Critical Edition
उमोवाच देशेषु रमणीयेषु गिरीणां निर्झरेषु च स्रवन्तीनां च कुञ्जेषु पर्वतोपवनेषु च
AI Translation: Umas said: In delightful places, on the slopes of mountains, In the groves of flowing rivers, and in the gardens of mountains,
देशेषु च विचित्रेषु फलवत्सु समाहिताः मूलवत्सु च देशेषु वसन्ति नियतव्रताः
AI Translation: In various countries, they are concentrated in fruitful places, And in places with roots, they dwell with disciplined vows.
तेषामपि विधिं पुण्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि शंकर वानप्रस्थेषु देवेश स्वशरीरोपजीविषु
M. N. Dutt: I wish, O Shankara, to hear the sacred ordinances which they follow. These hermits, O god of all gods, are persons who depend, for the protection of their bodies, upon themselves alone.
Supplementary Passages:
13.130.3 For 3cd, D4-9 subst.: *627 वानप्रस्थोञ्छवृत्तीनां तपोविस्तृतचेतसाम्
महेश्वर उवाच वानप्रस्थेषु यो धर्मस्तं मे शृणु समाहिता श्रुत्वा चैकमना देवि धर्मबुद्धिपरा भव
M. N. Dutt: Maheshvara said Do you hear with rapt attention what are the duties of Hermits. Having listened to them with one mind. O goddess, do you fix your heart upon virtue.
संसिद्धैर्नियतैः सद्भिर्वनवासमुपागतैः वानप्रस्थैरिदं कर्म कर्तव्यं शृणु यादृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Listen then to what the acts are that should be practised by righteous hermits crowned with success, observant of rigid vows and rules, and living in woods and forests.
त्रिकालमभिषेकार्थः पितृदेवार्चनं क्रिया अग्निहोत्रपरिस्पन्द इष्टिहोमविधिस्तथा
AI Translation: The ritual of worshipping the ancestors and the gods for the sake of the three times of abhiseka, The effort of Agnihotra, and the rite of offering oblations.
नीवारग्रहणं चैव फलमूलनिषेवणम् इङ्गुदैरण्डतैलानां स्नेहार्थं च निषेवणम्
AI Translation: The taking of nīvāra rice, and the use of fruits and roots, And the use of oil from inguda and eranda seeds for anointing.
योगचर्याकृतैः सिद्धैः कामक्रोधविवर्जनम् वीरशय्यामुपासद्भिर्वीरस्थानोपसेविभिः
M. N. Dutt: Having performed the practises of Yoga and become crowned with (ascetic) success and freed from lust and anger, they should seat themselves in the attitude called Virasana. Indeed, they should live in those places which are inaccessible to cowards.
युक्तैर्योगवहैः सद्भिर्ग्रीष्मे पञ्चतपैस्तथा मण्डूकयोगनियतैर्यथान्यायनिषेविभिः
AI Translation: With the yogis, the ascetics, the good, and the five fires in the summer, With those who are disciplined in the practice of the frog yoga, and those who follow the proper rules,
वीरासनगतैर्नित्यं स्थण्डिले शयनैस्तथा शीतयोगोऽग्नियोगश्च चर्तव्यो धर्मबुद्धिभिः
AI Translation: Always sitting in the heroic posture, or lying on the ground, The practice of cold and fire should be undertaken by those with the wisdom of Dharma.
अब्भक्षैर्वायुभक्षैश्च शैवालोत्तरभोजनैः अश्मकुट्टैस्तथा दान्तैः संप्रक्षालैस्तथापरैः
M. N. Dutt: They live upon water or air or moss. They use two pieces of stone only for husking their corn. Some of them use their teeth only for such a purpose. They do not keep utensils of any sort.
चीरवल्कलसंवीतैर्मृगचर्मनिवासिभिः कार्या यात्रा यथाकालं यथाधर्मं यथाविधि
M. N. Dutt: Some of them clothe themselves with rage and barks of trees or deer skins. Thus do they pass their lives for the time allotted to them, according to the ordinances.
