धनलोभे प्रसक्तस्तु ब्राह्मण्यादेव हीयते । वेदानधीत्य सकलान्यज्ञांश्चावाप्य सर्वशः
One attached to greed for wealth falls away from Brahminhood; even after studying all the Vedas and performing all sacrifices—
न तां गतिमवाप्नोति संतोषाद्यामवाप्नुयात् । प्रतिग्रहरुचिर्न स्याच्छूद्रान्न तु समाहरेत्
He does not attain that state which comes from contentment; one should not desire gifts from Shudras, nor accept 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; he who is never content is not fit for heaven.
उद्वेजयति भूतानि यथा चौरस्तथैव सः । गुरुं भृत्यांश्चोज्जिहीर्षुस्तर्पयन्देवतातिथीन्
He disturbs beings just like a thief; one who seeks to deprive his teacher or servants, even while satisfying gods and guests—
सर्वतः प्रतिगृह्णीयान्न तु तृप्येत्स्वयं ततः । एवं गृहस्थो युक्तात्मा देवतातिथिपूजकः
May accept from all sides, but should not himself become satisfied thereby; thus a householder, self-controlled and devoted to honoring gods and guests—
वर्तमानः संयतात्मा याति तत्परमं पदम् । पुत्रेषु भार्यां निक्षिप्य गत्वारण्यं तु तत्त्ववित्
Living with a restrained mind, attains that supreme state; having entrusted his wife to his sons, and gone to the forest, the knower of truth—
एकाकी विचरेन्नित्यमुदासीनः समाहितः । एष वः कथितो धर्म्मो गृहस्थानां द्विजोत्तमाः । ज्ञात्वा तु तिष्ठेन्नियतं तथानुष्ठापयेद्द्विजान्
Should always wander alone, detached and concentrated; thus, O best of twice-born, the dharma of householders has been explained to you. Knowing this, one should remain disciplined and instruct the twice-born accordingly.
इति देवमनादिमेकमीशं गृहधर्मेण समर्चयेदजस्रम् । समतीत्य स सर्वभूतयोनिं प्रकृतिं याति परं न याति जन्म
Thus, one should ceaselessly worship the one, beginningless Lord through the duties of a householder; transcending all beings and nature, he attains the supreme and is not born again.
व्यास उवाच- एवं गृहाश्रमे स्थित्वा द्वितीयं भागमायुषः । वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गच्छेत्सदारः साग्निरेव च
Vyasa said: Thus, having lived in the householder stage for the second part of life, one should go to the forest-dweller stage, taking along his wife and sacred fire.
निक्षिप्य भार्यां पुत्रेषु गच्छेद्वनमथापि वा । दृष्ट्वापत्यस्य वापत्यं जर्जरीकृतविग्रहः
Entrusting his wife to his sons, he should go to the forest, or else, seeing his children’s children and his body grown old and worn out—
शुक्लपक्षस्य पूर्वाह्णे प्रशस्ते चोत्तरायणे । गत्वारण्यं नियमवांस्तपः कुर्यात्समाहितः
In the bright fortnight, during the forenoon, and in the auspicious northern course of the sun, one should go to the forest, self-restrained, and practice austerity with concentration.
फलमूलानि पूतानि नित्यमाहारमाहरेत् । यदाहारो भवेत्तेन पूजयेत्पितृदेवताः
One should always take pure fruits and roots as food; with whatever food is obtained, one should worship the ancestors and the gods.
पूजयेदतिथिं नित्यं स्नात्वा चाभ्यर्चयेत्सुरान् । गृहादादाय चाश्नीयादष्टौ ग्रासान्समाहितः
One should daily honor the guest, bathe, and then worship the gods; after bringing food from the house, one should eat, mindfully, eight mouthfuls.
जटाश्च बिभृयान्नित्यं नखरोमाणि नोत्सृजेत् । स्वाध्यायं सर्वथा कुर्यान्नियच्छेद्वाचमन्यतः
One should always keep matted hair, not cut nails or hair, always perform self-study, and restrain speech in every way.
अग्निहोत्रं च जुहुयात्पंचयज्ञान्समाचरेत् । उत्पन्नैर्विविधैर्मेध्यैः शाकमूलफलेन वा
One should offer the agnihotra and perform the five sacrifices, using various pure vegetables, roots, or fruits that have arisen.
