Sumana's Exposition of the Ten Limbs of Dharma

Verse 1 (padma.2.13.1)

सोमशर्मोवाच- लक्षणं ब्रह्मचर्यस्य तन्मे विस्तरतो वद । कीदृशं ब्रह्मचर्यं च यदि जानासि भामिनि

somaśarmovāca- lakṣaṇaṁ brahmacaryasya tanme vistarato vada kīdṛśaṁ brahmacaryaṁ ca yadi jānāsi bhāmini

Somasharma said: 'Tell me in full the mark of celibacy — what indeed is true brahmacharya, if you know it, O lady?'

Verse 2 (padma.2.13.2)

नित्यं सत्ये रतिर्यस्य पुण्यात्मा तुष्टितां व्रजेत् । ऋतौ प्राप्ते व्रजेन्नारीं स्वीयां दोषविवर्जितः

nityaṁ satye ratiryasya puṇyātmā tuṣṭitāṁ vrajet ṛtau prāpte vrajennārīṁ svīyāṁ doṣavivarjitaḥ

He whose delight is ever in truth, a meritorious soul, attains contentment; when the fertile season comes, he goes to his own wife, free of fault—

Verse 3 (padma.2.13.3)

स्वकुलस्य सदाचारं कदानैव विमुंचति । एतदेव समाख्यातं गृहस्थस्य द्विजोत्तम

svakulasya sadācāraṁ kadānaiva vimuṁcati etadeva samākhyātaṁ gṛhasthasya dvijottama

—and never abandons the good conduct of his own lineage. This alone is declared to be celibacy for the householder, O best of brahmins.

Verse 4 (padma.2.13.4)

ब्रह्मचर्यं मया प्रोक्तं गृहिणामुत्तमं किल । यतीनां तु प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु

brahmacaryaṁ mayā proktaṁ gṛhiṇāmuttamaṁ kila yatīnāṁ tu pravakṣyāmi tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

'Thus have I described celibacy, the supreme kind indeed for householders. Now I shall tell of it for ascetics; hear it as I declare it.'

Verse 5 (padma.2.13.5)

दमसत्यसमायुक्तः पापाद्भीतस्तु सर्वदा । भार्यासंगं वर्जयित्वा ध्यानज्ञानप्रतिष्ठितः

damasatyasamāyuktaḥ pāpādbhītastu sarvadā bhāryāsaṁgaṁ varjayitvā dhyānajñānapratiṣṭhitaḥ

'Joined with self-control and truth, ever fearful of sin, forsaking union with a wife, established in meditation and knowledge—'

Verse 6 (padma.2.13.6)

यतीनां ब्रह्मचर्यं च समाख्यातं तवाग्रतः । तप एव प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मेनिगदतः शृणु

yatīnāṁ brahmacaryaṁ ca samākhyātaṁ tavāgrataḥ tapa eva pravakṣyāmi tanmenigadataḥ śṛṇu

—'thus has the celibacy of ascetics been declared before you. Now I shall tell of austerity; hear it as I declare it.'

Verse 7 (padma.2.13.7)

आचारेण प्रवर्तेत कामक्रोधविवर्जितः । प्राणिनामुपकाराय संस्थितउद्यमावृतः

ācāreṇa pravarteta kāmakrodhavivarjitaḥ prāṇināmupakārāya saṁsthitaudyamāvṛtaḥ

'One should conduct oneself through right practice, free of desire and anger, established for the benefit of all beings, ever engaged in diligent effort.'

