तपो यज्ञाश्च पुण्यं च तथा देवर्षिपूजनम् । आद्यो विधिश्च विद्या च सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्
Austerity, sacrifices, virtue, and the worship of divine sages, the original ordinance and knowledge—all are established upon truth.
सत्यं यज्ञस्तथा दानं मंत्रा देवी सरस्वती । व्रतचर्या तथा सत्यमोङ्कारः सत्यमेव च
Truth is sacrifice, charity, mantra, the goddess Sarasvati, observance of vows, and the syllable Om; truth alone is all these.
सत्येन वायुरभ्येति सत्येन तपते रविः । सत्येन चाग्निर्दहति स्वर्गः सत्येन तिष्ठति
By truth the wind moves, by truth the sun shines, by truth fire burns, and heaven stands by truth.
पूजनं सर्वदेवानां सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् । सत्यं च वदते लोके सर्वमाप्नोत्यसंशयः
Worship of all the gods and bathing in all sacred waters—if one speaks truth in the world, one attains everything without doubt.
अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम् । सर्वेषां सर्वयज्ञानां सत्यमेव विशिष्यते
A thousand horse sacrifices and truth placed on the scale—among all sacrifices, truth alone surpasses them.
सत्येन देवाः प्रीयंते पितरो ऋषयस्तथा । सत्यमाहुः परं धर्मं सत्यमाहुः परं पदम्
By truth the gods, ancestors, and sages are pleased; they declare truth to be the highest dharma and the supreme state.
सत्यमाहुः परं ब्रह्म तस्मात्सत्यं वदामि ते । मुनयः सत्यनिरताः तपस्तप्त्वा सुदुष्करम्
They declare truth to be the supreme Brahman; therefore I tell you truth. The sages, devoted to truth, having performed difficult austerities—
सत्यधर्मरताः सिद्धास्ततः स्वर्गमितो गताः । अप्सरोगणसंघुष्टैर्विमानैः परितो वृताः
Perfected beings, devoted to truth and righteousness, have gone to heaven from here, surrounded by celestial nymphs and aerial chariots.
वक्तव्यं च सदा सत्यं न सत्याद्विद्यते परम् । अगाधे विपुले सिद्धे सत्तीर्थे च शुचौ हृदि
Truth should always be spoken; nothing is higher than truth. In the deep, vast, accomplished, and pure heart, in the holy place—
स्नातव्यं मनसा युक्तैः स्नानं तत्परमं स्मृतम् । आत्मार्थे वा परार्थे वा पुत्रार्थे वापि मानवाः । अनृतं ये न भाषंते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
One should bathe with a mind united; that bath is considered supreme. Whether for oneself, for another, or for one's son, those who do not speak falsehood are destined for heaven.
वेदा यज्ञास्तथा मंत्राः संति विप्रेषु नित्यशः । न भांत्युज्झित सत्येषु तस्मात्सत्यं समाचरेत्
The Vedas, sacrifices, and mantras always exist among the Brahmins; they do not waver from those established in truth. Therefore, one should practice truth.
नारद उवाच-। तपसां मे फलं ब्रूहि पुनरेव विशेषतः । सर्वेषां चैव वर्णानां ब्राह्मणानां तपोबलम्
Narada said: Tell me again, in detail, the fruit of austerities, and the power of austerity among all castes and Brahmins.
प्रवक्ष्यामि तपोध्यानं सर्वकामार्थसाधकम् । सुदुश्चरं द्विजातीनां तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
I will declare the meditation on austerity, which accomplishes all desires and aims; it is very difficult for the twice-born. Hear it from me as I speak.
तपो हि परमं प्रोक्तं तपसा विंदते फलम् । तपोरतो हि यो नित्यं मोदते सह दैवतैः
Austerity is declared supreme; by austerity one attains its fruit. He who is always devoted to austerity rejoices with the gods.
तपसा प्राप्यते स्वर्गस्तपसा प्राप्यते यशः । तपसा मोक्षमाप्नोति तपसा विंदते महत्
By austerity heaven is attained, by austerity fame is attained; by austerity one obtains liberation, by austerity one realizes greatness.
