Madalasa's Teaching on the Householder's Duties

Verse 1 (markandeya.29.1)

अलर्क उवाच । यत् कार्यं पुरुषाणाञ्च गार्हस्थ्यमनुवर्तताम् । बन्धश्च स्यादकरणे क्रियाया यस्य चोच्छ्रितिः॥ २९.१ ॥

alarka uvāca yat kāryaṃ puruṣāṇāñca gārhasthyamanuvartatām bandhaśca syādakaraṇe kriyāyā yasya cocchritiḥ

Alarka said, "That duty which men who follow the householder's life must perform, whose neglect leads to bondage and whose performance leads to one's rise —"

Verse 2 (markandeya.29.2)

उपकाराय यन्नृणां यच्च वर्ज्यं गृहे सता । यथा च क्रियते तन्मे यथावत् पृच्छतो वद॥ २९.२ ॥

upakārāya yannṛṇāṃ yacca varjyaṃ gṛhe satā yathā ca kriyate tanme yathāvat pṛcchato vada

"— whatever benefits people, and whatever a good man should avoid in his household, and how it is properly performed — tell me this truly, as I ask you."

Verse 3 (markandeya.29.3)

मदालसोवाच । वत्स ! गार्हस्थ्यमादाय नरः सर्वमिदं जगत् । पुष्णाति तेन लोकांश्च स जयत्यभिवाञ्छितान्॥ २९.३ ॥

madālasovāca vatsa ! gārhasthyamādāya naraḥ sarvamidaṃ jagat puṣṇāti tena lokāṃśca sa jayatyabhivāñchitān

Madalasa said, "My child, by taking up the householder's life, a man sustains this entire world, and through it he attains the worlds he desires."

Verse 4 (markandeya.29.4)

पितरो मुनयो देवा भूतानि मनुजास्तथा । कृमिकीटपतङ्गाश्च वयांसि पशवोऽसुराः॥ २९.४ ॥

pitaro munayo devā bhūtāni manujāstathā kṛmikīṭapataṅgāśca vayāṃsi paśavo 'surāḥ

"The ancestors, the sages, the gods, spirit-beings, and men as well; worms, insects, and moths; birds, beasts, and demons —"

Verse 5 (markandeya.29.5)

गृहस्थमुपजीवन्ति ततस्तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति च । मुखं चास्य निरीक्षन्ते अपि नो दास्यतीति वै॥ २९.५ ॥

gṛhasthamupajīvanti tatastṛptiṃ prayānti ca mukhaṃ cāsya nirīkṣante api no dāsyatīti vai

"— all these live dependent on the householder, and thereby find satisfaction; and they watch his face, thinking, 'Will he give to us, or will he not?'"

Verse 6 (markandeya.29.6)

सर्वस्याधारभूतेयं वत्स ! धेनुस्त्रयीमयी । यस्यां प्रतिष्ठितं विश्वं विश्वहेतुश्च या मता॥ २९.६ ॥

sarvasyādhārabhūteyaṃ vatsa ! dhenustrayīmayī yasyāṃ pratiṣṭhitaṃ viśvaṃ viśvahetuśca yā matā

"My child, this householder's life is the foundation of everything — like a cow made of the threefold Veda, in whom the whole universe rests and who is regarded as the very cause of the universe."

Verse 7 (markandeya.29.7)

ऋक्पृष्ठासौ यजुर्मध्या सामवक्त्रशिरोधरा । इष्टापूर्तविषाणा च साधुसूक्ततनूरुहा॥ २९.७ ॥

ṛkpṛṣṭhāsau yajurmadhyā sāmavaktraśirodharā iṣṭāpūrtaviṣāṇā ca sādhusūktatanūruhā

"The back of this cow is the Rig Veda, her middle the Yajur, her face and neck the Sama; her horns are sacrifice and charitable works, and her body-hairs are the sacred hymns."

Verse 8 (markandeya.29.8)

शान्तिपुष्टिशकृन्मूत्रा वर्णपादप्रतिष्ठिता । आजीव्यमाना जगतां साक्षया नापचीयते॥ २९.८ ॥

śāntipuṣṭiśakṛnmūtrā varṇapādapratiṣṭhitā ājīvyamānā jagatāṃ sākṣayā nāpacīyate

"Her dung and urine are peace and prosperity; she stands upon the four castes as her four feet; and though relied upon by the whole world for its living, she is never diminished."

