Adhyaya 13

Verse 1

सोमशर्मोवाच । लक्षणं ब्रह्मचर्यस्य तन्मे विस्तरतो वद । कीदृशं ब्रह्मचर्यं च यदि जानासि भामिनि

Somaśarmā said: “Tell me in detail the defining marks of brahmacarya. And what kind of brahmacarya is it—if you know, O fair lady?”

Verse 2

नित्यं सत्ये रतिर्यस्य पुण्यात्मा तुष्टितां व्रजेत् । ऋतौ प्राप्ते व्रजेन्नारीं स्वीयां दोषविवर्जितः

The virtuous man whose delight is ever in truth attains contentment. When the proper season has come, free from fault, he should approach his own wife.

Verse 3

स्वकुलस्य सदाचारं कदानैव विमुंचति । एतदेव समाख्यातं गृहस्थस्य द्विजोत्तम

He should never abandon, at any time, the virtuous conduct of his own lineage. This indeed has been declared, O best of the twice-born, as the essential rule for a householder.

Verse 4

ब्रह्मचर्यं मया प्रोक्तं गृहिणामुत्तमं किल । यतीनां तु प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु

I have indeed taught the excellent discipline of brahmacarya as it applies to householders. Now I shall explain (the discipline) for renunciants (yatīs); listen as I state it.

Verse 5

दमसत्यसमायुक्तः पापाद्भीतस्तु सर्वदा । भार्यासंगं वर्जयित्वा ध्यानज्ञानप्रतिष्ठितः

Endowed with self-control and truthfulness, ever fearful of sin, he avoids attachment to his wife and remains firmly established in meditation and spiritual knowledge.

Verse 6

यतीनां ब्रह्मचर्यं च समाख्यातं तवाग्रतः । तप एव प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मेनिगदतः शृणु

I have already explained to you, here in your presence, the celibate discipline (brahmacarya) of ascetics. Now I shall speak of tapas, austerity; listen as I set it forth.

Verse 7

आचारेण प्रवर्तेत कामक्रोधविवर्जितः । प्राणिनामुपकाराय संस्थितौद्यमावृतः

Let one act with proper discipline, free from desire and anger, remaining steady in effort, devoted to the welfare of all living beings.

Verse 8

तप एवं समाख्यातं सत्यमेवं वदाम्यहम् । परद्रव्येष्वलोलुप्त्वं परस्त्रीषु तथैव च

Thus is tapas defined—this I declare as truth: freedom from coveting another’s wealth, and likewise restraint regarding another’s wife.

Verse 9

दृष्ट्वा मतिर्न यस्य स्यात्स सत्यः परिकीर्तितः । दानमेव प्रवक्ष्यामि येन जीवंति मानवाः

He whose understanding does not waver after beholding the truth is praised as truthful. Now I shall explain dāna, charity, by which human beings live.

Verse 10

आत्मसौख्यं प्रतीच्छेद्यः स इहैव परत्र वा । अन्नस्यापि महादानं सुखस्यैव ध्रुवस्य वा

One should accept and pursue one’s own true well-being, whether in this life or in the hereafter. Even the great gift of food is, in essence, a gift that bestows happiness—sure, stable, and enduring happiness.

Verse 11

ग्रासमात्रं तथा देयं क्षुधार्ताय न संशयः । दत्ते सति महत्पुण्यममृतं सोश्नुते सदा

Even a single mouthful should be given to one afflicted by hunger—there is no doubt. When one gives, great merit (puṇya) arises, and the giver ever partakes of the deathless reward.

Verse 12

दिनेदिने प्रदातव्यं यथाविभवसंभवम् । तृणं शय्यां च वचनं गृहच्छायां सुशीतलाम्

Day after day one should give according to one’s capacity—offering even simple grass, a bed, kind words, and the cool shade of one’s home.

Verse 13

भूमिमापस्तथा चान्नं प्रियवाक्यमनुत्तमम् । आसनं वचनालापं कौटिल्येन विवर्जितम्

Offer a guest a place to stay, water, and food; speak supremely pleasant words; provide a seat and converse—free from any crookedness or deceit.

Verse 14

आत्मनो जीवनार्थाय नित्यमेव करोति यः । देवान्पितॄन्समभ्यर्च्य एवं दानं ददाति यः

He who continually acts for his own livelihood, and who—having duly worshiped the gods (devas) and the ancestors (pitṛs)—thus gives in charity.

Verse 15

इहैव मोदते सो वै परत्र हि तथैव च । अवंध्यं दिवसं यो वै दानाध्ययनकर्मभिः

He rejoices here in this very life, and likewise in the hereafter—whoever makes his day not in vain through acts of giving, study, and the duties of dharma.

Verse 16

प्रकुर्यान्मानुषो भूत्वा स देवो नात्र संशयः । नियमं च प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मसाधनमुत्तमम्

Whoever undertakes this after becoming human becomes divine—of this there is no doubt. Now I shall declare the niyama, the supreme discipline for accomplishing dharma.

Verse 17

देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च पूजास्वभिरतो हि यः । नित्यं नियमसंयुक्तो दानव्रतेषु सुव्रत

He who is devoted to the worship of the gods and of the brāhmaṇas, ever disciplined in his observances, and steadfast in vows of charity and sacred restraint—such a one is a person of excellent vows.

