Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Duties of the Renunciant

Verse 1 (garuda.1.103.1)

याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच । भिक्षोर्धर्मं प्रवक्ष्यामितिनिबोधत सत्तमाः । वनाद्गृहाद्वा कृत्वेष्टिं सर्ववेदसदक्षिणाम्

yājñavalkya uvāca bhikṣordharmaṁ pravakṣyāmitinibodhata sattamāḥ vanādgṛhādvā kṛtveṣṭiṁ sarvavedasadakṣiṇām

Yajnavalkya said: I shall declare the duty of the mendicant; understand this, O best of sages. From the forest stage or from the household, having performed a sacrifice with all one's wealth as the sacrificial fee,

Verse 2 (garuda.1.103.2)

प्राजापत्यन्तदन्तेऽपि अग्निमारोप्य चात्मनि । सर्वभूतहितः शान्तस्त्रिदण्डी सकमण्डलुः

prājāpatyantadante'pi agnimāropya cātmani sarvabhūtahitaḥ śāntastridaṇḍī sakamaṇḍaluḥ

culminating with the Prajapatya sacrifice at life's end, having symbolically taken the sacred fire into himself, becoming devoted to the welfare of all beings, peaceful, bearing the triple staff and water-pot,

Verse 3 (garuda.1.103.3)

सर्वारामं परिव्रज्य भिक्षार्थो ग्राममाश्रयेत् । अप्रमत्तश्चरेद्भैक्ष्यं सायाह्ने नाभिलक्षितः

sarvārāmaṁ parivrajya bhikṣārtho grāmamāśrayet apramattaścaredbhaikṣyaṁ sāyāhne nābhilakṣitaḥ

wandering past every pleasure-garden, he should approach a village for the purpose of alms. Vigilant, he should beg alms in the evening, without making himself conspicuous,

Verse 4 (garuda.1.103.4)

रोहिते भिक्षुकैर्ग्रामे यात्रामात्र मलोलुपः । भवेत्परमहंसो वा एकदण्डी यमादितः

rohite bhikṣukairgrāme yātrāmātra malolupaḥ bhavetparamahaṁso vā ekadaṇḍī yamāditaḥ

in a village already frequented by other mendicants, seeking only enough for his journey through life, without greed. Or he may become a Paramahamsa, bearing a single staff, restrained by the yamas and the rest,

Verse 5 (garuda.1.103.5)

सिद्धयोगस्त्यजन्देहममृतत्वमिहाप्नुयात् । दाताऽतिथिप्रियो ज्ञानी गृही श्राद्धेऽपिमुच्यते

siddhayogastyajandehamamṛtatvamihāpnuyāt dātā'tithipriyo jñānī gṛhī śrāddhe'pimucyate

one accomplished in yoga, who, giving up the body, attains immortality even here. A householder who is generous, fond of guests, and wise, is liberated even through shraddha.