The Hunter on the Conduct of the Cultured

Verse 1 (3.211.1)

स तु विप्रो महाप्राज्ञ धर्मव्याधमपृच्छत । शिष्टाचारं कथमहं विद्यामिति नरोत्तम ॥

sa tu vipro mahāprājña dharmavyādhamapṛcchata | śiṣṭācāraṃ kathamahaṃ vidyāmiti narottama

Then the brahmin, O wise one, best of men, asked the righteous hunter: "How may I come to know the conduct of the cultured?

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.198.56ab–cd (Wikisource divides the lines differently).

Verse 2 (3.211.2)

पञ्च कानि पवित्राणि शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा । एतदिच्छामि भद्रं ते श्रोतुं धर्मभृतांवर । त्वत्तो महामते व्याध तद्ब्रवीहि यथातथम् ॥

pañca kāni pavitrāṇi śiṣṭācāreṣu nityadā | etadicchāmi bhadraṃ te śrotuṃ dharmabhṛtāṃvara | tvatto mahāmate vyādha tadbravīhi yathātatham

Which are the five purifiers ever present in the conduct of the cultured? This I wish to hear, blessings on you, best of those who uphold dharma. Tell it to me truly, wise hunter."

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote marks around the first line (Wikisource's marks for an added line). Speaker: the brahmin's question, filling the whole verse (no heading in Wikisource). The first two lines are not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension; its apparatus gives them as 3.198.56*1017 and 3.198.56*1016); the third is CE 3.198.56ef, which reads etan mahāmate vyādha prabravīhi.

Verse 3 (3.211.3)

यज्ञो दानं तपो वेदाः सत्यं च द्विजसत्तम । पञ्चैतानि पवित्राणि शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा ॥

yajño dānaṃ tapo vedāḥ satyaṃ ca dvijasattama | pañcaitāni pavitrāṇi śiṣṭācāreṣu nityadā

"Sacrifice, giving, austerity, the Vedas and truth, best of brahmins: these five purifiers are ever present in the conduct of the cultured.

Verse 4 (3.211.4)

कामक्रोधौ वशे कृत्वा दम्भं लोभमनार्जवम् । धर्ममित्येवं संतुष्टास्ते शिष्टाः शिष्टसंमताः ॥

kāmakrodhau vaśe kṛtvā dambhaṃ lobhamanārjavam | dharmamityevaṃ saṃtuṣṭāste śiṣṭāḥ śiṣṭasaṃmatāḥ

Those who have mastered desire and anger, hypocrisy, greed and crookedness, and are content in the thought "This is dharma" — they are the cultured, esteemed by the cultured.

Verse 5 (3.211.5)

न तेषां भिद्यते वृत्तं यज्ञस्वाध्यायशीलिनाम् । आचारपालनं चैव द्वितीयं शिष्टलक्षणम् ॥

na teṣāṃ bhidyate vṛttaṃ yajñasvādhyāyaśīlinām | ācārapālanaṃ caiva dvitīyaṃ śiṣṭalakṣaṇam

The conduct of those devoted to sacrifice and Vedic study is never broken; and upholding right practice is the second mark of the cultured.

Verse 6 (3.211.6)

गुरुशुश्रूषणं सत्यमक्रोधो दानमेव च । एतच्चतुष्टयं ब्रह्मञ्शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा ॥

guruśuśrūṣaṇaṃ satyamakrodho dānameva ca | etaccatuṣṭayaṃ brahmañśiṣṭācāreṣu nityadā

Service to one's elders, truth, freedom from anger, and giving: this group of four, brahmin, is ever present in the conduct of the cultured.

Verse 7 (3.211.7)

शिष्टाचारे मनः कृत्वा प्रतिष्ठाप्य च सर्वशः । यामयं लभते तुष्टिं सा न शक्या ह्यतोऽन्यथा ॥

śiṣṭācāre manaḥ kṛtvā pratiṣṭhāpya ca sarvaśaḥ | yāmayaṃ labhate tuṣṭiṃ sā na śakyā hyato'nyathā

The contentment a man gains by setting his mind on the conduct of the cultured and grounding it there in every way cannot be had by any other means.

