Kapila on the Veda and the Path of Works

Verse 1 (12.276.1)

वेदाः प्रमाणं लोकानां न वेदाः पृष्ठतः कृताः । द्वे ब्रह्मणी वेदितव्ये शब्दब्रह्म परं च यत् ॥

vedāḥ pramāṇaṃ lokānāṃ na vedāḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtāḥ | dve brahmaṇī veditavye śabdabrahma paraṃ ca yat

The Vedas are the authority for the world; the Vedas have never been cast behind. Two Brahmans are to be known: the Word-Brahman, and that which is beyond it.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Lines 1-2 = CE 12.262.1a, 1c.

Verse 2 (12.276.2)

शब्दब्रह्मणि निष्णातः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति । शरीरमेतत्कुरुते यद्वेदे कुरुते तनुम् ॥

śabdabrahmaṇi niṣṇātaḥ paraṃ brahmādhigacchati | śarīrametatkurute yadvede kurute tanum

One who is deeply versed in the Word-Brahman attains the Supreme Brahman. He makes this body what it is meant to be, the body that he devotes to the Veda.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.1e; line 2 = CE 12.262.2a.

Verse 3 (12.276.3)

कृतशुद्धशरीरो हि पात्रं भवति ब्राह्मणः । आनन्त्यमनुचिन्त्येदं कर्मणां तद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

kṛtaśuddhaśarīro hi pātraṃ bhavati brāhmaṇaḥ | ānantyamanucintyedaṃ karmaṇāṃ tadbravīmi te

Only a Brahmin whose body has been purified becomes a worthy vessel. Reflecting on the endlessness that is reached through rites, I shall now tell it to you.

Note on the text: Corrected तद्ब्रबीमि → तद्ब्रवीमि (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व; CE bravīmi). Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.2c; line 2 is a vulgate rewording of CE 12.262.3a (ānantyam anuyuṅkte yaḥ karmaṇā tad bravīmi te).

Verse 4 (12.276.4)

निरागममनैतिह्यं प्रत्यक्षं लोकसाक्षिकम् । धर्म इत्येव ये यज्ञान्वितन्वन्ति निराशिषः ॥

nirāgamamanaitihyaṃ pratyakṣaṃ lokasākṣikam | dharma ityeva ye yajñānvitanvanti nirāśiṣaḥ

There are those who, wanting nothing in return, perform sacrifices simply as "dharma", a thing that needs no scripture and no tradition, is plain to see, and has the world for its witness.

Note on the text: Corrected निरागममनैतिह्यमत्यक्षं → निरागममनैतिह्यं प्रत्यक्षं (misprint in Wikisource; an akshara is dropped and the word is broken; CE pratyakṣaṃ). Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.3c; line 2 = CE 12.262.4a.

Verse 5 (12.276.5)

उत्पन्नत्यागिनोऽलुब्धाः कृपासूयाविवर्जिताः । धनिनामेष वै पन्थास्तीर्थेषु प्रतिपादनम् ॥

utpannatyāgino'lubdhāḥ kṛpāsūyāvivarjitāḥ | dhanināmeṣa vai panthāstīrtheṣu pratipādanam

They give up what they have earned, are free of greed, and are free of pity and envy. This, indeed, is the path of the wealthy: giving at sacred places and to worthy recipients.

Note on the text: Corrected उत्पन्नत्यागिनो लुब्धाः → उत्पन्नत्यागिनोऽलुब्धाः (misprint in Wikisource; avagraha dropped, which flips the sense; CE alubdhāḥ, and the next words speak of men free of envy). Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.4c; line 2 = CE 12.262.4e (Wikisource धनिनाम् for CE dhanānām; the page's own note records धनानाम् as a variant).

Verse 6 (12.276.6)

अनाश्रिताः पापकृत्याः कदाचित्कर्मयोगिनः । मनः संकल्पसंसिद्धा विशुद्धज्ञाननिश्चयाः ॥

anāśritāḥ pāpakṛtyāḥ kadācitkarmayoginaḥ | manaḥ saṃkalpasaṃsiddhā viśuddhajñānaniścayāḥ

They never took refuge in sinful deeds; they were always men of action, perfected by the resolve of the mind and firm in pure knowledge.

