सृष्टिः प्रजापतेरेषा भूताध्यात्मविनिश्चये
This is the creation of Prajapati, determined by the nature of beings and the self.
आत्मतेजो ऽभिनिर् वृत्तान्भास्कराग्निसमप्रभान्
The radiance of the self manifested, equal in brilliance to the sun and fire.
आचारं चैव शौचं च स्वर्गाय विदधे प्रभुः
He, the lord, established conduct and purity for the sake of heaven.
यक्षराक्षसनागाश्च पिशाचा मनुजास्तथा
Yakshas, Rakshasas, Nagas, Pisachas, and humans likewise.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य वर्णेन यदि वर्णो विभिद्यते
If the color of the fourfold class is divided by color,
त्वन्तः क्षरति सर्वेषां कस्माद्वर्णो विभज्यते
Then, since the color flows within all, why is color separated?
तेषां विविधवर्णानां कुतो वर्णविनिश्चयः
Among these various colors, whence is the determination of color?
ब्रह्मणा पूर्वसृष्टं हि कर्मणा वर्णतां गतम्
Indeed, what was first created by Brahma attained its color through action.
त्यक्तस्वकर्मरक्ताङ्गास्ते द्विजाः क्षत्रतां गताः
Those twice-born who have abandoned their own duties and become attached to violence have attained the state of Kṣatriyas.
स्वधर्ंमन्नानुतिष्टन्ति ते द्विजा वैश्यतां गताः
Those twice-born who do not practice their own dharma have indeed become Vaiśyas.
कृष्णाः शौचपारिभ्राष्टास्ते द्विजाः शूद्रतां गताः
Those twice-born who are dark, deprived of purity, have become Śūdras.
ब्राह्मणा धर्मतन्त्रस्थास्तपस्तेषां न नश्यति
Brāhmaṇas who remain established in the system of dharma—their austerity does not perish.
ब्रह्म चैव पुरा सृष्टं येन जानन्ति तद्विदः
And that Brahman which was created in the beginning is known by those who understand.
सा सृष्टिर्मानसी नाम धर्मतन्त्रपरायणा
That creation is called mental, devoted to the system of dharma.
वैश्यः शूद्रश्च विप्रर्षे तद्ब्रूहि वदतां वर
O best of speakers, tell me, O sage among Brāhmaṇas, about the Vaiśya and the Śūdra.
वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नो ब्रह्मकर्मस्ववस्थितः
He who is accomplished in Vedic study and established in the duties of Brahman—
नित्यव्रती सत्यपरः स वै ब्राह्मण उच्यते
Who is ever observant of vows and devoted to truth—he is called a Brāhmaṇa.
तपस्यां दृश्यते यत्र स ब्राह्मण इति स्मृतः
Wherever austerity is seen, he is remembered as a Brāhmaṇa.
दानादानरतिर्यस्तु स वै क्षत्रिय उच्यते
He who delights in giving and not in taking is indeed called a Kṣatriya.
वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नः स वैश्य इति संज्ञितः
He who is accomplished in Vedic study is designated as a Vaiśya.
त्यक्तवेदस्त्वनाचारः स वै शूद्र इति स्मृतः
He who has abandoned the Vedas and right conduct is remembered as a Śūdra.
न वै शूद्रो भवेच्छूद्रो ब्राह्मणो ब्राह्मणो न च
A Śūdra does not become a Śūdra, nor a Brāhmaṇa a Brāhmaṇa, merely by birth.
एतत्पवित्रं ज्ञानानां तथा चैवात्मसंयमः
This is the pure knowledge of the wise, and likewise, self-control.
नित्यक्रोधाच्छ्रियं रक्षेत्तपो रक्षेत्तु मत्सरात्
One should protect prosperity from constant anger, and austerity from envy.
विद्यां मानापमानाभघ्यामात्मानं तु प्रमादतः
One should protect knowledge from pride and humiliation, and oneself from carelessness.
त्यागे यस्य हुतं सर्वं स त्यागी स च बुद्धिमान्
He by whom everything is offered up in renunciation—he is the true renouncer and wise.
परिग्रहात्परित्यज्य भवेद्बद्ध्या जितेन्द्रियः
By renouncing possessions, one who has mastered the senses becomes free from bondage.
तपोनित्येन दान्तेन मुनिना संयतात्ममना
A sage who is ever devoted to austerity, self-controlled, and disciplined in mind and self—
इन्द्रियैर्गृह्यते यद्यत्तत्तव्द्यक्तमिति स्थितिः
Whatever is grasped by the senses, that alone is manifest as reality.
अविश्रंभेण मन्तव्यं विश्रंभे धारयेन्मनः
One should reflect without trust, but when trust arises, let the mind be steadfast.