Critical Edition
कपिल उवाच वेदाः प्रमाणं लोकानां न वेदाः पृष्ठतःकृताः द्वे ब्रह्मणी वेदितव्ये शब्दब्रह्म परं च यत् शब्दब्रह्मणि निष्णातः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति
M. N. Dutt: Kapila said The Vedas are considered as an authority by all. People never disobey them. Brahma is of two kinds, viz., Brahma is represented by sound, and Brahma as Supreme.
शरीरमेतत्कुरुते यद्वेदे कुरुते तनुम् कृतशुद्धशरीरो हि पात्रं भवति ब्राह्मणः
AI Translation: The body performs what the Veda performs. The body is purified, and then the Brāhmaṇa becomes a vessel.
आनन्त्यमनुयुङ्क्ते यः कर्मणा तद्ब्रवीमि ते निरागममनैतिह्यं प्रत्यक्षं लोकसाक्षिकम्
AI Translation: I shall tell you about the one who is engaged in the endlessness of action. It is without a source, without tradition, and based on direct perception, with the world as a witness.
धर्म इत्येव ये यज्ञान्वितन्वन्ति निराशिषः उत्पन्नत्यागिनोऽलुब्धाः कृपासूयाविवर्जिताः धनानामेष वै पन्थास्तीर्थेषु प्रतिपादनम्
M. N. Dutt: Whether purity of heart has been acquired or not, is what can be known to the person himself who has acquired it. It can never be known with the help of either the Vedas or inference. They who have no expectations, who discard every sort of riches by not keeping anything for future use, who are not covetous, and who are free from every sort of affection and aversion, celebrate sacrifices believing only that their performance is a duty. To make gifts to deserving persons is the end of all riches.
अनाश्रिताः पापकृत्याः कदाचित्कर्मयोनितः मनःसंकल्पसंसिद्धा विशुद्धज्ञाननिश्चयाः
AI Translation: Not attached to evil deeds, sometimes born from the womb of karma, Attained through mental resolve, certain in pure knowledge,
अक्रुध्यन्तोऽनसूयन्तो निरहंकारमत्सराः ज्ञाननिष्ठास्त्रिशुक्लाश्च सर्वभूतहिते रताः
AI Translation: Not angry, not envious, without egoism and jealousy, Devoted to knowledge, pure in the three ways, and intent on the welfare of all beings,
आसन्गृहस्था भूयिष्ठमव्युत्क्रान्ताः स्वकर्मसु राजानश्च तथा युक्ता ब्राह्मणाश्च यथाविधि
AI Translation: Most of the householders were not deviating from their duties. The kings and the Brahmins were also engaged in their respective duties.
समा ह्यार्जवसंपन्नाः संतुष्टा ज्ञाननिश्चयाः प्रत्यक्षधर्माः शुचयः श्रद्दधानाः परावरे
M. N. Dutt: They treated all creatures equally and were gifted with perfect sincerity. They had contentiment, certainty of knowledge. The rewards of their righteousness were apparent, and they were pure in conduct and heart. They were endued with faith in Brahma of both forms.
पुरस्ताद्भावितात्मानो यथावच्चरितव्रताः चरन्ति धर्मं कृच्छ्रेऽपि दुर्गे चैवाधिसंहताः
M. N. Dutt: At first making their hearts pure, they duly observed all vows. They observed the duties of righteousness on even occasions of distress and great difficulty, without deviating in any particular.
संहत्य धर्मं चरतां पुरासीत्सुखमेव तत् तेषां नासीद्विधातव्यं प्रायश्चित्तं कदाचन
M. N. Dutt: Uniting together they used to celebrate meritorious acts. In this they found great happiness. And inasmuch as they never transgressed, they had never to perform any expiatory rite.
सत्यं हि धर्ममास्थाय दुराधर्षतमा मताः न मात्रामनुरुध्यन्ते न धर्मच्छलमन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Depending upon the true course of virtue, they became gifted with irresistible energy. They never followed their own understandings while acquiring merit but followed the injunctions of the scriptures along for that end. Accordingly they were never guilty of guile in performing acts of righteousness.