Verse 9 (markandeya.29.9)

स्वाहाकारस्वधाकारौ वषट्कारश्च पुत्रक ! । हन्तकारस्तथा चान्यस्तस्याःस्तनचतुष्टयम्॥ २९.९ ॥

svāhākārasvadhākārau vaṣaṭkāraśca putraka ! hantakārastathā cānyastasyāḥstanacatuṣṭayam

"'Svaha,' 'svadha,' 'vashat,' my child, and, as the fourth, 'hanta' — these are the four teats of that cow."

Verse 10 (markandeya.29.10)

स्वाहाकारं स्तनं देवाः पितरश्च स्वधामयम् । मुनयश्च वषट्कारं देवभूतसुरेतराः॥ २९.१० ॥

svāhākāraṃ stanaṃ devāḥ pitaraśca svadhāmayam munayaśca vaṣaṭkāraṃ devabhūtasuretarāḥ

"The gods drink from the teat called svaha, and the ancestors from the one called svadha; the sages drink from vashat, as do gods, spirits, and demons."

Verse 11 (markandeya.29.11)

हन्तकारं मनुष्याश्च पिबन्ति सततं स्तनम् । एवमाप्याययत्येषा वत्स ! धेनुस्त्रयीमयी॥ २९.११ ॥

hantakāraṃ manuṣyāśca pibanti satataṃ stanam evamāpyāyayatyeṣā vatsa ! dhenustrayīmayī

"And human beings constantly drink from the teat called hanta. Thus, my child, does this cow of the threefold Veda unceasingly nourish everyone."

Verse 12 (markandeya.29.12)

तेषामुच्छेदकर्ता च यो नरोऽत्यन्तपापकृत् । स तमस्यान्धतामिस्त्रे तामिस्त्रे च निमज्जति॥ २९.१२ ॥

teṣāmucchedakartā ca yo naro 'tyantapāpakṛt sa tamasyāndhatāmistre tāmistre ca nimajjati

"And the man, deeply sinful, who cuts off this nourishment for these beings, sinks into the darkness of the hells called Andhatamisra and Tamisra."

Verse 13 (markandeya.29.13)

यश्चेमां मानवो धेनुं स्वैर्वत्सैरमरादिभिः । पाययत्युचिते काले स स्वर्गायोपपद्यते॥ २९.१३ ॥

yaścemāṃ mānavo dhenuṃ svairvatsairamarādibhiḥ pāyayatyucite kāle sa svargāyopapadyate

"And the man who, at the proper time, lets this cow suckle her own calves — the gods and the rest — attains heaven."

Verse 14 (markandeya.29.14)

तस्मात् पुत्र ! मनुष्येण देवर्षिपितृमानवाः । भूतानि चानुदिवसं पोष्याणि स्वतनुर्यथा॥ २९.१४ ॥

tasmāt putra ! manuṣyeṇa devarṣipitṛmānavāḥ bhūtāni cānudivasaṃ poṣyāṇi svatanuryathā

"Therefore, my son, the gods, sages, ancestors, men, and other beings should be nourished by a man every day, just as he nourishes his own body."

Verse 15 (markandeya.29.15)

तस्मात् स्त्रातः शुचिर्भूत्वा देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम् । प्रजापतेस्तथैवादिभः काले कुर्यात् समाहितः॥ २९.१५ ॥

tasmāt strātaḥ śucirbhūtvā devarṣipitṛtarpaṇam prajāpatestathaivādibhaḥ kāle kuryāt samāhitaḥ

"Therefore, having bathed and become pure, one should, with a composed mind, offer at the proper time the water-libations to the gods, sages, ancestors, and Prajapati along with the other deities."

Verse 16 (markandeya.29.16)

सुमनोगन्धपुष्पैश्च देवानभ्यर्च्य मानवः । ततोऽग्नेस्तर्पणं कुर्याद्देयाश्च बलयस्तथा॥ २९.१६ ॥

sumanogandhapuṣpaiśca devānabhyarcya mānavaḥ tato 'gnestarpaṇaṃ kuryāddeyāśca balayastathā

"Having worshipped the gods with fragrant, beautiful flowers, a man should then make the offering to Agni and also give the food-offerings called bali."

