Marriage, the Duties of a Householder, and the Beginning of the Greatness of Avimukta

Verse 1 (skanda.4.38.1)

स्कंद उवाच॥ विवाहा ब्राह्म दैवार्षाः प्राजापत्यासुरौ तथा॥ गांधर्वो राक्षसश्चापि पैशाचोऽष्टम उच्यते

skaṁda uvāca vivāhā brāhma daivārṣāḥ prājāpatyāsurau tathā gāṁdharvo rākṣasaścāpi paiśāco'ṣṭama ucyate

Skanda said: "Marriages are of eight kinds -- the Brahma, the Daiva, the Arsha, the Prajapatya, and likewise the Asura, the Gandharva, the Rakshasa, and the eighth, called the Paishacha."

Verse 2 (skanda.4.38.2)

स ब्राह्मो वरमाहूय यत्र कन्या स्वलंकृता॥ दीयते तत्सुतः पूयात्पुरुषानेकविंशतिम्

sa brāhmo varamāhūya yatra kanyā svalaṁkṛtā dīyate tatsutaḥ pūyātpuruṣānekaviṁśatim

That marriage in which a worthy groom is invited and a suitably adorned daughter is given to him is the Brahma marriage; a son born of it purifies twenty-one generations.

Verse 3 (skanda.4.38.3)

यज्ञस्थायर्त्विजे दैवस्तज्जःपाति चतुर्दश॥ वरादादाय गोद्वंद्वमार्षस्तज्जः पुनाति षट्

yajñasthāyartvije daivastajjaḥpāti caturdaśa varādādāya godvaṁdvamārṣastajjaḥ punāti ṣaṭ

Giving a daughter to the officiating priest engaged in a sacrifice is the Daiva marriage; a son born of it protects fourteen generations. Giving a daughter after receiving a pair of cattle from the groom is the Arsha marriage; a son born of it purifies six.

Verse 4 (skanda.4.38.4)

सहोभौ चरतां धर्ममित्युक्त्वा दीयतेर्थिने॥ यत्र कन्या प्राजापत्यस्तज्जो वंशान्पुनाति षट्

sahobhau caratāṁ dharmamityuktvā dīyaterthine yatra kanyā prājāpatyastajjo vaṁśānpunāti ṣaṭ

That marriage in which the daughter is given to a suitor with the words, "May the two of you practice dharma together," is the Prajapatya marriage; a son born of it purifies six lineages.

Verse 5 (skanda.4.38.5)

चत्वार एते विप्राणां धर्म्याः पाणिग्रहाः स्मृताः॥ आसुरः क्रयणाद्द्रव्यैर्गांधर्वोन्योन्य मैत्रतः

catvāra ete viprāṇāṁ dharmyāḥ pāṇigrahāḥ smṛtāḥ āsuraḥ krayaṇāddravyairgāṁdharvonyonya maitrataḥ

These four are declared the righteous forms of marriage for Brahmins. The Asura marriage comes from purchasing the bride with wealth; the Gandharva marriage, from mutual love between the two.

Verse 6 (skanda.4.38.6)

प्रसह्यकन्याहरणाद्राक्षसो निंदितः सताम्॥ छलेन कन्याहरणात्पैशाचो गर्हितोऽष्टमः

prasahyakanyāharaṇādrākṣaso niṁditaḥ satām chalena kanyāharaṇātpaiśāco garhito'ṣṭamaḥ

Seizing a maiden by force makes the Rakshasa marriage, condemned by the virtuous; and seizing a maiden through deceit makes the eighth, the wholly reprehensible Paishacha marriage.

Verse 7 (skanda.4.38.7)

प्रायः क्षत्रविशोरुक्ता गांधर्वासुरराक्षसाः॥ अष्टमस्त्वेष पापिष्ठः पापिष्ठानां च संभवेत्

prāyaḥ kṣatraviśoruktā gāṁdharvāsurarākṣasāḥ aṣṭamastveṣa pāpiṣṭhaḥ pāpiṣṭhānāṁ ca saṁbhavet

The Gandharva, Asura, and Rakshasa forms are generally spoken of for Kshatriyas and Vaishyas; but this eighth form is utterly sinful and can occur only among the most sinful of men.

Verse 8 (skanda.4.38.8)

सवर्णया करो ग्राह्यो धार्यः क्षत्रियया शरः॥ प्रतोदो वैश्यया धार्यो वासोंतः पज्जया तथा

savarṇayā karo grāhyo dhāryaḥ kṣatriyayā śaraḥ pratodo vaiśyayā dhāryo vāsoṁtaḥ pajjayā tathā

With a bride of one's own caste, the hand should be clasped; with a Kshatriya bride, an arrow should be held; with a Vaishya bride, a goad should be held; and with a Shudra bride, likewise, the hem of the garment should be held.

Verse 9 (skanda.4.38.9)

असवर्णस्त्वेष विधिः स्मृतो दृष्टश्च वेदने॥ सवर्णाभिस्तु सर्वाभिः पाणिर्ग्राह्यस्त्वयं विधिः

asavarṇastveṣa vidhiḥ smṛto dṛṣṭaśca vedane savarṇābhistu sarvābhiḥ pāṇirgrāhyastvayaṁ vidhiḥ

This rule is remembered and observed only for a bride of a different caste; for every bride of one's own caste, the sole rule is that the hand alone is to be taken.

Verse 10 (skanda.4.38.10)

धर्म्यैर्विवाहैर्जायंते धर्म्या एव शतायुषः॥ अधर्म्यैर्धर्मरहिता मंदभाग्यधनायुषः॥ ऋतुकालाभिगमनं धर्मोयं गृहिणः परः॥ स्त्रीणां वरमनुस्मृत्य यथाकाम्यथवा भवेत्

dharmyairvivāhairjāyaṁte dharmyā eva śatāyuṣaḥ adharmyairdharmarahitā maṁdabhāgyadhanāyuṣaḥ ṛtukālābhigamanaṁ dharmoyaṁ gṛhiṇaḥ paraḥ strīṇāṁ varamanusmṛtya yathākāmyathavā bhavet

From righteous marriages are born children who are righteous and long-lived; from unrighteous marriages are born those devoid of dharma, of poor fortune, wealth, and lifespan. Approaching one's wife in her fertile season is the householder's highest duty; beyond that, union may occur according to inclination, provided the woman's own welfare is kept in mind.

Verse 11 (skanda.4.38.11)

दिवाभिगमनं पुंसामनायुष्यं परं मतम्॥ श्राद्धाहः सर्वपर्वाणि यत्नात्त्याज्यानि धीमता

divābhigamanaṁ puṁsāmanāyuṣyaṁ paraṁ matam śrāddhāhaḥ sarvaparvāṇi yatnāttyājyāni dhīmatā

Union with one's wife by day is held to shorten a man's life exceedingly; therefore the wise man should carefully avoid it on the day of a shraddha rite and on all sacred festival days.

Verse 12 (skanda.4.38.12)

तत्र गच्छन्स्त्रियं मोहाद्धर्मात्प्रच्यवते परात्

tatra gacchanstriyaṁ mohāddharmātpracyavate parāt

A man who, out of infatuation, goes to his wife on such days falls away from the highest dharma.

Verse 13 (skanda.4.38.13)

ऋतुकालाभिगामी यः स्वदारनिरतश्च यः॥ स सदा ब्रह्मचारी च विज्ञेयः सद्गृहाश्रमी

ṛtukālābhigāmī yaḥ svadāranirataśca yaḥ sa sadā brahmacārī ca vijñeyaḥ sadgṛhāśramī

One who approaches his wife only in her fertile season, and who is content solely with his own wife, is to be known as one who is ever a brahmachari -- he is the true householder.

