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.
धर्मार्थकामावाप्तिर्ह्य.त्र त्रिवर्गसाधनमपेक्ष्यागर्हितकर्मणा धनान्यादाय स्वाध्यायोपलब्धप्रकर्षेण वा ब्रह्मर्षिनिर्मितेन वा अद्भिः सागरगतेन वा द्रव्यनियमाभ्यासदैवतप्रसादोपलब्धेन वा धनेन गृहस्थो गार्हस्थ्यं वर्तयेत्
The attainment of righteousness, wealth, and desire—indeed, the means to the three aims—should be pursued; having obtained wealth by blameless actions, or by what is gained through study, or what is made by sages, or by water from the ocean, or by practice of discipline, or by the favor of deities, the householder should maintain household life.
तद्धि सर्वाश्रमणां मूलमुदाहरन्ति गुरुकुलनिवासिनः परिव्राजका ये ऽन्ये संकल्पितव्रतनियमधर्मानुष्टानिनस्तेषामप्यन्तरा च भिक्षाबलिसंविभागाः प्रवर्तन्ते
This, indeed, is declared to be the root of all the orders of life; for those residing with the teacher, for wanderers, and for others who practice vows and discipline, even among them, sharing of alms and offerings takes place.
वानप्रस्थानां च द्रव्योपस्कार इति प्रायशः खल्वेते साधवः साधुपथ्योदनाः स्वाध्यायप्रसंगिनस्तीर्थाभिगमनदेशदर्शनार्थं पृथिवीं पर्यटन्ति
As for the forest-dwellers, their possessions and implements are few; indeed, these virtuous ones subsist on wholesome food, devoted to study, and wander the earth to visit holy places and see sacred sites.
तेषां प्रत्युत्थानाभिगमनमनसूयावाक्यदानसुखसत्कारासनसुखशयनाभ्यवहारसत्क्रिया चेति
For them, rising in welcome, approaching, speaking without envy, offering pleasant hospitality, providing seats and comfortable beds, and proper service are prescribed.
स दत्त्वा दुष्कृतं तस्मै पुण्यमादाय गच्छति
He who gives to them relinquishes his sins and departs, having acquired merit.
अपि चात्र यज्ञक्रियाभिर्देवताः प्रीयन्ते निवापेन पितरो विद्याभ्यासश्रवणधारणेन ऋषयः अपत्योत्पादनेन प्रजापतिरिति
Moreover, in this context, the gods are pleased by sacrificial rites, the ancestors by offerings, the sages by study, listening, and retention of knowledge, and the Creator by the generation of offspring.
परितापोदपघातश्च पारुष्यं चात्र गर्हितम्
Here, excessive austerity, harm, and harshness are condemned.
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोदं सर्वाश्रमगतं तपः
Nonviolence, truthfulness, absence of anger—these are austerities practiced in all stages of life.
अपि चात्र माल्याभरणवस्त्राभ्यङ्गनित्योपभोगनृत्यगीतवादित्रश्रुतिसुखनयनस्नेहरामादर्शनानां प्राप्तिर्भक्ष्यभोज्यलेह्यपेयचोष्याणामभ्यवहार्य्याणां विविधानामुपभोगः
Furthermore, the enjoyment of garlands, ornaments, clothing, oiling, constant pleasures, music, dance, the delight of hearing instruments, the sight of beloved faces, and the consumption of various foods, drinks, and delicacies are permitted.
स सुखान्यनुभूयेह शिष्टानां गतिमाप्नुयात्
He may experience these pleasures here and attain the destiny of the virtuous.
त्यक्तकामसुखारंभः स्वर्गस्तस्य न दुर्लभः
For one who has abandoned the pursuit of sensual pleasures, heaven is not difficult to attain.
वानप्रस्थाः खल्वपि धर्ममनुसरन्तः पुण्यानि तीर्थानि नदीप्रस्त्रवणानि स्वभक्तेष्वरण्येषु मृगवराहमहिष शार्दूलवनगजाकीर्णेषु तपस्यन्ते अनुसंचरन्ति
Even forest-dwellers, following righteousness, perform austerities at holy places, river sources, and in forests frequented by their devotees, amidst deer, boar, buffalo, tiger, and elephant.
समित्कुशकुसुमापहारसंमार्जनलब्धविश्रामाः शीतोष्णपवनविष्टं भविभिन्नसर्वत्वचो विविधनियमयोगचर्यानुष्टानविहितपरिशुष्कमांसशोणितत्वगस्थिभूता धृतिपराः सत्त्वयोगाच्छरीराण्युद्वहॄन्ते
Resting after gathering firewood, sacred grass, and flowers, enduring cold, heat, and wind, their bodies marked by various disciplines, dried flesh, blood, skin, and bone, steadfast in resolve, they bear their bodies through the power of their spirit.
स दहेदग्निवद्दोषाञ्जयेल्लोकांश्च दुर्जायान्
Like fire, he burns away faults and conquers even those worlds that are hard to overcome.
समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनास्त्रिवर्गप्रवृत्तेष्वसक्तबुद्धयः
With equal regard for clods, stones, and gold, their minds remain unattached in pursuits of the three aims of life.
अरिमित्रोदासीनां तुल्यदर्शनाः स्थावरजरायुजाण्डजस्वेदजानां भूतानां वाङ्मनृःकर्मभिरनभिरनभिद्रोहिणो ऽनिकेताः पर्वतपुलिनवृक्षमूलदेवायतनान्यनुसंचरन्तो वा सार्थमुपेयुर्नगरं ग्रामं वा न क्रोधदर्पलोभमोहकार्पण्यदंभपरिवादाभिमाननिर्वृत्तहिंसा इति
They view friend, foe, and stranger alike; toward all beings—immobile, born from eggs, wombs, or moisture—they cause no harm by word, thought, or deed, are homeless, wandering to mountain slopes, riverbanks, tree roots, and shrines, or entering towns and villages with no anger, pride, greed, delusion, misery, deceit, slander, arrogance, or violence.
न तस्य सर्वभूतेभ्यो भयमुत्पद्यते क्वचित्
No fear arises from him in any creature, anywhere.
विप्रस्तु भैक्षोपगतैर्हविर्भिश्चिता ग्निना संव्रजते हि सोकान्
The Brahmin, with offerings obtained through alms, proceeds to the worlds of the ancestors through the sacrificial fire.
अनिन्धनं ज्योतिरिव प्रशान्तं स ब्रह्मलोकं श्रयते द्विजातिः
Like a flame without fuel, tranquil, the twice-born attains the realm of Brahma.
तमहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
I wish to know this; you ought to tell me.