Critical Edition
उमोवाच उक्तास्त्वया पृथग्धर्माश्चातुर्वर्ण्यहिताः शुभाः सर्वव्यापी तु यो धर्मो भगवंस्तं ब्रवीहि मे
M. N. Dutt: Uma said You have recited to me what are the respective duties of the four castes, auspicious and beneficial for them. Do you now tell me, O Holy One, what are the common duties of the all castes.
महेश्वर उवाच ब्राह्मणा लोकसारेण सृष्टा धात्रा गुणार्थिना लोकांस्तारयितुं कृत्स्नान्मर्त्येषु क्षितिदेवताः
M. N. Dutt: Maheshvara said The foremost of all beings in the universe, viz., the Creator Brahmana, always seeking righteous accomplishinents, created the Brahinanas for rescuing all the worlds. Among all created beings they are gods on Earth.
तेषामिमं प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मकर्मफलोदयम् ब्राह्मणेषु हि यो धर्मः स धर्मः परमो मतः
M. N. Dutt: I shall at the beginning tell you what are the religious acts which they should do and what are the rewards which they acquire through them. The religion of the Brahmanas is the foremost of all religions.
इमे तु लोकधर्मार्थं त्रयः सृष्टाः स्वयंभुवा पृथिव्याः सर्जने नित्यं सृष्टास्तानपि मे शृणु
M. N. Dutt: For the sake of the virtue, three religions were created by the self-create. Whenever the world is created, those Religions are created by the Grand-father. Do you listen.
वेदोक्तः परमो धर्मः स्मृतिशास्त्रगतोऽपरः शिष्टाचीर्णः परः प्रोक्तस्त्रयो धर्माः सनातनाः
M. N. Dutt: These are the three eternal Religions. The Religion prescribed in the Vedas is the greatest; that of the Smritis is the next in the order of importance; the Third in importance is that which is based upon the practices of the virtuous.
त्रैविद्यो ब्राह्मणो विद्वान्न चाध्ययनजीवनः त्रिकर्मा त्रिपरिक्रान्तो मैत्र एष स्मृतो द्विजः
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmana, endued with learning, should have the three Vedas. He should never make the study of the Vedas. He should devoie himself to the three well known deeds (of making gifts, studying the Vedas, and performing sacrifices). He should be above the three (viz., lust, anger and cupidity). He should be the friend of all creatures. A person who possesses these qualities is called a Brahmana.
षडिमानि तु कर्माणि प्रोवाच भुवनेश्वरः वृत्त्यर्थं ब्राह्मणानां वै शृणु तानि समाहिता
M. N. Dutt: The lord of the universe declared these six deeds for the observance of Brahmanas. Listen to those eternal duties.
यजनं याजनं चैव तथा दानप्रतिग्रहौ अध्यापनमधीतं च षट्कर्मा धर्मभाग्द्विजः
M. N. Dutt: The celebration of sacrifices, officiating at the sacrifices of others, the making of gifts, the acceptance of gifts, teaching and study, are the six deeds by doing which a Brahmana acquires religious merit.
नित्यस्वाध्यायता धर्मो धर्मो यज्ञः सनातनः दानं प्रशस्यते चास्य यथाशक्ति यथाविधि
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, the daily study of the Vedas is a duty. Sacrifice is (another) eternal duty. The making of gifts according to his power and the ordinance, is, in his case, much praised.
अयं तु परमो धर्मः प्रवृत्तः सत्सु नित्यशः गृहस्थता विशुद्धानां धर्मस्य निचयो महान्
M. N. Dutt: Tranquillity of mind is a great duty that is in vogue among the righteous. Householders of pure mind are capable of acquiring very great merit.
पञ्चयज्ञविशुद्धात्मा सत्यवागनसूयकः दाता ब्राह्मणसत्कर्ता सुसंमृष्टनिवेशनः
AI Translation: One who is purified by the five sacrifices, truthful in speech, not envious, A giver, one who honors Brahmins, one who has well-swept abodes,
अमानी च सदाजिह्मः स्निग्धवाणीप्रदस्तथा अतिथ्यभ्यागतरतिः शेषान्नकृतभोजनः
AI Translation: One who is not proud, always modest, and who speaks kindly, One who is delighted by the arrival of guests, and who eats the leftovers,
पाद्यमर्घ्यं यथान्यायमासनं शयनं तथा दीपं प्रतिश्रयं चापि यो ददाति स धार्मिकः
M. N. Dutt: That man who offers water to his guests for washing their feet and hands, who presents and Arghya for honouring him, who duly gives seats, and beds, and lamps for lightning the darkness, and shelter to those who come to his house, is considered, as highly righteous.
