12.284
Parāśara said.
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.
O best of men, generally, the sense of 'mineness' arises in a householder; it is born from association with qualities of darkness and passion.
Indeed, for a man here, houses, cows, fields, wealth, wives, sons, and servants come into being.
Thus, for one who is engaged and always perceives, attachment and aversion increase for one who does not see impermanence.
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.'
Having fulfilled his desires through enjoyment, he, truly devoted to pleasure, perceives no gain other than the pleasure derived from sensual enjoyment.
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.
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.
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.
For those endowed with intelligence, austerity is truly the eternal vision of Brahman. For men who seek auspicious action and renounce (action), happiness follows.
O king, when the sources of affection are destroyed, wealth is lost, and one is tormented by mental and physical afflictions, dispassion arises.
O king, from dispassion arises self-realization; from realization comes scriptural insight; from understanding the meaning of scripture, one truly perceives austerity.
O best of men, it is truly rare to find a thoughtful person who, when pleasures and comforts have waned, resolves to undertake austerity.
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.
O king, the lord of creatures formerly created the beings through austerity. In various places, being devoted to vows, he undertook different vows.
The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, as well as Agni, the Aśvins, Maruts, Viśvedevas, Sādhyas, Pitṛs, and the hosts of Maruts are all present.
Yakṣas, rākṣasas, gandharvas, siddhas, and other celestial beings, as well as those perfected by austerity, dear one, and others who reside in heaven.
The Brāhmaṇas, who were created by Brahmā in the beginning through austerity, formerly, now sustain the earth and move about in heaven as well.
In the world of mortals, the kings and other householders who are seen in great families—all that is the result of austerity.
Silken garments, auspicious ornaments, vehicles, seats, and all conveyances—these are all the fruits of austerity.
Thousands of beautiful women pleasing to the mind, residence on the palace terrace, and all this is the fruit of austerity.
All kinds of principal beds and various foods, everything desired, become available to those who have performed their duties.
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.
O best of kings, whether a man is happy or unhappy, he should abandon greed after considering the scriptures with his mind and intelligence.
Discontent leads only to unhappiness; greed causes confusion of the senses. Thus, his wisdom is destroyed, just as knowledge without practice is lost.
When a person's wisdom is lost, he cannot perceive justice. Therefore, when happiness is lost, one should undertake severe austerities.
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.
Those who always perform sinless austerity see auspicious things, enjoy objects, and indeed attain illumination.
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.
If a person harbors doubt regarding dharma, austerity, or charity, he, having committed evil deeds, surely attains hell.
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.
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.
Then, intense pain arises for him; when that is destroyed, the wise praise liberation, which is unsurpassed happiness.
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.
Householders should always enjoy objects that come without effort, but one's own duty must be pursued with effort—this is my opinion.
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.
When a human's actions come to naught, in this world, for them, no action remains except the practice of austerity.
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.
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.
