12.284
पराशर उवाच॥
Parāśara said.
एष धर्मविधिस्तात गृहस्थस्य प्रकीर्तितः। तपोविधिं तु वक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥१२-२८४-१॥
O dear one, this is the prescribed dharma for a householder. Now, I shall explain the procedure of austerity; listen to me as I speak it.
प्रायेण हि गृहस्थस्य ममत्वं नाम जायते। सङ्गागतं नरश्रेष्ठ भावैस्तामसराजसैः ॥१२-२८४-२॥
O best of men, generally, the sense of 'mineness' arises in a householder; it is born from association with qualities of darkness and passion.
गृहाण्याश्रित्य गावश्च क्षेत्राणि च धनानि च। दाराः पुत्राश्च भृत्याश्च भवन्तीह नरस्य वै ॥१२-२८४-३॥
Indeed, for a man here, houses, cows, fields, wealth, wives, sons, and servants come into being.
एवं तस्य प्रवृत्तस्य नित्यमेवानुपश्यतः। रागद्वेषौ विवर्धेते ह्यनित्यत्वमपश्यतः ॥१२-२८४-४॥
Thus, for one who is engaged and always perceives, attachment and aversion increase for one who does not see impermanence.
रागद्वेषाभिभूतं च नरं द्रव्यवशानुगम्। मोहजाता रतिर्नाम समुपैति नराधिप ॥१२-२८४-५॥
O king, a man who is overpowered by attachment and aversion and follows after the influence of objects, is overtaken by a pleasure called 'attachment born of delusion.'
कृतार्थो भोगतो भूत्वा स वै रतिपरायणः। लाभं ग्राम्यसुखादन्यं रतितो नानुपश्यति ॥१२-२८४-६॥
Having fulfilled his desires through enjoyment, he, truly devoted to pleasure, perceives no gain other than the pleasure derived from sensual enjoyment.
ततो लोभाभिभूतात्मा सङ्गाद्वर्धयते जनम्। पुष्ट्यर्थं चैव तस्येह जनस्यार्थं चिकीर्षति ॥१२-२८४-७॥
Then, a person whose mind is overpowered by greed, due to attachment, increases the number of people; and, seeking prosperity here, wishes to act for the benefit of the people.
स जानन्नपि चाकार्यमर्थार्थं सेवते नरः। बालस्नेहपरीतात्मा तत्क्षयाच्चानुतप्यते ॥१२-२८४-८॥
A man, even knowing, engages in improper acts for the sake of gain; one whose mind is overcome by childish affection later regrets it when that is lost.
ततो मानेन सम्पन्नो रक्षन्नात्मपराजयम्। करोति येन भोगी स्यामिति तस्माद्विनश्यति ॥१२-२८४-९॥
Then, being proud and seeking to protect himself from defeat, he acts in such a way, thinking 'Let me become an enjoyer'; therefore, he is destroyed.
तपो हि बुद्धियुक्तानां शाश्वतं ब्रह्मदर्शनम्। अन्विच्छतां शुभं कर्म नराणां त्यजतां सुखम् ॥१२-२८४-१०॥
For those endowed with intelligence, austerity is truly the eternal vision of Brahman. For men who seek auspicious action and renounce (action), happiness follows.
स्नेहायतननाशाच्च धननाशाच्च पार्थिव। आधिव्याधिप्रतापाच्च निर्वेदमुपगच्छति ॥१२-२८४-११॥
O king, when the sources of affection are destroyed, wealth is lost, and one is tormented by mental and physical afflictions, dispassion arises.
निर्वेदादात्मसम्बोधः सम्बोधाच्छास्त्रदर्शनम्। शास्त्रार्थदर्शनाद्राजंस्तप एवानुपश्यति ॥१२-२८४-१२॥
O king, from dispassion arises self-realization; from realization comes scriptural insight; from understanding the meaning of scripture, one truly perceives austerity.
दुर्लभो हि मनुष्येन्द्र नरः प्रत्यवमर्शवान्। यो वै प्रियसुखे क्षीणे तपः कर्तुं व्यवस्यति ॥१२-२८४-१३॥
O best of men, it is truly rare to find a thoughtful person who, when pleasures and comforts have waned, resolves to undertake austerity.