Verse 17 (markandeya.29.17)

ब्रह्मणे गृहमध्ये तु विश्वेदेवेभ्य एव च । धन्वन्तरिं समुद्दिश्य प्रागुदीच्यां बलिं क्षिपेत्॥ २९.१७ ॥

brahmaṇe gṛhamadhye tu viśvedevebhya eva ca dhanvantariṃ samuddiśya prāgudīcyāṃ baliṃ kṣipet

"In the middle of the house, an offering should be made to Brahma and to the Vishvedevas; and, dedicating it to Dhanvantari, one should cast an offering toward the north-east."

Verse 18 (markandeya.29.18)

प्राच्यां शक्राय याम्यायां यमाय बलिमाहरेत् । प्रतीच्यां वरुणायाथ सोमायोत्तरतो बलिम्॥ २९.१८ ॥

prācyāṃ śakrāya yāmyāyāṃ yamāya balimāharet pratīcyāṃ varuṇāyātha somāyottarato balim

"In the east, an offering should be made for Indra; in the south, for Yama; in the west, for Varuna; and in the north, for Soma."

Verse 19 (markandeya.29.19)

दद्याद्धात्रे विधात्रे बलिं द्वारे गृहस्य तु । अर्यम्णेऽथ बहिर्दद्याद् गृहेभ्यश्च समन्ततः॥ २९.१९ ॥

dadyāddhātre vidhātre baliṃ dvāre gṛhasya tu aryamṇe 'tha bahirdadyād gṛhebhyaśca samantataḥ

"At the door of the house, an offering should be given to Dhatr and Vidhatr; outside, one should give to Aryaman, and also all around the house."

Verse 20 (markandeya.29.20)

नक्तञ्चरेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो बलिमाकाशतो हरेत् । पितॄणां निर्वपेच्चैव दक्षिणाभिमुखस्थितः॥ २९.२० ॥

naktañcarebhyo bhūtebhyo balimākāśato haret pitṝṇāṃ nirvapeccaiva dakṣiṇābhimukhasthitaḥ

"For the spirits that roam at night, an offering should be thrown up toward the sky; and, standing facing south, one should also offer libations for the ancestors."

Verse 21 (markandeya.29.21)

गृहस्थस्तत्परो भूत्वा सुसमाहितमानसः । ततस्तोयमुपादाय तेष्वेवाचमनाय वै॥ २९.२१ ॥

gṛhasthastatparo bhūtvā susamāhitamānasaḥ tatastoyamupādāya teṣvevācamanāya vai

"The householder, wholly given to this rite and composed in mind, should then take up water for the sipping-offering meant for those very deities."

Verse 22 (markandeya.29.22)

स्थानेषु निक्षिपेत् प्राज्ञस्तास्ता उद्दिश्य देवताः । एवं गृहबलिं कृत्वा गृहे हृहपतिः शुचिः॥ २९.२२ ॥

sthāneṣu nikṣipet prājñastāstā uddiśya devatāḥ evaṃ gṛhabaliṃ kṛtvā gṛhe hṛhapatiḥ śuciḥ

"The wise man should place the water at each respective spot, dedicating it to each deity. Having thus completed the household offering, the pure master of the house —"

Verse 23 (markandeya.29.23)

आप्यायनाय भूतानां कुर्यादुत्सर्गमादरात् । श्वभ्यश्च श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद् भुवि॥ २९.२३ ॥

āpyāyanāya bhūtānāṃ kuryādutsargamādarāt śvabhyaśca śvapacebhyaśca vayobhyaścāvaped bhuvi

"— should, with reverence, make an offering for the nourishment of all beings, and should scatter food upon the ground for dogs, for outcaste dog-cookers, and for birds."

Verse 24 (markandeya.29.24)

वैश्वदेवं हि नामैतत् सायं प्रातरुदाहृतम् । आचम्य च ततः कुर्यात् प्राज्ञो द्वारावलोकनम्॥ २९.२४ ॥

vaiśvadevaṃ hi nāmaitat sāyaṃ prātarudāhṛtam ācamya ca tataḥ kuryāt prājño dvārāvalokanam

"This is what is called the Vaishvadeva rite, performed both morning and evening. Having then sipped water, the wise man should look toward the doorway."