प्रातरुत्थाय चाचम्य भोजनेनोपमन्त्र्य च सत्कृत्यानुव्रजेद्यश्च तस्य धर्मः सनातनः
M. N. Dutt: That householder who rises at dawn and washes his mouth and face and gives food to his guests, and having honoured them duly dismisses them from his house and follows them for a little distance, wins eternal merit.
सर्वातिथ्यं त्रिवर्गस्य यथाशक्ति दिवानिशम् शूद्रधर्मः समाख्यातस्त्रिवर्णपरिचारणम्
M. N. Dutt: Hospitality towards all, and the pursuit of the threefold objects are the duties of the householder. The duties of the Shudra consist in the pursuit of the three fold objects.
प्रवृत्तिलक्षणो धर्मो गृहस्थेषु विधीयते तमहं कीर्तयिष्यामि सर्वभूतहितं शुभम्
M. N. Dutt: The Religion laid down for the householder has action for its chief characteristic. Auspicious, and beneficial to all creatures, I shall explain it to you.
दातव्यमसकृच्छक्त्या यष्टव्यमसकृत्तथा पुष्टिकर्मविधानं च कर्तव्यं भूतिमिच्छता
M. N. Dutt: The householder should always make gifts according to his power. He should also perform sacrifices frequently. Indeed, he who wishes to secure his own good, should always achieve meritorious acts.
धर्मेणार्थः समाहार्यो धर्मलब्धं त्रिधा धनम् कर्तव्यं धर्मपरमं मानवेन प्रयत्नतः
M. N. Dutt: The householder should acquire riches by fair means, The riches thus acquired should be carefully divided into three parts, keeping the requirements of virtue in view.
एकेनांशेन धर्मार्थश्चर्तव्यो भूतिमिच्छता एकेनांशेन कामार्थ एकमंशं विवर्धयेत्
M. N. Dutt: With one of those portions he should accomplish all acts of virtue. With another he should seek to satisfy his carvings for pleasure. The third portion he should lay out for increasing.
निवृत्तिलक्षणस्त्वन्यो धर्मो मोक्ष इति स्मृतः तस्य वृत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु मे देवि तत्त्वतः
M. N. Dutt: The Religion of Renunciation is different. It exists for liberation. I shall tell you the conduct that constitutes it. Listen to me in full, O goddess.
सर्वभूतदया धर्मो न चैकग्रामवासिता आशापाशविमोक्षश्च शस्यते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिणाम्
M. N. Dutt: One of the duties inculcated by that Religion is Mercy towards all creatures. The man who follows it should not live in one place for more than a day. For acquiring Liberation, the followers of this Religion free themselves from the fetters of hope (or desire).
न कुण्ड्यां नोदके सङ्गो न वाससि न चासने न त्रिदण्डे न शयने नाग्नौ न शरणालये
M. N. Dutt: They have no attachment to habitation, to the Kamandalu they bear for the keep of water, to the clothes that cover their loins, or the scat whereupon they rest, or the triple stick they bear in their hands, or the bed they sleep on, or the fire they want, or the chamber in which it lies.
अध्यात्मगतचित्तो यस्तन्मनास्तत्परायणः युक्तो योगं प्रति सदा प्रतिसंख्यानमेव च
M. N. Dutt: A follower of this Religion fixes his heart upon the working of his soul. His mind is devoted to Supreme Brahma. He is filled with the idea of attaining to Brahman. He is always devoted to Yoga and the Sankhya philosophy.
वृक्षमूलशयो नित्यं शून्यागारनिवेशनः नदीपुलिनशायी च नदीतीररतिश्च यः
M. N. Dutt: He seeks for no other shelter than the foot of a tree, He lives in vacant houses of men. He sleeps on the banks of rivers. He takes a pleasure in living by such banks.
विमुक्तः सर्वसङ्गेषु स्नेहबन्धेषु च द्विजः आत्मन्येवात्मनो भावं समासज्याटति द्विजः
M. N. Dutt: He is freed from every attachment, and from every bond of affection. He merges the existence of his own soul into the Supreme Soul.
स्थाणुभूतो निराहारो मोक्षदृष्टेन कर्मणा परिव्रजति यो युक्तस्तस्य धर्मः सनातनः
M. N. Dutt: Standing like a stake of wood, and abstaining from all food, he does only such deeds as point to Liberation. Or, he may wander about, devoted to Yoga. These are the eternal duties of a follower of the Religion of Renunciation
न चैकत्र चिरासक्तो न चैकग्रामगोचरः युक्तो ह्यटति निर्मुक्तो न चैकपुलिनेशयः
M. N. Dutt: He lives aloof from men. He is freed from all attachments. He never lives in the same place for more than a day. Freed from all fetters, he roves over the world. Freed from all ties, he never sleeps on even the same riverbank for more than a day.