Verse 7 (12.276.7)

अक्रुध्यन्तोऽनसूयन्तो निरहंकारमत्सराः । ज्ञाननिष्ठास्त्रिशुक्लाश्च सर्वभूतहिते रताः ॥

akrudhyanto'nasūyanto nirahaṃkāramatsarāḥ | jñānaniṣṭhāstriśuklāśca sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ

They were free of anger and envy, without egotism or jealousy, devoted to knowledge, pure in three ways, and delighted in the good of all beings.

Verse 8 (12.276.8)

आसन्गृहस्था भूयिष्ठा अव्युत्क्रान्ताः स्वकर्मसु । राजानश्च तथा युक्ता ब्राह्मणाश्च यथाविधि ॥

āsangṛhasthā bhūyiṣṭhā avyutkrāntāḥ svakarmasu | rājānaśca tathā yuktā brāhmaṇāśca yathāvidhi

Most of them were householders who never strayed from their own duties; kings and Brahmins alike were disciplined, as the rules prescribe.

Note on the text: Corrected अपक्रान्ताः → अव्युत्क्रान्ताः (probable corruption in Wikisource; the printed word means "departed from", the opposite of the sense the verse and its context require; CE avyutkrāntāḥ).

Verse 9 (12.276.9)

समा ह्यार्जवसंपन्नाः संतुष्टा ज्ञाननिश्चयाः । प्रत्यक्षधर्माः शुचयः श्रद्दधानाः परावरे ॥

samā hyārjavasaṃpannāḥ saṃtuṣṭā jñānaniścayāḥ | pratyakṣadharmāḥ śucayaḥ śraddadhānāḥ parāvare

They were impartial and upright, content, firm in their knowledge, seeing dharma plainly, pure, and faithful regarding the higher and the lower.

Verse 10 (12.276.10)

पुरस्ताद्भावितात्मानो यथावच्चरितव्रताः । चरन्ति धर्मं कृच्छ्रेऽपि दुर्गे चैवापि संहताः ॥

purastādbhāvitātmāno yathāvaccaritavratāḥ | caranti dharmaṃ kṛcchre'pi durge caivāpi saṃhatāḥ

Their minds had long been cultivated, and they had kept their vows as they ought to be kept; they followed dharma even in hardship and in times of danger, standing together.

Verse 11 (12.276.11)

संहत्य धर्मं चरतां पुराऽऽसीत्सुखमेव तत् । तेषां नासीद्विधातव्यं प्रायश्चित्तं कथंचन ॥

saṃhatya dharmaṃ caratāṃ purā''sītsukhameva tat | teṣāṃ nāsīdvidhātavyaṃ prāyaścittaṃ kathaṃcana

In ancient times, for those who practised dharma together, that was happiness itself; for them no atonement ever had to be prescribed.

Verse 12 (12.276.12)

सत्यं हि धर्ममास्थाय दुराधर्षतमा मताः । न मात्रामनुरुध्यन्ते न धर्मच्छलमन्ततः ॥

satyaṃ hi dharmamāsthāya durādharṣatamā matāḥ | na mātrāmanurudhyante na dharmacchalamantataḥ

Resting on truth and dharma, they were held to be hardest of all to overcome; they were bound neither by measure nor, in the end, by any pretext of dharma.

Verse 13 (12.276.13)

य एव प्रथमः कल्पस्तमेवात्र चरन्महान् ॥

ya eva prathamaḥ kalpastamevātra caranmahān

The great man here practises only that which was the first course.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. A single line, as printed on the page (12-276-13): it corresponds to CE 12.262.12a (ya eva prathamaḥ kalpas tam evābhyācaran saha); the next verse carries CE 12.262.12c, 12e.

Verse 14 (12.276.14)

अस्यां स्थितौ स्थितानां हि प्रायश्चित्तं न विद्यते । यदा तु दुर्बलात्मानः प्रायश्चित्तं तदा भवेत् ॥

asyāṃ sthitau sthitānāṃ hi prāyaścittaṃ na vidyate | yadā tu durbalātmānaḥ prāyaścittaṃ tadā bhavet

For those who stand in this state there is no atonement. It is only when men are weak in spirit that atonement comes to be.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.12c; line 2 = a vulgate version of CE 12.262.12e (durbalātmana utpannaṃ prāyaścittam iti śrutiḥ, which the page's own note gives as a variant reading).