Verse 25 (markandeya.29.25)

मुहूर्तस्याष्टमं भागमुदीक्ष्योऽप्यतिथिर्भवेत् । अतिथिं तत्र सम्प्राप्तमन्नाद्येनोदकेन च॥ २९.२५ ॥

muhūrtasyāṣṭamaṃ bhāgamudīkṣyo 'pyatithirbhavet atithiṃ tatra samprāptamannādyenodakena ca

"One who arrives within a short waiting period — an eighth of a muhurta — is fit to be called a guest. That guest, once he has arrived there, with food and water —"

Verse 26 (markandeya.29.26)

सम्पूजयेद्यथाशक्ति गन्धपुष्पादिभिस्तथा । न मित्रमतिथिं कुर्यान्नैकग्रामनिवासिनम्॥ २९.२६ ॥

sampūjayedyathāśakti gandhapuṣpādibhistathā na mitramatithiṃ kuryānnaikagrāmanivāsinam

"— should be honored to the best of one's ability, with fragrant flowers and the like. A friend, or someone who lives in the same village, should not be treated as a 'guest.'"

Verse 27 (markandeya.29.27)

अज्ञातकुलनामानं तत्कालसमुपस्थितम् । बुभुक्षुमागतं श्रान्तं याचमानमकिञ्चनम्॥ २९.२७ ॥

ajñātakulanāmānaṃ tatkālasamupasthitam bubhukṣumāgataṃ śrāntaṃ yācamānamakiñcanam

"One whose family and name are unknown, who arrives just at that time, hungry, exhausted from travel, seeking food, and owning nothing —"

Verse 28 (markandeya.29.28)

ब्राह्मणं प्राहुरतिथिं स पूज्यः शक्तितो बुधैः । न पृच्छेद् गोत्रचरणं स्वाध्यायञ्चापि पण्डितः॥ २९.२८ ॥

brāhmaṇaṃ prāhuratithiṃ sa pūjyaḥ śaktito budhaiḥ na pṛcched gotracaraṇaṃ svādhyāyañcāpi paṇḍitaḥ

"— such a brahmana, they say, is a true guest, worthy of honor from the wise to the best of their ability. The learned man should not question him about his lineage, his Vedic branch, or his personal study."

Verse 29 (markandeya.29.29)

शोभनाशोभनाकारं तं मन्येत प्रजापतिम् । अनित्यं हि स्थितो यस्मात् तस्मादतिथिरुच्यते॥ २९.२९ ॥

śobhanāśobhanākāraṃ taṃ manyeta prajāpatim anityaṃ hi sthito yasmāt tasmādatithirucyate

"Whether his appearance be pleasing or unappealing, one should regard him as Prajapati himself; because he remains only briefly, without fixed tenure, he is called an 'atithi,' a guest."

Verse 30 (markandeya.29.30)

तस्मिंस्तृप्ते नृयज्ञोत्थादृणान्मुच्येद् गृहाश्रमी । तस्माद् अदत्त्वा यो भुङ्क्ते स्वयं किल्विषभुङ्नरः॥ २९.३० ॥

tasmiṃstṛpte nṛyajñotthādṛṇānmucyed gṛhāśramī tasmād adattvā yo bhuṅkte svayaṃ kilviṣabhuṅnaraḥ

"When that guest is satisfied, the householder becomes free of the debt arising from the sacrifice to men. Therefore, the man who eats without first offering to the guest eats sin along with his food."

Verse 31 (markandeya.29.31)

स पापं केवलं भुङ्क्ते पुरीषञ्चान्यजन्मनि । अतिथिर्यस्य भग्नाशो गृहात् प्रतिनिवर्तते॥ २९.३१ ॥

sa pāpaṃ kevalaṃ bhuṅkte purīṣañcānyajanmani atithiryasya bhagnāśo gṛhāt pratinivartate

"He eats nothing but sin, and, in a future birth, filth. He from whose house a guest turns away with his hope broken —"

Verse 32 (markandeya.29.32)

स दत्त्वा दुष्कृतं तस्मै पुण्यमादाय गच्छति । अप्यम्बुशाकदानेन यद्वाप्यश्नाति स स्वयम्॥ २९.३२ ॥

sa dattvā duṣkṛtaṃ tasmai puṇyamādāya gacchati apyambuśākadānena yadvāpyaśnāti sa svayam

"— that guest, on leaving, deposits his own misdeeds with the householder and departs taking away the householder's merit with him. Even the mere gift of water and leafy vegetables suffices, or simply sharing with him what one would eat oneself."

