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Liberation is certain for one of solitary character, firm vow, who has withdrawn all sense pleasures, whose mind is set in spiritual discipline, and who is ever non-violent.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.
यद्यधीते षडंगानि वेदतत्त्वार्थविद्द्विजः। दमेन तु विहीनश्च पूज्यत्वं नेह गच्छति
Even if a twice-born knows the six limbs and the true meaning of the Vedas, if he lacks self-restraint, he does not attain honor here.
दमेनहीनं न पुनंति वेदा यद्यप्यधीताः सह षड्भिरंगैः। सांख्यं च योगश्च कुलं च जन्म तीर्थाभिषेकश्च निरर्थकानि
The Vedas, even if studied with their six limbs, do not purify one lacking self-restraint. Sāṃkhya, Yoga, family, birth, and bathing at sacred fords are all fruitless.
अपमानात्तपोवृद्धिः संमानाच्च तपःक्षयः। अर्चितः पूजितो विप्रो दुग्धा गौरिव गच्छति
From disrespect, austerity increases; from honor, austerity diminishes. A Brahmin who is worshipped and honored departs like a cow that has been milked.
पुनराप्यायते धेनुः सतृणैः सलिलैर्यथा। एवं जपैश्च होमैश्च पुनराप्यायते द्विजः
Just as a cow is replenished again with grass and water, so too is a Brahmin replenished again by recitations and offerings.
आक्रोशकसमो लोके सुहृदन्यो न विद्यते। यस्तु दुष्कृतमादाय सुकृतं स्वं प्रयच्छति
In this world, there is no friend like one who takes upon himself another's misdeed and gives his own virtue in return.
आक्रोशमानान्नाक्रोशेन्मन्युं स्वं विनिवर्तयेत्। सन्नियम्य तदात्मानममृतेनाभिषिंचति
One should not revile those who revile, but restrain one's own anger; thus, mastering himself, he anoints himself with immortality.
कपालं वृक्षमूलानि कुचेलमसहायता। अनपेक्षा ब्रह्मचर्यं नयन्ति परमां गतिम्
A skull, roots of trees, coarse clothing, solitude, indifference, and celibacy lead one to the highest state.
कामक्रोधौ विनिर्जित्य किमरण्ये करिष्यति। अभ्यासेन तु वै शास्त्रं कुलं शीलेन धार्यते
Having conquered desire and anger, what remains to be done in the forest? By practice, scripture is retained; by character, family is upheld.
गुणैर्मन्त्रा विधार्यन्ते क्रोधस्सत्त्वेन धार्यते। यस्तु क्रोधं समुत्पन्नं संधारयति चात्मनः
Mantras are preserved by virtues; anger is restrained by steadfastness. Whoever restrains the anger that arises within himself—
अक्रोधेन जयेद्वीरः कस्तेन सदृशो भुवि। यस्तु क्रोधं समुत्पन्नं संतं संयम्य तिष्ठति
A hero conquers by non-anger—who on earth is equal to him? He who, when anger arises, stands firm, mastering it—