Verse 15 (12.276.15)

एत एवंविधाः प्राहुः पुराणा यज्ञवाहनाः । त्रैविद्यवृद्धाः शुचयो वृत्तवन्तो यशस्विनः ॥

eta evaṃvidhāḥ prāhuḥ purāṇā yajñavāhanāḥ | traividyavṛddhāḥ śucayo vṛttavanto yaśasvinaḥ

Such, they say, were the ancient bearers of sacrifice: elders in the three Vedas, pure, of good conduct, and renowned.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Lines 1-2 = CE 12.262.13a, 13c (Wikisource एत एवंविधाः प्राहुः for CE yata evaṃvidhā viprāḥ).

Verse 16 (12.276.16)

यजन्तोऽहरहर्यज्ञैर्निराशीर्बन्धना बुधाः । तेषां यज्ञाश्च वेदाश्च कर्माणि च यथागमम् ॥

yajanto'haraharyajñairnirāśīrbandhanā budhāḥ | teṣāṃ yajñāśca vedāśca karmāṇi ca yathāgamam

Those wise men sacrificed day after day, bound by no desire for reward; their sacrifices, their Vedas and their rites were all in accordance with the scripture.

Note on the text: Corrected तेषा यज्ञाश्च → तेषां यज्ञाश्च (misprint in Wikisource; anusvara dropped; CE teṣāṃ). Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.13e; line 2 = CE 12.262.14a.

Verse 17 (12.276.17)

आगमाश्च यथाकामं संकल्पाश्च यथाव्रतम् । अपेतकामक्रोधानां दुश्चराचारकर्मणाम् ॥

āgamāśca yathākāmaṃ saṃkalpāśca yathāvratam | apetakāmakrodhānāṃ duścarācārakarmaṇām

Their scriptures were as they wished and their resolves were in keeping with their vows: men from whom desire and anger had departed, whose conduct and works are hard for others to follow.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.14c (Wikisource यथाकामम् for CE yathākālam, kept as a variant); line 2 joins CE 12.262.15a (apetakāmakrodhānām) with the second half of CE 12.262.16a (duścarācārakarmaṇām).

Verse 18 (12.276.18)

स्वकर्मभिः शंसितानां प्रकृत्या शंसितात्मनाम् । ऋजूनां शमनित्यानां स्वेषु कर्मसु वर्तताम् ॥

svakarmabhiḥ śaṃsitānāṃ prakṛtyā śaṃsitātmanām | ṛjūnāṃ śamanityānāṃ sveṣu karmasu vartatām

Praised for their own deeds and by their very nature, upright, ever calm, they went on in their own duties.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 combines the first half of CE 12.262.16c (svakarmabhiḥ saṃvṛtānām) with the second half of CE 12.262.15a (prakṛtyā saṃśitātmanām); line 2 = CE 12.262.15c. Wikisource शंसित- is kept as a variant.

Verse 19 (12.276.19)

सर्वमानन्त्यमेवासीदिति नः शाश्वती श्रुतिः । तेषामदीनसत्वानां दुश्चराचारकर्मणाम् ॥

sarvamānantyamevāsīditi naḥ śāśvatī śrutiḥ | teṣāmadīnasatvānāṃ duścarācārakarmaṇām

"All was endlessness": so runs our eternal Shruti, concerning those undaunted men whose conduct and works are hard to follow.

Note on the text: Corrected शाश्वताश्चुतिः → शाश्वती श्रुतिः (misprint in Wikisource; garbled; CE śāśvatī śrutiḥ, and the same line is printed correctly in verse 30). Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.15e; line 2 = CE 12.262.16a.

Verse 20 (12.276.20)

स्वकर्मभिः संसितानां तपो घोरत्वमागतम् । तं सदाचारमाश्चर्यं पुराणं शाश्वतं ध्रुवम् ॥

svakarmabhiḥ saṃsitānāṃ tapo ghoratvamāgatam | taṃ sadācāramāścaryaṃ purāṇaṃ śāśvataṃ dhruvam

For those hemmed in by their own duties, austerity grew severe. That good conduct is wondrous, ancient, eternal and unchanging.

