Parashara's Teaching on Dharma

Verse 1 (garuda.1.107.1)

सूत उवाच । पराशरोऽब्रवीद्व्यासं धर्मं वर्णाश्रमादिकम् । कल्पेकल्पे क्षयोत्पत्त्या क्षीयन्ते नु प्रजादयः

sūta uvāca parāśaro'bravīdvyāsaṁ dharmaṁ varṇāśramādikam kalpekalpe kṣayotpattyā kṣīyante nu prajādayaḥ

Suta said: Parashara declared to Vyasa the dharma of the varnas and ashramas and the rest. In each kalpa, through decline and origination, do creatures and the rest indeed diminish?

Verse 2 (garuda.1.107.2)

श्रुतिः स्मृतिः सदाचरो यः कश्चिद्वे दकर्तृकः । वेदाः स्मृता ब्राह्मणादौ धर्मा मन्वादिभिः सदा

śrutiḥ smṛtiḥ sadācaro yaḥ kaścidve dakartṛkaḥ vedāḥ smṛtā brāhmaṇādau dharmā manvādibhiḥ sadā

Shruti, Smriti, and good conduct — whatever has the Veda as its source; the Vedas are always remembered among brahmins and the rest, and the various dharmas have always been declared by Manu and the other sages.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.107.3)

दानं कलियुगे धर्मः कर्तारं च कलौ त्यजेत् । पापकृत्यं तु तत्रैव शापं फलति वर्षतः

dānaṁ kaliyuge dharmaḥ kartāraṁ ca kalau tyajet pāpakṛtyaṁ tu tatraiva śāpaṁ phalati varṣataḥ

In the Kali age, giving is the primary dharma; and in Kali, dharma abandons the one who neglects it. Sinful deeds in this age bear the fruit of curse within a year.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.107.4)

आचारात्प्राप्नुयात्सर्वं षट्कर्माणि दिनेदिने । सन्ध्या स्नानं जपो होमो देवातिथ्यादिपूजनम्

ācārātprāpnuyātsarvaṁ ṣaṭkarmāṇi dinedine sandhyā snānaṁ japo homo devātithyādipūjanam

Through proper conduct one obtains everything. The six daily duties are: twilight-worship, bathing, japa, homa, and the worship of gods and guests and the rest.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.107.5)

अपूर्वः सुव्रती विप्रो ह्यपूर्वा यतयस्तदा । क्षत्त्रियः परसैन्यानि जित्वा पृथ्वीं प्रपालयेत्

apūrvaḥ suvratī vipro hyapūrvā yatayastadā kṣattriyaḥ parasainyāni jitvā pṛthvīṁ prapālayet

The virtuous brahmin, devoted to his vows, is unparalleled; likewise ascetics are unparalleled in their sphere. The kshatriya, having conquered enemy armies, should protect the earth.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.107.6)

वणिक्कृष्यादि वैश्ये स्याद्द्विजभक्तिश्च शूद्रके । अभक्ष्यभक्षणाच्चौर्यादगम्या गमनात्पतेत्

vaṇikkṛṣyādi vaiśye syāddvijabhaktiśca śūdrake abhakṣyabhakṣaṇāccauryādagamyā gamanātpatet

Trade and agriculture belong to the vaishya, and devotion to the twice-born belongs to the shudra. One falls from status through eating forbidden food, through theft, and through union with a forbidden woman.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.107.7)

कृषिं कुर्वन्द्विजः श्रान्तं बलीवर्दं न वाहयेत् । दिनार्धं स्नानयोगादिकारी विप्रांश्च भोजयेत्

kṛṣiṁ kurvandvijaḥ śrāntaṁ balīvardaṁ na vāhayet dinārdhaṁ snānayogādikārī viprāṁśca bhojayet

A twice-born engaged in agriculture should not drive an exhausted ox. He should devote half the day to bathing, spiritual practice and the rest, and should feed brahmins.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.107.8)

निर्वपेत्पञ्च यज्ञानि क्रूरे निन्दां च कारयेत् । तिलाज्यं न विक्रीणित सूनायज्ञमघान्वितः

nirvapetpañca yajñāni krūre nindāṁ ca kārayet tilājyaṁ na vikrīṇita sūnāyajñamaghānvitaḥ