वननित्यैर्वनचरैर्वनपैर्वनगोचरैः वनं गुरुमिवासाद्य वस्तव्यं वनजीविभिः
M. N. Dutt: Remaining in woods and forests, they wander within woods and forests, live within them, and are always to be found within them. Indeed, these hermits entering into woods and forests live within them as disciples, obtaining a preceptor, live with him.
तेषां होमक्रिया धर्मः पञ्चयज्ञनिषेवणम् नागपञ्चमयज्ञस्य वेदोक्तस्यानुपालनम्
AI Translation: The duty of those is the performance of the five sacrifices. The observance of the five sacrifices of the serpent is prescribed in the Vedas.
अष्टमीयज्ञपरता चातुर्मास्यनिषेवणम् पौर्णमास्यां तु यो यज्ञो नित्ययज्ञस्तथैव च
AI Translation: Devotion to the eighth-day sacrifice, observance of the four-month period, The sacrifice on the full moon day, and the eternal sacrifice.
विमुक्ता दारसंयोगैर्विमुक्ताः सर्वसंकरैः विमुक्ताः सर्वपापैश्च चरन्ति मुनयो वने
AI Translation: Freed from the bonds of family, freed from all confusion, Freed from all evil, the sages wander in the forest.
स्रुग्भाण्डपरमा नित्यं त्रेताग्निशरणाः सदा सन्तः सत्पथनित्या ये ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: The sacrificial ladle and the water vessel are their chief properties. They are always devoted to the three fires. Virtuous in their conduct and adhering to the path of virtue, they acquire the highest end.
ब्रह्मलोकं महापुण्यं सोमलोकं च शाश्वतम् गच्छन्ति मुनयः सिद्धा ऋषिधर्मव्यपाश्रयात्
M. N. Dutt: These Munis, crowned with success and ever given to the Religion of Truth, acquire the highly sacred region of Brahman, or the eternal region of Soma.
एष धर्मो मया देवि वानप्रस्थाश्रितः शुभः विस्तरेणार्थसंपन्नो यथास्थूलमुदाहृतः
M. N. Dutt: O auspicious goddess, I have thus recited to you, in brief, the outlines of the religion that is followed by hermits and that has many practices in detail.
उमोवाच भगवन्देवदेवेश सर्वभूतनमस्कृत यो धर्मो मुनिसंघस्य सिद्धिवादेषु तं वद
M. N. Dutt: Uma said O Holy One, O lord of all creatures, O you adored of all beings, I wish to hear what is the religion of those conclaves of ascetics who are followers of the scriptures describing ascetic success. Do you recite it to me.
सिद्धिवादेषु संसिद्धास्तथा वननिवासिनः स्वैरिणो दारसंयुक्तास्तेषां धर्मः कथं स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: Living in woods and forest and well accomplished in the scriptures of success, some amongst them live and act as they like, without being controlled by particular practices; others have wives. How, indeed, have their practices been ordained.
महेश्वर उवाच स्वैरिणस्तापसा देवि सर्वे दारविहारिणः तेषां मौण्ड्यं कषायश्च वासरात्रिश्च कारणम्
M. N. Dutt: Mahadeva said O goddess, the shaving of the head and the wearing of the brown robes are the characteristics of those recluses who rove about freely; while the characteristics of those who sport with wives consist in passing their nights at home.
त्रिकालमभिषेकश्च होत्रं त्वृषिकृतं महत् समाधिः सत्पथस्थानं यथोदितनिषेवणम्
M. N. Dutt: Performing ablutions three times a day is the duty of both the classes, while the Homa, with water and wild fruits, belongs to the married recluses as performed by the Rishis in general. Absorption in YogaMeditation, and performance of those duties which form righteousness and which have been laid down as such, are some of the other duties prescribed for them.
