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CHAPTERVI.
1.AtwicebornSnataka,whohasthuslivedaccordingtothelawintheorderofhouseholders,may,
takingafirmresolutionandkeepinghisorgansinsubjection,dwellintheforest,duly(observingthe
rulesgivenbelow).
2.Whenahouseholderseeshis(skin)wrinkled,and(hishair)white,and.thesonsofhissons,thenhe
mayresorttotheforest.
3.Abandoningallfoodraisedbycultivation,andallhisbelongings,hemaydepartintotheforest,either
committinghiswifetohissons,oraccompaniedbyher.
4.Takingwithhimthesacredfireandtheimplementsrequiredfordomestic(sacrifices),hemaygoforth
fromthevillageintotheforestandresidethere,dulycontrollinghissenses.
5.Lethimofferthosefivegreatsacrificesaccordingtotherule,withvariouskindsofpurefoodfitfor
ascetics,orwithherbs,roots,andfruit.
6.Lethimwearaskinoratatteredgarmentlethimbatheintheeveningorinthemorningandlethim
alwayswear(hishairin)braids,thehaironhisbody,hisbeard,andhisnails(beingunclipped).
7.LethimperformtheBaliofferingwithsuchfoodasheeats,andgivealmsaccordingtohisabilitylet
himhonourthosewhocometohishermitagewithalmsconsistingofwater,roots,andfruit.
8.LethimbealwaysindustriousinprivatelyrecitingtheVedalethimbepatientofhardships,friendly
(towardsall),ofcollectedmind,everliberalandneverareceiverofgifts,andcompassionatetowardsall
livingcreatures.
9.Lethimoffer,accordingtothelaw,theAgnihotrawiththreesacredfires,neveromittingthenew
moonandfullmoonsacrificesatthepropertime.
10.LethimalsooffertheNakshatreshti,theAgrayana,andtheKaturmasya(sacrifices),aswellasthe
TurayanaandlikewisetheDakshayana,indueorder.
11.Withpuregrains,fitforascetics,whichgrowinspringandinautumn,andwhichhehimselfhas
collected,lethimseverallypreparethesacrificialcakes(purodasa)andtheboiledmesses(karu),asthe
lawdirects.
12.Havingofferedthosemostpuresacrificialviands,consistingoftheproduceoftheforest,hemayuse
theremainderforhimself,(mixedwith)saltpreparedbyhimself.
13.Lethimeatvegetablesthatgrowondrylandorinwater,flowers,roots,andfruits,theproductionsof
puretrees,andoilsextractedfromforestfruits.
14.Lethimavoidhoney,flesh,andmushroomsgrowingontheground(orelsewhere,thevegetables
called)Bhustrina,andSigruka,andtheSleshmantakafruit.
15.LethimthrowawayinthemonthofAsvinathefoodofascetics,whichheformerlycollected,
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likewisehiswornoutclothesandhisvegetables,roots,andfruit.
16.Lethimnoteatanything(grownon)ploughed(land),thoughitmayhavebeenthrownawayby
somebody,norrootsandfruitgrowninavillage,though(hemaybe)tormented(byhunger).
17.Hemayeateitherwhathasbeencookedwithfire,orwhathasbeenripenedbytimeheeithermay
useastoneforgrinding,orhisteethmaybehismortar.
18.Hemayeitheratonce(afterhisdailymeal)cleanse(hisvesselforcollectingfood),orlayupastore
sufficientforamonth,orgatherwhatsufficesforsixmonthsorforayear.
19.Havingcollectedfoodaccordingtohisability,hemayeithereatatnight(only),orinthedaytime
(only),orateveryfourthmealtime,orateveryeighth.
20.Orhemayliveaccordingtotheruleofthelunarpenance(Kandrayana,dailydiminishingthequantity
ofhisfood)inthebright(halfofthemonth)and(increasingit)inthedark(half)orhemayeatonthe
lastdaysofeachfortnight,once(adayonly),boiledbarleygruel.
21.Orhemayconstantlysubsistonflowers,roots,andfruitalone,whichhavebeenripenedbytimeand
havefallenspontaneously,followingtheruleofthe(Institutes)ofVikhanas.
22.Lethimeitherrollaboutontheground,orstandduringthedayontiptoe,(or)lethimalternately
standandsitdowngoingattheSavanas(atsunrise,atmidday,andatsunset)towaterintheforest(in
ordertobathe).
23.Insummerlethimexposehimselftotheheatoffivefires,duringtherainyseasonliveundertheopen
sky,andinwinterbedressedinwetclothes,(thus)graduallyincreasing(therigourof)hisausterities.
24.WhenhebathesatthethreeSavanas(sunrise,midday,andsunset),lethimofferlibationsofwaterto
themanesandthegods,andpractisingharsherandharsherausterities,lethimdryuphisbodilyframe.
