12.1. ’O sinless One, the whole sacred law, (applicable) to the four castes, has been declared by thee; communicate to us (now), according to the truth, the ultimate retribution for (their) deeds.’
sa tān uvāca dharma-ātmā mahā-ṛṣīn mānavaḥ bhṛguḥ . asya sarvasya śṛṇuta karma-yogasya nirṇayam .. 12.2..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.2. To the great sages (who addressed him thus) righteous Bhrigu, sprung from Manu, answered, ’Hear the decision concerning this whole connexion with actions.’
12.3. Action, which springs from the mind, from speech, and from the body, produces either good or evil results; by action are caused the (various) conditions of men, the highest, the middling, and the lowest.
12.4. Know that the mind is the instigator here below, even to that (action) which is connected with the body, (and) which is of three kinds, has three locations, and falls under ten heads.
12.5. Coveting the property of others, thinking in one’s heart of what is undesirable, and adherence to false (doctrines), are the three kinds of (sinful) mental action
अदत्तानाम् उपादानम् हिंसा च एव अविधानतः । परदार-उपसेवा च शारीरम् त्रिविधम् स्मृतम् ॥ १२।७॥
TRANSLITERATION
adattānām upādānam hiṃsā ca eva avidhānataḥ . paradāra-upasevā ca śārīram trividham smṛtam .. 12.7..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.7. Taking what has not been given, injuring (creatures) without the sanction of the law, and holding criminal intercourse with another man’s wife, are declared to be the three kinds of (wicked) bodily action.
12.8. (A man) obtains (the result of) a good or evil mental (act) in his mind, (that of) a verbal (act) in his speech, (that of) a bodily (act) in his body.
12.9. In consequence of (many) sinful acts committed with his body, a man becomes (in the next birth) something inanimate, in consequence (of sins) committed by speech, a bird, or a beast, and in consequence of mental (sins he is re-born in) a low caste.
वाग्दण्डोऽथ मनोदण्डः कायदण्डस्तथैव च । यस्यैते निहिता बुद्धौ त्रिदण्डीति स उच्यते ॥ १२.१०॥
PADACHEDA
वाग्दण्डः अथ मनोदण्डः कायदण्डः तथा एव च । यस्य एते निहिताः बुद्धौ त्रिदण्डी इति सः उच्यते ॥ १२।१०॥
TRANSLITERATION
vāgdaṇḍaḥ atha manodaṇḍaḥ kāyadaṇḍaḥ tathā eva ca . yasya ete nihitāḥ buddhau tridaṇḍī iti saḥ ucyate .. 12.10..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.10. That man is called a (true) tridandin in whose mind these three, the control over his speech (vagdanda), the control over his thoughts (manodanda), and the control over his body (kayadanda), are firmly fixed.
12.11. That man who keeps this threefold control (over himself) with respect to all created beings and wholly subdues desire and wrath, thereby assuredly gains complete success.
yaḥ asya ātmanaḥ kārayitā tam kṣetrajñam pracakṣate . yaḥ karoti tu karmāṇi sa bhūtātmā ucyate budhaiḥ .. 12.12..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.12. Him who impels this (corporeal) Self to action, they call the Kshetragna (the knower of the field); but him who does the acts, the wise name the Bhutatman (the Self consisting of the elements).
12.13. Another internal Self that is generated with all embodied (Kshetragnas) is called Giva, through which (the Kshetragna) becomes sensible of all pleasure and pain in (successive) births.
12.16. Another strong body, formed of particles (of the) five (elements and) destined to suffer the torments (in hell), is produced after death (in the case) of wicked men.
tena anubhūya tāḥ yāmīḥ śarīreṇa eha yātanāḥ . tāsu eva bhūtamātrāsu pralīyante vibhāgaśaḥ .. 12.17..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.17. When (the evil-doers) by means of that body have suffered there the torments imposed by Yama, (its constituent parts) are united, each according to its class, with those very elements (from which they were taken).
saḥ anubhūya asukha-udarkān doṣān viṣaya-saṅga-jān . vyapeta-kalmaṣaḥ abhyeti tau eva ubhau mahā-ojasau .. 12.18..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.18. He, having suffered for his faults, which are produced by attachment to sensual objects, and which result in misery, approaches, free from stains, those two mighty ones.
तौ धर्मम् पश्यतः तस्य पापम् च अतन्द्रितौ सह । याभ्याम् प्राप्नोति सम्पृक्तः प्रेत्य इह च सुख-असुखम् ॥ १२।१९॥
TRANSLITERATION
tau dharmam paśyataḥ tasya pāpam ca atandritau saha . yābhyām prāpnoti sampṛktaḥ pretya iha ca sukha-asukham .. 12.19..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.19. Those two together examine without tiring the merit and the guilt of that (individual soul), united with which it obtains bliss or misery both in this world and the next.
एताः दृष्ट्वा अस्य जीवस्य गतीः स्वेन एव चेतसा । धर्मतः अधर्मतः च एव धर्मे दध्यात् सदा मनः ॥ १२।२३॥
TRANSLITERATION
etāḥ dṛṣṭvā asya jīvasya gatīḥ svena eva cetasā . dharmataḥ adharmataḥ ca eva dharme dadhyāt sadā manaḥ .. 12.23..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.23. Let (man), having recognised even by means of his intellect these transitions of the individual soul (which depend) on merit and demerit, always fix his heart on (the acquisition of) merit.
sattvam rajaḥ tamaḥ ca eva trīn vidyāt ātmanaḥ guṇān . yaiḥ vyāpya emān sthitaḥ bhāvān mahān sarvān aśeṣatas .. 12.24..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.24. Know Goodness (sattva), Activity (ragas), and Darkness (tamas) to be the three qualities of the Self, with which the Great One always completely pervades all existences.
