Critical Edition
उमोवाच भगवन्भगनेत्रघ्न पूष्णो दशनपातन दक्षक्रतुहर त्र्यक्ष संशयो मे महानयम्
M. N. Dutt: Uma said O Holy one, O you who had torn off the cyes of Bhaga and the teeth of Pushan, O destroyer of the sacrifice of Daksha, O threecyed deity, I have a great doubt.
चातुर्वर्ण्यं भगवता पूर्वं सृष्टं स्वयंभुवा केन कर्मविपाकेन वैश्यो गच्छति शूद्रताम्
M. N. Dutt: Forinerly, the illustrious self-create created the four castes. Through the evil result of what deeds does a Vaishya became a Shudra?
वैश्यो वा क्षत्रियः केन द्विजो वा क्षत्रियो भवेत् प्रतिलोमः कथं देव शक्यो धर्मो निषेवितुम्
M. N. Dutt: Through, what acts does a Kshatriya become a Vaishya and a Brahmana becomes a Kshatriya? By what means may such degradation of castes bc warded off?
केन वा कर्मणा विप्रः शूद्रयोनौ प्रजायते क्षत्रियः शूद्रतामेति केन वा कर्मणा विभो
M. N. Dutt: Through what deeds' does a Brahmana take birth in his next life, in the Shudra caste? Through what acts, O powerful deity, does a Kshatriya also come down to the status of a Shudra?
एतं मे संशयं देव वद भूतपतेऽनघ त्रयो वर्णाः प्रकृत्येह कथं ब्राह्मण्यमाप्नुयुः
M. N. Dutt: O sinless one, O lord of all created beings, do you, O illustrious one, remove this doubt of mine. How, again can the three castes naturally succeed in acquiring the status Brahmanahood?
महेश्वर उवाच ब्राह्मण्यं देवि दुष्प्रापं निसर्गाद्ब्राह्मणः शुभे क्षत्रियो वैश्यशूद्रौ वा निसर्गादिति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: The Illustrious One said The status of a Brahmana, O goddess is highly difficult to attain. O auspicious lady, one becomes a Brahmana through creation or birth. Similarly the Kshatriya, the Vaishya, and the Shudra, all becomes so through original creation. This is my opinion.
कर्मणा दुष्कृतेनेह स्थानाद्भ्रश्यति वै द्विजः ज्येष्ठं वर्णमनुप्राप्य तस्माद्रक्षेत वै द्विजः
M. N. Dutt: He, however, that is born a Brahmana goes down from his status through his own evil deeds. Hence, the Brahmana, after having acquired the status of the first order, should always protect it.
स्थितो ब्राह्मणधर्मेण ब्राह्मण्यमुपजीवति क्षत्रियो वाथ वैश्यो वा ब्रह्मभूयाय गच्छति
M. N. Dutt: If one who is a Kshatriya or Vaishya performs those duties which are assigned to the Brahmana, after the manner of a Brahmana, he becomes a Brahman.
यस्तु विप्रत्वमुत्सृज्य क्षात्रं धर्मं निषेवते ब्राह्मण्यात्स परिभ्रष्टः क्षत्रयोनौ प्रजायते
M. N. Dutt: That Brahmana who renounces the duties of his order for following those of the Kshatriya, is considered as one who has fallen away from the status of a Brahmana and who has become a Kshatriya.
वैश्यकर्म च यो विप्रो लोभमोहव्यपाश्रयः ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्लभं प्राप्य करोत्यल्पमतिः सदा
AI Translation: A brahmin who, out of greed and delusion, performs the duties of a vaishya Obtains brahminhood with difficulty, but always acts with little intelligence.
स द्विजो वैश्यतामेति वैश्यो वा शूद्रतामियात् स्वधर्मात्प्रच्युतो विप्रस्ततः शूद्रत्वमाप्नुते
AI Translation: A Brahmin becomes a Vaishya, a Vaishya becomes a Shudra, A Brahmin who deviates from his own duty becomes a Shudra.
