पितरस्तस्य तुष्यंति यावज्जीवं न संशयः। देवद्विजसमीपस्थोन्नस्यदाता विमुच्यते
His ancestors are pleased with him for his whole life, without doubt; the giver who offers in the presence of gods and twice-born is released.
प्रबुद्धो वा प्रमत्तो वा प्रसंगादागतोपि वा। भक्त्या विरहितो वापि शृण्वन्पापाद्विमुच्यते
Whether awakened, careless, or even coming by chance, even without devotion, one who listens is freed from sin.
दानेन संयुता विप्राः सुखिनो धर्मभागिनः। यमो दमो वै नियमः प्रोक्तस्तत्वार्थदर्शिभिः
Brahmins endowed with giving are happy and share in righteousness; restraint, self-control, and discipline are declared by those who see the truth.
ब्राह्मणानां विशेषेण दमो धर्मः सनातनः। दमस्तेजो वर्द्धयति पवित्रो दम उत्तमः
Especially for Brahmins, restraint is the eternal law; restraint increases brilliance, and pure restraint is supreme.
विपाप्मा चैव तेजस्वी पुरुषो दमतो भवेत्। ये केचिन्नियमा लोके ये च धर्माश्शुभान्वयाः
A person becomes free from evil and radiant through restraint; whatever disciplines exist in the world, and all auspicious duties—
सर्वयज्ञफलं चापि दमस्तेभ्यो विशिष्यते। तपो यज्ञस्तथा दानं दमादेव प्रवर्तते
Restraint surpasses even all the fruits of sacrifice; austerity, sacrifice, and giving arise from restraint alone.
किमरण्येत्वदांतस्य दांतस्यापि किमाश्रमे। यत्रयत्र वसेद्दांतस्तदरण्यं महाश्रमः
What use is the forest to one without restraint, or even an ashram to one who is restrained? Wherever a restrained person dwells, that is a great hermitage, a forest.
शीलवृत्तसमेतस्य निगृहीतेंद्रियस्य च। आर्जवे वर्तमानस्य आश्रमैः किं प्रयोजनम्
For one endowed with good conduct and self-controlled senses, living straightforwardly, what need is there for ashrams?
वनेपि दोषाः प्रभवंति रागिणां गृहेपि पंचेंद्रियनिग्रहस्तपः। अकुत्सिते कर्मणि यः प्रवर्तते निवृत्तरागस्य गृहं तपोवनम्
Even in the forest, faults arise for the passionate; in the house, restraining the five senses is austerity. For one free from passion who acts without malice, the home itself is a forest of austerity.
सुकर्मधर्मार्जितजीवितानां सदा च संतुष्य गृहे रतानाम्। जितेंद्रियाणामतिथिप्रियाणां गृहेपि धर्मो नियमस्थितानाम्
For those whose livelihood is earned by righteous deeds, always content, attached to home, with controlled senses, fond of guests, and established in discipline, righteousness exists even at home.
न शब्दशास्त्रे निरतस्य मोक्षो न वर्णसंगे निरतस्य चैव। न भोजनाच्छादन तत्परस्य न लोकवृत्तग्रहणेरतस्य
There is no liberation for one absorbed in the science of words, nor for one attached to caste distinctions; not for one intent on food and clothing, nor for one engaged in worldly customs.
एकांतशीलस्य दृढव्रतस्य सर्वेन्द्रियप्रीतिनिवर्तकस्य। अध्यात्मयोगे गतमानसस्य मोक्षो ध्रुवं नित्यमहिंसकस्य
Liberation is certain for one of solitary character, firm vow, who has withdrawn all sense pleasures, whose mind is set in spiritual discipline, and who is ever non-violent.
सुखं च दांतः स्वपिति सुखेन प्रतिबुध्यते। समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु मनो यस्य प्रबुध्यते
The restrained one sleeps happily and awakens happily; whose mind is equal toward all beings, that one truly awakens.
न रथेन सुखं याति न हयेन न दंतिना। यथात्मना विनीतेन सुखं याति महापथे ३०० 1.19.
One does not travel happily by chariot, nor by horse, nor by elephant, as one travels happily on the great road with a self subdued.