Verse 14 (skanda.4.38.14)

ऋतुः षोडशयामिन्यश्चतस्रस्ता सुगर्हिताः॥ पुत्रास्तास्वपि या युग्मा अयुग्माः कन्यका प्रजाः

ṛtuḥ ṣoḍaśayāminyaścatasrastā sugarhitāḥ putrāstāsvapi yā yugmā ayugmāḥ kanyakā prajāḥ

The fertile period lasts sixteen nights, of which four are held in great disfavor. Among the rest, union on the even nights yields sons, and on the odd nights, daughters.

Verse 15 (skanda.4.38.15)

त्यक्त्वा चंद्रमसं दुःस्थं मघां पौष्णं विहाय च॥ शुचिः सन्निर्विशेत्पत्नीं पुन्नामर्क्षे विशेषतः॥ शुचिं पुत्रं प्रसूयेत पुरुषार्थप्रसाधकम्

tyaktvā caṁdramasaṁ duḥsthaṁ maghāṁ pauṣṇaṁ vihāya ca śuciḥ sannirviśetpatnīṁ punnāmarkṣe viśeṣataḥ śuciṁ putraṁ prasūyeta puruṣārthaprasādhakam

Avoiding a time when the moon is inauspiciously placed, and setting aside the lunar mansions of Magha and Revati, one who is pure should approach his wife, especially under an asterism of masculine gender; thus she brings forth a pure son who will accomplish the true aims of human life.

Verse 16 (skanda.4.38.16)

आर्षे विवाहे गोद्वंद्वं यदुक्तं तन्न शस्यते॥ शुल्कमण्वपि कन्यायाः कन्या विक्रयपापकृत्

ārṣe vivāhe godvaṁdvaṁ yaduktaṁ tanna śasyate śulkamaṇvapi kanyāyāḥ kanyā vikrayapāpakṛt

That mention of a pair of cattle in the Arsha marriage is, in truth, not to be praised; for taking even the slightest bride-price for a daughter is the sin of selling a child.

Verse 17 (skanda.4.38.17)

अपत्यविक्रयी कल्पं वसेद्विट्कृमिभोजने॥ अतो नाण्वपि कन्याया उपजीवेत्पिता धनम्

apatyavikrayī kalpaṁ vasedviṭkṛmibhojane ato nāṇvapi kanyāyā upajīvetpitā dhanam

One who sells his own offspring dwells for an entire cosmic age in a hell where excrement and worms are the food; therefore a father should never sustain himself, even in the smallest measure, on wealth gained from his daughter.

Verse 18 (skanda.4.38.18)

स्त्रीधनान्युपजीवंति ये मोहादिह बांधवाः॥ न केवलं निरयगास्तेषामपि हि पूर्वजाः

strīdhanānyupajīvaṁti ye mohādiha bāṁdhavāḥ na kevalaṁ nirayagāsteṣāmapi hi pūrvajāḥ

Those kinsmen who, out of delusion, live off a woman's own personal wealth do not go to hell alone -- their ancestors are drawn down with them as well.

Verse 19 (skanda.4.38.19)

पत्या तुष्यति यत्र स्त्री तुष्येद्यत्र स्त्रिया पतिः॥ तत्र तुष्टा महालक्ष्मीर्निवसेद्दानवाऽरिणा॥ वाणिज्यं नृपतेः सेवा वेदानध्यापनं तथा॥ कुविवाहः क्रियालोपः कुले पतनहेतवः

patyā tuṣyati yatra strī tuṣyedyatra striyā patiḥ tatra tuṣṭā mahālakṣmīrnivaseddānavā'riṇā vāṇijyaṁ nṛpateḥ sevā vedānadhyāpanaṁ tathā kuvivāhaḥ kriyālopaḥ kule patanahetavaḥ

Where the wife is pleased with her husband, and the husband is pleased with his wife, there the great goddess Lakshmi, pleased in turn, comes to dwell -- steadfast as the very enemy of the Danavas. Commerce, service to a king, teaching the Vedas for wages, a bad marriage, and the neglect of one's sacred rites -- these are the causes that bring a family to ruin.

Verse 20 (skanda.4.38.20)

कुर्याद्वैवाहिके वह्नौ गृह्यकर्मान्वहं गृही॥ पंचयज्ञक्रियां चापि पक्तिं दैनंदिनीमपि

kuryādvaivāhike vahnau gṛhyakarmānvahaṁ gṛhī paṁcayajñakriyāṁ cāpi paktiṁ dainaṁdinīmapi

The householder should daily perform his domestic rites in the fire kindled at his wedding, together with the five great sacrifices and the daily cooking of food.

Verse 21 (skanda.4.38.21)

गृहस्थाश्रमिणः पंच सूना कर्म दिने दिने॥ कंडनी पेषणी चुल्ली ह्युदकुंभस्तु मार्जनी

gṛhasthāśramiṇaḥ paṁca sūnā karma dine dine kaṁḍanī peṣaṇī cullī hyudakuṁbhastu mārjanī

For one in the householder's stage, there are five daily sources of unavoidable harm: the mortar and pestle, the grinding-stone, the hearth, the water-jar, and the broom.

Verse 22 (skanda.4.38.22)

तासां च पंचसूनानां निराकरणहेतवः॥ क्रतवः पंच निर्दिष्टा गृहि श्रेयोभिवर्धनाः

tāsāṁ ca paṁcasūnānāṁ nirākaraṇahetavaḥ kratavaḥ paṁca nirdiṣṭā gṛhi śreyobhivardhanāḥ

To remove the fault of these five sources of harm, five sacrifices are prescribed, which increase the householder's well-being.

Verse 23 (skanda.4.38.23)

पाठनं ब्रह्मयज्ञः स्यात्तर्पणं च पितृ क्रतुः॥ होमो दैवो बलिर्भौतोऽतिथ्यर्चा नृक्रतुः क्रमात्

pāṭhanaṁ brahmayajñaḥ syāttarpaṇaṁ ca pitṛ kratuḥ homo daivo balirbhauto'tithyarcā nṛkratuḥ kramāt

Vedic study and teaching are the sacrifice to Brahman; libation is the sacrifice to the ancestors; the fire-oblation is the sacrifice to the gods; the food-offering is the sacrifice to all beings; and the honoring of guests is, in due order, the sacrifice to mankind.

Verse 24 (skanda.4.38.24)

पितृप्रीतिं प्रकुर्वाणः कुर्वीत श्राद्धमन्वहम्॥ अन्नोदकपयोमूलैः फलैर्वापि गृहाश्रमी

pitṛprītiṁ prakurvāṇaḥ kurvīta śrāddhamanvaham annodakapayomūlaiḥ phalairvāpi gṛhāśramī

Desiring the pleasure of his ancestors, the householder should perform a shraddha rite daily, offering food, water, milk, roots, or fruits.

Verse 25 (skanda.4.38.25)

गोदानेन च यत्पुण्यं पात्राय विधिपूर्वकम्॥ सत्कृत्य भिक्षवे भिक्षां दत्त्वा तत्फलमाप्नुयात्

godānena ca yatpuṇyaṁ pātrāya vidhipūrvakam satkṛtya bhikṣave bhikṣāṁ dattvā tatphalamāpnuyāt

Whatever merit is gained by giving a cow, according to rule, to a worthy recipient -- that same merit is obtained by respectfully giving alms to a mendicant.

Verse 26 (skanda.4.38.26)

तपोविद्यासमिद्दीप्ते हुतं विप्रास्य पावके॥ तारयेद्विघ्नसंघेभ्यः पापाब्धेरपि दुस्तरात्

tapovidyāsamiddīpte hutaṁ viprāsya pāvake tārayedvighnasaṁghebhyaḥ pāpābdherapi dustarāt

The oblation offered by a Brahmin into the fire kindled with the fuel of austerity and learning carries him across every host of obstacles, and even across the difficult-to-cross ocean of sin.