एष मोक्षविदां धर्मो वेदोक्तः सत्पथः सताम् यो मार्गमनुयातीमं पदं तस्य न विद्यते
M. N. Dutt: This is the Religion of persons conversant with Liberation, as declared in the Vedas. This is the righteous path that is trodden by this virtuous, He who follows in this path, leaves no vestige behind.
चतुर्विधा भिक्षवस्ते कुटीचरकृतोदकः हंसः परमहंसश्च यो यः पश्चात्स उत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: Bhikshus (mendicants) are of four kinds. They are Kutichakas, Bahudakas, Hansas, and Paramahansas. The second is superior to the first, the third to the second, and the fourth to the third.
अतः परतरं नास्ति नाधरं न तिरोऽग्रतः अदुःखमसुखं सौम्यमजरामरमव्ययम्
M. N. Dutt: There is nothing superior to the Paramahansa; nor is there anything inferior to it or equal to it or superior to it. It is a condition shorn sorrow and happiness; auspicious and freed from decrepitude and death, and without any change.
उमोवाच गार्हस्थ्यो मोक्षधर्मश्च सज्जनाचरितस्त्वया भाषितो मर्त्यलोकस्य मार्गः श्रेयस्करो महान्
M. N. Dutt: Uma said You have described the Religion of the householders, that of Liberation, and that which is based upon the observances of the pious. These paths are noble and highly beneficial to the world of living creatures.
ऋषिधर्मं तु धर्मज्ञ श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यनुत्तमम् स्पृहा भवति मे नित्यं तपोवननिवासिषु
M. N. Dutt: you who are conversant with every religion, I wish to hear what the high Religion is of the Rishis. I always have a liking for those who live in hermitage.
आज्यधूमोद्भवो गन्धो रुणद्धीव तपोवनम् तं दृष्ट्वा मे मनः प्रीतं महेश्वर सदा भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: The perfume that comes out of the smoke of the libations of clarified butter poured on the sacred fire, seems to pervade all the hermitages and make them delightful. Seeing this, O great god, my heart becomes always filled with joy.
एतं मे संशयं देव मुनिधर्मकृतं विभो सर्वधर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञ देवदेव वदस्व मे निखिलेन मया पृष्टं महादेव यथातथम्
M. N. Dutt: O powerful god, I have doubts about the Religion of the Ascetics. You are conversant with the details of all religions. Do you enlighten me, O god of gods, in detail about this subject truly about which I have asked you, O great god.
महेश्वर उवाच हन्त तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि मुनिधर्ममनुत्तमम् यं कृत्वा मुनयो यान्ति सिद्धिं स्वतपसा शुभे
M. N. Dutt: The Blessed and Holy One said Yes, I shall recite to you the high and excellent Religion of the Ascetic. By following the dictates of that Religion, O auspicious lady, the Ascetics acquire success through the severe penances they practise.
फेनपानामृषीणां यो धर्मो धर्मविदां सदा तं मे शृणु महाभागे धर्मज्ञे धर्ममादितः
M. N. Dutt: O highly blessed one, do you hear, from the beginning, what are the duties of those pious Rishis who know every duty and who are known by the name of Phenapas.
उञ्छन्ति सततं तस्मिन्ब्राह्मं फेनोत्करं शुभम् अमृतं ब्रह्मणा पीतं मधुरं प्रसृतं दिवि
M. N. Dutt: The Grandfather Brahman drank some nectar. That water had flowed in the celestial। region from a great sacrifice.
एष तेषां विशुद्धानां फेनपानां तपोधने धर्मचर्याकृतो मार्गो वालखिल्यगणे शृणु
M. N. Dutt: The froth of that water is highly sacred and it partook of His own nature. Those Rishis who live upon the measure of froth that thus came out are called. Phenapas (Frotheaters). This is the conduct of those pure Rishis, O lady having penances for wealth! Listen now to me as I explain to you who the Valakhilyas arc.
वालखिल्यास्तपःसिद्धा मुनयः सूर्यमण्डले उञ्छमुञ्छन्ति धर्मज्ञाः शाकुनीं वृत्तिमास्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: The Valakhilyas are ascetics who have acquired success by their penances. They live in the solar disc. Living like birds, those Rishis, conversant with every duty of righteousness, live according to the Uncha mode.
मृगनिर्मोकवसनाश्चीरवल्कलवाससः निर्द्वंद्वाः सत्पथं प्राप्ता वालखिल्यास्तपोधनाः
AI Translation: Those who wear the skins of deer, those who wear bark garments, those who are free from duality, those who have attained the true path, the Valakhilyas, the possessors of austerities,
अङ्गुष्ठपर्वमात्रास्ते स्वेष्वङ्गेषु व्यवस्थिताः तपश्चरणमीहन्ते तेषां धर्मफलं महत्
AI Translation: They are the size of a joint of the thumb and are established in their own bodies. They desire to practice austerities, and that is the great fruit of their Dharma.
