सत्यं ब्रूयात्प्रियं ब्रूयान्नब्रूयात्सत्यमप्रियम्
One should speak the truth, speak what is pleasant, and not speak unpleasant truth.
भद्रमेव वदेन्नित्यं भद्रमेव विचिंतयेत्
One should always speak what is auspicious and always contemplate what is auspicious.
रूपवित्तकुलैर्हीनान्सुधीर्नाधिक्षिपेन्नरान्
A wise person should not insult men who lack beauty, wealth, or family.
वाचोवेगं मनोवेगं जिह्वावेगं च वर्जयेत्
One should restrain the impulse of speech, the impulse of the mind, and the impulse of the tongue.
गोब्राह्मणाग्नीनुच्छिष्ट पाणिना नैव संस्पृशेत्
One should not touch cows, Brahmins, or fire with a hand that is unclean from eating.
गुह्यजान्यपि लोमानि तत्स्पर्शादशुचिर्भवेत्
Even the hairs that are born in secret places become impure by such contact.
निष्ठीवनं च श्लेष्माणं गृहाद्दूरं विनिक्षिपेत् अद्रोहवत्या बुद्ध्या च पूर्वं जन्म स्मरेद्द्विजः
He should spit out phlegm far from the house, and, with a mind free from malice, a twice-born should remember his previous birth.
वृद्धान्प्रयत्नाद्वंदेत दद्यात्तेषां स्वमासनम् 4.1.38.
He should diligently honor the elders and offer them his own seat.
श्रुति भूदेव देवानां नृप साधु तपस्विनाम्
The Veda is the authority for the gods, the earth-gods, kings, the virtuous, and ascetics.
न मनुष्यस्तुतिं कुर्यान्नात्मानमपमानयेत्
One should not praise men, nor should one demean oneself.
अधर्मादेधते पूर्वं विद्वेष्टॄनपि संजयेत्
From unrighteousness, one first accumulates hatred and even brings forth enemies.
उद्धृत्य पंच मृत्पिंडान्स्नायात्परजलाशये
Taking up five lumps of clay, he should bathe in another's water-reservoir.
श्रद्धया पात्रमासाद्य यत्किंचिद्दीयते वसु
Whatever wealth is given with faith, having obtained a vessel, even if little, is fruitful.
भूप्रदो मंडलाधीशः सर्वत्रसुखिनोन्नदाः
The giver of land, lord of a region, is everywhere joyful and exalted.
प्रदीपदो निर्मलाक्षो गोदाताऽर्यमलोकभाक्
The giver of a lamp, with pure eyes, the giver of a cow, enjoys the world of the noble.
वेश्मदो ऽत्युच्चसौधेशो वस्त्रदश्चंद्रलो कभाक्
The giver of a house, lord of a lofty mansion, the giver of garments, enjoys the world of the moon.
सुभार्यः शिबिका दाता सुपर्यंक प्रदोपि च
He who gives a good wife, a palanquin, or a fine couch, and a lamp, is praised.
ब्रह्मदो ब्रह्मलोकेज्यो ब्रह्मदः सर्वदो मतः 4.1.38.
The giver of the Veda is considered to be the best in the world of Brahma, and the giver of the Veda is regarded as the giver of all.
सा च वाराणसी लभ्या सदाचारवता सदा 4.1.38.
That Vārāṇasī is always attainable by one who is of good conduct.
इति श्रुत्वा वचः स्कंदो मैत्रावरुणिभाषितम्
Having heard these words spoken by Maitrāvaruṇi, Skanda (Kārttikeya) replied.
स्कंद उवाच नैःश्रेयस्याः श्रियोहेतुमविमुक्त समाश्रयाम्
Skanda said: O Avimukta, I take refuge in you, the cause of supreme prosperity.
परं ब्रह्म यदाम्नातं निष्प्रपंचं निरात्मकम्
That Supreme Brahman, as declared in the scriptures, is beyond the world, without individuality.
तदेतत्क्षेत्रमापूर्य स्थितं सर्वगमप्यहो
Indeed, that pervades this field, remaining all-pervading—how wondrous!
भवो ध्रुवं यदत्रैव मोचयेत्तं निशामय
Know that the Lord, who is eternal, here alone grants liberation.
सुमहद्भिस्तपोभिर्वा शिवोन्यत्र विमोचयेत्
Or, through very great austerities, Shiva may grant liberation elsewhere.
न तपांस्यतिदीर्घाणि काश्यां मुक्त्यै शिवोर्थयेत्
One should not undertake extremely prolonged austerities in Kashi for the sake of liberation from Shiva.
अयमेव महायोग उपयोगस्त्विहा परः
This alone is the supreme yoga, and its application here is indeed the highest.
यद्दत्तं सुमनोवृत्त्या महादानं तदत्र वै
Whatever is given here with a pure and joyful mind is truly a great gift.
स्नात्वा गंगामृते शुद्धे तप एतदिहोत्तमम् तुला पुरुष एतस्याः कलां नार्हति षोडशीम्
Having bathed in the pure nectar of the Ganga, this is the highest austerity here; even a man weighed on a scale does not equal one-sixteenth part of it.
हृदि संचिंत्य विश्वेशं क्षणं यद्विनिमील्यते 4.1.39.
If, for a moment, one meditates in the heart upon the Lord of the universe, closing the eyes—