ये च ते पूर्वकथिता धर्मा वननिवासिनाम् यदि सेवन्ति धर्मांस्तानाप्नुवन्ति तपःफलम्
M. N. Dutt: All those duties also of which I have spoken to you before as belonging to recluses living in forests, are the duties of these also. Indeed, if those duties are observed, they who observe them acquire the rewards of severe penances.
ये च दंपतिधर्माणः स्वदारनियतेन्द्रियाः चरन्ति विधिदृष्टं तदृतुकालाभिगामिनः
M. N. Dutt: Those forest recluses who lead married lives should indulge in the gratification of their senses with these married wives of theirs. By indulging in sexual union with their wives at only those times when their seasons come, they perform the duties which have been laid down for thein.
तेषामृषिकृतो धर्मो धर्मिणामुपपद्यते न कामकारात्कामोऽन्यः संसेव्यो धर्मदर्शिभिः
M. N. Dutt: The religion which these virtuous men are to follow is the Religion that has been laid down and followed by the Rishis. With their eyes set upon the acquisition of virtue, they should never pursue any other object of desire from a sense of uncontrolled caprice.
सर्वभूतेषु यः सम्यग्ददात्यभयदक्षिणाम् हिंसारोषविमुक्तात्मा स वै धर्मेण युज्यते
M. N. Dutt: That man who gives promises of safety to all creatures, freed as his soul becomes from the stain of malice or harmfulness, becomes gifted with virtue.
सर्वभूतानुकम्पी यः सर्वभूतार्जवव्रतः सर्वभूतात्मभूतश्च स वै धर्मेण युज्यते
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, that person who shows mercy to all creatures, who adopts as a vow of sincere conduct towards all creatures, and who forms himself the soul of all creatures, becomes gifted with virtue.
सर्ववेदेषु वा स्नानं सर्वभूतेषु चार्जवम् उभे एते समे स्यातामार्जवं वा विशिष्यते
M. N. Dutt: A bath in all the shrines, and sincere conduct towards all crcatures, are regarded as equal in point of merit; or, perhaps, the latter is a little distinguished above the other in point of merit.
आर्जवं धर्म इत्याहुरधर्मो जिह्म उच्यते आर्जवेनेह संयुक्तो नरो धर्मेण युज्यते
M. N. Dutt: Sincerity, it has been said, is Virtue; while insincerity or crookedness is sin. That man who acts sincerely becomes indeed with Virtue.
आर्जवो भुवने नित्यं वसत्यमरसंनिधौ तस्मादार्जवनित्यः स्याद्य इच्छेद्धर्ममात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: The man who is always devoted to sincerity of conduct, succeeds in acquiring a residence among the celestials. Hence, he who wishes to achieve the merit of virtue, should be sincere.
क्षान्तो दान्तो जितक्रोधो धर्मभूतोऽविहिंसकः धर्मे रतमना नित्यं नरो धर्मेण युज्यते
M. N. Dutt: Gifted with a forgiving nature and selfcontrol, and with anger under complete subjection, one should transform himself into an embodiment of Virtue and become freed from malice. Such a man, who becomes devoted, besides, to the discharge of all the duties of religion, becomes indued with the merit of virtue.
व्यपेततन्द्रो धर्मात्मा शक्या सत्पथमाश्रितः चारित्रपरमो बुद्धो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते
M. N. Dutt: Freed from drowsiness and procrastination, the righteous person, who follows the path of Virtue to the best of his power, and becomes possessed of pure conduct, and who is venerable in years, comes to be considered as equal to Brahma itself.
उमोवाच आश्रमाभिरता देव तापसा ये तपोधनाः दीप्तिमन्तः कया चैव चर्ययाथ भवन्ति ते
M. N. Dutt: Uma said By what course of duties, O god, do those ascetics who are attached to their respective retreats and have penances for wealth, succeed in becoming indued with great splendour?
राजानो राजपुत्राश्च निर्धना वा महाधनाः कर्मणा केन भगवन्प्राप्नुवन्ति महाफलम्
M. N. Dutt: By what acts, again, do kings and princes who are immensely rich, and others who are poor, succeed in getting high rewards?
