युधिष्ठिर उवाच किंशीलः किंसमाचारः किंविद्यः किंपरायणः। प्राप्नोति ब्रह्मणं स्थानं यत् परं प्रकृतेर्बुवम्॥
Yudhishthira said "What should be a man's conduct, what his acts, what his knowledge, and to what must he be devoted, for attaining to Brahma's place which is above Nature and which is unchangeable?”
भीष्म उवाच मोक्षधर्मेषु निरतो लघ्वाहारो जितेन्द्रियः। प्राप्नोति परमं स्थानं यत् परं प्रकृतेऽवम्॥
One who is devoted to the religion of Liberation, abstemious in diet, and the master of his senses, attains to that high place which is above Prakriti and is unchangeable.
(अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। हारीतेन पुरा गीतं तं निबोध युधिष्ठिर।।) स्वगृहादभिनिस्सृत्य लाभेऽलाभे समो मुनिः। समुपोढेषु कामेषु निरपेक्षः परिव्रजेत्॥
Retiring from his home, considering equally gain and loss, governing the senses and disregarding all objects of desire even when they are ready (for enjoyment), one should follow the life of Renunciation.
। न चक्षुषा न मनसा न वाचा दूषयेदपि। न प्रत्यक्षं परोक्षं वां दूषणं व्याहरेत् क्वचित्॥
Neither with eye, nor with word, nor in thought, should one disparage another. Nor should one speak ill of any person either in or out of his hearing.
न हिंस्यात् सर्वभूतानि मैत्रायणगतश्चरेत्। नेदं जीवितमासाद्य वैरं कुर्वीत केनचित्॥
One should refrain from injuring any creature, and fact observing the course of the Sun. Having come into this life, one should not treat with unfriendliness any creature.
अतिवादांस्तितिक्षेत नाभिमन्येत कंचन। क्रोध्यमानः प्रियं ब्रूयादाक्रुष्टः कुशलं वदेत्॥
One should disregard disgraceful speeches, and never in pride consider himself as superior to another. When sought to be angered by another, one should still give vent to agreeable speeches. Even when spoken ill of one should not calumniate in return.
प्रदक्षिणं च सव्यं च ग्राममध्ये च नाचरेत्। भैक्षचर्यामनापन्नो न गच्छेत् पूर्वकेतितः॥
One should not act in a friendly or an unfriendly manner in the midst of human beings. One should not go about many houses in this round of mendicancy. Nor should one go to any house having obtained a previous invitation.
अवकीर्णः सुगुप्तश्च न वाचा ह्यप्रियं वदेत्। मृदुः स्यादप्रतिक्रूरो विस्रब्धः स्यादकत्थनः॥
Even when filled with filth, one should, firmly following his duties, refrain from addressing unpleasant words to such men. One should be merciful. One should not return an injury. One should be fearless; one should not speak highly of himself.
विधूमे न्यस्तमुसले व्यङ्गारे भुक्तवज्जने। अतीतपात्रसंचारे भिक्षां लिप्सेत वै मुनिः॥
The man of controlled senses should beg alms in a householder's house when the smoke has ceased to rise from it, when the sound of the husking rod is heard no more, when the hearth-fire is gone, when all the inmates have taken their food, or when the hour for setting the dishes is over.
प्राणयात्रिकमात्रः स्यान्मात्रालाभेष्वनादृतः। अलाभे न विहन्येत लाभश्चैनं न हर्षयेत्॥ लाभं साधारणं नेच्छेन्न भुञ्जीताभिपूजितः। अभिपूजितलाभं हि जुगुप्सेतैव तादृशः॥
He should be satisfied with only as much as is hardly necessary for keeping the body and soul together. Even that much of food which yields gratification should not be sought by him. When he fails to get what he wants, he should not cherish discontent. Success, again, in obtaining what he wants, should not elate him. He should never wish for such things as are sought by ordinary men. He should never take his meals at any body's house when respectfully invited thereto. One like him should hate any thing that is presented with honour.