Note on the text: Corrected सं सदाचारमाश्चर्यं → तं सदाचारमाश्चर्यं (misprint in Wikisource; स for त; CE taṃ sadācāram āścaryam). Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.16c (Wikisource संसितानाम् for CE saṃvṛtānām, kept as printed); line 2 = CE 12.262.17a.

Verse 21 (12.276.21)

अशक्नुवद्भिश्चरितुं किंचिद्धर्मेषु सूचितम् । निरापद्धर्म आचारो ह्यप्रमादोऽपराभवः ॥

aśaknuvadbhiścarituṃ kiṃciddharmeṣu sūcitam | nirāpaddharma ācāro hyapramādo'parābhavaḥ

For those unable to practise some of the dharmas, a way has been pointed out: a manner of life that needs no emergency-dharma, constant vigilance, and freedom from defeat.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.17c; line 2 = CE 12.262.18a.

Verse 22 (12.276.22)

सर्ववर्णेषु यत्तेषु नासीत्कश्चिद्व्यतिक्रमः । धर्ममेकं चतुष्पादमाश्रितास्ते नरा विभो ॥

sarvavarṇeṣu yatteṣu nāsītkaścidvyatikramaḥ | dharmamekaṃ catuṣpādamāśritāste narā vibho

Among all the classes of that people no one ever transgressed; those men, O mighty king, took refuge in the single, four-footed dharma.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.18c; line 2 = CE 12.262.19a (Wikisource नरा विभो for CE nararṣabhāḥ).

Verse 23 (12.276.23)

तं सन्तो विधिवत्प्राप्य गच्छन्ति परमां गतिम् । गृहेभ्य एव निष्क्रम्य वनमन्ये समाश्रिताः ॥

taṃ santo vidhivatprāpya gacchanti paramāṃ gatim | gṛhebhya eva niṣkramya vanamanye samāśritāḥ

Good men, having attained it in due form, go to the highest goal. Some left their homes and took refuge in the forest;

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.19c; line 2 = CE 12.262.20a.

Verse 24 (12.276.24)

गृहमेवाभिसंश्रित्य ततोऽन्ये ब्रह्मचारिणः । व्यस्तमेकं चतुर्धा तु ब्राह्मणा आश्रमं विदुः ॥

gṛhamevābhisaṃśritya tato'nye brahmacāriṇaḥ | vyastamekaṃ caturdhā tu brāhmaṇā āśramaṃ viduḥ

others stayed on in the home itself and became students of sacred knowledge. Brahmins know the one stage of life as divided into four.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.20c; line 2 is a vulgate rewording of CE 12.262.21a (dharmam etaṃ catuṣpādam āśramaṃ brāhmaṇā viduḥ).

Verse 25 (12.276.25)

सर्वे सर्वत्र तिष्ठन्तो गच्छन्ति परमां गतिम् । एत एवंविधाः प्राहुः पुराणा ब्रह्मचारिणः ॥

sarve sarvatra tiṣṭhanto gacchanti paramāṃ gatim | eta evaṃvidhāḥ prāhuḥ purāṇā brahmacāriṇaḥ

Wherever they stand, all go to the highest goal. Such, they say, were the ancient students of sacred knowledge.

Note on the text: Corrected एव एवंविधाः → एत एवंविधाः (misprint in Wikisource; व for त; the same words are printed एत एवंविधाः in verse 15 (CE 12.262.22a ata evaṃvidhā viprāḥ)). Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 is not in the critical edition (vulgate only); line 2 corresponds to CE 12.262.22a. Removed the stray quote mark and the doubled danda (।।') printed at the end of the verse.

Verse 26 (12.276.26)

त एते दिवि दृश्यन्ते ज्योतिर्भूता द्विजातयः । नक्षत्राणीव धिष्ण्येषु बहवस्तारकागणाः । आनन्त्यमुपसंप्राप्ताः संतोषादिति वैदिकम् ॥

ta ete divi dṛśyante jyotirbhūtā dvijātayaḥ | nakṣatrāṇīva dhiṣṇyeṣu bahavastārakāgaṇāḥ | ānantyamupasaṃprāptāḥ saṃtoṣāditi vaidikam

Those twice-born are seen in the sky, become lights, like stars in their stations, many hosts of stars; they have reached endlessness through contentment, so the Veda says.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. A three-line verse, as printed on the page (12-276-26): lines 1-3 = CE 12.262.22c, 23a, 23c.

