प्रणमेच्च हरेः पादौ स गच्छेदपवर्गिताम्। वासुदेवस्य स्तोत्राणि मुखे चापि कथोत्तमा
By bowing to the feet of Hari, he attains liberation; the best hymns to Vasudeva are also spoken by mouth.
पंकस्य लवमात्रं तु तस्य देहे न तिष्ठति। वेदशास्त्रावगाहेन त्रिस्रोतः स्नानजं फलम्1.46.
Not even a particle of mud remains on his body; by immersion in Vedic scriptures, one obtains the fruit of bathing in the three streams.
धर्मपाठकृतां लोके यज्ञकोटिफलं लभेत्। एवं विप्रगुणान्वक्तुं न शक्नोमि द्विजोत्तम
In the world, one obtains the fruit of a crore of sacrifices by reciting dharma texts; thus, O best of twice-born, I am unable to describe all the virtues of Brahmins.
विश्वरूपश्च को देही समूर्तो हरिरेव च। यस्य शापाद्विनाशः स्यादायुर्विद्या यशो धनम्
Who in the world possesses the universal form, and who is embodied? Only Hari; by whose curse there is destruction of life, learning, fame, and wealth.
वरदानात्समायांति सर्वाः संपत्तयस्तथा। विष्णुर्ब्रह्मण्यतामेति सदा विप्र प्रसादतः
All forms of prosperity arise from granting boons; likewise, O Brahmin, by your favor, Viṣṇu attains the state of being devoted to Brahmins.
नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय गोब्राह्मणहिताय च। जगद्धिताय कृष्णाय गोविंदाय नमो नमः
Salutations to the god who cherishes Brahmins, who brings welfare to cows and Brahmins, who brings welfare to the world, to Kṛṣṇa, to Govinda—repeated salutations.
मंत्रेणैवं हरिं यस्तु पूजयेत्सततं नरः। प्रसादी च हरिस्तस्य विष्णुसायुज्यतां व्रजेत्
Whoever worships Hari constantly with this mantra, that person receives Hari’s grace and attains union with Viṣṇu.
य इदं शृणुयात्पुण्यमाख्यानं धर्मविग्रहम्। तस्य पापं क्षयं याति जन्मजन्मकृतं च यत्
Whoever hears this sacred narrative, which embodies righteousness, all their sins are destroyed, including those accumulated over many births.
यः पठेत्पाठयेद्वापि उपदेष्टा जनस्य च। न तस्य पुनरावृत्तिः स्वर्गमक्षयमश्नुते
Whoever recites or causes others to recite this, or instructs people in it, does not return to birth again and attains imperishable heaven.
धनं धान्यं लभेदत्र राज्यभोगानरोगिताम्। सत्सुतं च शुभां कीर्तिं देववद्रमते दिवि
Here one obtains wealth and grain, enjoyment of sovereignty, freedom from disease, virtuous children, auspicious fame, and delights in heaven like a god.
नारद उवाच-। तव प्रसादतो ज्ञातो विप्रः पुण्यतमश्च यः। यथा जानामि देवेश क्रियया ब्राह्मणाधमम्
Nārada said: By your grace, O Lord of the gods, I have come to know who is the most virtuous Brahmin; now tell me, how do I recognize the lowest Brahmin by his actions?
ब्रूहि शीघ्रं सुरश्रेष्ठ यदि प्रीतिं मयीच्छसि। ब्रह्मोवाच-। स्नानैर्दशविधैर्मुक्तस्तथैव तर्पणादिभिः
Speak quickly, O best of the gods, if you desire my affection. Brahmā said: One is freed by ten kinds of bathing and likewise by offerings of water and the like.
संध्यासंयमहीनश्च स एव ब्राह्मणाधमः। देवपूजाव्रतैर्मुक्तो वेदविद्यादिभिस्तथा
But the one who neglects the observances of twilight worship is indeed the lowest Brahmin, even if freed by worship of the gods, vows, Vedic study, and other practices.
सत्यशौचादिभिश्चैव योगज्ञानाग्नितर्पणैः। पंचस्नानानानि विप्राणां कीर्तितानि महर्षिभिः
Also by truthfulness, purity, and the like, by offerings into the fire of knowledge and yoga, the five kinds of bathing for Brahmins have been described by the great sages.
आग्नेयं वारुणं ब्राह्मं वायव्यं दिव्यमेव च। आग्नेयं भस्मना स्नानमद्भिर्वारुणमुच्यते
The five are: the fire-bath, the water-bath, the Brahma-bath, the wind-bath, and the divine bath. Bathing with ashes is called the fire-bath; with water, it is called the water-bath.