He should offer the five daily sacrifices, and cause censure of cruelty. He should not sell sesame or ghee. Though inevitably burdened with the sin unavoidable in daily agricultural life —

Verse 9 (garuda.1.107.9)

राज्ञो दत्त्वा तु षड्भागं देवतानां च विंशतिम् । त्रयस्त्रिंशच्च विप्राणां कृषिकर्ता न लिप्यते

rājño dattvā tu ṣaḍbhāgaṁ devatānāṁ ca viṁśatim trayastriṁśacca viprāṇāṁ kṛṣikartā na lipyate

having given a sixth part to the king, a twentieth to the gods, and a thirty-third to brahmins, the tiller of the soil is not tainted by that sin.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.107.10)

कर्षकाः क्षत्त्रविट्छूद्राः खलेऽदत्त्वा तु चौरकः । दिनत्रयेण शुध्येत ब्राह्मणः प्रेतसूतके

karṣakāḥ kṣattraviṭchūdrāḥ khale'dattvā tu caurakaḥ dinatrayeṇa śudhyeta brāhmaṇaḥ pretasūtake

Farmers may be of the kshatriya, vaishya, or shudra varna; but one who takes his share from the threshing-floor without giving the due portions is a thief. A brahmin is purified from death-impurity in three days —

Verse 11 (garuda.1.107.11)

क्षत्त्रो दशाहाद्वैश्यास्तु द्वादशाहान्मासि शूद्रकः । याति विप्रो दशाहात्तु क्षत्त्रो द्वादशकाद्दिनात्

kṣattro daśāhādvaiśyāstu dvādaśāhānmāsi śūdrakaḥ yāti vipro daśāhāttu kṣattro dvādaśakāddināt

a kshatriya in ten days, a vaishya in twelve days, and a shudra in a month. A brahmin regains eligibility after ten days, a kshatriya after twelve days,

Verse 12 (garuda.1.107.12)

पञ्चदशाहाद्वैश्यस्तु शूद्रो मासेन शुध्यति । एकपिण्डास्तु दायादाः पृथग्द्वारनिकेतनाः

pañcadaśāhādvaiśyastu śūdro māsena śudhyati ekapiṇḍāstu dāyādāḥ pṛthagdvāraniketanāḥ

a vaishya after fifteen days, and a shudra is purified in a month. Co-heirs who share a single pinda-offering, even if living in separate houses —

Verse 13 (garuda.1.107.13)

जन्मना च विपत्तौ च भवेत्तेषां च सूतकम् । चतुर्थे दशरात्रं स्यात्षण्णिशाः पुंसि पञ्चमे

janmanā ca vipattau ca bhavetteṣāṁ ca sūtakam caturthe daśarātraṁ syātṣaṇṇiśāḥ puṁsi pañcame

for them too, birth- and death-impurity apply according to their degree of kinship. At the fourth degree, ten nights; at the fifth degree, six nights for a man,

Verse 14 (garuda.1.107.14)

षष्ठे चतुर हाच्छुद्धिः सप्तमे च दिनत्रयम् । देशान्तरे मृते बाले सद्यः शुद्धिर्यतो मृते

ṣaṣṭhe catura hācchuddhiḥ saptame ca dinatrayam deśāntare mṛte bāle sadyaḥ śuddhiryato mṛte

at the sixth degree, purification in four days, and at the seventh, three days. If a child dies in another region, purification is immediate, since —

Verse 15 (garuda.1.107.15)

अजातदन्ता ये बाला ये च गर्भाद्विनिः सृताः । न तेषामग्निसंस्कारो न पिण्डं नोदकक्रिया

ajātadantā ye bālā ye ca garbhādviniḥ sṛtāḥ na teṣāmagnisaṁskāro na piṇḍaṁ nodakakriyā

for children whose teeth have not yet appeared, and those who died while still issuing from the womb — for them there is no fire-rite, no pinda, and no water-rite.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.107.16)

यदि गर्भो विपद्यत स्त्रवते वापि योषितः । यावन्मासं स्थितो गर्भस्तावद्दिनानि सूतकम्

yadi garbho vipadyata stravate vāpi yoṣitaḥ yāvanmāsaṁ sthito garbhastāvaddināni sūtakam

