स्वदारनिरतो दांतो दक्षोत्यर्थं जितेंद्रियः। ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यमातुलातिथिसंहतैः
Devoted to his own wife, self-controlled, skilled in action, with senses conquered; surrounded by officiants, priests, teachers, maternal uncles, and guests—
वृद्धबालातुरैर्वैद्यैर्ज्ञातिसंबंधि बांधवैः। मात्रा पित्रा च जामात्रा भ्रात्रा पुत्रेण भार्यया
With elders, children, the sick, physicians, relatives, kin, and friends; with mother, father, brother-in-law, brother, son, and wife—
दुहित्रा दासवर्गेण विवादं न समाचरेत्। एतान्विमुच्य संवादान्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
With daughter and servants, one should not engage in disputes; by avoiding arguments with these, one is freed from all sins.
एतैर्जितैस्तु जयति सर्वलोकान्न संशयः। आचार्यो ब्रह्मलोकेशः प्राजापत्य प्रभुः पिता
By conquering with these, one conquers all worlds—there is no doubt; the teacher is lord of the Brahma world, the father is lord of the Prajapati world.
अतिथिः सर्वलोकेश ऋत्विग्वेदाश्रयः प्रभुः। जामाताप्सरसांलोके ज्ञातयो वैश्वदेविकाः
The guest is lord of all worlds, the officiant is lord of the Vedic world; the brother-in-law is lord among the Apsaras, relatives are lords of the Vaiśvadeva world.
संबंधि बांधवा दिक्षु पृथिव्यां मातृमातुलौ। वृद्धबालातुराश्चैव आकाशे प्रभविष्णवः
Kin and friends are lords of the directions on earth; mother and maternal uncle, elders, children, and the sick are powerful in the sky.
पुरोधा ऋषिलोकेशः संश्रितास्साध्यलोकपाः। अश्विलोकपतिर्वैद्यो भ्राता तु वसुलोकपः
The priest is lord among the sages, those who take refuge are guardians of the Sādhyas' world; the physician is lord of the horse world, the brother is guardian of the Vasus' world.
चंद्रलोकेश्वरी भार्या दुहिताप्सरसां गृहे। भ्राता ज्येष्ठः समः पित्रा भार्या पुत्र स्वकातनुः
The wife is queen in the moon's world, the daughter among the Apsaras in the house; the eldest brother is equal to the father, the wife and son are one's own body.
कायस्था दासवर्गाश्च दुहिता कृपणं परम्। तस्मादेतैरधिक्षिप्तः सहेन्नित्यमसंज्वरः
The scribes and servants, and the daughter, are especially to be shown compassion; therefore, one who is reproached by these should always endure without distress.
गृहधर्मरतो विद्वान्धर्मनिष्ठो जितक्लमः। नारभेद्बहुकार्याणि धर्मवान्किंचिदारभेत्
A wise man devoted to household duties, steadfast in righteousness, who has conquered fatigue, should not undertake many tasks; the righteous should begin only a few.
गृहस्थवृत्तयस्तिस्रस्तासां निश्रेयसं परं। परस्परं तथैवाहुश्चातुराश्रम्यमेव च
There are three modes of household life, each leading to the highest good; likewise, it is said that the fourfold division of life is supreme.
ये चोक्तानि यमास्तेषां सर्वं कार्यं बुभूषुणा। कुंभधान्यैरुंच्छशिलैः कापोतीं वृत्तिमाश्रितैः
All the restraints previously mentioned must be observed by one who desires fulfillment, including those who follow the pot-carrying, gleaning, and pigeon-like ways of living.
यस्मिंश्चैते वसंत्यर्थास्तद्राष्ट्रमभिवर्धते। पूर्वापरान्दशपरान्पुनाति च पितामहान्
Where these means of livelihood are found, that region prospers; it purifies ancestors of ten generations before and after.
गृहस्थवृत्तिमप्येतां वर्तयेद्यो गतव्यथः। स चक्रधरलोकानां समानाम्प्राप्नुयाद्गतिम्
Whoever, free from affliction, practices even this household mode of life, attains the same realm as those who bear the discus.
जितेंद्रियाणामथवा गतिरेषा विधीयते। स्वर्गलोको गृहस्थानां प्रतिष्ठा नियतात्मनां
For those who have mastered their senses, this path is prescribed; the world of heaven is the established abode for householders of disciplined mind.
