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.
लक्षणानि परीक्ष्यादौ ततः कन्यां समुद्वहेत्
First, one should examine her qualities, and then marry the girl.
ब्रह्मचारि समाचार इति ते समुदी रितः
The conduct of a celibate is thus declared to you.
स्कंद उवाच सदा गृही सुखं भुंक्ते स्त्री लक्षणवती यदि
Skanda said: A householder always enjoys happiness if his wife possesses good qualities.
वपुरावर्तगंधाश्चच्छाया सत्वं स्वरो गतिः
Her form, fragrance, shadow, temperament, voice, and movement—
आपादतलमारभ्य यावन्मौलिरुहं क्रमात्
From the soles of the feet up to the hair on the head, step by step—
आदौ पादतलं रेखास्ततोंगुष्ठांगुली नखाः
First, the soles of the feet, then the lines, the toes, the fingers, and the nails—
ऊरू कटी नितंबस्फिग्भगो जघन बस्तिके
The thighs, hips, waist, buttocks, genitals, lower abdomen, and bladder—
रोमाली हृदयं वक्षो वक्षोजद्वयचूचुकम् ।। जत्रुस्कंधां सकक्षादोर्मणिबंध करद्वयम्
The hairline, heart, chest, the two nipples, the neck, shoulders, armpits, armlets, and both arms—
पाणिपृष्ठं पाणितलं रेखांगुष्ठांगुली नखाः
The back of the hand, palm, lines, thumb, fingers, and nails—
कपोलौ वक्त्रमधरोत्तरोष्ठौ द्विजजिह्विकाः
The cheeks, face, lower and upper lips, teeth, and tongue—