भगवन् सर्ववर्णानां यथावदनुपूर्वशः । अन्तरप्रभवानां च धर्मान्नो वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ १.२॥
bhagavan sarvavarṇānāṃ yathāvadanupūrvaśaḥ . antaraprabhavānāṃ ca dharmānno vaktumarhasi .. 1.2..
1.2. ’Deign, divine one, to declare to us precisely and in due order the sacred laws of each of the (four chief) castes (varna) and of the intermediate ones.
1.3. ’For thou, O Lord, alone knowest the purport, (i.e.) the rites, and the knowledge of the soul, (taught) in this whole ordinance of the Self-existent (Svayambhu), which is unknowable and unfathomable.’
1.5. This (universe) existed in the shape of Darkness, unperceived, destitute of distinctive marks, unattainable by reasoning, unknowable, wholly immersed, as it were, in deep sleep.
1.6. Then the divine Self-existent (Svayambhu, himself) indiscernible, (but) making (all) this, the great elements and the rest, discernible, appeared with irresistible (creative) power, dispelling the darkness.
योऽसावतीन्द्रियग्राह्यः सूक्ष्मोऽव्यक्तः सनातनः । सर्वभूतमयोऽचिन्त्यः स एष स्वयमुद्बभौ ॥ १.७॥
yo'sāvatīndriyagrāhyaḥ sūkṣmo'vyaktaḥ sanātanaḥ . sarvabhūtamayo'cintyaḥ sa eṣa svayamudbabhau .. 1.7..
1.7. He who can be perceived by the internal organ (alone), who is subtile, indiscernible, and eternal, who contains all created beings and is inconceivable, shone forth of his own (will).
āpo nārā iti proktā āpo vai narasūnavaḥ . tā yadasyāyanaṃ pūrvaṃ tena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ .. 1.10..
1.10. The waters are called narah, (for) the waters are, indeed, the offspring of Nara; as they were his first residence (ayana), he thence is named Narayana.
1.11. From that (first) cause, which is indiscernible, eternal, and both real and unreal, was produced that male (Purusha), who is famed in this world (under the appellation of) Brahman.
ताभ्यां स शकलाभ्यां च दिवं भूमिं च निर्ममे । मध्ये व्योम दिशश्चाष्टावपां स्थानं च शाश्वतम् ॥ १.१३॥
tābhyāṃ sa śakalābhyāṃ ca divaṃ bhūmiṃ ca nirmame . madhye vyoma diśaścāṣṭāvapāṃ sthānaṃ ca śāśvatam .. 1.13..
1.13. And out of those two halves he formed heaven and earth, between them the middle sphere, the eight points of the horizon, and the eternal abode of the waters.
1.14. From himself (atmanah) he also drew forth the mind, which is both real and unreal, likewise from the mind egoism, which possesses the function of self-consciousness (and is) lordly;
महान्तमेव चात्मानं सर्वाणि त्रिगुणानि च । विषयाणां ग्रहीतॄणि शनैः पञ्चैन्द्रियाणि च ॥ १.१५॥
mahāntameva cātmānaṃ sarvāṇi triguṇāni ca . viṣayāṇāṃ grahītṝṇi śanaiḥ pañcaindriyāṇi ca .. 1.15..
1.15. Moreover, the great one, the soul, and all (products) affected by the three qualities, and, in their order, the five organs which perceive the objects of sensation.
yan mūrtyavayavāḥ sūkṣmāstānīmānyāśrayanti ṣaṭ . tasmāccharīramityāhustasya mūrtiṃ manīṣiṇaḥ .. 1.17..
1.17. Because those six (kinds of) minute particles, which form the (creator’s) frame, enter (a-sri) these
(creatures), therefore the wise call his frame sarira, (the body.)
1.18. That the great elements enter, together with their functions and the mind, through its minute parts the
framer of all beings, the imperishable one.
आद्याद्यस्य गुणं त्वेषामवाप्नोति परः परः । यो यो यावतिथश्चैषां स स तावद्गुणः स्मृतः ॥ १.२०॥
ādyādyasya guṇaṃ tveṣāmavāpnoti paraḥ paraḥ . yo yo yāvatithaścaiṣāṃ sa sa tāvadguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ .. 1.20..
1.20. Among them each succeeding (element) acquires the quality of the preceding one, and whatever place (in
the sequence) each of them occupies, even so many qualities it is declared to possess.
