अथ शिष्टान्प्रवक्ष्यामि साधूनथ ततश्च वै ब्राह्मणाः श्रुतिशब्दाश्च देवानां पशुमूर्तयः संयुज्य ब्रह्मणा ह्यन्तस् तेन सन्तः प्रचक्षते
Now I shall declare the remaining ones, the virtuous, and then the Brāhmaṇas and the words of revelation, which are the forms of animals among the gods, united within Brahman, as the virtuous declare.
सामान्येषु च धर्मेषु तथा वैशिषिकेषु च ब्रह्मक्षत्रविशो युक्ताः श्रौतस्मार्तेन कर्मणा
In both common and special duties, Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas are engaged in Vedic and Smṛti-based actions.
वर्णाश्रमेषु युक्तस्य सुखोदर्कस्य स्वर्गतौ श्रौतस्मार्तो हि यो धर्मो ज्ञानधर्मः स उच्यते
For one established in the orders and stages of life, whose end is happiness and heaven, the Vedic and Smṛti-based dharma is called the dharma of knowledge.
दिव्यानां साधनात्साधुर् ब्रह्मचारी गुरोर्हितः कारणात्साधनाच्चैव गृहस्थः साधुरुच्यते
He who pursues the means of the divine is virtuous; the celibate student devoted to his teacher is virtuous; and, because of purpose and means, the householder is also called virtuous.
तपसश्च तथारण्ये साधुर्वैखानसः स्मृतः यतमानो यतिः साधुः स्मृतो योगस्य साधनात्
Likewise, the Vaikhānasa, who practices austerity in the forest, is remembered as virtuous; the striving ascetic is called virtuous because of his pursuit of yoga.
धर्मो धर्मगतिः प्रोक्तः शब्दो ह्येष क्रियात्मकः कुशलाकुशलौ चैव धर्माधर्मौ ब्रवीत्प्रभुः
Dharma is said to be the course of righteousness; this word is of the nature of action. The Lord declares both skillful and unskillful actions as dharma and adharma.
अथ देवाश्च पितर ऋषयश्चैव मानुषाः अयं धर्मो ह्ययं नेति ब्रुवते मौनमूर्तिना
Then the gods, ancestors, seers, and humans say, 'This is dharma, this is not,' by means of the form of silence.
धर्मेति धारणे धातुर् महत्त्वे चैव उच्यते आधारणे महत्त्वे वा धर्मः स तु निरुच्यते
The root 'dhṛ' in 'dharma' means to support, and also to be great; thus, dharma is explained as that which supports or is great.
तत्रेष्टप्रापको धर्म आचार्यैरुपदिश्यते अधर्मश्चानिष्टफल आचार्यैर्नोपदिश्यते
There, the righteous path that leads to desired results is taught by teachers; the unrighteous path, which brings undesired outcomes, is not taught by teachers.
वृद्धाश्चालोलुपाश्चैव आत्मवन्तो ह्यदाम्भिकाः सम्यग्विनीता मृदवस् तानाचार्यान्प्रचक्षते
Elders and those free from greed, self-controlled, without deceit, properly disciplined and gentle—such teachers are recognized.
धर्मज्ञैर्विहितो धर्मः श्रौतस्मार्तो द्विजातिभिः दाराग्निहोत्रसम्बन्धम् इज्या श्रौतस्य लक्षणम्
The dharma established by those who know righteousness, based on Vedic and traditional authority, is practiced by the twice-born; its mark is connection with wife, sacred fire, and ritual worship.
स्मार्तो वर्णाश्रमाचारो यमैश्च नियमैर्युतः पूर्वेभ्यो वेदयित्वेह श्रौतं सप्तर्षयो ऽब्रुवन्
The tradition based on memory is the conduct of caste and stage of life, accompanied by restraints and observances; the ancient sages declared the Vedic tradition here, having known the Vedas.
ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि ब्रह्मणो ऽङ्गानि वै श्रुतिः मन्वन्तरस्यातीतस्य स्मृत्वा तन्मनुरब्रवीत्
The hymns, formulas, and chants are the limbs of Brahman, indeed the revelation; recalling the past age, Manu spoke thus.
तस्मात्स्मार्तः सूतो धर्मो वर्णाश्रमविभागशः एवं वै द्विविधो धर्मः शिष्टाचारः स उच्यते
Therefore, the tradition based on memory is the righteous path, divided according to caste and stage of life; thus, dharma is of two kinds, and the conduct of the learned is so called.
शिषेर् धातोश्च निष्ठान्ताच् छिष्टशब्दं प्रचक्षते मन्वन्तरेषु ये शिष्टा इह तिष्ठन्ति धार्मिकाः
From the root 'śiṣ', meaning 'to instruct', the term 'śiṣṭa' is derived; those who are learned and righteous remain here in each age.
