The Duties of the Four Ashramas

Verse 1 (vishnu.3.9.1)

और्व उवाच । बालः कृतोपनयनो वेदाहरणतत्परः । गुरुगेहे वसेद्भूप ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः

aurva uvāca bālaḥ kṛtopanayano vedāharaṇatatparaḥ gurugehe vasedbhūpa brahmacārī samāhitaḥ

Aurva said: A boy who has undergone the sacred-thread ceremony, devoted to the acquisition of the Veda, O king, should dwell attentively in his guru's house as a celibate student.

Verse 2 (vishnu.3.9.2)

शौचाचारव्रतं तत्र कार्य्यं शुश्रूषणं गुरोः । व्रतानि चरता ग्राह्यो वेदश्च कृतबुद्धिना

śaucācāravrataṁ tatra kāryyaṁ śuśrūṣaṇaṁ guroḥ vratāni caratā grāhyo vedaśca kṛtabuddhinā

There he should observe the vow of purity and good conduct, and should serve his guru; while observing the vows, the Veda is to be received by the intelligent student.

Verse 3 (vishnu.3.9.3)

उभे संध्ये रविं भूप तथैवाग्निं समाहितः । उपतिष्ठेत्तदा कुर्य्याद्गुरोरप्यभिवादनम्

ubhe saṁdhye raviṁ bhūpa tathaivāgniṁ samāhitaḥ upatiṣṭhettadā kuryyādgurorapyabhivādanam

O king, at both twilights he should attentively worship the Sun, and likewise Agni, and then also make his obeisance to his guru.

Verse 4 (vishnu.3.9.4)

स्थिते तिष्ठेद्व्रजेद्याते नीचैरासीत चासति । शिष्यो गुरोर्नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रतिकूलं न संचरेत्

sthite tiṣṭhedvrajedyāte nīcairāsīta cāsati śiṣyo gurornṛpaśreṣṭha pratikūlaṁ na saṁcaret

When his guru stands, let him stand; when he walks, let him walk; when he sits, let him sit low; O best of kings, the student should never act contrary to his guru.

Verse 5 (vishnu.3.9.5)

तेनैवोक्तं पठेद्वेदं नान्यचित्तः पुरस्स्थितः । अनुज्ञातश्च भिक्षान्नमश्नीयाद्गुरुणा ततः

tenaivoktaṁ paṭhedvedaṁ nānyacittaḥ purassthitaḥ anujñātaśca bhikṣānnamaśnīyādguruṇā tataḥ

At his guru's own bidding, without letting his mind wander elsewhere, seated before him, let him recite the Veda; and only then, with his guru's permission, let him eat the food obtained by begging.

Verse 6 (vishnu.3.9.6)

अवगाहेदपः पूर्वमाचार्य्येणावगाहितः । समिज्जलादिकं चास्य काल्यं काल्यमुपानयेत्

avagāhedapaḥ pūrvamācāryyeṇāvagāhitaḥ samijjalādikaṁ cāsya kālyaṁ kālyamupānayet

Only after his teacher has entered the water should he enter it; and he should daily bring to him fuel, water, and the like.

Verse 7 (vishnu.3.9.7)

गृहीतग्राह्यवेदश्च ततोनुज्ञामवाप्य च । गार्हस्थ्यमावसेत्प्राज्ञो निष्पन्नगुरुनिष्कृतिः

gṛhītagrāhyavedaśca tatonujñāmavāpya ca gārhasthyamāvasetprājño niṣpannaguruniṣkṛtiḥ

Having received as much of the Veda as was to be received, and then having obtained his guru's permission, the wise student, his debt to his guru discharged, should enter the householder stage.

Verse 8 (vishnu.3.9.8)

विधिनावाप्तदारस्तु धनं प्राप्य स्वकर्मणा । गृहस्थकार्य्यमखिलं कुर्य्याद्भूपाल शक्तितः

vidhināvāptadārastu dhanaṁ prāpya svakarmaṇā gṛhasthakāryyamakhilaṁ kuryyādbhūpāla śaktitaḥ

Having duly obtained a wife, and having acquired wealth by his own proper occupation, O king, let him perform all the duties of a householder to the best of his ability.