12.26. Goodness is declared (to have the form of) knowledge, Darkness (of) ignorance, Activity (of) love and hatred; such is the nature of these (three) which is (all-) pervading and clings to everything created.
tatra yat prīti-saṃyuktam kim cit-ātmani lakṣayet . praśāntam iva śuddha-ābham sattvam tat upadhārayet .. 12.27..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.27. When (man) experiences in his soul a (feeling) full of bliss, a deep calm, as it were, and a pure light, then let him know (that it is) among those three (the quality called) Goodness.
yat tu duḥkha-samāyuktam aprīti-karam ātmanaḥ . tat rajaḥ pratīpam vidyāt satatam hartṛ dehinām .. 12.28..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.28. What is mixed with pain and does not give satisfaction to the soul one may know (to be the quality of) Activity, which is difficult to conquer, and which ever draws embodied (souls towards sensual objects).
yat tu syāt moha-saṃyuktam avyaktam viṣaya-ātmakam . apratarkyam avijñeyam tamaḥ tat upadhārayet .. 12.29..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.29. What is coupled with delusion, what has the character of an undiscernible mass, what cannot be fathomed by reasoning, what cannot be fully known, one must consider (as the quality of) Darkness.
12.31. The study of the Vedas, austerity, (the pursuit of) knowledge, purity, control over the organs, the performance of meritorious acts and meditation on the Soul, (are) the marks of the quality of Goodness.
12.32. Delighting in undertakings, want of firmness, commission of sinful acts, and continual indulgence in sensual pleasures, (are) the marks of the quality of Activity.
12.33. Covetousness, sleepiness, pusillanimity, cruelty, atheism, leading an evil life, a habit of soliciting favours, and inattentiveness, are the marks of the quality of Darkness.
trayāṇām api ca eteṣām guṇānām triṣu tiṣṭhatām . idam sāmāsikam jñeyam kramaśas guṇa-lakṣaṇam .. 12.34..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.34. Know, moreover, the following to be a brief description of the three qualities, each in its order, as they appear in the three (times, the present, past, and future).
यत् कर्म कृत्वा कुर्वन् च करिष्यन् च एव लज्जति । तत् ज्ञेयम् विदुषा सर्वम् तामसम् गुण-लक्षणम् ॥ १२।३५॥
TRANSLITERATION
yat karma kṛtvā kurvan ca kariṣyan ca eva lajjati . tat jñeyam viduṣā sarvam tāmasam guṇa-lakṣaṇam .. 12.35..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.35. When a (man), having done, doing, or being about to do any act, feels ashamed, the learned may know that all (such acts bear) the mark of the quality of Darkness.
येनास्मिन् कर्मणा लोके ख्यातिमिच्छति पुष्कलाम् । न च शोचत्यसम्पत्तौ तद्विज्ञेयं तु राजसम् ॥ १२.३६॥
PADACHEDA
येन अस्मिन् कर्मणा लोके ख्यातिम् इच्छति पुष्कलाम् । न च शोचति असम्पत्तौ तत् विज्ञेयम् तु राजसम् ॥ १२।३६॥
TRANSLITERATION
yena asmin karmaṇā loke khyātim icchati puṣkalām . na ca śocati asampattau tat vijñeyam tu rājasam .. 12.36..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.36. But, when (a man) desires (to gain) by an act much fame in this world and feels no sorrow on failing, know that it (bears the mark of the quality of) Activity.
यत् सर्वेण इच्छति ज्ञातुम् यत् न लज्जति च आचरन् । येन तुष्यति च आत्मा अस्य तत् सत्त्व-गुण-लक्षणम् ॥ १२।३७॥
TRANSLITERATION
yat sarveṇa icchati jñātum yat na lajjati ca ācaran . yena tuṣyati ca ātmā asya tat sattva-guṇa-lakṣaṇam .. 12.37..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.37. But that (bears) the mark of the quality of Goodness which with his whole (heart) he desires to know, which he is not ashamed to perform, and at which his soul rejoices.
12.38. The craving after sensual pleasures is declared to be the mark of Darkness, (the pursuit of) wealth (the mark) of Activity, (the desire to gain) spiritual merit the mark of Goodness; each later) named quality is) better than the preceding one.
12.40. Those endowed with Goodness reach the state of gods, those endowed with Activity the state of men, and those endowed with Darkness ever sink to the condition of beasts; that is the threefold course of transmigrations.
trividhā trividhā eṣā tu vijñeyā gauṇikī gatiḥ . adhamā madhyamā agryā ca karma-vidyā-viśeṣataḥ .. 12.41..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.41. But know this threefold course of transmigrations that depends on the (three) qualities (to be again) threefold, low, middling, and high, according to the particular nature of the acts and of the knowledge (of each man).
