तथा प्रवङ्गा वाङ्गेया मांसादा बलदन्तिकाः
Likewise, the Pravaṅga, Vāṅgeya, meat-eaters, and Baladantika.
प्रग्ज्योतिषाश्च शूद्रश्च विदेहास्ताम्रलिप्तकाः
The Pragjyotiṣa, Śūdra, Videha, and those from Tāmraliṭṭa.
पुण्ड्राश्च केरलाश्चैव चौडाः कुल्याश्च राक्षस
The Puṇḍra, Kerala, Cauḍa, Kulya, and Rākṣasa.
महाराष्ट्रा माहिषिकाः कालिङ्गाश्चैव सर्वशः
The Mahārāṣṭra, Māhiṣika, and all the Kāliṅga.
वलिन्ध्या विन्ध्यमौलेया वैदर्भा दण्डकैः सह
The Valindhya, Vindhyamauleyā, Vaidarbha, together with the Daṇḍaka.
दाक्षिणात्या जनपदास्त्विमे शालकटङ्कटः
These are the southern peoples: Śālakaṭaṅkaṭa.
पुलीयाः ससिनीलाश्च तापसास्तामसास्तथा
The Puliyas, those with blue marks, ascetics, and those of tamasic nature—
भारकच्छाः समाहेयाः सह सारस्वतैरपि
The Bharakacchas and the Samaheyas, together with the Sarasvatas—
उत्तमर्णा दशार्णाश्च भोजाः किङ्कवरैः सह
The Uttamarṇas and Daśārṇas, and the Bhojas along with the Kiṅkavaras—
तुरुसास्तुम्बराश्चैव वहनाः नैषधैः सह
The Turusas and Tumbaras, and the Vahanas together with the Naiṣadhas—
सुकेशे वन्ध्यमूलस्थस्त्विमे जनपदाः स्मृताः
These peoples are known to dwell at Sukeśa and Vandhyamūla.
निराहारा हंसमार्गाः कुपथास्तङ्गणाः खशाः
The Nirāhāras, Haṃsamārgas, Kupathas, Taṅgaṇas, and Khaśas—
त्रिगर्त्ताश्च किराताश्च तोमराः शिशिराद्रिकाः
The Trigartas, Kirātas, Tomaras, and those dwelling on Mount Śiśira—
एतेषु देशेषु च देशधर्मान् संकीर्त्यमानाञ् शृणु तत्त्वातो हि
Now, listen in truth to the customs of these lands as they are being recounted.
अकार्पण्यं च शौचं च तपश्च रजनीचर
O night-roamer, non-miserliness, purity, and austerity—
ब्राह्मणस्यापि विहिता चातुराश्रम्यकल्पना
For a Brāhmaṇa, the observance of the fourfold order of life is also prescribed.
आचक्षध्वं न मे तृप्तिः शृण्वतः प्रतिपद्यते
Declare it, for I do not attain satisfaction by merely listening.
तत्र धर्मो ऽस्य यस्तं च कथ्यमानं निशामय
There, listen attentively to the dharma that pertains to him as it is being described.
गुरोर्निंवेद्य तच्चाद्यमनुज्ञातेन सर्वदा
Having informed the teacher and always with his permission, one should begin.
तेनाहूतः पठेच्चैव तत्परो नान्यमानसः
Summoned by him, he should recite, intent on that alone, with his mind on nothing else.
अनुज्ञातो वरं दत्त्वा गुरवे दक्षिणां ततः
Having been permitted, and after giving the teacher the proper fee, then—
वानप्रस्थाश्रमं वापि चतुर्थं स्वेच्छयात्मनः
He may, by his own wish, enter the forest-dweller’s stage or the fourth stage.
गुरोरभावे तत्पुत्रे तच्छिष्ये तत्सुतं विना
In the absence of the teacher, to his son, to his disciple, or, failing them, to his grandson—
एवं जयति मृत्युं स द्विजः शालकटङ्कट
In this way, O Śālakaṭaṅkaṭa, that twice-born one conquers death.
असमानर्षिकुलजां कन्यामुद्वहेद् निशाचर
Let one marry a maiden born in a different lineage of sages, O night-wanderer.
सम्यक् संप्रीणयेद् भक्त्या सदाचाररतो द्विजः
A twice-born should properly please her with devotion, being devoted to good conduct.
लक्षणं श्रोतुमिच्ःआमि कथयध्वं तमद्य मे
I wish to hear the characteristics; tell me them today.
लक्षणं तस्य वक्ष्यामस्तच्छृणुष्व निशाचर
I will declare those characteristics to you; listen, O night-wanderer.
न ह्याचारविहिनस्य भद्रमत्र परत्र च
For one devoid of good conduct, there is no welfare here or hereafter.
भवन्ति यः समुल्लङ्घ्य सदाचारं प्रवर्तते
Whoever acts disregarding good conduct, such persons arise.