Verse 9 (vishnu.3.9.9)

निवापेन पितॄनर्चन्यज्ञैर्देवांस्तथातिथीन् । अन्नैर्मुनींश्च स्वाध्यायैरपत्येन प्रजापतिम्

nivāpena pitṝnarcanyajñairdevāṁstathātithīn annairmunīṁśca svādhyāyairapatyena prajāpatim

By libations, the ancestors; by sacrifices, the gods; by food, the guests; by the study of scripture, the sages; and by offspring, Prajapati [are honored and the debts to them repaid].

Verse 10 (vishnu.3.9.10)

भूतानि बलिभिश्चैव वात्सल्येनाखिलं जगत् । प्राप्नोति लोकान्पुरुषो निजकर्मसमार्जितान्

bhūtāni balibhiścaiva vātsalyenākhilaṁ jagat prāpnoti lokānpuruṣo nijakarmasamārjitān

By offerings of food, the [lesser] beings; and by loving affection, the whole world -- thus a man attains the worlds earned by his own deeds.

Verse 11 (vishnu.3.9.11)

भिक्षाभुजश्च ये केचित्परिव्राड्ब्रह्मचारिणः । तेप्यत्रैव प्रतिष्ठंते गार्हस्थ्यं तेन वै परम्

bhikṣābhujaśca ye kecitparivrāḍbrahmacāriṇaḥ tepyatraiva pratiṣṭhaṁte gārhasthyaṁ tena vai param

Whatever mendicants and celibate students live by eating alms, they too are established, ultimately, upon this very householder stage -- and it is for this reason the supreme one.

Verse 12 (vishnu.3.9.12)

वेदाहरणकार्य्याय तीर्थस्नानाय च प्रभो । अटंति वसुधां विप्राः पृथिवीदर्शनाय च

vedāharaṇakāryyāya tīrthasnānāya ca prabho aṭaṁti vasudhāṁ viprāḥ pṛthivīdarśanāya ca

O lord, it is for the sake of acquiring the Veda, for bathing at sacred fords, and for beholding the earth, that Brahmins wander about the world.

Verse 13 (vishnu.3.9.13)

अनिकेता ह्यनाहारा यत्र सायंगृहाश्च ये । तेषां गृहस्थः सर्वेषां प्रतिष्ठा योनिरेव च

aniketā hyanāhārā yatra sāyaṁgṛhāśca ye teṣāṁ gṛhasthaḥ sarveṣāṁ pratiṣṭhā yonireva ca

Those who are without a fixed abode and without stored food, for whom home is wherever evening finds them -- for all of these, the householder is their refuge and their very source.

Verse 14 (vishnu.3.9.14)

तेषां स्वागतदानादिवक्तव्यं मधुरं नृप । गृहागतानां दद्याच्च शयनासनभोजनम्

teṣāṁ svāgatadānādivaktavyaṁ madhuraṁ nṛpa gṛhāgatānāṁ dadyācca śayanāsanabhojanam

O king, to such guests sweet words of welcome should be spoken, and to those who come to one's house, bed, seat, and food should be given.

Verse 15 (vishnu.3.9.15)

अतिथिर्यस्य भग्नाशो गृहात्प्रतिनिवर्त्तते । स दत्त्वा दुष्कृतं तस्मै पुण्यमादाय गच्छति

atithiryasya bhagnāśo gṛhātpratinivarttate sa dattvā duṣkṛtaṁ tasmai puṇyamādāya gacchati

From whose house a guest departs with his hopes disappointed -- that guest, giving him his own sin, and taking away his merit, then goes.

Verse 16 (vishnu.3.9.16)

अवज्ञानमहंकारो दंभश्चैव गृह सतः । परितापोपघातौ च पारुष्यं च न शस्यते

avajñānamahaṁkāro daṁbhaścaiva gṛha sataḥ paritāpopaghātau ca pāruṣyaṁ ca na śasyate

Contempt, egotism, hypocrisy, causing distress, injury, and harshness -- these are not praised in one who is a householder.

Verse 17 (vishnu.3.9.17)

यस्तु सम्यक्करोत्येवं गृहस्थः परमं विधिम् । सर्वबंधविनिर्मुक्तो लोकानाप्नोत्यनुत्तमान्

yastu samyakkarotyevaṁ gṛhasthaḥ paramaṁ vidhim sarvabaṁdhavinirmukto lokānāpnotyanuttamān

That householder who duly follows this supreme rule of conduct, freed from all bonds, attains the highest worlds.

