The Exposition of the Yati's Dharma

Verse 1 (padma.3.59.1)

व्यास उवाच । एवं वनाश्रमे स्थित्वा तृतीयं भागमायुषः । चतुर्थं चायुषो भागं संन्यासेन नयेत्क्रमात् ।

vyāsa uvāca evaṁ vanāśrame sthitvā tṛtīyaṁ bhāgamāyuṣaḥ caturthaṁ cāyuṣo bhāgaṁ saṁnyāsena nayetkramāt

Vyasa said: Thus, having dwelt in the forest stage for the third portion of life, he should pass the fourth portion of life in due order through renunciation.

Verse 2 (padma.3.59.2)

अग्नीनात्मनि संस्थाप्य द्विजः प्रव्रजितो भवेत् । योगाभ्यासरतः शांतो ब्रह्मविद्यापरायणः ।

agnīnātmani saṁsthāpya dvijaḥ pravrajito bhavet yogābhyāsarataḥ śāṁto brahmavidyāparāyaṇaḥ

Having established the sacred fires within himself, the twice-born should become a wandering ascetic, devoted to the practice of yoga, tranquil, wholly given to the knowledge of Brahman.

Verse 3 (padma.3.59.3)

यदा मनसि संपन्नं वैराग्यं सर्ववस्तुषु । तदा संन्यासमिच्छेच्च पतितः स्याद्विपर्यये ।

yadā manasi saṁpannaṁ vairāgyaṁ sarvavastuṣu tadā saṁnyāsamicchecca patitaḥ syādviparyaye

When dispassion toward all things has arisen fully in his mind, then he should desire renunciation; in the opposite case, he becomes a fallen man.

Verse 4 (padma.3.59.4)

प्राजापत्यां निरूप्येष्टिमाग्नेयीमथवा पुनः । दांतः शुक्लकषायोसौ ब्रह्माश्रममुपाश्रयेत् ।

prājāpatyāṁ nirūpyeṣṭimāgneyīmathavā punaḥ dāṁtaḥ śuklakaṣāyosau brahmāśramamupāśrayet

Having performed the Prajapatya sacrifice, or again the Agneyi sacrifice, self-controlled, clad in white or ochre, he should resort to the Brahma-ashrama.

Verse 5 (padma.3.59.5)

ज्ञानसंन्यासिनः केचिद्वेदसंन्यासिनोऽपरे । कर्मसंन्यासिनस्त्वन्ये त्रिविधाः परिकीर्तिताः ।

jñānasaṁnyāsinaḥ kecidvedasaṁnyāsino'pare karmasaṁnyāsinastvanye trividhāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Some are renunciates of knowledge, others renunciates through the Veda, and yet others renunciates of action — these three types are declared.

Verse 6 (padma.3.59.6)

यः सर्वत्र विनिर्मुक्तो निर्द्वंद्वश्चैव निर्भयः । प्रोच्यते ज्ञानसंन्यासी आत्मन्येव व्यवस्थितः ।

yaḥ sarvatra vinirmukto nirdvaṁdvaścaiva nirbhayaḥ procyate jñānasaṁnyāsī ātmanyeva vyavasthitaḥ

He who is wholly free everywhere, beyond the pairs of opposites, and fearless, established in the self alone, is called a jnana-sannyasi.

Verse 7 (padma.3.59.7)

वेदमेवाभ्यसेन्नित्यं निराशीर्निष्परिग्रहः । प्रोच्यते वेदसंन्यासी मुमुक्षुर्विजितेंद्रियः ।

vedamevābhyasennityaṁ nirāśīrniṣparigrahaḥ procyate vedasaṁnyāsī mumukṣurvijiteṁdriyaḥ

He who constantly practices only the Veda, free of desire, possessing nothing, seeking liberation, of conquered senses, is called a veda-sannyasi.

