12.234
śuka uvāca॥
Śuka said.
kṣarātprabhṛti yaḥ sargaḥ saguṇānindriyāṇi ca। buddhyaiśvaryābhisargārthaṃ yaddhyānaṃ cātmanaḥ śubham ॥12-234-1॥
From the perishable, the creation that begins, endowed with qualities and senses, and the meditation of the self which is auspicious, is for the purpose of the creation of intellect and power.
bhūya eva tu loke'smin sadvṛttiṃ vṛtti-haitukīm। yayā santaḥ pravartante tad icchāmi anuvārṇitam ॥12-234-2॥
But again, in this world, I wish to describe that good conduct, arising from livelihood, by which the virtuous act.
vede vacanam uktaṃ tu kuru karma tyajeti ca। katham etad vijānīyām tac ca vyākhyātum arhasi ॥12-234-3॥
In the Veda, it is said, "But do action, abandon (action)"; how should I understand this? Please explain that as well. 12-234-3.
lokavṛttāntatattvajñaḥ pūto'haṃ guruśāsanāt। kṛtvā buddhiṃ viyuktātmā tyakṣyāmyātmānamavyathaḥ ॥12-234-4॥
Having understood the true nature of worldly affairs and purified by the teacher's instruction, I will, with a detached mind, relinquish my self without suffering.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
yaiṣā vai vihitā vṛttiḥ purastād brahmaṇā svayam। eṣā pūrvataraiḥ sadbhir ācīrṇā paramarṣibhiḥ ॥12-234-5॥
This very conduct was indeed established in ancient times by Brahmā himself. It was practiced by the virtuous and the greatest sages of the past.
brahmacaryeṇa vai lokāñjayanti paramarṣayaḥ। ātmanaśca hṛdi śreyastvanviccha manasātmani ॥12-234-6॥
The supreme sages truly conquer the worlds through celibacy. You too, seek the highest good of the self in your heart, using your mind, within your own self.
vane mūlaphalāśī ca tapyansuvipulaṃ tapaḥ। puṇyāyatana cārī ca bhūtānām avihiṃsakaḥ ॥12-234-7॥
He lived in the forest, subsisting on roots and fruits, performing intense austerities, wandering among sacred places, and causing no harm to any beings.
vidhūme sannamusale vānaprasthapratiśraye। kāle prāpte caranbhaikṣaṃ kalpate brahmabhūyase ॥12-234-8॥
When the fire has gone out and the pestle is laid aside in the hermitage of a forest-dweller, at the proper time, wandering for alms, one becomes fit for the attainment of Brahmanhood.
niḥstutirnirnamaskāraḥ parityajya śubhāśubhe| araṇye vicaraikākī yena kenacidāśitaḥ ॥12-234-9॥
Having given up both auspicious and inauspicious actions, without praise or salutation, wander alone in the forest, subsisting by whatever means are available.
śuka uvāca॥
Śuka said.
yad idaṃ vedavacanaṃ lokavāde virudhyate। pramāṇe ca apramāṇe ca viruddhe śāstratā kutaḥ ॥12-234-10॥
If this Vedic statement is contradicted in worldly discourse, and is contradicted both by valid and invalid means of knowledge, then from where does scriptural authority arise?
ity etac chrotum icchāmi bhagavān prabravītu me। karmaṇām avirodhena katham etat pravartate ॥12-234-11॥
Thus, I wish to hear this; O revered one, may you declare to me how this proceeds without opposition to actions.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
ityuktaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ gandhavattyāḥ sutaḥ sutam। ṛṣistatpūjayanvākyaṃ putrasyāmitatejasaḥ ॥12-234-12॥
Thus addressed, the son of Gandhavati replied to the son. The sage honored the words of the son of immeasurable brilliance.
gṛhastho brahmacārī ca vānaprastho'tha bhikṣukaḥ। yathoktakāriṇaḥ sarve gacchanti paramāṃ gatim ॥12-234-13॥
Householders, celibate students, forest-dwellers, and mendicants—when all act as instructed, they all attain the supreme state.
eko ya āśramānetānanutiṣṭhedyathāvidhi| akāmadveṣasaṃyuktaḥ sa paratra mahīyate ||12-234-14||
He who, without desire or hatred, follows these āśramas as prescribed, is honored in the next world.
catuṣpadī hi niḥśreṇī brahmaṇyeṣā pratiṣṭhitā। etāmāśritya niḥśreṇīṃ brahmaloke mahīyate ॥12-234-15॥
This four-stepped ladder to liberation is firmly established in Brahman. Whoever ascends by this ladder is honored in the world of Brahman.