Verse 27 (skanda.4.38.27)

अनर्चितोऽतिथिर्गेहाद्भग्नाशो यस्य गच्छति॥ आजन्मसंचितात्पुण्यात्क्षणात्स हि बहिर्भवेत्

anarcito'tithirgehādbhagnāśo yasya gacchati ājanmasaṁcitātpuṇyātkṣaṇātsa hi bahirbhavet

From whose house a guest departs unhonored, his hopes broken -- that householder is, in that very instant, stripped of every merit accumulated since his birth.

Verse 28 (skanda.4.38.28)

सांत्वपूर्वाणि वाक्यानि शय्यार्थे भूस्तृणोदके॥ एतान्यपि प्रदेयानि सदाभ्यागत तुष्टये॥ गृहस्थः परपाकादी प्रेत्य तत्पशुतां व्रजेत्॥ श्रेयः परान्नपुष्टस्य गृह्णीयादन्नदो यतः

sāṁtvapūrvāṇi vākyāni śayyārthe bhūstṛṇodake etānyapi pradeyāni sadābhyāgata tuṣṭaye gṛhasthaḥ parapākādī pretya tatpaśutāṁ vrajet śreyaḥ parānnapuṣṭasya gṛhṇīyādannado yataḥ

Kind words, along with a place to rest, grass, and water -- these too should be offered for the satisfaction of every guest who arrives. A householder who lives only on food cooked by others becomes, after death, that person's beast of burden; it is better for the giver of food that he receive service in return from one nourished on another's grain.

Verse 29 (skanda.4.38.29)

आदित्योढोऽतिथिः सायं सत्कर्तव्यः प्रयत्नतः॥ असत्कृतोन्यतो गच्छन्दुष्कृतं भूरि यच्छति

ādityoḍho'tithiḥ sāyaṁ satkartavyaḥ prayatnataḥ asatkṛtonyato gacchanduṣkṛtaṁ bhūri yacchati

The guest who arrives at evening, brought as it were by the setting sun, should be honored with the greatest care; if turned away unhonored to go elsewhere, he leaves behind him a great burden of demerit upon the householder.

Verse 30 (skanda.4.38.30)

भुंजानोऽतिथिशेषान्नमिहायुर्धनभाग्भवेत्॥ प्रणोद्यातिथिमन्नाशी किल्बिषी च गृहाश्रमी

bhuṁjāno'tithiśeṣānnamihāyurdhanabhāgbhavet praṇodyātithimannāśī kilbiṣī ca gṛhāśramī

One who partakes of the food left over after a guest has eaten gains long life and wealth in this world; but the householder who turns away a guest and then eats becomes a sinner.

Verse 31 (skanda.4.38.31)

वैश्वदेवांत संप्राप्तः सूर्योढो वातिथिः स्मृतः॥ न पूर्वकाल आयातो न च दृष्टचरः क्वचित्

vaiśvadevāṁta saṁprāptaḥ sūryoḍho vātithiḥ smṛtaḥ na pūrvakāla āyāto na ca dṛṣṭacaraḥ kvacit

One who arrives by the time of the Vaishvadeva rite, brought as it were with the sun, is remembered as a true guest -- not one who came earlier, nor one already familiar and often seen.

Verse 32 (skanda.4.38.32)

बलिपात्रकरे विप्रे यद्यन्योतिथिरागतः॥ अदत्त्वा तं बलिं तस्मै यथाशक्त्यान्नमर्पयेत्

balipātrakare vipre yadyanyotithirāgataḥ adattvā taṁ baliṁ tasmai yathāśaktyānnamarpayet

If another guest should arrive just as the Brahmin holds the offering-bowl in hand, he should, without giving that offering away, present food to the newcomer according to his means.

Verse 33 (skanda.4.38.33)

कुमाराश्च स्ववासिन्यो गर्भिण्योऽतिरुजान्विताः॥ अतिथेरादितोप्येते भोज्या नात्र विचारणा

kumārāśca svavāsinyo garbhiṇyo'tirujānvitāḥ atitherāditopyete bhojyā nātra vicāraṇā

Children, the women of the household, pregnant women, and the gravely ill are to be fed even before the guest -- on this point there is no room for debate.

Verse 34 (skanda.4.38.34)

पितृदेवमनुष्येभ्यो दत्त्वाश्नात्यमृतं गृही॥ स्वार्थं पचन्नघं भुंक्ते केवलं स्वोदरंभरिः

pitṛdevamanuṣyebhyo dattvāśnātyamṛtaṁ gṛhī svārthaṁ pacannaghaṁ bhuṁkte kevalaṁ svodaraṁbhariḥ

The householder who eats only after giving to the ancestors, the gods, and to men partakes of very nectar; but one who cooks only for himself, merely to fill his own belly, partakes of sin.

Verse 35 (skanda.4.38.35)

माध्याह्निकं वैश्वदेवं गृहस्थः स्वयमाचरेत्॥ पत्नी सायं बलिं दद्यात्सिद्धान्नैर्मंत्रवर्जितम्

mādhyāhnikaṁ vaiśvadevaṁ gṛhasthaḥ svayamācaret patnī sāyaṁ baliṁ dadyātsiddhānnairmaṁtravarjitam

The householder himself should perform the midday Vaishvadeva rite; in the evening, his wife should offer the food-offering with cooked food, without mantras.

Verse 36 (skanda.4.38.36)

एतत्सायंतनं नाम वैश्वदेवं गृहाश्रमे॥ सायंप्रातर्भवेदेव वैश्वदेवं प्रयत्नतः

etatsāyaṁtanaṁ nāma vaiśvadevaṁ gṛhāśrame sāyaṁprātarbhavedeva vaiśvadevaṁ prayatnataḥ

This is called the evening Vaishvadeva of the householder's stage. The Vaishvadeva rite should indeed be performed with care both in the evening and at dawn.

Verse 37 (skanda.4.38.37)

वैश्वदेवेन ये हीना आतिथ्येन विवर्जिताः॥ सर्वे ते वृषला ज्ञेयाः प्राप्तवेदा अपि द्विजाः॥ अकृत्वा वैश्वदेवं तु भुंजते ये द्विजाधमाः॥ इह लोकेन्नहीनाः स्युः काकयोनिं व्रजंत्यथ

vaiśvadevena ye hīnā ātithyena vivarjitāḥ sarve te vṛṣalā jñeyāḥ prāptavedā api dvijāḥ akṛtvā vaiśvadevaṁ tu bhuṁjate ye dvijādhamāḥ iha lokennahīnāḥ syuḥ kākayoniṁ vrajaṁtyatha

Twice-born men who neglect the Vaishvadeva and are devoid of hospitality toward guests are to be known as mere outcastes, however learned they may be in the Veda. Those base twice-born who eat without performing the Vaishvadeva remain destitute of true nourishment in this world, and afterward pass into the womb of a crow.

Verse 38 (skanda.4.38.38)

वेदोदितं स्वकं कर्म नित्यं कुर्यादतंद्रितः॥ तद्धि कुर्वन्यथाशक्ति प्राप्नुयात्सद्गतिं पराम्

vedoditaṁ svakaṁ karma nityaṁ kuryādataṁdritaḥ taddhi kurvanyathāśakti prāpnuyātsadgatiṁ parām

One should always perform, without laziness, the duty enjoined for him by the Veda; performing it to the best of his ability, he attains the supreme, blessed state.