चीरवासा भवेन्नित्यं स्नायात्त्रिषवणं शुचिः । सर्वभूतानुकंपश्च प्रतिग्रहविवर्जितः
One should always wear bark garments, bathe three times a day, remain pure, be compassionate to all beings, and avoid accepting gifts.
दर्शेन पौर्णमासेन यजेत नियतं द्विजः । ऋत्विष्ट्याग्रयणे चैव चातुर्मास्यानि कारयेत्
A twice-born should regularly perform the new and full moon sacrifices, as well as the seasonal and four-monthly rites, with the prescribed offerings.
उत्तरायणं च क्रमशो दक्षिणायनमेव च । वासंतशारदैर्मेद्ध्यैरुत्पन्नैः स्वयमाहृतैः
During the northern and southern courses of the sun, one should use what is produced in spring and autumn, pure and self-gathered.
पुरोडाशांश्चरूंश्चैव विधिवन्निर्वपेत्पृथक् । देवताभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च दत्त्वा मेध्यतरं हविः
One should properly offer separately the sacrificial cakes and oblations, giving the purest portion as an offering to the gods and ancestors.
शेषं समुपभुंजीत लवणं च स्वयंकृतम् । वर्ज्जयेन्मद्यमांसानि भौमानि कवकानि च
One should partake of the remainder, and use only salt prepared by oneself; one must avoid wine, meat, foods grown in the ground, and mushrooms.
भूस्तृणं शष्पकं चैव श्लेष्मातक फलानि च । न फालकृष्टमश्नीयादुत्सृष्टमपि केनचित्
One should not eat earth, grass, or moss, nor the fruits of the śleṣmātaka tree; one should not eat what has been plowed or what has been discarded by anyone.
न ग्रामजातान्यार्तोपि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च । श्रावणेनैव विधिना वह्निं परिचरेत्सदा
Even in distress, one should not eat flowers or fruits grown in villages; one should always tend the fire according to the prescribed method in the month of Śrāvaṇa.
न द्रुह्येत्सर्वभूतानि निर्द्वंद्वो निर्भयो भवेत् । न नक्तं किंचिदश्नीयाद्रात्रौ ध्यानपरो भवेत्
One should not harm any beings, remain free from dualities and fear; one should not eat anything at night, and should be devoted to meditation during the night.
जितेंद्रियो जितक्रोधस्तत्त्वज्ञानविचिंतकः । ब्रह्मचारी भवेन्नित्यं न पत्नीमपि संश्रयेत्
One should be self-controlled, free from anger, intent on contemplating true knowledge, always celibate, and not even approach one's wife.
यस्तु पत्न्या वनं गत्वा मैथुनं कामतश्चरेत् । तद्व्रतं तस्य लुप्येत प्रायश्चित्तीयते द्विजः
But if one goes to the forest with his wife and engages in sexual union out of desire, his vow is broken and the twice-born must perform expiation.
तत्र यो जायते गर्भो न स स्पृश्यो द्विजातिभिः । न हि वेदेधिकारोस्य तद्वंशेप्येवमेव हि
A child conceived there is not to be touched by the twice-born; for he has no right to Vedic study, nor do his descendants.
भूमौ शयीत सततं सावित्रीजप्यतत्परः । शरण्यः सर्वभूतानां सद्विभागपरः सदा
One should always sleep on the ground, be devoted to reciting the Sāvitrī, be a refuge for all beings, and always intent on proper distribution.
परिवादं मृषावादं निद्रालस्ये च वर्जयेत् । एकाग्निरनिकेतः स्यात्प्रोक्षितां भूमिमाश्रयेत्
One should avoid slander, false speech, sleepiness, and laziness; one should have a single fire, no fixed dwelling, and reside on purified ground.
मृगैः सह चरेद्दांतस्तैः सहैव च संवसेत् । शिलायां शर्करायां वा शयीत सुसमाहितः
He should move about with wild animals and dwell together with them; he should sleep attentively on a stone or gravel.
सद्यः प्रक्षालको वा स्यान्माससंचयिकोपि वा । षण्मासनिचयो वापि समानिचय एव वा
He may be one who washes immediately, or who accumulates for a month, or who accumulates for six months, or who accumulates for a year.