Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) · Chapter 12
Adhyaya 12: Transmigration; Final Beatitude
Translated by Georg Bühler (1886, Sacred Books of the East Vol 25, public domain), 1886. Public domain.
- 12.1
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य कृत्स्नोऽयं उक्तो धर्मस्त्वयानघः ।कर्मणां फलनिर्वृत्तिं शंस नस्तत्त्वतः पराम्
cāturvarṇyasya kṛtsno'yaṃ ukto dharmastvayānaghaḥ |karmaṇāṃ phalanirvṛttiṃ śaṃsa nastattvataḥ parām
J 5; Ap.II, 21,1-5,19; II, x4- A
- 12.2
स तानुवाच धर्मात्मा महर्षीन्मानवो भृगुः ।अस्य सर्वस्य शृणुत कर्मयोगस्य निर्णयम्
sa tānuvāca dharmātmā maharṣīnmānavo bhṛguḥ |asya sarvasya śṛṇuta karmayogasya nirṇayam
Va. VIII, 1 ; Ya. I, 52.
- 12.3
शुभाशुभफलं कर्म मनोवाग्देहसंभवम् ।कर्मजा गतयो नॄणां उत्तमाधममध्यमः
śubhāśubhaphalaṃ karma manovāgdehasaṃbhavam |karmajā gatayo nṝṇāṃ uttamādhamamadhyamaḥ
S&. Gri. Ill, 1, 5, 17; Go. Gri. Ill, 4, 30-34.
- 12.4
तस्येह त्रिविधस्यापि त्र्यधिष्ठानस्य देहिनः ।दशलक्षणयुक्तस्य मनो विद्यात्प्रवर्तकम्
tasyeha trividhasyāpi tryadhiṣṭhānasya dehinaḥ |daśalakṣaṇayuktasya mano vidyātpravartakam
' Of three kinds/ i. e. ' good, middling, or bad.' ' Has three I i 2 below, even to that (action) which is connected with the body, (and) which is of three kinds, has three
- 12.5
परद्रव्येष्वभिध्यानं मनसानिष्टचिन्तनम् ।वितथाभिनिवेशश्च त्रिविधं कर्म मानसम्
paradravyeṣvabhidhyānaṃ manasāniṣṭacintanam |vitathābhiniveśaśca trividhaṃ karma mānasam
Coveting the property of others, thinking in one's heart of what is undesirable, and adherence to false (doctrines), are the three kinds of (sinful) mental action.
- 12.6
पारुष्यं अनृतं चैव पैशुन्यं चापि सर्वशः ।असंबद्धप्रलापश्च वाङ्मयं स्याच्चतुर्विधम्
pāruṣyaṃ anṛtaṃ caiva paiśunyaṃ cāpi sarvaśaḥ |asaṃbaddhapralāpaśca vāṅmayaṃ syāccaturvidham
Abusing (others, speaking) untruth, detracting from the merits of all men, and talking idly, shall be the four kinds of (evil) verbal action.
- 12.7
अदत्तानां उपादानं हिंसा चैवाविधानतः ।परदारोपसेवा च शारीरं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्
adattānāṃ upādānaṃ hiṃsā caivāvidhānataḥ |paradāropasevā ca śārīraṃ trividhaṃ smṛtam
Taking what has not been given, injuring (creatures) without the sanction of the law, and holding criminal intercourse with another man's wife, are declared to be the three kinds of (wicked)
- 12.8
मानसं मनसैवायं उपभुङ्क्ते शुभाशुभम् ।वाचा वाचा कृतं कर्म कायेनैव च कायिकम्
mānasaṃ manasaivāyaṃ upabhuṅkte śubhāśubham |vācā vācā kṛtaṃ karma kāyenaiva ca kāyikam
(A man) obtains (the result of) a good or evil mental (act) in his mind, (that of) a verbal (act) in his speech, (that of) a bodily (act) in his body.
- 12.9
शरीरजैः कर्मदोषैर्याति स्थावरतां नरः ।वाचिकैः पक्षिमृगतां मानसैरन्त्यजातिताम्
śarīrajaiḥ karmadoṣairyāti sthāvaratāṃ naraḥ |vācikaiḥ pakṣimṛgatāṃ mānasairantyajātitām
In consequence of (many) sinful acts committed with his body, a man becomes (in the next birth] something inanimate, in consequence (of sins) corn- locations,' i. e. ' the mind, speech, and the body.' ' Falls under tei
- 12.10
वाग्दण्डोऽथ मनोदण्डः कायदण्डस्तथैव च ।यस्यैते निहिता बुद्धौ त्रिदण्डीति स उच्यते
vāgdaṇḍo'tha manodaṇḍaḥ kāyadaṇḍastathaiva ca |yasyaite nihitā buddhau tridaṇḍīti sa ucyate
That man is called a (true) trida/^in in whose \ r mind these three, the control over his speech (vag- da/^a), the control over his thoughts (manoda^^a), and the control over his body (kayada^da), are firmly^}
- 12.11
त्रिदण्डं एतन्निक्षिप्य सर्वभूतेषु मानवः ।कामक्रोधौ तु संयम्य ततः सिद्धिं नियच्छति
tridaṇḍaṃ etannikṣipya sarvabhūteṣu mānavaḥ |kāmakrodhau tu saṃyamya tataḥ siddhiṃ niyacchati
That man who keeps this threefold control/ (over himself) with respect to all created beings and\ wholly subdues desire and wrath, thereby assuredly I gains complete success.
- 12.12
योऽस्यात्मनः कारयिता तं क्षेत्रज्ञं प्रचक्षते ।यः करोति तु कर्माणि स भूतात्मोच्यते बुधैः
yo'syātmanaḥ kārayitā taṃ kṣetrajñaṃ pracakṣate |yaḥ karoti tu karmāṇi sa bhūtātmocyate budhaiḥ
Him who impels this (corporeal) Self to action, they call the Kshetra^a (the knower of the field) ; but him who does the acts, the wise name the Bhutatman (the Self consisting of the elements).
- 12.13
जीवसंज्ञोऽन्तरात्मान्यः सहजः सर्वदेहिनाम् ।येन वेदयते सर्वं सुखं दुःखं च जन्मसु
jīvasaṃjño'ntarātmānyaḥ sahajaḥ sarvadehinām |yena vedayate sarvaṃ sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ ca janmasu
Another internal Self that is generated with all embodied (Kshetra^7/as) is called 6iva, through which (the Kshetra^a) becomes sensible of all pleasure and pain in (successive) births.
- 12.14
तावुभौ भूतसंपृक्तौ महान्क्षेत्रज्ञ एव च ।उच्चावचेषु भूतेषु स्थितं तं व्याप्य तिष्ठतः
tāvubhau bhūtasaṃpṛktau mahānkṣetrajña eva ca |uccāvaceṣu bhūteṣu sthitaṃ taṃ vyāpya tiṣṭhataḥ
These two, the Great One and the Kshetra^a, who are closely united with the elements, pervade him who resides in the multiform created beings. Giva, has been mentioned in verse 1 2 under the appellation Kshe-
- 12.15
असंख्या मूर्तयस्तस्य निष्पतन्ति शरीरतः ।उच्चावचानि भूतानि सततं चेष्टयन्ति याः
asaṃkhyā mūrtayastasya niṣpatanti śarīrataḥ |uccāvacāni bhūtāni satataṃ ceṣṭayanti yāḥ
From his body innumerable forms go forth, which constantly impel the multiform creatures to action. 1 6. Another strong body, formed of particles (of
- 12.16
पञ्चभ्य एव मात्राभ्यः प्रेत्य दुष्कृतिनां नृणाम् ।शरीरं यातनार्थीयं अन्यदुत्पद्यते ध्रुवम्
pañcabhya eva mātrābhyaḥ pretya duṣkṛtināṃ nṛṇām |śarīraṃ yātanārthīyaṃ anyadutpadyate dhruvam
Dhruvam, 'strong,' i.e. 'able to withstand the supernatural torments' (Medh., Kull., Ragh.). Gov. and Nand. read dridkam.