Verse 8 (padma.2.13.8)

तप एवं समाख्यातं सत्यमेवं वदाम्यहम् । परद्रव्येष्वलोलुप्त्वं परस्त्रीषु तथैव च

tapa evaṁ samākhyātaṁ satyamevaṁ vadāmyaham paradravyeṣvaloluptvaṁ parastrīṣu tathaiva ca

'Thus has austerity been described. Now I shall speak of truth: freedom from greed for another's wealth, and likewise for another's wife—'

Verse 9 (padma.2.13.9)

दृष्ट्वा मतिर्न यस्य स्यात्स सत्यः परिकीर्तितः । दानमेव प्रवक्ष्यामि येन जीवंति मानवाः

dṛṣṭvā matirna yasya syātsa satyaḥ parikīrtitaḥ dānameva pravakṣyāmi yena jīvaṁti mānavāḥ

—'he whose mind is not moved even upon seeing them is declared to be truthful. Now I shall speak of giving, by which men survive.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.13.10)

आत्मसौख्यं प्रतीच्छेद्यः स इहैव परत्र वा । अन्नस्यापि महादानं सुखस्यैव ध्रुवस्य वा

ātmasaukhyaṁ pratīcchedyaḥ sa ihaiva paratra vā annasyāpi mahādānaṁ sukhasyaiva dhruvasya vā

'Whoever desires happiness for himself, here or in the world beyond — the great gift of food, or of assured happiness—'

Verse 11 (padma.2.13.11)

ग्रासमात्रं तथा देयं क्षुधार्ताय न संशयः । दत्ते सति महत्पुण्यममृतं सोश्नुते सदा

grāsamātraṁ tathā deyaṁ kṣudhārtāya na saṁśayaḥ datte sati mahatpuṇyamamṛtaṁ sośnute sadā

—'even a mere mouthful should be given to one afflicted by hunger, no doubt of it. When this is given, great merit accrues, and he ever partakes of the nectar of immortality.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.13.12)

दिनेदिने प्रदातव्यं यथाविभवसंभवम् । तृणं शय्यां च वचनं गृहच्छायां सुशीतलाम्

dinedine pradātavyaṁ yathāvibhavasaṁbhavam tṛṇaṁ śayyāṁ ca vacanaṁ gṛhacchāyāṁ suśītalām

'Day after day one should give, according to one's means: grass for a seat, a bed, a kind word, and the cool shade of one's home—'

Verse 13 (padma.2.13.13)

भूमिमापस्तथा चान्नं प्रियवाक्यमनुत्तमम् । आसनं वचनालापं कौटिल्येन विवर्जितम्

bhūmimāpastathā cānnaṁ priyavākyamanuttamam āsanaṁ vacanālāpaṁ kauṭilyena vivarjitam

—'a plot of ground, and water, and food, and the finest word of kindness, a seat, and conversation free of all deceit—'

Verse 14 (padma.2.13.14)

आत्मनो जीवनार्थाय नित्यमेव करोति यः । देवान्पितॄन्समभ्यर्च्य एवं दानं ददाति यः

ātmano jīvanārthāya nityameva karoti yaḥ devānpitṝnsamabhyarcya evaṁ dānaṁ dadāti yaḥ

—'whoever does this constantly, for his own true life's purpose; whoever, having duly worshipped the gods and ancestors, gives such gifts—'

Verse 15 (padma.2.13.15)

इहैव मोदते सो वै परत्र हि तथैव च । अवंध्यं दिवसं यो वै दानाध्ययनकर्मभिः

ihaiva modate so vai paratra hi tathaiva ca avaṁdhyaṁ divasaṁ yo vai dānādhyayanakarmabhiḥ

—'he rejoices here indeed, and likewise there in the world beyond. Whoever renders his day never fruitless, through the deeds of giving and study—'

Verse 16 (padma.2.13.16)

प्रकुर्यान्मानुषो भूत्वा स देवो नात्र संशयः । नियमं च प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मसाधनमुत्तमम्

prakuryānmānuṣo bhūtvā sa devo nātra saṁśayaḥ niyamaṁ ca pravakṣyāmi dharmasādhanamuttamam

—'having become a man, becomes indeed a god — no doubt of it. Now I shall speak of observance, the supreme means of dharma.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.13.17)

देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च पूजास्वभिरतो हि यः । नित्यं नियमसंयुक्तो दानव्रतेषु सुव्रत

devānāṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ ca pūjāsvabhirato hi yaḥ nityaṁ niyamasaṁyukto dānavrateṣu suvrata

'He who is devoted to the worship of gods and brahmins, ever joined with observance, in vows of giving, O one of good vows—'