Verse 39 (skanda.4.38.39)

षष्ठ्यष्टम्योर्वसेत्पापं तैले मांसे सदैव हि॥ पंचदश्यां चतुर्दश्यां तथैव च भगेक्षुरे

ṣaṣṭhyaṣṭamyorvasetpāpaṁ taile māṁse sadaiva hi paṁcadaśyāṁ caturdaśyāṁ tathaiva ca bhagekṣure

Sin ever abides in the use of oil for anointing and in the eating of meat on the sixth and eighth lunar days; the same holds true on the fourteenth and full-moon days, and likewise in shaving and in intimate union.

Verse 40 (skanda.4.38.40)

उदयं तं न चेक्षेत नास्तं यंतं न मध्यगम्॥ न राहुणोपसृष्टं च नांबुसंस्थं दिवाकरम्

udayaṁ taṁ na cekṣeta nāstaṁ yaṁtaṁ na madhyagam na rāhuṇopasṛṣṭaṁ ca nāṁbusaṁsthaṁ divākaram

One should not gaze upon the sun as it rises, as it sets, at midday, when seized by Rahu in eclipse, or reflected upon water.

Verse 41 (skanda.4.38.41)

न वीक्षेतात्ममनोरूपमाशुधावेन्न वर्षति॥ नोल्लंघयेद्वत्सतंत्रीं न नग्नो जलमाविशेत्

na vīkṣetātmamanorūpamāśudhāvenna varṣati nollaṁghayedvatsataṁtrīṁ na nagno jalamāviśet

One should not gaze idly upon his own reflection out of vanity; nor run headlong when it is not raining; nor step over the tether-rope of a calf; nor enter water while unclothed.

Verse 42 (skanda.4.38.42)

देवतायतनं विप्रं धेनुं मधुमृदं घृतम्॥ जातिवृद्धं वयोवृद्धं विद्यावृद्धं तपस्विनम्

devatāyatanaṁ vipraṁ dhenuṁ madhumṛdaṁ ghṛtam jātivṛddhaṁ vayovṛddhaṁ vidyāvṛddhaṁ tapasvinam

A shrine of a deity, a Brahmin, a cow, honey, sacred clay, and ghee; one senior in caste, one senior in age, one senior in learning, and an ascetic...

Verse 43 (skanda.4.38.43)

अश्वत्थं चैत्यवृक्षं च गुरुं जलभृतं घटम्॥ सिद्धान्नं दधिसिद्धार्थं गच्छन्कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणम्

aśvatthaṁ caityavṛkṣaṁ ca guruṁ jalabhṛtaṁ ghaṭam siddhānnaṁ dadhisiddhārthaṁ gacchankuryātpradakṣiṇam

...a peepal tree, a sacred grove-tree, one's guru, a water-filled pot, cooked food, curd, and mustard seed -- when passing any of these, one should keep it to the right in circumambulation.

Verse 44 (skanda.4.38.44)

रजस्वलां न सेवेत नाश्नीयात्सह भार्यया॥ एकवासा न भुंजीत न भुंजीतोत्कटासने

rajasvalāṁ na seveta nāśnīyātsaha bhāryayā ekavāsā na bhuṁjīta na bhuṁjītotkaṭāsane

One should not have union with a menstruating woman; should not eat seated together with his wife; should not eat while wearing only a single garment; and should not eat while seated upon a raised seat.

Verse 45 (skanda.4.38.45)

नाश्नंतीं स्त्रीं समीक्षेत तेजस्कामो द्विजोत्तमः॥ असंतर्प्य पितॄन्देवान्नाद्यादन्नं नवं क्वचित्

nāśnaṁtīṁ strīṁ samīkṣeta tejaskāmo dvijottamaḥ asaṁtarpya pitṝndevānnādyādannaṁ navaṁ kvacit

A leading twice-born who desires inner radiance should not gaze upon a woman while she is eating; and he should never partake of the season's new grain without first satisfying the ancestors and the gods.

Verse 46 (skanda.4.38.46)

पक्वान्नं चापि नो मांसं दीर्घकालं जिजीविषुः॥ न मूत्रं गोव्रजे कुर्यान्न वल्मीके न भस्मनि॥ न गर्तेषु ससत्वेषु न तिष्ठन्न व्रजन्नपि॥ गोविप्रसूर्यवाय्वग्नि चंद्रर्क्षांबु गुरूनपि

pakvānnaṁ cāpi no māṁsaṁ dīrghakālaṁ jijīviṣuḥ na mūtraṁ govraje kuryānna valmīke na bhasmani na garteṣu sasatveṣu na tiṣṭhanna vrajannapi goviprasūryavāyvagni caṁdrarkṣāṁbu gurūnapi

One who desires long life should avoid stale, overcooked food and meat. He should not urinate in a cow-pen, upon an anthill, in ashes, or into burrows harboring living creatures, whether standing or walking; nor should he do so facing a cow, a Brahmin, the sun, the wind, fire, the moon, the stars, water, or his elders.

Verse 47 (skanda.4.38.47)

अभिपश्यन्न कुर्वीत मलमूत्रविसर्जनम्॥ तिरस्कृत्यावनिं लोष्टकाष्ठपर्णतृणादिभिः

abhipaśyanna kurvīta malamūtravisarjanam tiraskṛtyāvaniṁ loṣṭakāṣṭhaparṇatṛṇādibhiḥ

One should not ease himself where he can be seen, but should first screen the ground with a clod of earth, a piece of wood, leaves, or grass.

Verse 48 (skanda.4.38.48)

प्रावृत्य वाससा मौलिं मौनी विण्मूत्रमुत्सृजेत्॥ यथासुखमुखो रात्रौ दिनेच्छायांधकारयोः

prāvṛtya vāsasā mauliṁ maunī viṇmūtramutsṛjet yathāsukhamukho rātrau dinecchāyāṁdhakārayoḥ

Covering the head with his cloth and keeping silence, he should ease himself facing whatever direction is convenient -- at night freely, and by day in shade or shadow.

Verse 49 (skanda.4.38.49)

भीतिषु प्राणबाधायां कुर्यान्मलविसर्जनम्॥ मुखेनोपधमेन्नाग्निं नग्नां नेक्षेत योषितम्

bhītiṣu prāṇabādhāyāṁ kuryānmalavisarjanam mukhenopadhamennāgniṁ nagnāṁ nekṣeta yoṣitam

In moments of danger, or when bodily need becomes urgent, one may ease himself without regard to these rules. One should not blow upon a fire with the mouth, and should not look upon an unclothed woman.

Verse 50 (skanda.4.38.50)

नांघ्री प्रतापयेदग्नौ न वस्त्वशुचि निक्षिपेत्॥ प्राणिहिंसां न कुर्वीत नाश्नीयात्सँध्ययोर्द्वयोः

nāṁghrī pratāpayedagnau na vastvaśuci nikṣipet prāṇihiṁsāṁ na kurvīta nāśnīyātsa~dhyayordvayoḥ

One should not warm his feet at the fire; should not cast any impure thing into it; should do no violence to any living creature; and should not eat at either of the two twilight hours.

Verse 51 (skanda.4.38.51)

न संविशेत संध्यायां प्रत्यक्सौम्यशिरा अपि॥ विण्मूत्रष्ठीवनं नाप्सु कुर्याद्दीर्घजिजीविषुः

na saṁviśeta saṁdhyāyāṁ pratyaksaumyaśirā api viṇmūtraṣṭhīvanaṁ nāpsu kuryāddīrghajijīviṣuḥ

One should not lie down during the twilight hours, even with the head turned toward the west or the north. One who desires long life should never discharge excrement, urine, or spittle into water.

