दत्वा चाक्षयमाप्नोति नदीप्रस्रवणेषु च । दानधर्मात्परो धर्मो भूतानां नेह विद्यते
by giving at river sources, one attains inexhaustibility; among all duties, the duty of giving is supreme for beings in this world.
तस्माद्विप्राय दातव्यं श्रोत्रियाय द्विजातिभिः । स्वर्गाय भूतिकामेन तथा पापोपशांतये
Therefore, gifts should be given to Brahmins by those of the twice-born; for heaven, for prosperity, and for the pacification of sin.
मुमुक्षुणा तु दातव्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तथान्वहम् । दीयमानं तु यो मोहाद्गोविप्राग्निसुरेषु च
One who seeks liberation should daily give to Brahmins; but whoever, out of delusion, withholds gifts from cows, Brahmins, fire, and gods—
निवारयत्यधर्मात्मा तिर्यग्योनिं व्रजेत सः । यस्तु द्रव्यार्जनं कृत्वा नार्चयेद्ब्राह्मणान्सुरान्
—that unrighteous person prevents the giving and is born in an animal womb. But one who acquires wealth and does not honor Brahmins or gods—
सर्वस्वमपहृत्यैनं राजा राष्ट्रात्प्रवासयेत् । यस्तु दुर्भिक्षवेलायामन्नाद्यं न प्रयच्छति
—the king should confiscate all his possessions and banish him from the kingdom. And whoever, during a time of famine, does not give food—
म्रियमाणेषु विप्रेषु ब्राह्मणः स तु गर्हितः । न तस्मात्प्रतिगृह्णीयुः न वसेयुश्च तेन हि
—when Brahmins are dying, that Brahmin is condemned; others should neither accept from him nor live with him.
आज्ञायित्वा स्वकाद्राष्ट्राद्राजा तं विप्रवासयेत् । पश्चात्सद्भ्यो ददातीह स्वद्रव्यं धर्मसाधनम्
Having learned of this, the king should expel him from his own realm. Afterwards, one should give their own wealth here to the worthy as a means of righteousness.
सपूर्वाभ्यधिकः पापी नरके पच्यते नरः । स्वाध्यायवंतो ये विप्रा विद्यावंतो जितेंद्रियाः
A man who gives later, after such a fault, suffers in hell, worse than before. Brahmins who are learned, self-controlled, and disciplined—
सत्यसंयमसंयुक्तास्तेभ्यो दद्याद्द्विजोत्तमाः । प्रभुक्तमपि विद्वांसं धार्मिकं भोजयेद्द्विजम्
—endowed with truth and restraint, to them, the best of twice-born, one should give. Even if already fed, one should offer food to a learned and righteous Brahmin.
न च मूर्खमवृत्तस्थं दशरात्रमुपोषितम् । सन्निकृष्टमतिक्रम्य श्रोत्रियं यः प्रयच्छति
But not to a fool, one without conduct, or one who has fasted for ten nights. Whoever, bypassing one nearby, gives to a learned Brahmin—
स तेन कर्मणा पापी दहत्यासप्तमं कुलम् । यदि स्यादधिको विप्रः शीलविद्यादिभिः स्वयम्
—by that act, he becomes sinful and burns up to the seventh generation of his family. If there is a Brahmin superior in character, knowledge, and so on—
तस्मै यत्नेन दातव्यमतिक्रम्य च सन्निधिम् । योर्चितं प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्दद्यादर्चितमेव च
—to him, one should give with effort, even bypassing one who is merely present. One should accept what is offered with respect, and give likewise to the honored.
तावुभौ गच्छतः स्वर्गं नरकं तु विपर्यये । न वार्यपि प्रयच्छेत नास्तिके हैतुकेपि च
Both giver and receiver thus attain heaven; in the reverse case, they go to hell. One should not give even water to atheists or those who argue against the Veda.
न पाखंडेषु सर्वेषु नावेदविदिधर्मवित् । रूप्यं चैव हिरण्यं च गामश्वं पृथिवीं तिलान्
Nor to all heretics, nor to those ignorant of the Veda or dharma. Silver, gold, cows, horses, land, and sesame—
अविद्वान्प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्भस्मी भवति काष्ठवत् । द्विजातिभ्यो धनं लिप्सेत्प्रशस्तेभ्यो द्विजोतमः
—if accepted by the unlearned, become ashes like wood. A twice-born should seek wealth from the worthy, the best of Brahmins—
अपि राजन्यवैश्याभ्यां न तु शूद्रात्कथंचन । वृत्तिसंकोचमन्विच्छेन्नेहेत धनविस्तरम्
—even from Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, but never from a Shudra in any way. He should seek a modest livelihood, not strive for great wealth.