तपः सर्वगतं तात हीनस्यापि विधीयते। जितेन्द्रियस्य दान्तस्य स्वर्गमार्गप्रदेशकम् ॥१२-२८४-१४॥
O dear, austerity is prescribed for everyone, even for those who are lacking; for one who has conquered the senses and is self-restrained, it leads to the path of heaven.
प्रजापतिः प्रजाः पूर्वमसृजत्तपसा विभुः। क्वचित्क्वचिद्व्रतपरो व्रतान्यास्थाय पार्थिव ॥१२-२८४-१५॥
O king, the lord of creatures formerly created the beings through austerity. In various places, being devoted to vows, he undertook different vows.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रास्तथैवाग्न्यश्विमारुताः। विश्वेदेवास्तथा साध्याः पितरोऽथ मरुद्गणाः ॥१२-२८४-१६॥
The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, as well as Agni, the Aśvins, Maruts, Viśvedevas, Sādhyas, Pitṛs, and the hosts of Maruts are all present.
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्चान्ये दिवौकसः। संसिद्धास्तपसा तात ये चान्ये स्वर्गवासिनः ॥१२-२८४-१७॥
Yakṣas, rākṣasas, gandharvas, siddhas, and other celestial beings, as well as those perfected by austerity, dear one, and others who reside in heaven.
ये चादौ ब्रह्मणा सृष्टा ब्राह्मणास्तपसा पुरा। ते भावयन्तः पृथिवीं विचरन्ति दिवं तथा ॥१२-२८४-१८॥
The Brāhmaṇas, who were created by Brahmā in the beginning through austerity, formerly, now sustain the earth and move about in heaven as well.
मर्त्यलोके च राजानो ये चान्ये गृहमेधिनः। महाकुलेषु दृश्यन्ते तत्सर्वं तपसः फलम् ॥१२-२८४-१९॥
In the world of mortals, the kings and other householders who are seen in great families—all that is the result of austerity.
कौशिकानि च वस्त्राणि शुभान्याभरणानि च। वाहनासनयानानि सर्वं तत्तपसः फलम् ॥१२-२८४-२०॥
Silken garments, auspicious ornaments, vehicles, seats, and all conveyances—these are all the fruits of austerity.
मनोनुकूलाः प्रमदा रूपवत्यः सहस्रशः। वासः प्रासादपृष्ठे च तत्सर्वं तपसः फलम् ॥१२-२८४-२१॥
Thousands of beautiful women pleasing to the mind, residence on the palace terrace, and all this is the fruit of austerity.
शयनानि च मुख्यानि भोज्यानि विविधानि च। अभिप्रेतानि सर्वाणि भवन्ति कृतकर्मणाम् ॥१२-२८४-२२॥
All kinds of principal beds and various foods, everything desired, become available to those who have performed their duties.
नाप्राप्यं तपसा किञ्चित्त्रैलोक्येऽस्मिन्परन्तप। उपभोगपरित्यागः फलान्यकृतकर्मणाम् ॥१२-२८४-२३॥
O Parantapa, in these three worlds, there is nothing unattainable by austerity. For those who have not performed actions, enjoyment and renunciation are the results.
सुखितो दुःखितो वापि नरो लोभं परित्यजेत्। अवेक्ष्य मनसा शास्त्रं बुद्ध्या च नृपसत्तम ॥१२-२८४-२४॥
O best of kings, whether a man is happy or unhappy, he should abandon greed after considering the scriptures with his mind and intelligence.
असन्तोषोऽसुखायैव लोभादिन्द्रियविभ्रमः। ततोऽस्य नश्यति प्रज्ञा विद्येवाभ्यासवर्जिता ॥१२-२८४-२५॥
Discontent leads only to unhappiness; greed causes confusion of the senses. Thus, his wisdom is destroyed, just as knowledge without practice is lost.
नष्टप्रज्ञो यदा भवति तदा न्यायं न पश्यति। तस्मात्सुखक्षये प्राप्ते पुमानुग्रं तपश्चरेत् ॥१२-२८४-२६॥
When a person's wisdom is lost, he cannot perceive justice. Therefore, when happiness is lost, one should undertake severe austerities.
