खलो राजवधोद्योगी पितॄणां च वधे रतः। अनुयायी नृपो राज्ञश्चत्वारश्चाततायिनः
A wicked person intent on killing a king, one who delights in killing his own ancestors, and a king who follows another king—these four are also assailants.
तत्क्षणान्न मृतं विप्रं पुनर्हंतुं न युज्यते। पुर्नहत्वा वधं घोरं ज्ञानात्प्राप्नोति निश्चितं
If a Brahmin is killed in such a moment, it is not proper to kill him again; but if one kills him knowingly, one certainly incurs a terrible sin.
लोके विप्रसमो नास्ति पूजनीयो जगद्गुरुः। हत्वा तं यद्भवेत्पापं तत्परं च न विद्यते
There is no one equal to a Brahmin in the world; he is to be revered as the teacher of the universe. The sin incurred by killing him is unsurpassed.
देववत्पूजनीयोसौ देवासुरगणैर्नरैः। ब्राह्मणस्य समो नास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु निश्चितं
He is to be worshipped like a god by gods, demons, and men; there is truly no one equal to a Brahmin in all the three worlds.
नारद उवाच-। कां वृत्तिं समुपाश्रित्य जीवितव्यं द्विजेन हि। अपानेन सुरश्रेष्ठ तत्वतो वक्तुमर्हसि
Nārada said: By what means of livelihood should a twice-born live, O best of gods? Please tell me this truly and in detail.
ब्रह्मोवाच-। अयाचिता च या भिक्षा प्रशस्ता सा प्रकीर्तिता। उञ्छवृत्तिस्ततो भद्रा सुभद्रा सर्ववृत्तिषु
Brahmā said: That alms which is not begged for is declared to be praiseworthy; the gleaner's livelihood is best, most excellent among all ways of living.
यामाश्रित्य मुनिश्रेष्ठा गच्छंति ब्रह्मणः पदम्। दक्षिणा यज्ञशेषाणां ग्राह्या यज्ञगतेन हि
By following this, the best of sages attain the state of Brahman; the gifts remaining from sacrifices are to be accepted only by those who have participated in the sacrifice.
पाठनं याजनं कृत्वा ग्रहीतव्यं धनं द्विजैः। पाठयित्वा पठित्वा च कृत्वा स्वस्त्ययनं शुभं
After teaching or officiating at sacrifices, the twice-born may accept wealth; after teaching, reciting, and performing auspicious rites.
ब्राह्मणानामिदं जीव्यं शिष्टा वृत्तिः प्रतिग्रहः। शास्त्रोपजीविनो धन्या धन्या वृक्षोपजीविनः
This is the proper livelihood for Brahmins; the accepted means is receiving gifts. Those who live by the scriptures are blessed, as are those who live by trees.
धन्या वृक्षलताजीव्या वाटीसस्योपजीविनः। अन्न जंतु वधे पापं तस्य दोषोपशांतये
Blessed are those who live by creepers and trees, and those who subsist on the produce of gardens; for the sin of killing living beings for food, this is a remedy for that fault.
नवधान्यानि शस्तानि विप्रेभ्यः संप्रदापयेत्। न चेत्प्राणिवधे ह्यत्र क्षीयंते चायुषो ध्रुवं
One should give nine kinds of grains to Brahmins; otherwise, by killing living beings for food, one's lifespan is certainly diminished.
तस्माद्दद्यात्सुबहूनि पितृदेवद्विजातिषु। अभावात्क्षत्त्रियावृत्तिर्ब्राह्मणैरूपजीव्यते
Therefore, one should give generously to ancestors, gods, and twice-borns; in their absence, a Brahmin may adopt the livelihood of a Kshatriya.
न्याययुद्धेषु योद्धव्यं चरेद्वीरव्रतं शुभम्। स तया च द्विजो वृत्या यद्धनं लभते नृपात्
In just wars, one should fight, following the noble vow of a warrior; and whatever wealth a Brahmin gains from the king by such means,
पितृयज्ञादिदानेषु मेध्यं तद्धनमुच्यते। समभ्यसेद्धनुर्विद्यां वेदयुक्तां सदानघः
That wealth obtained from ancestral rites and other gifts is considered pure; one should always practice archery, combined with Vedic knowledge, O sinless one.