य एव प्रथमः कल्पस्तमेवाभ्याचरन्सह अस्यां स्थितौ स्थितानां हि प्रायश्चित्तं न विद्यते दुर्बलात्मन उत्पन्नं प्रायश्चित्तमिति श्रुतिः
M. N. Dutt: There is no expiation for men who follow the ordinances laid down in the scriptures. The Shruti says that expiation exists for only men who are weak and unable to follow the absolute provisions of the sacred law.
यत एवंविधा विप्राः पुराणा यज्ञवाहनाः त्रैविद्यवृद्धाः शुचयो वृत्तवन्तो यशस्विनः यजन्तोऽहरहर्यज्ञैर्निराशीर्बन्धना बुधाः
M. N. Dutt: Many Brahmanas of this kind in days of yore, devoted to the celebration of Vedas, endued with purity, good conduct and fame.
तेषां यज्ञाश्च वेदाश्च कर्माणि च यथागमम् आगमाश्च यथाकालं संकल्पाश्च यथाव्रतम्
AI Translation: Their sacrifices, Vedas, and actions, as well as their scriptures, Their scriptures and resolutions, as well as their vows,
अपेतकामक्रोधानां प्रकृत्या संशितात्मनाम् ऋजूनां शमनित्यानां स्थितानां स्वेषु कर्मसु सर्वमानन्त्यमेवासीदिति नः शाश्वती श्रुतिः
AI Translation: Those who are free from desire and anger, who are naturally restrained in their minds, Who are upright, always peaceful, and established in their own duties, It is said in our eternal tradition that all of them attained immortality.
तेषामदीनसत्त्वानां दुश्चराचारकर्मणाम् स्वकर्मभिः संवृतानां तपो घोरत्वमागतम्
AI Translation: For those of undaunted spirit, whose conduct is difficult to follow, who are enveloped by their own actions, the austerity has become terrible.
तं सदाचारमाश्चर्यं पुराणं शाश्वतं ध्रुवम् अशक्नुवद्भिश्चरितुं किंचिद्धर्मेषु सूचितम्
AI Translation: That is the eternal, unchanging, eternal, and unchanging conduct, which is the ancient and eternal. And that which is not able to be practiced by those who are not able to practice even a little bit of Dharma.
निरापद्धर्म आचारस्त्वप्रमादोऽपराभवः सर्ववर्णेषु यत्तेषु नासीत्कश्चिद्व्यतिक्रमः
AI Translation: The Dharma of the absence of affliction, the conduct, the absence of carelessness, the absence of defeat, In all the castes, in those, there was no transgression of any kind.
धर्ममेकं चतुष्पादमाश्रितास्ते नरर्षभाः तं सन्तो विधिवत्प्राप्य गच्छन्ति परमां गतिम्
AI Translation: Those bulls among men have resorted to the Dharma, which has four feet. Having properly attained that, the virtuous ones go to the highest state.
गृहेभ्य एव निष्क्रम्य वनमन्ये समाश्रिताः गृहमेवाभिसंश्रित्य ततोऽन्ये ब्रह्मचारिणः
AI Translation: Some, having gone forth from their homes, have resorted to the forest. Others, having resorted to the household life, are celibate.
धर्ममेतं चतुष्पादमाश्रमं ब्राह्मणा विदुः आनन्त्यं ब्रह्मणः स्थानं ब्राह्मणा नाम निश्चयः
AI Translation: This Dharma with four feet, the hermitage, the Brahmins know. The Brahmins are the certainty of the endless abode of Brahman.
अत एवंविधा विप्राः पुराणा धर्मचारिणः त एते दिवि दृश्यन्ते ज्योतिर्भूता द्विजातयः
M. N. Dutt: They also who observe the domestic mode of life, attain to the highest end; and lastly, those who lead the Brahmacharya mode, attain to the same end. Those Brahmanas are seen to shine in the sky as luminaries shedding beneficent rays of light all around.
