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.
अनभ्याहतचित्तश्च दांतश्चाहतधीस्तथा। विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यो नरो गच्छेत्ततो दिवम्
With mind unshaken, self-controlled, and with intellect undisturbed, freed from all sins, such a man goes to heaven.
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो भूतानामभयं यतः। तस्य देहविमुक्तस्य भयं नास्ति कुतश्चन
He who gives fearlessness to all beings, and from whom beings have no fear—when his body is cast off, he has no fear from anywhere.
यथा नागपदेऽन्यानि पदानि पदगामिनाम्। सर्वाण्येवावलीयंते तथा ज्ञानानि चेतसि
Just as all the footprints of walking creatures are contained within the elephant's footprint, so all knowledges are gathered in the mind.
एवं सर्वमहिंसायां धर्मोऽर्थश्च महीयते। मृतः स नित्यं भवति यो हिंसां प्रतिपद्यते
Thus, in non-violence, all righteousness and purpose are exalted; but he who resorts to violence is as if dead, though living.
अहिंसकस्ततः सम्यग्धृतिमान्नियतेंद्रियः। शरण्यस्सर्वभूतानां गतिमाप्नोत्यनुत्तमाम्
He who is non-violent, steadfast, self-controlled, and a refuge for all beings attains the highest state.
एवं प्रज्ञानतृप्तस्य निर्भयस्य मनीषिणः। न मृत्युरधिकोभावः सोमृतत्वं च गच्छति
For one who is wise, content in knowledge, and fearless, death has no power; he attains immortality.
विमुक्तः सर्वसंगेभ्यो मुनिराकाशवत्स्थितः। विष्णुप्रियकरः शांतस्तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
The sage who is free from all attachments, abiding like space, dear to Viṣṇu, and peaceful—the gods recognize him as a brāhmaṇa.
जीवितं यस्य धर्मार्थं धर्मोरत्यर्थमेव च। अहोरात्रादि पुण्यार्थं तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He whose life is devoted to righteousness, who delights only in dharma, and who spends day and night for merit—the gods recognize him as a brāhmaṇa.
निवारितसमारंभं निर्नमस्कारमस्तुतिम्। अक्षीणं क्षीणकर्माणं तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He who has restrained all undertakings, who neither bows nor praises, whose actions are exhausted though his body endures—the gods recognize him as a brāhmaṇa.
सर्वाणि भूतानि सुखं रमंते सर्वाणि दुःखानि भृशं भवंति। तेषां भवोत्पादनजातखेदः कुर्यात्तु कर्माणि च श्रद्दधानः
All beings find happiness, and all suffer greatly; understanding the pain of their birth and arising, the faithful should act accordingly.