किञ्चिज्जातधियो जन्तोर् देशभाषार्थवेदिनः । गृह्णामीदं त्यजामीदम् इति सञ्जायते स्थितिः
When a being's mind has slightly awakened and knows the meaning of place, language, and objects, then the thought arises: 'I take this, I leave that.'
एतावन्मात्रबुद्धिर् यस् स्ववृद्धजनगोचरः । भवेत् स्वकर्मशास्त्राणां विषयो ऽसाव् अलं विधेः
He whose intellect is limited to this extent, who is within the range of elders, becomes the subject of his own prescribed duties and scriptures; that is sufficient for regulation.
कुलवृद्धप्रयुक्तेन स्वनिश्चयवतैव वा । भाव्यं पदपदार्थानां तेन तज्ज्ञेन वै ततः
The meanings of words and objects should be understood by one who knows them, either as determined by family elders or by one's own conviction.
जन्तुḫ पदपदार्थज्ञो हेयं त्यजति तज्ज्ञधीः । उपादेयम् उपादत्ते नालोकयति मध्यमम्
A being who knows the meanings of words and objects, whose mind is thus discerning, abandons what is to be rejected, accepts what is to be accepted, and does not consider what is intermediate.
विवेकाद् वृद्धभीत्या वा शास्त्रार्थव्यवहारिणः । विचारपूर्वं यस्येहा स पुमान् इति कथ्यते
By discernment or out of fear of elders, one who acts according to the meaning of the scriptures, whose actions are preceded by reflection, is called a person.
प्रवृत्तश् च निवृत्तश् च भवति द्विविधḫ पुमान् । स्वर्गापवर्गोन्मुखयोश् शृणु लक्षणम् एतयोः
A person is of two kinds: one engaged in action and one withdrawn from action. Listen to the characteristics of these two, who are oriented toward heaven and liberation.
किम् एतन् नाम निर्वाणं वरं संसृतिर् एव नः । इति कर्तव्यकर्ता यस् स प्रवृत्त इति स्मृतः
He who ponders, 'What is this so-called liberation? Perhaps only worldly existence is real for us,' and thus deliberates on what is to be done or not done, is called one who is engaged in action.
चलार्णवयुगच्छिद्रकूर्मग्रीवार्पणोपमा । अनेकजन्मान्तरतो भाविनी तस्य मोक्षधीः
His thought of liberation, arising from countless previous births, is like the fleeting contact of a tortoise's neck with the holes between the waves of a moving ocean.
असारा बत संसारव्यवस्थालं ममैतया । किं कर्मभिḫ पर्युषितैर् दिनं तैर् एव नीयते
Alas, the arrangement of worldly life is truly unsubstantial for me; what use are these worn-out actions? The day passes away with them alone.
क्षयातिशयनिर्मुक्तं किं स्याद् विश्रमणं परम् । इति निश्चयवान् यो ऽन्तस् स निवृत्त इति स्मृतः
He who is inwardly resolved, 'What could be the highest rest, free from decay and excess?' is known as one who has turned away from action.
स वर्तमान एवेह जन्मनि त्व् अविवेकिनि । स योगभूमिष्व् एतासु विषयो विशदाशयः
He remains, even in this present birth, among those lacking discernment; yet, in these stages of yoga, he is a subject with a clear intention.
कथं विरागवान् भूत्वा संसाराब्धिं तराम्य् अहम् । एवंविचारणपरो यदा भवति सन्मतिः
How, having become dispassionate, shall I cross the ocean of worldly existence? When such a good mind becomes intent on this kind of inquiry,
साधुसङ्गमम् आदत्ते सच्छास्त्रम् अपि वीक्षते । विरागम् उपयात्य् अन्तर् भावनास्व् अनुवासरम्
It seeks the company of the virtuous, looks upon true scriptures, and gradually attains inner detachment through repeated contemplation.
क्रियासूदाररूपासु रमते मानम् ईहते । ग्राम्यासु जडचेष्टासु चलासु विचिकित्सते
It delights in noble actions, seeks honor, and hesitates regarding coarse, inert, and unstable activities of the common world.
नोदाहरति मर्माणि पुण्यशर्माणि चेष्टते । अनन्योद्वेगकारीणि मृदुकर्माणि सेवते
He does not speak words that wound, he acts in ways that bring merit and happiness, and he engages only in gentle deeds that do not cause distress to others.
