ब्राह्मणं कुशलं पृच्छेत्क्षत्रबंधुमनामयम् । वैश्यं क्षेमं समागम्य शूद्रमारोग्यमेव च
One should ask a Brahmin about his welfare, a Kṣatriya about his health, a Vaiśya about his prosperity, and a Śūdra about his well-being.
उपाध्यायः पिता ज्येष्ठो भ्राता त्राता च भीतितः । मातुलः श्वशुरश्चैव मातामह पितामहौ
The teacher, father, elder brother, protector in danger, maternal uncle, father-in-law, maternal grandfather, and paternal grandfather—
वर्णश्रेष्ठः पितृव्यश्च पुंसोऽत्र गुरवः स्मृताः । माता मातामही गुर्वी पितुर्मातुश्च सोदराः
The foremost of the caste, paternal uncle, are considered gurus among men; mother, maternal grandmother, and father's and mother's sisters are also gurus.
श्वश्रूः पितामही ज्येष्ठा धात्री च गुरवः स्त्रियः । ज्ञेयस्तु गुरुवर्गोऽयं मातृतः पितृतो द्विजाः
Mother-in-law, paternal grandmother, elder nurse—these women are gurus; this group of gurus should be known, both from the mother's and father's side, O twice-born.
अनुवर्तनमेतेषां मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः । गुरून्दृष्ट्वा समुत्तिष्ठेदभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलि
One should follow them in thought, word, and deed; upon seeing the gurus, one should rise, greet them, and stand with joined palms.
नैतैरुपविशेत्सार्द्धं विवदेन्नात्मकारणात् । जीवितार्थमपि द्वेषाद्गुरुभिर्नैव भाषणम्
One should not sit together with them, nor argue for one's own sake; even for the sake of life, one should not speak with the gurus out of hostility.
उद्रिक्तोऽपि गुणैरन्यैर्गुरुद्वेषी पतत्यधः । गुरूणामपि सर्वेषां पंच पूज्या विशेषतः
Even if endowed with other virtues, one who hates the gurus falls low; among all the gurus, five are especially worthy of honor.
तेषामाद्यास्त्रयः श्रेष्ठास्तेषां माता सुपूजिता । यो भावयति या सूते येन विद्योपदिश्यते
Of these, the first three are the greatest; among them, the mother is to be most highly honored—the one who nurtures, the one who gives birth, and the one who imparts knowledge.
ज्येष्ठो भ्राता च भर्ता च पंचैते गुरवः स्मृताः । आत्मनः सर्वयत्नेन प्राणत्यागेन वा पुनः
The elder brother and the husband—these five are regarded as teachers; one should honor them with all effort, even at the cost of one's life.
पूजनीया विशेषेण पंचैते भूतिमिच्छता । यावत्पिता च माता च द्वावेतौ निर्विकारिणौ
These five, in particular, are to be especially revered by one who desires prosperity; as long as the father and mother—these two—remain unchanged.
तावत्सर्वं परित्यज्य पुत्रः स्यात्तत्परायणः । पिता माता च सुप्रीतौ स्यातां पुत्रगुणैर्यदि
So long, the son, abandoning everything else, should be devoted to them; if the father and mother are well-pleased by the virtues of the son.
स पुत्रः सकलं धर्मं प्राप्नुयात्तेन कर्मणा । नास्ति मातृसमं दैवं नास्ति पितृसमो गुरुः
That son, by such action, attains all righteousness; there is no divinity equal to the mother, nor any teacher equal to the father.
तयोः प्रत्युपकारोऽपि न कथंचन विद्यते । तयोर्नित्यं प्रियं कुर्यात्कर्मणा मनसा गिरा
There is, in no way, any repayment possible to them; one should always do what is pleasing to them, by deed, mind, and speech.
न ताभ्यामननुज्ञातो धर्ममन्यं समाचरेत् । वर्जयित्वा मुक्तिफलं नित्यं नैमित्तिकं तथा
Without their permission, one should not perform any other duty, except for those that yield liberation, or those that are daily or occasional rites.
धर्मसारः समुद्दिष्टः प्रेत्यानंतफलप्रदः । सम्यगाराध्य वक्तारं विसृष्टस्तदनुज्ञया
This is declared to be the essence of duty, bestowing endless results after death; having properly honored the teacher, the student partakes of the fruit of knowledge, with the teacher's permission.
