12.284
parāśara uvāca॥
Parāśara said.
eṣa dharmavidhistāta gṛhasthasya prakīrtitaḥ। tapovidhiṃ tu vakṣyāmi tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu ॥12-284-1॥
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.
prāyeṇa hi gṛhasthasya mamatvaṃ nāma jāyate। saṅgāgataṃ naraśreṣṭha bhāvaistāmasarājasaḥ ॥12-284-2॥
O best of men, generally, the sense of 'mineness' arises in a householder; it is born from association with qualities of darkness and passion.
gṛhāṇy āśritya gāvaś ca kṣetrāṇi ca dhanāni ca। dārāḥ putrāś ca bhṛtyāś ca bhavantīha narasya vai॥12-284-3॥
Indeed, for a man here, houses, cows, fields, wealth, wives, sons, and servants come into being.
evaṃ tasya pravṛttasya nityamevānupaśyataḥ। rāgadveṣau vivardhete hyanityatvamapaśyataḥ ॥12-284-4॥
Thus, for one who is engaged and always perceives, attachment and aversion increase for one who does not see impermanence.
rāgadveṣābhibhūtaṃ ca naraṃ dravyavaśānugam। mohajātā ratirnāma samupaiti narādhipa ॥12-284-5॥
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.'
kṛtārtho bhogato bhūtvā sa vai ratiparāyaṇaḥ। lābhaṃ grāmyasukhādanyaṃ ratito nānupaśyati॥12-284-6॥
Having fulfilled his desires through enjoyment, he, truly devoted to pleasure, perceives no gain other than the pleasure derived from sensual enjoyment.
tato lobhābhibhūtātmā saṅgādvardhayate janam। puṣṭyarthaṃ caiva tasyeha janasyārthaṃ cikīrṣati ॥12-284-7॥
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.
sa jānan-napi cākāryam-arthārthaṃ sevate naraḥ। bālasnehaparītātmā tat-kṣayāccānutapyate ॥12-284-8॥
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.
tato mānena sampanno rakṣann ātmaparājayam। karoti yena bhogī syāmiti tasmād vinaśyati ॥12-284-9॥
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.
tapo hi buddhiyuktānāṃ śāśvataṃ brahmadarśanam। anvicchatāṃ śubhaṃ karma narāṇāṃ tyajatāṃ sukham ॥12-284-10॥
For those endowed with intelligence, austerity is truly the eternal vision of Brahman. For men who seek auspicious action and renounce (action), happiness follows.
snehāyatananāśācca dhananāśācca pārthiva। ādhivyādhipratāpācca nirvedamupagacchati ॥12-284-11॥
O king, when the sources of affection are destroyed, wealth is lost, and one is tormented by mental and physical afflictions, dispassion arises.
nirvedād ātmasambodhaḥ sambodhāc chāstradarśanam। śāstrārthadarśanād rājaṃs tapa evānupaśyati ॥12-284-12॥
O king, from dispassion arises self-realization; from realization comes scriptural insight; from understanding the meaning of scripture, one truly perceives austerity.
durlabho hi manuṣyendra naraḥ pratyavamarśavān। yo vai priyasukhe kṣīṇe tapaḥ kartuṃ vyavasyati ॥12-284-13॥
O best of men, it is truly rare to find a thoughtful person who, when pleasures and comforts have waned, resolves to undertake austerity.
tapaḥ sarvagataṃ tāta hīnasya api vidhīyate। jitendriyasya dāntasya svargamārgapradeśakam ॥12-284-14॥
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.
prajāpatiḥ prajāḥ pūrvamasṛjattapasā vibhuḥ। kvacitkvacidvrataparo vratānyāsthāya pārthiva ॥12-284-15॥
O king, the lord of creatures formerly created the beings through austerity. In various places, being devoted to vows, he undertook different vows.
ādityā vasavo rudrās tathaiva agni-aśvin-mārutāḥ। viśvedevās tathā sādhyāḥ pitaro 'tha marud-gaṇāḥ॥12-284-16॥
The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, as well as Agni, the Aśvins, Maruts, Viśvedevas, Sādhyas, Pitṛs, and the hosts of Maruts are all present.
yakṣa-rākṣasa-gandharvāḥ siddhāś ca anye divaukasaḥ। saṃsiddhāḥ tapasā tāta ye ca anye svarga-vāsinaḥ॥12-284-17॥
Yakṣas, rākṣasas, gandharvas, siddhas, and other celestial beings, as well as those perfected by austerity, dear one, and others who reside in heaven.
ye cādau brahmaṇā sṛṣṭā brāhmaṇās tapasā purā। te bhāvayantaḥ pṛthivīṃ vicaranti divaṃ tathā ॥12-284-18॥
The Brāhmaṇas, who were created by Brahmā in the beginning through austerity, formerly, now sustain the earth and move about in heaven as well.
martyaloke ca rājāno ye ca anye gṛhamedhinaḥ। mahākuleṣu dṛśyante tat sarvaṃ tapasaḥ phalam ॥12-284-19॥
In the world of mortals, the kings and other householders who are seen in great families—all that is the result of austerity.
kauśikāni ca vastrāṇi śubhānyābharaṇāni ca। vāhanāsanayānāni sarvaṃ tattapasaḥ phalam ॥12-284-20॥
Silken garments, auspicious ornaments, vehicles, seats, and all conveyances—these are all the fruits of austerity.
manonukūlāḥ pramadā rūpavatyaḥ sahasraśaḥ। vāsaḥ prāsādapṛṣṭhe ca tatsarvaṃ tapasaḥ phalam ॥12-284-21॥
Thousands of beautiful women pleasing to the mind, residence on the palace terrace, and all this is the fruit of austerity.