- 12.17
तेनानुभूय ता यामीः शरीरेणेह यातनाः ।तास्वेव भूतमात्रासु प्रलीयन्ते विभागशः
tenānubhūya tā yāmīḥ śarīreṇeha yātanāḥ |tāsveva bhūtamātrāsu pralīyante vibhāgaśaḥ
The translation follows Medh., Gov., and Ragh., with whom Nar. seems to agree, and it presupposes that the construction of the verse is ungrammatical. Kull. and Nand., who wish to show that Manu's text does not depart from the ordinary rules of grammar,
- 12.18
सोऽनुभूयासुखोदर्कान्दोषान्विषयसङ्गजान् ।व्यपेतकल्मषोऽभ्येति तावेवोभौ महौजसौ
so'nubhūyāsukhodarkāndoṣānviṣayasaṅgajān |vyapetakalmaṣo'bhyeti tāvevobhau mahaujasau
He, having suffered for his faults, which are produced by attachment to sensual objects, and which result in misery, approaches, free from stains, those two mighty ones.
- 12.19
तौ धर्मं पश्यतस्तस्य पापं चातन्द्रितौ सह ।याभ्यां प्राप्नोति संपृक्तः प्रेत्येह च सुखासुखम्
tau dharmaṃ paśyatastasya pāpaṃ cātandritau saha |yābhyāṃ prāpnoti saṃpṛktaḥ pretyeha ca sukhāsukham
Those two together examine without tiring the merit and the guilt of that (individual soul), united with which it obtains bliss or misery both in this world and the next.
- 12.20
यद्याचरति धर्मं स प्रायशोऽधर्मं अल्पशः ।तैरेव चावृतो भूतैः स्वर्गे सुखं उपाश्नुते
yadyācarati dharmaṃ sa prāyaśo'dharmaṃ alpaśaḥ |taireva cāvṛto bhūtaiḥ svarge sukhaṃ upāśnute
If (the soul) chiefly practises virtue and vice to a small degree, it obtains bliss in heaven, clothed with those very elements.
- 12.21
यदि तु प्रायशोऽधर्मं सेवते धर्मं अल्पशः ।तैर्भूतैः स परित्यक्तो यामीः प्राप्नोति यातनाः
yadi tu prāyaśo'dharmaṃ sevate dharmaṃ alpaśaḥ |tairbhūtaiḥ sa parityakto yāmīḥ prāpnoti yātanāḥ
But if it chiefly cleaves to vice and to virtue in a small degree, it suffers, deserted by the elements, the torments inflicted by Yama.
- 12.22
यामीस्ता यातनाः प्राप्य स जीवो वीतकल्मषः ।तान्येव पञ्च भूतानि पुनरप्येति भागशः
yāmīstā yātanāḥ prāpya sa jīvo vītakalmaṣaḥ |tānyeva pañca bhūtāni punarapyeti bhāgaśaḥ
The individual soul, having endured those torments of Yama, again enters, free from taint, those very five elements, each in due proportion.
- 12.23
एता दृष्ट्वास्य जीवस्य गतीः स्वेनैव चेतसा ।धर्मतोऽधर्मतश्चैव धर्मे दध्यात्सदा मनः
etā dṛṣṭvāsya jīvasya gatīḥ svenaiva cetasā |dharmato'dharmataścaiva dharme dadhyātsadā manaḥ
Let (man), having recognised even by means of his intellect these transitions of the individual soul (which depend) on merit and demerit, always fix his heart on (the acquisition of) merit.
- 12.24
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव त्रीन्विद्यादात्मनो गुणान् ।यैर्व्याप्येमान्स्थितो भावान्महान्सर्वानशेषतः
sattvaṃ rajastamaścaiva trīnvidyādātmano guṇān |yairvyāpyemānsthito bhāvānmahānsarvānaśeṣataḥ
Know Goodness (sattva), Activity (ra^as), and Darkness (tamas) to be the three qualities of thei
- 12.25
यो यदैषां गुणो देहे साकल्येनातिरिच्यते ।स तदा तद्गुणप्रायं तं करोति शरीरिणम्
yo yadaiṣāṃ guṇo dehe sākalyenātiricyate |sa tadā tadguṇaprāyaṃ taṃ karoti śarīriṇam
When one of these qualities wholly predomi- nates in a body, then it makes the embodied (soul) eminently distinguished for that quality.
- 12.26
सत्त्वं ज्ञानं तमोऽज्ञानं रागद्वेषौ रजः स्मृतम् ।एतद्व्याप्तिमदेतेषां सर्वभूताश्रितं वपुः
sattvaṃ jñānaṃ tamo'jñānaṃ rāgadveṣau rajaḥ smṛtam |etadvyāptimadeteṣāṃ sarvabhūtāśritaṃ vapuḥ
Goodness is declared (to have the form of) knowledge, Darkness (of) ignorance, Activity (of) love and hatred ; such is the nature of these (three) which is (all-)pervading and clings to every-
- 12.27
तत्र यत्प्रीतिसंयुक्तं किं चिदात्मनि लक्षयेत् ।प्रशान्तं इव शुद्धाभं सत्त्वं तदुपधारयेत्
tatra yatprītisaṃyuktaṃ kiṃ cidātmani lakṣayet |praśāntaṃ iva śuddhābhaṃ sattvaṃ tadupadhārayet
'A (feeling) full of bliss,' i. e.' without any particular cause for such a sensation' (Gov.). I take tatra, which Gov. and Kull. explain by tasmin and construe with atmani, in the sense of teshu, ' among those three.' Ragh. says tatreti tribhi/^.
- 12.28
यत्तु दुःखसमायुक्तं अप्रीतिकरं आत्मनः ।तद्रजो प्रतीपं विद्यात्सततं हारि देहिनाम्
yattu duḥkhasamāyuktaṃ aprītikaraṃ ātmanaḥ |tadrajo pratīpaṃ vidyātsatataṃ hāri dehinām
What is mixed with pain and does not give satisfaction to the soul one may know (to be the quality of) Activity, which is difficult to conquer, and which ever draws embodied (souls towards
- 12.29
यत्तु स्यान्मोहसंयुक्तं अव्यक्तं विषयात्मकम् ।अप्रतर्क्यं अविज्ञेयं तमस्तदुपधारयेत्
yattu syānmohasaṃyuktaṃ avyaktaṃ viṣayātmakam |apratarkyaṃ avijñeyaṃ tamastadupadhārayet
What is coupled with delusion, what has the character of an undiscernible mass, what cannot be fathomed by reasoning, what cannot be fully known, one must consider (as the quality of) Darkness.
- 12.30
त्रयाणां अपि चैतेषां गुणानां यः फलोदयः ।अग्र्यो मध्यो जघन्यश्च तं प्रवक्ष्याम्यशेषतः
trayāṇāṃ api caiteṣāṃ guṇānāṃ yaḥ phalodayaḥ |agryo madhyo jaghanyaśca taṃ pravakṣyāmyaśeṣataḥ
I will, moreover, fully describe the results which arise from these three qualities, the excellent ones, the middling ones, and the lowest.
- 12.31
वेदाभ्यासस्तपो ज्ञानं शौचं इन्द्रियनिग्रहः ।धर्मक्रियात्मचिन्ता च सात्त्विकं गुणलक्षणम्
vedābhyāsastapo jñānaṃ śaucaṃ indriyanigrahaḥ |dharmakriyātmacintā ca sāttvikaṃ guṇalakṣaṇam
The study of the Vedas, austerity, (the pur- suit of) knowledge, purity, control over the organs, the performance of meritorious acts and meditation on the Soul, (are) the marks of the quality of
- 12.32
आरम्भरुचिताधैर्यं असत्कार्यपरिग्रहः ।विषयोपसेवा चाजस्रं राजसं गुणलक्षणम्
ārambharucitādhairyaṃ asatkāryaparigrahaḥ |viṣayopasevā cājasraṃ rājasaṃ guṇalakṣaṇam
Delighting in undertakings, want of firmness, commission of sinful acts, and continual indulgence in sensual pleasures, (are) the marks of the quality of Activity.