Verse 18 (padma.2.13.18)

उपकारेषु पुण्येषु नियमोऽयं प्रकीर्तितः । क्षमारूपं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां द्विजसत्तम

upakāreṣu puṇyeṣu niyamo'yaṁ prakīrtitaḥ kṣamārūpaṁ pravakṣyāmi śrūyatāṁ dvijasattama

—'in meritorious acts of help — this is declared to be observance. Now I shall speak of the nature of forbearance; hear it, O worthy brahmin.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.13.19)

पराक्रोशं हि संश्रुत्य ताडिते सति केनचित् । क्रोधं न चैव गच्छेत्तु ताडितो न हि ताडयेत्

parākrośaṁ hi saṁśrutya tāḍite sati kenacit krodhaṁ na caiva gacchettu tāḍito na hi tāḍayet

'Having heard oneself reviled by another, or even struck by someone, one should not fall into anger; struck, one should not strike back.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.13.20)

सहिष्णुः स्यात्स धर्मात्मा नहि रागं प्रयाति च । समश्नाति परं सौख्यमिह चामुत्र वापि च

sahiṣṇuḥ syātsa dharmātmā nahi rāgaṁ prayāti ca samaśnāti paraṁ saukhyamiha cāmutra vāpi ca

'One should be patient, that righteous soul, and should never give way to passion; he attains supreme happiness, both here and in the world beyond.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.13.21)

एवं क्षमा समाख्याता शौचमेवं वदाम्यहम् । सबाह्याभ्यंतरे यो वै शुद्धो रागविवर्जितः

evaṁ kṣamā samākhyātā śaucamevaṁ vadāmyaham sabāhyābhyaṁtare yo vai śuddho rāgavivarjitaḥ

'Thus has forbearance been described. Now I shall speak of purity: he who is pure both without and within, free of all passion—'

Verse 22 (padma.2.13.22)

स्नानाचमनकैरेव व्यवहारेण वर्तते । शौचमेवं समाख्यातमहिंसां तु वदाम्यहम्

snānācamanakaireva vyavahāreṇa vartate śaucamevaṁ samākhyātamahiṁsāṁ tu vadāmyaham

—'who conducts himself through bathing and ritual sipping and proper practice. Thus has purity been described. Now I shall speak of non-violence.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.13.23)

तृणमपि विना कार्यञ्छेत्तव्यं न विजानता । अहिंसानिरतो भूयाद्यथात्मनि तथापरे

tṛṇamapi vinā kāryañchettavyaṁ na vijānatā ahiṁsānirato bhūyādyathātmani tathāpare

'Not even a blade of grass should be cut without purpose, by one who truly understands; one should be devoted to non-violence — as toward oneself, so toward others.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.13.24)

शांतिमेव प्रक्ष्यामि शांत्या सुखं समश्नुते । शांतिरेव प्रकर्तव्या क्लेशान्नैव परित्यजेत्

śāṁtimeva prakṣyāmi śāṁtyā sukhaṁ samaśnute śāṁtireva prakartavyā kleśānnaiva parityajet

'Now I shall speak of peace; through peace one attains happiness fully. Peace alone should be cultivated; one should never abandon it, even amid hardship.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.13.25)

भूतवैरं विसृज्यैव मन एवं प्रकारयेत् । एवं शांतिः समाख्याता अस्तेयं तु वदाम्यहम्

bhūtavairaṁ visṛjyaiva mana evaṁ prakārayet evaṁ śāṁtiḥ samākhyātā asteyaṁ tu vadāmyaham

—'abandoning enmity toward all beings, one should shape one's mind accordingly. Thus has peace been described. Now I shall speak of non-theft.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.13.26)

परस्वं नैव हर्तव्यं परजाया तथैव च । मनोभिर्वचनैः कायैर्मन एवं प्रकारयेत्

parasvaṁ naiva hartavyaṁ parajāyā tathaiva ca manobhirvacanaiḥ kāyairmana evaṁ prakārayet

'One should never take another's property, nor covet another's wife likewise; in mind, in word, and in body, one should shape one's mind so.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.13.27)

