लोकानां स गुरुः पूज्यस्तीर्थभूतोऽनघो जनः। सर्वदेवालयः सत्वो निर्मितो ब्रह्मणा पुरा
He is the teacher of the worlds, worthy of worship, a person pure as a sacred place; he is the abode of all gods, a being created by Brahma in ancient times.
इममर्थं पुरा पृष्टो नारदेन पितामहः। कस्मिंस्तु पूजिते ब्रह्मन्प्रसादी माधवो भवेत्
Long ago, when asked this meaning by Narada, the Grandsire replied: 'O Brahmin, by worshipping whom does Madhava become pleased?'
ब्रह्मोवाच -। यस्य विप्राः प्रसीदंति तस्य विष्णुः प्रसीदति। तस्माद्ब्राह्मण शुश्रूषुः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति1.46.
Brahma said: When Brahmins are pleased, Vishnu is pleased; therefore, one who serves Brahmins attains the supreme Brahman.
विष्णुर्ब्राह्मणदेहेषु सदा वसति नान्यथा। तस्माद्ब्राह्मणपूजायां विष्णुस्तुष्यति तत्क्षणात्
Vishnu always dwells in the bodies of Brahmins, not otherwise; therefore, by worshipping Brahmins, Vishnu is instantly satisfied.
विप्रान्यः पूजयेन्नित्यं दानमानार्चनादिभिः। कृतं क्रतुशतं तेन विध्युक्तं प्रियदक्षिणम्
Whoever daily honors Brahmins with gifts, respect, and worship, has thereby performed a hundred sacrifices prescribed with dear offerings.
ब्राह्मणस्य मुखं क्षेत्रमनूषरमकण्टकम्। वापयेत्सर्वबीजानि सा कृषिस्सार्वकालिकी
The mouth of a Brahmin is a field, without weeds or thorns; all seeds sown there yield crops at all times.
अभिगम्य तु यद्दत्तं यच्च दानं मनोरमं। विद्यते सागरस्यांतो दानस्यांतो न विद्यते
Whatever delightful gift is given directly, there may be an end to the ocean, but there is no end to the merit of giving.
मनसापि न हिंसंति भूदेवमाततायिनं। मनोनुकूलतां यांति देवैरपि च दुर्लभां
Even in thought, they do not harm the Brahmin, even if he is an aggressor; they attain a state of mind pleasing, which even the gods rarely obtain.
गृहे यस्यागतो विद्वान्नैराश्यं नोपगच्छति। सर्वपापक्षयस्तस्य चाक्षयं स्वर्गमश्नुते
In whose house a learned Brahmin arrives, he does not encounter disappointment; all his sins are destroyed, and he enjoys inexhaustible heaven.
काले देशे च पात्रे च विप्रे यच्चार्पयेद्वसु। तद्धनं चाक्षयं विद्धि जन्मजन्मनि तिष्ठति
Whatever wealth is offered to a Brahmin at the right time, place, and to a worthy recipient, know that wealth to be inexhaustible, lasting birth after birth.
न च दारिद्र्यतामेति नातुरो न च कातरः। मनोनुकूलां प्रमदामर्चयित्वा द्विजान्लभेत्
He does not become poor, nor sick, nor fearful; by worshipping Brahmins, he obtains a wife agreeable to his mind.
कृत्वा साहसकर्माणि दद्याद्विप्राय पर्वसु। तद्दानं सुगुणं प्रोक्तमभयं लाभ एव च
Having performed daring deeds, one should give to a Brahmin on festival days; such a gift is said to be of great merit, yielding fearlessness and gain.
विप्रपादतलोद्घृष्टि क्षती भवति यः करः। स करः श्रीकरो नाम अन्यः कर्मकरः करः
The hand that is wounded by the friction of a Brahmin’s foot is called the hand that brings prosperity; any other hand is merely a working hand.
विप्रपादरजः पूताः पूतास्तज्जलबिन्दुभिः। विपद्भिश्च सदा पापैर्मुक्ता यांति त्रिविष्टपम्
Those purified by the dust of a Brahmin’s feet, and by drops of water from them, are always freed from sins and attain heaven.
विप्रपादरजः पूताः शुचयो गृह चत्वराः। पुण्यक्षेत्रसमास्ते स्युः प्रशस्ता यज्ञकर्मसु
House courtyards purified by the dust of a Brahmin's feet become pure, equal to sacred places, and are highly suitable for sacrificial rites.
आदौ ब्रह्ममुखाद्विप्रः समुद्भूतः पुरानघः। वेदास्तत्रैव संजाताः सृष्टिसंस्थिति हेतवः
In the beginning, O sinless one, the Brahmin arose from the mouth of Brahma; from there, the Vedas were also born, which are the causes of creation and sustenance.