śayanāni ca mukhyāni bhojyāni vividhāni ca। abhipretāni sarvāṇi bhavanti kṛtakarmaṇām ॥12-284-22॥
All kinds of principal beds and various foods, everything desired, become available to those who have performed their duties.
nāprāpyaṃ tapasā kiñcit trailokye'smin parantapa। upabhogaparityāgaḥ phalāny akṛtakarmaṇām ॥12-284-23॥
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.
sukhito duḥkhito vāpi naro lobhaṃ parityajet। avekṣya manasā śāstraṃ buddhyā ca nṛpasattama ॥12-284-24॥
O best of kings, whether a man is happy or unhappy, he should abandon greed after considering the scriptures with his mind and intelligence.
asantoṣo'sukhāyaiva lobhād indriya-vibhramaḥ। tato'sya naśyati prajñā vidyevābhyāsa-varjitā ॥12-284-25॥
Discontent leads only to unhappiness; greed causes confusion of the senses. Thus, his wisdom is destroyed, just as knowledge without practice is lost.
naṣṭaprajño yadā bhavati tadā nyāyaṃ na paśyati। tasmātsukhakṣaye prāpte pumānugraṃ tapaścaret ॥12-284-26॥
When a person's wisdom is lost, he cannot perceive justice. Therefore, when happiness is lost, one should undertake severe austerities.
yadiṣṭaṃ tatsukhaṃ prāhur dveṣyaṃ duḥkham iho cyate। kṛtākṛtasya tapasaḥ phalaṃ paśyasva yādṛśam ॥12-284-27॥
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.
nityaṃ bhadrāṇi paśyanti viṣayāṃścopabhuñjate। prākāśyaṃ caiva gacchanti kṛtvā niṣkalmaṣaṃ tapaḥ ॥12-284-28॥
Those who always perform sinless austerity see auspicious things, enjoy objects, and indeed attain illumination.
apriyāṇyavamānāṃś ca duḥkhaṃ bahuvidhātmakam। phalārthī satpathatyaktaḥ prāpnoti viṣayātmakam ॥12-284-29॥
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.
dharme tapasi dāne ca vicikitsāsya jāyate। sa kṛtvā pāpakānyeva nirayaṃ pratipadyate ॥12-284-30॥
If a person harbors doubt regarding dharma, austerity, or charity, he, having committed evil deeds, surely attains hell.
sukhe tu vartamāno vai duḥkhe vāpi narottama। svavṛttādyo na calati śāstra-cakṣuḥ sa mānavaḥ ॥12-284-31॥
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.
iṣu-prapāta-mātraṃ hi sparśa-yoge ratiḥ smṛtā। rasane darśane ghrāṇe śravaṇe ca viśāṃ pate ॥12-284-32॥
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.
tato'sya jāyate tīvraā vedanā tatkṣayāt punaḥ। budhā yena praśaṃsanti mokṣaṃ sukham anuttamam ॥12-284-33॥
Then, intense pain arises for him; when that is destroyed, the wise praise liberation, which is unsurpassed happiness.
tataḥ phalārthaṃ carati bhavanti jyāyaso guṇāḥ। dharmavṛttyā ca satataṃ kāmārthābhyāṃ na hīyate ॥12-284-34॥
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.
aprayatnāgatāḥ sevyā gṛhasthairviṣayāḥ sadā। prayatnenopagamyāśca svadharma iti me matiḥ ॥12-284-35॥
Householders should always enjoy objects that come without effort, but one's own duty must be pursued with effort—this is my opinion.
mānināṃ kulajātānāṃ nityaṃ śāstrārthacakṣuṣām। dharmakriyāviyuktānāmaśaktyā saṃvṛtātmanām ॥12-284-36॥
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.
kriyamāṇaṃ yadā karma nāśaṃ gacchati mānuṣam। teṣāṃ nānyadṛte loke tapasaḥ karma vidyate ॥12-284-37॥
When a human's actions come to naught, in this world, for them, no action remains except the practice of austerity.
sarvātmanā tu kurvīta gṛhasthaḥ karma-niścayam। dākṣyeṇa havyakavya-artham svadharmam vicaren nṛpa ॥12-284-38॥
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.
yathā nadīnādāḥ sarve sāgare yānti saṃsthitim। evamāśramiṇaḥ sarve gṛhaste yānti saṃsthitim ॥12-284-39॥
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.