If a fetus perishes, or is miscarried, the impurity lasts as many days as the number of months the fetus had been carried.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.107.17)

आनामकरणात्सद्य आचूडान्तादहर्निशम् । आव्रतात्तु त्रिरात्रेण तदूर्ध्वन्दशभिर्दिनैः

ānāmakaraṇātsadya ācūḍāntādaharniśam āvratāttu trirātreṇa tadūrdhvandaśabhirdinaiḥ

Up to the naming-ceremony, impurity is immediate; up to the tonsure-rite, a day and a night; up to the upanayana, three nights; beyond that, ten days.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.107.18)

आचतुर्थाद्भवेत्स्त्रवः पातः पञ्चमषष्ठयोः । ब्रह्मचर्या दग्निहोत्रान्नाशुद्धिः सङ्गवर्जनात्

ācaturthādbhavetstravaḥ pātaḥ pañcamaṣaṣṭhayoḥ brahmacaryā dagnihotrānnāśuddhiḥ saṅgavarjanāt

Up to the fourth month, a miscarriage is called 'flowing away'; in the fifth and sixth, it is called 'falling.' From celibate studentship up to maintaining the Agnihotra, there is no impurity, through avoidance of ritual contact.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.107.19)

शिल्पिनः कारवो वैद्या दासीदासाश्च भृत्यकाः । अग्निमाञ्छ्रोत्रियो राजा सद्यः शौचाः प्रकीर्तिताः

śilpinaḥ kāravo vaidyā dāsīdāsāśca bhṛtyakāḥ agnimāñchrotriyo rājā sadyaḥ śaucāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

Craftsmen, artisans, physicians, maidservants and servants, hired workers; one who maintains the sacred fire, a learned brahmin, and a king — these are declared to have immediate purification.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.107.20)

दशाहाच्छुध्यते माता स्नानात्सूते पिता शुचिः । सङ्गात्सूतौ सूतकं स्यादुपस्पृश्य पिता शुचिः

daśāhācchudhyate mātā snānātsūte pitā śuciḥ saṅgātsūtau sūtakaṁ syādupaspṛśya pitā śuciḥ

The mother is purified after ten days following childbirth; the father becomes pure through bathing. Through contact, birth-impurity applies; the father, having merely touched the child, becomes pure more readily.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.107.21)

विवाहोत्सवयज्ञेषु अन्तरा मृतसूतके । पूर्वसंकल्पितादन्यवर्जनं च विधीयते

vivāhotsavayajñeṣu antarā mṛtasūtake pūrvasaṁkalpitādanyavarjanaṁ ca vidhīyate

During weddings, festivals, and sacrifices, if death-impurity intervenes, avoidance is prescribed for anyone other than what was previously resolved.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.107.22)

मृतेन शुध्यते सूतिः मृतवज्जातकं जनौ । गोग्रहादौ विपन्नानामेकरात्रं तु सूतकम्

mṛtena śudhyate sūtiḥ mṛtavajjātakaṁ janau gograhādau vipannānāmekarātraṁ tu sūtakam

Birth-impurity is superseded by death-impurity when both occur together; the birth-rite impurity is treated like death-impurity. For those who die during a cattle-raid or similar occasion, the impurity is one night.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.107.23)

अनाथप्रेतवहनात्प्राणायामेन शुध्यति । प्रेतशूद्रस्य वहनान्त्रिरात्रमशुचिर्भवेत्

anāthapretavahanātprāṇāyāmena śudhyati pretaśūdrasya vahanāntrirātramaśucirbhavet

One is purified by pranayama after carrying an unclaimed corpse. From carrying the corpse of a shudra, one remains impure for three nights.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.107.24)

आत्मघातिविषोद्वन्धकृमिदष्टे न संस्कृतिः । गोहतं कृमिदष्टं च स्पृष्ट्वा कृच्छ्रेण शुध्यति

ātmaghātiviṣodvandhakṛmidaṣṭe na saṁskṛtiḥ gohataṁ kṛmidaṣṭaṁ ca spṛṣṭvā kṛcchreṇa śudhyati

For one who has taken poison, hanged himself, or died from an insect-bite, there is no formal funeral consecration. Having touched one killed by a cow, or bitten by an insect, one is purified through the Krichchhra penance.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.107.25)