Verse 18 (vishnu.3.9.18)

वयःपरिणतो राजन्कृतकृत्यो गृहाश्रमी । पुत्रेषु भार्यां निक्षिप्य वनं गच्छेत्सहैव वा

vayaḥpariṇato rājankṛtakṛtyo gṛhāśramī putreṣu bhāryāṁ nikṣipya vanaṁ gacchetsahaiva vā

O king, the householder whose age has ripened and whose duties are fulfilled should, entrusting his wife to his sons, go to the forest, either alone or together with her.

Verse 19 (vishnu.3.9.19)

पर्णमूलफलाहारः केशश्मश्रुजटाधरः । भूमिशायी भवेत्तत्र मुनिस्सर्वातिथिर्नृप

parṇamūlaphalāhāraḥ keśaśmaśrujaṭādharaḥ bhūmiśāyī bhavettatra munissarvātithirnṛpa

Living on fruits and roots, wearing matted hair and beard, sleeping upon the ground, that sage should there be, O king, a host to every guest.

Verse 20 (vishnu.3.9.20)

चर्मकाशकुशैः कुर्य्यात्परिधानोत्तरीयके । तद्वत्त्रिषवणं स्नानं शस्तमस्य नरेश्वर

carmakāśakuśaiḥ kuryyātparidhānottarīyake tadvattriṣavaṇaṁ snānaṁ śastamasya nareśvara

He should make his garment and upper cloth of hide, kasha grass, or kusha grass; and, O lord of men, thrice-daily bathing is likewise praised for him.

Verse 21 (vishnu.3.9.21)

देवताभ्यर्चनं होमस्सर्वाभ्यागतपूजनम् । भिक्षाबलिप्रदानं च शस्तमस्य नरेश्वर

devatābhyarcanaṁ homassarvābhyāgatapūjanam bhikṣābalipradānaṁ ca śastamasya nareśvara

Worship of the gods, the fire-oblation, honoring all who come to him, and giving alms and offerings -- O lord of men, all these are praised for him.

Verse 22 (vishnu.3.9.22)

वन्यस्नेहेन गात्राणामभ्यंगश्चास्य शस्यते । तपश्च तस्य राजेंद्र शीतोष्णादिसहिष्णुता

vanyasnehena gātrāṇāmabhyaṁgaścāsya śasyate tapaśca tasya rājeṁdra śītoṣṇādisahiṣṇutā

Anointing his limbs with forest oils is also praised for him; and, O king of kings, the endurance of cold, heat, and the like is his austerity.

Verse 23 (vishnu.3.9.23)

यस्त्वेतां नियतश्चर्यां वानप्रस्थश्चरेन्मुनिः । स दहत्यग्निवद्दोषाञ्जयेल्लोकांश्च शाश्वतान्

yastvetāṁ niyataścaryāṁ vānaprasthaścarenmuniḥ sa dahatyagnivaddoṣāñjayellokāṁśca śāśvatān

The forest-dwelling sage who follows this fixed observance burns away his faults as if by fire, and conquers the eternal worlds.

Verse 24 (vishnu.3.9.24)

चतुर्थश्चाश्रमो भिक्षोः प्रोच्यते यो मनीषिभिः । तस्य स्वरूपं गदतो मम श्रोतुं नृपार्हसि

caturthaścāśramo bhikṣoḥ procyate yo manīṣibhiḥ tasya svarūpaṁ gadato mama śrotuṁ nṛpārhasi

The fourth ashrama, which the wise call that of the mendicant -- as I describe its nature, O king, you are fit to hear it from me.

Verse 25 (vishnu.3.9.25)

पुत्रद्रव्यकलत्रेषु त्यक्तस्नेहो नराधिप । चतुर्थमाश्रमस्थानं गच्छेन्निर्धूतमत्सरः

putradravyakalatreṣu tyaktasneho narādhipa caturthamāśramasthānaṁ gacchennirdhūtamatsaraḥ

O lord of men, abandoning attachment to son, wealth, and wife, and free from envy, a man should go to the fourth station, the ashrama.