25.Havingrepositedthethreesacredfiresinhimself,accordingtotheprescribedrule,lethimlive
withoutafire,withoutahouse,whollysilent,subsistingonrootsandfruit,
26.Makingnoeffort(toprocure)thingsthatgivepleasure,chaste,sleepingonthebareground,not
caringforanyshelter,dwellingattherootsoftrees.
27.FromBrahmanas(wholiveas)ascetics,lethimreceivealms,(barelysufficient)tosupportlife,or
fromotherhouseholdersofthetwiceborn(castes)whoresideintheforest.
28.Or(thehermit)whodwellsintheforestmaybring(food)fromavillage,receivingiteitherina
hollowdish(ofleaves),in(hisnaked)hand,orinabrokenearthendish,andmayeateightmouthfuls.
29.TheseandotherobservancesmustaBrahmanawhodwellsintheforestdiligentlypractise,andin
ordertoattaincomplete(unionwith)the(supreme)Soul,(hemuststudy)thevarioussacredtexts
containedintheUpanishads,
30.(Aswellasthoseritesandtexts)whichhavebeenpractisedandstudiedbythesages(Rishis),andby
Brahmanahouseholders,inordertoincreasetheirknowledge(ofBrahman),andtheirausterity,andin
ordertosanctifytheirbodies
31.Orlethimwalk,fullydeterminedandgoingstraighton,inanortheasterlydirection,subsistingon
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waterandair,untilhisbodysinkstorest.
32.ABrahmana,havinggotridofhisbodybyoneofthosemodespractisedbythegreatsages,isexalted
intheworldofBrahman,freefromsorrowandfear.
33.Buthavingthuspassedthethirdpartof(aman'snaturaltermof)lifeintheforest,hemayliveasan
asceticduringthefourthpartofhisexistence,afterabandoningallattachmenttoworldlyobjects.
34.Hewhoafterpassingfromordertoorder,afterofferingsacrificesandsubduinghissenses,becomes,
tiredwith(giving)almsandofferingsoffood,anascetic,gainsblissafterdeath.
35.Whenhehaspaidthethreedebts,lethimapplyhismindto(theattainmentof)finalliberationhe
whoseeksitwithouthavingpaid(hisdebts)sinksdownwards.
36.HavingstudiedtheVedasinaccordancewiththerule,havingbegatsonsaccordingtothesacredlaw,
andhavingofferedsacrificesaccordingtohisability,hemaydirecthismindto(theattainmentof)final
liberation.
37.Atwicebornmanwhoseeksfinalliberation,withouthavingstudiedtheVedas,withouthaving
begottensons,andwithouthavingofferedsacrifices,sinksdownwards.
38.HavingperformedtheIshti,sacredtotheLordofcreatures(Pragapati),where(hegives)allhis
propertyasthesacrificialfee,havingrepositedthesacredfiresinhimself,aBrahmanamaydepartfrom
hishouse(asanascetic).
39.Worlds,radiantinbrilliancy,become(theportion)ofhimwhorecites(thetextsregarding)Brahman
anddepartsfromhishouse(asanascetic),aftergivingapromiseofsafetytoallcreatedbeings.
40.Forthattwicebornman,bywhomnotthesmallestdangereveniscausedtocreatedbeings,therewill
benodangerfromany(quarter),afterheisfreedfromhisbody.
41.Departingfromhishousefullyprovidedwiththemeansofpurification(Pavitra),lethimwander
aboutabsolutelysilent,andcaringnothingforenjoymentsthatmaybeoffered(tohim).
42.Lethimalwayswanderalone,withoutanycompanion,inordertoattain(finalliberation),fully
understandingthatthesolitary(man,who)neitherforsakesnorisforsaken,gainshisend.
43.Heshallneitherpossessafire,noradwelling,hemaygotoavillageforhisfood,(heshallbe)
indifferenttoeverything,firmofpurpose,meditating(and)concentratinghismindonBrahman.
44.Apotsherd(insteadofanalmsbowl),therootsoftrees(foradwelling),coarsewornoutgarments,
lifeinsolitudeandindifferencetowardseverything,arethemarksofonewhohasattainedliberation.
45.Lethimnotdesiretodie,lethimnotdesiretolivelethimwaitfor(hisappointed)time,asaservant
(waits)forthepaymentofhiswages.
46.Lethimputdownhisfootpurifiedbyhissight,lethimdrinkwaterpurifiedby(strainingwith)a
cloth,lethimutterspeechpurifiedbytruth,lethimkeephisheartpure.
47.Lethimpatientlybearhardwords,lethimnotinsultanybody,andlethimnotbecomeanybody's
enemyforthesakeofthis(perishable)body.
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48.Againstanangrymanlethimnotinreturnshowanger,lethimblesswhenheiscursed,andlethim
notutterspeech,devoidoftruth,scatteredatthesevengates.
