सोमशर्मोवाच- लक्षणं ब्रह्मचर्यस्य तन्मे विस्तरतो वद । कीदृशं ब्रह्मचर्यं च यदि जानासि भामिनि
Somasharma said: Tell me in detail the characteristics of brahmacharya; what is brahmacharya, if you know, O beautiful one.
नित्यं सत्ये रतिर्यस्य पुण्यात्मा तुष्टितां व्रजेत् । ऋतौ प्राप्ते व्रजेन्नारीं स्वीयां दोषविवर्जितः
He whose delight is always in truth, whose pure soul attains satisfaction, when the proper season comes, approaches his own wife, free from fault.
स्वकुलस्य सदाचारं कदानैव विमुंचति । एतदेव समाख्यातं गृहस्थस्य द्विजोत्तम
He never abandons the good conduct of his own family; this alone is declared for the householder, O best of twice-born.
ब्रह्मचर्यं मया प्रोक्तं गृहिणामुत्तमं किल । यतीनां तु प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
I have spoken of brahmacharya as supreme for householders; now I will tell you about ascetics—listen to me as I declare it.
दमसत्यसमायुक्तः पापाद्भीतस्तु सर्वदा । भार्यासंगं वर्जयित्वा ध्यानज्ञानप्रतिष्ठितः
Endowed with self-restraint and truthfulness, always fearful of sin, avoiding union with a wife, established in meditation and knowledge—
यतीनां ब्रह्मचर्यं च समाख्यातं तवाग्रतः । तप एव प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मेनिगदतः शृणु
The celibacy of ascetics has thus been described to you; now I shall speak to you of austerity—listen to my words.
आचारेण प्रवर्तेत कामक्रोधविवर्जितः । प्राणिनामुपकाराय संस्थितउद्यमावृतः
He should act with proper conduct, free from desire and anger, devoted to the welfare of living beings, ever engaged in effort.
तप एवं समाख्यातं सत्यमेवं वदाम्यहम् । परद्रव्येष्वलोलुप्त्वं परस्त्रीषु तथैव च
Thus has austerity been described; now I speak of truth: absence of greed for others' wealth, and likewise for others' wives.
दृष्ट्वा मतिर्न यस्य स्यात्स सत्यः परिकीर्तितः । दानमेव प्रवक्ष्यामि येन जीवंति मानवाः
He whose mind is not disturbed upon seeing them is called truthful; now I shall speak of giving, by which people live.
आत्मसौख्यं प्रतीच्छेद्यः स इहैव परत्र वा । अन्नस्यापि महादानं सुखस्यैव ध्रुवस्य वा
Whoever gives up his own comfort, whether here or hereafter, even a great gift of food or of lasting happiness—
ग्रासमात्रं तथा देयं क्षुधार्ताय न संशयः । दत्ते सति महत्पुण्यममृतं सोश्नुते सदा
Even a mere morsel should be given to one who is hungry, without doubt; by giving, one attains great merit and always enjoys immortality.
दिनेदिने प्रदातव्यं यथाविभवसंभवम् । तृणं शय्यां च वचनं गृहच्छायां सुशीतलाम्
Every day, one should give according to one's means: grass, a bed, kind words, or the cool shade of a house.
भूमिमापस्तथा चान्नं प्रियवाक्यमनुत्तमम् । आसनं वचनालापं कौटिल्येन विवर्जितम्
Land, water, food, excellent and pleasant speech, a seat, and conversation free from deceit—
आत्मनो जीवनार्थाय नित्यमेव करोति यः । देवान्पितॄन्समभ्यर्च्य एवं दानं ददाति यः
Whoever always acts for his own livelihood, worshipping gods and ancestors, and gives in this way—
इहैव मोदते सो वै परत्र हि तथैव च । अवंध्यं दिवसं यो वै दानाध्ययनकर्मभिः
He rejoices here and likewise hereafter; the day is not wasted for one who engages in giving, study, and righteous acts.