Verse 52 (skanda.4.38.52)

नाचक्षीत धयंतीं गां नेंद्रचापं प्रदर्शयेत्॥ नैकः सुप्यात्क्वचिच्छून्ये न शयानं प्रबोधयेत्

nācakṣīta dhayaṁtīṁ gāṁ neṁdracāpaṁ pradarśayet naikaḥ supyātkvacicchūnye na śayānaṁ prabodhayet

One should not point out a cow while she is suckling; should not point at a rainbow; should never sleep alone in an empty place; and should not abruptly wake one who is sleeping.

Verse 53 (skanda.4.38.53)

पंथानं नैकलो यायान्न वार्यंजलिना पिबेत्॥ न दिवोद्भूत सारं च भक्षयेद्दधिनो निशि

paṁthānaṁ naikalo yāyānna vāryaṁjalinā pibet na divodbhūta sāraṁ ca bhakṣayeddadhino niśi

One should not walk a road entirely alone; should not drink water cupped in the bare hands; and should not eat at night the cream that has risen upon curd since the day.

Verse 54 (skanda.4.38.54)

स्त्रीधर्मिण्या नाभिवदेन्नाद्यादातृप्ति रात्रिषु॥ तौर्यत्रिक प्रियो न स्यात्कांस्ये पादौ न धावयेत्

strīdharmiṇyā nābhivadennādyādātṛpti rātriṣu tauryatrika priyo na syātkāṁsye pādau na dhāvayet

One should not converse with a woman in her courses; should not eat to full satiety at night; should not become excessively fond of music and dance; and should not wash the feet in a bronze vessel.

Verse 55 (skanda.4.38.55)

श्राद्धं कृत्वा पर श्राद्धे योऽश्नीयाज्ज्ञानवर्जितः॥ दातुः श्राद्धफलं नास्ति भोक्ता किल्बिषभुग्भवेत्॥ न धारयेदन्यभुक्तं वासश्चो पानहावपि॥ न भिन्न भाजनेश्नीयान्नासीताग्न्यादि दूषिते

śrāddhaṁ kṛtvā para śrāddhe yo'śnīyājjñānavarjitaḥ dātuḥ śrāddhaphalaṁ nāsti bhoktā kilbiṣabhugbhavet na dhārayedanyabhuktaṁ vāsaśco pānahāvapi na bhinna bhājaneśnīyānnāsītāgnyādi dūṣite

One who, out of ignorance, eats at a second shraddha after already performing one himself brings no merit to the giver of that rite, and the eater himself partakes of sin. One should not wear clothing or footwear already worn by another; should not eat from a cracked vessel; and should not sit in a place defiled by fire and the like.

Verse 56 (skanda.4.38.56)

आरोहणं गवां पृष्ठे प्रेतधूमं सरित्तरम्॥ बालातपं दिवास्वापं द्यजेद्दीर्घं जिजीविषुः

ārohaṇaṁ gavāṁ pṛṣṭhe pretadhūmaṁ sarittaram bālātapaṁ divāsvāpaṁ dyajeddīrghaṁ jijīviṣuḥ

One who desires long life should give up riding upon the back of a cow, the smoke of a funeral pyre, swimming across a river, exposure to the early morning sun, and sleeping in the daytime.

Verse 57 (skanda.4.38.57)

स्नात्वा न मार्जयेद्गात्रं विसृजेन्न शिखां पथि॥ हस्तौ शिरो न धुनुयान्नाकर्षेदासनं पदा

snātvā na mārjayedgātraṁ visṛjenna śikhāṁ pathi hastau śiro na dhunuyānnākarṣedāsanaṁ padā

After bathing, one should not rub the body harshly dry; should not undo the topknot while on the road; should not shake the hands or head about; and should not drag a seat with the foot.

Verse 58 (skanda.4.38.58)

नोत्पाटयेल्लोमनखं दशनेन कदाचन॥ करजैः करजच्छेदं तृणच्छेदं विवर्जयेत्

notpāṭayellomanakhaṁ daśanena kadācana karajaiḥ karajacchedaṁ tṛṇacchedaṁ vivarjayet

One should never pull out hair or nails with the teeth; should avoid trimming one nail with another; and should not bite through a blade of grass.

Verse 59 (skanda.4.38.59)

शुभायन यदायत्यां त्यजेत्तत्कर्म यत्नतः॥ अद्वारेण न गंतव्यं स्ववेश्मपरवेश्मनोः

śubhāyana yadāyatyāṁ tyajettatkarma yatnataḥ advāreṇa na gaṁtavyaṁ svaveśmaparaveśmanoḥ

Whatever act will prove inauspicious in its outcome should be carefully abandoned. One should never enter, whether his own house or another's, by any way other than the door.

Verse 60 (skanda.4.38.60)

क्रीडेन्नाक्षैः सहासीत न धर्मघ्नैर्न रोगिभिः॥ न शयीत क्वचिन्नग्नः पाणौ भुंजीत नैव च

krīḍennākṣaiḥ sahāsīta na dharmaghnairna rogibhiḥ na śayīta kvacinnagnaḥ pāṇau bhuṁjīta naiva ca

One should not gamble with dice; should not sit together with destroyers of dharma or with the diseased; should never lie down to sleep unclothed; and should not eat while holding something else in the hand.

Verse 61 (skanda.4.38.61)

आर्द्रपादकरास्योश्नन्दीर्घकालं च जीवति॥ संविशेन्नार्द्रचरणो नोच्छिष्टः क्वचिदाव्रजेत्

ārdrapādakarāsyośnandīrghakālaṁ ca jīvati saṁviśennārdracaraṇo nocchiṣṭaḥ kvacidāvrajet

One who eats with feet, hands, and face still moist from washing attains long life. One should sleep with the feet left moist, and should never go about with the mouth still unrinsed after eating.

Verse 62 (skanda.4.38.62)

शयनस्थो न चाश्नीयान्नपिबेन्न जपेद्द्विजः॥ सोपानत्कश्चनाचामेन्न तिष्ठन्धारया पिबेत्

śayanastho na cāśnīyānnapibenna japeddvijaḥ sopānatkaścanācāmenna tiṣṭhandhārayā pibet

A twice-born should not eat, drink, or recite mantras while lying down; should not sip water for purification while wearing sandals; and should not drink water in a poured stream while standing.

Verse 63 (skanda.4.38.63)

सर्वं तिलमयं नाद्यात्सायं शर्माभिलाषुकः॥ न निरीक्षेत विण्मूत्रे नोच्छिष्टः संस्पृशेच्छिरः

sarvaṁ tilamayaṁ nādyātsāyaṁ śarmābhilāṣukaḥ na nirīkṣeta viṇmūtre nocchiṣṭaḥ saṁspṛśecchiraḥ

One who desires well-being should not eat anything made of sesame in the evening. One should not stare at excrement or urine; and should not touch his own head with hands unwashed after eating.

Verse 64 (skanda.4.38.64)

नाधितिष्ठेत्तुषांगार भस्मकेशकपालिकाः॥ पतितैः सह संवासः पतनायैव जायते॥ श्रावयेद्वैदिकं मंत्रं न शूद्राय कदाचन॥ ब्राह्मण्याद्धीयते विप्रः शूद्रो धर्माच्च हीयते

nādhitiṣṭhettuṣāṁgāra bhasmakeśakapālikāḥ patitaiḥ saha saṁvāsaḥ patanāyaiva jāyate śrāvayedvaidikaṁ maṁtraṁ na śūdrāya kadācana brāhmaṇyāddhīyate vipraḥ śūdro dharmācca hīyate

One should not stand or sit upon husks, embers, ashes, hair, or a skull. Dwelling together with the fallen brings about one's own fall. One should never let a Shudra hear a Vedic mantra; a Brahmin who does so falls from his own Brahminhood, and the Shudra falls from his own proper duty.