- 12.33
लोभः स्वप्नोऽधृतिः क्रौर्यं नास्तिक्यं भिन्नवृत्तिता ।याचिष्णुता प्रमादश्च तामसं गुणलक्षणम्
lobhaḥ svapno'dhṛtiḥ krauryaṃ nāstikyaṃ bhinnavṛttitā |yāciṣṇutā pramādaśca tāmasaṃ guṇalakṣaṇam
Covetousness, sleepiness, pusillanimity, cruelty, atheism, leading an evil life, a habit of soliciting favours, and inattentiveness, are the marks of the quality of Darkness.
- 12.34
त्रयाणां अपि चैतेषां गुणानां त्रिषु तिष्ठताम् ।इदं सामासिकं ज्ञेयं क्रमशो गुणलक्षणम्
trayāṇāṃ api caiteṣāṃ guṇānāṃ triṣu tiṣṭhatām |idaṃ sāmāsikaṃ jñeyaṃ kramaśo guṇalakṣaṇam
Know, moreover, the following to be a brief description of the three qualities, each in its order, as they appear in the three (times, the present, past, and future).
- 12.35
यत्कर्म कृत्वा कुर्वंश्च करिष्यंश्चैव लज्जति ।तज्ज्ञेयं विदुषा सर्वं तामसं गुणलक्षणम्
yatkarma kṛtvā kurvaṃśca kariṣyaṃścaiva lajjati |tajjñeyaṃ viduṣā sarvaṃ tāmasaṃ guṇalakṣaṇam
When a (man), having done, doing, or being about to do any act, feels ashamed, the learned may know that all (such acts bear) the mark of the quality of Darkness.
- 12.36
येनास्मिन्कर्मना लोके ख्यातिं इच्छति पुष्कलाम् ।न च शोचत्यसंपत्तौ तद्विज्ञेयं तु राजसम्
yenāsminkarmanā loke khyātiṃ icchati puṣkalām |na ca śocatyasaṃpattau tadvijñeyaṃ tu rājasam
But, when (a man) desires (to gain) by an act much fame in this world and feels no sorrow on fail- ing, know that it (bears the mark of the quality of) Activity.
- 12.37
यत्सर्वेणेच्छति ज्ञातुं यन्न लज्जति चाचरन् ।येन तुष्यति चात्मास्य तत्सत्त्वगुणलक्षणम्
yatsarveṇecchati jñātuṃ yanna lajjati cācaran |yena tuṣyati cātmāsya tatsattvaguṇalakṣaṇam
But that (bears) the mark of the quality of Goodness which with his whole (heart) he desires to know, which he is not ashamed to perform, and at which his soul rejoices.
- 12.38
तमसो लक्षणं कामो रजसस्त्वर्थ उच्यते ।सत्त्वस्य लक्षणं धर्मः श्रैष्ठ्यं एषां यथोत्तरम्
tamaso lakṣaṇaṃ kāmo rajasastvartha ucyate |sattvasya lakṣaṇaṃ dharmaḥ śraiṣṭhyaṃ eṣāṃ yathottaram
The craving after sensual pleasures is declared to be the mark of Darkness, (the pursuit of) wealth (the mark) of Activity, (the desire to gain) spiritual according to the rule of conduct;' pramada/z, ' inattentiveness/
- 12.39
येन यस्तु गुणेनैषां संसरान्प्रतिपद्यते ।तान्समासेन वक्ष्यामि सर्वस्यास्य यथाक्रमम्
yena yastu guṇenaiṣāṃ saṃsarānpratipadyate |tānsamāsena vakṣyāmi sarvasyāsya yathākramam
I will briefly declare in due order what trans- migrations in this whole (world a man) obtains through each of these qualities.
- 12.40
देवत्वं सात्त्विका यान्ति मनुष्यत्वं च राजसाः ।तिर्यक्त्वं तामसा नित्यं इत्येषा त्रिविधा गतिः
devatvaṃ sāttvikā yānti manuṣyatvaṃ ca rājasāḥ |tiryaktvaṃ tāmasā nityaṃ ityeṣā trividhā gatiḥ
Those endowed with Goodness reach the state of gods, those endowed with Activity the state of men, and those endowed with Darkness ever sink to the condition of beasts ; that is the threefold
- 12.41
त्रिविधा त्रिविधैषा तु विज्ञेया गौणिकी गतिः ।अधमा मध्यमाग्र्या च कर्मविद्याविशेषतः
trividhā trividhaiṣā tu vijñeyā gauṇikī gatiḥ |adhamā madhyamāgryā ca karmavidyāviśeṣataḥ
But know this threefold course of transmigra- tions that depends on the (three) qualities (to be again) threefold, low, middling, and high, according to the particular nature of the acts and of the know-
- 12.42
स्थावराः कृमिकीटाश्च मत्स्याः सर्पाः सकच्छपाः ।पशवश्च मृगाश्चैव जघन्या तामसी गतिः
sthāvarāḥ kṛmikīṭāśca matsyāḥ sarpāḥ sakacchapāḥ |paśavaśca mṛgāścaiva jaghanyā tāmasī gatiḥ
Immovable (beings), insects, both small and great, fishes, snakes, and tortoises, cattle and wild animals, are the lowest conditions to which (the quality of) Darkness leads.
- 12.43
हस्तिनश्च तुरङ्गाश्च शूद्रा म्लेच्छाश्च गर्हिताः ।सिंहा व्याघ्रा वराहाश्च मध्यमा तामसी गतिः
hastinaśca turaṅgāśca śūdrā mlecchāśca garhitāḥ |siṃhā vyāghrā varāhāśca madhyamā tāmasī gatiḥ
Elephants, horses, 6udras, and despicable bar- barians, lions, tigers, and boars (are) the middling states, caused by (the quality of) Darkness.
- 12.44
चारणाश्च सुपर्णाश्च पुरुषाश्चैव दाम्भिकाः ।रक्षांसि च पिशाचाश्च तामसीषूत्तमा गतिः
cāraṇāśca suparṇāśca puruṣāścaiva dāmbhikāḥ |rakṣāṃsi ca piśācāśca tāmasīṣūttamā gatiḥ
A'ara/zas, Supar/zas and hypocrites, Rakshasas
- 12.45
झल्ला मल्ला नटाश्चैव पुरुषाः शस्त्रवृत्तयः ।द्यूतपानप्रसक्ताश्च जघन्या राजसी गतिः
jhallā mallā naṭāścaiva puruṣāḥ śastravṛttayaḥ |dyūtapānaprasaktāśca jaghanyā rājasī gatiḥ
Dallas, Mallas, i.e. 'those mentioned above, X, 22 (Kull., Nar.), who are fencers with sticks or wrestlers and jesters' (Medh., Kull.). Na/as, i. e. ' those exhibiting themselves on the stage ' (rahgavataraka^, Medh., Kull.). I read with Medh., Gov., Nar., and
- 12.46
राजानः क्षत्रियाश्चैव राज्ञां चैव पुरोहिताः ।वादयुद्धप्रधानाश्च मध्यमा राजसी गतिः
rājānaḥ kṣatriyāścaiva rājñāṃ caiva purohitāḥ |vādayuddhapradhānāśca madhyamā rājasī gatiḥ
Kings and Kshatriyas, the domestic priests of kings, and those who delight in the warfare of dispu- tations (constitute) the middling (rank of the) states caused by Activity.
- 12.47
गन्धर्वा गुह्यका यक्षा विबुधानुचराश्च ये ।तथैवाप्सरसः सर्वा राजसीषूत्तमा गतिः
gandharvā guhyakā yakṣā vibudhānucarāśca ye |tathaivāpsarasaḥ sarvā rājasīṣūttamā gatiḥ
The Gandharvas, the Guhyakas, and the ser- vants of the gods, likewise the Apsarases, (belong all to) the highest (rank of) conditions produced by Activity.
