अमृतोपस्तरणमसि अपोशानं भुजेः पुरः
You are the immortal covering; water is to be sipped before eating.
प्राणाद्या आहुतीर्दत्त्वाचम्य भोजनमाचरेत्
Having offered the initial oblations and sipped water, one should then partake of food.
रात्रावपि यथाशक्ति शयनासनभोजनैः
Even at night, according to one's ability, one should provide bed, seat, and food.
यदाऽचारपरित्यागी प्रायश्चित्ती तदा भवेत्
When one abandons proper conduct, then expiation becomes necessary.
पुत्रेषु भार्यां निःक्षिप्य वनं गच्छेत्सहैव वा
Entrusting his wife to his sons, he should go to the forest, either alone or with her.
अधः शायी ब्रह्मचारी पञ्चयज्ञपरायणः
Lying on the ground, practicing celibacy, and devoted to the five sacrifices.
दयावान्सर्वभूतेषु नारायणपरायणः
Compassionate toward all beings, devoted solely to Narayana.
अष्टौ ग्रासांश्च भुञ्जीत न कुर्याद्रात्रिभोजनम्
He should eat eight morsels of food, and must not take meals at night.
व्यवायं वर्जयेच्चैव निद्रालस्ये तथैव च
He should abstain from sexual activity, and likewise avoid sleep and laziness.
वानप्रस्थः प्रकुर्वीत तपश्चान्द्रायणादिकम्
The forest-dweller should undertake austerities such as the Chandrayana and similar practices.
यदा मनसि वैराग्यं जातं सर्वेषु वस्तुषु
When detachment arises in his mind toward all objects,
वेदान्ताभ्यासनिरतः शान्तो दान्तो जितेन्द्रियः
Engaged in the study of Vedanta, peaceful, self-controlled, and master of his senses,
शमादिगुणसंयुक्तः कामक्रोधविवर्जितः
Endowed with qualities like tranquility, free from desire and anger,
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयोः
Equal toward enemy and friend, and likewise in honor and dishonor,
भैक्षेण वर्त्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादीभवेद्यतिः
He should live always by alms, and not be one who eats from a single household.
विवादरहिते चैव भिक्षार्थं पर्यटेद्यतिः
He should wander for alms only where there is no dispute.
जपेच्च प्रणवं नित्यं जितात्मा विजितेन्द्रियः
He should always recite the Pranava, self-controlled and master of his senses.
न तस्य निष्कृतिर्द्दष्टा प्रायश्चित्तायुतैरपि
No expiation is prescribed for him, even with thousands of atonements.
स चण्डालसमो ज्ञेयो वर्णाश्रमविगर्हितः
He is to be regarded as equal to a Chandala, condemned by caste and stage of life.
निर्द्वन्द्रं निर्ममंशान्तं मायातीतममत्सरम्
Free from duality, free from possessiveness, peaceful, beyond illusion, without envy,
ज्ञानस्वरुपममलं परं ज्योतिः सनातनम्
Of the nature of knowledge, stainless, the supreme, eternal light.
निर्गुणं परमं ध्यायेदात्मानं परतः परम्
He should meditate on the supreme Self, beyond attributes, higher than the highest.
सहस्रशीर्षं देवं च सदा ध्यायेज्जितेन्द्रियः
With senses subdued, he should always meditate on the God with a thousand heads.
स याति परमानन्दं परं ज्योतिः सनातनम्
He attains supreme bliss, the supreme, eternal light.
स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र गत्वा न शोचयति
He attains the supreme state, where, having reached, one does not grieve.
नारायणपरा यान्ति तद्विष्णः परमं पदम्
Those devoted to Nārāyaṇa go to that highest abode of Viṣṇu.
यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
By hearing this, one is freed from all sins; there is no doubt about this.
अधः शायी ब्रह्मचारी निशि विप्रान्निमन्त्रयेत्
One who sleeps on the ground, observes celibacy, and invites brāhmaṇas at night—
रत्योषधिपरान्नानि श्राद्धकर्त्ताविवर्जयेत्
The performer of a śrāddha should avoid food prepared by women at night and medicinal herbs.
श्राद्धकर्त्ता च भोक्ता च दिवास्वापं च वर्जयेत्
The performer of a śrāddha, as well as the eater, should also avoid sleeping during the day.