आपोहिष्ठेति वै ब्राह्मं वायव्यं गोरजः स्मृतम्। अद्भिरातपवर्षाभिर्दिव्यं स्नानमुदाहृतम्
Reciting 'āpohiṣṭha' is the Brahma-bath; dust from cows is known as the wind-bath; bathing with water from sun, rain, or the like is called the divine bath.
एतैस्तु मंत्रतः स्नानात्तीर्थानां फलमाप्नुयात्। तुलसीपत्रसंलग्नं सालग्रामशिलांबु च
By performing these baths with mantras, one obtains the merit of bathing at sacred fords; water touched by tulasī leaves, the śālagrāma stone, and
गवां शृंगोदकं चैव विप्रपादोदकं च यत्। गुरूणामेव मुख्यानां पूतात्पूतमिति स्मृतिः
water from the horns of cows, and water from the feet of Brahmins—especially eminent teachers—is considered purer than pure, according to tradition.
त्याग तीर्थादिभिर्यज्ञैर्व्रतहोमादिभिस्तथा। यत्फलं लभते धीरः स्नानैरेतैस्तु तत्फलम्
The result gained by renunciation, by sacred fords, sacrifices, vows, and offerings into the fire, that same result is obtained by these baths.
तर्पणैश्च विनिर्मुक्तः पितॄणामेव नित्यशः। पितृहा नरकं याति संध्याहीनस्तु विप्रहा
By offerings of water, one is always freed from debts to the ancestors; the slayer of ancestors goes to hell, and the neglecter of twilight worship is the slayer of Brahmins.
मंत्रव्रतविहीनश्च वेदविद्यागुणैरपि। यज्ञदानादिभिर्मुक्तो ब्राह्मणश्चाधमाधमः
One who lacks mantras and vows, even if endowed with Vedic knowledge and virtues, and freed by sacrifices and gifts, is still the lowest of Brahmins.
यज्ञार्थका देवलका नाक्षत्रा ग्रामयाजकाः। परदाररता नित्यं पंचैते ब्राह्मणाधमाः
Those who perform sacrifices for material gain, for gods, for stars, for villages, and those always attached to others’ wives—these five are the lowest of Brahmins.
मंत्रसंस्कारहीनाश्च शुचिसंयमवर्जिताः। मोघाशिनो दुरात्मानो ब्राह्मणाश्चाधमाधमाः
Brahmins who lack the sanctification of mantras, who are devoid of purity and self-restraint, who eat in vain, who are wicked in nature—these are the lowest of the low.
अपि स्तेयरता मूढाः सर्वधर्मविवर्जिताः। उन्मार्गगामिनो नित्यं ब्राह्मणाश्चाधमाधमाः
Indeed, those brahmins who are foolish, intent on theft, devoid of all righteousness, and always following a wrong path, are the lowest of the low.
श्राद्धादिकर्मरहिता गुरुसेवाविवर्जिताः। अमंत्रा भिन्नमर्यादा एते सर्वाधमाधमाः
Those who neglect rites such as śrāddha, who do not serve their teacher, who are without mantras and who transgress boundaries—these are considered the lowest of all.
असंभाष्या इमे दुष्टास्सर्वे निरयगामिनः। अमेध्यास्ते दुराचारा अपूज्याश्च समंततः
These wicked ones are not to be spoken with; all of them are bound for hell. They are impure, of bad conduct, and unworthy of worship everywhere.
खड्गोपजीविकाः प्रेष्या गोवाहनरता द्विजाः। कारुवृत्युपजीवाश्च गणवार्द्धषिकाश्च ये
Twice-born who make a living by the sword, who are servants, who delight in riding cattle, who subsist by crafts, or who are members of guilds and troupes—
बालापण्याभिचाराश्च अंत्यजाश्रयमाश्रिताः। कृतघ्नाश्च गुरुघ्नाश्च एते सर्वाधमाः स्मृताः
Those who practice sorcery for the sale of children, who take shelter among outcastes, who are ungrateful or who kill their teacher—these are all regarded as the lowest.
ये चैवान्ये हताचाराः पाषंडा धर्मनिंदकाः। दूषकादेव भेदानामेते ब्रह्मद्विषो द्विजाः
And those others who are of corrupt conduct, heretics, revilers of dharma, and those who cause divisions—these twice-born are haters of Brahman.
तथापि ब्राह्मणश्चैव न हंतव्यः कदाचन। एनं हत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्महा पुरुषो भवेत्
Nevertheless, a brahmin must never be killed under any circumstances; for, O best of twice-born, killing him makes a person a slayer of Brahman.