न चान्नदोषान् निन्देत न गुणानभिपूजयेत्। शय्यासने विविक्ते च नित्यमेवाभिपूजयेत्॥
He should never find fault with the food put before him, nor should he speak highly of its merits. He should seek a bed and a seat that are removed from human habitations.
शून्यागारं वृक्षमूलमरण्यमथवा गुहाम्। अज्ञातचर्यां गत्वान्यां ततोऽन्यत्रैव संविशेत्॥
The places he should seek should be such as an abandoned house, the foot of a tree, a forest, or a cave. Without making his practices to be known by others, or concealing their real nature by appearing to adopt others, he should enter his own Self.
अनुरोधविरोधाभ्यां समः स्यादचलो ध्रुवः। सुकृतं दुष्कृतं चोभे नानुरुध्येत कर्मणा॥
By association with Yoga and dissociation from company, he should be perfectly calm, steadily fixed, and uniform. He should not acquire either merit or demerit by means of acts.
नित्यतृप्तः सुसंतुष्टः प्रसन्नवदनेन्द्रियः। विभीर्जप्यपरो मौनी वैराग्यं समुपाश्रितः॥
He should be always be always pleased, well contented, of cheerful countenance and senses, fearless, always engaged in mental recitation of sacred Mantras, silent, and a follower of a life of Renunciation.
अभ्यस्तं भौतिकं पश्यन् भूतानामागतिं गतिम्। नि:स्पृहः समदर्शी च पक्वापक्वेन वर्तयन्। आत्मना य: प्रशान्तात्मा लघ्वाहारो जितेन्द्रियः॥
Seeing the repeated formation and dissolution of his own body with the senses that originate from and resolve into the primary elements, and seeing also the coming and departure of (other) creatures, he should become shorn of desire and learn to see all things impartially, living upon both cooked and uncooked food. Abstemious in diet, and controlling his senses, he gains tranquillity of Self by Self.
वाचो वेगं मनसः क्रोधवेगं हिंसावेगमुदरोपस्थवेगम्। एतान् वेगान् विषहेद् वै तपस्वी निन्दा चास्य हृदयं नोपहन्यात्॥
One should govern the impulses of words, of the mind, of anger of envy, of hunger, and of lust. Given to penances for purifying his heart, he should never allow the censures (of others) to pain his heart.
मध्यस्थ एव तिष्ठेत प्रशंसानिन्दयोः समः। एतत् पवित्रं परमं परिव्राजक आश्रमे॥
Becoming neutral, should live, regarding praise and censure as equal. This, indeed, is the holiest and the highest path of Renunciation.
महात्मा सर्वतो दान्तः सर्वत्रैवानपाश्रितः। अपूर्वचारकः सौम्यो अनिकेतः समाहितः॥
Endued with great soul, the Sannyasin should control his senses from all things and stand aloof from all attachments. He should never go to the places visited by him and the men known to him while he lived otherwise, Agreeable to all creatures, and without a fixed dwelling, he should be given to the contemplation of Self. one
वानप्रस्थगृहस्थाभ्यां न संसृज्येत कर्हिचित्। अज्ञातलिप्सं लिप्सेत न चैनं हर्ष आविशेत्॥
He should never mingle with house-holders and hermits. He should eat such food as he may get without effort. He should never allow joy to possess his heart.
विजानतां मोक्ष एष श्रमः स्यादविजानताम्। मोक्षयानमिदं कृत्स्नं विदुषां हारितोऽब्रवीत्॥
Such a life of Renunciation brings on Liberation to those that are wise. The practice of these duties is a great burden to those, however, that are fools, The sage Harita declared all this to be the path by which Liberation can be acquired.
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो दत्त्वा यः प्रव्रजेद् गृहात्। लोकास्तेजोमयास्तस्य तथाऽऽनन्त्याय कल्पते॥
He who leaves his home, having assured all creatures of his perfect harmlessness, acquires many bright and eternal regions of felicity.