The Householder's Duties: The Earth Instructs Krishna

Verse 1 (13.154.1)

गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममखिलं प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ । ऋद्धिमाप्नोति किं कृत्वा मनुष्य इह पार्थिव ॥

gārhasthyaṃ dharmamakhilaṃ prabrūhi bharatarṣabha | ṛddhimāpnoti kiṃ kṛtvā manuṣya iha pārthiva

"Tell me, O best of the Bharatas, the whole dharma of the householder. By doing what does a man attain prosperity in this world, O king?"

Note on the text: Wikisource prints the speaker heading (with a stray backtick) as the first line of the text: removed from the Sanskrit and made the speaker.

Verse 2 (13.154.2)

अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तं जनाधिप । वासुदेवस्य संवादं पृथिव्याश्चैव भारत ॥

atra te vartayiṣyāmi purāvṛttaṃ janādhipa | vāsudevasya saṃvādaṃ pṛthivyāścaiva bhārata

On this I shall tell you an old account, O ruler of men: the conversation between Vasudeva and the Earth, O Bharata.

Verse 3 (13.154.3)

संस्तुत्य पृथिवीं देवीं वासुदेवः प्रतापवान् । पप्रच्छ भरतश्रेष्ठ मां त्वं यत्पृच्छसेऽद्य वै ॥

saṃstutya pṛthivīṃ devīṃ vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān | papraccha bharataśreṣṭha māṃ tvaṃ yatpṛcchase'dya vai

The glorious Vasudeva first praised the goddess Earth and then asked her, O best of the Bharatas, the very thing you are asking me today.

Verse 4 (13.154.4)

गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममाश्रित्य मया वा मद्विधेन वा । किमवश्यं धरे कार्यं किं वा कृत्वा सुखं भवेत् ॥

gārhasthyaṃ dharmamāśritya mayā vā madvidhena vā | kimavaśyaṃ dhare kāryaṃ kiṃ vā kṛtvā sukhaṃ bhavet

"Relying on the householder's dharma, what must be done without fail, O Earth, by me or by one like me? Or by doing what may one be happy?"

Verse 5 (13.154.5)

ऋषयः पितरो देवा मनुष्याश्चैव माधव । पूज्याश्चैवार्चनीयाश्च यथा चैव निबोध मे ॥

ṛṣayaḥ pitaro devā manuṣyāścaiva mādhava | pūjyāścaivārcanīyāśca yathā caiva nibodha me

The sages, the ancestors, the gods and men, O Madhava, are to be honoured and worshipped. Hear from me how this is to be done.

Verse 6 (13.154.6)

सदा यज्ञेन देवांश्च सदाऽऽतिथ्येन मानुषान् । छन्दतस्तर्पणेनापि पितॄन्युञ्जन्ति नित्यशः ॥

sadā yajñena devāṃśca sadā''tithyena mānuṣān | chandatastarpaṇenāpi pitṝnyuñjanti nityaśaḥ

They ever please the gods with sacrifice, men with hospitality, and the ancestors with libations offered as they choose, every day.

Note on the text: Lines correspond to CE 13.100.6a and 6c (the second line is a different wording of 6c); CE 6e continues in the next verse.

Verse 7 (13.154.7)

तेन ह्यृषिगणाः प्रीता ब्रह्मचर्येण चानघ । नित्यमग्निं परिचरेदभुक्त्वा बलिकर्म च ॥

tena hyṛṣigaṇāḥ prītā brahmacaryeṇa cānagha | nityamagniṃ paricaredabhuktvā balikarma ca

By this the companies of sages are pleased, and by chastity too, O sinless one. One should always tend the fire and, before eating, perform the bali offering.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्रह्मचयेणि → ब्रह्मचर्येण (misprint in Wikisource; र् and the following letter are misprinted; the sense requires ब्रह्मचर्येण "by chastity"). Line 1 corresponds to CE 13.100.6e, line 2 to CE 13.100.7a.

Verse 8 (13.154.8)

कुर्यात्तथैव देवान्वै प्रियं मे मधुसूदन । कुर्यादहरहः श्राद्धमन्नाद्येनोदकेन च ॥

kuryāttathaiva devānvai priyaṃ me madhusūdana | kuryādaharahaḥ śrāddhamannādyenodakena ca

Let him do the same for the gods too; this is dear to me, O Madhusudana. Every day let him perform the shraddha, with cooked food or with water.

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 13.100.7c (with a different second half), line 2 to CE 13.100.8a.

Verse 9 (13.154.9)

पयोमूलफलैर्वाऽपि पितॄणां प्रीतिमावहेत् । सिद्धान्नाद्वैश्वदेवं वै कुर्यादग्नौ यथाविधि ॥

payomūlaphalairvā'pi pitṝṇāṃ prītimāvahet | siddhānnādvaiśvadevaṃ vai kuryādagnau yathāvidhi

Or with milk, roots and fruits he should bring joy to the ancestors. From the cooked food he should perform the Vaishvadeva offering in the fire, according to rule.

