12.061
Library: Ashrama dharmas elaborated by referencing Nārāyaṇa Gīta
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
आश्रमाणां महाबाहो शृणु सत्यपराक्रम। चतुर्णामिह वर्णानां कर्माणि च युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-६१-१॥
O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, listen, O truly valiant one, to the duties of the four varṇas and āśramas here.
वानप्रस्थं भैक्षचर्यां गार्हस्थ्यं च महाश्रमम्। ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमं प्राहुश्चतुर्थं ब्राह्मणैर्वृतम् ॥१२-६१-२॥
The forest-dwelling, alms-begging, and householder's stages are great āśramas; the Brāhmaṇas call the āśrama of celibacy the fourth, which they have adopted.
जटाकरणसंस्कारं द्विजातित्वमवाप्य च। आधानादीनि कर्माणि प्राप्य वेदमधीत्य च ॥१२-६१-३॥
After performing the sacrament of making matted hair, attaining the status of a twice-born, completing rites such as initiation, and studying the Veda;
सदारो वाप्यदारो वा आत्मवान्संयतेन्द्रियः। वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गच्छेत्कृतकृत्यो गृहाश्रमात् ॥१२-६१-४॥
Whether with his wife or alone, a self-controlled man who has fulfilled his duties should leave the householder's life and enter the stage of a forest-dweller.
तत्रारण्यकशास्त्राणि समधीत्य स धर्मवित्। ऊर्ध्वरेताः प्रजायित्वा गच्छत्यक्षरसात्मताम् ॥१२-६१-५॥
There, after thoroughly studying the forest treatises, the knower of dharma, having become celibate after begetting offspring, attains the state of the imperishable self.
एतान्येव निमित्तानि मुनीनामूर्ध्वरेतसाम्। कर्तव्यानीह विप्रेण राजन्नादौ विपश्चिता ॥१२-६१-६॥
O King, these indeed are the causes for the sages of ascetic discipline; these duties should be performed here by the Brāhmaṇa, at the beginning, by the wise.
चरितब्रह्मचर्यस्य ब्राह्मणस्य विशां पते। भैक्षचर्यास्वधीकारः प्रशस्त इह मोक्षिणः ॥१२-६१-७॥
O lord of men, for a Brāhmaṇa who has completed the vow of celibacy, the eligibility for the life of mendicancy is recommended here for those who seek liberation.
यत्रास्तमितशायी स्यान्निरग्निरनिकेतनः। यथोपलब्धजीवी स्यान्मुनिर्दान्तो जितेन्द्रियः ॥१२-६१-८॥
A sage who is self-restrained and has conquered his senses may sleep wherever the sun sets, without a fixed home or fire, and lives on whatever is obtained.
निराशीः स्यात्सर्वसमो निर्भोगो निर्विकारवान्। विप्रः क्षेमाश्रमं प्राप्तो गच्छत्यक्षरसात्मताम् ॥१२-६१-९॥
A brāhmaṇa, having attained the āśrama of security, should be without expectation, equal to all, free from enjoyment and change, and should proceed to the state of the imperishable self.
अधीत्य वेदान्कृतसर्वकृत्यः; सन्तानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा। समाहितः प्रचरेद्दुश्चरं तं; गार्हस्थ्यधर्मं मुनिधर्मदृष्टम् ॥१२-६१-१०॥
After studying the Vedas, fulfilling all duties, begetting children, and enjoying life's pleasures, one should, with a focused mind, practice that challenging householder's dharma as prescribed by the sages.
स्वदारतुष्ट ऋतुकालगामी; नियोगसेवी नशठो नजिह्मः। मिताशनो देवपरः कृतज्ञः; सत्यो मृदुश्चानृशंसः क्षमावान् ॥१२-६१-११॥
He is content with his own wife, approaches at the proper time, performs his duties, is neither deceitful nor crooked, is moderate in food, devoted to the gods, grateful, truthful, gentle, compassionate, and forbearing.
दान्तो विधेयो हव्यकव्येऽप्रमत्तो; अन्नस्य दाता सततं द्विजेभ्यः। अमत्सरी सर्वलिङ्गिप्रदाता; वैताननित्यश्च गृहाश्रमी स्यात् ॥१२-६१-१२॥
He should be self-restrained, obedient, vigilant in sacrificial offerings, always giving food to the twice-born, free from envy, generous to all, constantly performing Vaitāna rites, and established as a householder.
अथात्र नारायणगीतमाहु; र्महर्षयस्तात महानुभावाः। महार्थमत्यर्थतपःप्रयुक्तं; तदुच्यमानं हि मया निबोध ॥१२-६१-१३॥
Now, O dear one, the great sages, who are great souls, have called this the Nārāyaṇa Gīta, which is of profound meaning and practiced with intense austerity; listen carefully as it is being spoken by me.
सत्यार्जवं चातिथिपूजनं च; धर्मस्तथार्थश्च रतिश्च दारे। निषेवितव्यानि सुखानि लोके; ह्यस्मिन्परे चैव मतं ममैतत् ॥१२-६१-१४॥
Truthfulness, straightforwardness, honoring guests, righteousness, wealth, and delight in one's wife are pleasures to be enjoyed in this world; indeed, in this and the next world, this is my opinion.
भरणं पुत्रदाराणां वेदानां पारणं तथा। सतां तमाश्रमं श्रेष्ठं वदन्ति परमर्षयः ॥१२-६१-१५॥
The supreme sages say that the āśrama where one supports sons and wives and completes the recitation of the Vedas is the best among the virtuous.
एवं हि यो ब्राह्मणो यज्ञशीलो; गार्हस्थ्यमध्यावसते यथावत्। गृहस्थवृत्तिं प्रविशोध्य सम्य; क्स्वर्गे विषुद्धं फलमाप्नुते सः ॥१२-६१-१६॥
Thus, the brāhmaṇa who is devoted to sacrifice and properly lives the life of a householder, having thoroughly purified his conduct as a householder, attains the pure reward in heaven.
तस्य देहपरित्यागादिष्टाः कामाक्षया मताः। आनन्त्यायोपतिष्ठन्ति सर्वतोक्षिशिरोमुखाः ॥१२-६१-१७॥
When he abandons his body, those desired by Kāmākṣā are regarded as such. For eternity, beings with eyes, heads, and mouths on all sides attend him.
खादन्नेको जपन्नेकः सर्पन्नेको युधिष्ठिर। एकस्मिन्नेव आचार्ये शुश्रूषुर्मलपङ्कवान् ॥१२-६१-१८॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, one was eating, one was reciting, one was moving; those covered with filth and mud served only one teacher.
ब्रह्मचारी व्रती नित्यं नित्यं दीक्षापरो वशी। अविचार्य तथा वेदं कृत्यं कुर्वन्वसेत्सदा ॥१२-६१-१९॥
A brahmacārī, who is an observer of vows, always devoted to consecration, self-controlled, should always live performing his Vedic duties without deliberation.
शुश्रूषां सततं कुर्वन्गुरोः सम्प्रणमेत च। षट्कर्मस्वनिवृत्तश्च नप्रवृत्तश्च सर्वशः ॥१२-६१-२०॥
One should always serve and bow to the teacher, and in all six duties, neither be completely withdrawn nor fully engaged in any of them.
न चरत्यधिकारेण सेवितं द्विषतो न च। एषोऽऽश्रमपदस्तात ब्रह्मचारिण इष्यते ॥१२-६१-२१॥
It is not practiced by authority nor by one who hates; this stage of life, O dear, is considered the āśrama of the brahmacārin (student of sacred knowledge).
