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.
हुतेन शाम्यते पापं स्वाध्याये शान्तिरुत्तमा
Sin is pacified by offering, and the highest peace is through self-study.
दानं तु द्विविधं प्राहुः परत्रार्थमिहैव च
They declare that giving is of two kinds: for the sake of the next world and for this world alone.
यादृशं दीयते दानं तादृशं फलमश्नुते
As is the gift that is given, so is the fruit that one enjoys.
धर्मः कतिविधो वापि तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Of how many kinds is righteousness? You, sir, are worthy to speak of that.
तेषां स्वर्गपलावाप्तिर्यो ऽन्यथा स विमुह्यते
Of these, those who attain the fruit of heaven—whoever thinks otherwise is deluded.
तेषां स्वे स्वे समाचारास्तन्मे वक्तुमिहार्हसि
Of their respective practices, you should tell me here.
पूर्वमेव भगवता ब्रह्मणा लोकहितमनुतिष्टता धर्मसंरक्षणार्थमाश्रमाश्चत्वारो ऽभिनिर्द्दिष्टाः
Formerly, the Blessed Lord Brahma, acting for the welfare of the worlds, established the four orders of life for the protection of righteousness.
तत्र गुरुकुलवासमेव प्रथममाश्रममाहरन्ति सम्यगत्र शौचसस्कारनियमव्रतविनियतात्मा उभे संध्ये भास्कराग्निदैवतान्युपस्थाय विहाय तद्ध्यालस्यं गुरोरभिवादनवेदाब्यासश्रवणपवित्रघीकृतान्तरात्मा त्रिषवणमुपस्पृश्य ब्रह्मचर्याग्निपरिचरणगुरुशुश्रूषा नित्यभिक्षाभैक्ष्यादिसर्वनिवेदितान्तरात्मा गुरुवचननिदेशानुष्टानाप्रतिकूलो गुरुप्रसादलब्धस्वाध्यायतत्परः स्यात्
Among these, residence in the teacher’s house is called the first order; here, one should be self-controlled by purity, discipline, observances, and vows, worship the sun, fire, and deities at both twilights, abandoning laziness, salute the teacher, purify the inner self by study and listening to the Vedas, touch water thrice daily, serve celibacy, tend the sacred fire, serve the teacher, daily beg for alms, dedicate all to the teacher, never act against the teacher’s commands, and, obtaining the teacher’s favor, be devoted to study.
इति गार्हस्थ्यं खलु द्वितीयमाश्रमं वदन्ति
Thus, householdership is indeed called the second order.
समावृतानां सदाचाराणां सहधर्मचर्यफलार्थिनां गृहाश्रमो विधीयते
For those who have completed their studies, who are of good conduct, and who desire the fruit of following righteous duties together, the householder’s order is prescribed.