स्थावराः कृमि-कीटाः च मत्स्याः सर्पाः स कच्छपाः । पशवः च मृगाः च एव जघन्या तामसी गतिः ॥ १२।४२॥
TRANSLITERATION
sthāvarāḥ kṛmi-kīṭāḥ ca matsyāḥ sarpāḥ sa kacchapāḥ . paśavaḥ ca mṛgāḥ ca eva jaghanyā tāmasī gatiḥ .. 12.42..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.42. Immovable (beings), insects, both small and great, fishes, snakes, and tortoises, cattle and wild animals, are the lowest conditions to which (the quality of) Darkness leads.
झल्लाः मल्लाः नटाः च एव पुरुषाः शस्त्रवृत्तयः । द्यूत-पान-प्रसक्ताः च जघन्या राजसी गतिः ॥ १२।४५॥
TRANSLITERATION
jhallāḥ mallāḥ naṭāḥ ca eva puruṣāḥ śastravṛttayaḥ . dyūta-pāna-prasaktāḥ ca jaghanyā rājasī gatiḥ .. 12.45..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.45. Ghallas, Mallas, Natas, men who subsist by despicable occupations and those addicted to gambling and drinking (form) the lowest (order of) conditions caused by Activity.
राजानः क्षत्रियाः च एव राज्ञाम् च एव पुरोहिताः । वाद-युद्ध-प्रधानाः च मध्यमा राजसी गतिः ॥ १२।४६॥
TRANSLITERATION
rājānaḥ kṣatriyāḥ ca eva rājñām ca eva purohitāḥ . vāda-yuddha-pradhānāḥ ca madhyamā rājasī gatiḥ .. 12.46..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.46. Kings and Kshatriyas, the domestic priests of kings, and those who delight in the warfare of disputations (constitute) the middling (rank of the) states caused by Activity.
गन्धर्वाः गुह्यकाः यक्षाः विबुध-अनुचराः च ये । तथा एव अप्सरसः सर्वाः राजसीषु उत्तमा गतिः ॥ १२।४७॥
TRANSLITERATION
gandharvāḥ guhyakāḥ yakṣāḥ vibudha-anucarāḥ ca ye . tathā eva apsarasaḥ sarvāḥ rājasīṣu uttamā gatiḥ .. 12.47..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.47. The Gandharvas, the Guhyakas, and the servants of the gods, likewise the Apsarases, (belong all to) the highest (rank of) conditions produced by Activity.
तापसा यतयो विप्रा ये च वैमानिका गणाः । नक्षत्राणि च दैत्याश्च प्रथमा सात्त्विकी गतिः ॥ १२.४८॥
PADACHEDA
तापसाः यतयः विप्राः ये च वैमानिकाः गणाः । नक्षत्राणि च दैत्याः च प्रथमा सात्त्विकी गतिः ॥ १२।४८॥
TRANSLITERATION
tāpasāḥ yatayaḥ viprāḥ ye ca vaimānikāḥ gaṇāḥ . nakṣatrāṇi ca daityāḥ ca prathamā sāttvikī gatiḥ .. 12.48..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.48. Hermits, ascetics, Brahmanas, the crowds of the Vaimanika deities, the lunar mansions, and the Daityas (form) the first (and lowest rank of the) existences caused by Goodness.
यज्वानः ऋषयः देवाः वेदाः ज्योतींषि वत्सराः । पितरः च एव साध्याः च द्वितीया सात्त्विकी गतिः ॥ १२।४९॥
TRANSLITERATION
yajvānaḥ ṛṣayaḥ devāḥ vedāḥ jyotīṃṣi vatsarāḥ . pitaraḥ ca eva sādhyāḥ ca dvitīyā sāttvikī gatiḥ .. 12.49..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.49. Sacrificers, the sages, the gods, the Vedas, the heavenly lights, the years, the manes, and the Sadhyas (constitute) the second order of existences, caused by Goodness.
brahmā viśvasṛjaḥ dharmaḥ mahān avyaktam eva ca . uttamām sāttvikīm etām gatim āhuḥ manīṣiṇaḥ .. 12.50..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.50. The sages declare Brahma, the creators of the universe, the law, the Great One, and the Undiscernible One (to constitute) the highest order of beings produced by Goodness.
12.51. Thus (the result) of the threefold action, the whole system of transmigrations which (consists) of three classes, (each) with three subdivisions, and which includes all created beings, has been fully pointed out.
indriyāṇām prasaṅgena dharmasya asevanena ca . pāpān saṃyānti saṃsārān a vidvāṃsaḥ nara-adhamāḥ .. 12.52..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.52. In consequence of attachment to (the objects of) the senses, and in consequence of the non-performance of their duties, fools, the lowest of men, reach the vilest births.
yām yām yonim tu jīvaḥ ayam yena yena iha karmaṇā . kramaśas yāti loke asmin tat tat sarvam nibodhata .. 12.53..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.53. What wombs this individual soul enters in this world and in consequence of what actions, learn the particulars of that at large and in due order.
12.54. Those who committed mortal sins (mahapataka), having passed during large numbers of years through dreadful hells, obtain, after the expiration of (that term of punishment), the following births.
कृमि-कीट-पतङ्गानाम् विड्भुजाम् च एव पक्षिणाम् । हिंस्राणाम् च एव सत्त्वानाम् सुरा-पः ब्राह्मणः व्रजेत् ॥ १२।५६॥
TRANSLITERATION
kṛmi-kīṭa-pataṅgānām viḍbhujām ca eva pakṣiṇām . hiṃsrāṇām ca eva sattvānām surā-paḥ brāhmaṇaḥ vrajet .. 12.56..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.56. A Brahmana who drinks (the spirituous liquor called) Sura shall enter (the bodies) of small and large insects, of moths, of birds, feeding on ordure, and of destructive beasts.
