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.
वेश्यापुत्रो वसिष्ठश्च अन्ये सिद्धा द्विजादयः। तस्मात्सच्छोत्रियादीनां शृणु पुत्रक लक्षणम्
Vasistha was the son of a courtesan, and there are other accomplished twice-born as well; therefore, listen, my child, to the marks of true Vedic scholars.
धरायां तीर्थभूतानां सर्वपापहराय च। जन्मना ब्राह्मणो ज्ञेयः संस्कारैर्द्विज उच्यते१२९ द्विज। विद्यया याति विप्रत्वं त्रिभिः श्रोत्रियलक्षणम् विप्र। विद्यापूतो मंत्रपूतो वेदपूतस्तथैव च
On earth, those who are like sacred places and removers of all sins—by birth one is called a Brahmin, by sacraments a twice-born, by knowledge one attains the status of a Brahmin; these are the three marks of a Vedic scholar: purified by knowledge, by mantra, and by the Veda.
तीर्थस्नानादिभिर्मेध्यो विप्रः पूज्यतमः स्मृतः। नारायणे सदा भक्तः शुद्धांतःकरणस्तथा
A Brahmin purified by bathing at sacred places and similar rites is regarded as most worthy of honor; one who is always devoted to Narayana and whose inner mind is pure likewise.
जितेंद्रियो जितक्रोधस्समः सर्वजनेषु च। गुरुदेवातिथेर्भक्तः पित्रोः शुश्रूषणे रतः
He who has mastered his senses and anger, who is impartial to all people, who is devoted to his teacher, gods, and guests, and who delights in serving his parents.
परदारे मनो यस्य कदाचिन्नैव मोदते। पुराणकथको नित्यं धर्माख्यानस्य संततिः
One whose mind never finds pleasure in another's wife, who always narrates the Puranas, and who continually propagates the teachings of dharma.
अस्यैव दर्शनान्नित्यमश्वमेधादिजं फलम्। संलापे गतिमेत्यस्य भागीरथ्या प्लवस्य च
Merely seeing such a person daily grants the fruit of horse-sacrifice; conversing with him leads to liberation, and one shares in the merit of bathing in the Ganges.
व्रतैश्च विविधैः पूतो नित्यस्नानद्विजार्चनैः। मित्रामित्रे दयालुः स्यात्समः सर्वजनेषु च
Purified by various vows, daily bathing, and worship of Brahmins, he is compassionate to both friend and foe, and impartial to all people.
परस्वं न हरेद्यस्तु तृणमप्यटवीगतम्। कामक्रोधादिनिर्मुक्त इंद्रियैरजितः पुमान्
He who does not take another's property, not even a blade of grass found in the forest, who is free from desire and anger, yet whose senses remain unconquered.
परदारान्न गृह्णाति मनसापि गृहागतान्। नारद उवाच-। गायत्र्या लक्षणं किं वा प्रत्येकाक्षरजं गुणम्
He does not even mentally accept another's wife, even if she enters his house. Narada said: What is the characteristic of Gayatri, or the virtue of each of its syllables?
कुक्षिचरणगोत्राणां तस्या ब्रूहि सुनिश्चयम्। ब्रह्मोवाच-। छंदो गायत्री गायत्र्याः सविता देवता ध्रुवम्
Tell me with certainty about its womb, feet, and lineage. Brahma said: The meter of Gayatri is Gayatri; its deity is Savita, and it is fixed.