Verse 26 (vishnu.3.9.26)

त्रैवर्गिकांस्त्यजेत्सर्वानारंभानवनीपते । मित्रादिषु समो मैत्रस्समस्तेष्वेव जंतुषु

traivargikāṁstyajetsarvānāraṁbhānavanīpate mitrādiṣu samo maitrassamasteṣveva jaṁtuṣu

O lord of the earth, let him abandon all undertakings connected with the threefold aim of life; let him be equally friendly toward friends and toward all creatures alike.

Verse 27 (vishnu.3.9.27)

जरायुजाण्डजादीनां वाड्मनःकायकर्मभिः । युक्तः कुर्वीत न द्रोहं सर्वसंगांश्च वर्जयेत्

jarāyujāṇḍajādīnāṁ vāḍmanaḥkāyakarmabhiḥ yuktaḥ kurvīta na drohaṁ sarvasaṁgāṁśca varjayet

Toward beings born from the womb, from the egg, and the rest, let him, in his acts of speech, mind, and body, never do them harm, and let him give up all attachments.

Verse 28 (vishnu.3.9.28)

एकारात्रस्थितिर्ग्रामे पंचरात्रस्थितिः पुरे । तथा तिष्ठेद्यथाप्रीतिर्द्वेषो वा नास्य जायते

ekārātrasthitirgrāme paṁcarātrasthitiḥ pure tathā tiṣṭhedyathāprītirdveṣo vā nāsya jāyate

Let him dwell one night in a village, and five nights in a town; let him abide in such a way that neither attachment nor aversion ever arises in him.

Verse 29 (vishnu.3.9.29)

प्राणयात्रानिमित्तं च व्यंगारे भुक्तवज्जने । काले प्रशस्तवर्णानां भिक्षार्थं पर्यटेद्गृहान्

prāṇayātrānimittaṁ ca vyaṁgāre bhuktavajjane kāle praśastavarṇānāṁ bhikṣārthaṁ paryaṭedgṛhān

Solely for the sake of sustaining life, when the household fire has died down and the people have already eaten, at such a time let him go about the houses of the approved varnas for alms.

Verse 30 (vishnu.3.9.30)

कामः क्रोधस्तथा दर्पमोहलोभादयश्च ये । तांस्तु सर्वान्परित्यज्य परिव्राण्निर्ममो भवेत्

kāmaḥ krodhastathā darpamohalobhādayaśca ye tāṁstu sarvānparityajya parivrāṇnirmamo bhavet

Desire, anger, and pride, delusion, greed, and the other such faults -- abandoning all of these entirely, the wandering mendicant should become free of all sense of 'mine'.

Verse 31 (vishnu.3.9.31)

अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो दत्त्वा यश्चरते मुनिः । तस्यापि सर्वभूतेभ्यो न भयं विद्यते क्वचित्

abhayaṁ sarvabhūtebhyo dattvā yaścarate muniḥ tasyāpi sarvabhūtebhyo na bhayaṁ vidyate kvacit

The sage who wanders about, having granted freedom from fear to all beings, for him too there exists no fear whatsoever from any being.

Verse 32 (vishnu.3.9.32)

कृत्वाग्निहोत्रं स्वशरीरसंस्थं शारीरमग्निं स्वमुखे जुहोति । विप्रस्तु भैक्ष्योपहितैर्हविर्भिश्चिताग्निकानां व्रजति स्म लोकान्

kṛtvāgnihotraṁ svaśarīrasaṁsthaṁ śārīramagniṁ svamukhe juhoti viprastu bhaikṣyopahitairhavirbhiścitāgnikānāṁ vrajati sma lokān

Performing the fire-oblation as residing within his own body, he offers his oblation into the bodily fire of his own mouth; such a Brahmin, by the oblations obtained through alms, attains the same worlds as those who maintain the sacrificial fire.

Verse 33 (vishnu.3.9.33)

मोक्षाश्रमं यश्चरते यथोक्तं शुचिस्सुखं कल्पितबुद्धियुक्तः । अनिंधनं ज्योतिरिव प्रशांतस्स ब्रह्मलोकं श्रयते द्विजातिः

mokṣāśramaṁ yaścarate yathoktaṁ śucissukhaṁ kalpitabuddhiyuktaḥ aniṁdhanaṁ jyotiriva praśāṁtassa brahmalokaṁ śrayate dvijātiḥ

That twice-born who thus purely and easily practices the mendicant stage of liberation, as it has been described, endowed with a resolved understanding -- like a flame grown calm for want of fuel, he attains the world of Brahma.