कियंति संति नो भूम्यां मोक्षक्षेत्राणि षण्मुख
How many fields of liberation exist upon the earth, O Six-faced One?
गंगा विश्वेश्वरः काशी जागर्ति त्रितयं यतः 4.1.35.
The Ganga, Vishveshvara, and Kashi—these three are ever awake, for which reason—
कथमेषा त्रयी स्कंद प्राप्यते नियतं नरैः
How, O Skanda, are these three certainly attained by men?
तपस्तादृक्क्व वा तिष्ये तिष्ये योगः क्व तादृशः
Where is such austerity, and where is such yoga, O Tiṣya?
विनापि तपसा स्कंद विनायोगेन षण्मुख
Even without austerity, Skanda, and even without yoga, O Six-faced One—
किं किमाचरता स्कंद काशी प्राप्येत तद्वद
By what conduct, O Skanda, may Kashi be attained? Tell that.
आचारः परमो धर्म आचारः परमं तपः
Conduct is the highest dharma; conduct is the supreme austerity.
आचारमेव प्रथमं तस्मादाचक्ष्व षण्मुख
Therefore, speak first about conduct, O Six-faced One.
यदाचरन्नरो नित्यं सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
By practicing which conduct does a man always obtain all desires?
स्थावराः कृमयोऽब्जाश्च पक्षिणः पशवो नराः
Immovable beings, worms, aquatic creatures, birds, animals, and men—
सहस्रभागः प्रथमा द्वितीयोनुक्रमात्तथा
The first has a thousandth part, the second likewise in order—
चतुर्णामपि भूतानां प्राणिनोऽतीव चोत्तमाः 4.1.35.
Among all four kinds of beings, those with life are indeed the highest.
मतिमद्भ्यो नराः श्रेष्ठास्तेभ्यः श्रेष्ठास्तु वाडवाः
Among the intelligent, men are the best; among them, horses are superior.
कृतधीभ्योपि कर्तारः कर्तृभ्यो ब्रह्मतत्पराः
Even among those of firm intellect, the doers are higher; among the doers, those devoted to Brahman.
अन्योन्यमर्चकास्ते वै तपोविद्याऽविशेषतः
They honor one another, being equal in austerity and knowledge.
अतो जगत्स्थितं सर्वं ब्राह्मणोऽर्हति नापरः तस्माद्विप्रेण सततं भाव्यमाचारशीलिना
Therefore, all this world exists for the sake of the Brahmin, not for another; thus, the Brahmin must always cultivate conduct.
विद्वेष रागरहिता अनुतिष्ठंति यं मुने
Those who are free from hatred and attachment, O sage, practice that conduct.
लक्षणैः परिहीनोपि सम्यगाचारतत्परः
Even one lacking in marks, if wholly devoted to right conduct—
श्रुतिस्मृतिभ्यामुदितं स्वेषु स्वेषु च कर्मसु
The duties prescribed for each person are declared by the Vedas and the Smṛtis.
दुराचाररतो लोके गर्हणीयः पुमान्भवेत्
A man who delights in wicked conduct is to be condemned in the world.
त्याज्यं कर्म पराधीनं कायमात्मवशं सदा
One should abandon actions that are dependent on others, but always keep the body under one's own control.
यस्मिन्कर्मण्यंतरात्मा क्रियमाणे प्रसीदति 4.1.35.
That action in which the inner self is pleased while performing it—
प्रथमं धर्मसर्वस्वं प्रोक्ता यन्नियमा यमाः
The supreme essence of dharma is first declared to be the restraints known as yamas.
सत्यं क्षमार्जवं ध्यानमानृशंस्यमहिंसनम्
Truthfulness, forgiveness, straightforwardness, meditation, compassion, and non-violence—
शौचं स्नानं तपो दानं मौनेज्याध्ययनं व्रतम्
Purity, bathing, austerity, charity, silence, worship, study, and observance of vows—
कामं क्रोधं मदं मोहं मात्सर्यं लोभमेव च
Desire, anger, pride, delusion, envy, and greed—
शनैः शनैः स चिनुयाद्धर्मं वल्मीक शृंगवत्
Let one gradually accumulate dharma, like an ant builds its anthill.
धर्म एव सहायी स्यादमुत्र न परिच्छदः
Only dharma will be a companion hereafter; not wealth or possessions.
जायते चैकलः प्राणी प्रम्रियेत तथैकलः
A living being is born alone and likewise dies alone.
देहं पंचत्वमापन्नं त्यक्त्वा कौ काष्ठलोष्ठवत्
Having abandoned the body, which attains dissolution, just like wood or a clod of earth—