Critical Edition
भृगुरुवाच वानप्रस्थाः खलु ऋषिधर्ममनुसरन्तः पुण्यानि तीर्थानि नदीप्रस्रवणानि सुविविक्तेष्वरण्येषु मृगमहिषवराहसृमरगजाकीर्णेषु तपस्यन्तोऽनुसंचरन्ति त्यक्तग्राम्यवस्त्राहारोपभोगा वन्यौषधिमूलफलपर्णपरिमितविचित्रनियताहाराः स्थानासनिनो भूमिपाषाणसिकताशर्करावालुकाभस्मशायिनः काशकुशचर्मवल्कलसंवृताङ्गाः केशश्मश्रुनखरोमधारिणो नियतकालोपस्पर्शना अस्कन्नहोमबलिकालानुष्ठायिनः समित्कुशकुसुमोपहारहोमार्जनलब्धविश्रामाः शीतोष्णपवननिष्टप्तविभिन्नसर्वत्वचो विविधनियमयोगचर्याविहितधर्मानुष्ठानहृतमांसशोणितास्त्वगस्थिभूता धृतिपराः सत्त्वयोगाच्छरीराण्युद्वहन्ति
AI Translation: Bhṛgu said: The hermits, following the duty of the sages, wander to the sacred places, the springs and rivers, in the secluded forests, frequented by deer, buffaloes,
यस्त्वेतां नियतश्चर्यां ब्रह्मर्षिविहितां चरेत् स दहेदग्निवद्दोषाञ्जयेल्लोकांश्च दुर्जयान्
M. N. Dutt: That person who, with controlled soul, follows such duties originally laid down by regenerate Rishis, consumes all his sins like fire and acquires blissful regions for themselves which are so difficult of attaining.
परिव्राजकानां पुनराचारस्तद्यथा विमुच्याग्निधनकलत्रपरिबर्हसङ्गानात्मनः स्नेहपाशानवधूय परिव्रजन्ति समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनास्त्रिवर्गप्रवृत्तेष्वारम्भेष्वसक्तबुद्धयोऽरिमित्रोदासीनेषु तुल्यवृत्तयः स्थावरजरायुजाण्डजस्वेदजोद्भिज्जानां भूतानां वाङ्मनःकर्मभिरनभिद्रोहिणोऽनिकेताः पर्वतपुलिनवृक्षमूलदेवतायतनान्यनुचरन्तो वासार्थमुपेयुर्नगरं ग्रामं वा नगरे पञ्चरात्रिका ग्रामैकरात्रिकाः प्रविश्य च प्राणधारणमात्रार्थं द्विजातीनां भवनान्यसंकीर्णकर्मणामुपतिष्ठेयुः पात्रपतितायाचितभैक्षाः कामक्रोधदर्पमोहलोभकार्पण्यदम्भपरिवादाभिमानहिंसानिवृत्ता इति
M. N. Dutt: I shall now describe the conduct of the Parivrajakas, which is as follows : alienating themselves from attachment to the sacred fire, wealth, wife and children, and robes, seats, beds, and such other objects of enjoyment, and snapping the fetters of affection, they walk about, regarding with an equal eye a clump of earth or rock and gold. They never think of acquiring or enjoying the threefold objects of life. They regard impartially foes and friends and neutrals or strangers. They never injure, in thought, word, or deed, immobile objects, or creatures that are viviparous, or oviparous, or born of fifth, or called vegetables. They have no homes. They road over hills and mountains, upon shores of rivers or oceans, under shades of trees, and among temples of gods, They may go to towns or villages for living. In one town, however, they should not live for more than five nights, while in the same village they should not live for more than one night. Entering a town or a village, they should , for maintaining their life, go to the houses of liberal Brahmanas only. They should never ask for any alms but accept what is put into the bowls they carry. They should free themselves from lust, anger, pride, cupidity, delusion, miserliness, deceit, slander, vanity, and injury to creatures.