कर्मात्मनां च देवानां सोऽसृजत्प्राणिनां प्रभुः । साध्यानां च गणं सूक्ष्मं यज्ञं चैव सनातनम् ॥ १.२२॥
karmātmanāṃ ca devānāṃ so'sṛjatprāṇināṃ prabhuḥ . sādhyānāṃ ca gaṇaṃ sūkṣmaṃ yajñaṃ caiva sanātanam .. 1.22..
1.22. He, the Lord, also created the class of the gods, who are endowed with life, and whose nature is action; and the subtile class of the Sadhyas, and the eternal sacrifice
1.23. But from fire, wind, and the sun he drew forth the threefold eternal Veda, called Rik, Yagus, and Saman, for the due performance of the sacrifice.
1.26. Moreover, in order to distinguish actions, he separated merit from demerit, and he caused the creatures to
be affected by the pairs (of opposites), such as pain and pleasure.
यं तु कर्मणि यस्मिन् स न्ययुङ्क्त प्रथमं प्रभुः । स तदेव स्वयं भेजे सृज्यमानः पुनः पुनः ॥ १.२८॥
yaṃ tu karmaṇi yasmin sa nyayuṅkta prathamaṃ prabhuḥ . sa tadeva svayaṃ bheje sṛjyamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ .. 1.28..
1.28. But to whatever course of action the Lord at first appointed each (kind of beings), that alone it has
spontaneously adopted in each succeeding creation.
1.29. Whatever he assigned to each at the (first) creation, noxiousness or harmlessness, gentleness or ferocity,
virtue or sin, truth or falsehood, that clung (afterwards) spontaneously to it.
1.30. As at the change of the seasons each season of its own accord assumes its distinctive marks, even so corporeal beings (resume in new births) their (appointed) course of action.
lokānāṃ tu vivṛddhyarthaṃ mukhabāhūrupādataḥ . brāhmaṇaṃ kṣatriyaṃ vaiśyaṃ śūdraṃ ca niravartayat .. 1.31..
1.31. But for the sake of the prosperity of the worlds he caused the Brahmana, the Kshatriya, the Vaisya, and
the Sudra to proceed from his mouth, his arms, his thighs, and his feet.
तपस्तप्त्वाऽसृजद्यं तु स स्वयं पुरुषो विराट् । तं मां वित्तास्य सर्वस्य स्रष्टारं द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ १.३३॥
tapastaptvā'sṛjadyaṃ tu sa svayaṃ puruṣo virāṭ . taṃ māṃ vittāsya sarvasya sraṣṭāraṃ dvijasattamāḥ .. 1.33..
1.33. But know me, O most holy among the twice-born, to be the creator of this whole (world), whom that male,
Virag, himself produced, having performed austerities.
1.34. Then I, desiring to produce created beings, performed very difficult austerities, and (thereby) called into
existence ten great sages, lords of created beings,
1.37. Yakshas (the servants of Kubera, the demons called) Rakshasas and Pisakas, Gandharvas (or musicians of the gods), Apsarases (the dancers of the gods), Asuras, (the snake-deities called) Nagas and Sarpas, (the bird-
deities called) Suparnas and the several classes of the manes,
विद्युतोऽशनिमेघांश्च रोहितैन्द्रधनूंषि च । उल्कानिर्घातकेतूंश्च ज्योतींष्युच्चावचानि च ॥ १.३८॥
vidyuto'śanimeghāṃśca rohitaindradhanūṃṣi ca . ulkānirghātaketūṃśca jyotīṃṣyuccāvacāni ca .. 1.38..
1.38. Lightnings, thunderbolts and clouds, imperfect (rohita) and perfect rainbows, falling meteors, supernatural noises, comets, and heavenly lights of many kinds,
1.41. Thus was this whole (creation), both the immovable and the movable, produced by those high-minded
ones by means of austerities and at my command, (each being) according to (the results of) its actions.
yeṣāṃ tu yādṛśaṃ karma bhūtānāmiha kīrtitam . tattathā vo'bhidhāsyāmi kramayogaṃ ca janmani .. 1.42..
1.42. But whatever act is stated (to belong) to (each of) those creatures here below, that I will truly declare to you, as well as their order in respect to birth.
1.46. All plants, propagated by seed or by slips, grow from shoots; annual plants (are those) which, bearing many flowers and fruits, perish after the ripening of their fruit;
अपुष्पाः फलवन्तो ये ते वनस्पतयः स्मृताः । पुष्पिणः फलिनश्चैव वृक्षास्तूभयतः स्मृताः ॥ १.४७॥
apuṣpāḥ phalavanto ye te vanaspatayaḥ smṛtāḥ . puṣpiṇaḥ phalinaścaiva vṛkṣāstūbhayataḥ smṛtāḥ .. 1.47..