यदिष्टं तत्सुखं प्राहुर्द्वेष्यं दुःखमिहोच्यते। कृताकृतस्य तपसः फलं पश्यस्व यादृशम् ॥१२-२८४-२७॥
What is desired is called happiness, and what is hateful is called suffering here. See the kind of result that comes from austerity, whether performed or not.
नित्यं भद्राणि पश्यन्ति विषयांश्चोपभुञ्जते। प्राकाश्यं चैव गच्छन्ति कृत्वा निष्कल्मषं तपः ॥१२-२८४-२८॥
Those who always perform sinless austerity see auspicious things, enjoy objects, and indeed attain illumination.
अप्रियाण्यवमानांश्च दुःखं बहुविधात्मकम्। फलार्थी सत्पथत्यक्तः प्राप्नोति विषयात्मकम् ॥१२-२८४-२९॥
One who abandons the righteous path for the sake of results encounters many kinds of unpleasantness, insults, and suffering, and attains only that which is bound to sense-objects.
धर्मे तपसि दाने च विचिकित्सास्य जायते। स कृत्वा पापकान्येव निरयं प्रतिपद्यते ॥१२-२८४-३०॥
If a person harbors doubt regarding dharma, austerity, or charity, he, having committed evil deeds, surely attains hell.
सुखे तु वर्तमानो वै दुःखे वापि नरोत्तम। स्ववृत्ताद्यो न चलति शास्त्रचक्षुः स मानवः ॥१२-२८४-३१॥
O best of men, whether in happiness or in sorrow, he who does not deviate from his own conduct, guided by the eye of scripture, is truly a man.
इषुप्रपातमात्रं हि स्पर्शयोगे रतिः स्मृता। रसने दर्शने घ्राणे श्रवणे च विशां पते ॥१२-२८४-३२॥
O lord of men, pleasure arising from contact with touch is said to last only for a moment, like the fall of an arrow; so too in tasting, seeing, smelling, and hearing.
ततोऽस्य जायते तीव्रा वेदना तत्क्षयात्पुनः। बुधा येन प्रशंसन्ति मोक्षं सुखमनुत्तमम् ॥१२-२८४-३३॥
Then, intense pain arises for him; when that is destroyed, the wise praise liberation, which is unsurpassed happiness.
ततः फलार्थं चरति भवन्ति ज्यायसो गुणाः। धर्मवृत्त्या च सततं कामार्थाभ्यां न हीयते ॥१२-२८४-३४॥
Thus, when one acts for the sake of results, greater qualities arise. By always following the conduct of dharma, one is not diminished by the pursuit of desire and wealth.
अप्रयत्नागताः सेव्या गृहस्थैर्विषयाः सदा। प्रयत्नेनोपगम्यश्च स्वधर्म इति मे मतिः ॥१२-२८४-३५॥
Householders should always enjoy objects that come without effort, but one's own duty must be pursued with effort—this is my opinion.
मानिनां कुलजातानां नित्यं शास्त्रार्थचक्षुषाम्। धर्मक्रियावियुक्तानामशक्त्या संवृतात्मनाम् ॥१२-२८४-३६॥
Among the proud, those born in noble families, who always see only the meaning of the scriptures, and who are devoid of righteous actions due to incapacity, whose true self is concealed.
क्रियमाणं यदा कर्म नाशं गच्छति मानुषम्। तेषां नान्यदृते लोके तपसः कर्म विद्यते ॥१२-२८४-३७॥
When a human's actions come to naught, in this world, for them, no action remains except the practice of austerity.
सर्वात्मना तु कुर्वीत गृहस्थः कर्मनिश्चयम्। दाक्ष्येण हव्यकव्यार्थं स्वधर्मं विचरेन्नृप ॥१२-२८४-३८॥
O king, the householder should, with his whole self, perform determined actions; with skill, he should practice his own duty for the sake of offerings to gods and ancestors.
यथा नदीनदाः सर्वे सागरे यान्ति संस्थितिम्। एवमाश्रमिणः सर्वे गृहस्थे यान्ति संस्थितिम् ॥१२-२८४-३९॥
Just as all rivers and streams ultimately merge into the ocean, so too do all those in the āśramas ultimately find their fulfillment in the householder's stage.
