खरो गुरोः परीवादाच्छ्वा भवेद्गुरुनिंदकः
A donkey is born from reproaching the teacher; a dog, from reviling the teacher.
नाभिवाद्या गुरोः पत्नी स्पृष्ट्वांघ्री युवती सती
The wife of the teacher, if young and chaste, should not be greeted after touching her feet.
स्वभावश्चंचलः स्त्रीणां दोषः पुंसामतः स्मृतः
The fickle nature of women is considered a fault by men.
विद्वांसमप्यविद्वांसं यतस्ताधर्षयंत्यलम्
Because of this, they easily overpower even the learned and the unlearned alike.
न मात्रा न दुहित्रा वा न स्वस्रैकांतशीलता
One should not be alone with one's mother, daughter, or sister.
प्रयत्नेन खनन्यद्वद्भूमेर्वार्यधिगच्छति 4.1.36.
Just as one obtains water from the earth by diligent digging—
शयानमभ्युदयते ब्रध्नश्चेद्ब्रह्मचारिणम्
If the semen rises while a celibate is lying down—
सुतस्य संभवे क्लेशं सहेते पितरौ च यत्
The suffering that parents endure at the birth of a son—
अतस्तयोः प्रियं कुर्याद्गुरोरपि च सर्वदा
Therefore, one should always do what is dear to them, and also to the teacher.
तेषां त्रयाणां शुश्रूषा परमं तप उच्यते
Service to these three is said to be the highest austerity.
त्रीनेवामून्समाराध्य त्रीँल्लोकान्स जयेत्सुधीः
By properly worshipping these three, a wise person conquers the three worlds.
भूर्लोकं जननी भक्त्या भुवर्लोकं तथा पितुः
The earthly world is to be revered as mother, and the intermediate world as father.
एतदेव नृणां प्रोक्तं पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम्
This alone is declared to be the fourfold aim of human life.
अधीत्य वेदान्वेदौ वा वेदं वापि क्रमाद्द्विजः
A twice-born, having studied the Vedas, or even a single Veda, in due order—
अविप्लुत ब्रह्मचर्यो विश्वेशानुग्रहाद्भवेत्
—and maintaining unbroken celibacy, attains grace from the Lord of all.
काशीप्राप्त्या भवेज्ज्ञानं ज्ञानान्निर्वाणमृच्छति 4.1.36.
By reaching Kāśī, one attains knowledge, and through knowledge, one attains liberation.
सदाचारो गृहे यद्वन्न तथास्त्याश्रमांतरे
Good conduct at home is not found in the same way in other stages of life.
गृहाश्रमात्परं नास्ति यदि पत्नीवशंवदा
There is nothing higher than the householder’s stage, if the wife is obedient.
आनुकूल्यं कलत्रं चेत्त्रिदिवेनापि किं ततः
If the wife is agreeable, what use is even the realm of the gods three times over?
गृहाश्रमः सुखार्थाय भार्यामूलं च तत्सुखम्
The householder’s stage is for the sake of happiness, and that happiness is rooted in the wife.
जलौकयोपमीयंते प्रमदा मंदबुद्धिभिः
Women are compared to leeches by those of dull intellect.
जलौका केवलं रक्तमाददाना तपस्विनी
A leech only draws blood, but an ascetic woman—
दक्षा प्रजावती साध्वी प्रियवाक्च वशंवदा
—is skilled, fertile, virtuous, speaks kindly, and is obedient.
गुरोरनुज्ञया स्नात्वा व्रतं वेदं समाप्य च
With the teacher’s permission, after bathing and completing the vow and the Veda—
जने तु रसगोत्राया मातुर्याप्यसपिंडका
In marriage, one should avoid a woman from one’s own clan, or one related through the mother, even if not of the same family.
स्त्रीसंबंधेप्यपस्मारि क्षयि श्वित्रि कुलं त्यजेत् 4.1.36.
In union with a woman, one should avoid those afflicted with epilepsy, consumption, or leprosy, and those from such families.
रोगहीनां भ्रातृमतीं स्वस्मात्किंचिल्लघीयसीम्
She should be free from disease, have brothers, and be slightly younger than oneself.
न पर्वतर्क्षवृक्षाह्वां न नदीसर्पनामिकाम्
Not one named after a mountain, eagle, tree, river, or serpent.
न चातिरिक्तहीनांगीं नातिदीर्घां न वा कृशाम्
One should not marry a girl who is excessively deformed, too tall, or too thin.
मोहात्समुपयच्छेत कुलहीनां न कन्यकाम्
Out of delusion, one should not accept a girl who lacks noble lineage.