Verse 8 (3.211.8)

वेदस्योपनिषत्सत्यं सत्यस्योपनिषद्दमः । दमस्योपनिषत्त्यागः शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा ॥

vedasyopaniṣatsatyaṃ satyasyopaniṣaddamaḥ | damasyopaniṣattyāgaḥ śiṣṭācāreṣu nityadā

The secret heart of the Veda is truth; the secret heart of truth is self-control; the secret heart of self-control is renunciation. These are ever present in the conduct of the cultured.

Verse 9 (3.211.9)

ये तु धर्मानसूयन्ते बुद्धिमोहान्विता नराः । अपथा गच्छतां तेषामनुयाता च पीड्यते ॥

ye tu dharmānasūyante buddhimohānvitā narāḥ | apathā gacchatāṃ teṣāmanuyātā ca pīḍyate

Men whose minds are clouded and who resent the laws of dharma walk a wrong road, and whoever follows them comes to grief.

Verse 10 (3.211.10)

ये तु शिष्टाः सुनियताः श्रुतित्यागपरायणाः । धर्मपन्थानमारूढाः सत्यधर्मपरायणाः ॥

ye tu śiṣṭāḥ suniyatāḥ śrutityāgaparāyaṇāḥ | dharmapanthānamārūḍhāḥ satyadharmaparāyaṇāḥ

But the cultured, well disciplined, devoted to scripture and renunciation, who have set foot on the path of dharma and are devoted to truth and dharma,

Verse 11 (3.211.11)

नियच्छन्ति परां बुद्धिं शिष्टाचारान्विता जनाः । उपाध्यायमते युक्ताः स्थित्या धर्मार्थदर्शिनः ॥

niyacchanti parāṃ buddhiṃ śiṣṭācārānvitā janāḥ | upādhyāyamate yuktāḥ sthityā dharmārthadarśinaḥ

such people, endowed with the conduct of the cultured, hold their understanding firmly to the highest; attentive to their teacher's counsel, they see dharma and its purpose through steadfastness.

Verse 12 (3.211.12)

नास्तिकान्भिन्नमर्यादान्क्रूरान्पापमतौ स्थितान् । त्यज ताञ्ज्ञानमाश्रित्य धार्मिकानुपसेव्य च ॥

nāstikānbhinnamaryādānkrūrānpāpamatau sthitān | tyaja tāñjñānamāśritya dhārmikānupasevya ca

Relying on knowledge, leave the unbelievers, those who break all bounds, the cruel and those bent on evil, and attend upon the righteous.

Verse 13 (3.211.13)

कामलोभग्रहाकीर्णां पञ्चेन्द्रियजलां नदीम् । नावं धृतिमयीं कृत्वा जन्मदुर्गाणि संतर ॥

kāmalobhagrahākīrṇāṃ pañcendriyajalāṃ nadīm | nāvaṃ dhṛtimayīṃ kṛtvā janmadurgāṇi saṃtara

Make a boat of steadfastness and cross the river whose waters are the five senses and which teems with the crocodiles of desire and greed; so cross the perils of birth.

Note on the text: Corrected कामलोभग्रहाकीर्णं → कामलोभग्रहाकीर्णां (misprint in Wikisource; the adjective must be feminine to agree with नदीम्; the critical edition reads -grahākīrṇāṃ).

Verse 14 (3.211.14)

क्रमेण संचितो धर्मो बुद्धियोगमयो महान् । शिष्टाचारे भवेत्साधू रागः शुक्ले व वाससि ॥

krameṇa saṃcito dharmo buddhiyogamayo mahān | śiṣṭācāre bhavetsādhū rāgaḥ śukle va vāsasi

Great dharma, gathered little by little and made of the discipline of understanding, takes well upon the conduct of the cultured, like dye upon a white cloth.

