The Rules and Discipline of the Chaturmasya Vow: The Dharma of Compassion

Verse 1 (skanda.6.234.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच पितॄणां तर्पणं कुर्याच्छ्रद्धायुक्तेन चेतसा स्नानावसाने नित्यं च गुप्ते देवे महाफलम्

brahmovāca pitṝṇāṁ tarpaṇaṁ kuryācchraddhāyuktena cetasā snānāvasāne nityaṁ ca gupte deve mahāphalam

Brahma said: One should perform the tarpana offering to the ancestors with a mind full of reverence, always at the close of one's bath, while the god lies hidden in sleep — of great merit.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.234.2)

संगमे सरितोस्तत्र पितॄन्संतर्प्य देवताः जपहोमादिकर्माणि कृत्वा फलमनंतकम्

saṁgame saritostatra pitṝnsaṁtarpya devatāḥ japahomādikarmāṇi kṛtvā phalamanaṁtakam

There, at the confluence of two rivers, having offered tarpana to the ancestors and the gods, and having performed recitation, fire-offering, and other rites, one attains endless merit.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.234.3)

गोविंदस्मरणं कृत्वा पश्चात्कार्याः शुभाः क्रियाः एष एव पितृदेवमनुष्यादिषु तृप्तिदः

goviṁdasmaraṇaṁ kṛtvā paścātkāryāḥ śubhāḥ kriyāḥ eṣa eva pitṛdevamanuṣyādiṣu tṛptidaḥ

Having first called Govinda to mind, one should afterward perform the auspicious rites; this alone is what brings satisfaction to ancestors, gods, men, and the rest.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.234.4)

श्रद्धां धर्मयुतां नाम स्मृतिपूतानि कारयेत् कर्माणि सकलानीह चातुर्मास्ये गुणोत्तरे

śraddhāṁ dharmayutāṁ nāma smṛtipūtāni kārayet karmāṇi sakalānīha cāturmāsye guṇottare

One should perform, with reverence joined to righteousness, all the rites here purified by mindful remembrance, during the excellent season of Chaturmasya.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.234.5)

सत्संगो द्विजभक्तिश्च गुरुदेवाग्नि तर्पणम् गोप्रदानं वेदपाठः सत्क्रियासत्यभाषणम्

satsaṁgo dvijabhaktiśca gurudevāgni tarpaṇam gopradānaṁ vedapāṭhaḥ satkriyāsatyabhāṣaṇam

Association with the good, devotion to brahmins, tarpana to guru, god, and fire, the gift of cows, recitation of the Veda, good conduct, and truthful speech —

Verse 6 (skanda.6.234.6)

गोभक्तिर्दानभक्तिश्च सदा धर्मस्य साधनम् कृष्णे सुप्ते विशेषेण नियमोऽपि महाफलः

gobhaktirdānabhaktiśca sadā dharmasya sādhanam kṛṣṇe supte viśeṣeṇa niyamo'pi mahāphalaḥ

—devotion to cows and devotion to giving, are ever the means of righteousness; and while Krishna sleeps, an observance too bears especially great fruit.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.234.7)

नारद उवाच नियमः कीदृशो ब्रह्मन्फलं च नियमेन किम् नियमेन हरिस्तुष्टो यथा भवति तद्वद

nārada uvāca niyamaḥ kīdṛśo brahmanphalaṁ ca niyamena kim niyamena haristuṣṭo yathā bhavati tadvada

Narada said: O Brahman, what is this observance, and what is the fruit from an observance? Tell me how Hari becomes pleased through an observance.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.234.8)

ब्रह्मोवाच नियमश्चक्षुरादीनां क्रियासु विविधासु च कार्यो विद्यावता पुंसा तत्प्रयोगान्महासुखम्

brahmovāca niyamaścakṣurādīnāṁ kriyāsu vividhāsu ca kāryo vidyāvatā puṁsā tatprayogānmahāsukham

Brahma said: Discipline over the eye and the other senses, in their various activities, should be practised by a man of learning; from the exercise of that comes great happiness.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.234.9)

एतत्षड्वर्गहरणं रिपुनिग्रहणं परम् अध्यात्ममूलमेतद्धि परमं सौख्यकारणम्

etatṣaḍvargaharaṇaṁ ripunigrahaṇaṁ param adhyātmamūlametaddhi paramaṁ saukhyakāraṇam

This is the removal of the six inner foes, the supreme subjugation of one's enemies; this indeed is the root of spiritual life, the supreme cause of happiness.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.234.10)

तत्र तिष्ठंति नियतं क्षमासत्यादयो गुणाः विवेकरूपिणः सर्वे तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्

tatra tiṣṭhaṁti niyataṁ kṣamāsatyādayo guṇāḥ vivekarūpiṇaḥ sarve tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam

