Vyasa Describes the Householder's Life

Verse 1 (12.249.1)

द्वितीयमायुषो भागं गृहमेधी गृहे वसेत् । धर्मलब्धैर्युतो दारैरग्नीनाहृत्य सुव्रतः ॥

dvitīyamāyuṣo bhāgaṃ gṛhamedhī gṛhe vaset | dharmalabdhairyuto dārairagnīnāhṛtya suvrataḥ

In the second part of his life the householder should live at home, having won a wife by lawful means and brought the sacred fires, steadfast in his vows.

Note on the text: Restored द्वितीयम् where the page prints dashes (--तीयमायुषो → द्वितीयमायुषो; CE 12.235.1a dvitīyam āyuṣo). Line 2 (अग्नीनाहृत्य) is a recension variant of CE agnīn utpādya and is kept.

Verse 2 (12.249.2)

गृहस्थवृत्तयश्चैव चतस्रः कविभिः स्मृताः । कुसूलधान्यः प्रथमः कुम्भधान्यस्त्वनन्तरम् ॥

gṛhasthavṛttayaścaiva catasraḥ kavibhiḥ smṛtāḥ | kusūladhānyaḥ prathamaḥ kumbhadhānyastvanantaram

The householder's ways of livelihood are four, the wise have said: first, the one who keeps a granary of grain; next, the one who keeps grain in a jar;

Note on the text: Corrected कुमूलधान्यः → कुसूलधान्यः (misprint in Wikisource; CE kusūladhānyaḥ).

Verse 3 (12.249.3)

अश्वस्तनोऽथ कापोतीमाश्रितो वृत्तिमाहरेत् । तेषां परः परो ज्यायान्धर्मतो लोकजित्तमः ॥

aśvastano'tha kāpotīmāśrito vṛttimāharet | teṣāṃ paraḥ paro jyāyāndharmato lokajittamaḥ

then the one who keeps nothing for the morrow, and the one who has taken to the pigeon's way and gleans his living. Each of these, later in the list, is better than the one before, and wins the worlds more fully through dharma.

Verse 4 (12.249.4)

षट्कर्मावर्तयत्येकस्त्रिभिरन्यः प्रवर्तते । द्वाभ्यामेकश्चतुर्थस्तु ब्रह्मसत्रे व्यवस्थितः ॥

ṣaṭkarmāvartayatyekastribhiranyaḥ pravartate | dvābhyāmekaścaturthastu brahmasatre vyavasthitaḥ

One of them carries on six works, another lives by three, another by two, and the fourth stands firm in the sacrifice of Brahman.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width non-joiner inside षट्कर्मा. Lines = CE 12.235.4a and 4c.

Verse 5 (12.249.5)

गृहमेधिव्रतान्यत्र महान्तीह प्रचक्षते । नात्मार्थे पाचयेदन्नं न वृथा घातयेत्पशून् ॥

gṛhamedhivratānyatra mahāntīha pracakṣate | nātmārthe pācayedannaṃ na vṛthā ghātayetpaśūn

The vows of the householder are said to be great in this order of life. He should not cook food for himself alone, nor have animals killed without need.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.235.4e and 5a (Wikisource नात्मार्थे for CE nātmārthaṃ).

Verse 6 (12.249.6)

प्राणी वा यदि वाऽप्राणी संस्कारं यजुषाऽर्हति । न दिवा प्रस्वपेज्जातु न पूर्वापररात्रयोः ॥

prāṇī vā yadi vā'prāṇī saṃskāraṃ yajuṣā'rhati | na divā prasvapejjātu na pūrvāpararātrayoḥ

Whether it is a living creature or a thing without life, it is fit for consecration only by a Yajus formula. He should never sleep by day, nor in the first or the last part of the night.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.235.5c and 6a.

