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.
अन्यायेन तु योद्धारस्तिष्ठंति नरके चिरम्। एवं च क्षत्रिया वृत्तिर्ब्राह्मणैरुपजीव्यते
But those who fight unjustly remain long in hell; thus, the conduct of Kṣatriyas is sustained by Brahmins.
वैश्यैः शूद्रैस्तथान्यैश्च अंत्यजैर्म्लेच्छजातिभिः। ये च योधाः प्रयुध्यंते न्याययुद्धेन सर्वदा
By Vaiśyas, Śūdras, and others, including outcastes and foreigners; and those warriors who always fight justly.
तेपि यांति परं स्थानं सर्वे वर्णा द्विजातयः। न शूरो यो द्विजो भीरुरस्त्रशस्त्रविवर्जितः
They too attain the highest state—all classes, all twice-born; but a twice-born who is not brave, who is fearful, and avoids weapons and arms—
विपत्तौ वैश्यवृतिं च कारयेद्द्विजसत्तमः। वैश्यवृत्तिं वणिग्भावं कृषिं चैव तथापरैः
In adversity, the best of the twice-born should take up the occupation of a Vaiśya; the Vaiśya’s occupation is trade, and also agriculture, as done by others.
कारयेत्कृषिवाणिज्यं विप्रकर्म न च त्यजेत्। वणिग्भावान्मृषात्युक्तौ दुर्गतिं प्राप्नुयाद्द्विजः। आर्द्रद्रव्यं परित्यज्य ब्राह्मणो लभते शिवम्। समुत्पाद्य ततो वृत्तिं दद्याद्विप्राय सर्वशः
One should engage in agriculture and trade, and not abandon the duties of a Brahmin; for if a Brahmin, acting as a merchant, speaks falsely, he attains a miserable state. By giving up goods that are moist or perishable, a Brahmin attains auspiciousness; having produced wealth, he should then provide for the Brahmin entirely.
पितृयज्ञे तथा चाग्नौ जुहुयाद्विधिवद्द्विजः। तुलेऽसत्यं न कर्त्तव्यं तुलाधर्मप्रतिष्ठिता
In the ancestral sacrifice and in the fire, a Brahmin should offer oblations according to the prescribed rule; one must not act falsely with the scales, for the scales are established in righteousness.
छलभावं तुले कृत्वा नरकं प्रतिपद्यते। अतुलं चापि यद्द्रव्यं तत्र मिथ्या परित्यजेत्
If one acts deceitfully with the scales, he attains hell; and whatever goods are not properly weighed, one should abandon them as false.
एवं मिथ्या न कर्त्तव्या मृषा पापप्रसूतिका। नास्ति सत्यात्परोधर्मो नानृतात्पातकं परम्
Thus, one must not act falsely, for falsehood gives rise to sin; there is no higher duty than truth, nor any greater sin than falsehood.
अतः सर्वेषु कार्येषु सत्यमेव विशिष्यते। अश्वमेधसहस्रं तु सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्
Therefore, in all actions, truth alone is supreme; a thousand horse sacrifices are equaled by truth upheld on the scales.
अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेव विशिष्यते। यो वदेत्सर्वकार्येषु सत्यं मिथ्या परित्यजेत्
Indeed, truth surpasses even a thousand horse sacrifices; he who always speaks truth in all actions and abandons falsehood,