Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच आश्रमाणां महाबाहो शृणु सत्यपराक्रम चतुर्णामिह वर्णानां कर्माणि च युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said O mighty-armed one, hear me, O you of prowess incapable of being baffled, as I name the four modes of life and describe their respective duties.
वानप्रस्थं भैक्षचर्यां गार्हस्थ्यं च महाश्रमम् ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमं प्राहुश्चतुर्थं ब्राह्मणैर्वृतम्
M. N. Dutt: The four modes and Vanaprastha (hermit), Bhaikshya (mendicant), Garhasthya of great merit (house-holder), Brahmacharya (religious student) which is adopted by Brahmanas.
जटाकरणसंस्कारं द्विजातित्वमवाप्य च आधानादीनि कर्माणि प्राप्य वेदमधीत्य च
AI Translation: Having performed the rite of wearing matted locks and attained the status of a twice-born, Having performed the rites of marriage and others, and having studied the Vedas,
सदारो वाप्यदारो वा आत्मवान्संयतेन्द्रियः वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गच्छेत्कृतकृत्यो गृहाश्रमात्
AI Translation: One who is self-controlled, whether with or without a wife, should go to the forest hermitage from the householder stage, having accomplished his duty.
तत्रारण्यकशास्त्राणि समधीत्य स धर्मवित् ऊर्ध्वरेताः प्रजायित्वा गच्छत्यक्षरसात्मताम्
M. N. Dutt: Having studied the Scriptures called Aranyakas, having restrained his vital fluid and having retired from all worldly affairs the pious hermit may then find himself immersed in the eternal Soul knowing no deterioration.
एतान्येव निमित्तानि मुनीनामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् कर्तव्यानीह विप्रेण राजन्नादौ विपश्चिता
M. N. Dutt: These are the signs of ascetics that have drawn up their vital fluid. A learned Brahmana, O king, should first practise and perform them.
चरितब्रह्मचर्यस्य ब्राह्मणस्य विशां पते भैक्षचर्यास्वधीकारः प्रशस्त इह मोक्षिणः
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmana, O king, who is desirous of liberation, is is competent to adopt the mendicant's life after having gone through the mode called Brahmacharya.
यत्रास्तमितशायी स्यान्निरग्निरनिकेतनः यथोपलब्धजीवी स्यान्मुनिर्दान्तो जितेन्द्रियः
AI Translation: Where one would lie down at sunset, without fire, without a home, Living as one finds, a sage, self-controlled, with senses subdued,
निराशीः स्यात्सर्वसमो निर्भोगो निर्विकारवान् विप्रः क्षेमाश्रमं प्राप्तो गच्छत्यक्षरसात्मताम्
AI Translation: He should be without desire, equal to all, without attachment, without change. The brahmin, having attained the stage of peace, goes to the state of being the Absolute.
अधीत्य वेदान्कृतसर्वकृत्यः; संतानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा समाहितः प्रचरेद्दुश्चरं तं; गार्हस्थ्यधर्मं मुनिधर्मदृष्टम्
M. N. Dutt: The person, leading the life of a householder, should, after studying the Vedas, accomplish all the religious acts prescribed for to him. He should procreate children and enjoy pleasures and luxuries. With careful attention he should satisfy all the duties of this mode of life which is highly spoken of by ascetics and which is extremely difficult to follow (without sins.)
स्वदारतुष्ट ऋतुकालगामी; नियोगसेवी नशठो नजिह्मः मिताशनो देवपरः कृतज्ञः; सत्यो मृदुश्चानृशंसः क्षमावान्
M. N. Dutt: He shouid be satisfied with his own married wife and should never approach her except in her season. He should follow prescription of the scriptures, should not be cunning and deceitful. He should be sparing in diet, devoted to the gods, grateful, mild, shorn of cruelty, and forgiving.
दान्तो विधेयो हव्यकव्येऽप्रमत्तो; अन्नस्य दाता सततं द्विजेभ्यः अमत्सरी सर्वलिङ्गिप्रदाता; वैताननित्यश्च गृहाश्रमी स्यात्
M. N. Dutt: He should be of a tranquil heart, peaceful and careful in making offerings to the gods and the Pitris. He should always be hospitable to the Brahmanas. He should be shorn of pride and should not make charity to one sect. He should always carefully perforinthe Vedic rites.
अथात्र नारायणगीतमाहु;र्महर्षयस्तात महानुभावाः महार्थमत्यर्थतपःप्रयुक्तं; तदुच्यमानं हि मया निबोध
M. N. Dutt: Regarding it, the illustrious and great Rishis cite a verse sung by Narayana himself, highly important and endued with high ascetic merit. Hear me as I repeat it.
सत्यार्जवं चातिथिपूजनं च; धर्मस्तथार्थश्च रतिश्च दारे निषेवितव्यानि सुखानि लोके; ह्यस्मिन्परे चैव मतं ममैतत्
M. N. Dutt: By truth, simplicity, worship of guests, acquisition of religion and profit, and enjoyment of one's own married wife one should enjoy various kinds of happiness both here and hereafter.
भरणं पुत्रदाराणां वेदानां पारणं तथा सतां तमाश्रमं श्रेष्ठं वदन्ति परमर्षयः
M. N. Dutt: The great Rishis have said that the maintenance of sons and wives, and the study of the Vedas, are the duties of those who follow this high mode of life.
एवं हि यो ब्राह्मणो यज्ञशीलो; गार्हस्थ्यमध्यावसते यथावत् गृहस्थवृत्तिं प्रविशोध्य सम्य;क्स्वर्गे विशुद्धं फलमाप्नुते सः
M. N. Dutt: That Brahmana who, always engaged in the celebration of sacrifices, duly passes this mode of life and properly discharges all its duties, obtains blessed rewards in heaven.
तस्य देहपरित्यागादिष्टाः कामाक्षया मताः आनन्त्यायोपतिष्ठन्ति सर्वतोक्षिशिरोमुखाः
M. N. Dutt: Upon his death, the rewards sought by him become eternal. Indeed these wait upon him for eternity like servants ever careful to execute the orders of their master.
खादन्नेको जपन्नेकः सर्पन्नेको युधिष्ठिर एकस्मिन्नेव आचार्ये शुश्रूषुर्मलपङ्कवान्
AI Translation: One ate, one recited, one crawled, O Yudhiṣṭhira. One who is a student of a single teacher, who is covered with dirt and mud,
ब्रह्मचारी व्रती नित्यं नित्यं दीक्षापरो वशी अविचार्य तथा वेदं कृत्यं कुर्वन्वसेत्सदा
AI Translation: One who is a celibate, one who is always engaged in vows, one who is always devoted to initiation, one who is self-controlled, One who does not reflect on the Vedas, one who performs rites, one who always dwells,
Supplementary Passages:
12.61.19 After 19ab, D7 S ins.: *139 गुरोश्छायानुगो नित्यमधीयानः सुयन्त्रितः
शुश्रूषां सततं कुर्वन्गुरोः संप्रणमेत च षट्कर्मस्वनिवृत्तश्च नप्रवृत्तश्च सर्वशः
AI Translation: Always serving and bowing to the guru, and not engaging in the six actions, and not engaging in anything at all,
Supplementary Passages:
12.61.20 After 20ab, B4 ins.: Ca cites: *140 अनिकेतश्चरन्नेकः सर्वानेव युधिष्ठिर
न चरत्यधिकारेण सेवितं द्विषतो न च एषोऽऽश्रमपदस्तात ब्रह्मचारिण इष्यते
AI Translation: He does not wander about in his duties, nor is he served by his enemies. This, O son, is the place of the hermitage of the Brahmachari.