Verse 7 (12.249.7)

न भुञ्जीतान्तराकाले नानृतावाह्वयेत्स्त्रियम् । नास्यानश्नन्गृहे विप्रो वसेत्कश्चिदपूजितः ॥

na bhuñjītāntarākāle nānṛtāvāhvayetstriyam | nāsyānaśnangṛhe vipro vasetkaścidapūjitaḥ

He should not eat between mealtimes, nor call his wife to him out of season. No brahmin should be left in his house unhonoured and unfed.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.235.6c and 7a.

Verse 8 (12.249.8)

तथास्यातिथयः पूज्या हव्यकव्यवहाः सदा । वेदविद्याव्रतस्नाताः श्रोत्रिया वेदपारगाः ॥

tathāsyātithayaḥ pūjyā havyakavyavahāḥ sadā | vedavidyāvratasnātāḥ śrotriyā vedapāragāḥ

His guests, who carry offerings to the gods and the ancestors, must always be honoured: those who have bathed after their Vedic studies and vows, learned in the Veda, masters of the Veda,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.235.7c and 8a.

Verse 9 (12.249.9)

स्वकर्मजीविनो दान्ताः क्रियावन्तस्तपस्विनः । तेषां हव्यं च कव्यं चाप्यर्हणार्थं विधीयते ॥

svakarmajīvino dāntāḥ kriyāvantastapasvinaḥ | teṣāṃ havyaṃ ca kavyaṃ cāpyarhaṇārthaṃ vidhīyate

who live by their own work, are self-restrained, active in rites and given to austerity. The offerings to gods and ancestors are assigned to them as a mark of honour.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.235.8c and 8e.

Verse 10 (12.249.10)

नखरैः संप्रयातस्य स्वकर्मव्यापकस्य च । अपविद्धाग्निहोत्रस्य गुरोर्वाऽलीकचारिणः ॥

nakharaiḥ saṃprayātasya svakarmavyāpakasya ca | apaviddhāgnihotrasya gurorvā'līkacāriṇaḥ

Even to a man who goes about with long nails, who ruins his own duties, who has thrown away the sacrificial fire, or to a teacher who behaves falsely,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.235.9a and 9c, with the Wikisource readings नखरैः and स्वकर्मव्यापकस्य (CE na kharaiḥ, svadharmājñānakasya); the page's commentary glosses नखरैः as नखैः, so the vulgate reading is kept.

Verse 11 (12.249.11)

संविभागोऽत्र भूतानां सर्वेषामेव शिष्यते । तथैवापचमानेभ्यः प्रदेयं गृहमेधिना ॥

saṃvibhāgo'tra bhūtānāṃ sarveṣāmeva śiṣyate | tathaivāpacamānebhyaḥ pradeyaṃ gṛhamedhinā

a share is reserved in this order of life for all beings alike; and the householder must likewise give to those who do not cook for themselves.

Verse 12 (12.249.12)

विघसाशी भवेन्नित्यं नित्यं चामृतभोजनः । अमृतं यज्ञशेषं स्याद्भोजनं हविषा समम् ॥

vighasāśī bhavennityaṃ nityaṃ cāmṛtabhojanaḥ | amṛtaṃ yajñaśeṣaṃ syādbhojanaṃ haviṣā samam

He should always eat the leavings of the guests and always have nectar for his food. Nectar is what is left of the sacrifice, and such food is equal to an oblation.

Note on the text: Corrected विस्साशी → विघसाशी (misprint in Wikisource; CE vighasāśī). Restored असुत --शेषं → अमृतं यज्ञशेषं (CE 12.235.11c amṛtaṃ yajñaśeṣaṃ; the page prints a corrupt word and a gap). Lines = CE 12.235.11a and 11c.

