निर्ममो निर्भयः शांतो निर्द्वंद्वः पर्णभोजनः । जीर्णकौपीनवासाः स्यान्नग्नो वा ध्यानतत्परः
He should be without possessiveness, fearless, peaceful, beyond dualities, eating leaves, wearing worn-out loincloths, or even naked, intent on meditation.
ब्रह्मचारी जिताहारो ग्रामादन्नं समाहरेत् । अध्यात्मरतिरासीत निरपेक्षो निराशिषः
He should be celibate, moderate in food, collect food from the village, delight in the self, unattached, and without expectation.
आत्मनैव सहायेन सुखार्थं विचरेदिह । नाभिनंदेत मरणं नाभिनंदेत जीवनम्
With only himself as companion, he should wander here for the sake of happiness, neither desiring death nor desiring life.
कालमेव प्रतीक्षेत निर्देशं भृतको यथा । नाध्येतव्यं न वर्तव्यं श्रोतव्यं न कदाचन
He should simply await his time, like a servant awaiting orders; he should never study, act, or listen to anything.
एवं ज्ञानपरो योगी ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते । एकवासाथ वा विद्वान्कौपीनाच्छादनोपि वा
Thus, a yogi devoted to knowledge becomes fit for union with Brahman, whether he lives with a single garment or, being wise, is covered only by a loincloth.
मुंडी शिखी वाथ भवेत्त्रिदंडी निष्परिग्रहः । काषायवासाः सततं ध्यानयोगपरायणः
He may be shaven-headed or wear a topknot, may carry three staffs, and possess nothing; always clad in ochre robes, ever intent on meditation and yoga.
ग्रामांते वृक्षमूले वा वसेद्देवालयेपि वा । समः शत्रौ तथा मित्रे तथा मानापमानयोः
He may dwell at the edge of a village, at the root of a tree, or even in a temple; remaining equal toward enemy and friend, as well as in honor and dishonor.
भैक्ष्येण वर्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादी भवेत्क्वच्चित् । यस्तु मोहेन वान्यस्मादेकान्नादी भवेद्यतिः
He should always subsist on alms, never taking food from only one house; but if, out of delusion, an ascetic takes food from a single house,
न तस्य निष्कृतिः काचिद्धर्मशास्त्रेषु दृश्यते । रागद्वेषवियुक्तात्मा समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः
for him, no expiation is found in the scriptures of dharma; his mind should be free from attachment and aversion, regarding clod, stone, and gold as the same.
प्राणिहिंसानिवृत्तश्च मौनी स्यात्सर्वनिस्पृहः । दृष्टिपूतं न्यसेत्पादं वस्त्रपूतं जलं पिबेत्
He should refrain from harming living beings, be silent, and free from all desires; place his foot only where his gaze has purified, and drink water filtered through cloth.
सत्यपूतां वदेद्वाणीं मनःपूतं समाचरेत् । नैकत्र निवसेद्देशे वर्षाभ्योन्यत्र भिक्षुकः
He should speak words purified by truth, act with a mind purified by discipline; a mendicant should not reside in the same place during the rains, but move elsewhere.
स्नात्वा शौचयुतो नित्यं कमंडलुकरः शुचिः । ब्रह्मचर्यरतो नित्यं वनवासरतो भवेत्
Having bathed and always maintaining purity, holding a water-pot, he should be chaste at all times and devoted to living in the forest.
मोक्षशास्त्रेषु निरतो ब्रह्मसूत्री जितेंद्रियः । दंभाहंकारनिर्मुक्तो निंदापैशुन्यवर्जितः
He should be devoted to the scriptures of liberation, versed in the Brahma-sutras, with senses controlled; free from hypocrisy and pride, avoiding slander and malice.
आत्मज्ञानगुणोपेतो यदि मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् । अभ्यसेत्सततं देवं प्रणवाख्यं सनातनम्
Endowed with the qualities of self-knowledge, if he attains liberation, he should constantly practice the eternal deity known as Pranava (Om).
स्नात्वाचम्य विधानेन शुचिर्देवालयादिषु । यज्ञोपवीती शांतात्मा कुशपाणिः समाहितः
Having bathed and performed purification according to rule, pure in temples and such places, wearing the sacred thread, with a peaceful mind, holding kusa grass, concentrated.
