकर्मसु चोद्यतः पूर्वोत्थायी चरमं चोपशायी मृदुर्दान्तो धृतिमानप्रमत्तः स्वाध्यायशीलः सिध्यति ब्रह्मचारी
A student who studies when called, is diligent in the teacher's service, rises early, rests last, is gentle, self-controlled, steadfast, vigilant, and devoted to self-study—such a celibate succeeds.
धर्मागतं प्राप्य धनं यजेत दद्यात्सदैवातिथीन्भोजयेच्च अनाददानश्च परैरदत्तं सैषा गृहस्थोपनिषत्पुराणी
Having acquired wealth righteously, one should perform sacrifices, always give, and feed guests; one should not accept what is given by others. This is the ancient teaching for householders.
स्ववीर्यजीवी वृजिनान्निवृत्तो दाता परेभ्यो न परोपतापी तादृङ्मुनिः सिद्धिमुपैति मुख्यां वसन्न् अरण्ये नियताहारचेष्टः
Living by his own strength, abstaining from wrongdoing, giving to others, not harming anyone—such a sage, dwelling in the forest with regulated food and actions, attains the highest perfection.
अशिल्पजीवी विगृहश्च नित्यं जितेन्द्रियः सर्वतो विप्रमुक्तः अनोकशायी लघु लिप्समानश् चरन् देशानेकचरः स भिक्षुः
He who does not live by crafts, is always free from quarrel, has mastered his senses, is detached from everything, sleeps without a fixed abode, seeks little, and wanders through many lands—he is the mendicant.
रात्र्या यया चाभिरताश्च लोका भवन्ति कामाभिजिताः सुखेन च तामेव रात्रिं प्रयतेत विद्वान् अरण्यसंस्थो भवितुं यतात्मा
The night in which people, overcome by desire, find pleasure—on that very night, the wise man, self-controlled and established in the forest, should strive to become so.
दशैव पूर्वान्दश चापरांस्तु ज्ञातींस्तथात्मानमथैकविंशम् अरण्यवासी सुकृतं दधाति मुक्त्वा त्व् अरण्ये स्वशरीरधातून्
The forest-dweller, having offered ten ancestors before and ten after, as well as himself as the twenty-first, attains merit by relinquishing his bodily elements in the forest.
कतिस्विद् देवमुनयो मौनानि कति चाप्युत भवन्तीति तदाचक्ष्व श्रोतुम् इच्छामहे वयम्
How many vows of silence are there among the gods and sages, and how many indeed exist? Tell us this—we wish to hear.
अरण्ये वसतो यस्य ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः ग्रामे वा वसतो ऽरण्यं स मुनिः स्याज्जनाधिप
For one dwelling in the forest whose village lies behind him, or for one living in the village whose forest lies behind—such a sage is lord among men.
कथंस्विद्वसतो ऽरण्ये ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः ग्रामे वा वसतो ऽरण्यं कथं भवति पृष्ठतः
How does a village come to be behind one who dwells in the forest? Or, how does the forest come to be behind one who dwells in the village?
न ग्राम्यमुपयुञ्जीत य आरण्यो मुनिर्भवेत् तथास्य वसतो ऽरण्ये ग्रामो भवति पृष्ठतः
One should not engage in what is worldly; the sage who is devoted to the forest becomes thus. For him, dwelling in the forest, the village is left behind.
अनग्निरनिकेतश् चाप्य् अगोत्रचरणो मुनिः कौपीनाच्छादनं यावत् तावदिच्छेच्च चीवरम्
A sage without fire, without a fixed abode, who wanders without family ties, should desire a garment only as much as is needed to cover his loins.
यावत्प्राणाभिसंधानं तावदिच्छेच्च भोजनम् तदास्य वसतो ग्रामे ऽरण्यं भवति पृष्ठतः
He should desire food only as much as is necessary to sustain life; then, for him dwelling in the village, the forest is left behind.
यस्तु कामान्परित्यज्य त्यक्तकर्मा जितेन्द्रियः आतिष्ठेत मुनिर् मौनं स लोके सिद्धिमाप्नुयात्
But the sage who, having renounced desires, abandoned actions, and mastered his senses, practices silence—he attains perfection in this world.
धौतदन्तं कृत्तनखं सदा स्नातमलंकृतम् असितं सितकर्मस्थं कस्तं नार्चितुमर्हति
Who would not honor one whose teeth are cleansed, nails trimmed, always bathed and adorned, who is dark yet engaged in pure deeds?
तपसा कर्शितः क्षामः क्षीणमांसास्थिशोणितः यदा भवति निर्द्वंद्वो मुनिर्मौनं समास्थितः
When the sage, emaciated by austerity, thin, with flesh, bones, and blood diminished, becomes free from dualities and established in silence—
अथ लोकमिमं जित्वा लोकं चापि जयेत्परम् आस्येन तु यदाहारं गोवन्मृगयते मुनिः अथास्य लोकैः सर्वो यः सो ऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते
Then, having conquered this world and the next, when the sage seeks food with his mouth like a cow, all the worlds become fit for his immortality.
कतरस्त्वेतयोः पूर्वं देवानामेति सात्म्यताम् उभयोर्धावतो राजन् सूर्यचन्द्रमसोरिव
Which of these two, O King, first attains union with the gods—of those who strive, like the sun and the moon racing together?
अनिकेतगृहस्थेषु कामवृत्तेषु संयतः ग्राम एव चरन्भिक्षुस् तयोः पूर्वतरं गतः
He who, though living among householders and those devoted to desires, remains restrained and wanders as a mendicant in the village—he attains first.
अप्राप्यं दीर्घमायुश्च यः प्राप्तो विकृतिं चरेत् तप्येत यदि तत्कृत्वा चरेत्सोग्रं तपस्ततः
If one who has not attained long life or who has become deformed practices austerity, let him, having done that, undertake severe penance.
यद्वै नृशंसं तदपत् ह्यमाहुर् यः सेवते धर्ममनर्थबुद्धिः असावनीशः स तथैव राजंस् तदार्जवं स समाधिस्तदार्यम्
Whatever is cruel is declared to be unfit; he who serves righteousness with a mind not set on gain—he is not a lord, O King, but that is integrity, that is concentration, that is nobility.