Verse 13 (12.249.13)

भृत्यशेषं तु योऽश्नाति तमाहुर्विघसाशिनम् । विघसं भृत्यशेषं तु यज्ञशेषमथामृतम् ॥

bhṛtyaśeṣaṃ tu yo'śnāti tamāhurvighasāśinam | vighasaṃ bhṛtyaśeṣaṃ tu yajñaśeṣamathāmṛtam

But he who eats what his dependants leave is called an eater of leavings. Vighasa is what remains after the dependants; what remains after the sacrifice is nectar.

Note on the text: Corrected भृत्यशेष → भृत्यशेषं, विघसा शिनम् → विघसाशिनम्, यज्ञशेषमथास्मृतय → यज्ञशेषमथामृतम् (misprints in Wikisource; CE 12.235.11e bhṛtyaśeṣaṃ tu yo 'śnāti tam āhur vighasāśinam, and the CE star line 12.235.11f*0685_01 vighasaṃ bhṛtyaśeṣaṃ tu yajñaśeṣam athāmṛtam). Lines = CE 11e and 11f*.

Verse 14 (12.249.14)

स्वदारनिरतो दान्तो ह्यनसूयुर्जितेन्द्रियः । ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यैर्मातुलातिथिसंश्रितैः ॥

svadāranirato dānto hyanasūyurjitendriyaḥ | ṛtvikpurohitācāryairmātulātithisaṃśritaiḥ

Devoted to his own wife, self-restrained, free of envy, master of his senses, he should not quarrel with priests, house-priests, teachers, maternal uncles, guests or those who depend on him,

Note on the text: Corrected ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यर्मालुलातिथिनंश्रितैः → ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यैर्मातुलातिथिसंश्रितैः (misprint in Wikisource; CE ṛtvikpurohitācāryair mātulātithisaṃśritaiḥ). The sentence runs on through the next two verses (विवादं न समाचरेत्).

Verse 15 (12.249.15)

वृद्धबालातुरैर्वैद्यैर्ज्ञातिसंबन्धिबान्धवैः । मातापितृभ्यां जामीभिर्भ्रात्रा पुत्रेण भार्यया ॥

vṛddhabālāturairvaidyairjñātisaṃbandhibāndhavaiḥ | mātāpitṛbhyāṃ jāmībhirbhrātrā putreṇa bhāryayā

with the old, the young and the sick, with physicians, with kin, in-laws and relatives, with his mother and father, the women of his family, his brother, his son, his wife,

Note on the text: Corrected ज्ञातिसंबन्धिरान्धवैः → ज्ञातिसंबन्धिबान्धवैः and भावया → भार्यया (misprints in Wikisource; CE jñātisaṃbandhibāndhavaiḥ, bhāryayā).

Verse 16 (12.249.16)

दुहित्रा दासवर्गेण विवादं न समाचरत् । एतान्विमुच्य संवादान्सर्वपापैर्विमुच्यते ॥

duhitrā dāsavargeṇa vivādaṃ na samācarat | etānvimucya saṃvādānsarvapāpairvimucyate

with his daughter and his household servants — with none of these should he quarrel. Having given up these disputes, he is freed from all sins.

Verse 17 (12.249.17)

एतैर्जितस्तु जयति सर्वाँल्लोकान्न संशयः । आचार्यो ब्रह्मलोकेशः प्राजापत्ये पिता प्रभुः ॥

etairjitastu jayati sarvām̐llokānna saṃśayaḥ | ācāryo brahmalokeśaḥ prājāpatye pitā prabhuḥ

Having won these over, he wins all the worlds, without doubt. The teacher is lord of the world of Brahma, the father is master in that of Prajapati,

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वाल्लोँकान् → सर्वाँल्लोकान् (stray candrabindu moved to its place before the double ल; CE sarvāṃl lokān).

Verse 18 (12.249.18)

अतिथिस्त्विन्द्रलोकस्य देवलोकस्य चर्त्विजः । जामयोऽप्सरसां लोके वैश्वदेवे तु ज्ञातयः ॥

atithistvindralokasya devalokasya cartvijaḥ | jāmayo'psarasāṃ loke vaiśvadeve tu jñātayaḥ

the guest is lord of Indra's world, the priests belong to the world of the gods, the women of the family to the world of the Apsarases, and the kinsmen to that of the Vishvadevas.