Verse 8 (padma.3.59.8)

यस्त्वग्निमात्मसाकृत्वा ब्रह्मार्पणपरो द्विजः । ज्ञेयः स कर्मसंन्यासी महायज्ञपरायणः ।

yastvagnimātmasākṛtvā brahmārpaṇaparo dvijaḥ jñeyaḥ sa karmasaṁnyāsī mahāyajñaparāyaṇaḥ

And the twice-born who, having merged the sacred fire into himself, is devoted to offering himself to Brahman, is to be known as a karma-sannyasi, devoted to the great sacrifice.

Verse 9 (padma.3.59.9)

त्रयाणामपि चैतेषां ज्ञानी त्वभ्यधिको मतः । न तस्य विद्यते कार्यं न लिंगं वा विपश्चितः ।

trayāṇāmapi caiteṣāṁ jñānī tvabhyadhiko mataḥ na tasya vidyate kāryaṁ na liṁgaṁ vā vipaścitaḥ

Among all three of these, the man of knowledge is considered superior. For the wise man, there exists neither duty nor external mark.

Verse 10 (padma.3.59.10)

निर्ममो निर्भयः शांतो निर्द्वंद्वः पर्णभोजनः । जीर्णकौपीनवासाः स्यान्नग्नो वा ध्यानतत्परः ।

nirmamo nirbhayaḥ śāṁto nirdvaṁdvaḥ parṇabhojanaḥ jīrṇakaupīnavāsāḥ syānnagno vā dhyānatatparaḥ

Free of possessiveness, fearless, tranquil, beyond opposites, eating leaves, clad in a worn loincloth, or naked, devoted to meditation.

Verse 11 (padma.3.59.11)

ब्रह्मचारी जिताहारो ग्रामादन्नं समाहरेत् । अध्यात्मरतिरासीत निरपेक्षो निराशिषः ।

brahmacārī jitāhāro grāmādannaṁ samāharet adhyātmaratirāsīta nirapekṣo nirāśiṣaḥ

A celibate, of controlled diet, he should gather food from the village. He should remain devoted to the spiritual self, indifferent, and free of desire.

Verse 12 (padma.3.59.12)

आत्मनैव सहायेन सुखार्थं विचरेदिह । नाभिनंदेत मरणं नाभिनंदेत जीवनम् ।

ātmanaiva sahāyena sukhārthaṁ vicarediha nābhinaṁdeta maraṇaṁ nābhinaṁdeta jīvanam

With his own self alone as companion, he should wander in this world for the sake of true happiness. He should not welcome death, nor should he welcome mere life.

Verse 13 (padma.3.59.13)

कालमेव प्रतीक्षेत निर्देशं भृतको यथा । नाध्येतव्यं न वर्तव्यं श्रोतव्यं न कदाचन ।

kālameva pratīkṣeta nirdeśaṁ bhṛtako yathā nādhyetavyaṁ na vartavyaṁ śrotavyaṁ na kadācana

He should merely await his time, as a hired servant awaits his master's command. There is nothing further to be studied, nothing to be practiced, and nothing to be heard.

Verse 14 (padma.3.59.14)

एवं ज्ञानपरो योगी ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते । एकवासाथ वा विद्वान्कौपीनाच्छादनोपि वा ।

evaṁ jñānaparo yogī brahmabhūyāya kalpate ekavāsātha vā vidvānkaupīnācchādanopi vā

Thus the yogi devoted to knowledge becomes fit for identity with Brahman. The learned one may wear a single garment, or merely a loincloth,

Verse 15 (padma.3.59.15)

मुंडी शिखी वाथ भवेत्त्रिदंडी निष्परिग्रहः । काषायवासाः सततं ध्यानयोगपरायणः ।

muṁḍī śikhī vātha bhavettridaṁḍī niṣparigrahaḥ kāṣāyavāsāḥ satataṁ dhyānayogaparāyaṇaḥ

he may be shaven-headed or wear a top-knot; he may carry the triple staff, possessing nothing; clad always in ochre, devoted to meditation and yoga.