49.DelightinginwhatreferstotheSoul,sitting(intheposturesprescribedbytheYoga),independent(of
externalhelp),entirelyabstainingfromsensualenjoyments,withhimselfforhisonlycompanion,he
shallliveinthisworld,desiringthebliss(offinalliberation).
50.Neitherby(explaining)prodigiesandomens,norbyskillinastrologyandpalmistry,norbygiving
adviceandbytheexposition(oftheSastras),lethimeverseektoobtainalms.
51.Lethimnot(inordertobeg)gonearahousefilledwithhermits,Brahmanas,birds,dogs,orother
mendicants.
52.Hishair,nails,andbeardbeingclipped,carryinganalmsbowl,astaff,andawaterpot,lethim
continuallywanderabout,controllinghimselfandnothurtinganycreature.
53.Hisvesselsshallnotbemadeofmetal,theyshallbefreefromfracturesitisordainedthattheyshall
becleansedwithwater,like(thecups,called)Kamasa,atasacrifice.
54.Agourd,awoodenbowl,anearthen(dish),oronemadeofsplitcane,Manu,thesonofSvayambhu,
hasdeclared(tobe)vessels(suitable)foranascetic.
55.Lethimgotobegonce(aday),lethimnotbeeagertoobtainalargequantity(ofalms)foranascetic
whoeagerlyseeksalms,attacheshimselfalsotosensualenjoyments.
56.Whennosmokeascendsfrom(thekitchen),whenthepestleliesmotionless,whentheembershave
beenextinguished,whenthepeoplehavefinishedtheirmeal,whentheremnantsinthedisheshavebeen
removed,lettheasceticalwaysgotobeg.
57.Lethimnotbesorrywhenheobtainsnothing,norrejoicewhenheobtains(something),lethim
(accept)somuchonlyaswillsustainlife,lethimnotcareaboutthe(qualityofhis)utensils.
58.Lethimdisdainall(food)obtainedinconsequenceofhumblesalutations,(for)evenanasceticwho
hasattainedfinalliberation,isbound(withthefettersoftheSamsara)byaccepting(foodgiven)in
consequenceofhumblesalutations.
59.Byeatinglittle,andbystandingandsittinginsolitude,lethimrestrainhissenses,iftheyareattracted
bysensualobjects.
60.Bytherestraintofhissenses,bythedestructionofloveandhatred,andbytheabstentionfrom
injuringthecreatures,hebecomesfitforimmortality.
61.Lethimreflectonthetransmigrationsofmen,causedbytheirsinfuldeeds,ontheirfallingintohell,
andonthetormentsintheworldofYama,
62.Ontheseparationfromtheirdearones,ontheirunionwithhatedmen,ontheirbeingoverpoweredby
ageandbeingtormentedwithdiseases,
63.Onthedepartureoftheindividualsoulfromthisbodyanditsnewbirthin(another)womb,andonits
wanderingsthroughtenthousandmillionsofexistences,
64.Ontheinflictionofpainonembodied(spirits),whichiscausedbydemerit,andthegainofeternal
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bliss,whichiscausedbytheattainmentoftheirhighestaim,(gainedthrough)spiritualmerit.
65.BydeepmeditationlethimrecognisethesubtilenatureofthesupremeSoul,anditspresenceinall
organisms,boththehighestandthelowest.
66.Towhateverorderhemaybeattached,lethim,thoughblemished(byawantoftheexternalmarks),
fulfilhisduty,equalmindedtowardsallcreatures(for)theexternalmark(oftheorder)isnotthecause
of(theacquisitionof)merit.
67.ThoughthefruitoftheKatakatree(theclearingnut)makeswaterclear,yetthe(latter)doesnot
becomelimpidinconsequenceofthementionofthe(fruit's)name.
68.Inordertopreservelivingcreatures,lethimalwaysbydayandbynight,evenwithpaintohisbody,
walk,carefullyscanningtheground.
69.Inordertoexpiate(thedeath)ofthosecreatureswhichheunintentionallyinjuresbydayorbynight,
anasceticshallbatheandperformsixsuppressionsofthebreath.
70.Threesuppressionsofthebreatheven,performedaccordingtotherule,andaccompaniedwiththe
(recitationofthe)VyahritisandofthesyllableOm,onemustknowtobethehighest(formof)austerity
foreveryBrahmana.
71.Forastheimpuritiesofmetallicores,meltedintheblast(ofafurnace),areconsumed,evensothe
taintsoftheorgansaredestroyedthroughthesuppressionofthebreath.
72.Lethimdestroythetaintsthroughsuppressionsofthebreath,(theproductionof)sinbyfixed
attention,allsensualattachmentsbyrestraining(hissensesandorgans),andallqualitiesthatarenot
lordlybymeditation.
