Adhyaya 28: Alarka Inquires into Varna and Ashrama Dharma; Madalasa Defines the Fourfold Duties

Verse 1

इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे पितापुत्रसंवादे आत्मविवेको नाम सप्तविंशोऽध्यायः । अष्टाविंशोऽध्यायः । जड उवाच तन्मातुर्वचनं श्रुत्वा सोऽलर्को मातरं पुनः । पप्रच्छ वर्णधर्मांश्च धर्मा ये चाश्रमेषु च ॥

Thus, in the Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, in the dialogue of father and son, ends the twenty-seventh chapter called ‘Ātmaviveka’. Now begins the twenty-eighth chapter. Jaḍa said: Having heard his mother’s words, Alarka again asked his mother about the duties of the social orders and the duties that belong to the life-stages (āśramas).

Verse 2

अलर्क उवाच कथितोऽयं महाभागे ! राज्यतन्त्राश्रितस्त्वया । धर्मं तमहमिच्छामि श्रोतुं वर्णाश्रमात्मकम् ॥

Alarka said: O noble lady, you have explained this dharma in connection with the machinery of governance. I wish to hear that dharma as it pertains to the varṇas and the āśramas.

Verse 3

मदालसोवाच दानमध्ययनं यज्ञो ब्राह्मणस्य त्रिधा मतः । नान्यश्चतुर्थो धर्मोऽस्ति धर्मस्तस्यापदं विना ॥

Madālasā said: For a brāhmaṇa, dharma is held to be threefold—giving (charity), study (of sacred learning), and sacrifice. There is no fourth duty for him, except in times of distress (āpaddharma).

Verse 4

याजनाध्यापने शुद्धे तथा पूतप्रतिग्रहः । एषा सम्यक् समाख्याता त्रिविधा चास्य जीविका ॥

Performing sacrifices for others and teaching (both) in purity, and accepting only purified (proper) gifts—this has been correctly stated as his threefold livelihood.

Verse 5

दानमध्ययनं यज्ञः क्षत्रियस्याप्ययं त्रिधा । धर्मः प्रोक्तः क्षिते रक्षा शस्त्राजीवञ्च जीविका ॥

For the Kṣatriya too, this dharma is declared as threefold: giving (charity), study, and sacrifice. His livelihood is by protecting the earth (the realm) and by living through the profession of arms.

Verse 6

दानमध्ययनं यज्ञो वैश्यस्यापि त्रिधैव सः । वाणिज्यं पाशुपाल्यञ्च कृषिश्चैवास्य जीविका ॥

For the Vaiśya as well, dharma is likewise threefold: giving, study, and sacrifice. His livelihood is through trade, the tending of cattle, and agriculture.

Verse 7

दानं यज्ञोऽथ शुश्रूषा द्विजातीनां त्रिधा मया । व्याख्यातः शूद्रधर्मोऽपि जीविका कारुकर्म च ॥

Charity, sacrifice, and service to the twice-born—these three have been explained by me; the dharma of the Śūdra too (is thus stated), and his livelihood is by artisanal and manual work.

Verse 8

तद्वद् द्विजातिशुश्रूषा पोषणं क्रयविक्रयौ । वर्णधर्मास्त्विमे प्रोक्ताः श्रूयन्तां चाश्रमाश्रयाः ॥

Likewise (are prescribed) service to the twice-born, maintenance/support, and buying and selling. Thus have these duties of the varṇas been stated; now hear the duties that depend upon the āśramas (stages of life).

Verse 9

स्ववर्णधर्मात् संसिद्धिं नरः प्राप्नोति न च्युतः । प्रयाति नरकं प्रेत्य प्रतिषिद्धनिषेवणात् ॥

By adhering to the dharma of one’s own varṇa, a person attains fulfillment and does not fall away. But by indulging in what is forbidden, he goes to hell after death.

Verse 10

यावत्तु नोपनयनं क्रियते वै द्विजन्मनः । कामचेष्टोक्तिभक्ष्यश्च तावद् भवति पुत्रक ॥

So long as the upanayana (initiation) is not performed for one born as a twice-born, he remains (free to act) according to desire in conduct, speech, and food—O son.

Verse 11

कृतोपनयनः सम्यग् ब्रह्मचारी गुरुगृहे । वसेत्तत्र च धर्मोऽस्य कथ्यते तं निबोध मे ॥

Having duly undergone upanayana, the brahmacārin should dwell in the guru’s house. There his dharma will be described—understand it from me.