Verse 27 (12.276.27)

यद्यागच्छन्ति संसारं पुनर्योनिषु तादृशाः । न लिप्यन्ते पापकृत्यैः कदाचित्कर्मयोनितः ॥

yadyāgacchanti saṃsāraṃ punaryoniṣu tādṛśāḥ | na lipyante pāpakṛtyaiḥ kadācitkarmayonitaḥ

If such beings return to the round of rebirth and enter wombs again, they are never stained by sinful deeds that arise from the womb of karma.

Note on the text: Corrected पारकृत्यैः → पापकृत्यैः (misprint in Wikisource; र for प; CE pāpakṛtyaiḥ).

Verse 28 (12.276.28)

एवमेव ब्रह्मचारी शुश्रूषुर्घोरनिश्चयः । एवंयुक्तो ब्राह्मणः स्यादन्यो ब्राह्मणको भवेत् ॥

evameva brahmacārī śuśrūṣurghoraniścayaḥ | evaṃyukto brāhmaṇaḥ syādanyo brāhmaṇako bhavet

In just this way a student who serves with devotion and holds a stern resolve, endowed with these qualities, would be a Brahmin; anyone else would be a Brahmin in name only.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = the CE star passage 12.262.24d*0716_01 (ekam eva brahmacārī śuśrūṣur ghoraniścayaḥ; Wikisource एवमेव for CE ekam eva, kept as a variant); line 2 = CE 12.262.25a. The star passage is not in the CE's constituted text.

Verse 29 (12.276.29)

कर्मैव पुरुषस्याह शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् । एवं पक्वकषायाणामानन्त्येन श्रुतेन च ॥

karmaiva puruṣasyāha śubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham | evaṃ pakvakaṣāyāṇāmānantyena śrutena ca

They say that a man's own action alone is what is good or bad for him. So it is for those whose impurities have ripened, through endlessness and through what has been heard.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.25c; line 2 = CE 12.262.26a.

Verse 30 (12.276.30)

सर्वमानन्त्यमेवासीदिति नः शाश्वती श्रुतिः । तेषामपेततृष्णानां निर्णिक्तानां शुभात्मनाम् ॥

sarvamānantyamevāsīditi naḥ śāśvatī śrutiḥ | teṣāmapetatṛṣṇānāṃ nirṇiktānāṃ śubhātmanām

"All was endlessness": so runs our eternal Shruti, concerning those whose thirst has departed, who are cleansed and pure of soul.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.26c; line 2 = CE 12.262.27a.

Verse 31 (12.276.31)

चतुर्थ औपनिषदो धर्मः साधारणः स्मृतः । संसिद्धैः सेव्यते नित्यं ब्राह्मणैर्नियतात्मभिः ॥

caturtha aupaniṣado dharmaḥ sādhāraṇaḥ smṛtaḥ | saṃsiddhaiḥ sevyate nityaṃ brāhmaṇairniyatātmabhiḥ

The fourth is the Upanishadic dharma, held to be common to all; it is practised always by perfected Brahmins of controlled mind.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.27c; line 2 = CE 12.262.28a.

Verse 32 (12.276.32)

संतोषमूलस्त्यागात्मा ज्ञानाधिष्ठानमुच्यते । अपवर्गमतिर्नित्यो यतिधर्मः सनातनः ॥

saṃtoṣamūlastyāgātmā jñānādhiṣṭhānamucyate | apavargamatirnityo yatidharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

Its root is contentment, its nature renunciation; it is called the foundation of knowledge. Its aim is final liberation; it is the ever-present, eternal dharma of ascetics.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.262.28c; line 2 = CE 12.262.29a (Wikisource अपवर्गमतिः for CE apavargagatiḥ).