Verse 65 (skanda.4.38.65)

धर्मोपदेशः शूद्राणां स्वश्रेयः प्रतिघातयेत्॥ द्विजशुश्रूषणं धर्मः शूद्राणां हि परो मतः

dharmopadeśaḥ śūdrāṇāṁ svaśreyaḥ pratighātayet dvijaśuśrūṣaṇaṁ dharmaḥ śūdrāṇāṁ hi paro mataḥ

Instructing Shudras in the higher rites of dharma actually hinders their own true welfare; for service to the twice-born is held to be the highest dharma for Shudras.

Verse 66 (skanda.4.38.66)

कंडूयनं हि शिरसः पाणिभ्यां न शुभं मतम्॥ आताडनं कराभ्यां च क्रोशनं केशलुंचनम्

kaṁḍūyanaṁ hi śirasaḥ pāṇibhyāṁ na śubhaṁ matam ātāḍanaṁ karābhyāṁ ca krośanaṁ keśaluṁcanam

Scratching the head with both hands is not held to be auspicious; and likewise, striking oneself with the hands, wailing aloud, and tearing at one's own hair.

Verse 67 (skanda.4.38.67)

अशास्त्रवर्तिनो भूपाल्लुब्धात्कृत्वा प्रतिग्रहम्॥ ब्राह्मणः सान्वयो याति नरकानेकविंशतिम्

aśāstravartino bhūpāllubdhātkṛtvā pratigraham brāhmaṇaḥ sānvayo yāti narakānekaviṁśatim

A Brahmin who accepts a gift from a greedy king who acts against scripture goes, together with his whole lineage, to twenty-one hells.

Verse 68 (skanda.4.38.68)

अकालविद्युत्स्तनिते वर्षर्तौ पांसुवर्षणे॥ महावातध्वनौ रात्रावनध्यायाः प्रकीर्तिताः

akālavidyutstanite varṣartau pāṁsuvarṣaṇe mahāvātadhvanau rātrāvanadhyāyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

At untimely lightning and thunder, during the rainy season, when dust falls like rain, and at night when a great gale roars -- these are declared to be occasions when Vedic study must be suspended.

Verse 69 (skanda.4.38.69)

उल्कापाते च भूकंपे दिग्दाहे मध्यरात्रिषु॥ संध्ययोर्वृषलोपांते राज्ञोराहोश्च सूतके

ulkāpāte ca bhūkaṁpe digdāhe madhyarātriṣu saṁdhyayorvṛṣalopāṁte rājñorāhośca sūtake

At the fall of a meteor, at an earthquake, when the horizon glows as if aflame, at midnight, during either twilight, in the presence of an outcaste, and during the period of ritual impurity following a king's death or an eclipse...

Verse 70 (skanda.4.38.70)

दर्शाष्टकासु भूतायां श्राद्धिकं प्रतिगृह्य च॥ प्रतिपद्यपि पूर्णायां गजोष्ट्राभ्यां कृतांतरे

darśāṣṭakāsu bhūtāyāṁ śrāddhikaṁ pratigṛhya ca pratipadyapi pūrṇāyāṁ gajoṣṭrābhyāṁ kṛtāṁtare

...on new-moon days, at the Ashtaka-shraddha rites, when some calamity has occurred, after having accepted food connected with a shraddha, on the day following even the full moon, and when an elephant or a camel has crossed one's path...

Verse 71 (skanda.4.38.71)

खरोष्ट्रक्रोष्ट्र विरुते समवाये रुदत्यपि॥ उपाकर्मणि चोत्सर्गे नाविमार्गे तरौ जले

kharoṣṭrakroṣṭra virute samavāye rudatyapi upākarmaṇi cotsarge nāvimārge tarau jale

...at the braying of a donkey, camel, or jackal, in a large gathering, even when someone is weeping nearby, during the rites of Upakarma and Utsarga, on a boat, off the proper path, in a tree, or in water...

Verse 72 (skanda.4.38.72)

आरण्यकमधीत्यापि बाणसाम्नोरपि ध्वनौ॥ अनध्यायेषु चैतेषु नाधीयीत द्विजः क्वचित्

āraṇyakamadhītyāpi bāṇasāmnorapi dhvanau anadhyāyeṣu caiteṣu nādhīyīta dvijaḥ kvacit

...and after studying the Aranyaka portion, or at the sound of an arrow in flight or a Saman chant -- on all these forbidden occasions, a twice-born should never engage in Vedic study.

Verse 73 (skanda.4.38.73)

कृतांतरायो न पठेद्भेकाखु श्वाहि बभ्रुभिः॥ भूताष्टम्योः पंचदश्योर्ब्रह्मचारी सदा भवेत्॥ अनायुष्यकरं चैव परदारोपसर्पणम्॥ तस्मात्तद्दूरतस्त्याज्यं वैरिणां चोपसेवनम्

kṛtāṁtarāyo na paṭhedbhekākhu śvāhi babhrubhiḥ bhūtāṣṭamyoḥ paṁcadaśyorbrahmacārī sadā bhavet anāyuṣyakaraṁ caiva paradāropasarpaṇam tasmāttaddūratastyājyaṁ vairiṇāṁ copasevanam

One whose study has thus been interrupted should not resume at the sound of a frog, a mouse, a dog, a serpent, or a mongoose. On the eighth and fifteenth lunar days one should always observe celibacy. Approaching another's wife destroys one's lifespan; therefore this, along with the company of enemies, should be diligently shunned from afar.

Verse 74 (skanda.4.38.74)

पूर्वर्द्धिभिः परित्यक्तमात्मानं नावमानयेत्॥ सदोद्यमवतां यस्माच्छ्रियो विद्या न दुर्लभाः

pūrvarddhibhiḥ parityaktamātmānaṁ nāvamānayet sadodyamavatāṁ yasmācchriyo vidyā na durlabhāḥ

One should never regard himself as debased merely because his former prosperity has left him, for wealth and learning are never beyond the reach of those who remain constantly diligent.

Verse 75 (skanda.4.38.75)

सत्यं ब्रूयात्प्रियं ब्रूयान्नब्रूयात्सत्यमप्रियम्॥ प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयादेष धर्मो घटोद्भव

satyaṁ brūyātpriyaṁ brūyānnabrūyātsatyamapriyam priyaṁ ca nānṛtaṁ brūyādeṣa dharmo ghaṭodbhava

One should speak the truth, and speak what is pleasant; one should not speak an unpleasant truth, nor speak a pleasant falsehood -- this, O Ghatodbhava, is dharma.

Verse 76 (skanda.4.38.76)

भद्रमेव वदेन्नित्यं भद्रमेव विचिंतयेत्॥ भद्रैरेवेह संसर्गो नाभद्रैश्च कदाचन

bhadrameva vadennityaṁ bhadrameva viciṁtayet bhadraireveha saṁsargo nābhadraiśca kadācana

One should always speak what is auspicious, and always think what is auspicious; one's company here should be with the virtuous alone, and never with the wicked.

Verse 77 (skanda.4.38.77)

रूपवित्तकुलैर्हीनान्सुधीर्नाधिक्षिपेन्नरान्॥ पुप्पवंतौ न चेक्षेत त्वशुचिर्ज्योतिषां गणम्

rūpavittakulairhīnānsudhīrnādhikṣipennarān puppavaṁtau na cekṣeta tvaśucirjyotiṣāṁ gaṇam

A wise man should not mock those lacking in beauty, wealth, or noble birth; and while ritually impure, he should not gaze upon the sun, moon, or the host of stars.