तत्रासौ निरयं प्राप्तो वर्णभ्रष्टो बहिष्कृतः ब्रह्मलोकपरिभ्रष्टः शूद्रः समुपजायते
M. N. Dutt: Such a Brahmana, degraded from the order of his birth and outcasted, without attaining to the region of Brahman, sinks into Hell, and in his next birth becomes born as a Shudra.
क्षत्रियो वा महाभागे वैश्यो वा धर्मचारिणि स्वानि कर्माण्यपाहाय शूद्रकर्माणि सेवते
AI Translation: O fortunate one, a Kshatriya or a Vaishya, O you who follow the Dharma, Abandoning their own duties, they engage in the duties of a Shudra.
स्वस्थानात्स परिभ्रष्टो वर्णसंकरतां गतः ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रत्वं याति तादृशः
AI Translation: He has fallen from his own position and has become a mixture of castes. A brahmin, kshatriya, or vaishya becomes a shudra in that way.
यस्तु शुद्धः स्वधर्मेण ज्ञानविज्ञानवाञ्शुचिः धर्मज्ञो धर्मनिरतः स धर्मफलमश्नुते
M. N. Dutt: That man who has acquired clearness of vision through practice of the duties of his own casic, who is gifted with knowledge and science, who is pure (in body and inind), who knows every duty and is devoted to the practice of all his duties, is sure to enjoy the rewards of virtue.
इदं चैवापरं देवि ब्रह्मणा समुदीरितम् अध्यात्मं नैष्ठिकं सद्भिर्धर्मकामैर्निषेव्यते
M. N. Dutt: I shall now recite to you, O goddess, a saying uttered by Brahman on this subject. The virtuous and those who are desirous of acquiring mcrit always pursue with firmness the culture of the soul.
उग्रान्नं गर्हितं देवि गणान्नं श्राद्धसूतकम् घुष्टान्नं नैव भोक्तव्यं शूद्रान्नं नैव कर्हिचित्
M. N. Dutt: The food that comes from cruel and fierce persons is censurable. So also is the food that has been cooked for serving a large number of persons. The same is said of the food that is cooked for the first Shraddha of a dead person. So also is the food that is sullied for the usual faults and the food that is supplied by a Shudra. These should never be taken by a Brahmana at any time.
शूद्रान्नं गर्हितं देवि देवदेवैर्महात्मभिः पितामहमुखोत्सृष्टं प्रमाणमिति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: The food of a Shudra, O goddess, is always disapproved of by the great deities. This, I think, is the authority enunciated by the Grandfather with his own mouth.
शूद्रान्नेनावशेषेण जठरे यो म्रियेत वै आहिताग्निस्तथा यज्वा स शूद्रगतिभाग्भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: If a Brahmana, who has set up the sacred fire and who performs sacrifices, were to die with any portion of a Shudra's food remaining undigested in his stomach, he is sure to be born a Shudra.
तेन शूद्रान्नशेषेण ब्रह्मस्थानादपाकृतः ब्राह्मणः शूद्रतामेति नास्ति तत्र विचारणा
M. N. Dutt: On account of those remains of a Shudra's food in his stomach, he falls away from the position of a Brahmana. Such a Brahmana becomes surely a Shudra.
यस्यान्नेनावशेषेण जठरे यो म्रियेत वै तां तां योनिं व्रजेद्विप्रो यस्यान्नमुपजीवति
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmana in his next life comes by the position of that order upon whose food he lives through life or with the undigested portion of whose food in his stomach he dies.
ब्राह्मणत्वं शुभं प्राप्य दुर्लभं योऽवमन्यते अभोज्यान्नानि चाश्नाति स द्विजत्वात्पतेत वै
M. N. Dutt: That man who having acquired the sacred position of a Brahmana which is so difficult to acquire, disregards it and eats forbidden food, falls away from his high status.
सुरापो ब्रह्महा क्षुद्रश्चौरो भग्नव्रतोऽशुचिः स्वाध्यायवर्जितः पापो लुब्धो नैकृतिकः शठः
AI Translation: One who drinks liquor, one who kills a Brahmin, one who is mean, one who is a thief, one who has broken his vows, one who is impure, One who is devoid of Vedic study, one who is sinful, one who is greedy, one who is deceitful, one who is cunning,
अव्रती वृषलीभर्ता कुण्डाशी सोमविक्रयी निहीनसेवी विप्रो हि पतति ब्रह्मयोनितः
AI Translation: One who is not a brahmin, one who is married to a śūdra woman, one who eats from a pot, one who sells Soma, one who associates with low people, a brahmin falls from the source of Brahman.