लूताऽहिसरटानां च तिरश्चां चाम्बुचारिणाम् । हिंस्राणां च पिशाचानां स्तेनो विप्रः सहस्रशः ॥ १२.५७॥
PADACHEDA
लूता-अहि-सरटानाम् च तिरश्चाम् च अम्बु-चारिणाम् । हिंस्राणाम् च पिशाचानाम् स्तेनः विप्रः सहस्रशस् ॥ १२।५७॥
TRANSLITERATION
lūtā-ahi-saraṭānām ca tiraścām ca ambu-cāriṇām . hiṃsrāṇām ca piśācānām stenaḥ vipraḥ sahasraśas .. 12.57..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.57. A Brahmana who steals (the gold of a Brahmana shall pass) a thousand times (through the bodies) of spiders, snakes and lizards, of aquatic animals and of destructive Pisakas.
तृण-गुल्म-लतानाम् च क्रव्यादाम् दंष्ट्रिणाम् अपि । क्रूर-कर्म-कृताम् च एव शतशस् गुरु-तल्प-गः ॥ १२।५८॥
TRANSLITERATION
tṛṇa-gulma-latānām ca kravyādām daṃṣṭriṇām api . krūra-karma-kṛtām ca eva śataśas guru-talpa-gaḥ .. 12.58..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.58. The violator of a Guru’s bed (enters) a hundred times (the forms) of grasses, shrubs, and creepers, likewise of carnivorous (animals) and of (beasts) with fangs and of those doing cruel deeds.
12.59. Men who delight in doing hurt (become) carnivorous (animals); those who eat forbidden food, worms; thieves, creatures consuming their own kind; those who have intercourse with women of the lowest castes, Pretas.
संयोगं पतितैर्गत्वा परस्यैव च योषितम् । अपहृत्य च विप्रस्वं भवति ब्रह्मराक्षसः ॥ १२.६०॥
PADACHEDA
संयोगम् पतितैः गत्वा परस्य एव च योषितम् । अपहृत्य च विप्र-स्वम् भवति ब्रह्मराक्षसः ॥ १२।६०॥
TRANSLITERATION
saṃyogam patitaiḥ gatvā parasya eva ca yoṣitam . apahṛtya ca vipra-svam bhavati brahmarākṣasaḥ .. 12.60..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.60. He who has associated with outcasts, he who has approached the wives of other men, and he who has stolen the property of a Brahmana become Brahmarakshasas.
12.62. For stealing grain (a man) becomes a rat, for stealing yellow metal a Hamsa, for stealing water a Plava, for stealing honey a stinging insect, for stealing milk a crow, for stealing condiments a dog, for stealing clarified butter an ichneumon;
12.63. For stealing meat a vulture, for stealing fat a cormorant, for stealing oil a winged animal (of the kind called) Tailapaka, for stealing salt a cricket, for stealing sour milk a bird (of the kind called) Balaka.
12.64. For stealing silk a partridge, for stealing linen a frog, for stealing cotton-cloth a crane, for stealing a cow an iguana, for stealing molasses a flying-fox;
chucchundarīḥ śubhān gandhān patra-śākam tu barhiṇaḥ . śvāvidh kṛta-annam vividham akṛta-annam tu śalyakaḥ .. 12.65..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.65. For stealing fine perfumes a musk-rat, for stealing vegetables consisting of leaves a peacock, for stealing cooked food of various kinds a porcupine, for stealing uncooked food a hedgehog.
12.67. For stealing a deer or an elephant a wolf, for stealing a horse a tiger, for stealing fruit and roots a monkey, for stealing a woman a bear, for stealing water a black-white cuckoo, for stealing vehicles a camel, for stealing cattle a he-goat.
यत् वा तत् वा पर-द्रव्यम् अपहृत्य बलात् नरः । अवश्यम् याति तिर्यक्त्वम् जग्ध्वा च एव आहुतम् हविः ॥ १२।६८॥
TRANSLITERATION
yat vā tat vā para-dravyam apahṛtya balāt naraḥ . avaśyam yāti tiryaktvam jagdhvā ca eva āhutam haviḥ .. 12.68..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.68. That man who has forcibly taken away any kind of property belonging to another, or who has eaten sacrificial food (of) which (no portion) had been offered, inevitably becomes an animal.
striyaḥ api etena kalpena hṛtvā doṣam avāpnuyuḥ . eteṣām eva jantūnām bhāryā-tvam upayānti tāḥ .. 12.69..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.69. Women, also, who in like manner have committed a theft, shall incur guilt; they will become the females of those same creatures (which have been enumerated above).
svebhyaḥ svebhyaḥ tu karmabhyaḥ cyutāḥ varṇāḥ hi anāpadi . pāpān saṃsṛtya saṃsārān preṣya-tām yānti dasyuṣu .. 12.70..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.70. But (men of the four) castes who have relinquished without the pressure of necessity their proper occupations, will become the servants of Dasyus, after migrating into despicable bodies.
12.71. A Brahmana who has fallen off from his duty (becomes) an Ulkamukha Preta, who feeds on what has been vomited; and a Kshatriya, a Kataputana (Preta), who eats impure substances and corpses.