- 12.48
तापसा यतयो विप्रा ये च वैमानिका गणाः ।नक्षत्राणि च दैत्याश्च प्रथमा सात्त्विकी गतिः
tāpasā yatayo viprā ye ca vaimānikā gaṇāḥ |nakṣatrāṇi ca daityāśca prathamā sāttvikī gatiḥ
Hermits, ascetics, Brahma^as, the crowds of the Vaimanika deities, the lunar mansions, and the Daityas (form) the first (and lowest rank of the) existences caused by Goodness.
- 12.49
यज्वान ऋषयो देवा वेदा ज्योतींषि वत्सराः ।पितरश्चैव साध्याश्च द्वितीया सात्त्विकी गतिः
yajvāna ṛṣayo devā vedā jyotīṃṣi vatsarāḥ |pitaraścaiva sādhyāśca dvitīyā sāttvikī gatiḥ
Sacrificers, the sages, the gods, the Vedas, the heavenly lights, the years, the manes, and the Sa- dhyas (constitute) the second order of existences, caused by Goodness.
- 12.50
ब्रह्मा विश्वसृजो धर्मो महानव्यक्तं एव च ।उत्तमां सात्त्विकीं एतां गतिं आहुर्मनीषिणः
brahmā viśvasṛjo dharmo mahānavyaktaṃ eva ca |uttamāṃ sāttvikīṃ etāṃ gatiṃ āhurmanīṣiṇaḥ
The sages declare Brahma, the creators of the universe, the law, the Great One, and the Un- discernible One (to constitute) the highest order of \ beings produced by Goodness.
- 12.51
एष सर्वः समुद्दिष्टस्त्रिप्रकारस्य कर्मणः ।त्रिविधस्त्रिविधः कृत्स्नः संसारः सार्वभौतिकः
eṣa sarvaḥ samuddiṣṭastriprakārasya karmaṇaḥ |trividhastrividhaḥ kṛtsnaḥ saṃsāraḥ sārvabhautikaḥ
Thus (the result) of the threefold action, the whole system of transmigrations which (consists) of three classes, (each) with three subdivisions, and which includes all created beings, has been fully
- 12.52
इन्द्रियाणां प्रसङ्गेन धर्मस्यासेवनेन च ।पापान्संयान्ति संसारानविद्वांसो नराधमाः
indriyāṇāṃ prasaṅgena dharmasyāsevanena ca |pāpānsaṃyānti saṃsārānavidvāṃso narādhamāḥ
In consequence of attachment to (the objects of) the senses, and in consequence of the non-per- formance of their duties, fools, the lowest of men, reach the vilest births.
- 12.53
यां यां योनिं तु जीवोऽयं येन येनेह कर्मणा ।क्रमशो याति लोकेऽस्मिंस्तत्तत्सर्वं निबोधत
yāṃ yāṃ yoniṃ tu jīvo'yaṃ yena yeneha karmaṇā |kramaśo yāti loke'smiṃstattatsarvaṃ nibodhata
What wombs this individual soul enters in this world and in consequence of what actions, learn the particulars of that at large and in due order.
- 12.54
बहून्वर्षगणान्घोरान्नरकान्प्राप्य तत्क्षयात् ।संसारान्प्रतिपद्यन्ते महापातकिनस्त्विमान्
bahūnvarṣagaṇānghorānnarakānprāpya tatkṣayāt |saṃsārānpratipadyante mahāpātakinastvimān
Those who committed mortal sins (mahapa- taka), having passed during large numbers of years through dreadful hells, obtain, after the expiration of (that term of punishment), the following births.
- 12.55
श्वसूकरखरोष्ट्राणां गोऽजाविमृगपक्षिणाम् ।चण्डालपुक्कसानां च ब्रह्महा योनिं ऋच्छति
śvasūkarakharoṣṭrāṇāṃ go'jāvimṛgapakṣiṇām |caṇḍālapukkasānāṃ ca brahmahā yoniṃ ṛcchati
The slayer of a Brahma^a enters the womb of a dog, a pig, an ass, a camel, a cow, a goat, a sheep, a deer, a bird, a Aa^ala, and a Pukkasa.
- 12.56
कृमिकीटपतङ्गानां विड्भुजां चैव पक्षिणाम् ।हिंस्राणां चैव सत्त्वानां सुरापो ब्राह्मणो व्रजेत्
kṛmikīṭapataṅgānāṃ viḍbhujāṃ caiva pakṣiṇām |hiṃsrāṇāṃ caiva sattvānāṃ surāpo brāhmaṇo vrajet
A Brahma^a who drinks (the spirituous liquor called) Sura shall enter (the bodies) of small and large insects, of moths, of birds, feeding on ordure, and of destructive beasts.
- 12.57
लूताहिसरटानां च तिरश्चां चाम्बुचारिणाम् ।हिंस्राणां च पिशाचानां स्तेनो विप्रः सहस्रशः
lūtāhisaraṭānāṃ ca tiraścāṃ cāmbucāriṇām |hiṃsrāṇāṃ ca piśācānāṃ steno vipraḥ sahasraśaḥ
A Brahma/za who steals (the gold of a Brah- ma/za shall pass) a thousand times (through the bodies) of spiders, snakes and lizards, of aquatic animals and of destructive Pii-a^as.
- 12.58
तृणगुल्मलतानां च क्रव्यादां दंष्ट्रिणां अपि ।क्रूरकर्मकृतां चैव शतशो गुरुतल्पगः
tṛṇagulmalatānāṃ ca kravyādāṃ daṃṣṭriṇāṃ api |krūrakarmakṛtāṃ caiva śataśo gurutalpagaḥ
The violator of a Gurus bed (enters) a hun- dred times (the forms) of grasses, shrubs, and creepers, likewise of carnivorous (animals) and of (beasts) with fangs and of those doing cruel deeds.
- 12.59
हिंस्रा भवन्ति क्रव्यादाः कृमयोऽमेध्यभक्षिणः ।परस्परादिनः स्तेनाः प्रेत्यान्त्यस्त्रीनिषेविणः
hiṃsrā bhavanti kravyādāḥ kṛmayo'medhyabhakṣiṇaḥ |parasparādinaḥ stenāḥ pretyāntyastrīniṣeviṇaḥ
Men who delight in doing hurt (become) car- nivorous (animals) ; those who eat forbidden food, worms ; thieves, creatures consuming their own kind ; those who have intercourse with women of the lowest/
- 12.60
संयोगं पतितैर्गत्वा परस्यैव च योषितम् ।अपहृत्य च विप्रस्वं भवति ब्रह्मराक्षसः
saṃyogaṃ patitairgatvā parasyaiva ca yoṣitam |apahṛtya ca viprasvaṃ bhavati brahmarākṣasaḥ
He who has associated with outcasts, he who has approached the wives of other men, and he who has stolen the property of a Brahma/za become Brahmarakshasas.
- 12.61
मणिमुक्ताप्रवालानि हृत्वा लोभेन मानवः ।विविधाणि च रत्नानि जायते हेमकर्तृषु
maṇimuktāpravālāni hṛtvā lobhena mānavaḥ |vividhāṇi ca ratnāni jāyate hemakartṛṣu
A man who out of greed has stolen gems, pearls or coral, or any of the many other kinds of precious things, is born among the goldsmiths.
