Adhyaya 121: Avoidance of Rebirth in the Womb: Ethical Conduct and the Prevention of Degraded Rebirth

Verse 1

अथ जन्माभावः ॥ श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ येन गर्भं न गच्छेत तच्छृणुष्व वसुन्धरे ॥ कथयिष्यामि ते ह्येवं सर्वधर्मविनिश्चयम् ॥

Now follows the topic of the cessation of birth. Śrī Varāha said: Hear, O Vasundharā, that by which one does not enter the womb again; I shall explain to you in this manner a decisive determination regarding all dharmas.

Verse 2

कृत्वापि विपुलं कर्म आत्मानं न प्रशंसति ॥ करोति बहुकर्माणि शुद्धेनैवान्तरात्मना ॥

Even after performing abundant deeds, one does not praise oneself; one performs many actions with an inward self that is indeed purified.

Verse 3

कृत्वा तु मम कर्माणि समर्थोऽनुग्रहे रतः ॥ कार्याकार्ये विजानाति सर्वधर्मेषु निष्ठितः ॥

But having performed the duties taught by me, one becomes capable and devoted to beneficent conduct; established in all dharmas, one discerns what should be done and what should not be done.

Verse 4

शीतोष्णवातवर्षादिक्षुत्पिपासासहश्च यः ॥ यो दरिद्रो निरालस्यः सत्यवागनसूयकः ॥

One who endures cold and heat, wind and rain, and likewise hunger and thirst; who, though poor, is not slothful; whose speech is truthful and who is free from envy—

Verse 5

स्वदारनिरतो नित्यं परदारविवर्जकः ॥ सत्यवादी विशुद्धात्मा नित्यं च भगवत्प्रियः ॥

(One who is) always devoted to one’s own spouse and avoids another’s spouse; a speaker of truth, of purified disposition, and continually dear to the Lord—

Verse 6

संविभाज्य विशेषज्ञो नित्यं ब्राह्मणवत्सलः ॥ प्रियभाषी द्विजानां च मम कर्मपरायणः ॥

(One who is) generous in sharing, discerning in matters of propriety, consistently well-disposed toward the learned brahmin community; who speaks pleasantly to the twice-born, and is devoted to the duties taught by me—

Verse 7

कुयोनिं तु न गच्छेत मम लोकं स गच्छति ॥ अन्यच्च ते प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्छृणुष्व वसुन्धरे ॥

Such a person does not go to a bad womb (an unfortunate birth); he attains my realm. And further I shall declare to you—listen, O Vasundharā.

Verse 8

यो वियोनिं न गच्छेत मम कर्मपरायणः ॥ जीवहिंसानिवृत्तस्तु सर्वभूतहितः शुचिः

One who is devoted to my prescribed discipline of action does not fall into an inauspicious womb—having ceased from harming living beings, being beneficial to all creatures, and being pure.

Verse 9

सर्वत्र समतायुक्तः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ॥ बाल्ये स्थितोऽपि वयसि क्षान्तो दान्तः शुभे रतः

Equanimous in all situations—regarding clod, stone, and gold alike—remaining as though in childlike simplicity even in mature age; patient, self-restrained, and devoted to what is good.

Verse 10

व्यलीकाद्विनिवृत्तो यस्तथ्येतिकृतनिश्चयः ॥ नित्यं च वृत्तिमान्कश्चित्परोक्षेऽपि न चाक्षिपेत्

One who has turned away from deceit and has formed a firm resolve for what is true; and who, being consistently well-conducted, does not disparage anyone even in their absence.

Verse 11

ऋतुकालेऽपि गच्छेद्यः अपत्यार्थे स्वकां स्त्रियम् ॥ ईदृशास्तु नरा भद्रे मम कर्मपरायणाः

One who approaches his own wife only in the proper season and for the purpose of offspring—such men, O noble lady, are devoted to my prescribed discipline of action.

Verse 12

ते वियोनिं न गच्छन्ति मम गच्छन्ति सुन्दरी ॥ पुनरन्यत्प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्छृणुष्व वसुन्धरे

They do not fall into an inauspicious womb; O fair one, they attain what is mine. Again I shall explain something further—listen to that, O Vasundharā (Earth).

Verse 13

पुरुषाणां प्रसन्नानां यश्च धर्मः सनातनः ॥ मनुनाप्यन्यथा दृष्टो ह्यन्यथाङ्गिरसेन च

And that eternal dharma belonging to serene and well-disposed persons has been seen in one way by Manu, and in another way also by Aṅgiras.

Verse 14

शुक्रेण चान्यथा दृष्टो गौतमेनापि चान्यथा ॥ सोमेन चान्यथा दृष्टो रुद्रेणाप्यन्यथा पुनः

It has been viewed differently by Śukra, and differently also by Gautama; differently by Soma, and again differently even by Rudra.