1.47. (Those trees) which bear fruit without flowers are called vanaspati (lords of the forest); but those which
bear both flowers and fruit are called vriksha.
gucchagulmaṃ tu vividhaṃ tathaiva tṛṇajātayaḥ . bījakāṇḍaruhāṇyeva pratānā vallya eva ca .. 1.48..
1.48. But the various plants with many stalks, growing from one or several roots, the different kinds of grasses, the climbing plants and the creepers spring all from seed or from slips.
1.49. These (plants) which are surrounded by multiform Darkness, the result of their acts (in former existences), possess internal consciousness and experience pleasure and pain.
1.50. The (various) conditions in this always terrible and constantly changing circle of births and deaths to which created beings are subject, are stated to begin with (that of) Brahman, and to end with (that of) these (just mentioned immovable creatures).
1.51. When he whose power is incomprehensible, had thus produced the universe and men, he disappeared in himself, repeatedly suppressing one period by means of the other.
1.54. When they are absorbed all at once in that great soul, then he who is the soul of all beings sweetly slumbers, free from all care and occupation.
तमोऽयं तु समाश्रित्य चिरं तिष्ठति सैन्द्रियः । न च स्वं कुरुते कर्म तदोत्क्रामति मूर्तितः ॥ १.५५॥
tamo'yaṃ tu samāśritya ciraṃ tiṣṭhati saindriyaḥ . na ca svaṃ kurute karma tadotkrāmati mūrtitaḥ .. 1.55..
1.55. When this (soul) has entered darkness, it remains for a long time united with the organs (of sensation), but performs not its functions; it then leaves the corporeal frame.
1.56. When, being clothed with minute particles (only), it enters into vegetable or animal seed, it then assumes, united (with the fine body), a (new) corporeal frame.
1.57. Thus he, the imperishable one, by (alternately) waking and slumbering, incessantly revivifies and destroys
this whole movable and immovable (creation).
1.58. But he having composed these Institutes (of the sacred law), himself taught them, according to the rule, to me alone in the beginning; next I (taught them) to Mariki and the other sages.
1.61. Six other high-minded, very powerful Manus, who belong to the race of this Manu, the descendant of the Self-existent (Svayambhu), and who have severally produced created beings,
svāyambhuvādyāḥ saptaite manavo bhūritejasaḥ . sve sve'ntare sarvamidamutpādyāpuścarācaram .. 1.63..
1.63. These seven very glorious Manus, the first among whom is Svayambhuva, produced and protected this whole movable and immovable (creation), each during the period (allotted to him).
निमेषा दश चाष्टौ च काष्ठा त्रिंशत्तु ताः कला । त्रिंशत्कला मुहूर्तः स्यादहोरात्रं तु तावतः ॥ १.६४॥
nimeṣā daśa cāṣṭau ca kāṣṭhā triṃśattu tāḥ kalā . triṃśatkalā muhūrtaḥ syādahorātraṃ tu tāvataḥ .. 1.64..
1.64. Eighteen nimeshas (twinklings of the eye, are one kashtha), thirty kashthas one kala, thirty kalas one muhurta, and as many (muhurtas) one day and night.
1.66. A month is a day and a night of the manes, but the division is according to fortnights. The dark (fortnight) is their day for active exertion, the bright (fortnight) their night for sleep.
1.67. A year is a day and a night of the gods; their division is (as follows): the half year during which the sun progresses to the north will be the day, that during which it goes southwards the night.
brāhmasya tu kṣapāhasya yatpramāṇaṃ samāsataḥ . ekaikaśo yugānāṃ tu kramaśastannibodhata .. 1.68..
1.68. But hear now the brief (description of) the duration of a night and a day of Brahman and of the several ages (of the world, yuga) according to their order.
1.69. They declare that the Krita age (consists of) four thousand years (of the gods); the twilight preceding it consists of as many hundreds, and the twilight following it of the same number.
1.73. Those (only, who) know that the holy day of Brahman, indeed, ends after (the completion of) one thousand ages (of the gods) and that his night lasts as long, (are really) men acquainted with (the length of) days
and nights.
1.75. Mind, impelled by (Brahman’s) desire to create, performs the work of creation by modifying itself, thence
ether is produced; they declare that sound is the quality of the latter.
1.77. Next from wind modifying itself, proceeds the brilliant light, which illuminates and dispels darkness; that is declared to possess the quality of colour;
1.78. And from light, modifying itself, (is produced) water, possessing the quality of taste, from water earth which has the quality of smell; such is the creation in the beginning.