भवति चात्र श्लोकः अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो दत्त्वा चरति यो मुनिः न तस्य सर्वभूतेभ्यो भयमुत्पद्यते क्वचित्
M. N. Dutt: There are some verses on this subject-that person who, observing the vow of silence roams without giving any creature cause of fear, is never filled with any fear himself by any creature.
कृत्वाग्निहोत्रं स्वशरीरसंस्थं; शारीरमग्निं स्वमुखे जुहोति यो भैक्षचर्योपगतैर्हविर्भि;श्चिताग्निनां स व्यतियाति लोकान्
M. N. Dutt: That learned person who performs the Agnihotra with the help of the fire that is in his own body, who pours libations into his own body,-acquires endless blissful regions on account of that fire having been fed with such libations acquired by a life of mendicancy.
मोक्षाश्रमं यः कुरुते यथोक्तं; शुचिः सुसंकल्पितबुद्धियुक्तः अनिन्धनं ज्योतिरिव प्रशान्तं; स ब्रह्मलोकं श्रयते द्विजातिः
M. N. Dutt: That twice-born person who observes in the aforesaid way this mode of life having Liberation for its end, with a pure heart and understanding, attains to Brahma after the manner of tranquil ray of light that is not fed by any burning fuel.
भरद्वाज उवाच अस्माल्लोकात्परो लोकः श्रूयते नोपलभ्यते तमहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Bharadwaja said Beyond this region there is a region of which we have heard but never seen. I wish to know all about it. You should describe it to me.
भृगुरुवाच उत्तरे हिमवत्पार्श्वे पुण्ये सर्वगुणान्विते पुण्यः क्षेम्यश्च काम्यश्च स वरो लोक उच्यते
M. N. Dutt: Bhrigu said Towards the north on the other a side of Himvat, which is sacred and full of merit, there is a sacred, blessed, and highly desirable region. That is called the other world.
तत्र ह्यपापकर्माणः शुचयोऽत्यन्तनिर्मलाः लोभमोहपरित्यक्ता मानवा निरुपद्रवाः
M. N. Dutt: The men who dwell in that region are righteous in act, pious, of pure hearts, freed from cupidity and errors of judgement, and not subject to iniseries of any sort.
स स्वर्गसदृशो देशस्तत्र ह्युक्ताः शुभा गुणाः काले मृत्युः प्रभवति स्पृशन्ति व्याधयो न च
M. N. Dutt: That region is, equal to heaven, possessed of excellent attributes. Death comes there at the proper time. Diseases never attack the inhabitants.
न लोभः परदारेषु स्वदारनिरतो जनः न चान्योन्यवधस्तत्र द्रव्येषु न च विस्मयः परोक्षधर्मो नैवास्ति संदेहो नापि जायते
M. N. Dutt: Nobody looks for the wives of other people. Every one is devoted to his own wife. These people do not assail or kill one another, or covet one another's things. There is no sin or doubt.
कृतस्य तु फलं तत्र प्रत्यक्षमुपलभ्यते शय्यायानासनोपेताः प्रासादभवनाश्रयाः सर्वकामैर्वृताः केचिद्धेमाभरणभूषिताः
M. N. Dutt: There the fruits of all sacred rites are visible. There some enjoy seats and best sorts of drinks and food, and live within palaces and mansions.
प्राणधारणमात्रं तु केषांचिदुपपद्यते श्रमेण महता केचित्कुर्वन्ति प्राणधारणम्
M. N. Dutt: There some, bedecked with ornaments of gold, surround themselves every article of enjoyment. There are again, some that eat very sparingly for only keeping body and soul together.
इह धर्मपराः केचित्केचिन्नैकृतिका नराः सुखिता दुःखिताः केचिन्निर्धना धनिनोऽपरे
M. N. Dutt: There some, with great exertion, try to suppress the vital airs. Here some men and devoted to righteousness, and some addicted to deceit. Some are happy and some wretched; some are poor and some, rich.