- 12.62
धान्यं हृत्वा भवत्याखुः कांस्यं हंसो जलं प्लवः ।मधु दंशः पयः काको रसं श्वा नकुलो घृतम्
dhānyaṃ hṛtvā bhavatyākhuḥ kāṃsyaṃ haṃso jalaṃ plavaḥ |madhu daṃśaḥ payaḥ kāko rasaṃ śvā nakulo ghṛtam
For stealing grain (a man) becomes a rat, for stealing yellow metal a Hawsa, for stealing water a Plava, for stealing honey a stinging insect, for stealing milk a crow, for stealing condiments a dog,
- 12.63
मांसं गृध्रो वपां मद्गुस्तैलं तैलपकः खगः ।चीरीवाकस्तु लवणं बलाका शकुनिर्दधि
māṃsaṃ gṛdhro vapāṃ madgustailaṃ tailapakaḥ khagaḥ |cīrīvākastu lavaṇaṃ balākā śakunirdadhi
For stealing meat a vulture, for stealing fat a cormorant, for stealing oil a winged animal (of the (animals)' by ' vultures and the like/ '(beasts) with fangs' by 'lions or tigers and the like.' 'Those doing cruel deeds' are, according
- 12.64
कौशेयं तित्तिरिर्हृत्वा क्षौमं हृत्वा तु दर्दुरः ।कार्पासतान्तवं क्रौञ्चो गोधा गां वाग्गुदो गुडम्
kauśeyaṃ tittirirhṛtvā kṣaumaṃ hṛtvā tu darduraḥ |kārpāsatāntavaṃ krauñco godhā gāṃ vāggudo guḍam
For stealing silk a partridge, for stealing linen a frog, for stealing cotton-cloth a crane, for stealing a cow an iguana, for stealing molasses a flying-fox ;
- 12.65
छुच्छुन्दरिः शुभान्गन्धान्पत्रशाकं तु बर्हिणः ।श्वावित्कृतान्नं विविधं अकृतान्नं तु शल्यकः
chucchundariḥ śubhāngandhānpatraśākaṃ tu barhiṇaḥ |śvāvitkṛtānnaṃ vividhaṃ akṛtānnaṃ tu śalyakaḥ
For stealing fine perfumes a musk-rat, for stealing vegetables consisting of leaves a peacock, for stealing cooked food of various kinds a porcu- pine, for stealing uncooked food a hedgehog.
- 12.66
बको भवति हृत्वाग्निं गृहकारी ह्युपस्करम् ।रक्तानि हृत्वा वासांसि जायते जीवजीवकः
bako bhavati hṛtvāgniṃ gṛhakārī hyupaskaram |raktāni hṛtvā vāsāṃsi jāyate jīvajīvakaḥ
For stealing fire he becomes a heron, for stealing householdmtensils a mason-wasp, for steal- ing dyed clothes a francolin-partridge ;
- 12.67
वृको मृगेभं व्याघ्रोऽश्वं फलमूलं तु मर्कटः ।स्त्रीं ऋक्षः स्तोकको वारि यानान्युष्ट्रः पशूनजः
vṛko mṛgebhaṃ vyāghro'śvaṃ phalamūlaṃ tu markaṭaḥ |strīṃ ṛkṣaḥ stokako vāri yānānyuṣṭraḥ paśūnajaḥ
For stealing a deer or an elephant a wolf, for stealing a horse a tiger, for stealing fruit and roots a monkey, for stealing a woman a bear, for stealing water a black-white cuckoo, for stealing vehicles a
- 12.68
यद्वा तद्वा परद्रव्यं अपहृत्य बलान्नरः ।अवश्यं याति तिर्यक्त्वं जग्ध्वा चैवाहुतं हविः
yadvā tadvā paradravyaṃ apahṛtya balānnaraḥ |avaśyaṃ yāti tiryaktvaṃ jagdhvā caivāhutaṃ haviḥ
That man who has forcibly taken away any kind of property belonging to another, or who has eaten sacrificial food (of) which (no portion) had been offered, inevitably becomes an animal.
- 12.69
स्त्रियोऽप्येतेन कल्पेन हृत्वा दोषं अवाप्नुयुः ।एतेषां एव जन्तूनां भार्यात्वं उपयान्ति ताः
striyo'pyetena kalpena hṛtvā doṣaṃ avāpnuyuḥ |eteṣāṃ eva jantūnāṃ bhāryātvaṃ upayānti tāḥ
Women, also, who in like manner have com- mitted a theft, shall incur guilt ; they will become the females of those same creatures (which have been enumerated above).
- 12.70
स्वेभ्यः स्वेभ्यस्तु कर्मभ्यश्च्युता वर्णा ह्यनापदि ।पापान्संसृत्य संसारान्प्रेष्यतां यान्ति शत्रुषु
svebhyaḥ svebhyastu karmabhyaścyutā varṇā hyanāpadi |pāpānsaṃsṛtya saṃsārānpreṣyatāṃ yānti śatruṣu
But (men of the four) castes who have relin- quished without the pressure of necessity their proper occupations, will become the servants of Dasyus, after migrating into despicable bodies.
- 12.71
वान्ताश्युल्कामुखः प्रेतो विप्रो धर्मात्स्वकाच्च्युतः ।अमेध्यकुणपाशी च क्षत्रियः कटपूतनः
vāntāśyulkāmukhaḥ preto vipro dharmātsvakāccyutaḥ |amedhyakuṇapāśī ca kṣatriyaḥ kaṭapūtanaḥ
A Brahma^a who has fallen off from his duty (becomes) an Ulkamukha Preta, who feeds on what has been vomited ; and a Kshatriya, a Ka/aputana (Preta), who eats impure substances
- 12.72
मैत्राक्षज्योतिकः प्रेतो वैश्यो भवति पूयभुक् ।चैलाशकश्च भवति शूद्रो धर्मात्स्वकाच्च्युतः
maitrākṣajyotikaḥ preto vaiśyo bhavati pūyabhuk |cailāśakaśca bhavati śūdro dharmātsvakāccyutaḥ
A VaLrya who has fallen off from his duty becomes a Maitraksha^yotika Preta, who feeds on- pus ; and a 6udra, a A^ailcLsaka (Preta, who feeds on\ moths). )
- 12.73
यथा यथा निषेवन्ते विषयान्विषयात्मकाः ।तथा तथा कुशलता तेषां तेषूपजायते
yathā yathā niṣevante viṣayānviṣayātmakāḥ |tathā tathā kuśalatā teṣāṃ teṣūpajāyate
In proportion as sensual men indulge in sensual pleasures, in that same proportion their taste for them grows.
- 12.74
तेऽभ्यासात्कर्मणां तेषां पापानां अल्पबुद्धयः ।संप्राप्नुवन्ति दुःखानि तासु तास्विह योनिषु
te'bhyāsātkarmaṇāṃ teṣāṃ pāpānāṃ alpabuddhayaḥ |saṃprāpnuvanti duḥkhāni tāsu tāsviha yoniṣu
By repeating their sinful acts those men of small understanding suffer pain here (below) in various births ;
- 12.75
तामिस्रादिषु चोग्रेषु नरकेषु विवर्तनम् ।असिपत्रवनादीनि बन्धनछेदनानि च
tāmisrādiṣu cogreṣu narakeṣu vivartanam |asipatravanādīni bandhanachedanāni ca
(The torture of) being tossed about in dreadful hells, Tamisra and the rest, (that of) the Forest with sword-leaved trees and the like, and (that of) being bound and mangled ;
- 12.76
विविधाश्चैव संपीडाः काकोलूकैश्च भक्षणम् ।करम्भवालुकातापान्कुम्भीपाकांश्च दारुणान्
vividhāścaiva saṃpīḍāḥ kākolūkaiśca bhakṣaṇam |karambhavālukātāpānkumbhīpākāṃśca dāruṇān
And various torments, the (pain of) being devoured by ravens and owls, the heat of scorching sand, and the (torture of) being boiled in jars, which is hard to bear ;
- 12.77
संभवांश्च वियोनीषु दुःखप्रायासु नित्यशः ।शीतातपाभिघातांश्च विविधानि भयानि च
saṃbhavāṃśca viyonīṣu duḥkhaprāyāsu nityaśaḥ |śītātapābhighātāṃśca vividhāni bhayāni ca
Col. Dig. IV, 56. 78-9. Col. Dig. IV, 57, 1-2.