Verse 33 (markandeya.29.33)

पूजयेत् तु नरः शक्त्या तेनैवातिथिमादरात् । कुर्याच्चाहरहः श्राद्धमन्नाद्येनोदकेन च॥ २९.३३ ॥

pūjayet tu naraḥ śaktyā tenaivātithimādarāt kuryāccāharahaḥ śrāddhamannādyenodakena ca

"A man should honor his guest respectfully, to the best of his ability, with whatever he has; and he should perform the daily shraddha with food and water."

Verse 34 (markandeya.29.34)

पितॄनुद्दिश्य विप्रांश्च भोजयेद्विप्रमेव वा । अन्नस्याग्रं तदुद्धृत्य ब्राह्मणायोपपादयेत्॥ २९.३४ ॥

pitṝnuddiśya viprāṃśca bhojayedviprameva vā annasyāgraṃ taduddhṛtya brāhmaṇāyopapādayet

"Dedicating the offering to the ancestors, he should feed brahmanas, or even a single brahmana; taking out the first portion of the food, he should offer it to that brahmana."

Verse 35 (markandeya.29.35)

भिक्षाञ्च याचतां दद्यात् परिव्राड्ब्रह्मचारिणाम् । ग्रासप्रमाणा भिक्षा स्यादग्रं ग्रासचतुष्टयम्॥ २९.३५ ॥

bhikṣāñca yācatāṃ dadyāt parivrāḍbrahmacāriṇām grāsapramāṇā bhikṣā syādagraṃ grāsacatuṣṭayam

"He should give alms to wandering ascetics and celibate students who ask for them; the alms should be about a mouthful, and the first portion should equal four mouthfuls."

Verse 36 (markandeya.29.36)

अग्रं चतुर्गुणं प्राहुर्हन्तकारं द्विजोत्तमाः । भोजनं हन्तकारं वा अग्रं भिक्षामथापि वा॥ २९.३६ ॥

agraṃ caturguṇaṃ prāhurhantakāraṃ dvijottamāḥ bhojanaṃ hantakāraṃ vā agraṃ bhikṣāmathāpi vā

"Learned brahmanas call this fourfold first portion the 'hanta' offering; whether it is a meal or alms, the first portion is due to it."

Verse 37 (markandeya.29.37)

अदत्त्वा तु न भोक्तव्यं यथाविभवमात्मनः । पूजयित्वातिथीनिष्टान् ज्ञातीन् बन्धूंस्तथार्थिनः॥ २९.३७ ॥

adattvā tu na bhoktavyaṃ yathāvibhavamātmanaḥ pūjayitvātithīniṣṭān jñātīn bandhūṃstathārthinaḥ

"One should not eat without first giving, according to one's means; having honored one's guests, one's beloved kinsmen, relatives, and those in need —"

Verse 38 (markandeya.29.38)

विकलान् बालवृद्धांश्च भोजयेच्चातुरांस्तथा । वाञ्छते क्षुत्परीतात्मा यच्चान्योऽन्नमकिञ्चनः॥ २९.३८ ॥

vikalān bālavṛddhāṃśca bhojayeccāturāṃstathā vāñchate kṣutparītātmā yaccānyo 'nnamakiñcanaḥ

"— one should feed the disabled, children, the elderly, and the ill; and also whatever other destitute person, overcome by hunger, longs for food."