āyuṣas tu caturbhāgaṃ brahmacāryanasūyakaḥ। gurau vā guruputre vā vased dharmārthakovidaḥ ॥12-234-16॥
A person learned in dharma and artha, free from envy, should spend one-fourth of his life practicing celibacy, residing either with his teacher or with the teacher's son.
karmātirekeṇa guroradhyetavyaṃ bubhūṣatā। dakṣiṇo nāpavādī syādāhūto gurumāśrayet ॥12-234-17॥
One who desires knowledge should study under the teacher by surpassing mere action. The fee should not be given by one who speaks ill; when called, one should approach the teacher.
jaghanyaśāyī pūrvaṃ syād utthāyī guruveśmani। yac ca śiṣyeṇa kartavyaṃ kāryaṃ dāsena vā punaḥ ॥12-234-18॥
He who sleeps last should be the first to rise in the teacher's house; whatever work is to be done by the student or by the servant, he should do it again.
kṛtamityeva tatsarvaṃ kṛtvā tiṣṭheta pārśvataḥ। kiṅkaraḥ sarvakārī ca sarvakarmasu kovidaḥ ॥12-234-19॥
After accomplishing everything, thinking 'it is done', he should stand by the side; a servant who performs all duties and is skilled in every task.
śucirdakṣo guṇopeto brūyādiṣurivātvaraḥ। cakṣuṣā gurumavyagro nirīkṣeta jitendriyaḥ ॥12-234-20॥
One who is pure, skilful, and endowed with virtues should speak swiftly like an arrow; with steady gaze, he who has conquered his senses should look at the teacher without distraction.
nābhuktavati cāśnīyād apītavati no pibet। na tiṣṭhati tathāsīta nāsupte prasvapeta ca ॥12-234-21॥
One should not eat when food has not been offered, nor drink when drink has not been offered. One should not sit while standing, nor sleep when not supposed to sleep.
uttānābhyāṃ ca pāṇibhyāṃ pādāvasya mṛdu spṛśet। dakṣiṇaṃ dakṣiṇenaiva savyaṃ savyena pīḍayet ॥12-234-22॥
One should gently touch his feet with upturned hands; the right foot only with the right hand, and the left foot with the left hand should be pressed.
abhivādya guruṃ brūyād adhīṣva bhagavan iti। idaṃ kariṣye bhagavan idaṃ cāpi kṛtaṃ mayā ॥12-234-23॥
After respectfully greeting the teacher, one should say: "Please teach, O revered one." "I will do this, O revered one; and this also has been done by me."
iti sarvam-anujñāpya nivedya gurave dhanam। kuryāt-kṛtvā ca tat sarvam-ākhyeyaṃ gurave punaḥ ॥12-234-24॥
Thus, after obtaining permission, and offering all the wealth to the teacher, one should perform the act, and after completing everything, it should be reported again to the teacher.
yāṃstu gandhān rasān vāpi brahmacārī na sevate। seveta tān samāvṛtta iti dharmeṣu niścayaḥ ॥12-234-25॥
It is established in the codes of conduct that the scents and tastes which a celibate student does not enjoy, may be enjoyed by one who has completed his studentship.
ye kecid vistareṇoktā niyamā brahmacāriṇaḥ। tān sarvān anugṛhṇīyād bhavec cānapago guroḥ॥12-234-26॥
Whatever rules of the brahmacārins have been described in detail, he should accept all of them and should never stray from the teacher.
sa evaṃ gurave prītim upahṛtya yathā-balam। āśrameṣu āśrameṣu evaṃ śiṣyaḥ varteta karmaṇā ॥12-234-27॥
Thus, having offered affection to the teacher according to his ability, the disciple should conduct himself by action in the āśramas.
vedavratopavāsena caturthe cāyuṣo gate| gurave dakṣiṇāṃ dattvā samāvartedyathāvidhi ||12-234-28||
After observing Vedic vows and fasting, and when a fourth part of one's life has passed, one should give the honorarium to the teacher and return home as prescribed.
dharmalabdhairyuto dārairagnīn utpādya dharmataḥ। dvitīyam āyuṣo bhāgaṃ gṛhamedhivratī bhavet ॥12-234-29॥
For the second stage of life, one should, having married wives in accordance with dharma and having established the sacred fires as prescribed, become a householder and observe the vows of that order.