प्रकुर्यान्मानुषो भूत्वा स देवो नात्र संशयः । नियमं च प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मसाधनमुत्तमम्
Having been born as a human, if he acts thus, he becomes a god—of this there is no doubt. Now I shall speak of discipline, the supreme means to righteousness.
देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च पूजास्वभिरतो हि यः । नित्यं नियमसंयुक्तो दानव्रतेषु सुव्रत
He who delights in worshipping gods and Brahmins, always disciplined, steadfast in vows of giving—
उपकारेषु पुण्येषु नियमोऽयं प्रकीर्तितः । क्षमारूपं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां द्विजसत्तम
This discipline is declared in acts of kindness and merit; now I shall speak of forgiveness—listen, best of twice-born.
पराक्रोशं हि संश्रुत्य ताडिते सति केनचित् । क्रोधं न चैव गच्छेत्तु ताडितो न हि ताडयेत्
Hearing harsh words or being struck by someone, he should not become angry, nor strike back when struck.
सहिष्णुः स्यात्स धर्मात्मा नहि रागं प्रयाति च । समश्नाति परं सौख्यमिह चामुत्र वापि च
He who is patient is righteous and does not fall into passion; he enjoys supreme happiness, here and hereafter.
एवं क्षमा समाख्याता शौचमेवं वदाम्यहम् । सबाह्याभ्यंतरे यो वै शुद्धो रागविवर्जितः
Thus has forgiveness been described; now I speak of purity: he who is pure within and without, free from passion—
स्नानाचमनकैरेव व्यवहारेण वर्तते । शौचमेवं समाख्यातमहिंसां तु वदाम्यहम्
Who conducts himself with bathing, sipping water, and proper dealings—thus has purity been described; now I shall speak of non-violence.
तृणमपि विना कार्यञ्छेत्तव्यं न विजानता । अहिंसानिरतो भूयाद्यथात्मनि तथापरे
One who does not understand should not act, even concerning a blade of grass; one should be devoted to nonviolence, toward others as toward oneself.
शांतिमेव प्रक्ष्यामि शांत्या सुखं समश्नुते । शांतिरेव प्रकर्तव्या क्लेशान्नैव परित्यजेत्
I shall speak only of peace; by peace, happiness is truly attained. Peace alone must be practiced; one should not abandon it, even in distress.
भूतवैरं विसृज्यैव मन एवं प्रकारयेत् । एवं शांतिः समाख्याता अस्तेयं तु वदाम्यहम्
Having abandoned enmity toward living beings, one should compose the mind in this way. Thus, peace has been described; now I shall speak of non-stealing.
परस्वं नैव हर्तव्यं परजाया तथैव च । मनोभिर्वचनैः कायैर्मन एवं प्रकारयेत्
One must not take the property of others, nor another's spouse; by mind, speech, and body, one should establish this resolve.
दममेव प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रे द्विजसत्तम । दमनादिंद्रियाणां वै मनसोपि विकारिणः
Now I shall explain self-restraint before you, O best of twice-born; self-restraint is the control of the senses, and also of the restless mind.
औद्धत्यं नाशयेत्तेषां स चैतन्यो वशी तदा । शुश्रूषां तु प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मशास्त्रेषु यादृशी
One should remove arrogance from them; then consciousness becomes mastered. Now I shall explain service, as it is taught in the scriptures of dharma.
पूर्वाचार्यैर्यथा प्रोक्ता तामेवं प्रवदाम्यहम् । वाचा देहेन मनसा गुरुकार्यं प्रसाधयेत्
As it was taught by the teachers of old, so I declare it now: by speech, body, and mind, one should accomplish the teacher’s work.
जायतेऽनुग्रहो यत्र शुश्रूषा सा निगद्यते । सांगो धर्मः समाख्यातस्तवाग्रे द्विजसत्तम
Where favor arises, that is called service; thus, the complete dharma has been described before you, O best of twice-born.