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 13.100.8c, line 2 to CE 13.100.9a.

Verse 10 (13.154.10)

आग्नीषोमं वैश्वदेवं धान्वन्तर्यमनन्तरम् । प्रजानां पतये चैव पृथग्घोमो विधीयते ॥

āgnīṣomaṃ vaiśvadevaṃ dhānvantaryamanantaram | prajānāṃ pataye caiva pṛthagghomo vidhīyate

The offerings to Agni-Soma, to the Vishvedevas, then to Dhanvantari, and to Prajapati, the lord of creatures, are each prescribed as a separate oblation.

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 13.100.9c, line 2 to CE 13.100.10a.

Verse 11 (13.154.11)

तथैव चानुपूर्व्येण बलिकर्म प्रयोजयेत् । दक्षिणायां यमायेति प्रतीच्यां वरुणाय च ॥

tathaiva cānupūrvyeṇa balikarma prayojayet | dakṣiṇāyāṃ yamāyeti pratīcyāṃ varuṇāya ca

In the same order he should make the bali offerings: to Yama in the south and to Varuna in the west,

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 13.100.10c, line 2 to CE 13.100.11a.

Verse 12 (13.154.12)

सोमाय चाप्युदीच्यां वै वास्तुमध्ये प्रजापतेः । धन्वन्तरेः प्रागुदीच्यां प्राच्यां शक्राय माधव ॥

somāya cāpyudīcyāṃ vai vāstumadhye prajāpateḥ | dhanvantareḥ prāgudīcyāṃ prācyāṃ śakrāya mādhava

to Soma in the north, to Prajapati in the middle of the house-site, to Dhanvantari in the north-east, and to Shakra in the east, O Madhava.

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 13.100.11c (with a different second half), line 2 to CE 13.100.12a.

Verse 13 (13.154.13)

मनुष्येभ्य इति प्राहुर्बलिं द्वारि गृहस्य वै । मरुद्भ्यो दैवतेभ्यश्च बलिमन्तर्गृहे हरेत् ॥

manuṣyebhya iti prāhurbaliṃ dvāri gṛhasya vai | marudbhyo daivatebhyaśca balimantargṛhe haret

At the door of the house, they say, the bali is for men; inside the house he should bring the bali for the Maruts and the other deities.

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 13.100.12c, line 2 to CE 13.100.12e.

Verse 14 (13.154.14)

तथैव विश्वेदेवेभ्यो बलिमाकाशतो हरेत् । निशाचरेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो बलिं नक्तं यथा हरेत् ॥

tathaiva viśvedevebhyo balimākāśato haret | niśācarebhyo bhūtebhyo baliṃ naktaṃ yathā haret

Likewise he should offer the bali to the Vishvedevas from the open sky, and by night the bali to the beings who walk at night.

Verse 15 (13.154.15)

एवं कृत्वा बलिं सम्यग्दद्याद्भिक्षां द्विजाय वै । अलाभे ब्राह्मणस्याग्नावग्रमुद्धृत्य निक्षिपेत् ॥

evaṃ kṛtvā baliṃ samyagdadyādbhikṣāṃ dvijāya vai | alābhe brāhmaṇasyāgnāvagramuddhṛtya nikṣipet

Having made the offering properly in this way, he should give alms to a twice-born. If no brahmin is to be had, he should take up a first portion and throw it into the fire.

Verse 16 (13.154.16)

यदा श्राद्धं पितृभ्योऽपि दातुमिच्छेत मानवः । तदा पश्चात्प्रकुर्वीत निवृत्ते श्राद्धकर्मणि ॥

yadā śrāddhaṃ pitṛbhyo'pi dātumiccheta mānavaḥ | tadā paścātprakurvīta nivṛtte śrāddhakarmaṇi

When a man also wishes to give a shraddha to his ancestors, he should do this afterwards, once the shraddha rite is finished.

Note on the text: Corrected पितृभ्योपि → पितृभ्योऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha).

Verse 17 (13.154.17)

पितॄन्सन्तर्पयित्वा तु बलिं कुर्याद्विधानतः । वैश्वदेवं ततः कुर्यात्पश्चाद्ब्राह्मणभोजनम् ॥

pitṝnsantarpayitvā tu baliṃ kuryādvidhānataḥ | vaiśvadevaṃ tataḥ kuryātpaścādbrāhmaṇabhojanam

Having satisfied the ancestors, he should make the bali offering according to rule; then the Vaishvadeva, and after that the feeding of brahmins.