अदुष्टापतितं भार्या यौवने या परित्यजेत् । सप्तजन्म भवेत्स्त्रीत्वं वैधव्यं च पुनः पुनः

aduṣṭāpatitaṁ bhāryā yauvane yā parityajet saptajanma bhavetstrītvaṁ vaidhavyaṁ ca punaḥ punaḥ

A wife who abandons a faultless, unfallen husband in his youth attains female birth for seven lives, and repeated widowhood.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.107.26)

बालहत्या त्वगमनादृतौ च स्त्री तु सूकरि । अगम्या व्रतकारिण्यो भ्रष्टपानोदकक्रियाः

bālahatyā tvagamanādṛtau ca strī tu sūkari agamyā vratakāriṇyo bhraṣṭapānodakakriyāḥ

Refusing union during the fertile season is a form of killing the potential fetus; a woman guilty of this becomes a sow. Forbidden women, those who break their vows, and fallen women forfeit the water-rite.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.107.27)

औरसः क्षेत्रजः पुत्रः पितृजौ पिण्डदौ पितुः । परिवित्तेस्तु कृच्छ्रं स्यात्कन्यायाः कृच्छ्रमेव च

aurasaḥ kṣetrajaḥ putraḥ pitṛjau piṇḍadau pituḥ parivittestu kṛcchraṁ syātkanyāyāḥ kṛcchrameva ca

Both the natural-born son and the field-born son (through niyoga) are reckoned as the father's offspring, and both may offer him the pinda. For one who marries before an elder brother, the Krichchhra penance applies, and likewise for delaying a daughter's marriage.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.107.28)

अतिकृच्छ्रं चरेद्दाता होता चान्द्रायणञ्चरेत् । कुब्जवामनषण्डेषु गद्गदेषु जडेषु च

atikṛcchraṁ careddātā hotā cāndrāyaṇañcaret kubjavāmanaṣaṇḍeṣu gadgadeṣu jaḍeṣu ca

The giver of the daughter should observe the Atikrichchhra, and the officiating priest, the Chandrayana. In the case of an elder sibling who is a hunchback, a dwarf, a eunuch, a stammerer, or dull-witted —

Verse 29 (garuda.1.107.29)

जात्यन्धबधिरे मूके न दोषः परिवेदने । नष्टे मृते प्रव्रजिते क्लीबे वा पतिते पतौ

jātyandhabadhire mūke na doṣaḥ parivedane naṣṭe mṛte pravrajite klībe vā patite patau

or one born blind, deaf, or mute — there is no fault in marrying out of turn. If the husband is lost, dead, has become a renunciant, is impotent, or has fallen —

Verse 30 (garuda.1.107.30)

पञ्चस्वापत्सु नारीणां पतिरन्यो विधीयते । भर्त्रा सहमृता नारी रोमाब्दानि वसेद्दिवि

pañcasvāpatsu nārīṇāṁ patiranyo vidhīyate bhartrā sahamṛtā nārī romābdāni vaseddivi

In these five calamities, another husband is prescribed for women. A woman who dies together with her husband dwells in heaven for as many years as there are hairs on her body.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.107.31)

श्वादिदष्टस्तु गायत्त्र्या जपाच्छुद्धो भवेन्नरः । दाह्यो लोकाग्निना विप्रश्चाण्डालाद्यैर्हतोऽग्निमान्

śvādidaṣṭastu gāyattryā japācchuddho bhavennaraḥ dāhyo lokāgninā vipraścāṇḍālādyairhato'gnimān

A man bitten by a dog or the like becomes pure through the recitation of the Gayatri. If a brahmin who maintained the sacred fire is killed by a chandala or the like, he should be cremated with ordinary fire —

Verse 32 (garuda.1.107.32)

क्षीरैः प्रक्षाल्य तस्यास्थि स्वाग्निना मन्त्रतो दहेत् । प्रवासे तु मृते भूयः कृत्वा कुशमयं दहेत्

kṣīraiḥ prakṣālya tasyāsthi svāgninā mantrato dahet pravāse tu mṛte bhūyaḥ kṛtvā kuśamayaṁ dahet

having washed his bones with milk, one should then cremate the remains with his own consecrated fire, with mantras. If he dies while traveling abroad, one should make an effigy of kusha grass and cremate that.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.107.33)