Verse 16 (padma.3.59.16)

ग्रामांते वृक्षमूले वा वसेद्देवालयेपि वा । समः शत्रौ तथा मित्रे तथा मानापमानयोः ।

grāmāṁte vṛkṣamūle vā vaseddevālayepi vā samaḥ śatrau tathā mitre tathā mānāpamānayoḥ

He should dwell at the edge of a village, or at the root of a tree, or even in a temple. He should remain equal toward enemy and friend, and equal in honor and dishonor.

Verse 17 (padma.3.59.17)

भैक्ष्येण वर्तयेन्नित्यं नैकान्नादी भवेत्क्वच्चित् । यस्तु मोहेन वान्यस्मादेकान्नादी भवेद्यतिः ।

bhaikṣyeṇa vartayennityaṁ naikānnādī bhavetkvaccit yastu mohena vānyasmādekānnādī bhavedyatiḥ

He should always live by alms, and never depend on the food of a single household. Whatever ascetic, out of delusion or otherwise, becomes dependent on a single household's food —

Verse 18 (padma.3.59.18)

न तस्य निष्कृतिः काचिद्धर्मशास्त्रेषु दृश्यते । रागद्वेषवियुक्तात्मा समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः ।

na tasya niṣkṛtiḥ kāciddharmaśāstreṣu dṛśyate rāgadveṣaviyuktātmā samaloṣṭāśmakāṁcanaḥ

for him no expiation whatsoever is seen in the dharma-shastras. His self free of attachment and aversion, regarding a clod of earth, a stone, and gold as equal,

Verse 19 (padma.3.59.19)

प्राणिहिंसानिवृत्तश्च मौनी स्यात्सर्वनिस्पृहः । दृष्टिपूतं न्यसेत्पादं वस्त्रपूतं जलं पिबेत् ।

prāṇihiṁsānivṛttaśca maunī syātsarvanispṛhaḥ dṛṣṭipūtaṁ nyasetpādaṁ vastrapūtaṁ jalaṁ pibet

abstaining from harming living beings, he should keep silent, free of every craving. He should set his foot down only where his sight has checked the ground, and drink water strained through cloth.

Verse 20 (padma.3.59.20)

सत्यपूतां वदेद्वाणीं मनःपूतं समाचरेत् । नैकत्र निवसेद्देशे वर्षाभ्योन्यत्र भिक्षुकः ।

satyapūtāṁ vadedvāṇīṁ manaḥpūtaṁ samācaret naikatra nivaseddeśe varṣābhyonyatra bhikṣukaḥ

He should speak only words purified by truth, and act only as purified by his mind. The mendicant should not dwell in one place, except during the rainy season.

Verse 21 (padma.3.59.21)

स्नात्वा शौचयुतो नित्यं कमंडलुकरः शुचिः । ब्रह्मचर्यरतो नित्यं वनवासरतो भवेत् ।

snātvā śaucayuto nityaṁ kamaṁḍalukaraḥ śuciḥ brahmacaryarato nityaṁ vanavāsarato bhavet

Having bathed, always maintaining purity, carrying a water-pot in hand, pure, ever devoted to celibacy, he should be devoted to dwelling in the forest.

Verse 22 (padma.3.59.22)

मोक्षशास्त्रेषु निरतो ब्रह्मसूत्री जितेंद्रियः । दंभाहंकारनिर्मुक्तो निंदापैशुन्यवर्जितः ।

mokṣaśāstreṣu nirato brahmasūtrī jiteṁdriyaḥ daṁbhāhaṁkāranirmukto niṁdāpaiśunyavarjitaḥ

Devoted to the scriptures on liberation, bearing the Brahma-thread, of conquered senses, free from hypocrisy and ego, avoiding slander and back-biting,

Verse 23 (padma.3.59.23)

आत्मज्ञानगुणोपेतो यदि मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् । अभ्यसेत्सततं देवं प्रणवाख्यं सनातनम् ।

ātmajñānaguṇopeto yadi mokṣamavāpnuyāt abhyasetsatataṁ devaṁ praṇavākhyaṁ sanātanam

endowed with the virtue of self-knowledge, if he wishes to attain liberation, he should constantly practice the eternal syllable Om.