मनुः सप्तर्षयश्चैव लोकसंतानकारिणः तिष्ठन्तीह च धर्मार्थं ताञ्छिष्टान्सम्प्रचक्षते
Manu and the seven sages, who preserve the world, remain here for the sake of righteousness; these are called the learned.
तैः शिष्टैश्चलितो धर्मः स्थाप्यते वै युगे युगे त्रयी वार्त्ता दण्डनीतिः प्रजावर्णाश्रमेप्सया
By those learned ones, when dharma declines, it is restored in every age; the threefold Veda, agriculture, and law enforcement are pursued according to the desire of people in caste and stage of life.
शिष्टैराचर्यते यस्मात् पुनश्चैव मनुक्षये पूर्वैःपूर्वैर्मतत्वाच्च शिष्टाचारः स शाश्वतः
Because the learned practice it, and again, when Manu passes, it is established by successive generations; thus, the conduct of the learned is eternal.
दानं सत्यं तपो लोको विद्येज्या पूजनं दमः अष्टौ तानि चरित्राणि शिष्टाचारस्य लक्षणम्
Giving, truthfulness, austerity, service, learning, worship, self-restraint—these eight are the marks of the conduct of the learned.
शिष्टा यस्माच्चरन्त्येनं मनुः सप्तर्षयश्च ह मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु शिष्टाचारस्ततः स्मृतः
Because Manu and the seven sages practice it, in all ages, the conduct of the learned is thus remembered.
विज्ञेयः श्रवणाच्छ्रौतः स्मरणात्स्मार्त उच्यते इज्यावेदात्मकः श्रौतः स्मार्तो वर्णाश्रमात्मकः प्रत्यङ्गानि प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मस्येह तु लक्षणम्
The tradition based on revelation is known by hearing; the tradition based on memory is known by recollection. Ritual worship is the essence of the revealed tradition; the tradition based on memory is the essence of caste and stage of life. I will now explain the subsidiary marks of dharma here.
दृष्टानुभूतमर्थं च यः पृष्टो न विगूहते यथाभूतप्रवादस्तु इत्येतत्सत्यलक्षणम्
One who, when questioned, does not conceal what has been seen or experienced, and speaks as things truly are—this is the mark of truth.
ब्रह्मचर्यं तपो मौनं निराहारत्वमेव च इत्येतत्तपसो रूपं सुघोरं तु दुरासदम्
Celibacy, austerity, silence, and fasting—these are the forms of asceticism, very severe and difficult to attain.
पशूनां द्रव्यहविषाम् ऋक्सामयजुषां तथा ऋत्विजां दक्षिणायाश्च संयोगो यज्ञ उच्यते
The union of animals, materials, offerings, hymns, chants, formulas, priests, and gifts—this is called sacrifice.
आत्मवत्सर्वभूतेषु यो हिताय शुभाय च वर्तते सततं हृष्टः क्रिया श्रेष्ठा दया स्मृता
One who acts always joyfully for the welfare and good of all beings, as for oneself—compassion is remembered as the highest action.
आक्रुष्टो ऽभिहतो यस्तु नाक्रोशेत्प्रहरेदपि अदुष्टो वाङ्मनःकायैस् तितिक्षुः सा क्षमा स्मृता
One who, though insulted or struck, does not insult or strike back, whose speech, mind, and body are free from harm, and who endures—this is remembered as forgiveness.
स्वामिना रक्ष्यमाणानाम् उत्सृष्टानां च सम्भ्रमे परस्वानाम् अनादानम् अलोभ इति संज्ञितम्
The non-taking of others' property, whether guarded by the owner or abandoned in confusion, is called non-covetousness.
मैथुनस्यासमाचारो जल्पनाच्चिन्तनात्तथा निवृत्तिर्ब्रह्मचर्यं च तदेतच्छमलक्षणम्
Abstaining from sexual intercourse, as well as from talking about it and thinking about it, and the practice of celibacy—this is the mark of purity.
आत्मार्थे वा परार्थे वा इन्द्रियाणीह यस्य वै विषये न प्रवर्तन्ते दमस्यैतत्तु लक्षणम्
He whose senses do not engage with objects, whether for his own sake or for another's, is marked by self-restraint.
पञ्चात्मके यो विषये कारणे चाष्टलक्षणे न क्रुध्येत प्रतिहतः स जितात्मा भविष्यति
One who, even when obstructed in matters concerning the fivefold self or the eightfold causes, does not become angry, will become self-controlled.