Note on the text: Corrected वेश्वदैवं → वैश्वदेवं (misprint in Wikisource; vowel signs transposed; CE vaiśvadevaṃ). Corrected ब्राह्म्णभोजनम् → ब्राह्मणभोजनम् (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct).

Verse 18 (13.154.18)

ततोऽन्नेनावशेषेण भोजयेदतिथीनपि । अर्घ्यपूर्वं महाराज ततः प्रीणाति मानवान् । अनित्यं हि स्थितो यस्मात्तस्मादतिथिरुच्यते ॥

tato'nnenāvaśeṣeṇa bhojayedatithīnapi | arghyapūrvaṃ mahārāja tataḥ prīṇāti mānavān | anityaṃ hi sthito yasmāttasmādatithirucyate

Then, with the food that remains, he should feed guests as well, beginning with the water of welcome, O great king; in this way he pleases people. Since he comes without a fixed time of stay, he is called an atithi, a guest.

Note on the text: Three-line verse; lines correspond to CE 13.100.17a, 17c and 18a.

Verse 19 (13.154.19)

आचार्यस्य पितुश्चैव सख्युराप्तस्य चातिथेः । इदमस्ति गृहे मह्यमिति नित्यं निवेदयेत् ॥

ācāryasya pituścaiva sakhyurāptasya cātitheḥ | idamasti gṛhe mahyamiti nityaṃ nivedayet

To his teacher, his father, his friend, his trusted kinsman and the guest, he should always announce: "This is what I have in my house."

Verse 20 (13.154.20)

ते यद्वदेयुस्तत्कुर्यादिति धर्मो विधीयते । गृहस्थः पुरुषः कृष्ण शिष्टाशी च सदा भवेत् ॥

te yadvadeyustatkuryāditi dharmo vidhīyate | gṛhasthaḥ puruṣaḥ kṛṣṇa śiṣṭāśī ca sadā bhavet

"Whatever they say, he should do": such is the dharma laid down. The householder, O Krishna, should always eat only what remains after others have been served.

Verse 21 (13.154.21)

राजर्त्विजं स्नातकं च गुरुं श्वशुरमेव च । अर्चयेन्मधुपर्केण परिसंवत्सरोषितान् ॥

rājartvijaṃ snātakaṃ ca guruṃ śvaśurameva ca | arcayenmadhuparkeṇa parisaṃvatsaroṣitān

A king, an officiating priest, a snataka, a teacher and a father-in-law he should honour with the madhuparka offering, when they have stayed with him a full year.

Verse 22 (13.154.22)

श्वभ्यश्च श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद्भुवि ॥

śvabhyaśca śvapacebhyaśca vayobhyaścāvapedbhuvi

He should scatter food on the ground for dogs, for outcastes and for birds.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints CE 13.100.22a and 22c as two separate one-line verses; this one-line verse is CE 22a.

Verse 23 (13.154.23)

वैश्वदेवं हि नामैतत्सायं प्रातर्विधीयते ॥

vaiśvadevaṃ hi nāmaitatsāyaṃ prātarvidhīyate

This is what is called the Vaishvadeva, and it is prescribed for the evening and the morning.

Note on the text: One-line verse in Wikisource; it is CE 13.100.22c.

Verse 24 (13.154.24)

एतांस्तु धर्मान्गार्हस्थ्यान्यः कुर्यादनसूयकः । स इहर्द्धिं परां प्राप्य प्रेत्य लोके महीयते ॥

etāṃstu dharmāngārhasthyānyaḥ kuryādanasūyakaḥ | sa iharddhiṃ parāṃ prāpya pretya loke mahīyate

The man who, free from envy, practises these duties of the householder gains supreme prosperity here and is honoured in the world beyond after death.

Verse 25 (13.154.25)

इति भूमेर्वचः श्रुत्वा वासुदेवः प्रतापवान् । तथा चकार सततं त्वमप्येवं सदाऽऽचर ॥

iti bhūmervacaḥ śrutvā vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān | tathā cakāra satataṃ tvamapyevaṃ sadā''cara

Hearing these words of the Earth, the glorious Vasudeva did just as she said, always; you too should live in the same way.

Verse 26 (13.154.26)

एतद्गृहस्थधर्मं त्वं चेष्टमानो जनाधिप । इह लोके यशः प्राप्य प्रेत्य स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि ॥

etadgṛhasthadharmaṃ tvaṃ ceṣṭamāno janādhipa | iha loke yaśaḥ prāpya pretya svargamavāpsyasi

If you, O ruler of men, strive to follow this dharma of the householder, you will gain fame in this world and, after death, reach heaven.

Note on the text: Recension variant of CE 13.100.25 (CE: evaṃ gṛhasthadharmaṃ tvaṃ cetayāno narādhipa …); the first half is differently worded, the second half is the same in sense.