Verse 33 (12.276.33)

साधारणः केवलो वा यथाबलमुपास्यते । गच्छन्ते बलिनः क्षेमं दुर्बलोऽत्रावसीदति । ब्राह्मणः पदमन्विच्छन्संसारान्मुच्यते शुचिः ॥

sādhāraṇaḥ kevalo vā yathābalamupāsyate | gacchante balinaḥ kṣemaṃ durbalo'trāvasīdati | brāhmaṇaḥ padamanvicchansaṃsārānmucyate śuciḥ

Whether practised along with the others or alone, it is followed according to one's strength. The strong go on to safety, while the weak sink down here. A pure Brahmin who seeks the Supreme state is freed from the cycle of rebirth.

Note on the text: Not marked in the alignment. A three-line verse, as printed on the page (12-276-33): lines 1-3 = CE 12.262.29c, 30a, 30c.

Verse 34 (12.276.34)

ये भुञ्जते ये ददते यजन्तेऽधीयते च ये । मात्राभिर्धर्मलुब्धाभिर्ये वा त्यागं समाश्रिताः ॥

ye bhuñjate ye dadate yajante'dhīyate ca ye | mātrābhirdharmalubdhābhirye vā tyāgaṃ samāśritāḥ

Of those who enjoy, those who give, those who sacrifice and those who study, and of those who, with their measured means eager for dharma, have taken refuge in renunciation:

Verse 35 (12.276.35)

एतेषां प्रेत्यभावे तु कतमः स्वर्गजित्तमः । एतदाचक्ष्व मे ब्रह्मन्याथातथ्येन पृच्छतः ॥

eteṣāṃ pretyabhāve tu katamaḥ svargajittamaḥ | etadācakṣva me brahmanyāthātathyena pṛcchataḥ

which of these, after death, wins heaven best? Tell me this, Brahmin, exactly as it is, for I ask in earnest.

Verse 36 (12.276.36)

परिग्रहाः शुभाः सर्वे गुणतोऽभ्युदयाश्च ते । न तु त्यागसुखं प्राप्ता एतत्त्वमपि पश्यसि ॥

parigrahāḥ śubhāḥ sarve guṇato'bhyudayāśca te | na tu tyāgasukhaṃ prāptā etattvamapi paśyasi

All possessions are good, and by their qualities they bring prosperity; yet those who have them have not found the happiness of renunciation. This you too can see.

Verse 37 (12.276.37)

भवन्तो ज्ञाननिष्ठा वै गृहस्थाः कर्मनिश्चयाः । आश्रमाणां च सर्वेषां निष्ठायामैक्यमुच्यते ॥

bhavanto jñānaniṣṭhā vai gṛhasthāḥ karmaniścayāḥ | āśramāṇāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ niṣṭhāyāmaikyamucyate

You are devoted to knowledge, while householders are resolved on action; yet it is said that in the final end of all the stages of life there is oneness.

Verse 38 (12.276.38)

एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन विशेषो नान्य उच्यते । तद्यथावद्यथान्यायं भगवान्प्रब्रवीतु मे ॥

ekatvena pṛthaktvena viśeṣo nānya ucyate | tadyathāvadyathānyāyaṃ bhagavānprabravītu me

In respect of oneness and of separateness, no other distinction is spoken of. Let the Blessed One explain this to me properly, exactly as it is.

Verse 39 (12.276.39)

शरीरपक्तिः कर्माणि ज्ञानं तु परमा गतिः । पक्वे कषायविज्ञानं यथा ज्ञानं च तिष्ठति ॥

śarīrapaktiḥ karmāṇi jñānaṃ tu paramā gatiḥ | pakve kaṣāyavijñānaṃ yathā jñānaṃ ca tiṣṭhati

Works are the ripening of the body, but knowledge is the highest goal. When the dross has ripened, discernment of it remains, and knowledge stands as it should.

Verse 40 (12.276.40)

आनृशंस्यं क्षमा शान्तिरहिंसा सत्यमार्जवम् । अद्रोहोऽनभिमानश्च ह्रीस्तितिक्षा शमस्तथा ॥

ānṛśaṃsyaṃ kṣamā śāntirahiṃsā satyamārjavam | adroho'nabhimānaśca hrīstitikṣā śamastathā

Compassion, patience, calm, non-violence, truthfulness, uprightness, freedom from malice, absence of pride, modesty, endurance, and self-control as well:

Verse 41 (12.276.41)

पन्थानो ब्रह्मणस्त्वेत एतैः प्राप्नोति यत्परम् । तद्विद्वाननुबुद्ध्येत मनसा कर्मनिश्चयम् ॥

panthāno brahmaṇastveta etaiḥ prāpnoti yatparam | tadvidvānanubuddhyeta manasā karmaniścayam

these are the paths of Brahman; by them one reaches the Supreme. A wise man should grasp this with his mind as the settled course of action.