Verse 39 (markandeya.29.39)

कुटुम्बिना भोजनीयः समर्थे विभवे सति । श्रीमन्तं ज्ञातिमासाद्य यो ज्ञातिरवसीदति॥ २९.३९ ॥

kuṭumbinā bhojanīyaḥ samarthe vibhave sati śrīmantaṃ jñātimāsādya yo jñātiravasīdati

"When his means allow it, the householder should feed his kinsman; that kinsman who, though he approaches a wealthy relative, still suffers want —"

Verse 40 (markandeya.29.40)

सीदता यद् कृतं तेन तत् पापं स समश्नुते । सायं चैव विधिः कार्यः सूर्योढं तत्र चातिथिम्॥ २९.४० ॥

sīdatā yad kṛtaṃ tena tat pāpaṃ sa samaśnute sāyaṃ caiva vidhiḥ kāryaḥ sūryoḍhaṃ tatra cātithim

"— whatever sin that suffering kinsman commits is shared equally by the wealthy man who neglected him. This same rite must be performed in the evening too, and a guest who arrives with the setting sun —"

Verse 41 (markandeya.29.41)

पूजयीत यथाशक्ति शयनासनभोजनैः । एवमुद्दवहतस्तात ! गार्हस्थ्यं भारमाहितम्॥ २९.४१ ॥

pūjayīta yathāśakti śayanāsanabhojanaiḥ evamuddavahatastāta ! gārhasthyaṃ bhāramāhitam

"— should likewise be honored, to the best of one's ability, with a bed, a seat, and food. Thus, my child, does one carry the burden entrusted to the householder's life —"

Verse 42 (markandeya.29.42)

स्कन्धे विधाता देवाश्च पितरश्च महर्षयः । श्रेयोऽभिवर्षिणः सर्वे तथैवातिथिबान्धवाः॥ २९.४२ ॥

skandhe vidhātā devāśca pitaraśca maharṣayaḥ śreyo 'bhivarṣiṇaḥ sarve tathaivātithibāndhavāḥ

"— upon his shoulders rest Vidhatr, the gods, the ancestors, and the great sages; all of them shower blessing upon him, and so too do his guests and kinsmen."

Verse 43 (markandeya.29.43)

पशुपक्षिगणास्तृप्ता ये चान्ये सूक्ष्मकीटकाः । गाथाश्चात्र महाभाग ! स्वयमत्रिरगायत॥ २९.४३ ॥

paśupakṣigaṇāstṛptā ye cānye sūkṣmakīṭakāḥ gāthāścātra mahābhāga ! svayamatriragāyata

"— herds of beasts and flocks of birds are satisfied, along with all the tiny insects too. And on this matter, O most blessed one, the sage Atri himself once sang some verses."

Verse 44 (markandeya.29.44)

ता शृणुष्व महाभाग ! गृहस्थाश्रमसंस्थिताः । देवान् पितॄंश्चातिथींश्च तद्वत् सम्पूज्य बान्धवान्॥ २९.४४ ॥

tā śṛṇuṣva mahābhāga ! gṛhasthāśramasaṃsthitāḥ devān pitṝṃścātithīṃśca tadvat sampūjya bāndhavān

"Hear those verses, O most blessed one: 'Those established in the householder's stage of life, who honor the gods, the ancestors, and their guests, and their kinsmen in the same way —'"

Verse 45 (markandeya.29.45)

जामयश्च गुरुञ्चैव गृहस्थो विभवे सति । श्वभ्यश्च श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद् भुवि॥ २९.४५ ॥

jāmayaśca guruñcaiva gṛhastho vibhave sati śvabhyaśca śvapacebhyaśca vayobhyaścāvaped bhuvi

"'— their sisters and their teacher as well — and, when the means allow, the householder should also scatter food upon the ground for dogs, for outcaste dog-cookers, and for birds.'"

Verse 46 (markandeya.29.46)

वैश्वदेवं हि नामैतत् कुर्यात् सायं तथा दिने । मांसमन्नं तथा शाकं गृहे यच्चोपसाधितम् । न च तत् स्वयमश्नीयाद्विधिवद्यन्न निर्वपेत्॥ २९.४६ ॥

vaiśvadevaṃ hi nāmaitat kuryāt sāyaṃ tathā dine māṃsamannaṃ tathā śākaṃ gṛhe yaccopasādhitam na ca tat svayamaśnīyādvidhivadyanna nirvapet

"'This is indeed called the Vaishvadeva rite, to be performed both evening and morning. Whatever meat, grain, or vegetable has been prepared in the house should not be eaten by oneself until it has been duly offered.'"