12.72. A Vaisya who has fallen off from his duty becomes a Maitrakshagyotika Preta, who feeds on pus; and a Sudra, a Kailasaka (Preta, who feeds on moths).
तामिस्रादिषु चोग्रेषु नरकेषु विवर्तनम् । असिपत्रवनादीनि बन्धनछेदनानि च ॥ १२.७५॥
PADACHEDA
तामिस्र-आदिषु च उग्रेषु नरकेषु विवर्तनम् । असिपत्रवन-आदीनि बन्धन-छेदनानि च ॥ १२।७५॥
TRANSLITERATION
tāmisra-ādiṣu ca ugreṣu narakeṣu vivartanam . asipatravana-ādīni bandhana-chedanāni ca .. 12.75..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.75. (The torture of) being tossed about in dreadful hells, Tamisra and the rest, (that of) the Forest with sword-leaved trees and the like, and (that of) being bound and mangled;
विविधाः च एव सम्पीडाः काक-उलूकैः च भक्षणम् । करम्भ-वालुका-तापान् कुम्भीपाकान् च दारुणान् ॥ १२।७६॥
TRANSLITERATION
vividhāḥ ca eva sampīḍāḥ kāka-ulūkaiḥ ca bhakṣaṇam . karambha-vālukā-tāpān kumbhīpākān ca dāruṇān .. 12.76..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.76. And various torments, the (pain of) being devoured by ravens and owls, the heat of scorching sand, and the (torture of) being boiled in jars, which is hard to bear;
असकृद्गर्भवासेषु वासं जन्म च दारुणम् । बन्धनानि च कष्टानि परप्रेष्यत्वमेव च ॥ १२.७८॥
PADACHEDA
असकृत् गर्भ-वासेषु वासम् जन्म च दारुणम् । बन्धनानि च कष्टानि पर-प्रेष्य-त्वम् एव च ॥ १२।७८॥
TRANSLITERATION
asakṛt garbha-vāseṣu vāsam janma ca dāruṇam . bandhanāni ca kaṣṭāni para-preṣya-tvam eva ca .. 12.78..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.78. The (pain of) repeatedly lying in various wombs and agonizing births, imprisonment in fetters hard to bear, and the misery of being enslaved by others,
बन्धुप्रियवियोगांश्च संवासं चैव दुर्जनैः । द्रव्यार्जनं च नाशं च मित्रामित्रस्य चार्जनम् ॥ १२.७९॥
PADACHEDA
बन्धु-प्रिय-वियोगान् च संवासम् च एव दुर्जनैः । द्रव्य-अर्जनम् च नाशम् च मित्र-अमित्रस्य च अर्जनम् ॥ १२।७९॥
TRANSLITERATION
bandhu-priya-viyogān ca saṃvāsam ca eva durjanaiḥ . dravya-arjanam ca nāśam ca mitra-amitrasya ca arjanam .. 12.79..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.79. And separations from their relatives and dear ones, and the (pain of) dwelling together with the wicked, (labour in) gaining wealth and its loss, (trouble in) making friends and (the appearance of) enemies,
वेदाभ्यासस्तपो ज्ञानमिन्द्रियाणां च संयमः । अहिंसा गुरुसेवा च निःश्रेयसकरं परम् ॥ १२.८३॥
PADACHEDA
वेद-अभ्यासः तपः ज्ञानम् इन्द्रियाणाम् च संयमः । अहिंसा गुरु-सेवा च निःश्रेयस-करम् परम् ॥ १२।८३॥
TRANSLITERATION
veda-abhyāsaḥ tapaḥ jñānam indriyāṇām ca saṃyamaḥ . ahiṃsā guru-sevā ca niḥśreyasa-karam param .. 12.83..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.83. Studying the Veda, (practising) austerities, (the acquisition of true) knowledge, the subjugation of the organs, abstention from doing injury, and serving the Guru are the best means for attaining supreme bliss.
सर्वेषाम् अपि च एतेषाम् शुभानाम् इह कर्मणाम् । किम् चित्-श्रेयस्करतरम् कर्म उक्तम् पुरुषम् प्रति ॥ १२।८४॥
TRANSLITERATION
sarveṣām api ca eteṣām śubhānām iha karmaṇām . kim cit-śreyaskarataram karma uktam puruṣam prati .. 12.84..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.84. (If you ask) whether among all these virtuous actions, (performed) here below, (there be) one which has been declared more efficacious (than the rest) for securing supreme happiness to man,
सर्वेषाम् अपि च एतेषाम् आत्म-ज्ञानम् परम् स्मृतम् । तत् हि अग्र्यम् सर्व-विद्यानाम् प्राप्यते हि अमृतम् ततस् ॥ १२।८५॥
TRANSLITERATION
sarveṣām api ca eteṣām ātma-jñānam param smṛtam . tat hi agryam sarva-vidyānām prāpyate hi amṛtam tatas .. 12.85..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.85. (The answer is that) the knowledge of the Soul is stated to be the most excellent among all of them; for that is the first of all sciences, because immortality is gained through that.
षण्णाम् एषाम् तु सर्वेषाम् कर्मणाम् प्रेत्य च एह च । श्रेयस्करतरम् ज्ञेयम् सर्वदा कर्म वैदिकम् ॥ १२।८६॥
TRANSLITERATION
ṣaṇṇām eṣām tu sarveṣām karmaṇām pretya ca eha ca . śreyaskarataram jñeyam sarvadā karma vaidikam .. 12.86..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.86. Among those six (kinds of) actions (enumerated) above, the performance of) the acts taught in the Veda must ever be held to be most efficacious for ensuring happiness in this world and the next.