Verse 15 (3.211.15)

अहिंसा सत्यवचनं सर्वभूतहितं परम् । अहिंसा परमो धर्मः स च सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः । सत्यं कृत्वा प्रतिष्ठां तु प्रवर्तन्ते प्रवृत्तयः ॥

ahiṃsā satyavacanaṃ sarvabhūtahitaṃ param | ahiṃsā paramo dharmaḥ sa ca satye pratiṣṭhitaḥ | satyaṃ kṛtvā pratiṣṭhāṃ tu pravartante pravṛttayaḥ

Non-violence and truthful speech are the highest good of all beings. Non-violence is the highest dharma, and it rests on truth. Making truth their foundation, all activities go forward.

Verse 16 (3.211.16)

सत्यमेव गरीयस्तु शिष्टाचारनिषेवितम् । आचारश्च सतां धर्मः सन्तो ह्याचारलक्षणाः ॥

satyameva garīyastu śiṣṭācāraniṣevitam | ācāraśca satāṃ dharmaḥ santo hyācāralakṣaṇāḥ

Truth alone weighs most, and it is practised by the cultured. Conduct is the dharma of the good, and the good are known by their conduct.

Verse 17 (3.211.17)

यो यथा प्रकृतिर्जन्तुः स स्वां प्रकृतिमश्नुते । पापात्मा क्रोधकामादीन्दोषानाप्नोत्यनात्मवान् ॥

yo yathā prakṛtirjantuḥ sa svāṃ prakṛtimaśnute | pāpātmā krodhakāmādīndoṣānāpnotyanātmavān

Whatever a creature's nature, it follows that nature of its own. The sinful man without self-mastery falls into faults such as anger and desire.

Verse 18 (3.211.18)

आरम्भो न्याययुक्तो यः स हि धर्म इति स्मृतः । अनाचारस्त्वधर्मेति एतच्छिष्टानुशासनम् ॥

ārambho nyāyayukto yaḥ sa hi dharma iti smṛtaḥ | anācārastvadharmeti etacchiṣṭānuśāsanam

Undertaking what is just is called dharma; the lack of right conduct is adharma. This is the teaching of the cultured.

Note on the text: Corrected धऱ्म → धर्म (misprint in Wikisource; the letter ऱ for र) and त्वध्रमेति → त्वधर्मेति (misprint in Wikisource; transposed र; the critical edition reads tv adharmeti).

Verse 19 (3.211.19)

अक्रुध्यन्तोऽनसूयन्तो निरहंकारमत्सराः । ऋजवः शमसंपन्नाः शिष्टाचारा भवन्ति ते ॥

akrudhyanto'nasūyanto nirahaṃkāramatsarāḥ | ṛjavaḥ śamasaṃpannāḥ śiṣṭācārā bhavanti te

Free from anger and envy, without pride or jealousy, straightforward and possessed of calm: such are those of cultured conduct.

Verse 20 (3.211.20)

त्रैविद्यवृद्धाः शुचयो वृत्तवन्तो मनस्विनः । गुरुशुश्रूषवो दान्ताः शिष्टाचारा भवन्त्युत ॥

traividyavṛddhāḥ śucayo vṛttavanto manasvinaḥ | guruśuśrūṣavo dāntāḥ śiṣṭācārā bhavantyuta

Grown old in the three Vedas, pure, of good conduct, high-minded, devoted to serving their elders and self-controlled: such are those of cultured conduct.

Verse 21 (3.211.21)

तेषामहीनसत्वानां दुष्कराचारकर्मणाम् । स्वैः कर्मभिः सत्कृतानां घोरत्वं संप्रणश्यति ॥

teṣāmahīnasatvānāṃ duṣkarācārakarmaṇām | svaiḥ karmabhiḥ satkṛtānāṃ ghoratvaṃ saṃpraṇaśyati

For those of undiminished spirit, whose conduct and deeds are hard for others to match, honoured for their own works, all harshness passes away.