ते सुरैः समतां यान्ति सुरकार्यार्थसिद्धये द्योतयन्तो दिशः सर्वास्तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषाः
M. N. Dutt: They are considered as having acquired an equality with the gods and exist for the fulfilment of the purposes of the gods. Having dissipated all their sins by severe penances, they shine in effulgence, lighting up all the points of the compass.
ये त्वन्ये शुद्धमनसो दयाधर्मपरायणाः सन्तश्चक्रचराः पुण्याः सोमलोकचराश्च ये
M. N. Dutt: Others, called Chakracharas, are gifted with cleansed souls and devoted to the practice of mercy, Righteous in their conduct and possessed of great purity, they live in the region of Soma.
पितृलोकसमीपस्थास्त उञ्छन्ति यथाविधि संप्रक्षालाश्मकुट्टाश्च दन्तोलूखलिनस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Thus living near enough to the region of the departed manes, they duly live by drinking the rays of Soma. There are others called Samprakshalas and Ashmakuttas and Dantolukhalas.
सोमपानां च देवानामूष्मपाणां तथैव च उञ्छन्ति ये समीपस्थाः स्वभावनियतेन्द्रियाः
M. N. Dutt: These live near the Somadrinking celestials and others that drink flames of fire. With their wedded wives and with passions under complete restraint, they too live upon the rays of Soma.
तेषामग्निपरिष्यन्दः पितृदेवार्चनं तथा यज्ञानां चापि पञ्चानां यजनं धर्म उच्यते
M. N. Dutt: They pour libations of clarified butter on the sacred fire, and worship the departed Manes under proper forms. They also celebrate the wellknown sacrifices. This is said to form their religion.
एष चक्रचरैर्देवि देवलोकचरैर्द्विजैः ऋषिधर्मः सदा चीर्णो योऽन्यस्तमपि मे शृणु
M. N. Dutt: This religion of the Rishis, O goddess, is always observed by those who are houseless and who are free to go through every region including that of the celestials. There are, again, other classes about whom, I shall speak now. Do you listen.
सर्वेष्वेवर्षिधर्मेषु जेय आत्मा जितेन्द्रियः कामक्रोधौ ततः पश्चाज्जेतव्याविति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: It is necessary that they who observe the different religions of the Rishis, should control their passions and know the Soul. Indeed, in my opinion, lust and anger should be completely controlled.
अग्निहोत्रपरिस्पन्दो धर्मरात्रिसमासनम् सोमयज्ञाभ्यनुज्ञानं पञ्चमी यज्ञदक्षिणा
AI Translation: The Agnihotra sacrifice, the sitting together at the time of the Dharma, The permission for the Soma sacrifice, the fifth is the Dakshina for the sacrifice.
नित्यं यज्ञक्रिया धर्मः पितृदेवार्चने रतिः सर्वातिथ्यं च कर्तव्यमन्नेनोञ्छार्जितेन वै
AI Translation: Always perform the rites of sacrifice, take delight in worshipping the ancestors and gods, and offer hospitality to all with food obtained by begging.
निवृत्तिरुपभोगस्य गोरसानां च वै रतिः स्थण्डिले शयनं योगः शाकपर्णनिषेवणम्
AI Translation: The cessation of enjoyment, the delight in the milk of cows, Sleeping on the ground, the practice of yoga, the eating of greens,
फलमूलाशनं वायुरापः शैवलभक्षणम् ऋषीणां नियमा ह्येते यैर्जयन्त्यजितां गतिम्
AI Translation: Eating fruits and roots, eating air, eating algae, These are the restraints of the sages by which they attain the state of the unconquered.
विधूमे न्यस्तमुसले व्यङ्गारे भुक्तवज्जने अतीतपात्रसंचारे काले विगतभैक्षके
AI Translation: When the fire is extinguished, the pestle is put away, the pot is washed, and the people have eaten, When the bowls have been collected and the alms-round is over,
अतिथिं काङ्क्षमाणो वै शेषान्नकृतभोजनः सत्यधर्मरतिः क्षान्तो मुनिधर्मेण युज्यते
AI Translation: One who desires to receive a guest, having eaten the remaining food, Delighted in truth and virtue, patient, is united with the sage's dharma.
न स्तम्भी न च मानी यो न प्रमत्तो न विस्मितः मित्रामित्रसमो मैत्रो यः स धर्मविदुत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: One should not be arrogant; nor proud; nor cheerless and discontented; nor wonder at anything. Indeed, one should treat his friends and enemies alike. Indeed, one who is the foremost of all persons conversant with duties should treat all creatures like friends.