1.79. The before-mentioned age of the gods, (or) twelve thousand (of their years), being multiplied by seventy- one, (constitutes what) is here named the period of a Manu (Manvantara).
1.82. In the other (three ages), by reason of (unjust) gains (agama), Dharma is deprived successively of one foot, and through (the prevalence of) theft, falsehood, and fraud the merit (gained by men) is diminished by one fourth (in each).
1.83. (Men are) free from disease, accomplish all their aims, and live four hundred years in the Krita age, but in
the Treta and (in each of) the succeeding (ages) their life is lessened by one quarter.
1.84. The life of mortals, mentioned in the Veda, the desired results of sacrificial rites and the (supernatural)
power of embodied (spirits) are fruits proportioned among men according to (the character of) the age.
1.85. One set of duties (is prescribed) for men in the Krita age, different ones in the Treta and in the Dvapara, and (again) another (set) in the Kali, in a proportion as (those) ages decrease in length.
1.86. In the Krita age the chief (virtue) is declared to be (the performance of) austerities, in the Treta (divine) knowledge, in the Dvapara (the performance of) sacrifices, in the Kali liberality alone.
sarvasyāsya tu sargasya guptyarthaṃ sa mahādyutiḥ . mukhabāhūrupajjānāṃ pṛthakkarmāṇyakalpayat .. 1.87..
1.87. But in order to protect this universe He, the most resplendent one, assigned separate (duties and) occupations to those who sprang from his mouth, arms, thighs, and feet.
प्रजानां रक्षणं दानमिज्याऽध्ययनमेव च । विषयेष्वप्रसक्तिश्च क्षत्रियस्य समादिशत् ॥ १.८९॥
prajānāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ dānamijyā'dhyayanameva ca . viṣayeṣvaprasaktiśca kṣatriyasya samādiśat .. 1.89..
1.89. The Kshatriya he commanded to protect the people, to bestow gifts, to offer sacrifices, to study (the Veda), and to abstain from attaching himself to sensual pleasures;
1.92. Man is stated to be purer above the navel (than below); hence the Self-existent (Svayambhu) has declared
the purest (part) of him (to be) his mouth.
1.93. As the Brahmana sprang from (Brahman’s) mouth, as he was the first-born, and as he possesses the Veda,
he is by right the lord of this whole creation.
तं हि स्वयम्भूः स्वादास्यात्तपस्तप्त्वाऽदितोऽसृजत् । हव्यकव्याभिवाह्याय सर्वस्यास्य च गुप्तये ॥ १.९४॥
taṃ hi svayambhūḥ svādāsyāttapastaptvā'dito'sṛjat . havyakavyābhivāhyāya sarvasyāsya ca guptaye .. 1.94..
1.94. For the Self-existent (Svayambhu), having performed austerities, produced him first from his own mouth,
in order that the offerings might be conveyed to the gods and manes and that this universe might be preserved.
1.95. What created being can surpass him, through whose mouth the gods continually consume the sacrificial
viands and the manes the offerings to the dead?
1.96. Of created beings the most excellent are said to be those which are animated; of the animated, those which
subsist by intelligence; of the intelligent, mankind; and of men, the Brahmanas;
1.97. Of Brahmanas, those learned (in the Veda); of the learned, those who recognise (the necessity and the manner of performing the prescribed duties); of those who possess this knowledge, those who perform them; of the performers, those who know the Brahman.
उत्पत्तिरेव विप्रस्य मूर्तिर्धर्मस्य शाश्वती । स हि धर्मार्थमुत्पन्नो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ १.९८॥
utpattireva viprasya mūrtirdharmasya śāśvatī . sa hi dharmārthamutpanno brahmabhūyāya kalpate .. 1.98..
1.98. The very birth of a Brahmana is an eternal incarnation of the sacred law; for he is born to (fulfil) the sacred law, and becomes one with Brahman.
1.99. A Brahmana, coming into existence, is born as the highest on earth, the lord of all created beings, for the protection of the treasury of the law.
1.100. Whatever exists in the world is, the property of the Brahmana; on account of the excellence of his origin The Brahmana is, indeed, entitled to all.
1.101. The Brahmana eats but his own food, wears but his own apparel, bestows but his own in alms; other mortals subsist through the benevolence of the Brahmana.
1.102. In order to clearly settle his duties those of the other (castes) according to their order, wise Manu sprung from the Self-existent, composed these Institutes (of the sacred Law).
1.104. A Brahmana who studies these Institutes (and) faithfully fulfils the duties (prescribed therein), is never tainted by sins, arising from thoughts, words, or deeds
1.106. (To study) this (work) is the best means of securing welfare, it increases understanding, it procures fame
and long life, it (leads to) supreme bliss.