Verse 18

उपकारेषु पुण्येषु नियमोऽयं प्रकीर्तितः । क्षमारूपं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां द्विजसत्तम

This rule concerning meritorious acts of beneficence has been proclaimed. Now I shall explain the nature of forgiveness—listen, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 19

पराक्रोशं हि संश्रुत्य ताडिते सति केनचित् । क्रोधं न चैव गच्छेत्तु ताडितो न हि ताडयेत्

Even on hearing harsh abuse, and even if one is struck by someone, one should not fall into anger; for one who has been struck should not strike back.

Verse 20

सहिष्णुः स्यात्स धर्मात्मा नहि रागं प्रयाति च । समश्नाति परं सौख्यमिह चामुत्र वापि च

The righteous-souled person should be forbearing; he does not fall into passion or attachment. He enjoys the highest happiness—here in this world and also in the next.

Verse 21

एवं क्षमा समाख्याता शौचमेवं वदाम्यहम् । सबाह्याभ्यंतरे यो वै शुद्धो रागविवर्जितः

Thus forgiveness has been explained; now I shall speak of purity. Truly pure is one who is clean both outwardly and inwardly, free from attachment and passion.

Verse 22

स्नानाचमनकैरेव व्यवहारेण वर्तते । शौचमेवं समाख्यातमहिंसां तु वदाम्यहम्

By bathing, by ācamana (ritual sipping of water), and by proper conduct in daily dealings, one maintains purity. Thus purity has been explained; now I shall speak of non-violence (ahiṁsā).

Verse 23

तृणमपि विना कार्यञ्छेत्तव्यं न विजानता । अहिंसानिरतो भूयाद्यथात्मनि तथापरे

Not knowing that one should not cut even a blade of grass without necessity, one should instead be devoted to ahiṁsā—non-violence toward others just as toward oneself.

Verse 24

शांतिमेव प्रक्ष्यामि शांत्या सुखं समश्नुते । शांतिरेव प्रकर्तव्या क्लेशान्नैव परित्यजेत्

I shall proclaim peace alone; through peace one truly enjoys happiness. Peace alone is to be cultivated—one should never abandon it even amid afflictions.

Verse 25

भूतवैरं विसृज्यैव मन एवं प्रकारयेत् । एवं शांतिः समाख्याता अस्तेयं तु वदाम्यहम्

Abandoning all enmity toward living beings, one should train the mind in this way. Thus peace is defined; now I shall speak of non-stealing (asteya).

Verse 26

परस्वं नैव हर्तव्यं परजाया तथैव च । मनोभिर्वचनैः कायैर्मन एवं प्रकारयेत्

One should never take another’s property, nor violate another’s wife; one should discipline the mind so that, in thought, word, and deed, it acts in this way.

Verse 27

दममेव प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रे द्विजसत्तम । दमनादिंद्रियाणां वै मनसोपि विकारिणः

O best of the twice-born, I shall explain self-restraint to you. By restraining the senses, even the mind—prone to modifications—comes under control.

Verse 28

औद्धत्यं नाशयेत्तेषां स चैतन्यो वशी तदा । शुश्रूषां तु प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मशास्त्रेषु यादृशी

He should destroy their arrogance; then that self-possessed, conscious one becomes master of himself. Now I shall explain the attentive, devoted service (śuśrūṣā) described in the Dharmaśāstras.

Verse 29

पूर्वाचार्यैर्यथा प्रोक्ता तामेवं प्रवदाम्यहम् । वाचा देहेन मनसा गुरुकार्यं प्रसाधयेत्

Just as it was taught by the earlier teachers, so do I declare it: one should accomplish the guru’s work through speech, through the body, and through the mind.

Verse 30

जायतेऽनुग्रहो यत्र शुश्रूषा सा निगद्यते । सांगो धर्मः समाख्यातस्तवाग्रे द्विजसत्तम

That service in which grace arises is called śuśrūṣā—attentive, devoted service. Thus, O best of twice-born, I have explained to you dharma together with its proper supports and practices.

Verse 31

अन्यच्च ते प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रोतुमिच्छसि यत्पते । ईदृशे चापि धर्मे तु वर्तते यो नरः सदा

And further I shall tell you—if you wish to hear it, O lord—of the man who ever remains steadfast in such a dharma as this.

Verse 32

संसारे तस्य संभूतिः पुनरेव न जायते । स्वर्गं गच्छति धर्मेण सत्यंसत्यं वदाम्यहम्

In this worldly cycle, such a one is not born again. By righteousness he goes to heaven—this is the truth, the truth I declare.

Verse 33

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाप्राज्ञ धर्ममेव व्रजस्व हि । सर्वं हि प्राप्यते कांत यदसाध्यं महीतले

Knowing this, O great wise one, go only to Dharma indeed. O beloved, everything can be attained—what is there on the earth that is impossible to achieve?

Verse 34

धर्मप्रसादतस्तस्मात्कुरु वाक्यं ममैव हि । भार्यायास्तुवचः श्रुत्वा सोमशर्मा सुबुद्धिमान्

Therefore, by the grace of Dharma, do exactly as I say. Hearing his wife’s words, Somaśarmā—wise and discerning—accepted them.

Verse 35

पुनः प्रोवाच तां भार्यां सुमनां धर्मवादिनीम्

Again he spoke to his wife Sumanā, she who spoke of dharma.