Verse 12

स्वाध्यायोऽथाग्रिशुश्रूषा स्नानं भिक्षाटनं तथा । गुरोर्निवेद्य तच्चान्नमनुज्ञातेन सर्वदा ॥

Self-study, service at the sacred fires, bathing, and going for alms; and having offered that food to the guru, he should always eat only with the guru’s permission.

Verse 13

गुरोः कर्मणि सोद्योगः सम्यक् प्रीत्युपपादनम् । तेनाहूतः पठेच्चैव तत्परो नान्यमानसः ॥

He should be diligent in the guru’s tasks and properly cultivate the guru’s satisfaction. When called by him, he should study/recite, intent upon that alone, with no other mind (no distraction).

Verse 14

एकं द्वौ सकलान् वापि वेदान् प्राप्य गुरोर्मुखात् । अनुज्ञातोऽथ वन्दित्वा दक्षिणां गुरवे ततः ॥

Having received from the guru’s mouth one, two, or all of the Vedas, and then being granted permission (to depart/complete), he should bow and thereafter give the teacher’s fee (dakṣiṇā) to the guru.

Verse 15

गार्हस्थ्याश्रमकामस्तु गृहस्थाश्रममावसेत् । वानप्रस्थाश्रमं वापि चतुर्थं चेच्छयात्मनः ॥

One who desires the householder stage should dwell in the householder āśrama; or, if he so wishes for himself, he may enter the forest-dweller stage, or even the fourth (renunciate) stage.

Verse 16

तत्रैव वा गुरोर्गेहे द्विजो निष्ठामवाप्नुयात् । गुरोरभावे तत्पुत्रे तच्छिष्ये तత్సुतं विना ॥

There itself—either (in that āśrama) or in the teacher’s house—a twice-born should attain steadfast completion (of his discipline). If the guru is absent, (he should do so) under the guru’s son, or (failing that) under the guru’s disciple—without bypassing them (i.e., not disregarding that lineage of authority).

Verse 17

शुश्रूषुर्निरभिमानो ब्रह्मचार्याश्रमं वसेत् । उपावृत्तस्ततस्तस्मात् गृहस्थाश्रमकाम्यया ॥

Intent on service and free from pride, he should dwell in the student (brahmacarya) āśrama. Then, returning from there, he may do so with the desire to enter the householder stage.

Verse 18

ततोऽसमानाॠषिकुलां तुल्यां भार्यामरोगिणीम् । उद्वहेन्न्यायतोऽव्यङ्गां गृहस्थाश्रमकारणात् ॥

Thereafter, for the sake of establishing the householder āśrama, he should lawfully marry a wife who is of a comparable standing, not from the same ṛṣi-lineage (gotra), healthy, and free from bodily defect.

Verse 19

स्वकर्मणा धनं लब्ध्वा पितृदेवातिथींस्तथा । सम्यक् सम्प्रीणयन् भक्त्या पोषयेच्चाश्रितांस्तथा ॥

Having gained wealth by his own proper work, he should duly please the ancestors, the gods, and guests with devotion; and likewise he should support those who depend upon him.

Verse 20

भृत्यात्मजान् जामयोऽथ दीनान्धपतितानपि । यथाशक्त्यान्नदानेन वयांसि पशवस्तथा ॥

He should, according to his capacity, provide food-gifts to servants and children, to female relatives by marriage, and also to the poor, the blind, and the fallen; and likewise (feed) birds and animals.

Verse 21

एष धर्मो गृहस्थस्य ऋतावभिगमस्तथा । पञ्चयज्ञविधानन्तु यथाशक्त्या न हापयेत् ॥

This is the dharma of the householder—conjugal approach in the proper season as well. And the prescribed observance of the five sacrifices should not be neglected, to the best of one’s ability.

Verse 22

पितृदेवातिथिज्ञातिभुक्तशेषं स्वयं नरः । भुञ्जीत च समं भृत्यैर्यथाविभवमादृतः ॥

After the ancestors, gods, guests, and kinsmen have eaten, a man should himself eat what remains; and, with due regard to his means, he should share equally with his servants.

Verse 23

एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो गृहस्थस्याश्रमो मया । वानप्रस्थस्य धर्मं ते कथयाम्यवधार्यताम् ॥

Thus, in outline, I have described the householder āśrama. Now I shall tell you the dharma of the forest-dweller; let it be carefully heeded.

Verse 24

अपत्यसन्ततिं दृष्ट्वा प्राज्ञो चानतिम् । वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गच्छेदात्मनः शुद्धिकारणात् ॥

Having seen his line of offspring established, the wise man—(having also seen) decline/aging—should go to the forest-dweller āśrama, for the sake of his own purification.