Verse 24 (padma.3.59.24)

स्नात्वाचम्य विधानेन शुचिर्देवालयादिषु । यज्ञोपवीती शांतात्मा कुशपाणिः समाहितः ।

snātvācamya vidhānena śucirdevālayādiṣu yajñopavītī śāṁtātmā kuśapāṇiḥ samāhitaḥ

Having bathed and duly sipped water, pure, at temples and the like, wearing the sacred thread, of tranquil self, kusha grass in hand, composed —

Verse 25 (padma.3.59.25)

धौतकाषायवसनो तस्मिञ्छन्नतनूरुहः । अधियज्ञं ब्रह्मजपेदाधिदैविकमेव च ।

dhautakāṣāyavasano tasmiñchannatanūruhaḥ adhiyajñaṁ brahmajapedādhidaivikameva ca

clad in washed ochre garments, his body-hair covered, he should recite the syllable of Brahman with reference to the sacrifice and with reference to the divine,

Verse 26 (padma.3.59.26)

आध्यात्मिकं च सततं वेदान्ताभिहितं च यत् । पुत्रेषु चाथ निवसन्ब्रह्मचारी यतिर्मुनिः ।

ādhyātmikaṁ ca satataṁ vedāntābhihitaṁ ca yat putreṣu cātha nivasanbrahmacārī yatirmuniḥ

and constantly with reference to the spiritual self, as declared in the Vedanta. And whether dwelling among his sons, celibate, an ascetic, a sage —

Verse 27 (padma.3.59.27)

वेदमेवाभ्यसेन्नित्यं स याति परमां गतिम् । अहिंसासत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यं तपः परम् ।

vedamevābhyasennityaṁ sa yāti paramāṁ gatim ahiṁsāsatyamasteyaṁ brahmacaryaṁ tapaḥ param

he should constantly practice only the Veda; he attains the supreme goal. Non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and supreme austerity —

Verse 28 (padma.3.59.28)

क्षमादया च संतोषो व्रतान्यस्य विशेषतः । वेदांतज्ञाननिष्ठो वा पंचयज्ञान्समाहितः ।

kṣamādayā ca saṁtoṣo vratānyasya viśeṣataḥ vedāṁtajñānaniṣṭho vā paṁcayajñānsamāhitaḥ

patience, compassion, and contentment — these are his vows especially. Or, established in the knowledge of Vedanta, composed, he should perform the five great sacrifices;

Verse 29 (padma.3.59.29)

कुर्य्यादहरहः स्नात्वा भिक्षार्थे नैव तेन हि । होममंत्रान्जपेन्नित्यं कालेकाले समाहितः ।

kuryyādaharahaḥ snātvā bhikṣārthe naiva tena hi homamaṁtrānjapennityaṁ kālekāle samāhitaḥ

he should perform these day after day, having bathed, but not for the sake of alms. He should always recite the homa mantras, composed, at each due time.

Verse 30 (padma.3.59.30)

स्वाध्यायं चान्वहं कुर्य्यात्सावित्रीं संध्ययोर्जपेत् । ध्यायीत सततं देवमेकांतं परमेश्वरम् ।

svādhyāyaṁ cānvahaṁ kuryyātsāvitrīṁ saṁdhyayorjapet dhyāyīta satataṁ devamekāṁtaṁ parameśvaram

He should perform self-study daily, and recite the Savitri at both twilights. He should constantly meditate upon the one, solitary, supreme Lord.

Verse 31 (padma.3.59.31)

एकान्नं वर्जयेन्नित्यं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् । एकवासा द्विवासा वा शिखी यज्ञोपवीतवान् । कमंडलुकरो विद्वांस्त्रिदंडो याति तत्परम् ।

ekānnaṁ varjayennityaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ parigraham ekavāsā dvivāsā vā śikhī yajñopavītavān kamaṁḍalukaro vidvāṁstridaṁḍo yāti tatparam

He should always avoid dependence on a single household's food, and avoid desire, anger, and possessiveness. Whether wearing one garment or two, with top-knot, wearing the sacred thread, water-pot in hand, learned, bearing the triple staff — such a one attains that supreme state.