- 12.78
असकृद्गर्भवासेषु वासं जन्म च दारुणम् ।बन्धनानि च काष्ठानि परप्रेष्यत्वं एव च
asakṛdgarbhavāseṣu vāsaṃ janma ca dāruṇam |bandhanāni ca kāṣṭhāni parapreṣyatvaṃ eva ca
The (pain of) repeatedly lying in various wombs and agonizing births, imprisonment in fetter hard to bear, and the misery of being enslaved b others,
- 12.79
बन्धुप्रियवियोगांश्च संवासं चैव दुर्जनैः ।द्रव्यार्जनं च नाशं च मित्रामित्रस्य चार्जनम्
bandhupriyaviyogāṃśca saṃvāsaṃ caiva durjanaiḥ |dravyārjanaṃ ca nāśaṃ ca mitrāmitrasya cārjanam
And separations from their relatives and dear ones, and the (pain of) dwelling together with the wicked, (labour in) gaining wealth and its loss, (trouble in) making friends and (the appearance of
- 12.80
जरां चैवाप्रतीकारां व्याधिभिश्चोपपीडनम् ।क्लेशांश्च विविधांस्तांस्तान्मृत्युं एव च दुर्जयम्
jarāṃ caivāpratīkārāṃ vyādhibhiścopapīḍanam |kleśāṃśca vividhāṃstāṃstānmṛtyuṃ eva ca durjayam
Old age against which there is no remedy, th -;
- 12.81
यादृशेन तु भावेन यद्यत्कर्म निषेवते ।तादृशेन शरीरेण तत्तत्फलं उपाश्नुते
yādṛśena tu bhāvena yadyatkarma niṣevate |tādṛśena śarīreṇa tattatphalaṃ upāśnute
E.g. if while a man performs an act his disposition is sattvika, or ' chiefly penetrated by the quality of Goodness/ he will reap its reward in a body produced chiefly by that quality, e. g. that of a god.
- 12.82
एष सर्वः समुद्दिष्टः कर्मणां वः फलोदयः ।नैःश्रेयसकरं कर्म विप्रस्येदं निबोधत
eṣa sarvaḥ samuddiṣṭaḥ karmaṇāṃ vaḥ phalodayaḥ |naiḥśreyasakaraṃ karma viprasyedaṃ nibodhata
All the results, proceeding from actions, have been thus pointed out ; learn (next) those acts which secure supreme bliss to a Brahma^a. fo*
- 12.83
वेदाभ्यासस्तपो ज्ञानं इन्द्रियाणां च संयमः ।अहिंसा गुरुसेवा च निःश्रेयसकरं परम्
vedābhyāsastapo jñānaṃ indriyāṇāṃ ca saṃyamaḥ |ahiṃsā gurusevā ca niḥśreyasakaraṃ param
Studying the Veda, (practising) austerities, (the V\ acquisition of true) knowledge, the subjugation of the organs, abstention from doing injury, and serving the Guru are the best means for attaining supreme
- 12.84
सर्वेषां अपि चैतेषां शुभानां इह कर्मणाम् ।किं चिच्छ्रेयस्करतरं कर्मोक्तं पुरुषं प्रति
sarveṣāṃ api caiteṣāṃ śubhānāṃ iha karmaṇām |kiṃ cicchreyaskarataraṃ karmoktaṃ puruṣaṃ prati
(If you ask) whether among all these virtuous / actions, (performed) here below, (there be) one which / has been declared more efficacious (than the rest) for securing supreme happiness to man,
- 12.85
सर्वेषां अपि चैतेषां आत्मज्ञानं परं स्मृतम् ।तद्ध्यग्र्यं सर्वविद्यानां प्राप्यते ह्यमृतं ततः
sarveṣāṃ api caiteṣāṃ ātmajñānaṃ paraṃ smṛtam |taddhyagryaṃ sarvavidyānāṃ prāpyate hyamṛtaṃ tataḥ
(The answer is that) the knowledge of the Soul is stated to be the jr>pst exrHl^nt arn^ng nil ^f them ; for that is the first of all sciences, because immortality is gained through that.
- 12.86
षण्णां एषां तु सर्वेषां कर्मणां प्रेत्य चेह च ।श्रेयस्करतरं ज्ञेयं सर्वदा कर्म वैदिकम्
ṣaṇṇāṃ eṣāṃ tu sarveṣāṃ karmaṇāṃ pretya ceha ca |śreyaskarataraṃ jñeyaṃ sarvadā karma vaidikam
Among those six (kinds of) actions (enumer-
- 12.87
वैदिके कर्मयोगे तु सर्वाण्येतान्यशेषतः ।अन्तर्भवन्ति क्रमशस्तस्मिंस्तस्मिन्क्रियाविधौ
vaidike karmayoge tu sarvāṇyetānyaśeṣataḥ |antarbhavanti kramaśastasmiṃstasminkriyāvidhau
Kull. alters his explanation of vaidikam karma slightly, ant interprets it by 'the worship of the Supreme Soul' (paramatmopa- sana), and quotes Brz'hadara^yaka-upanishad IV, 4, 22 in suppoi of his view. The other commentators find no difficulty in showing
- 12.88
सुखाभ्युदयिकं चैव नैःश्रेयसिकं एव च ।प्रवृत्तं च निवृत्तं च द्विविधं कर्म वैदिकम्
sukhābhyudayikaṃ caiva naiḥśreyasikaṃ eva ca |pravṛttaṃ ca nivṛttaṃ ca dvividhaṃ karma vaidikam
The acts prescribed by the Veda are of two kinds, such as procure an increase of happiness and \/ sense of an ablative, and according to him the translation would
- 12.89
इह चामुत्र वा काम्यं प्रवृत्तं कर्म कीर्त्यते ।निष्कामं ज्ञातपूर्वं तु निवृत्तं उपदिश्यते
iha cāmutra vā kāmyaṃ pravṛttaṃ karma kīrtyate |niṣkāmaṃ jñātapūrvaṃ tu nivṛttaṃ upadiśyate
Acts which secure (the fulfilment of) wishes in this world or in the next are called pravrztta (such as cause a continuation of mundane existence) ; but acts performed without any desire (for a reward),
- 12.90
प्रवृत्तं कर्म संसेव्यं देवानां एति साम्यताम् ।निवृत्तं सेवमानस्तु भूतान्यत्येति पञ्च वै
pravṛttaṃ karma saṃsevyaṃ devānāṃ eti sāmyatām |nivṛttaṃ sevamānastu bhūtānyatyeti pañca vai
He who sedulously performs acts leading to | future births (pravrztta) becomes equal to the gods ; but he who is intent on the performance of those causing the cessation (of existence, nivrztta) indeed,
- 12.91
सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि ।समं पश्यन्नात्मयाजी स्वाराज्यं अधिगच्छति
sarvabhūteṣu cātmānaṃ sarvabhūtāni cātmani |samaṃ paśyannātmayājī svārājyaṃ adhigacchati
He who sacrifices to the Self (alone), equally recognising the Self in all created beings and all created beings in the Self, becomes (independent like) an autocrat and self-luminous.
- 12.92
यथोक्तान्यपि कर्माणि परिहाय द्विजोत्तमः ।आत्मज्ञाने शमे च स्याद्वेदाभ्यासे च यत्नवान्
yathoktānyapi karmāṇi parihāya dvijottamaḥ |ātmajñāne śame ca syādvedābhyāse ca yatnavān
After giving up even the above-mentioned sacrificial rites, a Brahma/za should exert himself in (acquiring) the knowledge of the Soul, in extinguish- ing his passions, and in studying the Veda.
- 12.93
एतद्धि जन्मसाफल्यं ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः ।प्राप्यैतत्कृतकृत्यो हि द्विजो भवति नान्यथा
etaddhi janmasāphalyaṃ brāhmaṇasya viśeṣataḥ |prāpyaitatkṛtakṛtyo hi dvijo bhavati nānyathā
For that secures the attainment of the object of existence, especially in the case of a Brahma;za, because by attaining that, not otherwise, a twice- born man has gained all his ends.
- 12.94
पितृदेवमनुष्याणां वेदश्चक्षुः सनातनम् ।अशक्यं चाप्रमेयं च वेदशास्त्रं इति स्थितिः
pitṛdevamanuṣyāṇāṃ vedaścakṣuḥ sanātanam |aśakyaṃ cāprameyaṃ ca vedaśāstraṃ iti sthitiḥ
The Veda is the eternal eye of the manes, gods, and men ; the Veda-ordinance (is) both beyond the sphere of (human) power, and beyond the sphere of (human) comprehension ; that is a certain fact.