12.87. For in the performance of the acts prescribed by the Veda all those (others) are fully comprised, (each) in its turn in the several rules for the rites.
सुखाभ्युदयिकं चैव नैःश्रेयसिकमेव च । प्रवृत्तं च निवृत्तं च द्विविधं कर्म वैदिकम् ॥ १२.८८॥
PADACHEDA
सुख-आभ्युदयिकम् च एव नैःश्रेयसिकम् एव च । प्रवृत्तम् च निवृत्तम् च द्विविधम् कर्म वैदिकम् ॥ १२।८८॥
TRANSLITERATION
sukha-ābhyudayikam ca eva naiḥśreyasikam eva ca . pravṛttam ca nivṛttam ca dvividham karma vaidikam .. 12.88..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.88. The acts prescribed by the Veda are of two kinds, such as procure an increase of happiness and cause a continuation (of mundane existence, pravritta), and such as ensure supreme bliss and cause a cessation (of mundane existence, nivritta).
इह च अमुत्र वा काम्यम् प्रवृत्तम् कर्म कीर्त्यते । निष्कामम् ज्ञात-पूर्वम् तु निवृत्तम् उपदिश्यते ॥ १२।८९॥
TRANSLITERATION
iha ca amutra vā kāmyam pravṛttam karma kīrtyate . niṣkāmam jñāta-pūrvam tu nivṛttam upadiśyate .. 12.89..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.89. Acts which secure (the fulfilment of) wishes in this world or in the next are called pravritta (such as cause a continuation of mundane existence); but acts performed without any desire (for a reward), preceded by (the acquisition) of (true) knowledge, are declared to be nivritta (such as cause the cessation of mundane existence).
pravṛttam karma saṃsevyam devānām eti sāmyatām . nivṛttam sevamānaḥ tu bhūtāni atyeti pañca vai .. 12.90..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.90. He who sedulously performs acts leading to future births (pravritta) becomes equal to the gods; but he who is intent on the performance of those causing the cessation (of existence, nivritta) indeed, passes beyond (the reach of) the five elements.
सर्व-भूतेषु च आत्मानम् सर्व-भूतानि च आत्मनि । समम् पश्यन् आत्म-याजी स्वाराज्यम् अधिगच्छति ॥ १२।९१॥
TRANSLITERATION
sarva-bhūteṣu ca ātmānam sarva-bhūtāni ca ātmani . samam paśyan ātma-yājī svārājyam adhigacchati .. 12.91..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.91. He who sacrifices to the Self (alone), equally recognising the Self in all created beings and all created beings in the Self, becomes (independent like) an autocrat and self-luminous.
यथोक्तान्यपि कर्माणि परिहाय द्विजोत्तमः । आत्मज्ञाने शमे च स्याद्वेदाभ्यासे च यत्नवान् ॥ १२.९२॥
PADACHEDA
यथा उक्तानि अपि कर्माणि परिहाय द्विजोत्तमः । आत्म-ज्ञाने शमे च स्यात् वेद-अभ्यासे च यत्नवान् ॥ १२।९२॥
TRANSLITERATION
yathā uktāni api karmāṇi parihāya dvijottamaḥ . ātma-jñāne śame ca syāt veda-abhyāse ca yatnavān .. 12.92..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.92. After giving up even the above-mentioned sacrificial rites, a Brahmana should exert himself in (acquiring) the knowledge of the Soul, in extinguishing his passions, and in studying the Veda.
एतधि जन्मसाफल्यं ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः । प्राप्यैतत्कृतकृत्यो हि द्विजो भवति नान्यथा ॥ १२.९३॥
PADACHEDA
एतत् हि जन्म-साफल्यम् ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः । प्राप्य एतत् कृतकृत्यः हि द्विजः भवति न अन्यथा ॥ १२।९३॥
TRANSLITERATION
etat hi janma-sāphalyam brāhmaṇasya viśeṣataḥ . prāpya etat kṛtakṛtyaḥ hi dvijaḥ bhavati na anyathā .. 12.93..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.93. For that secures the attainment of the object of existence, especially in the case of a Brahmana, because by attaining that, not otherwise, a twice-born man has gained all his ends.
पितृ-देव-मनुष्याणाम् वेदः चक्षुः सनातनम् । अशक्यम् च अप्रमेयम् च वेद-शास्त्रम् इति स्थितिः ॥ १२।९४॥
TRANSLITERATION
pitṛ-deva-manuṣyāṇām vedaḥ cakṣuḥ sanātanam . aśakyam ca aprameyam ca veda-śāstram iti sthitiḥ .. 12.94..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.94. The Veda is the eternal eye of the manes, gods, and men; the Veda-ordinance (is) both beyond the sphere of (human) power, and beyond the sphere of (human) comprehension; that is a certain fact.
या वेदबाह्याः श्रुतयो याश्च काश्च कुदृष्टयः । सर्वास्ता निष्फलाः प्रेत्य तमोनिष्ठा हि ताः स्मृताः ॥ १२.९५॥
PADACHEDA
याः वेद-बाह्याः श्रुतयः याः च काः च कुदृष्टयः । सर्वाः ताः निष्फलाः प्रेत्य तमः-निष्ठाः हि ताः स्मृताः ॥ १२।९५॥
TRANSLITERATION
yāḥ veda-bāhyāḥ śrutayaḥ yāḥ ca kāḥ ca kudṛṣṭayaḥ . sarvāḥ tāḥ niṣphalāḥ pretya tamaḥ-niṣṭhāḥ hi tāḥ smṛtāḥ .. 12.95..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.95. All those traditions (smriti) and those despicable systems of philosophy, which are not based on the Veda, produce no reward after death; for they are declared to be founded on Darkness.
