कथयामास विश्वात्मा मनवे सूर्यसूनवे कर्मयोगं च सांख्यं च यथावद्विस्तरान्वितम्
The soul of the universe spoke to Manu, the son of the Sun, about the discipline of action and Sāṃkhya, properly and in detail.
श्रोतुमिच्छामहे सूत कर्मयोगस्य लक्षणम् यस्मादविदितं लोके न किंचित्तव सुव्रत
We wish to hear, O Sūta, the characteristics of the discipline of action, for nothing in the world is unknown to you, O virtuous one.
कर्मयोगं च वक्ष्यामि यथा विष्णुविभाषितम् ज्ञानयोगसहस्राद्धि कर्मयोगः प्रशस्यते
I will explain the discipline of action as described by Viṣṇu, for indeed, the discipline of action is praised above a thousand disciplines of knowledge.
कर्मयोगोद्भवं ज्ञानं तस्मात्तत्परमं पदम् कर्मज्ञानोद्भवं ब्रह्म न च ज्ञानमकर्मणः
Knowledge arises from the discipline of action; therefore, that is the supreme state. Brahman arises from action and knowledge, but not from knowledge without action.
तस्मात्कर्मणि युक्तात्मा तत्त्वमाप्नोति शाश्वतम् वेदो ऽखिलो धर्ममूलम् आचारश्चैव तद्विदाम्
Therefore, one whose mind is steadfast in action attains the eternal truth; the entire Veda is the root of dharma, as is the conduct of those who know it.
अष्टावात्मगुणास् तस्मिन् प्रधानत्वेन संस्थिताः दया सर्वेषु भूतेषु क्षान्ती रक्षातुरस्य तु
In that, eight qualities of the self are established as primary: compassion toward all beings, forbearance toward those who seek protection,
अनसूया तथा लोके शौचमन्तर्बहिर्द्विजाः अनायासेषु कार्येषु माङ्गल्याचारसेवनम्
Also, absence of envy in the world, purity inward and outward for twice-born ones, performing duties without hardship, and observance of auspicious conduct.
न च द्रव्येषु कार्पण्यम् आर्तेषूपार्जितेषु च तथास्पृहा परद्रव्ये परस्त्रीषु च सर्वदा
There should be no miserliness regarding wealth, even that acquired in distress; likewise, one should always be free from desire for others’ possessions and others’ wives.
अष्टावात्मगुणाः प्रोक्ताः पुराणस्य तु कोविदैः अयमेव क्रियायोगो ज्ञानयोगस्य साधकः
These eight qualities of the self have been declared by the knowers of the Purāṇas; this alone is the discipline of action, which leads to the path of knowledge.
कर्मयोगं विना ज्ञानं कस्यचिन् नेह दृश्यते श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितं धर्मम् उपतिष्ठेत्प्रयत्नतः
Without the discipline of action, knowledge is not seen in anyone here; one should diligently practice the dharma taught in the śruti and smṛti.
देवतानां पितॄणां च मनुष्याणां च सर्वदा कुर्यादहरहर्यज्ञैर् भूतर्षिगणतर्पणम्
One should always satisfy the gods, ancestors, and humans daily with offerings and rites that gratify beings, sages, and hosts of spirits.
स्वाध्यायैरर्चयेच्चर्षीन् होमैर्विद्वान्यथाविधि पितॄञ्छ्राद्धैर् अन्नदानैर् भूतानि बलिकर्मभिः
One should worship the seers with study, the ancestors with prescribed oblations, beings with offerings of food, and spirits with ritual offerings.
पञ्चैते विहिता यज्ञाः पञ्चसूनापनुत्तये कण्डनी पेषणी चुल्ली जलकुम्भी प्रमार्जनी
These five sacrifices are prescribed for the removal of the five household slaughters: the mortar, the grinding stone, the hearth, the water pot, and the broom.
पञ्च सूना गृहस्थस्य तेन स्वर्गं न गच्छति तत्पापनाशनायामी पञ्च यज्ञाः प्रकीर्तिताः
These five slaughters belong to the householder; because of them, he does not attain heaven. For the destruction of that sin, these five sacrifices are proclaimed.
द्वाविंशतिस्तथाष्टौ च ये संस्काराः प्रकीर्तिताः तद्युक्तो ऽपि न मोक्षाय यस्त्वात्मगुणवर्जितः
Even one endowed with the twenty-two and eight sacraments that are declared, if he is devoid of the qualities of the self, does not attain liberation.
तस्मादात्मगुणोपेतः श्रुतिकर्म समाचरेत् गोब्राह्मणानां वित्तेन सर्वदा भद्रमाचरेत्
Therefore, one endowed with the qualities of the self should perform scripturally enjoined actions, always acting for the welfare of cows and Brahmins with his wealth.