There, forbearance, truth, and the other virtues abide steadily, all taking the form of discernment; that is the supreme abode of Vishnu.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.234.11)

कृत्वा भवति यज्ञान्यत्कृतकृत्यत्वमत्र तत् स्यात्तस्य तत्पूर्वजानां येन ज्ञातमिदं पदम्

kṛtvā bhavati yajñānyatkṛtakṛtyatvamatra tat syāttasya tatpūrvajānāṁ yena jñātamidaṁ padam

Whatever fulfilment of purpose comes from the performance of sacrifices, that same fulfilment — for him and for his ancestors — comes to one by whom this state has been realized.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.234.12)

तन्मुहूर्त्तमपि ध्यात्वा पापं जन्मशतोद्भवम् भस्म साद्याति विहितं निरंजननिषेवणात्

tanmuhūrttamapi dhyātvā pāpaṁ janmaśatodbhavam bhasma sādyāti vihitaṁ niraṁjananiṣevaṇāt

By meditating on that even for a single moment, sin arising from a hundred births is reduced to ash — such is ordained, through devotion to the stainless one.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.234.13)

प्रत्यहं संकुचत्यस्य क्षुत्पिपासादिकः श्रमः स योगी नियमी नित्यं हरौ सुप्ते विशिष्यते

pratyahaṁ saṁkucatyasya kṣutpipāsādikaḥ śramaḥ sa yogī niyamī nityaṁ harau supte viśiṣyate

Day by day the weariness of hunger, thirst, and the like shrinks away for him; such a yogi, ever keeping to his discipline while Hari sleeps, becomes distinguished.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.234.14)

चातुर्मास्ये नरो भक्त्या योगाभ्यासरतो न चेत् तस्य हस्तात्परिभ्रष्टममृतं नात्र संशयः

cāturmāsye naro bhaktyā yogābhyāsarato na cet tasya hastātparibhraṣṭamamṛtaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ

If, during Chaturmasya, a man is not devoted with faith to the practice of yoga, then immortality has slipped from his very hand — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.234.15)

मनो नियमितं येन सर्वेच्छासु सदागतम् तस्य ज्ञाने च मोक्षे च कारणं मन एव हि

mano niyamitaṁ yena sarvecchāsu sadāgatam tasya jñāne ca mokṣe ca kāraṇaṁ mana eva hi

For him whose mind, ever wandering among all its desires, has been brought under control, that very mind becomes the cause of both knowledge and liberation.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.234.16)

मनोनियमने यत्नः कार्यः प्रज्ञावता सदा मनसा सुगृहीतेन ज्ञानाप्तिरखिला ध्रुवम्

manoniyamane yatnaḥ kāryaḥ prajñāvatā sadā manasā sugṛhītena jñānāptirakhilā dhruvam

A man of wisdom should always make effort toward the control of the mind; by a mind well mastered, the attainment of complete knowledge is certain.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.234.17)

तन्मनः क्षमया ग्राह्यं यथा वह्निश्च वारिणा एकया क्षमया सर्वो नियमः कथितो बुधैः

tanmanaḥ kṣamayā grāhyaṁ yathā vahniśca vāriṇā ekayā kṣamayā sarvo niyamaḥ kathito budhaiḥ

That mind should be seized by forbearance, just as fire is quenched by water; by forbearance alone, the wise declare, the whole of discipline is accomplished.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.234.18)

सत्यमेकं परो धर्मः सत्यमेकं परं तपः सत्यमेकं परं ज्ञानं सत्ये धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः

satyamekaṁ paro dharmaḥ satyamekaṁ paraṁ tapaḥ satyamekaṁ paraṁ jñānaṁ satye dharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Truth alone is the supreme dharma; truth alone is the supreme austerity; truth alone is the supreme knowledge; in truth, dharma is established.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.234.19)

धर्ममूलमहिंसा च मनसा तां च चितयन् कर्मणा च तथा वाचा तत एतां समाचरेत्

dharmamūlamahiṁsā ca manasā tāṁ ca citayan karmaṇā ca tathā vācā tata etāṁ samācaret

Non-violence is the root of dharma; keeping it fixed in the mind, one should then practise it in deed and in speech as well.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.234.20)

परस्वहरणं चौर्यं सर्वदा सर्वमानुषैः चातुर्मास्ये विशेषेण ब्रह्मदेवस्ववर्जनम्

parasvaharaṇaṁ cauryaṁ sarvadā sarvamānuṣaiḥ cāturmāsye viśeṣeṇa brahmadevasvavarjanam

The theft that is the taking of another's property should always be avoided by all men — and especially, during Chaturmasya, the seizing of what belongs to a brahmin or to a god.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.234.21)

अकृत्यकरणं चैव वर्जनीयं सदा बुधैः अहीनः सर्वकार्येषु यः सदा विप्र वर्तते

akṛtyakaraṇaṁ caiva varjanīyaṁ sadā budhaiḥ ahīnaḥ sarvakāryeṣu yaḥ sadā vipra vartate

The doing of what ought not to be done should ever be avoided by the wise; that brahmin who conducts himself, in all his undertakings, without deficiency...