धनलोभे प्रसक्तस्तु ब्राह्मण्यादेव हीयते । वेदानधीत्य सकलान्यज्ञांश्चावाप्य सर्वशः
Attached to greed for wealth, he falls away from Brahminhood. Even having studied all the Vedas and performed every sacrifice—
न तां गतिमवाप्नोति संतोषाद्यामवाप्नुयात् । प्रतिग्रहरुचिर्न स्याच्छूद्रान्न तु समाहरेत्
—he does not attain that state which comes from contentment. He should not desire gifts from Shudras, nor collect from them.
स्थित्यर्थादधिकं गृह्णन्ब्राह्मणो यात्यधोगतिम् । यस्तु याति न संतोषं न स स्वर्गस्य भाजनम्
A Brahmin who accepts more than needed for subsistence goes to a lower state. One who is never content is not fit for heaven.
उद्वेजयति भूतानि यथा चौरस्तथैव सः । गुरुं भृत्यांश्चोज्जिहीर्षुस्तर्पयन्देवतातिथीन्
He disturbs living beings just like a thief. One who seeks to deprive his teacher or servants, while feeding gods and guests—
सर्वतः प्रतिगृह्णीयान्न तु तृप्येत्स्वयं ततः । एवं गृहस्थो युक्तात्मा देवतातिथिपूजकः
He should accept alms from all sides, but not satisfy himself with them; thus, the householder, with disciplined mind, honoring gods and guests,
वर्तमानः संयतात्मा याति तत्परमं पदम् । पुत्रेषु भार्यां निक्षिप्य गत्वारण्यं तु तत्त्ववित्
Living with self-control, he attains that supreme state; having entrusted his wife to his sons, the knower of truth goes to the forest.
एकाकी विचरेन्नित्यमुदासीनः समाहितः । एष वः कथितो धर्म्मो गृहस्थानां द्विजोत्तमाः । ज्ञात्वा तु तिष्ठेन्नियतं तथानुष्ठापयेद्द्विजान्
Alone, he should always wander, detached and concentrated; this, O best of twice-born, is the dharma prescribed for householders. Knowing this, one should remain disciplined and practice accordingly.
इति देवमनादिमेकमीशं गृहधर्मेण समर्चयेदजस्रम् । समतीत्य स सर्वभूतयोनिं प्रकृतिं याति परं न याति जन्म
Thus, by the duties of a householder, one should ceaselessly worship the god, the beginningless, the one Lord; surpassing all sources of beings and nature, he attains the supreme and is not born again.
व्यास उवाच- एवं गृहाश्रमे स्थित्वा द्वितीयं भागमायुषः । वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गच्छेत्सदारः साग्निरेव च
Vyāsa said: Thus, having lived in the householder stage for the second part of his life, he should go to the forest-dweller stage, taking his wife and sacred fire with him.
निक्षिप्य भार्यां पुत्रेषु गच्छेद्वनमथापि वा । दृष्ट्वापत्यस्य वापत्यं जर्जरीकृतविग्रहः
Entrusting his wife to his sons, or after seeing his children's children, and with his body worn by age,
शुक्लपक्षस्य पूर्वाह्णे प्रशस्ते चोत्तरायणे । गत्वारण्यं नियमवांस्तपः कुर्यात्समाहितः
In the bright fortnight, in the forenoon, and in the auspicious northern course of the sun, he should go to the forest, disciplined, and practice austerity with concentration.
फलमूलानि पूतानि नित्यमाहारमाहरेत् । यदाहारो भवेत्तेन पूजयेत्पितृदेवताः
He should daily gather pure fruits and roots for food; with whatever food he obtains, he should worship the ancestors and the gods.
पूजयेदतिथिं नित्यं स्नात्वा चाभ्यर्चयेत्सुरान् । गृहादादाय चाश्नीयादष्टौ ग्रासान्समाहितः
He should always honor guests, bathe, and worship the gods; taking food from his house, he should eat eight mouthfuls with concentration.
जटाश्च बिभृयान्नित्यं नखरोमाणि नोत्सृजेत् । स्वाध्यायं सर्वथा कुर्यान्नियच्छेद्वाचमन्यतः
He should always keep matted hair, not cut his nails or hair, always practice self-study, and restrain his speech otherwise.