Verse 22 (3.211.22)

तं तदाचारमाश्चर्यं पुराणं शाश्वतं ध्रुवम् । धर्म्यं धर्मेण पश्यन्तः स्वर्गं यान्ति मनीषिणः ॥

taṃ tadācāramāścaryaṃ purāṇaṃ śāśvataṃ dhruvam | dharmyaṃ dharmeṇa paśyantaḥ svargaṃ yānti manīṣiṇaḥ

Seeing through dharma that wondrous conduct, ancient, eternal and unchanging, in accord with dharma, the wise go to heaven.

Verse 23 (3.211.23)

आस्तिका मानहीनाश्च द्विजातिजनपूजकाः । श्रुतवृत्तोपसंपन्नास्ते सन्तः स्वर्गगामिनः ॥

āstikā mānahīnāśca dvijātijanapūjakāḥ | śrutavṛttopasaṃpannāste santaḥ svargagāminaḥ

Believers, free from pride, honouring the twice-born, endowed with learning and good conduct: such good people go to heaven.

Verse 24 (3.211.24)

वेदोक्तः प्रथमो धर्मो धर्मशास्त्रेषु चापरः । शिष्टाचीर्णश्च शिष्टानां त्रिविधं धर्मलक्षणम् ॥

vedoktaḥ prathamo dharmo dharmaśāstreṣu cāparaḥ | śiṣṭācīrṇaśca śiṣṭānāṃ trividhaṃ dharmalakṣaṇam

The dharma declared in the Veda comes first; a second is in the treatises on dharma; and the practice of the cultured is a third. Threefold are the marks of dharma.

Note on the text: Corrected शिष्टाचीर्णश् → शिष्टाचीर्णश्च (misprint in Wikisource; dropped च; the critical edition reads śiṣṭācīrṇaś ca).

Verse 25 (3.211.25)

धारणं चापि वेदानां तीर्थानामवगाहनम् । क्षमा सत्यार्जवं शौचं शिष्टाचारनिदर्शनम् ॥

dhāraṇaṃ cāpi vedānāṃ tīrthānāmavagāhanam | kṣamā satyārjavaṃ śaucaṃ śiṣṭācāranidarśanam

Holding the Vedas in memory, bathing at sacred fords, forbearance, truth, straightforwardness and purity: these show the conduct of the cultured.

Verse 26 (3.211.26)

सर्वभूतदयावन्तो ह्यहिंसानिरताः सदा । परुषं च न भाषन्ते सदा सन्तो द्विजप्रियाः ॥

sarvabhūtadayāvanto hyahiṃsāniratāḥ sadā | paruṣaṃ ca na bhāṣante sadā santo dvijapriyāḥ

Compassionate to all beings, ever devoted to non-violence, never speaking harshly: such are the good, dear to the twice-born.

Verse 27 (3.211.27)

शुभानामशुभानां च कर्मणां सबलाश्रयम् । विपाकमभिजानन्ति ते शिष्टाः शिष्टसंमताः ॥

śubhānāmaśubhānāṃ ca karmaṇāṃ sabalāśrayam | vipākamabhijānanti te śiṣṭāḥ śiṣṭasaṃmatāḥ

They understand how good and bad deeds ripen, with their force and their grounds; they are the cultured, esteemed by the cultured.

Verse 28 (3.211.28)

न्यायोपेता गुणोपेताः सर्वलोकहितैषिणः । सन्तः स्वर्गजितः शक्त्या सन्निविष्टाश्च सत्पथे । दातारः संविभक्तारो दीनानुग्रहकारिणः ॥

nyāyopetā guṇopetāḥ sarvalokahitaiṣiṇaḥ | santaḥ svargajitaḥ śaktyā sanniviṣṭāśca satpathe | dātāraḥ saṃvibhaktāro dīnānugrahakāriṇaḥ

Just and virtuous, seeking the good of the whole world, the good win heaven by their strength and stand firm on the true path; they are givers who share what they have and show kindness to the poor.