गोभूहिरण्यवासोभिर् गन्धमाल्योदकेन च पूजयेद्ब्रह्मविष्ण्वर्करुद्रवस्वात्मकं शिवम्
With cows, land, gold, garments, fragrant flowers, and water, one should worship the auspicious One—who is Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Sun, Rudra, Fire, and the Self.
व्रतोपवासैर् विधिवच्छ्रद्धया च विमत्सरः यो ऽसाव् अतीन्द्रियः शान्तः सूक्ष्मो ऽव्यक्तः सनातनः वासुदेवो जगन्मूर्तिस् तस्य सम्भूतयो ह्य् अमी
With vows, fasts, proper rituals, and faith, free from envy—he who is beyond the senses, peaceful, subtle, unmanifest, eternal, Vāsudeva, the form of the universe—from him these manifestations arise.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च भगवान् मार्तण्डो वृषवाहनः अष्टौ च वसवस्तद्वद् एकादश गणाधिपाः लोकपालाधिपाश्चैव पितरो मातरस्तथा
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the Blessed One, the Sun, the Lord of Bulls, the eight Vasus, likewise the eleven leaders of hosts, the guardians of the worlds, the ancestors, and also the mothers—
इमा विभूतयः प्रोक्ताश् चराचरसमन्विताः ब्रह्माद्याश् चतुरो मूलम् अव्यक्ताधिपतिः स्मृतः
These powers have been declared, endowed with the moving and unmoving; Brahmā and the others, four in number, have their root in the Lord of the Unmanifest.
ॐ ॐ ब्रह्मणा चाथ सूर्येण विष्णुनाथ शिवेन वा अभेदात्पूजितेन स्यात् पूजितं सचराचरम्
Om, om—whether by Brahmā, the Sun, Viṣṇu, or Śiva, when worship is performed without distinction, all that moves and does not move is worshipped.
ब्रह्मादीनां परं धाम त्रयाणामपि संस्थितिः वेदमूर्ताव् अतः पूषा पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः
The supreme abode of Brahmā and the others, and the foundation of all three, is established in the form of the Veda; therefore Pūṣan is to be worshipped with diligence.
तस्मादग्निद्विजमुखान् कृत्वा सम्पूजयेदिमान् दानैर्व्रतोपवासैश्च जपहोमादिना नरः
Therefore, having made fire and brahmins the foremost, one should duly honor them with gifts, vows, fasts, recitation, offerings, and the like.
इति क्रियायोगपरायणस्य वेदान्तशास्त्रस्मृतिवत्सलस्य विकर्मभीतस्य सदा न किंचित् प्राप्तव्यमस्तीह परे च लोके
For one devoted to the practice of rites, who cherishes the Vedānta, śāstra, and smṛti, and who always fears wrongdoing, there is nothing here or in the next world that remains unattainable.
पुराणसंख्यामाचक्ष्व सूत विस्तरशः क्रमात् दानधर्ममशेषं तु यथावदनुपूर्वशः
O Sūta, recount in detail and in order the enumeration of the Purāṇas, and also the complete law of giving, properly and sequentially.
इदमेव पुराणेषु पुराणपुरुषस्तदा यदुक्तवान्स विश्वात्मा मनवे तन्निबोधत
This very teaching, spoken in the Purāṇas by the Primeval Person, the Soul of the Universe, to Manu—listen to it.
पुराणं सर्वशास्त्राणां प्रथमं ब्रह्मणा स्मृतम् अनन्तरं च वक्त्रेभ्यो वेदास्तस्य विनिर्गताः
The Purāṇa was remembered by Brahmā as the first of all scriptures, and then, from his mouths, the Vedas were brought forth.
पुराणमेकमेवासीत् तदा कल्पान्तरे ऽनघ त्रिवर्गसाधनं पुण्यं शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम्
At that time, in a previous cycle, there was only one Purāṇa, sinless one, vast as a hundred crores, a holy means to the three aims of life.
निर्दग्धेषु च लोकेषु वाजिरूपेण वै मया अङ्गानि चतुरो वेदान् पुराणं न्यायविस्तरम्
When the worlds were burned up, I, in the form of a horse, gathered the limbs—the four Vedas and the extensive Purāṇa.
मीमांसां धर्मशास्त्रं च परिगृह्य मया कृतम् मत्स्यरूपेण च पुनः कल्पादावुदकार्णवे
Having taken up Mīmāṃsā and Dharmaśāstra as well, I composed them, and again, in the form of a fish, at the beginning of the cycle, in the ocean of waters.