Verse 22 (skanda.6.234.22)

स च योगी महाप्राज्ञः प्रज्ञाचक्षुरहं नधीः अहंकारो विषमिदं शरीरे वर्त्तते नृणाम्

sa ca yogī mahāprājñaḥ prajñācakṣurahaṁ nadhīḥ ahaṁkāro viṣamidaṁ śarīre varttate nṛṇām

...is indeed a yogi, a man of great wisdom, one possessed of the eye of understanding, free from the thought of 'I.' This poison called egotism dwells in the bodies of men.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.234.23)

तस्मात्स सर्वदा त्याज्यः सुप्ते देवे विशेषतः अनीहया जितक्रोधो जितलोभो भवेन्नरः

tasmātsa sarvadā tyājyaḥ supte deve viśeṣataḥ anīhayā jitakrodho jitalobho bhavennaraḥ

Therefore it should always be renounced, especially while the god sleeps; through freedom from craving a man conquers anger and conquers greed.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.234.24)

तस्य पापसहस्राणि देहाद्यांति सहस्रधा मोहं मानं पराजित्य शमरूपेण शत्रुणा

tasya pāpasahasrāṇi dehādyāṁti sahasradhā mohaṁ mānaṁ parājitya śamarūpeṇa śatruṇā

His thousands of sins depart from his body a thousandfold, when he has conquered delusion and pride through that enemy-conquering inner tranquillity.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.234.25)

विचारेण शमो ग्राह्यः सन्तोषेण तथा हि सः मात्सर्यमृजुभावेन नियच्छेत्स मुनीश्वरः

vicāreṇa śamo grāhyaḥ santoṣeṇa tathā hi saḥ mātsaryamṛjubhāvena niyacchetsa munīśvaraḥ

Tranquillity should be seized through reflection, and likewise through contentment; and that lord of sages should restrain envy through uprightness of nature.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.234.26)

चातुर्मास्ये दयाधर्मो न धर्मो भूतविद्रुहाम् सर्वदा सर्वदानेषु भूतद्रोहं विवर्जयेत्

cāturmāsye dayādharmo na dharmo bhūtavidruhām sarvadā sarvadāneṣu bhūtadrohaṁ vivarjayet

During Chaturmasya, the dharma is compassion; there is no dharma for those who do violence to beings; in every gift-giving one should always avoid harming any creature.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.234.27)

एतत्पापसहस्राणां मूलं प्राहुर्मनीषिणः तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कार्या भूतदया नृभिः

etatpāpasahasrāṇāṁ mūlaṁ prāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ tasmātsarvaprayatnena kāryā bhūtadayā nṛbhiḥ

This, the wise declare, is the root of a thousand sins; therefore compassion toward all beings should be practised by men with every effort.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.234.28)

सर्वेषामेव भूतानां हरिर्नित्यं हृदि स्थितः स एव हि पराभूतो यो भूतद्रोहकारकः

sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṁ harirnityaṁ hṛdi sthitaḥ sa eva hi parābhūto yo bhūtadrohakārakaḥ

Hari dwells ever in the heart of every single being; whoever does harm to a creature has truly wronged Him.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.234.29)

यस्मिन्धर्मे दया नैव स धर्मो दूषितो मतः दयां विना न विज्ञानं न धर्मो ज्ञानमेव च

yasmindharme dayā naiva sa dharmo dūṣito mataḥ dayāṁ vinā na vijñānaṁ na dharmo jñānameva ca

That dharma in which there is no compassion is held to be a corrupted dharma; without compassion there is no true understanding, no dharma, and no knowledge.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.234.30)

तस्मात्सर्वात्मभावेन दयाधर्मः सनातनः सेव्यः स पुरुषैर्नित्यं चातुर्मास्ये विशेषतः

tasmātsarvātmabhāvena dayādharmaḥ sanātanaḥ sevyaḥ sa puruṣairnityaṁ cāturmāsye viśeṣataḥ

Therefore the eternal dharma of compassion should ever be practised by men with their whole being, especially during Chaturmasya.