गुरुतल्पी गुरुद्वेषी गुरुकुत्सारतिश्च यः ब्रह्मद्विट्चापि पतति ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मयोनितः
M. N. Dutt: That Brahmana who violates the bed of his preceptor, or who takes a pleasure in speaking ill of him, falls away from the status of Brahmanahood even if he knows Brahma.
एभिस्तु कर्मभिर्देवि शुभैराचरितैस्तथा शूद्रो ब्राह्मणतां गच्छेद्वैश्यः क्षत्रियतां व्रजेत्
M. N. Dutt: By these good deeds again, O goddess, when performed, a Shudra becomes Brahmana, and Vaishya becomes Kshatriya.
शूद्रकर्माणि सर्वाणि यथान्यायं यथाविधि शुश्रूषां परिचर्यां च ज्येष्ठे वर्णे प्रयत्नतः कुर्यादविमनाः शूद्रः सततं सत्पथे स्थितः
M. N. Dutt: The Shudra should perform all the duties sanctioned for him, properly and according to the ordinance. He should always serve, with obedience and humility, persons of the three others castes and serve them with care.
दैवतद्विजसत्कर्ता सर्वातिथ्यकृतव्रतः ऋतुकालाभिगामी च नियतो नियताशनः
AI Translation: One who worships the gods and the Brahmins, who is hospitable to all, who has control over his senses, who has control over his diet, who has intercourse with his wife only during the prescribed period,
चौक्षश्चौक्षजनान्वेषी शेषान्नकृतभोजनः वृथामांसान्यभुञ्जानः शूद्रो वैश्यत्वमृच्छति
AI Translation: One who is pure, who seeks the company of the pure, who eats only the leftovers of others, and who eats only meat that is not slaughtered for him, a Śūdra becomes a Vaiśya.
ऋतवागनहंवादी निर्द्वंद्वः शमकोविदः यजते नित्ययज्ञैश्च स्वाध्यायपरमः शुचिः
AI Translation: One who speaks the truth, who is not boastful, who is free from duality, who is skilled in tranquility, One who performs the eternal sacrifices, who is devoted to self-study, who is pure,
दान्तो ब्राह्मणसत्कर्ता सर्ववर्णबुभूषकः गृहस्थव्रतमातिष्ठन्द्विकालकृतभोजनः
AI Translation: Self-controlled, honoring Brahmins, desiring the welfare of all castes, Observing the householder's vows, eating twice a day,
शेषाशी विजिताहारो निष्कामो निरहंवदः अग्निहोत्रमुपासंश्च जुह्वानश्च यथाविधि
AI Translation: Eating the leftovers, having conquered the desire for food, without desire, without boasting, Attending the Agnihotra fire, offering oblations according to the prescribed method,
सर्वातिथ्यमुपातिष्ठञ्शेषान्नकृतभोजनः त्रेताग्निमन्त्रविहितो वैश्यो भवति वै यदि स वैश्यः क्षत्रियकुले शुचौ महति जायते
AI Translation: One who has eaten the leftover food of all guests, If a Vaishya is ordained by the fire and mantras of the three fires, That Vaishya is born in a pure and great Kshatriya family.
स वैश्यः क्षत्रियो जातो जन्मप्रभृति संस्कृतः उपनीतो व्रतपरो द्विजो भवति सत्कृतः
M. N. Dutt: If a Vaishya, after having taken birth as a Kshatriya, performs the usual purificatory rites, becomes invested with the sacred thread, and betakes himself of the observance of vows, he becomes, in his next life, an honoured Brahmana.
ददाति यजते यज्ञैः संस्कृतैराप्तदक्षिणैः अधीते स्वर्गमन्विच्छंस्त्रेताग्निशरणः सदा
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, after his birth as a Kshatriya, he should make presents, worship the deities in great sacrifices with profuse presents, study the Vedas, and desirous of attaining to Heaven, should adore the three fires.