धौतकाषायवसनो तस्मिञ्छन्नतनूरुहः । अधियज्ञं ब्रह्मजपेदाधिदैविकमेव च
Wearing washed ochre garments, with body hair covered, he should recite the Brahman for the sacrifice, as well as that which pertains to the deities.
आध्यात्मिकं च सततं वेदान्ताभिहितं च यत् । पुत्रेषु चाथ निवसन्ब्रह्मचारी यतिर्मुनिः
And always recite that which is spiritual and taught in the Vedanta; whether living among sons or as a celibate, the ascetic sage.
वेदमेवाभ्यसेन्नित्यं स याति परमां गतिम् । अहिंसासत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यं तपः परम्
He should always study the Veda; he attains the highest state. Non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and supreme austerity—
क्षमादया च संतोषो व्रतान्यस्य विशेषतः । वेदांतज्ञाननिष्ठो वा पंचयज्ञान्समाहितः
forbearance, compassion, and contentment are especially his vows; established in Vedantic knowledge, intent on the five sacrifices.
कुर्य्यादहरहः स्नात्वा भिक्षार्थे नैव तेन हि । होममंत्रान्जपेन्नित्यं कालेकाले समाहितः
He should perform them daily, having bathed, and never for the sake of alms; he should always recite the mantras for the fire-offering, with concentration at the proper times.
स्वाध्यायं चान्वहं कुर्य्यात्सावित्रीं संध्ययोर्जपेत् । ध्यायीत सततं देवमेकांतं परमेश्वरम्
He should also perform daily self-study, recite the Savitri at the two twilights, and always meditate on the one supreme Lord in solitude.
एकान्नं वर्जयेन्नित्यं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् । एकवासा द्विवासा वा शिखी यज्ञोपवीतवान् । कमंडलुकरो विद्वांस्त्रिदंडो याति तत्परम्
He should always avoid food from a single house, as well as desire, anger, and possession; whether wearing one or two garments, with a topknot and sacred thread, holding a water-pot, learned, carrying three staffs, he attains that supreme goal.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे यतिधर्मनिरूपणं नामैकोनषष्टितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fifty-ninth chapter, entitled 'The Explanation of the Duties of Renunciates,' in the Svarga-khaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa.
व्यास उवाच- एवं त्वाश्रमनिष्ठानां यतीनां नियतात्मनाम् । भैक्ष्येण वर्तनं प्रोक्तं फलमूलैरथापि वा
Vyāsa said: In this way, for those renunciates established in their āśrama and self-controlled, subsistence by alms has been prescribed, whether by roots and fruits or otherwise.
एककालं चरेद्भैक्ष्यं न प्रसज्येत विस्तरम् । भैक्ष्ये प्रसक्तो हि यतिर्विषयेष्वपि सज्जति
One should seek alms only once a day and not indulge in excess; for if a renunciate becomes attached to alms, he becomes attached to sense objects as well.
सप्तागारं चरेद्भैक्ष्यमलाभे न पुनश्चरेत् । गोदोहमात्रं तिष्ठेत कालं भिक्षुरधोमुखः
He should seek alms from seven houses, and if unsuccessful, he should not go again; the mendicant should wait only as long as it takes to milk a cow, standing with head bowed.
भिक्षेत्युक्त्वा सकृत्तूष्णीमादद्याद्वाग्यतः शुचिः । प्रक्ष्याल्य पाणी पादौ च समाचम्य यथाविधि
Having said 'alms' once, he should remain silent and take the food, restrained in speech and pure; having washed his hands and feet, he should sip water as prescribed.
आदित्यं दर्शयित्वान्नं भुंजीत प्राङ्मुखो नरः । हुत्वा प्राणाहुतीः पंच ग्रासानष्टौ समाहितः
After showing the food to the sun, a man should eat facing east; having offered the five vital airs, he should mindfully partake of eight morsels.
आचम्य देवं ब्रह्माणं ध्यायेत परमेश्वरम् । आलाबुदारुपात्रे च मृण्मयं वैणवं तथा
Having sipped water, he should meditate on the god Brahmā, the Supreme Lord; and use a bowl made of gourd, clay, or bamboo.
चत्वारि यतिपात्राणि मनुराह प्रजापतिः । प्राग्रात्रे मध्यरात्रे च पररात्रे तथैव च
Manu, the lord of creatures, has said there are four bowls for renunciates: one of gourd, one of clay, one of bamboo, and one of wood.