Verse 78 (skanda.4.38.78)

वाचोवेगं मनोवेगं जिह्वावेगं च वर्जयेत्॥ उत्कोच द्यूत दौत्यार्त द्रव्यं दूरात्परित्यजेत्

vācovegaṁ manovegaṁ jihvāvegaṁ ca varjayet utkoca dyūta dautyārta dravyaṁ dūrātparityajet

One should restrain the impulses of speech, of mind, and of the tongue; and should shun from afar any wealth gained through bribery, gambling, or acting as an improper go-between.

Verse 79 (skanda.4.38.79)

गोब्राह्मणाग्नीनुच्छिष्ट पाणिना नैव संस्पृशेत्॥ न स्पृशेदनिमित्ते नखानि स्वानि त्वनातुरः

gobrāhmaṇāgnīnucchiṣṭa pāṇinā naiva saṁspṛśet na spṛśedanimitte nakhāni svāni tvanāturaḥ

One should never touch a cow, a Brahmin, or the sacred fire with a hand still unwashed after eating; and while in good health, should not touch even his own nails without cause.

Verse 80 (skanda.4.38.80)

गुह्यजान्यपि लोमानि तत्स्पर्शादशुचिर्भवेत्॥ पादधौतोदकं मूत्रमुच्छिष्टान्नोदकानि च

guhyajānyapi lomāni tatsparśādaśucirbhavet pādadhautodakaṁ mūtramucchiṣṭānnodakāni ca

Even touching the hairs growing upon the private parts brings about impurity. Water used to wash the feet, urine, and water mixed with the remnants of a meal...

Verse 81 (skanda.4.38.81)

निष्ठीवनं च श्लेष्माणं गृहाद्दूरं विनिक्षिपेत्॥ अहर्निशं श्रुतेर्जाप्याच्छौचाचारनिषेवणात्॥ अद्रोहवत्या बुद्ध्या च पूर्वं जन्म स्मरेद्द्विजः

niṣṭhīvanaṁ ca śleṣmāṇaṁ gṛhāddūraṁ vinikṣipet aharniśaṁ śruterjāpyācchaucāraniṣevaṇāt adrohavatyā buddhyā ca pūrvaṁ janma smareddvijaḥ

...as well as spittle and phlegm, should all be cast well away from the house. Through the recitation of the Veda day and night, through devotion to purity and right conduct, and with a mind free of malice, a twice-born may come to remember his former birth.

Verse 82 (skanda.4.38.82)

वृद्धान्प्रयत्नाद्वंदेत दद्यात्तेषां स्वमासनम्॥ विनम्रधमनिस्तस्मादनुयायात्ततश्च तान्॥ श्रुति भूदेव देवानां नृप साधु तपस्विनाम्॥ पतिव्रतानां नारीणां निंदां कुर्यान्न कर्हिचित्

vṛddhānprayatnādvaṁdeta dadyātteṣāṁ svamāsanam vinamradhamanistasmādanuyāyāttataśca tān śruti bhūdeva devānāṁ nṛpa sādhu tapasvinām pativratānāṁ nārīṇāṁ niṁdāṁ kuryānna karhicit

One should carefully bow to the aged and offer them one's own seat, and should follow behind them with humble bearing. One should never speak ill of the Veda, of Brahmins, of the gods, of a king, of the virtuous, of ascetics, or of wives devoted to their husbands.

Verse 83 (skanda.4.38.83)

न मनुष्यस्तुतिं कुर्यान्नात्मानमपमानयेत्॥ अभ्युद्यतं न प्रणुदेत्परमर्माणि नोच्चरेत्

na manuṣyastutiṁ kuryānnātmānamapamānayet abhyudyataṁ na praṇudetparamarmāṇi noccaret

One should neither sing his own praises nor demean himself; should not obstruct one who is already engaged in a task, nor expose the hidden weaknesses of others.

Verse 84 (skanda.4.38.84)

अधर्मादेधते पूर्वं विद्वेष्टॄनपि संजयेत्॥ सर्वतोभद्रमाप्यापि ततो नश्येच्च सान्वयः

adharmādedhate pūrvaṁ vidveṣṭṝnapi saṁjayet sarvatobhadramāpyāpi tato naśyecca sānvayaḥ

Through unrighteousness a man first flourishes, may even overcome his enemies, and seems to gain prosperity from every side; but in the end he perishes, taking his whole lineage down with him.

Verse 85 (skanda.4.38.85)

उद्धृत्य पंच मृत्पिंडान्स्नायात्परजलाशये॥ अनुद्धृत्य च तत्कर्तुरेनसः स्यात्तुरीयभाक्

uddhṛtya paṁca mṛtpiṁḍānsnāyātparajalāśaye anuddhṛtya ca tatkarturenasaḥ syātturīyabhāk

When bathing in a pool dug by another, one should first take up five lumps of clay before bathing; one who bathes there without doing so shares a fourth part of the sin belonging to the pool's maker.

Verse 86 (skanda.4.38.86)

श्रद्धया पात्रमासाद्य यत्किंचिद्दीयते वसु॥ देशे काले च विधिना तदानंत्याय कल्पते

śraddhayā pātramāsādya yatkiṁciddīyate vasu deśe kāle ca vidhinā tadānaṁtyāya kalpate

Whatever wealth, however small, is given with faith to a worthy recipient, in the right place and time and according to rule, becomes fit to yield fruit without end.

Verse 87 (skanda.4.38.87)

भूप्रदो मंडलाधीशः सर्वत्रसुखिनोन्नदाः॥ तोयदाता सदा तृप्तो रूपवान्रूप्यदो भवेत्

bhūprado maṁḍalādhīśaḥ sarvatrasukhinonnadāḥ toyadātā sadā tṛpto rūpavānrūpyado bhavet

The giver of land becomes lord of a realm; the giver of food finds happiness everywhere; the giver of water remains ever content; and the giver of fine, beautiful things becomes beautiful himself.

Verse 88 (skanda.4.38.88)

प्रदीपदो निर्मलाक्षो गोदाताऽर्यमलोकभाक्॥ स्वर्णदाता च दीर्घायुस्तिलदः स्यात्तु सुप्रजाः

pradīpado nirmalākṣo godātā'ryamalokabhāk svarṇadātā ca dīrghāyustiladaḥ syāttu suprajāḥ

The giver of a lamp obtains clear, radiant eyes; the giver of a cow attains the world of Aryaman; the giver of gold becomes long-lived; and the giver of sesame is blessed with excellent progeny.

Verse 89 (skanda.4.38.89)

वेश्मदो ऽत्युच्चसौधेशो वस्त्रदश्चंद्रलो कभाक्॥ हयप्रदो दिव्ययानो लक्ष्मीवान्वृषभप्रदः

veśmado 'tyuccasaudheśo vastradaścaṁdralo kabhāk hayaprado divyayāno lakṣmīvānvṛṣabhapradaḥ

The giver of a dwelling becomes lord of a lofty mansion; the giver of clothing attains the world of the moon; the giver of a horse obtains a celestial chariot; and the giver of a bull becomes rich in fortune.

Verse 90 (skanda.4.38.90)

सुभार्यः शिबिका दाता सुपर्यंक प्रदोपि च॥ धान्यैः समृद्धिमान्नित्यमभयप्रद ईशिता

subhāryaḥ śibikā dātā suparyaṁka pradopi ca dhānyaiḥ samṛddhimānnityamabhayaprada īśitā

The giver of a palanquin obtains a worthy wife, and the giver of a fine bed likewise; the giver of grain remains ever prosperous, and the giver of safety and refuge himself becomes a ruler.