नित्यं स्थानमुपागम्य दिव्यचन्दनरूषिताः केन वा कर्मणा देव भवन्ति वनगोचराः
M. N. Dutt: By what acts, O god, do dwellers of the forest succeed in acquiring that place which is eternal and in adoring their persons with celestial sandal paste.
एतं मे संशयं देव तपश्चर्यागतं शुभम् शंस सर्वमशेषेण त्र्यक्ष त्रिपुरनाशन
M. N. Dutt: O illustrious god of three eyes, O destroyer of the triple city, do you remove this doubt of mine about the auspicious subject of the observance of penances by telling everything in full.
महेश्वर उवाच उपवासव्रतैर्दान्ता अहिंस्राः सत्यवादिनः संसिद्धाः प्रेत्य गन्धर्वैः सह मोदन्त्यनामयाः
M. N. Dutt: The Illustrious Deity said Those who observe the vows of fasts and control their senses, who abstain from injury of any kind to any creature, and who practise truthfulness of speech, acquire success and ascending to the celestial region sport in happiness with the Gandharvas as as their companions, freed from every kind of evil.
मण्डूकयोगशयनो यथास्थानं यथाविधि दीक्षां चरति धर्मात्मा स नागैः सह मोदते
M. N. Dutt: That pious man who lies down in the attitude of Manduka Yoga, and who properly and according to the ordinance performs meritorious deeds after having been duly initiated, sports in happiness in the next world in the company of the Nagas.
शष्पं मृगमुखोत्सृष्टं यो मृगैः सह सेवते दीक्षितो वै मुदा युक्तः स गच्छत्यमरावतीम्
M. N. Dutt: That man who lives in the company of deer and lives upon such grass and vegetables as drop from their mouths and who was undergone the initiation and attends to the duties attached to it, succeeds in going to the capital of Indra.
शैवालं शीर्णपर्णं वा तद्व्रतो यो निषेवते शीतयोगवहो नित्यं स गच्छेत्परमां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: That man who lives upon the moss he gathers and the fallen leaves of trees that he picks up, and puts up with all the severities of cold, acquires a very high place.
वायुभक्षोऽम्बुभक्षो वा फलमूलाशनोऽपि वा यक्षेष्वैश्वर्यमाधाय मोदतेऽप्सरसां गणैः
M. N. Dutt: That man who lives upon either air or water or fruits and roots, acquires in the next life the affluence that belongs to the Yakshas and sports in happiness in the company of the various tribes of Apsaras.
अग्नियोगवहो ग्रीष्मे विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा चीर्त्वा द्वादश वर्षाणि राजा भवति पार्थिवः
M. N. Dutt: Having practised practised for twelve years, according to the rites laid down in the ordinances, the vow relating to the endurance of the five fires in the summer season, one becomes in his next life a king.
आहारनियमं कृत्वा मुनिर्द्वादशवार्षिकम् मरुं संसाध्य यत्नेन राजा भवति पार्थिवः
M. N. Dutt: That man who, having observed vows about food, practises penances for twelve years, carefully abstaining from all interdicted food, and forbidden hours as well, during the period, becomes in his next life a king.
स्थण्डिले शुद्धमाकाशं परिगृह्य समन्ततः प्रविश्य च मुदा युक्तो दीक्षां द्वादशवार्षिकीम्
M. N. Dutt: That man who sits and lies on the bare ground with the canopy of heaven over his head, observes the course of duties of initiation, and then renounces his body by abstaining from all food, acquires great happiness in the celestial region.
स्थण्डिलस्य फलान्याहुर्यानानि शयनानि च गृहाणि च महार्हाणि चन्द्रशुभ्राणि भामिनि
AI Translation: They say that the fruits of the sacrificial altar are vehicles, beds, and very expensive houses, O beautiful one, as bright as the moon.