कृष्णाजिने समास्तीर्य षट्शतानि पलाशजान् । शमीं शिश्ने विनिःक्षिप्य अरणिं वृषणे क्षिपेत्

kṛṣṇājine samāstīrya ṣaṭśatāni palāśajān śamīṁ śiśne viniḥkṣipya araṇiṁ vṛṣaṇe kṣipet

Having spread out a black antelope skin, placing six hundred pieces of palasha wood, one should place a shami-twig at the organ, and place the fire-drill at the testicles;

Verse 34 (garuda.1.107.34)

कण्डं दक्षिणहस्ते तु वामहस्ते तथोपभृत् । पार्श्वे तूलूखलं दद्यात्पृष्ठे तु मुसलं ददेत्

kaṇḍaṁ dakṣiṇahaste tu vāmahaste tathopabhṛt pārśve tūlūkhalaṁ dadyātpṛṣṭhe tu musalaṁ dadet

the winnowing-comb in the right hand, and the upabhrit ladle in the left hand; at the side, the mortar, and on the back, the pestle;

Verse 35 (garuda.1.107.35)

उरे निःक्षिप्य दृषदं तण्डुलाज्यतिलान्मुखे । श्रोत्रे च प्रोक्षणीं दद्यादाज्यस्थालीं च चक्षुषोः

ure niḥkṣipya dṛṣadaṁ taṇḍulājyatilānmukhe śrotre ca prokṣaṇīṁ dadyādājyasthālīṁ ca cakṣuṣoḥ

on the chest, the grinding-stone; in the mouth, rice, ghee, and sesame; the sprinkling-vessel at the ear, and the ghee-pot upon the eyes;

Verse 36 (garuda.1.107.36)

कर्णे नेत्रे मुखे घ्राणे हिरण्यशकलान् क्षिपेत् । अग्निहोत्रोपकरणाद्ब्रह्मलोकगतिर्भवेत्

karṇe netre mukhe ghrāṇe hiraṇyaśakalān kṣipet agnihotropakaraṇādbrahmalokagatirbhavet

at the ears, eyes, mouth, and nose, one should place fragments of gold. Through this offering of the Agnihotra's implements upon the body, the attainment of the world of Brahma results.

Verse 37 (garuda.1.107.37)

असौ स्वर्गाय लोकाय स्वाहेत्याज्याहुतिः सकृत् । हंससारसक्रौञ्चानां चक्रवाकं च कुक्रुटम्

asau svargāya lokāya svāhetyājyāhutiḥ sakṛt haṁsasārasakrauñcānāṁ cakravākaṁ ca kukruṭam

with the mantra 'asau svargāya lokāya svāhā,' one ghee-oblation should be offered. Of the swan, the crane, the Krauncha, the ruddy-goose, and the domestic fowl —

Verse 38 (garuda.1.107.38)

मयरमेषघाती च अहोरात्रेण शुध्यति । पक्षिणः सकलान्हत्वा अहोरात्रेण शुध्यति

mayarameṣaghātī ca ahorātreṇa śudhyati pakṣiṇaḥ sakalānhatvā ahorātreṇa śudhyati

and one who kills a peacock or a ram is purified within a day and a night. Having killed birds in general, one is purified within a day and a night.

Verse 39 (garuda.1.107.39)

सर्वांश्चतुष्पदान्हत्वा अहोरात्रो षितो जपेत् । शूद्रं हत्वा चरेत्कृच्छ्रमतिकृच्छ्रं तु वैश्यहा । क्षत्त्रं चान्द्रायणं विप्रं द्वाविंशात्रिंशमाहरे (वहे) त्

sarvāṁścatuṣpadānhatvā ahorātro ṣito japet śūdraṁ hatvā caretkṛcchramatikṛcchraṁ tu vaiśyahā kṣattraṁ cāndrāyaṇaṁ vipraṁ dvāviṁśātriṁśamāhare (vahe) t

Having killed any four-footed animal, one should fast for a day and night, reciting japa. For killing a shudra, the Krichchhra; for a vaishya, the Atikrichchhra; for a kshatriya, the Chandrayana; and for a brahmin, an extended penance of twenty-two or thirty years should be performed.