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.
अन्यच्च ते प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रोतुमिच्छसि यत्पते । ईदृशे चापि धर्मे तु वर्तते यो नरः सदा
And now I shall tell you further, O lord, what you wish to hear; whoever always abides in such dharma—
संसारे तस्य संभूतिः पुनरेव न जायते । स्वर्गं गच्छति धर्मेण सत्यंसत्यं वदाम्यहम्
For him, rebirth in this world does not occur again; by dharma he attains heaven—this is the truth, the truth I declare.
एवं ज्ञात्वा महाप्राज्ञ धर्ममेव व्रजस्व हि । सर्वं हि प्राप्यते कांत यदसाध्यं महीतले
Knowing thus, O great wise one, you should indeed pursue dharma; for, O beloved, everything is attained thereby, even what is unattainable on earth.
धर्मप्रसादतस्तस्मात्कुरु वाक्यं ममैव हि । भार्यायास्तुवचः श्रुत्वा सोमशर्मा सुबुद्धिमान्
Therefore, by the grace of dharma, follow my words; hearing his wife’s speech, Somaśarman, wise in understanding—
पुनः प्रोवाच तां भार्यां सुमनां धर्मवादिनीम्
Once again addressed his virtuous wife, Sumanā, who spoke of dharma.
सोमशर्मोवाच- एवंविधं महापुण्यं धर्मव्याख्यानमुत्तमम् । कथं जानासि भद्रे त्वं कस्माच्चैव त्वया श्रुतम्
Somaśarman said: Such is this most virtuous and supreme exposition of dharma; how do you know this, O good lady, and from whom did you hear it?
सुमनोवाच-। भार्गवाणां कुले जातः पिता मम महामते । च्यवनो नाम विख्यातः सर्वज्ञानविशारदः
Sumanā said: In the lineage of the Bhārgavas was born my father, O most wise one; his name is Cyavana, renowned and skilled in all knowledge.
तस्याहं प्रिय कन्या वै प्राणादपि च वल्लभा । यत्रयत्र व्रजत्येष तीर्थारामेषु सुव्रत
I am his dear daughter, more beloved than life itself; wherever he goes, O virtuous one, to holy places and groves—
सभासु च मुनीनां तु देवतायतनेषु च । तेन सार्द्धं व्रजाम्येका क्रीडमाना सदैव हि
And in the assemblies of sages, and in temples of the gods, I always go with him alone, ever playing.
कौशिकान्वयसंभूतो वेदशर्मा महामतिः । पितुर्मम सखा दैवादटमानः समागतः
Born in the lineage of Kauśika, Vedaśarman, of great wisdom, by fate, came as a friend of my father while wandering.