आत्मानमुपजीवन्यो नियतो नियताशनः देहं वानशने त्यक्त्वा स स्वर्गं समुपाश्नुते
AI Translation: One who is self-controlled, who eats at fixed times, and who, having abandoned the body, eats nothing, attains heaven.
आत्मानमुपजीवन्यो दीक्षां द्वादशवार्षिकीम् त्यक्त्वा महार्णवे देहं वारुणं लोकमश्नुते
M. N. Dutt: He who lives in entire dependence upon his own self and observes for twelve years the duties of initiation and finally renounces his body on the fire as an oblation to the celestials, acquires the region of Brahman and is held in high esteem there.
आत्मानमुपजीवन्यो दीक्षां द्वादशवार्षिकीम् अश्मना चरणौ भित्त्वा गुह्यकेषु स मोदते
AI Translation: Having made himself the means of livelihood, he undergoes initiation for twelve years, and having broken his feet with a stone, he rejoices among the Guhyakas.
साधयित्वात्मनात्मानं निर्द्वंद्वो निष्परिग्रहः चीर्त्वा द्वादश वर्षाणि दीक्षामेकां मनोगताम् स्वर्गलोकमवाप्नोति देवैश्च सह मोदते
AI Translation: Having accomplished the self by the self, free from duality, without possessions, Having undergone the initiation of the mind for twelve years, One attains the heavenly world and rejoices with the gods.
आत्मानमुपजीवन्यो दीक्षां द्वादशवार्षिकीम् हुत्वाग्नौ देहमुत्सृज्य वह्निलोके महीयते
M. N. Dutt: He who lives in entire dependence upon his own self and observes for twelve years the duties of initiation and finally renounces his body on the fire as an oblation to the celestials, acquires the region of Brahman and is held in high esteem there.
यस्तु देवि यथान्यायं दीक्षितो नियतो द्विजः आत्मन्यात्मानमाधाय निर्द्वंद्वो निष्परिग्रहः
AI Translation: O Goddess, he who is initiated in the proper way, restrained, a twice-born, who has placed the Self in the Self, free from duality, without possessions,
चीर्त्वा द्वादश वर्षाणि दीक्षामेकां मनोगताम् अरणीसहितं स्कन्धे बद्ध्वा गच्छत्यनावृतः
AI Translation: Having shaved off his hair and beard, having observed the vow of celibacy for twelve years, having performed the penance of the mind, Carrying the fire-drill on his shoulder, he goes uncovered.
वीराध्वानमना नित्यं वीरासनरतस्तथा वीरस्थायी च सततं स वीरगतिमाप्नुयात्
AI Translation: One who is always devoted to the path of heroes, who is always absorbed in the posture of heroes, and who always abides in heroism, attains the state of a hero.
स शक्रलोकगो नित्यं सर्वकामपुरस्कृतः दिव्यपुष्पसमाकीर्णो दिव्यचन्दनभूषितः सुखं वसति धर्मात्मा दिवि देवगणैः सह
M. N. Dutt: Such a man goes to the eternal region of Shakra where he becomes crowned with the fruition of all his desires and where he sports in joy, his body decked with garlands of celestial flowers and celestial perfumes.
वीरलोकगतो वीरो वीरयोगवहः सदा सत्त्वस्थः सर्वमुत्सृज्य दीक्षितो नियतः शुचिः वीराध्वानं प्रपद्येद्यस्तस्य लोकाः सनातनाः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, that pious person lives happily in Heaven, with the celestials as his companions. The hero, following the practices of heroes and devoted to that Yoga which belongs to heroes, living in the practice of Goodness, having renounced everything performed the initiation, controlled his senses, and observing purity of both body and mind, is sure to acquire that path which is reserved for heroes. Eternal regions of happiness are his.
कामगेन विमानेन स वै चरति च्छन्दतः शक्रलोकगतः श्रीमान्मोदते च निरामयः
M. N. Dutt: Riding on a car that moves at the will of the rider, he passes through all happy regions as he likes. Indeed living in the regions of Shakra, that blessed person always sports in joy, freed from every calamity.