स्नेहप्रणयगर्भाणि पेशलान्य् उचितानि च । देशकालोपपन्नानि वचनान्य् अभिभाषते
He speaks words that are filled with affection and friendliness, that are appropriate and pleasing, and that are suited to the time, place, and circumstance.
तदासौ प्रथमाम् एकां प्राप्तो भवति भूमिकाम् । वक्ष्यमाणस्वभावो ऽथ तत्र रूढिम् उपेष्यति
At that time, he attains the first stage, and, possessing the qualities to be described, he becomes established in it.
देवायतनदेशेषु ब्राह्मणावसथेषु च । वनेषु रमते नित्यं प्रथमां भूमिकाम् इतः
He delights always in places of temples, in the dwellings of brahmins, and in forests, having reached this first stage.
शास्त्रसज्जनसम्पर्कैḫ प्रज्ञां वर्धयति स्वयम् । शुक्लपक्षẖ कलाम् इन्दोर् इव सौन्दर्यशालिनीम्
Through contact with scriptures and noble people, he increases his wisdom on his own, like the waxing moon growing in beauty.
सर्वास्तिवादनिरतḫ पेशलḫ प्रणयान्वितः । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा सज्जनान् उपसेवते
Devoted to the doctrine of universal existence, gentle and full of affection, he serves good people with mind, action, and speech.
कदर्थलब्धांल् लभ्यांश् च तज्ज्ञान् अनुसरंश् चिरम् । यतẖ कुतश्चिद् आनीय नित्यं शास्त्राण्य् अवेक्षते
He studies scriptures constantly, seeking them out wherever they may be found, whether easily obtained or difficult to acquire, and follows the teachings of the wise for a long time.
व्यालापध्वंसनशिखी धर्माब्देशोच्चकन्धरः । स्नानदानतपोध्यानविभवान् अभिवाञ्छति
He is like a flame that destroys the darkness of ignorance, standing tall in the ocean of dharma, and he longs for the wealth of bathing, giving, austerity, and meditation.
प्रथमाम् इत्य् उपारुह्य द्वितीयाम् आश्रयेद् बलात् । पुरुषार्थाद् ऋते नान्या सङ्कटोत्तरणे गतिः
Having first ascended the initial stage, one should forcibly resort to the second; apart from purposeful effort, there is no other way to cross difficult straits.
एवं विचारवान् यस् स्यात् संसारोत्तरणं प्रति । स भूमिकावान् इत्य् उक्तश् शेषस् त्व् आर्य इति स्मृतः
Thus, one who is discerning in regard to crossing over saṃsāra is said to possess the stages; the rest are considered merely noble.
आर्यतातुल्यतां याता प्रथमैकैव भूमिका । भूमिकानां तु शेषाणाम् आर्यता दास्यम् अर्हति
Only the very first stage attains equality with nobility; but the remaining stages are worthy of serving nobility.
विचारनाम्नीम् इतराम् आगतो योगभूमिकाम् । उदारमतिर् आदत्ते स्वभावं महताम् इति
When one reaches the other yogic stage called 'inquiry,' he, possessing a noble mind, adopts the nature of the great.
श्रुतिस्मृतिसमाचारधारणाध्यानकर्मणाम् । मुख्यया व्याख्यया ख्यातं श्रयति श्रेष्ठपण्डितम्
By the principal explanation of the Vedas, Smṛti, conduct, retention, meditation, and actions, the foremost scholar is recognized.
इच्छाकुतुकबन्धेषु जयतीन्द्रियशत्रुषु । आदेहं प्रहरत्स्व् अन्तर् वीरेष्व् इव सुदारुणः
He conquers the enemies of the senses bound by desire and curiosity, fiercely attacking them within the body, like a hero among warriors.
किम् अपूर्वां झगित्य् एनां संश्रयाम्य् अनुरागिणीम् । इति ह्रीमान् इव ह्रियं दयां चैष न मुञ्चति
Thinking, 'Let me swiftly embrace this unprecedented, beloved one,' he, modest as if with shame, never abandons compassion.
पदार्थप्रविभागज्ञẖ कार्याकार्यविनिश्चयम् । जानात्य् अधिगतश्रव्यो गृहं गृहपतिर् यथा
Knowing the distinctions among objects and discerning what should and should not be done, he understands what is to be learned, like a householder knows his home.