ज्ञानविज्ञानसंपत्तिः सौभाग्यं रूपमेव च । तपसा लभते सर्वं मनसा यद्यदिच्छति
Acquisition of knowledge and wisdom, good fortune, and beauty—all is gained by austerity, whatever the mind desires.
नातप्ततपसो यांति ब्रह्मलोकं कदाचन । यत्कार्यं किंचिदास्थाय पुरुषस्तप्यते तपः
Those who have not practiced austerity never reach the world of Brahma. Whatever action a person undertakes, he performs austerity.
तत्सर्वं समवाप्नोति परत्रेह च मानवः । सुरापः परदारी च ब्रह्महा गुरुतल्पगः । तपसा तरते सर्वं सर्वतश्च विमुच्यते
He attains all that, both here and hereafter. Even a drinker, adulterer, murderer of a Brahmin, or violator of the teacher's bed—by austerity, one crosses all and is freed from everything.
अपि सर्वेश्वरः स्थाणुर्विष्णुश्चैव सनातनः । ब्रह्मा हुताशनः शक्रो ये चान्ये तपसान्विताः
Even the Supreme Lord, the Immutable One, and also Viṣṇu the Eternal, Brahmā, Agni, Indra, and others endowed with austerity—
षडशीतिसहस्राणि मुनीनामूर्द्ध्वरेतसाम् । तपसा दिवि मोदंते समेता दैवतैः सह
Eighty-six thousand sages of steadfast celibacy, rejoicing in heaven through their austerity, together with the gods—
तपसा प्राप्यते राज्यं शक्रः सर्वे पुरा सुराः । तपसा पालयन्सर्वानहन्यहनि वृत्तिदाः
By austerity, sovereignty is attained; Indra and all the gods of old, by austerity, maintain all beings, granting sustenance day by day.
सूर्याचंद्रमसौ देवौ सर्वलोकहिते रतौ । तपसैव प्रकाशंते नक्षत्राणि ग्रहास्तथा
The deities Sun and Moon, intent on the welfare of all worlds, shine by austerity, as do the stars and planets.
सर्वं च तपसाभ्येति सर्वं च सुखमश्नुते । तपस्तपति योऽरण्ये वनमूलफलाशनः
All is attained by austerity, and all happiness is enjoyed; he who practices austerity in the forest, living on roots and fruits, shines.
योऽधीते श्रुतिमेवादौ समं स्यात्तपसा मुने । श्रुतेरध्यापनात्पुण्यं यदाप्नोति द्विजोत्तमः
He who studies the Veda at the outset, O sage, is equal to one who performs austerity; the merit a twice-born gains by teaching the Veda—
तदध्यायस्य जप्याच्च द्विगुणं फलमश्नुते । जगद्यथा निरालोकं जायते शशिभास्करौ
That merit, by recitation and study, is doubled in its fruit; just as the world would be dark without the moon and sun—
विना तथा पुराणं हि ध्येयमस्मान्महामुने । तप्यमानस्तपो ज्ञानं यो धारयति शास्त्रतः
So too, the Purāṇa must be meditated upon, O great sage; he who, practicing austerity, upholds knowledge from scripture—
संबोधयति लोकं च तस्मात्पूज्यतमो गुरुः । सर्वेषां चैव पात्राणां श्रेष्ठपात्रं पुराणवित्
He enlightens the world, and therefore is the most worthy of honor as a teacher; among all recipients, the knower of the Purāṇa is the best vessel.
पतनात्त्रायते यस्मात्तस्मात्पात्रमुदाहृतम् । धनं धान्यं हिरण्यं वा वासांसि विविधानि च
Because he saves from downfall, he is called a worthy vessel; wealth, grain, gold, or various garments—
ये यच्छंति सुपात्राय ते यांति च परां गतिम् । गाश्चैव महिषीर्वापि गजानश्वांश्च शोभनान्
Whoever gives these to a worthy recipient attains the highest state; cows, buffaloes, elephants, and fine horses—
यः प्रयच्छति मुख्याय तत्पुण्यस्य फलं शृणु । अक्षयं सर्वलोकानां सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् 6.27.
Whoever gives these to the foremost recipient, hear the fruit of that merit: he obtains the inexhaustible fruit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice in all worlds.