Verse 91 (skanda.4.38.91)

ब्रह्मदो ब्रह्मलोकेज्यो ब्रह्मदः सर्वदो मतः॥ उपायेनापि यो ब्रह्म दापयेत्सोपि तत्समः॥ श्रद्धया प्रतिगृह्णाति श्रद्धया यः प्रयच्छति॥ स्वर्गिणौ तावुभौ स्यातां पततोऽश्रद्धयात्यधः

brahmado brahmalokejyo brahmadaḥ sarvado mataḥ upāyenāpi yo brahma dāpayetsopi tatsamaḥ śraddhayā pratigṛhṇāti śraddhayā yaḥ prayacchati svargiṇau tāvubhau syātāṁ patato'śraddhayātyadhaḥ

The giver of Vedic knowledge is worshipped in the world of Brahma; giving the Veda is held to be the gift of everything. Even one who, by whatever means, causes the Veda to be taught to others obtains the same merit. Both the one who receives with faith and the one who gives with faith go to heaven; but one who gives without faith falls to a deeper depth.

Verse 92 (skanda.4.38.92)

अनृतेन क्षरेद्यज्ञस्तपो विस्मयतः क्षरेत्॥ क्षरेत्कीर्तनतोदानमायुर्विप्रापवादतः

anṛtena kṣaredyajñastapo vismayataḥ kṣaret kṣaretkīrtanatodānamāyurviprāpavādataḥ

A sacrifice loses its worth through falsehood; austerity is dissipated by pride; a gift is diminished by publicizing it; and one's lifespan is shortened by speaking ill of Brahmins.

Verse 93 (skanda.4.38.93)

गंधपुष्पकुशाञ्छय्यां शाकं मांसं पयो दधि॥ मणि मत्स्य गृहं धान्यं ग्राह्यमेतदुपस्थितम्

gaṁdhapuṣpakuśāñchayyāṁ śākaṁ māṁsaṁ payo dadhi maṇi matsya gṛhaṁ dhānyaṁ grāhyametadupasthitam

Fragrant substances, flowers, kusha grass, a bed, vegetables, meat, milk, curd, a jewel, fish, a dwelling, and grain -- these, when they present themselves unsought, are fit to be accepted.

Verse 94 (skanda.4.38.94)

मधूदकं फलं मूलमेधांस्यभयदक्षिणा॥ अभ्युद्यतानि ग्राह्याणि त्वेतान्यपिनिकृष्टतः

madhūdakaṁ phalaṁ mūlamedhāṁsyabhayadakṣiṇā abhyudyatāni grāhyāṇi tvetānyapinikṛṣṭataḥ

Honey, water, fruit, roots, and the gift assuring safety -- these, when freely offered, may be accepted even from one of humble standing.

Verse 95 (skanda.4.38.95)

दास नापित गोपाल कुलमित्रार्धसीरिणः॥ भोज्यान्नाः शूद्रवर्गेमी तथात्मविनिवेदकः

dāsa nāpita gopāla kulamitrārdhasīriṇaḥ bhojyānnāḥ śūdravargemī tathātmavinivedakaḥ

The food of a household servant, a barber, a cowherd, a family friend, and a sharecropping tenant -- among the Shudra class, these are held fit to eat, as is the food of one who has wholly devoted himself in service.

Verse 96 (skanda.4.38.96)

इत्थमानृण्यमासाद्य देवर्षिपितृजादृणात्॥ माध्यस्थ्यमाश्रयेद्गेहे सुते विष्वग्विसृज्य च

itthamānṛṇyamāsādya devarṣipitṛjādṛṇāt mādhyasthyamāśrayedgehe sute viṣvagvisṛjya ca

Having thus discharged his debts to the gods, the sages, and the ancestors, and having made over everything to his son, the householder should adopt a spirit of detachment even while remaining at home.

Verse 97 (skanda.4.38.97)

गेहेपि ज्ञानमभ्यस्येत्काशीं वाथ समाश्रयेत्॥ सम्यग्ज्ञानेन वा मुक्तिः किंवा विश्वेशवेश्मनि

gehepi jñānamabhyasyetkāśīṁ vātha samāśrayet samyagjñānena vā muktiḥ kiṁvā viśveśaveśmani

Even while remaining at home, he should practice true knowledge, or else take refuge in Kashi; for liberation comes either through perfect knowledge, or simply by dwelling in the very abode of Vishveshvara.

Verse 98 (skanda.4.38.98)

सम्यग्ज्ञानं भवेत्पुंसां कुत एकेन जन्मना॥ वाराणस्यां ध्रुवा मुक्तिः शरीरत्यागमात्रतः

samyagjñānaṁ bhavetpuṁsāṁ kuta ekena janmanā vārāṇasyāṁ dhruvā muktiḥ śarīratyāgamātrataḥ

How, indeed, could perfect knowledge be attained by men within a single lifetime? But in Varanasi, liberation is assured simply by the giving up of the body.

Verse 99 (skanda.4.38.99)

अद्य श्वो वा परश्वो वा कालाद्वाथ परःशतात्॥ सत्वरो गत्वरो देहः काश्यां चेदमृती भवेत्

adya śvo vā paraśvo vā kālādvātha paraḥśatāt satvaro gatvaro dehaḥ kāśyāṁ cedamṛtī bhavet

Whether today, tomorrow, the day after, or even after a hundred years -- this fleeting, transient body, if it falls away in Kashi, becomes immortal.

Verse 100 (skanda.4.38.100)

सा च वाराणसी लभ्या सदाचारवता सदा॥ मनसापि सदाचारमतो विद्वान्न लंघयेत्॥ आकर्ण्येति ततोगस्त्यः पुनः प्राह षडाननम्॥ पुनः काशीं समाचक्ष्व सदाचारेण याप्यते

sā ca vārāṇasī labhyā sadācāravatā sadā manasāpi sadācāramato vidvānna laṁghayet ākarṇyeti tatogastyaḥ punaḥ prāha ṣaḍānanam punaḥ kāśīṁ samācakṣva sadācāreṇa yāpyate

That Varanasi is ever attained only by one who lives a life of right conduct; therefore the wise should never transgress right conduct even in thought. Having heard this, Agastya spoke once more to the six-faced Skanda: "Tell me again of Kashi, which is attained through right conduct."

Verse 101 (skanda.4.38.101)

कानि कानि च लिंगानि स्कंद ज्ञानप्रदानि च॥ वाराणस्यां परिब्रूहि तानि मे परिपृच्छतः

kāni kāni ca liṁgāni skaṁda jñānapradāni ca vārāṇasyāṁ paribrūhi tāni me paripṛcchataḥ

"O Skanda, what are the various signs in Varanasi that bestow true knowledge? Declare them to me, for I am asking."

Verse 102 (skanda.4.38.102)

विना काशीं न मे प्रीतिर्विनाकाशीं न मे रतिः॥ चित्रपुत्रकवच्चास्मि विना काशी षडानन

vinā kāśīṁ na me prītirvinākāśīṁ na me ratiḥ citraputrakavaccāsmi vinā kāśī ṣaḍānana

[Skanda then repeated the very words of Lord Shiva:] "Without Kashi I know no joy, without Kashi I know no delight; O six-faced one, without Kashi I am like nothing more than a painted image of a son, lifeless."

Verse 103 (skanda.4.38.103)

न निद्रामि न जागर्मि नाश्नामि न पिबाम्यपः॥ काशीं द्व्यक्षरपीयूषं पिबामि हि च केवलम्

na nidrāmi na jāgarmi nāśnāmi na pibāmyapaḥ kāśīṁ dvyakṣarapīyūṣaṁ pibāmi hi ca kevalam

"I neither sleep nor wake, I neither eat nor drink water; I drink only, ever and always, the nectar of the two syllables 'Ka-shi.'"

Verse 104 (skanda.4.38.104)

अविमुक्तस्य माहात्म्यं वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे

avimuktasya māhātmyaṁ vaktuṁ samupacakrame

[Having said this, Skanda] then began to relate the greatness of Avimukta, the Never-Forsaken Kshetra.