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.
कार्यो यत्नः सदाचारे आचारो हन्त्यलक्षणम्
Effort should be made in good conduct; conduct destroys what is inauspicious.
शृणुष्वैकमनास्तच्च यदि श्रेयो ऽभिवाञ्छसि
Listen to this attentively, if you desire what is best.
असौ सदाचारतरुः सुकेशिन् संसेवितो येन स पुण्यभोक्त
That tree of good conduct, O Sukeśin, when served by someone, makes him an enjoyer of merit.
प्राभातिकं मङ्गलमेव वाच्यं यदुक्तवान् देवपतिस्त्रिनेत्रः
Only auspicious words spoken in the morning should be uttered, as declared by the three-eyed lord of the gods.
प्रभाते यत् पठन् मर्त्यो मुच्यते पापबन्धनात्
By reciting in the morning, a mortal is freed from the bonds of sin.
श्रुत्वा स्मृत्वा पठित्वा च सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
By hearing, remembering, and reciting, one is freed from all sins.
गुरुश्च शुक्रः सह भानुजेन कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम्
Let the teacher, Śukra, together with the son of the sun, all make my morning auspicious.
रैभ्यो मरीचिश्च्यवनो ऋभुश्च कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम्
Let Raibhya, Marīci, Cyavana, and Ṛbhu, all make my morning auspicious.
सप्त स्वराः सप्त रसातलाश्च कुर्वन्तु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम्
Let the seven notes and the seven nether worlds, all make my morning auspicious.
नभः सशब्दं महता सहैव यच्छन्तु सर्वे मम सुप्रभातम्
Let the sky, together with sound and greatness, all grant me an auspicious morning.