आर्तहस्तप्रदो नित्यं प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् सत्यः सत्यानि कुरुते नित्यं यः सुखदर्शनः
M. N. Dutt: He should interfere for removing the sorrows of the distressed, and should always rightcously cherish and protect his subjects. He should be truthful, and do all true works, and seek happiness in conduct like this.
धर्मदण्डो न निर्दण्डो धर्मकार्यानुशासकः यन्त्रितः कार्यकरणे षड्भागकृतलक्षणः
M. N. Dutt: He should administer proper punishments, without laying aside the rod of punishment for good. He should induce men to do righteous deeds. Guided by considerations of policy, he should take a sixth of the produce of the fields.
ग्राम्यधर्मान्न सेवेत स्वच्छन्देनार्थकोविदः ऋतुकाले तु धर्मात्मा पत्नीं सेवेत नित्यदा
M. N. Dutt: He should never indulge in sexual pleasure, but live cheerfully and independently, wellconversant with the science of Wealth or Profit. Of righteous soul, he should seek his married with only in her season.
सर्वोपवासी नियतः स्वाध्यायपरमः शुचिः बर्हिष्कान्तरिते नित्यं शयानोऽग्निगृहे सदा
M. N. Dutt: He should always observe fasts, keep his soul under restraint, devote himself to the study of the Vedas, and be pure in body and mind, He should sleep on blades of Kusha grass spread out in his fired chamber.
सर्वातिथ्यं त्रिवर्गस्य कुर्वाणः सुमनाः सदा शूद्राणां चान्नकामानां नित्यं सिद्धमिति ब्रुवन्
M. N. Dutt: He should pursue the three-fold objects of life, and be always cheerful. He should always say "it is ready” to Shudras desirous of food.
स्वार्थाद्वा यदि वा कामान्न किंचिदुपलक्षयेत् पितृदेवातिथिकृते साधनं कुरुते च यः
M. N. Dutt: He should never wish for anything from motives of gain or pleasure. He should adore the ancestors and gods and guests.
स्ववेश्मनि यथान्यायमुपास्ते भैक्षमेव च त्रिकालमग्निहोत्रं च जुह्वानो वै यथाविधि
M. N. Dutt: In his own house he should live the life of a mendicant. He should duly worship the deities in his Agnihotra, morning, noon, and evening every day, by pouring libations according to the ordinance.
गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय रणे चाभिमुखो हतः त्रेताग्निमन्त्रपूतं वा समाविश्य द्विजो भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: With his face turned towards the enemy, he should renounce his life-breaths in battle fought for the behoof of kine and Brahmanas. Or he may enter the three fires sanctified with Mantras and renounce his body. By doing all this he is born in his next life as a Brahmana.
ज्ञानविज्ञानसंपन्नः संस्कृतो वेदपारगः विप्रो भवति धर्मात्मा क्षत्रियः स्वेन कर्मणा
M. N. Dutt: Gifted with knowledge and science, purified from all dross, and fully conversant with the Vedas, a pious Kshatriya, by his own deeds, becomes, a Brahmana.
एतैः कर्मफलैर्देवि न्यूनजातिकुलोद्भवः शूद्रोऽप्यागमसंपन्नो द्विजो भवति संस्कृतः
M. N. Dutt: It is with the help of these deeds, goddess, that a person who has originated from a dreaded caste, viz., a Shudra, may become a Brahmana purged off of all sins and possessed of Vedic learning.
ब्राह्मणो वाप्यसद्वृत्तः सर्वसंकरभोजनः ब्राह्मण्यं पुण्यमुत्सृज्य शूद्रो भवति तादृशः
M. N. Dutt: One who is a Brahmana, when he becomes wicked in conduct and observes no distinction about food, falls away from the status of Brahmanahood and becomes a Shudra.