Verse 25

तत्रारण्योपभोगश्च तपोभिश्चानुकरषणम् । भूमौ शय्या ब्रह्मचर्यं पितृदेवातिथिक्रिया ॥

There (in the forest-life), one should live on what the forest provides, and discipline the body through austerities; one should sleep on the ground, practice continence, and perform the due rites for ancestors, gods, and guests.

Verse 26

होमस्त्रिषवणस्नानं जटावल्कलधारणम् । योगाभ्यासः सदा चैव वन्यस्नेहनिषेवणम् ॥

He should perform fire-offerings; bathe at the three daily junctions; wear matted hair and bark-garments; constantly practice yoga; and partake of forest-available fats/oils (as his simple sustenance).

Verse 27

इत्येष पापशुद्ध्यर्थमात्मनश्चोपकारकः । वानप्रस्थाश्रमस्तस्माद्भिक्षोस्तु चरमोऽपरः ॥

Thus this Vānaprastha-āśrama is for the purification from sin and is beneficial to the self; therefore, for the mendicant (bhikṣu), the other—namely the final (stage)—is (to be undertaken).

Verse 28

चतुर्थस्य स्वरूपं तु श्रूयतामाश्रमस्य मे । यः स्वधर्मोऽस्य धर्मज्ञैः प्रोक्तस्तात ! महात्मभिः ॥

Now hear from me the nature of the fourth āśrama—its own duty—as declared by the great-souled knowers of dharma, O dear one.

Verse 29

सर्वसङ्गपरित्यागो ब्रह्मचर्यमकोपिता । यतेन्द्रियत्ममावासे नैकस्मिन् वसतिः चिरम् ॥

Abandonment of all attachments, continence, and freedom from anger; restraint of the senses; and in dwelling, not staying long in any one place—these are (the marks of the fourth āśrama).

Verse 30

अनारम्भस्तथाहारो भैक्षान्नेनैककालिना । आत्मज्ञानावबोधेच्छा तथा चात्मावलोकनम् ॥

Non-initiating of undertakings; taking food only once a day, consisting of alms; the desire to awaken knowledge of the Self; and contemplation of the Self—these too (belong to that dharma).

Verse 31

चतुर्थे त्वाश्रमे धर्मो मयायं ते निवेदितः । सामान्यं अन्यवर्णानामाश्रमाणाञ्च मे शृणु ॥

Thus, the dharma of the fourth āśrama has been explained to you by me. Now hear from me the common duties shared by the other social classes and the āśramas as well.

Verse 32

सत्यं शौचमहिंसा च अनसूया तथा क्षमा । आनृशंस्यमकार्पण्यं सन्तोषश्चाष्टमो गुणः ॥

Truthfulness, purity, non-violence, freedom from envy, forbearance; kindness (non-cruelty), non-miserliness, and contentment as the eighth virtue—these are the (general) qualities.

Verse 33

एते संक्षेपतः प्रोक्ता धर्मा वर्णाश्रमेषु ते । एतेषु च स्वधर्मेषु स्वेषु तिष्ठेत् समन्ततः ॥

These dharmas have been taught to you in brief for the varṇas and āśramas. In these respective duties, each person should remain firmly established on all sides (i.e., in every way).

Verse 34

यश्चोल्लङ्घ्य स्वकं धर्मं स्ववर्णाश्रमसंज्ञितम् । नरोऽन्यथा प्रवर्तेत स दण्ड्यो भूभृतो भवेत् ॥

And the man who, transgressing his own duty—defined by his varṇa and āśrama—acts otherwise, should be punishable; he becomes liable to the king’s chastisement.

Verse 35

ये च स्वधर्मसन्त्यागात् पापं कुर्वन्ति मानवाः । उपेक्षतस्तान् नृपतेरिष्टापूर्तं प्रणश्यति ॥

And those men who, abandoning their own duty (svadharma), commit sin—if the king disregards them, the king’s merit from sacrifices and charitable works (iṣṭa and pūrta) is destroyed.

Verse 36

तस्माद्राज्ञा प्रयत्नेन सर्वे वर्णाः स्वधर्मतः । प्रवर्तन्तोऽन्यथा दण्ड्याः स्थाप्याश्चैव स्वकर्मसु ॥

Therefore, the king must, with effort, ensure that all social orders proceed according to their own duties; those acting otherwise are to be punished and also set back into their respective proper works.