दममेव प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रे द्विजसत्तम । दमनादिंद्रियाणां वै मनसोपि विकारिणः

damameva pravakṣyāmi tavāgre dvijasattama damanādiṁdriyāṇāṁ vai manasopi vikāriṇaḥ

'Now I shall speak of self-control before you, O worthy brahmin. By the restraint of the senses, and of the mind too, prone as it is to disturbance—'

Verse 28 (padma.2.13.28)

औद्धत्यं नाशयेत्तेषां स चैतन्यो वशी तदा । शुश्रूषां तु प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मशास्त्रेषु यादृशी

auddhatyaṁ nāśayetteṣāṁ sa caitanyo vaśī tadā śuśrūṣāṁ tu pravakṣyāmi dharmaśāstreṣu yādṛśī

—'one destroys their unruliness, and thus becomes truly conscious and self-mastered. Now I shall speak of service, as it is described in the scriptures of dharma—'

Verse 29 (padma.2.13.29)

पूर्वाचार्यैर्यथा प्रोक्ता तामेवं प्रवदाम्यहम् । वाचा देहेन मनसा गुरुकार्यं प्रसाधयेत्

pūrvācāryairyathā proktā tāmevaṁ pravadāmyaham vācā dehena manasā gurukāryaṁ prasādhayet

—'just as declared by the ancient teachers, that very thing I now describe: by speech, by body, and by mind, one should accomplish the work of one's elders—'

Verse 30 (padma.2.13.30)

जायतेऽनुग्रहो यत्र शुश्रूषा सा निगद्यते । सांगो धर्मः समाख्यातस्तवाग्रे द्विजसत्तम

jāyate'nugraho yatra śuśrūṣā sā nigadyate sāṁgo dharmaḥ samākhyātastavāgre dvijasattama

—'and where their favor arises from this, that is called true service. Thus has dharma, complete with its every limb, been described before you, O worthy brahmin.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.13.31)

अन्यच्च ते प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रोतुमिच्छसि यत्पते । ईदृशे चापि धर्मे तु वर्तते यो नरः सदा

anyacca te pravakṣyāmi śrotumicchasi yatpate īdṛśe cāpi dharme tu vartate yo naraḥ sadā

'I shall tell you one thing more, my lord, if you wish to hear it: whatever man ever conducts himself according to this dharma—'

Verse 32 (padma.2.13.32)

संसारे तस्य संभूतिः पुनरेव न जायते । स्वर्गं गच्छति धर्मेण सत्यंसत्यं वदाम्यहम्

saṁsāre tasya saṁbhūtiḥ punareva na jāyate svargaṁ gacchati dharmeṇa satyaṁsatyaṁ vadāmyaham

—'his rebirth in this world of transmigration never occurs again; through dharma he goes to heaven — truly, truly I speak this.'

Verse 33 (padma.2.13.33)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाप्राज्ञ धर्ममेव व्रजस्व हि । सर्वं हि प्राप्यते कांत यदसाध्यं महीतले

evaṁ jñātvā mahāprājña dharmameva vrajasva hi sarvaṁ hi prāpyate kāṁta yadasādhyaṁ mahītale

'Knowing this, O greatly wise one, follow dharma alone indeed; everything, my dear, even what seems unattainable on this earth, is obtained—'

Verse 34 (padma.2.13.34)

धर्मप्रसादतस्तस्मात्कुरु वाक्यं ममैव हि । भार्यायास्तुवचः श्रुत्वा सोमशर्मा सुबुद्धिमान्

dharmaprasādatastasmātkuru vākyaṁ mamaiva hi bhāryāyāstuvacaḥ śrutvā somaśarmā subuddhimān

—'through the grace of dharma. Therefore heed my very word.' Having heard his wife's word, Somasharma, of excellent understanding—

Verse 35 (padma.2.13.35)

पुनः प्रोवाच तां भार्यां सुमनां धर्मवादिनीम्

punaḥ provāca tāṁ bhāryāṁ sumanāṁ dharmavādinīm

—spoke again to that wife of his, Sumana, speaker of dharma...