Verse 19 (12.249.19)

संबन्धिबान्धवा दिक्षु पृथिव्यां मातृमातुलौ । वृद्धबालातुरकृशास्त्वाकाशे प्रभविष्णवः ॥

saṃbandhibāndhavā dikṣu pṛthivyāṃ mātṛmātulau | vṛddhabālāturakṛśāstvākāśe prabhaviṣṇavaḥ

Relatives and connections are in the directions, the mother and the maternal uncle on earth; the old, the young, the sick and the weak are in the sky, and powerful.

Note on the text: Corrected बृद्धबावातुरकृशा → वृद्धबालातुरकृशा (misprint in Wikisource; CE vṛddhabālāturakṛśās).

Verse 20 (12.249.20)

भ्राता ज्येष्ठः समः पित्रा भार्या पुत्रः स्वका तनुः । छाया स्वा दासवर्गश्च दुहिता कृपणं परम् ॥

bhrātā jyeṣṭhaḥ samaḥ pitrā bhāryā putraḥ svakā tanuḥ | chāyā svā dāsavargaśca duhitā kṛpaṇaṃ param

An elder brother is equal to a father; wife and son are one's own body; one's servants are one's shadow; and a daughter is the highest object of pity.

Verse 21 (12.249.21)

तस्मादेतैरधिक्षिप्तः सहेन्नित्यमसंज्वरः । गृहधर्मरतो विद्वान्धर्मनित्यो जितक्लमः ॥

tasmādetairadhikṣiptaḥ sahennityamasaṃjvaraḥ | gṛhadharmarato vidvāndharmanityo jitaklamaḥ

Therefore, when slighted by them, he should always bear it without anger, devoted to the duties of a householder, learned, steady in dharma, and unwearied.

Verse 22 (12.249.22)

न चार्थबद्धः कर्माणि धर्मं वा किंचिदाचरेत् । गृहस्थवृत्तयस्तिस्रस्तासां निःश्रेयसं परम् ॥

na cārthabaddhaḥ karmāṇi dharmaṃ vā kiṃcidācaret | gṛhasthavṛttayastisrastāsāṃ niḥśreyasaṃ param

Not bound to wealth, he should do no work, and no act of dharma, for its sake. The householder's livelihoods are three in number, and among them the highest good lies in the best.

Verse 23 (12.249.23)

परंपरं तथैवाहुश्चातुराश्रम्यमेव तत् । ये चोक्ता नियमास्तेषां सर्वं कार्यं बुभूषता ॥

paraṃparaṃ tathaivāhuścāturāśramyameva tat | ye coktā niyamāsteṣāṃ sarvaṃ kāryaṃ bubhūṣatā

They say that each in turn is better than the one before, and that this is the fourfold order of life itself. Whoever wishes to prosper must carry out all the rules that have been stated.

Verse 24 (12.249.24)

कुम्भधान्यैरुञ्छशिलैः कापोतीं चास्थितास्तथा । यस्मिंश्चैते वसन्त्यर्हास्तद्राष्ट्रमभिवर्धते ॥

kumbhadhānyairuñchaśilaiḥ kāpotīṃ cāsthitāstathā | yasmiṃścaite vasantyarhāstadrāṣṭramabhivardhate

The kingdom where these worthy men live, those who live on jar-grain, on gleaned ears, and on the pigeon's way, prospers.

Note on the text: Corrected उच्छशिलैः → उञ्छशिलैः (misprint in Wikisource; CE uñchaśilaiḥ).