न तु कुर्याद्धरिः स्पृष्टः सर्पो वाप्यतिरोषितः। अरिर्वा नित्यसंक्रुद्धो यथात्मा दमवर्जितः
One should not act as does a provoked snake, or an enraged enemy, or a wild beast; so too, a self lacking restraint.
न यमं यममित्याहुरात्मा वै यम उच्यते। आत्मा वै यमितो येन स यमस्तु विशिष्यते
They do not call Yama 'restraint'; the self is truly called restraint. By whom the self is restrained, that restraint is supreme.
यमो यम इति प्रोक्तो वृथा तूद्विजते जनः। आत्मा वै यमितो येन यमस्तस्य करोति किम्
People speak of Yama as 'restraint,' but in vain do they fear; for one who restrains the self, what can Yama do?
क्रव्यादेभ्यश्च भूतेभ्योऽदान्तेभ्यश्च सदा भयम्। तेषां विप्रतिषेधार्थं दंडः सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा
From flesh-eating beings and those without restraint, there is always fear; for restraining them, punishment was created by the Self-born.
दंडो रक्षति भूतानि दंडः पालयते प्रजाः। निवारयति पापिष्ठान्दंडो दुर्जय एव वा
Punishment protects beings; punishment preserves the people. Punishment restrains the most wicked; punishment is indeed hard to overcome.
श्यामो युवा लोहिताक्षः सर्वभूतभयावहः। दंडः शास्ता मनुष्याणां यस्मिन्धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः
Dark, youthful, red-eyed, a source of fear for all creatures—punishment is the ruler of men, in whom righteousness is established.
अथाश्रमेषु सर्वेषु दम एवोत्तमं व्रतम्। तानि लिंगानि वक्ष्यामि यैर्दांत इति कीर्त्यते
Among all the stages of life, self-restraint is the highest vow. I will declare those marks by which one is called self-restrained.
अकार्पण्यमपारुष्यं संतोषः सुविधानता। अनसूया गुरोः पूजा दया भूतेष्वपैशुनम्
Freedom from miserliness, gentleness, contentment, proper conduct, absence of envy, reverence for the teacher, compassion toward beings, and absence of slander—
षड्भिरेष दमः प्रोक्त ऋषिभिः शांतबुद्धिभिः। दयाधीनौ धर्ममोक्षौ तथा स्वर्गश्च पार्थिव
By these six, self-restraint is described by sages of tranquil mind. Righteousness and liberation depend on compassion, as does heaven, O king.
अपमाने न कुप्येत संमाने न प्रहृष्यति। समदुःखसुखो धीरः स शांत इति कीर्त्यते
He does not become angry when insulted, nor overjoyed when honored; steadfast in pleasure and pain alike, such a calm one is so called.
शेते सुखं हि शांतस्तु सुखं हि प्रतिबुध्यते। श्रेयस्तरमतस्तिष्ठेदवमन्ता विनश्यति
Indeed, the calm person sleeps happily and awakens happily. He remains in the highest good, but the scorner perishes.
अपमानितस्तु न ध्यायेत्तस्य पापं कदाचन। स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य परधर्मं न दूषयेत्
When insulted, he does not brood; he never commits sin. Considering his own duty, he does not disparage another's duty.
आत्मानमपि जानीयात्परं दोषैस्तु नाक्षिपेत्। मंत्रैर्हीनं क्रियाभिर्वा जन्मनाप्यथवा पुनः
He knows himself and does not blame others for faults—whether lacking in mantras, in rites, or by birth, or otherwise.
दमश्छादयते सर्वं हीनमंगं पटो यथा। अधीयते निरर्थन्ते नाभिजानंति ये दमम्
Self-restraint covers all defects, just as a cloth covers a blemished limb. Those who do not recognize self-restraint study in vain.
श्रुतस्य हि दमो मूलं दमो धर्मः सनातनः। यो ह्यात्मनस्तुलयते सुवर्णं तुलया दमम्
For learning is rooted in self-restraint; self-restraint is eternal righteousness. He who weighs self-restraint as equal to gold on a scale—
स तेन धृतिमान्ख्यातो न तु द्रव्येण मोहितः। व्रतानामपि सर्वेषां दम एव परायणम्
He is called steadfast, not deluded by wealth. Of all vows, self-restraint alone is the supreme refuge.