मन्यंते वै पापकृतो न कश्चितपश्यतीति नः ४४.
Those who commit sins think, 'No one sees us.'
आदित्यचंद्रावनिलोऽनलश्च द्यौर्भूमिरापो हृदयं यमश्च ४४.
The sun, the moon, the wind, fire, the sky, the earth, the waters, the heart, and Yama—
एवं तस्मादभिज्ञाय सत्यर्थशपथांश्चरेत् ४४.
Thus, knowing this, one should take oaths for the sake of truth.
इदं सत्यं वदामीति ब्रुवन्साक्षी भवान्यतः ४४.
Saying, 'This is the truth I speak,' one thus becomes a witness.
अथ शास्त्रस्य विप्रोऽपि शस्त्रस्यापि च क्षत्रियः ४४.
Then, even a Brahmin for scripture, or a Kshatriya for weapons—
मातरं पितरं पूज्यं स्पृशेत्साधारणं त्विदम् ४४.
Touching one's mother or father, who are to be honored, is common to all.
विप्रवर्ज्यं तथा केशं वर्णिनां दापयेन्नृपः ४४.
Except for Brahmins, the king should have those of other castes touch their hair.
समभक्तं च देवानामादित्यस्यैव पाययेत् ४४.
He should have them drink water equally dedicated to the gods, especially to the sun.
स्नानोदकं वा संकल्पं गृहीत्वा पाययेन्नवम् ४४.
Or, having taken water for bathing or for a vow, he should have them drink the new water.
अतः परं महादिव्यविधानं श्रृणु यद्भवेत् ४४.
Now hear the great and divine procedure that should be followed.
सशिरस्कंप्रदातव्यमिति ब्रह्मा पुराब्रवीत् ४४.
Brahma formerly said that it should be given with the head covered.
साधूनां वर्णिनां राजा न शिरस्कं प्रदापयेत् ४४.
The king should not make the virtuous among the castes give with the head covered.
वर्णिनां च तथा कालं तंदुलं मुखरोगिणाम्॥ ४४.
For the castes, as well as for those with mouth diseases, rice should be given at the proper time.
कुष्ठपित्तार्दितानां च ब्राह्मणानां च नो विषम् ४४.
For those afflicted with leprosy or jaundice, and for Brahmins, poison is not to be given.
न व्याधिमरके देशे शपथान्कोशमेव च ४४.
In a land afflicted by disease or plague, oaths should not be administered with a vessel.
प्रतिघातविदस्तेषां योजयेद्धर्मवत्सलान् ४४.
For those hindered in this way, he should appoint those devoted to righteousness.
विवासयेत्स्वकाद्राष्ट्रात्ते हि लोकस्य कंटकाः ४४.
He should expel from his own realm those who are the thorns of the people.
ते हि पापसमाचारास्तस्करेभ्योऽपि तस्कराः ४४.
For they, being of wicked conduct, are thieves even among thieves.
महत्स्वपि न चार्थेषु धर्मज्ञान्धर्मवत्सलान् ४४.
Even in great matters, one should not distrust those who know and cherish righteousness.
श्रद्दध्यात्पार्थिवस्तेषां वचना देव भारत ४४.
O Bhārata, the king should have faith in the words of such men, O god.
क्रोधाल्लोभात्कारयंश्च स्वयमेव प्रदुष्यति ४४.
By acting out of anger or greed, he himself becomes corrupted.
सुसमायां पृथिव्यां च दिग्भागे पूर्वदक्षिणे ४४.
On well-leveled ground, in the eastern or southern direction,
स्तंभकस्य प्रमाणं च सप्तहस्तं प्रकीर्तितम् ४४.
The proper measure for the pillar is said to be seven hastas.
अंतरं तु तयोः कार्यं तथा हस्तचतुष्टयम् ४४.
The space between the two should be made four hastas likewise.
चतुर्हस्तं तुलाकाष्ठमव्रणं कारयेत्स्थिरम् ४४.
The beam of the balance should be four hastas, unblemished, and made firm.
तुलाकाष्ठे तु कर्तव्यं तथा वै शिक्यकद्वयम् ४४.
On the beam of the balance, two loops should likewise be made.
पाषाणस्यापि जायेत् स्तंभेषु च धटस्तथा ४४.
A stone weight should be made, and a pan for the pillars as well.
तुलाधारधरः कार्यो रिपौ मित्रे च यः समः ४४.
The bearer of the balance should be one who is impartial to both enemy and friend.
ब्रह्मघ्ने ये स्मृता लोका ये च स्त्रीबालघातके ४४.
The worlds assigned to a slayer of a Brahmin, and to one who kills a woman or a child,
एकस्मिंस्तोलयेच्छिक्ये ज्ञातं सूपोषितं नरम् ४४.
On one side of the balance, place the man who is known and has fasted.