Verse 42 (12.276.42)

यां विप्राः सर्वतः शान्ता विशुद्धा ज्ञाननिश्चयाः । गतिं गच्छन्ति संतुष्टास्तामाहुः परमां गतिम् ॥

yāṃ viprāḥ sarvataḥ śāntā viśuddhā jñānaniścayāḥ | gatiṃ gacchanti saṃtuṣṭāstāmāhuḥ paramāṃ gatim

The state that Brahmins attain who are at peace on every side, pure, resolute in knowledge, and content: that they call the highest state.

Verse 43 (12.276.43)

वेदांश्च वेदितव्यं च विदित्वा च यथास्थितिम् । एवं वेदविदित्याहुरतोऽन्यो वातरेचकः ॥

vedāṃśca veditavyaṃ ca viditvā ca yathāsthitim | evaṃ vedavidityāhurato'nyo vātarecakaḥ

One who has learned the Vedas and what is to be known, and knows them as they stand, they call a knower of the Veda; anyone else is a mere windbag.

Verse 44 (12.276.44)

सर्वं विदुर्वेदविदो वेदे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । वेदे हि निष्ठा सर्वस्य यद्यदस्ति च नास्ति च ॥

sarvaṃ vidurvedavido vede sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | vede hi niṣṭhā sarvasya yadyadasti ca nāsti ca

Those who know the Veda know everything; everything rests on the Veda. For the Veda is the final ground of all, of whatever is and whatever is not.

Verse 45 (12.276.45)

एषैव निष्ठा सर्वत्र यत्तदस्ति च नास्ति च । एतदन्तं च मध्यं च सच्चाऽसच्च विजानतः ॥

eṣaiva niṣṭhā sarvatra yattadasti ca nāsti ca | etadantaṃ ca madhyaṃ ca saccā'sacca vijānataḥ

This alone is the final ground everywhere, of whatever is and is not. This is the end and the middle for one who knows the real and the unreal.

Verse 46 (12.276.46)

समाप्तं त्याग इत्येव शम इत्येव निश्चितम् । संतोष इत्यनुगतमपवर्गे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

samāptaṃ tyāga ityeva śama ityeva niścitam | saṃtoṣa ityanugatamapavarge pratiṣṭhitam

It is settled that the whole of it is renunciation, is peace; contentment follows upon it, and it is established in final liberation.

Verse 47 (12.276.47)

ऋतं सत्यं विदितं वेदितव्यं । सर्वस्यात्मा स्थावरं जङ्गमं च । सर्वं सुखं यच्छिवमुत्तरं च । ब्रह्माव्यक्तं प्रभवश्चाव्ययं च ॥

ṛtaṃ satyaṃ viditaṃ veditavyaṃ | sarvasyātmā sthāvaraṃ jaṅgamaṃ ca | sarvaṃ sukhaṃ yacchivamuttaraṃ ca | brahmāvyaktaṃ prabhavaścāvyayaṃ ca

The Real, the True, what is known and what is to be known; the Self of all, the moving and the unmoving; all happiness, whatever is auspicious and what is higher still; the unmanifest Brahman, the source, and the imperishable.

Verse 48 (12.276.48)

तेजः क्षमा शान्तिरनामयं शुभं । तथाविधं व्योम सनातनं ध्रुवम् । एतैः शब्दैर्गम्यते बुद्धिनेत्रै । स्तस्मै नमो ब्रह्मणे ब्राह्मणाय ॥

tejaḥ kṣamā śāntiranāmayaṃ śubhaṃ | tathāvidhaṃ vyoma sanātanaṃ dhruvam | etaiḥ śabdairgamyate buddhinetrai | stasmai namo brahmaṇe brāhmaṇāya

Splendour, patience, peace, freedom from ill, the good; the eternal, unchanging expanse of space: by these words that Brahman is reached, by the eyes of the intellect. Homage to that Brahman, to that Brahmin.