- 12.95
या वेदबाह्याः स्मृतयो याश्च काश्च कुदृष्टयः ।सर्वास्ता निष्फलाः प्रेत्य तमोनिष्ठा हि ताः स्मृताः
yā vedabāhyāḥ smṛtayo yāśca kāśca kudṛṣṭayaḥ |sarvāstā niṣphalāḥ pretya tamoniṣṭhā hi tāḥ smṛtāḥ
All those traditions (smrzti) and all those despicable systems of philosophy, which are not based on the Veda, produce no reward after death ; for they are declared to be founded on Darkness.
- 12.96
उत्पद्यन्ते च्यवन्ते च यान्यतोऽन्यानि कानि चित् ।तान्यर्वाक्कालिकतया निष्फलान्यनृतानि च
utpadyante cyavante ca yānyato'nyāni kāni cit |tānyarvākkālikatayā niṣphalānyanṛtāni ca
All those (doctrines), differing from the (Veda), which spring up and (soon) perish, are worthless and false, because they are of modern date.
- 12.97
चातुर्वर्ण्यं त्रयो लोकाश्चत्वारश्चाश्रमाः पृथक् ।भूतं भव्यं भविष्यं च सर्वं वेदात्प्रसिध्यति
cāturvarṇyaṃ trayo lokāścatvāraścāśramāḥ pṛthak |bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ ca sarvaṃ vedātprasidhyati
The four castes, the three worlds, the four orders, the past, the present, and the future are all severally known by means of the Veda.
- 12.98
शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धश्च पञ्चमः ।वेदादेव प्रसूयन्ते प्रसूतिर्गुणकर्मतः
śabdaḥ sparśaśca rūpaṃ ca raso gandhaśca pañcamaḥ |vedādeva prasūyante prasūtirguṇakarmataḥ
Sound, touch, colour, taste, and fifthly smell are known through the Veda alone, (their) production (is) through the (Vedic rites, which in this respect are) secondary acts.
- 12.99
बिभर्ति सर्वभूतानि वेदशास्त्रं सनातनम् ।तस्मादेतत्परं मन्ये यज्जन्तोरस्य साधनम्
bibharti sarvabhūtāni vedaśāstraṃ sanātanam |tasmādetatparaṃ manye yajjantorasya sādhanam
The eternal lore of the Veda upholds all created beings ; hence I hold that to be supreme, verse Medh. remarks that many other varr. lectt. exist which he omits, because they are useless (vai&tryapa/Mntaram nishprayo^a-
- 12.100
सेनापत्यं च राज्यं च दण्डनेतृत्वं एव च ।सर्वलोकाधिपत्यं च वेदशास्त्रविदर्हति
senāpatyaṃ ca rājyaṃ ca daṇḍanetṛtvaṃ eva ca |sarvalokādhipatyaṃ ca vedaśāstravidarhati
Command of armies, royal authority, the office of a judge, and sovereignty over the whole world he (only) deserves who knows the Veda- science.
- 12.101
यथा जातबलो वह्निर्दहत्यार्द्रानपि द्रुमान् ।तथा दहति वेदज्ञः कर्मजं दोषं आत्मनः
yathā jātabalo vahnirdahatyārdrānapi drumān |tathā dahati vedajñaḥ karmajaṃ doṣaṃ ātmanaḥ
Ga. II, 10-11; Ba. II, 7, 13-14; Ap. I, 30, 8; Va. VII, 16; Vi. XXVIII, 2-3;
- 12.102
वेदशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञो यत्र तत्राश्रमे वसन् ।इहैव लोके तिष्ठन्स ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते
vedaśāstrārthatattvajño yatra tatrāśrame vasan |ihaiva loke tiṣṭhansa brahmabhūyāya kalpate
In whatever order (a man) who knows the true meaning of the Veda-science may dwell, he becomes even while abiding in this world, fit for the union with Brahman.
- 12.103
अज्ञेभ्यो ग्रन्थिनः श्रेष्ठा ग्रन्थिभ्यो धारिणो वराः ।धारिभ्यो ज्ञानिनः श्रेष्ठा ज्ञानिभ्यो व्यवसायिनः
ajñebhyo granthinaḥ śreṣṭhā granthibhyo dhāriṇo varāḥ |dhāribhyo jñāninaḥ śreṣṭhā jñānibhyo vyavasāyinaḥ
(Even forgetful) students of the (sacred) books are more distinguished than the ignorant, those who remember them surpass the (forgetful) students, those who possess a knowledge (of the
- 12.104
तपो विद्या च विप्रस्य निःश्रेयसकरं परम् ।तपसा किल्बिषं हन्ति विद्ययामृतं अश्नुते
tapo vidyā ca viprasya niḥśreyasakaraṃ param |tapasā kilbiṣaṃ hanti vidyayāmṛtaṃ aśnute
Austerity and sacred learning are the best means by which a Brahma/za secures supreme bliss ; fyy austerities he destroys guilt, by sacred learning he obtains the cessation of (births and) deaths.
- 12.105
प्रत्यक्षं चानुमानं च शास्त्रं च विविधागमम् ।त्रयं सुविदितं कार्यं धर्मशुद्धिं अभीप्सता
pratyakṣaṃ cānumānaṃ ca śāstraṃ ca vividhāgamam |trayaṃ suviditaṃ kāryaṃ dharmaśuddhiṃ abhīpsatā
The three (kinds of evidence), perception, inference, and the (sacred) Institutes which comprise the tradition (of) many (schools), must be fully un- derstood by him who desires perfect correctness
- 12.106
आर्षं धर्मोपदेशं च वेदशास्त्राविरोधिना ।यस्तर्केणानुसंधत्ते स धर्मं वेद नेतरः
ārṣaṃ dharmopadeśaṃ ca vedaśāstrāvirodhinā |yastarkeṇānusaṃdhatte sa dharmaṃ veda netaraḥ
He alone, and no other man, knows the sacred law, who explores the (utterances) of the sages and the body of the laws, by (modes of) rea- soning, not repugnant to the Veda-lore.
- 12.107
नैःश्रेयसं इदं कर्म यथोदितं अशेषतः ।मानवस्यास्य शास्त्रस्य रहस्यं उपदिश्यते
naiḥśreyasaṃ idaṃ karma yathoditaṃ aśeṣataḥ |mānavasyāsya śāstrasya rahasyaṃ upadiśyate
Thus the acts which secure supreme bliss have been exactly and fully described ; (now) the secret portion of these Institutes, proclaimed by Manu, will be taught.
- 12.108
अनाम्नातेषु धर्मेषु कथं स्यादिति चेद्भवेत् ।यं शिष्टा ब्राह्मणा ब्रूयुः स धर्मः स्यादशङ्कितः
anāmnāteṣu dharmeṣu kathaṃ syāditi cedbhavet |yaṃ śiṣṭā brāhmaṇā brūyuḥ sa dharmaḥ syādaśaṅkitaḥ
If it be asked how it should be with respect to (points of) the law which have not been (specially) mentioned, (the answer is), 'that which Brahma^as (who are) 6*ish/as propound, shall doubtlessly have
- 12.109
धर्मेणाधिगतो यैस्तु वेदः सपरिबृंहणः ।ते शिष्टा ब्राह्मणा ज्ञेयाः श्रुतिप्रत्यक्षहेतवः
dharmeṇādhigato yaistu vedaḥ saparibṛṃhaṇaḥ |te śiṣṭā brāhmaṇā jñeyāḥ śrutipratyakṣahetavaḥ
Those Brahma/zas must be considered as vSish/as who, in accordance with the sacred law, have studied the Veda together with its appendages, and are able to adduce proofs perceptible by the senses
- 12.110
दशावरा वा परिषद्यं धर्मं परिकल्पयेत् ।त्र्यवरा वापि वृत्तस्था तं धर्मं न विचालयेत्
daśāvarā vā pariṣadyaṃ dharmaṃ parikalpayet |tryavarā vāpi vṛttasthā taṃ dharmaṃ na vicālayet
- 12.111
त्रैविद्यो हेतुकस्तर्की नैरुक्तो धर्मपाठकः ।त्रयश्चाश्रमिणः पूर्वे परिषत्स्याद्दशावरा
traividyo hetukastarkī nairukto dharmapāṭhakaḥ |trayaścāśramiṇaḥ pūrve pariṣatsyāddaśāvarā
- 12.112
ऋग्वेदविद्यजुर्विच्च सामवेदविदेव च ।त्र्यवरा परिषज्ज्ञेया धर्मसंशयनिर्णये
ṛgvedavidyajurvicca sāmavedavideva ca |tryavarā pariṣajjñeyā dharmasaṃśayanirṇaye
One who knows the ^zg-veda, one who knows the Ya^ur-veda, and one who knows the Sama-veda, shall be known (to form) an assembly consisting of at least three members (and competent) to decide
- 12.113
एकोऽपि वेदविद्धर्मं यं व्यवस्येद्द्विजोत्तमः ।स विज्ञेयः परो धर्मो नाज्ञानां उदितोऽयुतैः
eko'pi vedaviddharmaṃ yaṃ vyavasyeddvijottamaḥ |sa vijñeyaḥ paro dharmo nājñānāṃ udito'yutaiḥ
Even that which one Brahma/za versed in the Veda declares to be law, must be considered (to have) supreme legal (force, but) not that which is proclaimed by myriads of ignorant men.