Verse 25 (12.249.25)

दश पूर्वान्दश परान्पुनाति च पितामहान् । गृहस्थवृत्तीश्चाप्येता वर्तयेद्यो गतव्यथः ॥

daśa pūrvāndaśa parānpunāti ca pitāmahān | gṛhasthavṛttīścāpyetā vartayedyo gatavyathaḥ

He purifies ten forebears and ten descendants, and his grandfathers too: whoever, free of distress, follows these ways of householder livelihood.

Verse 26 (12.249.26)

स चक्रधरलोकानां सदृशीमाप्नुयाद्गतिम् । यतेन्द्रियाणामथवा गतिरेषा विधीयते ॥

sa cakradharalokānāṃ sadṛśīmāpnuyādgatim | yatendriyāṇāmathavā gatireṣā vidhīyate

He will reach a state like that of the worlds of the universal monarchs; or else this is the course appointed for those whose senses are restrained.

Note on the text: Corrected वितेन्द्रियाणाम् → यतेन्द्रियाणाम् (misprint in Wikisource; CE yatendriyāṇām).

Verse 27 (12.249.27)

स्वर्गलोको गृहस्थानामुदारमनसां हितः । स्वर्गो विमानसंयुक्तो वेददृष्टः सुपुष्पितः ॥

svargaloko gṛhasthānāmudāramanasāṃ hitaḥ | svargo vimānasaṃyukto vedadṛṣṭaḥ supuṣpitaḥ

The world of heaven is for householders of noble mind; a heaven furnished with celestial cars, seen in the Veda, rich in flowers.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वलोको → स्वर्गलोको (misprint in Wikisource; CE svargaloko). Restored the words lost where the page prints dashes: -- → स्वर्गो and ----- → सुपुष्पितः (CE 12.235.25c svargo vimānasaṃyukto vedadṛṣṭaḥ supuṣpitaḥ; the page's commentary glosses सुपुष्पितः).

Verse 28 (12.249.28)

स्वर्गलोको गृहस्थानां प्रतिष्ठा नियतात्मनाम् । ब्रह्मणा विहिता श्रेणिरेषा यस्माद्विधीयते । द्वितीयं क्रमशः प्राप्य स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥

svargaloko gṛhasthānāṃ pratiṣṭhā niyatātmanām | brahmaṇā vihitā śreṇireṣā yasmādvidhīyate | dvitīyaṃ kramaśaḥ prāpya svargaloke mahīyate

Heaven is the foundation of self-controlled householders. This ladder was laid down by Brahma, and by it the next step is appointed; having gone up in due order to the second, he is honoured in the world of heaven.

Note on the text: Restored स्वर्ग where the page prints dashes (--लोको → स्वर्गलोको; CE svargaloke) and corrected निवतात्मनान् → नियतात्मनाम्, पस्पाद्विधीयते → यस्माद्विधीयते (misprints in Wikisource; CE niyatātmanām, yasmāt; विधीयते kept against CE pramucyate as the vulgate reading). Three lines as on the page (labelled 28a-c) = CE 12.235.26a, 26c, 26e.

Verse 29 (12.249.29)

अतः परं परममुदारमाश्रमम् । तृतीयमाहुस्त्यजतां कलेवरम् । वनौकसां गृहपतिनामनुत्तमं । शृणुष्व संश्लिष्टशरीरकारिणाम् ॥

ataḥ paraṃ paramamudāramāśramam | tṛtīyamāhustyajatāṃ kalevaram | vanaukasāṃ gṛhapatināmanuttamaṃ | śṛṇuṣva saṃśliṣṭaśarīrakāriṇām

Beyond this lies the supreme and noble order of life, the third, they say, that of those who give up the body, the best of forest-dwellers who were once heads of households. Hear it: it is the way of those who bring their bodies to withered thinness.

Note on the text: Corrected आश्रम् → आश्रमम् (misprint in Wikisource; the final syllable is cut off, CE āśramaṃ). Four half-verse lines as on the page = CE 12.235.27a and 27c (each printed in two parts in the CE).