नक्षत्राणीव धिष्ण्येषु बहवस्तारकागणाः आनन्त्यमुपसंप्राप्ताः संतोषादिति वैदिकम्
M. N. Dutt: Those countless Brahmanas have become stars and constellations set in their fixed roads. By virtue of contentment they have all acquired Infinity as the Vedas say.
यद्यागच्छन्ति संसारं पुनर्योनिषु तादृशाः न लिप्यन्ते पापकृत्यैः कदाचित्कर्मयोनितः
M. N. Dutt: If such men have to return to the world through the wombs of living creatures, they are never sullied by sins which have the unexhausted remnant of pristine deeds for their originating cause.
Supplementary Passages:
12.262.24 After 24, K6.7 V1 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2-9 editions ins.: *716 एकमेव ब्रह्मचारी शुश्रूषुर्घोरनिश्चयः
एवं युक्तो ब्राह्मणः स्यादन्यो ब्राह्मणको भवेत् कर्मैव पुरुषस्याह शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्
AI Translation: Thus a Brāhmaṇa should be one who is thus endowed. Another may be a Brāhmaṇa by birth. It is only the action of a man, whether good or bad,
एवं पक्वकषायाणामानन्त्येन श्रुतेन च सर्वमानन्त्यमेवासीदेवं नः शाश्वती श्रुतिः
AI Translation: Thus, by the infinity of the ripened and the heard, all becomes infinite. Thus, our eternal scripture is
तेषामपेततृष्णानां निर्णिक्तानां शुभात्मनाम् चतुर्थ औपनिषदो धर्मः साधारणः स्मृतः
AI Translation: For those who have abandoned thirst, who are purified, and who are of good nature, The fourth Upaniṣadic Dharma is said to be common.
स सिद्धैः साध्यते नित्यं ब्राह्मणैर्नियतात्मभिः संतोषमूलस्त्यागात्मा ज्ञानाधिष्ठानमुच्यते
AI Translation: It is always accomplished by the Siddhas, by the Brahmanas who have controlled their souls. It is said to be rooted in contentment, to have renunciation as its self, and to have knowledge as its basis.
अपवर्गगतिर्नित्यो यतिधर्मः सनातनः साधारणः केवलो वा यथाबलमुपास्यते
AI Translation: The path to liberation is eternal, the Dharma of the ascetic is ancient, Whether it is common or exclusive, it is to be practiced according to one's ability.
गच्छतो गच्छतः क्षेमं दुर्बलोऽत्रावसीदति ब्रह्मणः पदमन्विच्छन्संसारान्मुच्यते शुचिः
M. N. Dutt: Renunciation is sometimes found mixed with the duties of other modes. But whether existing in that state or by itself, one practises it according to his power. Renunciation is the root of great benefit to every sort of person. Only he who is weak, fails to pursue it. That pure-hearted man who seeks to attain to Brahma becomes saved from the world.
स्यूमरश्मिरुवाच ये भुञ्जते ये ददते यजन्तेऽधीयते च ये मात्राभिर्धर्मलब्धाभिर्ये वा त्यागं समाश्रिताः
AI Translation: Syumarashmi said: Those who enjoy, give, perform sacrifices, study, Or those who have resorted to renunciation through the means obtained through Dharma,
एतेषां प्रेत्यभावे तु कतमः स्वर्गजित्तमः एतदाचक्ष्व मे ब्रह्मन्यथातथ्येन पृच्छतः
AI Translation: Among these, which one is the best to attain heaven after death? Please tell me this, O Brahman, as I ask you truthfully.
कपिल उवाच परिग्रहाः शुभाः सर्वे गुणतोऽभ्युदयाश्च ये न तु त्यागसुखं प्राप्ता एतत्त्वमपि पश्यसि
M. N. Dutt: Those who live like householders are surely auspicious and gain every sort of excellence. They are unable, however, to enjoy the happiness of Renunciation. Even you may see this.
स्यूमरश्मिरुवाच भवन्तो ज्ञाननिष्ठा वै गृहस्थाः कर्मनिश्चयाः आश्रमाणां च सर्वेषां निष्ठायामैक्यमुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: You depend upon knowledge as the means. Those who live like householders, have placed their faith in acts. It has, however, been said that the end of all modes of life is Liberation.