तस्माद्विप्रमुखे वेदाश्चार्पिताः पुरुषेण हि। पूजार्थं सर्वलोकानां सर्वयज्ञार्थतो ध्रुवम्
Therefore, the Vedas were entrusted to the Brahmin by the Supreme Person, for the worship of all worlds and certainly for all sacrificial purposes.
पितृयज्ञे विवाहे च वह्निकार्येषु शांतिषु। प्रशस्ता ब्राह्मणा नित्यं सर्व स्वस्त्ययनेषु च
In ancestral rites, marriages, fire ceremonies, and rites for peace, Brahmins are always esteemed, as well as in all auspicious household rituals.
देवा भुंजंति हव्यानि बलिप्रेतादयोऽसुराः। पितरश्चैव कव्यानि विप्रस्यैव मुखाद्र्धुवम्
The gods enjoy the oblations, and spirits, ancestors, and demons receive offerings—all certainly through the mouth of the Brahmin.
देवेभ्यश्च पितृभ्यश्च यो दद्याद्यज्ञकर्मसु। दानं होमं बलिं चैव विना विप्रेण निष्फलम्
Whatever offering, oblation, or gift is given to the gods or ancestors in sacrificial rites, without a Brahmin, it is fruitless.
भुंजंति चासुरास्तत्र प्रेता दैत्याश्च राक्षसाः। तस्माद्ब्राह्मणमाहूय तेषु कर्माणि कारयेत्
There, demons, spirits, Daityas, and Rakshasas partake; therefore, one should summon a Brahmin to perform those rites.
काले देशे च पात्रे च लक्षकोटिगुणं भवेत्। श्रद्धया च द्विजं दृष्ट्वा प्रकुर्यादभिवादनम्
According to time, place, and recipient, the merit increases a hundred thousandfold; seeing a twice-born with faith, one should offer respectful greeting.
दीर्घायुस्तस्य वाक्येन चिरंजीवी भवेन्नरः। अनभिवादनाद्विप्र द्वेषादश्रद्धयापि च
By the words of a Brahmin, a man becomes long-lived; but by failing to greet, by hatred, or by lack of faith, O Brahmin, he does not.
आयुः क्षीणं भवेत्पुंसां भूतिनाशश्च दुर्गतिः। आयुर्वृद्धिर्यशोवृद्धिर्वृद्धिर्विद्या धनस्य च
A person's lifespan is diminished, prosperity lost, and misfortune arises; but lifespan, fame, knowledge, and wealth all increase.
पूजयित्वा द्विजान्श्रेष्ठो भवेन्नास्त्यत्र संशयः। न विप्रपादोदककर्दमानि न वेदशास्त्रप्रतिघोषितानि
By honoring Brahmins, one becomes excellent—of this there is no doubt; but houses lacking the water or mud from a Brahmin's feet, or the sound of Veda recitation—
स्वाहा स्वधा स्वस्तिविवर्जितानि श्मशानतुल्यानि गृहाणि तानि। नारद उवाच। कश्च पूज्यतमो विप्रो ह्यपूज्यो वाथ को भवेत्
—houses devoid of the utterances svāhā, svadhā, or svasti, are like cremation grounds. Narada said: Who is the most worthy Brahmin to be honored, and who is unworthy?
विप्रस्य लक्षणं ब्रूहि याथातथ्यं गुरोरपि। ब्रह्मोवाच-। पूज्यः श्रोत्रियको नित्यं सदाचारसमन्वितः
Tell me the true marks of a Brahmin, even more than those of a teacher. Brahma said: The Brahmin who is learned in the Vedas and always of good conduct is worthy of honor.
सद्वृत्तः कलुषैर्मुक्तस्तीर्थभूतो जनोऽनघः। नारद उवाच-। जातः कः श्रोत्रियस्तात सत्कुले वाप्यसत्कुले
He is of noble character, free from impurities, a purifier like a sacred place, and blameless. Narada said: Who is a Vedic scholar by birth, whether from a good family or not?
सदसत्कर्मकर्ता वा कः पूज्यो भुवि बाडवः। ब्रह्मोवाच-। सत्श्रोत्रियकुले जातो ह्यक्रियो नैव पूजितः
Who, whether performing good or bad deeds, is worthy of honor on earth? Brahma said: One born in a family of Vedic scholars but not practicing is not to be honored.
असत्क्षेत्रकुले पूज्यो व्यास वैभांडकौ यथा। क्षत्रियाणां कुले जातो विश्वामित्रोस्ति मत्समः
One born in a non-Vedic family may be honored, like Vyasa and Vaibhandaka; among Kshatriyas, there is Visvamitra, equal to me.