शिष्यो विद्याफलं भुंक्ते प्रेत्य चापद्यते दिवि । यो भ्रातरं पितृसमं ज्येष्ठं मूढोऽवमन्यते
The student enjoys the fruit of knowledge and, after death, attains heaven; but the fool who disrespects his elder brother as he would his father—
तेन दोषेण संप्रेत्य निरयं घोरमृच्छति । पुंसां वर्त्मनि सृष्टेन पूज्यो भर्ता तु सर्वदा
By that fault, after death, he reaches a terrible hell; among men, the husband is always to be honored, as ordained.
अपि मातरि लोकेऽस्मिन्नुपकाराद्धि गौरवम् । मातुलांश्च पितृव्यांश्च श्वशुरानृत्विजो गुरून्
Even in this world, the mother is honored because of her help; maternal uncles, paternal uncles, fathers-in-law, ritual priests, and teachers—
असावहमिति ब्रूयात्प्रत्युत्थायाभिवादयेत् । अवाच्यो दीक्षितो नाम्ना यवीयानपि यो भवेत्
One should rise up, greet them, and say, 'Here I am'; even if younger, an initiated person should not be addressed by name.
भो भवत्पूर्वकं त्वेनमभिभाषेत धर्मवित् । अभिवाद्यश्च पूज्यश्च शिरसानम्य एव च
A knower of dharma should address him with 'O sir,' or 'O honored one,' and, after greeting, should honor him, bowing the head.
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियाद्यैश्च श्रीकामैः सादरं सदा । नाभिवाद्याश्च विप्रेण क्षत्रियाद्याः कथंचन
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and others who desire prosperity should always greet respectfully; but a Brahmin should never greet Kshatriyas and others in return.
ज्ञानकर्मगुणोपेता यद्यप्येते बहुश्रुताः । ब्राह्मणः सर्ववर्णानां स्वस्ति कुर्यादिति श्रुतिः
Even if they possess knowledge, action, and virtues, and are well-learned, the Veda declares that the Brahmin should bless all the classes.
सवर्णेन सवर्णानां कार्यमेवाभिवादनम् । गुरुरग्निर्द्विजातीनां वर्णानां ब्राह्मणो गुरुः
Among those of the same class, greeting is to be performed; among the twice-born, fire is the teacher, and among the classes, the Brahmin is the teacher.
पतिरेको गुरुः स्त्रीणां सर्वत्राभ्यागतो गुरुः । विद्याकर्मवयोबंधुर्वित्तं भवति पंचमम्
For women, the husband alone is the teacher; a guest is always a teacher; knowledge, action, age, and kinship are four, wealth is the fifth.
मान्यस्थानानि पंचाहुः पूर्वं पूर्वं गुरूत्तरात् । पंचानां त्रिषु वर्णेषु भूयांसि बलवंति च
These five are said to be objects of respect, each preceding one being superior to the next; among the three classes, the greater and stronger should be honored.
यत्र स्युः सोऽत्र मानार्हः शूद्रोऽपि दशमीं गतः । पंथा देयो ब्राह्मणाय स्त्रियै राज्ञे विचक्षुषे
Where they are present, that one deserves respect—even a Shudra who has attained the tenth place; the path should be given to a Brahmin, a woman, a king, or a wise person.
वृद्धाय भारभग्नाय रोगिणे दुर्बलाय च । भिक्षामाहृत्य शिष्टानां गृहेभ्यः प्रयतोऽन्वहम्
With effort, each day, let him bring alms from the homes of the worthy for the elderly, those broken by burdens, the sick, and the weak.
निवेद्य गुरुवेऽश्नीयाद्वाग्यतस्तदनुज्ञया । भवत्पूर्वं चरेद्भैक्ष्यमुपवीती द्विजोत्तमः
Having offered it to the teacher, he should eat, self-controlled in speech, with the teacher’s permission; the twice-born, wearing the sacred thread, should seek alms after you.
भवन्मध्यं तु राजन्यो वैश्यस्तु भवदुत्तरम् । मातरं वा स्वसारं वा मातुर्वा भगिनीं निजाम्
Among you, the Kshatriya should go next, and the Vaishya after him; from the mother or sister, or from one’s own maternal sister—
भिक्षेत भिक्षांप्रथमं याचैनं न विमानयेत् । सजातीयगृहेष्वेव सार्ववर्णिकमेव वा
He should first beg for alms, and not look down upon her; only in the homes of those of the same class, or in those of all castes.