73.Lethimrecognisebythepracticeofmeditationtheprogressoftheindividualsoulthroughbeingsof
variouskinds,(aprogress)hardtounderstandforunregeneratemen.
74.Hewhopossessesthetrueinsight(intothenatureoftheworld),isnotfetteredbyhisdeedsbuthe
whoisdestituteofthatinsight,isdrawnintothecircleofbirthsanddeaths.
75.Bynotinjuringanycreatures,bydetachingthesenses(fromobjectsofenjoyment),bytherites
prescribedintheVeda,andbyrigorouslypractisingausterities,(men)gainthatstate(even)inthis
(world).
7677.Lethimquitthisdwelling,composedofthefiveelements,wherethebonesarethebeams,which
isheldtogetherbytendons(insteadofcords),wherethefleshandthebloodarethemortar,whichis
thatchedwiththeskin,whichisfoulsmelling,filledwithurineandordure,infestedbyoldageand
sorrow,theseatofdisease,harassedbypain,gloomywithpassion,andperishable.
78.Hewholeavesthisbody,(beitbynecessity)asatree(thatistornfrom)theriverbank,or(freely)
likeabird(that)quitsatree,isfreedfromthemisery(ofthisworld,dreadfullike)ashark.
79.Makingover(themeritofhisown)goodactionstohisfriendsand(theguiltof)hisevildeedstohis
enemies,heattainstheeternalBrahmanbythepracticeofmeditation.
80.Whenbythedisposition(ofhisheart)hebecomesindifferenttoallobjects,heobtainseternal
happinessbothinthisworldandafterdeath.
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81.Hewhohasinthismannergraduallygivenupallattachmentsandisfreedfromallthepairs(of
opposites),reposesinBrahmanalone.
82.Allthathasbeendeclared(above)dependsonmeditationforhewhoisnotproficientinthe
knowledgeofthatwhichreferstotheSoulreapsnotthefullrewardoftheperformanceofrites.
83.Lethimconstantlyrecite(thosetextsof)theVedawhichrefertothesacrifice,(those)referringtothe
deities,and(those)whichtreatoftheSoulandarecontainedintheconcludingportionsoftheVeda
(Vedanta).
84.Thatistherefugeoftheignorant,andeventhat(therefuse)ofthosewhoknow(themeaningofthe
Veda)thatis(theprotection)ofthosewhoseek(blissin)heavenandofthosewhoseekendless
(beatitude).
85.Atwicebornmanwhobecomesanascetic,afterthesuccessiveperformanceoftheabovementioned
acts,shakesoffsinherebelowandreachesthehighestBrahman.
86.Thusthelaw(valid)forselfrestrainedasceticshasbeenexplainedtoyounowlistentothe
(particular)dutiesofthosewhogiveup(theritesprescribedby)theVeda.
87.Thestudent,thehouseholder,thehermit,andtheascetic,these(constitute)fourseparateorders,
whichallspringfrom(theorderof)householders.
88.Butall(or)even(anyof)theseorders,assumedsuccessivelyinaccordancewiththeInstitutes(ofthe
sacredlaw),leadtheBrahmanawhoactsbythepreceding(rules)tothehigheststate.
89.AndinaccordancewiththepreceptsoftheVedaandoftheSmriti,thehousekeeperisdeclaredtobe
superiortoallofthemforhesupportstheotherthree.
90.Asallrivers,bothgreatandsmall,findarestingplaceintheocean,evensomenofallordersfind
protectionwithhouseholders
91.Bytwicebornmenbelongingto(anyof)thesefourorders,thetenfoldlawmustbeevercarefully
obeyed.
92.Contentment,forgiveness,selfcontrol,abstentionfromunrighteouslyappropriatinganything,
(obediencetotherulesof)purification,coercionoftheorgans,wisdom,knowledge(ofthesupreme
Soul),truthfulness,andabstentionfromanger,(form)thetenfoldlaw.
93.ThoseBrahmanaswhothoroughlystudythetenfoldlaw,andafterstudyingobeyit,enterthehighest
state.
94.Atwicebornmanwho,withcollectedmind,followsthetenfoldlawandhaspaidhis(three)debts,
may,afterlearningtheVedantaaccordingtotheprescribedrule,becomeanascetic.
95.Havinggivenup(theperformanceof)allrites,throwingofftheguiltofhis(sinful)acts,subduinghis
organsandhavingstudiedtheVeda,hemayliveathiseaseundertheprotectionofhisson.
96.Hewhohasthusgivenup(theperformanceof)allrites,whoissolelyintentonhisown(particular)
object,(and)freefromdesires,destroyshisguiltbyhisrenunciationandobtainsthehigheststate.
97.ThusthefourfoldholylawofBrahmanas,whichafterdeath(yields)imperishablerewards,hasbeen
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declaredtoyounowlearnthedutyofkings.

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