वानप्रस्थो गृहस्थश्च सततोन्यः प्रवर्त्तते। तस्मिन्नेव युगे तात विप्रैः सर्वार्थदर्शिभिः
The forest-dweller and the householder both continue constantly, O dear one, in the same age, among the Brahmins who see all purposes.
अगस्त्यश्च सप्तर्षयो मधुच्छंदो गवेषणः। सांकृतिः सदिवो भांडिर्यवप्रोथो ह्यथर्वणः
Agastya and the Seven Sages, Madhucchandas, Gaveshana, Samkriti, Sadiva, Bhandiryavapra, and Atharvana—
अहोवीर्यस्तथा काम्यः स्थाणुर्मेधातिथिर्बुधः। मनोवाकः शिनीवाकः शून्यपालो कृतव्रणः
Ahovirya, Kamya, Sthanu, Medhatithi, Budha, Manovaka, Shinivaka, Shunyapala, and Kritavrana—
एते कर्मसु विद्वांसस्ततः स्वर्गमुपागमन्। एते प्रत्यक्षधर्माणस्तथा यायावरागणाः
These wise ones, engaged in their duties, attained heaven; these were followers of direct dharma, as were the groups of wandering ascetics.
ऋषीणामुग्रतपसां धर्मनैपुण्यदर्शिनाम्। सुरेश्वरं समाराध्य ब्राह्मणा वनमाश्रिताः
Having worshipped the Lord of the gods, the Brahmins who had taken to the forest, who were seers of the subtleties of dharma and possessed of intense austerity,
अपास्योपरता मायां ब्राह्मणा वनमाश्रिताः। अनक्षत्रास्तथा धृष्या दृश्यन्ते प्रोषिता गणाः
Having cast off illusion and ceased from it, the Brahmins who had taken to the forest, without stars and bold, are seen as groups who have departed.
जरया तु परिद्यूना व्याधिना परिपीडिताः। चतुर्थं त्वाश्रमं शेषं वानप्रस्थाश्रमाद्ययुः
Worn out by old age, afflicted by disease, they went to the fourth remaining ashrama, the stage of the forest-dweller, after leaving the previous one.
सद्यस्कारी सुनिर्वाप्य सर्ववेदसदक्षिणाम्। आत्मयाजी सौम्यमतिरात्मक्रीडात्मसंश्रयः
The one who performs the Sadyaska rite, having offered all the Vedas with proper gifts, is a sacrificer to the self, gentle in mind, delighting in the self, and taking refuge in the self.
आत्मन्यग्निं समाधाय त्यक्त्वासर्वपरिग्रहम्। सद्यस्कश्च यजेद्यज्ञानिष्टिं चैवेह सर्वदा
Establishing the fire within oneself, renouncing all possessions, the Sadyaska should always perform the sacrifice and offering here.
सदैव याजिनां यज्ञानात्मनीज्या प्रवर्त्तते। त्रीनेवाग्नींस्त्यजेत्सम्यगात्मन्येवात्मना क्षणात्३५० 1.15.
For those who are always sacrificers, the worship of the self proceeds from the sacrifices; one should properly abandon the three fires, merging them instantly into the self by the self.
प्राप्नुयाद्येन वा यच्च तत्प्राश्नीयादकुत्सयन्। केशलोमनखान्न्यस्येद्वानप्रस्थाश्रमे रतः
Whatever one obtains or receives, one should consume without disdain; one devoted to the forest-dweller stage should cast off hair, body hair, and nails.
आश्रमादाश्रमं सद्यः पूतो गच्छति कर्मभिः। अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो यो दत्वा प्रव्रजेद्द्विजः
Passing immediately from one ashrama to another, purified by actions, the twice-born who, having given fearlessness to all beings, renounces, attains liberation.
लोकास्तेजोमयास्तस्य प्रेत्य चानंत्यमश्नुते। सुशीलवृत्तो व्यपनीतकल्मषो न चेह नामुत्र चरन्तुमीहते
His worlds are radiant with light, and after death he attains the infinite; of good conduct and freed from stain, he does not desire to act either here or hereafter.
अरोषमोहो गतसंधिविग्रहः स चेदुदासीनवदात्मचिंतया। यमेषु चैवान्यगतेषु न व्यथः स्वशास्त्रशून्यो हृदिनात्मविभ्रमः
Free from anger and delusion, having abandoned all disputes, if he remains indifferent, contemplating the self, he feels no distress among friends or foes, nor is his heart disturbed by lack of scripture.