Note on the text: Three-line verse: CE 3.198.82ab–cd and 83ab (Wikisource divides the lines differently; the critical edition reads śuklāḥ where Wikisource has शक्त्या).

Verse 29 (3.211.29)

सर्वपूज्याः श्रुतधनास्तथैव च तपस्विनः । सर्वभूतदयावन्तस्ते शिष्टाः शिष्टसंमताः ॥

sarvapūjyāḥ śrutadhanāstathaiva ca tapasvinaḥ | sarvabhūtadayāvantaste śiṣṭāḥ śiṣṭasaṃmatāḥ

Honoured by all, rich in learning, and ascetics as well, compassionate to all beings: they are the cultured, esteemed by the cultured.

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.198.84ab followed by 83cd (Wikisource orders and divides the lines differently).

Verse 30 (3.211.30)

दाननित्याः सुखान्याशु प्राप्नुवन्त्यपि च श्रियम् । पीडया च कलत्रस्य भृत्यानां च समाहिताः ॥

dānanityāḥ sukhānyāśu prāpnuvantyapi ca śriyam | pīḍayā ca kalatrasya bhṛtyānāṃ ca samāhitāḥ

Ever devoted to giving, they soon gain happiness and fortune too. Steadfast, even at hardship to their wives and servants,

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.198.84cd–85ab (Wikisource divides the lines differently).

Verse 31 (3.211.31)

अतिशक्त्या प्रयच्छन्ति सन्तः सद्भिः समागताः । लोकयात्रां च पश्यन्तो धर्ममात्महितानि च । एवं सन्तोवर्तमानास्त्वेधन्ते शाश्वतीः समाः ॥

atiśaktyā prayacchanti santaḥ sadbhiḥ samāgatāḥ | lokayātrāṃ ca paśyanto dharmamātmahitāni ca | evaṃ santovartamānāstvedhante śāśvatīḥ samāḥ

the good give beyond their means when they meet with the good. Mindful of the ways of the world, of dharma and of their own welfare, the good who live thus prosper for endless years.

Note on the text: Corrected पशय्न्तो → पश्यन्तो (misprint in Wikisource; misplaced श and य). Three-line verse: CE 3.198.85cd and 86ab–cd (Wikisource divides the lines differently).

Verse 32 (3.211.32)

अहिंसा सत्यवचनमानृशंस्यमथार्जवम् । अद्रोहो नातिमानश्च ह्रीस्तितिक्षा दमः शमः ॥

ahiṃsā satyavacanamānṛśaṃsyamathārjavam | adroho nātimānaśca hrīstitikṣā damaḥ śamaḥ

Non-violence, truthful speech, kindness and straightforwardness, freedom from malice and from excessive pride, modesty, forbearance, self-control and calm:

Note on the text: Corrected आनृशंस्यवथार्जवम् → आनृशंस्यमथार्जवम् (misprint in Wikisource; व for म; the critical edition reads ānṛśaṃsyam athārjavam).

Verse 33 (3.211.33)

धीमन्तो धृतिमन्तश्च भूतानामनुकम्पकाः । अकामद्वेषसंयुक्तास्ते सन्तो लोकसत्कृताः ॥

dhīmanto dhṛtimantaśca bhūtānāmanukampakāḥ | akāmadveṣasaṃyuktāste santo lokasatkṛtāḥ

the wise and steadfast who have these, compassionate to creatures, free from desire and hatred, are the good, honoured by the world.

Verse 34 (3.211.34)

त्रीण्येव तु पदान्याहुः सतां वृत्तमनुस्मरन् । न चैव द्रुह्येद्दद्याच्च सत्यं चैव सदा वदेत् ॥

trīṇyeva tu padānyāhuḥ satāṃ vṛttamanusmaran | na caiva druhyeddadyācca satyaṃ caiva sadā vadet

Calling to mind the conduct of the good, they say it has just three steps: bear no malice, give, and always speak the truth.