कर्मभिः शुचिभिर्देवि शुद्धात्मा विजितेन्द्रियः शूद्रोऽपि द्विजवत्सेव्य इति ब्रह्माब्रवीत्स्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: Even a Shudra, O goddess, who has purified his soul by pure deeds and who has controlled all his senses, deserves to be waited upon and served with respect as a Brahmana. This has been said by the SelfCreate Brahman himself.
स्वभावकर्म च शुभं यत्र शूद्रेऽपि तिष्ठति विशुद्धः स द्विजातिर्वै विज्ञेय इति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: When a pious nature and pious deeds are seen in even a Shudra, he should, according to my opinion, be held supcrior to a person of the three twiceborn classes.
न योनिर्नापि संस्कारो न श्रुतं न च संनतिः कारणानि द्विजत्वस्य वृत्तमेव तु कारणम्
M. N. Dutt: Neither birth, nor the purificatory rites, nor learning, nor offspring, can be considered as grounds for conferring upon one the dignity of a twiceborn person Indeed, conduct is the only ground.
सर्वोऽयं ब्राह्मणो लोके वृत्तेन तु विधीयते वृत्ते स्थितश्च सुश्रोणि ब्राह्मणत्वं निगच्छति
M. N. Dutt: All Brahmanas in this world are Brahmanas on account of conduct. A Shudra, if he is of good conduct, is considered as equal to a B-ahmana.
ब्राह्मः स्वभावः कल्याणि समः सर्वत्र मे मतिः निर्गुणं निर्मलं ब्रह्म यत्र तिष्ठति स द्विजः
M. N. Dutt: The position of Brahma, O auspicious lady, is equal wherever it exists. This is my opinion. He, indeed, is a Brahmana in whom the dignity of Brahman exists, that condition which is bereft of qualities and which has no stain attached to it.
एते योनिफला देवि स्थानभागनिदर्शकाः स्वयं च वरदेनोक्ता ब्रह्मणा सृजता प्रजाः
M. N. Dutt: The boongiving Brahman, while he created all creatures, himself said that the division of human beings into the four orders as dependant on birth is only for purposes of classification.
ब्राह्मणो हि महत्क्षेत्रं लोके चरति पादवत् यत्तत्र बीजं वपति सा कृषिः पारलौकिकी
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmana is a great field in this world, a field having feet, for it moves from place to place. He who plants seeds in that field, O beautiful lady, reaps the corps in the next world.
मिताशिना सदा भाव्यं सत्पथालम्बिना सदा ब्राह्ममार्गमतिक्रम्य वर्तितव्यं बुभूषता
M. N. Dutt: That Brahmana who wishes to secure his own good, should always live upon the remains of the food that may remain in his house after satisfying the need of all others. He should always follow the path of virtue. Indeed, he should tread along the path of Brahma.
संहिताध्यायिना भाव्यं गृहे वै गृहमेधिना नित्यं स्वाध्याययुक्तेन दानाध्ययनजीविना
M. N. Dutt: He should live, engaged in the study of the Samhitas, and remaining at home he should perform all the duties of a householder. He should always be given to the study of the Vedas, but be should never derive the means of livelihood from such study.
एवंभूतो हि यो विप्रः सततं सत्पथे स्थितः आहिताग्निरधीयानो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते
M. N. Dutt: That Brahmana who always acts thus, following the path of virtue, adoring his sacred fire, and engaged in the study of the Vedas, comes to be considered as Brahma.
ब्राह्मण्यमेव संप्राप्य रक्षितव्यं यतात्मभिः योनिप्रतिग्रहादानैः कर्मभिश्च शुचिस्मिते
M. N. Dutt: Having acquired the position of a Brahinana, it should always be protected with care, O you of sweet smiles, by avoiding the stain of contact with persons born in inferior castes, by abstaining from the acceptance of gifts, and by other acts laid down in the scriptures.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथा शूद्रो भवेद्द्विजः ब्राह्मणो वा च्युतो धर्माद्यथा शूद्रत्वमाप्नुते
M. N. Dutt: I have thus told you a mystery, viz., the manner in which a Shudra may become a Brahmana, or that by which a Brahmana falls away from his own pure position and becomes a Shudra, stain of contact with persons born in inferior castes, by abstaining from the acceptance of gifts, and by other acts laid down in the scriptures.