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.
निवेदादेव निर्वाणं न च किञ्चिद्विच्चितयेत्
Liberation comes only from detachment; one should not be disturbed by anything.
शौचे तु सततं युक्तः सदाचारसमन्वितः
One should always be devoted to purity, endowed with good conduct.
सत्यंव्रतं तपः शौचं सत्यं विसृजते प्रजा
Truth, vow, austerity, and purity—by truth, beings are sustained.
अनृतं तमसो रूपं तमसा नीयते ह्यधः
Falsehood is the form of darkness; by darkness, one is led downward.
सुदुष्प्रकाश इत्याहुर्नरकं तम एव च
They say that hell is exceedingly difficult to illuminate, and it is indeed darkness itself.
तत्राप्येवंविधा लोके वृत्तिः सत्यानृते भवेत्
Even there, in such a world, conduct is shaped by truth and falsehood.
शारीरैर्मानसैर्दुःखैः सुखैश्चाप्यसुखोदयैः
Through bodily and mental sufferings, and also through pleasures that are not truly pleasurable—
तत्र दुःखविमोक्षार्थं प्रयतेत विचक्षणः
There, the wise should strive for liberation from suffering.
राहुग्रस्तस्य सोमस्य यथा ज्योत्स्ना न भासते
Just as the light of the moon does not shine when eclipsed by Rahu,
तथा तमोभिभूतानां भूतानां नश्यते सुखम्
So too, happiness perishes for beings overcome by darkness.
वदैतद्भवताभिहितं सुखानां परमा स्थितिरिति
Tell us, as you have declared, what is the supreme state of happiness.
न तदुपगृह्णीमो न ह्येषामृषीणां महति स्थितानाम्
We do not accept that, for such a state does not exist among these great sages.
तपसि श्रूयते त्रिलोककृद्ब्रह्मा प्रभुरेकाकी तिष्टति ब्रह्मचारी न कामसुखोष्वात्मानमवदधाति
It is heard that in austerity, Brahmā, the lord who created the three worlds, stands alone, a celibate, not delighting in sensual pleasures.
अपि च भगवान्विश्वेश्वर उमापतिः काममभिवर्तमानमनङ्गत्वेन सममनयत्
Moreover, the blessed Lord of the universe, Śiva, the husband of Umā, subdued desire itself, making it powerless.
तस्माद्भूमौ न तु महात्मभिरञ्जयति गृहीतो न त्वेष तावद्विशिष्टो गुणविशेष इति
Therefore, the earth is not adorned by the great souls; when possessed, it is not so distinguished as a special virtue.
नैतद्भगवतः प्रत्येमि भवता तूक्तं सुखानां परमाः स्त्रिय इति लोकप्रवादो हि द्विविधः फलोदयः सुकृतात्सुखमवाप्यते ऽन्यथा दुःखमिति
I do not accept this, O blessed one, that you have said women are the highest of pleasures; for it is the common saying that there are two kinds of results: happiness is gained from good deeds, otherwise suffering arises.
अत्रोच्यते अनृतात्खलु तमः प्रादुर्भूतं ततस्तमोग्रस्ता अधर्ममेवानुवर्तन्ते न धर्मं क्रोधलोभमोहहिंसानृतादिभिखच्छन्नाः खल्वस्मिंल्लोके नामुत्र सुखमाप्नुवन्ति विविधव्याधिरुजोपतापैरवकीर्यन्ते वधबन्धनपरिक्लेशादिभिश्च क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमकृतैरुपतापैरुपतप्यन्ते वर्षवातात्युष्णातिशीतकृतैश्च प्रतिभयैः शारीरैर्दुःखैरुपतप्यन्ते बन्धुधनविनाशविप्रयोगकृतैश्च मानसैः शौकैरभिभूयन्ते जरामृत्युकृतैश्चान्यैरिति यस्त्वेतैः
Here it is said: truly, from falsehood darkness arises; then, those enveloped by darkness follow only unrighteousness, not righteousness, being covered in this world by anger, greed, delusion, violence, falsehood, and the like; they do not attain happiness hereafter, but are afflicted by various diseases and pains, scattered by suffering such as killing, bondage, and other torments, tormented by afflictions caused by hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and by terrifying bodily pains from rain, wind, excessive heat, and cold; they are overwhelmed by mental grief from the loss and separation of relatives and wealth, and by other sufferings caused by old age and death.
नित्यमेव सुखं स्वर्गे सुखं दुःखमिहोभयम्
In heaven, happiness is constant; here, there is both happiness and suffering.
पृथिवी सर्वभूतानां जनित्री तद्विधाः स्त्रियः
The earth is the mother of all beings, and women are of the same nature.
इत्येतल्लोकनिर्माता धर्मस्य चरितस्य च
Thus, she is the creator of the worlds and of righteous conduct.