1.107. In this (work) the sacred law has been fully stated as well as the good and bad qualities of (human)
actions and the immemorial rule of conduct, (to be followed) by all the four castes (varna).
आचारः परमो धर्मः श्रुत्योक्तः स्मार्त एव च । तस्मादस्मिन् सदा युक्तो नित्यं स्यादात्मवान् द्विजः ॥ १.१०८॥
ācāraḥ paramo dharmaḥ śrutyoktaḥ smārta eva ca . tasmādasmin sadā yukto nityaṃ syādātmavān dvijaḥ .. 1.108..
1.108. The rule of conduct is transcendent law, whether it be taught in the revealed texts or in the sacred tradition; hence a twice-born man who possesses regard for himself, should be always careful to (follow) it.
1.110. The sages who saw that the sacred law is thus grounded on the rule of conduct, have taken good conduct to be the most excellent root of all austerity.
जगतश्च समुत्पत्तिं संस्कारविधिमेव च । व्रतचर्यौपचारं च स्नानस्य च परं विधिम् ॥ १.१११॥
jagataśca samutpattiṃ saṃskāravidhimeva ca . vratacaryaupacāraṃ ca snānasya ca paraṃ vidhim .. 1.111..
1.111. The creation of the universe, the rule of the sacraments, the ordinances of studentship, and the respectful behaviour (towards Gurus), the most excellent rule of bathing (on return from the teacher’s house),
दाराधिगमनं चैव विवाहानां च लक्षणम् । महायज्ञविधानं च श्राद्धकल्पं च शाश्वतम् ॥ १.११२॥
dārādhigamanaṃ caiva vivāhānāṃ ca lakṣaṇam . mahāyajñavidhānaṃ ca śrāddhakalpaṃ ca śāśvatam .. 1.112..
1.112. (The law of) marriage and the description of the (various) marriage-rites, the regulations for the great sacrifices and the eternal rule of the funeral sacrifices,
वृत्तीनां लक्षणं चैव स्नातकस्य व्रतानि च । भक्ष्याभक्ष्यं च शौचं च द्रव्याणां शुद्धिमेव च ॥ १.११३॥
vṛttīnāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ caiva snātakasya vratāni ca . bhakṣyābhakṣyaṃ ca śaucaṃ ca dravyāṇāṃ śuddhimeva ca .. 1.113..
1.113. The description of the modes of (gaining) subsistence and the duties of a Snataka, (the rules regarding)
lawful and forbidden food, the purification of men and of things,
स्त्रीधर्मयोगं तापस्यं मोक्षं संन्यासमेव च । राज्ञश्च धर्ममखिलं कार्याणां च विनिर्णयम् ॥ १.११४॥
strīdharmayogaṃ tāpasyaṃ mokṣaṃ saṃnyāsameva ca . rājñaśca dharmamakhilaṃ kāryāṇāṃ ca vinirṇayam .. 1.114..
1.114. The laws concerning women, (the law) of hermits, (the manner of gaining) final emancipation and (of)
renouncing the world, the whole duty of a king and the manner of deciding lawsuits,
साक्षिप्रश्नविधानं च धर्मं स्त्रीपुंसयोरपि । विभागधर्मं द्यूतं च कण्टकानां च शोधनम् ॥ १.११५॥
sākṣipraśnavidhānaṃ ca dharmaṃ strīpuṃsayorapi . vibhāgadharmaṃ dyūtaṃ ca kaṇṭakānāṃ ca śodhanam .. 1.115..
1.115. The rules for the examination of witnesses, the laws concerning husband and wife, the law of
(inheritance and) division, (the law concerning) gambling and the removal of (men nocuous like) thorns,
वैश्यशूद्रोपचारं च सङ्कीर्णानां च सम्भवम् । आपद्धर्मं च वर्णानां प्रायश्चित्तविधिं तथा ॥ १.११६॥
vaiśyaśūdropacāraṃ ca saṅkīrṇānāṃ ca sambhavam . āpaddharmaṃ ca varṇānāṃ prāyaścittavidhiṃ tathā .. 1.116..
1.116. (The law concerning) the behaviour of Vaisyas and Sudras, the origin of the mixed castes, the law for all
castes in times of distress and the law of penances,
1.117. The threefold course of transmigrations, the result of (good or bad) actions, (the manner of attaining)
supreme bliss and the examination of the good and bad qualities of actions,
1.118. The primeval laws of countries, of castes (gati), of families, and the rules concerning heretics and
companies (of traders and the like)- (all that) Manu has declared in these Institutes.