शब्दः स्पर्शः च रूपम् च रसः गन्धः च पञ्चमः । वेदात् एव प्रसूयन्ते प्रसूतिः गुण-कर्मतः ॥ १२।९८॥
TRANSLITERATION
śabdaḥ sparśaḥ ca rūpam ca rasaḥ gandhaḥ ca pañcamaḥ . vedāt eva prasūyante prasūtiḥ guṇa-karmataḥ .. 12.98..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.98. Sound, touch, colour, taste, and fifthly smell are known through the Veda alone, (their) production (is) through the (Vedic rites, which in this respect are) secondary acts.
12.99. The eternal lore of the Veda upholds all created beings; hence I hold that to be supreme, which is the means of (securing happiness to) these creatures.
12.101. As a fire that has gained strength consumes even trees full of sap, even so he who knows the Veda burns out the taint of his soul which arises from (evil) acts.
veda-śāstra-artha-tattva-jñaḥ yatra tatra āśrame vasan . iha eva loke tiṣṭhan sa brahma-bhūyāya kalpate .. 12.102..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.102. In whatever order (a man) who knows the true meaning of the Veda-science may dwell, he becomes even while abiding in this world, fit for the union with Brahman.
12.103. (Even forgetful) students of the (sacred) books are more distinguished than the ignorant, those who remember them surpass the (forgetful) students, those who possess a knowledge (of the meaning) are more distinguished than those who (only) remember (the words), men who follow (the teaching of the texts) surpass those who (merely) know (their meaning).
12.104. Austerity and sacred learning are the best means by which a Brahmana secures supreme bliss; by austerities he destroys guilt, by sacred learning he obtains the cessation of (births and) deaths.
प्रत्यक्षं चानुमानं च शास्त्रं च विविधाऽऽगमम् । त्रयं सुविदितं कार्यं धर्मशुद्धिमभीप्सता ॥ १२.१०५॥
PADACHEDA
प्रत्यक्षम् च अनुमानम् च शास्त्रम् च विविध-आगमम् । त्रयम् सु विदितम् कार्यम् धर्म-शुद्धिम् अभीप्सता ॥ १२।१०५॥
TRANSLITERATION
pratyakṣam ca anumānam ca śāstram ca vividha-āgamam . trayam su viditam kāryam dharma-śuddhim abhīpsatā .. 12.105..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.105. The three (kinds of evidence), perception, inference, and the (sacred) Institutes which comprise the tradition (of) many (schools), must be fully understood by him who desires perfect correctness with respect to the sacred law.
आर्षं धर्मोपदेशं च वेदशास्त्राविरोधिना । यस्तर्केणानुसंधत्ते स धर्मं वेद नैतरः ॥ १२.१०६॥
PADACHEDA
आर्षम् धर्म-उपदेशम् च वेद-शास्त्र-अविरोधिना । यः तर्केण अनुसंधत्ते स धर्मम् वेद न एतरः ॥ १२।१०६॥
TRANSLITERATION
ārṣam dharma-upadeśam ca veda-śāstra-avirodhinā . yaḥ tarkeṇa anusaṃdhatte sa dharmam veda na etaraḥ .. 12.106..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.106. He alone, and no other man, knows the sacred law, who explores the (utterances) of the sages and the body of the laws, by (modes of) reasoning, not repugnant to the Veda-lore.
naiḥśreyasam idam karma yathā uditam aśeṣatas . mānavasya asya śāstrasya rahasyam amaḥ upadekṣyate.. 12.107..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.107. Thus the acts which secure supreme bliss have been exactly and fully described; (now) the secret portion of these Institutes, proclaimed by Manu, will be taught.
an āmnāteṣu dharmeṣu katham syāt iti ced bhavet . yam śiṣṭāḥ brāhmaṇāḥ brūyuḥ sa dharmaḥ syāt aśaṅkitaḥ .. 12.108..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.108. If it be asked how it should be with respect to (points of) the law which have not been (specially) mentioned, (the answer is), ’that which Brahmanas (who are) Sishtas propound, shall doubtlessly have legal (force).
धर्मेण अधिगतः यैः तु वेदः स परिबृंहणः । ते शिष्टाः ब्राह्मणाः ज्ञेयाः श्रुति-प्रत्यक्ष-हेतवः ॥ १२।१०९॥
TRANSLITERATION
dharmeṇa adhigataḥ yaiḥ tu vedaḥ sa paribṛṃhaṇaḥ . te śiṣṭāḥ brāhmaṇāḥ jñeyāḥ śruti-pratyakṣa-hetavaḥ .. 12.109..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.109. Those Brahmanas must be considered as Sishtas who, in accordance with the sacred law, have studied the Veda together with its appendages, and are able to adduce proofs perceptible by the senses from the revealed texts.