Verse 35 (3.211.35)

सर्वत्र च दयावन्तः सन्तः करुणवेदिनः । गच्छन्तीह सुसंतुष्टा धर्म्यं पन्थानमुत्तमम् ॥

sarvatra ca dayāvantaḥ santaḥ karuṇavedinaḥ | gacchantīha susaṃtuṣṭā dharmyaṃ panthānamuttamam

Compassionate everywhere, feeling for the pain of others, the good walk here, well content, along the highest path of dharma.

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.198.90ab–cd (Wikisource divides the lines differently).

Verse 36 (3.211.36)

शिष्टाचारा महात्मानो येषां धर्मः सुनिश्चितः । अनसूया क्षमा शान्तिः संतोषः प्रियवादिता ॥

śiṣṭācārā mahātmāno yeṣāṃ dharmaḥ suniścitaḥ | anasūyā kṣamā śāntiḥ saṃtoṣaḥ priyavāditā

For great souls of cultured conduct, whose dharma is firmly settled, freedom from envy, forbearance, peace, contentment, kindly speech,

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.198.90ef–91ab (Wikisource divides the lines differently).

Verse 37 (3.211.37)

कामक्रोधपरित्यागः शिष्टाचारनिषेवणम् । कर्म च श्रुतसंपन्नं सतां मार्गमनुत्तमम् ॥

kāmakrodhaparityāgaḥ śiṣṭācāraniṣevaṇam | karma ca śrutasaṃpannaṃ satāṃ mārgamanuttamam

giving up desire and anger, keeping to the conduct of the cultured, and action informed by learning: this is the unsurpassed path of the good.

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.198.91cd–92ab (Wikisource divides the lines differently).

Verse 38 (3.211.38)

शिष्टाचारं निषेवन्ते नित्यं धर्ममनुव्रताः । प्रज्ञाप्रासादमारुह्य मुह्यतो महतो जनान् ॥

śiṣṭācāraṃ niṣevante nityaṃ dharmamanuvratāḥ | prajñāprāsādamāruhya muhyato mahato janān

Always following dharma, they keep to the conduct of the cultured. Having climbed the palace of wisdom, they look down on the great mass of people lost in delusion;

Note on the text: Corrected ध्रममनुव्रताः → धर्ममनुव्रताः (misprint in Wikisource; transposed र) and प्रज्ञाप्रासादमारूह्य → प्रज्ञाप्रासादमारुह्य (misprint in Wikisource; ू for ु; the critical edition reads āruhya). This verse is CE 3.198.92cd–93ab (Wikisource divides the lines differently).

Verse 39 (3.211.39)

प्रेक्षन्ते लोकवृत्तानि विविधानि द्विजोत्तमाः । अतिपुण्यानि दानानि तानि द्विजवरोत्तम ॥

prekṣante lokavṛttāni vividhāni dvijottamāḥ | atipuṇyāni dānāni tāni dvijavarottama

these best of the twice-born look upon the many ways of the world. Exceedingly holy are those gifts of theirs, best of brahmins.

Note on the text: Corrected अतिषुण्यानि → अतिपुण्यानि (misprint in Wikisource; ष for प; Wikisource's own commentary cites the reading अतिपुण्यानि). This verse is CE 3.198.93cd–ef (Wikisource divides the lines differently). The critical edition reads pāpāni where Wikisource has दानानि (a recension variant noted in Wikisource's commentary).

Verse 40 (3.211.40)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथाप्रज्ञं यथाश्रुतम् । शिष्टाचारगुणान्ब्रह्मन्पुरस्कृत्य द्विजर्षभ ॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ yathāprajñaṃ yathāśrutam | śiṣṭācāraguṇānbrahmanpuraskṛtya dvijarṣabha

All this I have told you, brahmin, as I understand it and as I have heard it, putting first the virtues of the conduct of the cultured, bull among the twice-born."