भवेद्यथेष्टागतिरात्मयाजिनी निस्संशये धर्मपरे जितेन्द्रिये। अतःपरं श्रेष्ठमतीवसद्गुणैरधिष्ठितं त्रीनतिवर्त्य चाश्रमान्
The sacrificer to the self attains whatever state he desires, without doubt, being devoted to dharma and self-controlled; thereafter, established in excellent virtues, he surpasses the three ashramas.
चतुर्थमुक्तं परमाश्रमं शृणु प्रकीर्त्यमानं परमं परायणम्। प्राप्य संस्कारमेताभ्यामाश्रमाभ्यां ततः परम्
The fourth, the supreme ashrama, is declared; listen as it is described, the highest and ultimate refuge. Having attained the rites of the previous ashramas, then comes the highest.
यत्कार्यं परमात्मार्थं तत्त्वमेकमनाः शृणु। काषायं धारयित्वा तु श्रेणीस्थानेषु च त्रिषु
Now listen with a single mind to the true action that is for the sake of the Supreme Self: having donned ochre robes, one should remain in the three stages of renunciation.
यो व्रजेच्च परं स्थानं पारिव्राज्यमनुत्तमम्। तद्भावनेन संन्यस्य वर्तनं श्रूयतां तथा
He who goes to the highest state, the unsurpassed path of wandering asceticism, having renounced worldly conduct with that intention—hear also of his way of life.
एक एव चरेद्धर्मं सिध्यर्थमसहायवान्। एकश्चरति यः पश्यन्न जहाति न हीयते
Alone, without companions, he should practice righteousness for the sake of perfection; he who wanders alone, seeing rightly, does not abandon nor fall away.
अनग्निरनिकेतस्तु ग्रामं भिक्षार्थमाश्रयेत्। अश्वस्तनविधानः स्यान्मुनिर्भावसमन्वितः
Without fire and without a fixed dwelling, the sage should seek alms in the village; he should not arrange for a bed, and should be filled with the spirit of a sage.
लघ्वाशी नियताहारः सकृदन्नं निषेवयेत्। कपालं वृक्षमूलानि कुचेलमसहायता
Eating little, with regulated food, he should partake of a single meal; a bowl, the roots of trees, a worn cloth, and solitude are his companions.
उपेक्षा सर्वभूतानामेतावद्भिक्षु लक्षणम्। यस्मिन्वाचः प्रविशंति कूपे प्राप्ता मृता इव
Indifference toward all beings—this is the mark of a mendicant; in whom words, entering, are as if fallen into a well, dead and gone.
न वक्तारं पुनर्यांति स कैवल्याश्रमे वसेत्। नैव पश्येन्न शृणुयादवाच्यं जातु कस्यचित्
Words do not return to the speaker—he should dwell in the hermitage of liberation; he should neither see nor hear anything improper from anyone.
ब्राह्मणानां विशेषेण नैतद्भूयात्कथंचन। यद्ब्राह्मणस्यानुकूलं तदेव सततं वदेत्
Especially among Brahmins, this should never occur; whatever is agreeable to a Brahmin, that alone should always be spoken.
तूष्णीमासीत निंदायां कुर्वन्भैषज्यमात्मनः। येन पूर्णमिवाकाशं भवत्येकेन सर्वदा
He should sit in silence when reviled, applying a remedy to himself; by whom, as if alone, the sky becomes full at all times.
शून्यं येन समाकीर्णं तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
By whom the empty is filled—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
येनकेन चिदाछिन्नो येनकेन चिदाशितः। यत्र क्वचन शायी च तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
Whoever is cut by anyone, or eats whatever is given by anyone, or sleeps wherever it may be—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
अहेरिव जनाद्भीतः सुहृदो नरकादिव। कृपणादिव नारीभ्यस्तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
Who, like a snake, is feared by people; like a friend, is shunned as from hell; like a wretch, is avoided by women—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
न हृष्येत विषीदेत मानितो मानितस्तथा। सर्वभूतेष्वभयदस्तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He does not rejoice nor grieve, whether honored or dishonored; who gives fearlessness to all beings—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
नाभिनंदेत मरणं नाभिनंदेत जीवितम्। कालमेव निरीक्षेत निर्देशं कृषको यथा
He should not delight in death nor in life; he should simply observe time, as a farmer awaits the proper season.