दशावरा वा परिषद्यं धर्मं परिकल्पयेत् । त्र्य्ऽवरा वाऽपि वृत्तस्था तं धर्मं न विचालयेत् ॥ १२.११०॥
PADACHEDA
दश-अवराः वा परिषद्यम् धर्मम् परिकल्पयेत् । त्रि-अवरा वा अपि वृत्त-स्था तम् धर्मम् न विचालयेत् ॥ १२।११०॥
TRANSLITERATION
daśa-avarāḥ vā pariṣadyam dharmam parikalpayet . tri-avarā vā api vṛtta-sthā tam dharmam na vicālayet .. 12.110..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.110. Whatever an assembly, consisting either of at least ten, or of at least three persons who follow their prescribed occupations, declares to be law, the legal (force of) that one must not dispute.
12.111. Three persons who each know one of the three principal Vedas, a logician, a Mimamsaka, one who knows the Nirukta, one who recites (the Institutes of) the sacred law, and three men belonging to the first three orders shall constitute a (legal) assembly, consisting of at least ten members.
ऋग्वेदविद्यजुर्विद्च सामवेदविदेव च । त्र्य्ऽवरा परिषद्ज्ञेया धर्मसंशयनिर्णये ॥ १२.११२॥
PADACHEDA
ऋग्वेद-विद् यजुः-विद् च सामवेद-विद् एव च । त्रि-अवरा परिषद् ज्ञेया धर्म-संशय-निर्णये ॥ १२।११२॥
TRANSLITERATION
ṛgveda-vid yajuḥ-vid ca sāmaveda-vid eva ca . tri-avarā pariṣad jñeyā dharma-saṃśaya-nirṇaye .. 12.112..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.112. One who knows the Rig-veda, one who knows the Yagur-veda, and one who knows the Sama-veda, shall be known (to form) an assembly consisting of at least three members (and competent) to decide doubtful points of law.
एकः अपि वेद-विद् धर्मम् यम् व्यवस्येत् द्विजोत्तमः । स विज्ञेयः परः धर्मः न अज्ञान-अमुदितः अयुतैः ॥ १२।११३॥
TRANSLITERATION
ekaḥ api veda-vid dharmam yam vyavasyet dvijottamaḥ . sa vijñeyaḥ paraḥ dharmaḥ na ajñāna-amuditaḥ ayutaiḥ .. 12.113..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.113. Even that which one Brahmana versed in the Veda declares to be law, must be considered (to have) supreme legal (force, but) not that which is proclaimed by myriads of ignorant men.
a vratānām a mantrāṇām jāti-mātra-upajīvinām . sahasraśas sametānām pariṣad-tvam na vidyate .. 12.114..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.114. Even if thousands of Brahmanas, who have not fulfilled their sacred duties, are unacquainted with the Veda, and subsist only by the name of their caste, meet, they cannot (form) an assembly (for settling the sacred law).
12.115. The sin of him whom dunces, incarnations of Darkness, and unacquainted with the law, instruct (in his duty), falls, increased a hundredfold, on those who propound it.
12.116. All that which is most efficacious for securing supreme bliss has been thus declared to you; a Brahmana who does not fall off from that obtains the most excellent state.
सर्वम् आत्मनि सम्पश्येत् सत् च असत् च समाहितः । सर्वम् हि आत्मनि सम्पश्यन् न अधर्मे कुरुते मनः ॥ १२।११८॥
TRANSLITERATION
sarvam ātmani sampaśyet sat ca asat ca samāhitaḥ . sarvam hi ātmani sampaśyan na adharme kurute manaḥ .. 12.118..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.118. Let (every Brahmana), concentrating his mind, fully recognise in the Self all things, both the real and the unreal, for he who recognises the universe in the Self, does not give his heart to unrighteousness.
ātmā eva devatāḥ sarvāḥ sarvam ātmani avasthitam . ātmā hi janayati eṣām karma-yogam śarīriṇām .. 12.119..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.119. The Self alone is the multitude of the gods, the universe rests on the Self; for the Self produces the connexion of these embodied (spirits) with actions.
12.120. Let him meditate on the ether as identical with the cavities (of the body), on the wind as identical with the organs of motions and of touch, on the most excellent light as the same with his digestive organs and his sight, on water as the same with the (corporeal) fluids, on the earth as the same with the solid parts (of his body);
manasi indum diśaḥ śrotre krānte viṣṇum bale haram . vāci agnim mitram utsarge prajane ca prajāpatim .. 12.121..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.121. On the moon as one with the internal organ, on the quarters of the horizon as one with his sense of hearing, on Vishnu as one with his (power of) motion, on Hara as the same with his strength, on Agni (Fire) as identical with his speech, on Mitra as identical with his excretions, and on Pragapati as one with his organ of generation.
praśāsitāram sarveṣām aṇīyāṃsam aṇoḥ api . rukma-ābham svapna-dhī-gamyam vidyāt tam puruṣam param .. 12.122..
ENGLISH MEANING
12.122. Let him know the supreme Male (Purusha, to be) the sovereign ruler of them all, smaller even than small, bright like gold, and perceptible by the intellect (only when) in (a state of) sleep (-like abstraction).
12.124. He pervades all created beings in the five forms, and constantly makes them, by means of birth, growth and decay, revolve like the wheels (of a chariot).
12.125. He who thus recognises the Self through the Self in all created beings, becomes equal (-minded) towards all, and enters the highest state, Brahman.
12.126. A twice-born man who recites these Institutes, revealed by Manu, will be always virtuous in conduct, and will reach whatever condition he desires.
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