तेषां त्रयाणां शुश्रूषा परमं तप उच्यते
Service to these three is said to be the highest austerity.
त्रीनेवामून्समाराध्य त्रीँल्लोकान्स जयेत्सुधीः
By properly honoring these three, a wise person conquers the three worlds.
भूर्लोकं जननी भक्त्या भुवर्लोकं तथा पितुः
One attains the earthly world through devotion to the mother, the intermediate world through the father,
एतदेव नृणां प्रोक्तं पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम्
This alone is declared to be the fourfold aim of human life.
अधीत्य वेदान्वेदौ वा वेदं वापि क्रमाद्द्विजः
Having studied the Vedas, or two Vedas, or even one Veda in order, a twice-born,
अविप्लुत ब्रह्मचर्यो विश्वेशानुग्रहाद्भवेत्
With unbroken celibacy, by the grace of the Lord of all, he attains [the goal].
काशीप्राप्त्या भवेज्ज्ञानं ज्ञानान्निर्वाणमृच्छति 4.1.36.
By attaining Kāśī, one gains knowledge; from knowledge, one reaches liberation.
सदाचारो गृहे यद्वन्न तथास्त्याश्रमांतरे
Proper conduct at home is as it should be in other stages of life as well.
गृहाश्रमात्परं नास्ति यदि पत्नीवशंवदा
There is nothing higher than the householder stage if the wife is obedient.
आनुकूल्यं कलत्रं चेत्त्रिदिवेनापि किं ततः
If the wife is favorable, what need is there even for threefold heaven?
गृहाश्रमः सुखार्थाय भार्यामूलं च तत्सुखम्
The householder stage exists for happiness, and its happiness is rooted in the wife.
जलौकयोपमीयंते प्रमदा मंदबुद्धिभिः
Women are likened to leeches by those of dull intellect.
जलौका केवलं रक्तमाददाना तपस्विनी
The leech only takes blood, but the ascetic woman does so as well.
दक्षा प्रजावती साध्वी प्रियवाक्च वशंवदा
She who is skilled, has children, is virtuous, speaks kindly, and is obedient.
गुरोरनुज्ञया स्नात्वा व्रतं वेदं समाप्य च
With the teacher's permission, having bathed, and after completing a vow and the Veda.
जने तु रसगोत्राया मातुर्याप्यसपिंडका
Among people, even those of the taste lineage, the mother's kin are not of the same blood.
स्त्रीसंबंधेप्यपस्मारि क्षयि श्वित्रि कुलं त्यजेत् 4.1.36.
In relation to women, one should avoid epileptic, consumptive, leprous, and families to be abandoned.
रोगहीनां भ्रातृमतीं स्वस्मात्किंचिल्लघीयसीम्
One should choose a woman free from disease, with brothers, and slightly younger than oneself.
न पर्वतर्क्षवृक्षाह्वां न नदीसर्पनामिकाम्
Not one named after mountains, eagles, trees, rivers, or serpents.
न चातिरिक्तहीनांगीं नातिदीर्घां न वा कृशाम्
Nor one excessively deficient in limbs, nor too tall, nor too thin.
मोहात्समुपयच्छेत कुलहीनां न कन्यकाम्
Out of delusion, one should not marry a girl from a family lacking lineage.
लक्षणानि परीक्ष्यादौ ततः कन्यां समुद्वहेत्
First examine the signs, then marry the girl.
ब्रह्मचारि समाचार इति ते समुदी रितः
The conduct of the celibate has thus been declared to you.
स्वनेत्रदैर्घ्यनिर्माणं प्रशशंस फलान्वितम्
He praised the creation of length in his own eyes, which brought results.
दिव्यप्रासादमालानां पताकाश्चलपल्लवाः
The fluttering banners of garlands adorning the divine palaces.
चंचत्प्रासादमाणिक्यैर्विजृंभितमरीचिभिः
The palaces shimmered with rubies, radiating vibrant beams of light.
देवत्वं माययाच्छाद्य वेषं कार्पटिकोचितम्
Concealing their divinity with illusion, they adopted the attire befitting mendicants.
काचिच्चयोगिनी भूता काचिज्जाता तपस्विनी
One became a yogini, another assumed the form of an ascetic.
मालाकारवधूः काचित्काचिन्नापितसुंदरी
One appeared as a garland-maker’s wife, another as a beautiful barber’s woman.
वैश्या च काचिदभवत्क्रयविक्रयचंचुरा
One took the role of a merchant woman, skilled in buying and selling.