ब्रह्मणाभिहता श्रेणी ह्येषा यस्याः प्रमुच्यते। द्वितीयां क्रमशः प्राप्य स्वर्गलोके महीयते
This order, established by Brahma, when left behind, leads one to the second stage, where one is honored in the heavenly world.
तृतीयामपि वक्ष्यामि वानप्रस्थाश्रमं शृणु। गृहस्थस्तु यदा पश्येद्वलीपलितमात्मनः
I will now speak of the third, the forest-dweller stage; listen: when a householder perceives wrinkles and gray hair upon himself—
अपत्यस्यैव चापत्यं वनमेव तदाश्रयेत्। गृहस्थव्रतखिन्नानां वानप्रस्थाश्रमौकसां
And when his children have children, then he should resort to the forest; for householders weary of their vows, the forest-dweller stage is prescribed.
श्रूयतां भीष्म भद्रं ते सर्वलोकाश्रयात्मनां। दीक्षापूर्वं निवृत्तानां पुण्यदेशनिवासिनां
Hear, O Bhishma, blessings to you, about those who are the refuge of all worlds: those who, after initiation, dwell in holy places, having withdrawn from worldly life.
प्रज्ञाबलयुजां पुंसां सत्यशौचक्षमावतां। तृतीयमायुषो भागं वानप्रस्थाश्रमे वसन्
Those men endowed with wisdom and strength, possessing truth, purity, and patience, spend the third portion of their lives in the forest-dweller stage.
तानेवाग्नीन्परिचरेद्यजमानो दिवौकसः। नियतो नियताहारो विष्णुभक्तिप्रसक्तिमान्
They should tend the same sacred fires as before, being devoted to sacrifice, disciplined, moderate in food, and absorbed in devotion to Vishnu.
तदाग्निहोत्रमात्राणि यज्ञांगानि च सर्वशः। अकृष्टं वै व्रीहियवं नीवारं विघसानि च
At that time, only the offerings for the sacred fire and all the components of sacrifice are performed; with unplowed rice, barley, wild grains, and gleaned food.
ग्रीष्मे हविष्यं प्रायच्छेत्स माघेष्वपि पंचसु। वानप्रस्थाश्रमेप्येताश्चतस्रो वृत्तयः स्मृताः
In summer, one should offer sacrificial food, and likewise in the five months of winter; in the forest-dweller stage, these four modes of living are remembered.
सद्यः प्रभक्षकाः केचित्केचिन्मासिकसंचयान्। वार्षिकान्संचयान्केचित्केचिद्द्वादशवार्षिकान्
Some eat immediately what is obtained, some store food for a month, some for a year, and others for twelve years.
कुर्वन्त्यतिथिपूजार्थं यज्ञतन्त्रार्थमेव च। अभ्रावकाशा वर्षासु हेमंते जलसंश्रयाः
They do this for the worship of guests and for the purpose of sacrifice; in the rainy season, they dwell in open spaces, and in winter, they rely on water.
ग्रीष्मे पंचाग्नितपसः शरद्यमृतभोजनाः। भूमौ विपरिवर्तंते तिष्ठंति प्रपदैरपि
In summer, they practice the austerity of five fires; in autumn, they eat nectar-like food; they move about on the earth, even standing on their toes.
स्थानासने च वर्तन्ते वसनेष्वपि संस्थिते। दंतोलूखलिनः केचिदश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे
They remain in standing or sitting postures, even when resting; some use pestles and mortars, while others crush with stones.
शुक्लपक्षे पिबन्त्येके यवागूं क्वथितां क्वचित्। कृष्णपक्षे पिबंत्येके भुंजते च यथागमम्
Some drink boiled barley gruel during the bright fortnight, while others do so in the dark fortnight, and some eat according to prescribed rules.
मूलैरेके फलैरेके जलैरेके दृढव्रताः। वर्त्तयंति यथान्यायं वैखानस धृतव्रताः
Some sustain themselves with roots, others with fruits, and others with water alone, steadfast in their vows; thus the Vaikhānasa ascetics live according to prescribed order, firm in their discipline.
एताश्चान्याश्च विविधा दीक्षास्तेषां मनस्विनां। चतुर्थश्चौपनिषदो धर्मः साधारणो मतः
These and various other initiations belong to those resolute ones; and the fourth, the Upanishadic Dharma, is considered common to all.