Verse 15

अग्निना वायुनाचैव दृष्टो धर्मोऽन्यथा धरे ॥ यमेन चान्यथा दृष्ट इन्द्रेण वरुणेन च

Dharma has been seen differently by Agni and by Vāyu, O Earth; differently by Yama, and differently by Indra and by Varuṇa.

Verse 16

कुबेरॆणान्यथा दृष्टः शाण्डिल्येनापि चान्यथा ॥ पुलस्त्येनान्यथा दृष्ट आदित्येनापि चान्यथा

It has been seen differently by Kubera, and differently also by Śāṇḍilya; differently by Pulastya, and differently also by Āditya.

Verse 17

पितृभिश्चान्यथा दृष्टो ह्यन्यथापि स्वयम्भुवा ॥ आत्मनात्मनि धर्मेण ये नरा निश्चितव्रताः

It has been seen differently by the Pitṛs, and also differently by Svayambhū (the Self-born). Those men who are of fixed vows are settled in dharma within themselves, by the self in the self.

Verse 18

न निन्देद्धर्मकार्याणि आत्मधर्मपथे स्थितः ॥ एभिर्गुणैः समायुक्तो मम कर्माणि कारयेत् ॥

Established on the path of one’s own dharma, one should not disparage acts of righteousness. Endowed with these virtues, one should carry out the actions enjoined by Me.

Verse 19

वियोनिं स न गच्छेत मम लोकाय गच्छति ॥ पुनरन्यत्तु वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणुष्वेह माधवि ॥

He would not go to an inferior birth; he goes to My world. And again I shall state something further—listen here, O Mādhavī.

Verse 20

तरन्ति पुरुषा येन गर्भसंसारसागरम् ॥ जितेन्द्रिया जितक्रोधा लोभमोहविवर्जिताः ॥

By this, people cross the ocean of transmigratory existence bound up with repeated embodiment. They are those who have conquered the senses, conquered anger, and are free from greed and delusion.

Verse 21

आत्मोपकारका नित्यं देवातिथिगुरुप्रियाः ॥ हिंसादीनि न कुर्वन्ति मधुमांसविवर्जकाः ॥

Always devoted to beneficial conduct (including self-betterment), they are pleasing to the gods, guests, and teachers. They do not commit violence and the like, and they abstain from honey and meat.

Verse 22

मनसा ब्राह्मणीं चैव यो गच्छेन्न कदाचन ॥ विप्राय कपिलां दद्याद्वृद्धवं सान्त्वेन पालयेत् ॥

And whoever would never approach a Brāhmaṇa woman even in thought—he should give a tawny cow (kapilā) to a learned priest, and he should support the aged with gentle consolation and care.

Verse 23

सर्वेषां चैव पुत्राणां न विशेषं करोति यः ॥ संक्रुद्धं ब्राह्मणं दृष्ट्वा यस्तु तत्र प्रसादयेत् ॥

Whoever makes no distinction among all his sons—and whoever, upon seeing an enraged Brāhmaṇa, succeeds in pacifying him there—

Verse 24

यः स्पृशेत्कपिलां भक्त्या कुमारिं न च दूषयेत् ॥ अग्निं न च क्रमेत्पद्भ्यां न च पुत्रेण भाषयेत् ॥

Whoever touches a tawny cow (kapilā) with devotion and does not violate the integrity of a maiden; who does not step over fire with the feet, and does not speak through one’s son as an intermediary—

Verse 25

जलेन मेहेद्यस्तु गुरुभक्तो न जल्पकः ॥ एवं धर्मेण संयुक्तो यो नु मां प्रतिपद्यते ॥

But whoever urinates in water, yet is devoted to the teacher and not a prattler—whoever, endowed with such dharma, truly resorts to me—

Verse 26

स च गर्भं न गच्छेत मम लोकं स गच्छति ॥

And he would not return to the womb (to re-embodiment); he goes to my world.

Verse 27

शङ्खेन चान्यथा दृष्टो लिखितेनापि चान्यथा ॥ कश्यपेनान्यथा दृष्टो धर्मेणाप्यन्यथा धरे ॥

Seen in one way by Śaṅkha, and in another way even in written form; seen in another way by Kaśyapa, and even by dharma in yet another way, O bearer (of the earth).

Verse 28

नित्यं नैव विजानाति परेणापकृतं क्वचित् ॥ कर्त्तव्यं संस्मरेत्सर्वं मम सत्यं च जल्पति

One should never keep account of a wrong done by another; remember only what must be done, and speak the truth as one’s own vow.

Verse 29

स्वकं पालयते धर्मं स्वमतेनैव भाषितम् ॥ परवादं न कुर्वीत सर्वधर्मेषु निश्चितम्

Uphold one’s own dharma, as spoken according to one’s own understanding; do not speak ill of others—this is the settled rule in all dharmic disciplines.