एकत्वे च पृथक्त्वे च विशेषो नान्य उच्यते तद्यथावद्यथान्यायं भगवान्प्रब्रवीतु मे
M. N. Dutt: No difference, therefore, is seen between them about either their superiority or inferiority of power. O illustrious one do you, then, clear out the mystery and enlighten me.
कपिल उवाच शरीरपक्तिः कर्माणि ज्ञानं तु परमा गतिः पक्वे कषाये वमनै रसज्ञाने न तिष्ठति
AI Translation: Kapila said: The body's maturation, actions, and knowledge are the supreme goal. When the body is matured and the taste is known, one does not dwell in emetics.
आनृशंस्यं क्षमा शान्तिरहिंसा सत्यमार्जवम् अद्रोहो नाभिमानश्च ह्रीस्तितिक्षा शमस्तथा
AI Translation: Non-violence, forgiveness, peace, non-violence, truth, honesty, Non-hatred, non-pride, modesty, patience, and tranquility.
पन्थानो ब्रह्मणस्त्वेते एतैः प्राप्नोति यत्परम् तद्विद्वाननुबुध्येत मनसा कर्मनिश्चयम्
M. N. Dutt: These form the path of Brahma. By those one acquires the Highest. A wise man when he acquires these qualities, understands that the cure of all defects of the heart is the result of acts.
यां विप्राः सर्वतः शान्ता विशुद्धा ज्ञाननिश्चयाः गतिं गच्छन्ति संतुष्टास्तामाहुः परमां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: That, indeed, is considered as the highest end which is acquired by Brahmanas gifted with wisdom, withdrawn from all acts, possessed of purity and the surety of knowledge.
वेदांश्च वेदितव्यं च विदित्वा च यथास्थिति एवं वेदविदित्याहुरतोऽन्यो वातरेटकः
M. N. Dutt: One who acquires a knowledge of the Vedas, of that which is taught by the Vedas, and the details of acts, is said to be conversant with the Vedas. Any other man is only a bag of wind.
सर्वं विदुर्वेदविदो वेदे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् वेदे हि निष्ठा सर्वस्य यद्यदस्ति च नास्ति च
M. N. Dutt: One who is master of the Vedas, knows everything, for everything is established on the Veda. The present, past, and future all exist in the Vedas.
एषैव निष्ठा सर्वस्य यद्यदस्ति च नास्ति च एतदन्तं च मध्यं च सच्चासच्च विजानतः
M. N. Dutt: This is the one conclusion of all the scriptures viz., that this universe exists and does not exist. To the man of knowledge this is both existent and non-existent. To him this all is both the end and the middle.
समस्तत्याग इत्येव शम इत्येव निष्ठितः संतोष इत्यत्र शुभमपवर्गे प्रतिष्ठितम्
AI Translation: "The entire renunciation is called peace, and he is established in it. " "The contentment is called good, and it is established in the final liberation."
ऋतं सत्यं विदितं वेदितव्यं; सर्वस्यात्मा जङ्गमं स्थावरं च सर्वं सुखं यच्छिवमुत्तमं च; ब्रह्माव्यक्तं प्रभवश्चाव्ययश्च
AI Translation: Truth, reality, knowledge, the knowable, the Self of all, the moving and the immobile, All happiness, the auspicious, the supreme, Brahman, the unmanifest, the origin, the imperishable,
तेजः क्षमा शान्तिरनामयं शुभं; तथाविधं व्योम सनातनं ध्रुवम् एतैः शब्दैर्गम्यते बुद्धिनेत्रै;स्तस्मै नमो ब्रह्मणे ब्राह्मणाय
M. N. Dutt: Power to control the senses, forgiveness and abstention from work owing to the absence of desire,-these three are the cause of perfect happiness. With the help of these three qualities, men having understanding for their eyes, succeed in reaching that Brahma which is increate, which is the supreme cause of the universe, which is unchangeable, and which is beyond destruction. I bow to that Brahma, which is at one with him that knows it.