इह श्रमो भयं मोहः क्षुधा तीव्रा च जायते लोभश्चार्थकृतो नॄणां येन मुह्यन्ति पण्डिताः
M. N. Dutt: Here are to be found exhaustion, and fear, and delusion and painful hunger. here cupidity for wealth is also seen, a passion that stupefies even the learned.
इह चिन्ता बहुविधा धर्माधर्मस्य कर्मणः यस्तद्वेदोभयं प्राज्ञः पाप्मना न स लिप्यते
M. N. Dutt: Here various opinions are advanced by those who do virtuous or sinful deeds. That wise man who knows all those opinions which may be divided into two sorts, is never sullied by sin.
सोपधं निकृतिः स्तेयं परिवादोऽभ्यसूयता परोपघातो हिंसा च पैशुन्यमनृतं तथा
AI Translation: Hypocrisy, deceit, stealing, slander, envy, harming others, violence, backbiting, and falsehood.
एतानासेवते यस्तु तपस्तस्य प्रहीयते यस्त्वेतान्नाचरेद्विद्वांस्तपस्तस्याभिवर्धते
AI Translation: If one practices these, then his austerities are destroyed. But if one who knows these does not practice them, then his austerities increase.
कर्मभूमिरियं लोक इह कृत्वा शुभाशुभम् शुभैः शुभमवाप्नोति कृत्वाशुभमतोऽन्यथा
M. N. Dutt: Here there is much thought about fair and sinful acts. This region where we live is the field of action. One reaps the fruits of his actions, according to thelife he has led.
इह प्रजापतिः पूर्वं देवाः सर्षिगणास्तथा इष्ट्वेष्टतपसः पूता ब्रह्मलोकमुपाश्रिताः
M. N. Dutt: Here, in days of yore, the very Creator and all the gods having performed proper penances, with the Rishis became cleansed and attained to Brahma.
उत्तरः पृथिवीभागः सर्वपुण्यतमः शुभः इहत्यास्तत्र जायन्ते ये वै पुण्यकृतो जनाः
AI Translation: The northern part of the earth is the most meritorious and auspicious. Those who are virtuous are reborn here.
असत्कर्माणि कुर्वन्तस्तिर्यग्योनिषु चापरे क्षीणायुषस्तथैवान्ये नश्यन्ति पृथिवीतले
AI Translation: Some perform bad deeds and are reborn in the animal realm. Others, with short lifespans, perish on the earth.
अन्योन्यभक्षणे सक्ता लोभमोहसमन्विताः इहैव परिवर्तन्ते न ते यान्त्युत्तरां दिशम्
M. N. Dutt: Engaged in feeding upon one another and sullied by cupidity and delusion, these men return to this very region without being able to go to that northern region.
ये गुरूनुपसेवन्ते नियता ब्रह्मचारिणः पन्थानं सर्वलोकानां ते जानन्ति मनीषिणः
M. N. Dutt: Those wise men who with vows and observing Brahmacharya listen with reverence to the instructions of preceptors, can learn the ends reserved for all classes of men.
इत्युक्तोऽयं मया धर्मः संक्षेपाद्ब्रह्मनिर्मितः धर्माधर्मौ हि लोकस्य यो वै वेत्ति स बुद्धिमान्
M. N. Dutt: I have now described to you briefly the duties laid down by Brahman. He, indeed, in an intelligent men who knows what is righteousness and its opposite in this world.
भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तो भृगुणा राजन्भरद्वाजः प्रतापवान् भृगुं परमधर्मात्मा विस्मितः प्रत्यपूजयत्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Thus, O king, did Bhrigu speak the highly energetic Bharadwaja. Of highly virtuous soul the latter became filled with wonder and adored the great sage with veneration.
एष ते प्रभवो राजञ्जगतः संप्रकीर्तितः निखिलेन महाप्राज्ञ किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: Thus, O king, the origin of the universe has been described fully to you. What, O you of great wisdom, do you wish to hear after this.'