शक्तिकुंतगदाखड्ग परिघाणां समंततः। अश्वारोहं गजारोहमैंद्रजालममानकं
Skill in spear, javelin, mace, sword, and club; horsemanship, elephant-riding, magical arts, and the use of musical instruments—
रथभूमिगतं युद्धं युक्तं सर्वत्र कारयेत्। द्विज देव ध्रुवाणां च स्त्रीणां वृत्तं तपस्विनाम्
One should practice warfare on chariots and on foot, properly in all respects; this is the conduct for twice-borns, gods, the steadfast, and women.
साधु साध्वी गुरूणां च नृपाणां रक्षणाद्ध्रुवम्। यत्पुण्यं लभ्यते शूरैः कथं तद्ब्रह्मवादिभिः
Indeed, the merit gained by warriors in protecting teachers and kings is certain; how could that be attained by those who merely speak of Brahman?
सर्वपापक्षयं कृत्वा सोक्षयं स्वर्गमश्नुते। सम्मुखे न्याययुद्धे च पतंति ब्राह्मणा रणे
Having destroyed all sins, they attain heaven without sorrow; but in a just and direct battle, Brahmins may fall in combat.
ते व्रजंति परं स्थानं न गम्यं ब्रह्मवादिनां। धर्मयुद्धस्य यद्वृत्तं शृणु पुण्यं यथार्थतः
They reach the highest state, which cannot be attained by those devoted only to Brahman; listen truly to the merit that comes from righteous warfare.
संमुखेन प्रयुध्यंते न च गच्छंति कातरं। न भग्नं पृष्ठतो घ्नंति निःशस्त्रं प्रपलायितम्
They fight face to face and do not turn away in fear; they do not strike one who is broken, fleeing, unarmed, or running away.
अयुध्यमानं भीरुं च पतितं गतकल्मषं। असच्छूद्रं स्तुतिप्रीतमाहवे शरणागतम्
They do not kill one who is not fighting, who is fearful, who has fallen, who is free from sin, a base Śūdra, one pleased by praise, or one who has sought refuge in battle.
हत्वा च नरकं यांति दुर्वृत्ता जयकांक्षिणः। एषा च क्षत्त्रिया वृत्तिः सदाचारैस्तु गीयते
Those of bad conduct who, desiring victory, kill such as these go to hell; but this is the conduct of Kṣatriyas as praised by the virtuous.
यामाश्रित्य दिवं यांति सर्वक्षत्रियकुंजराः। धर्मयुद्धे शुभो मृत्युः संमुखे क्षत्त्रियस्य च
Relying on this, all Kṣatriya warriors ascend to heaven; for a Kṣatriya, death in righteous battle, facing the foe, is auspicious.
अत्र पूतो भवेत्सोपि सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते। स तिष्ठेत्स्वर्गलोके च प्रासादे रत्नभूषिते
There, even he becomes purified and is freed from all sins; he dwells in the heavenly world in a palace adorned with jewels.
जांबूनदमयस्तंभे रत्नभूषितभूतले। इष्टद्रव्यैः सुसंपूर्णे दिव्यवस्त्रोपशोभिते
With pillars of gold and a jeweled floor, filled with desired treasures and adorned with divine objects.
पुरतः कल्पवृक्षाश्च तिष्ठंति सर्वदायिनः। वापीकूपतटाकाद्यैरुद्यानैरुपशोभिते
In front, wish-fulfilling trees always stand, bestowing all gifts; the palace is adorned with gardens, ponds, wells, and tanks.
यौवनाढ्याश्च सेवंते तं देवपुरकन्यकाः। तस्याग्रतो मुदा नित्यं नृत्यंत्यप्सरसां गणाः
Young maidens of the city of the gods serve him; before him, groups of Apsarases dance joyfully at all times.
गीतं गायंति गंधर्वा देवाश्च स्तुतिपाठकाः। एवं क्रमेण कल्पांते सार्वभौमो भवेन्नृपः
Gandharvas sing songs, and the gods recite hymns of praise; thus, in due course, at the end of an age, the king becomes sovereign of all.
सर्वभोगैककर्ता च नीरुङ्मन्मथविग्रहः। तस्य पत्न्यः प्ररूपाढ्याः सदैव यौवनान्विताः
He alone enjoys all pleasures, free from sorrow and desire; his wives are exceedingly beautiful and always youthful.
धर्मशीलाः सुताः शुभ्राः समृद्धाः पितृसंमताः। एवं क्रमेण भुंजंति सप्तजन्मसु क्षत्रियाः
His sons are virtuous, pure, prosperous, and esteemed by their father; thus, Kṣatriyas enjoy in this way for seven births.