- 12.114
अव्रतानां अमन्त्राणां जातिमात्रोपजीविनाम् ।सहस्रशः समेतानां परिषत्त्वं न विद्यते
avratānāṃ amantrāṇāṃ jātimātropajīvinām |sahasraśaḥ sametānāṃ pariṣattvaṃ na vidyate
Even if thousands of Brahma/zas, who have Nand.), or ' the Ahgas, Mimawsa, the law-books, the Purawas, and so forth' (Gov., Kull.). no. Medh. and Gov. read viiarayet instead of vi/fcalayet (Kull.,
- 12.115
यं वदन्ति तमोभूता मूर्खा धर्मं अतद्विदः ।तत्पापं शतधा भूत्वा तद्वक्तॄननुगच्छति
yaṃ vadanti tamobhūtā mūrkhā dharmaṃ atadvidaḥ |tatpāpaṃ śatadhā bhūtvā tadvaktṝnanugacchati
The sin of him whom dunces, incarnations of Darkness, and unacquainted with the law, instruct (in his duty), falls, increased a hundredfold, on those who propound it.
- 12.116
एतद्वोऽभिहितं सर्वं निःश्रेयसकरं परम् ।अस्मादप्रच्युतो विप्रः प्राप्नोति परमां गतिम्
etadvo'bhihitaṃ sarvaṃ niḥśreyasakaraṃ param |asmādapracyuto vipraḥ prāpnoti paramāṃ gatim
All that which is most efficacious for secur- ing supreme bliss has been thus declared to you ; a Brahma^a who does not fall off from that obtains the most excellent state.
- 12.117
एवं स भगवान्देवो लोकानां हितकाम्यया ।धर्मस्य परमं गुह्यं ममेदं सर्वं उक्तवान्
evaṃ sa bhagavāndevo lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā |dharmasya paramaṃ guhyaṃ mamedaṃ sarvaṃ uktavān
M. Mit. VI, 1, 31.
- 12.118
सर्वं आत्मनि संपश्येत्सच्चासच्च समाहितः ।सर्वं ह्यात्मनि संपश्यन्नाधर्मे कुरुते मनः
sarvaṃ ātmani saṃpaśyetsaccāsacca samāhitaḥ |sarvaṃ hyātmani saṃpaśyannādharme kurute manaḥ
Sampa.?yet, ' let (every Brahma^a) fully recognise,' i. e. ' let him clearly realise in his mind' (sakshatkuryat, Medh., Kull.), through devotional exercises (upasana, Medh.), or through deep meditation (Kull.), or ' let him vow to be solely intent on that one
- 12.119
आत्मैव देवताः सर्वाः सर्वं आत्मन्यवस्थितम् ।आत्मा हि जनयत्येषां कर्मयोगं शरीरिणाम्
ātmaiva devatāḥ sarvāḥ sarvaṃ ātmanyavasthitam |ātmā hi janayatyeṣāṃ karmayogaṃ śarīriṇām
The Self alone is the multitude of the gods, the universe rests on the Self; for the Self pro- duces the connexion of these . embodied (spirits) with actions.
- 12.120
खं संनिवेशयेत्खेषु चेष्टनस्पर्शनेऽनिलम् ।पक्तिदृष्ट्योः परं तेजः स्नेहेऽपो गां च मूर्तिषु
khaṃ saṃniveśayetkheṣu ceṣṭanasparśane'nilam |paktidṛṣṭyoḥ paraṃ tejaḥ snehe'po gāṃ ca mūrtiṣu
Let him meditate on the ether as identical with the cavities (of the body), on the wind as iden- ; tical with the organs of motions and of touch, on the most excellent light as the same with his digestive
- 12.121
मनसीन्दुं दिशः श्रोत्रे क्रान्ते विष्णुं बले हरम् ।वाच्यग्निं मित्रं उत्सर्गे प्रजने च प्रजापतिम्
manasīnduṃ diśaḥ śrotre krānte viṣṇuṃ bale haram |vācyagniṃ mitraṃ utsarge prajane ca prajāpatim
On the moon as one with the internal organ, on the quarters of the horizon as one with his sense of hearing, on Vishnu as one with his (power of) 1 motion, on Hara as the same with his strength, on
- 12.122
प्रशासितारं सर्वेषां अणीयांसं अणोरपि ।रुक्माभं स्वप्नधीगम्यं विद्यात्तं पुरुषं परम्
praśāsitāraṃ sarveṣāṃ aṇīyāṃsaṃ aṇorapi |rukmābhaṃ svapnadhīgamyaṃ vidyāttaṃ puruṣaṃ param
Let him know the supreme Male (Purusha, to be) the sovereign ruler of them all, smaller even than small, bright like gold, and perceptible by the intellect (only when) in (a state of) sleep(-like abstraction).
- 12.123
एतं एके वदन्त्यग्निं मनुं अन्ये प्रजापतिम् ।इन्द्रं एके परे प्राणं अपरे ब्रह्म शाश्वतम्
etaṃ eke vadantyagniṃ manuṃ anye prajāpatim |indraṃ eke pare prāṇaṃ apare brahma śāśvatam
Some call him Agni (Fire), others Manu, th< products and the causes,' or ' the intelligent and the non-intelligent ' (Nand.), means according to Gov., ' that which possesses a shape oi certain proportions and its opposite ' (murtam pr/thivyadi ya/£M-
- 12.124
एष सर्वाणि भूतानि पञ्चभिर्व्याप्य मूर्तिभिः ।जन्मवृद्धिक्षयैर्नित्यं संसारयति चक्रवत्
eṣa sarvāṇi bhūtāni pañcabhirvyāpya mūrtibhiḥ |janmavṛddhikṣayairnityaṃ saṃsārayati cakravat
He pervades all created beings in the five forms, and constantly makes them, by means of birth, growth and decay, revolve like the wheels (of a / chariot).
- 12.125
एवं यः सर्वभूतेषु पश्यत्यात्मानं आत्मना ।स सर्वसमतां एत्य ब्रह्माभ्येति परं पदम्
evaṃ yaḥ sarvabhūteṣu paśyatyātmānaṃ ātmanā |sa sarvasamatāṃ etya brahmābhyeti paraṃ padam
He who thus recognises the Self through the Self in all created beings, becomes equal(-minded) j towards all, and enters the highest state, Brahman.
- 12.126
इत्येतन्मानवं शास्त्रं भृगुप्रोक्तं पठन्द्विजः ।भवत्याचारवान्नित्यं यथेष्टां प्राप्नुयाद्गतिम्
ityetanmānavaṃ śāstraṃ bhṛguproktaṃ paṭhandvijaḥ |bhavatyācāravānnityaṃ yatheṣṭāṃ prāpnuyādgatim
A twice-born man who recites these Insti- tutes, revealed by Manu, will be always virtuous in conduct, and will reach whatever condition he desires.