उमोवाच भगवन् भगनेत्रन पूष्णो दन्तिनिपातन। दक्षक्रतुहर त्र्यक्ष संशयो मे महानयम्॥
Uma said O Holy one, O you who had torn off the cyes of Bhaga and the teeth of Pushan, O destroyer of the sacrifice of Daksha, O threecyed deity, I have a great doubt.
चातुर्वण्र्यं भगवता पूर्वं सृष्टं स्वयम्भुवा। केन कर्मविपाकेन वैश्यो गच्छति शूद्रताम्॥
Forinerly, the illustrious self-create created the four castes. Through the evil result of what deeds does a Vaishya became a Shudra?
वैश्यो वा क्षत्रियः केन द्विजो वा क्षत्रियो भवेत्। प्रतिलोमः कथं देव शक्यो धर्मो निवर्तितुम्॥
Through, what acts does a Kshatriya become a Vaishya and a Brahmana becomes a Kshatriya? By what means may such degradation of castes bc warded off?
केन वा कर्मणा विप्रः शूद्रयोनौ प्रजायते। क्षत्रियः शूद्रतामेति केन वा कर्मणा विभो॥
Through what deeds' does a Brahmana take birth in his next life, in the Shudra caste? Through what acts, O powerful deity, does a Kshatriya also come down to the status of a Shudra?
एतन्मे संशयं देव तवद भूतपतेऽनघ। त्रयो वर्णाः प्रकृत्येह कथं ब्राह्मण्यमाप्नुयुः॥
O sinless one, O lord of all created beings, do you, O illustrious one, remove this doubt of mine. How, again can the three castes naturally succeed in acquiring the status Brahmanahood?
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच ब्राह्मण्यं देवि दुष्प्रापं निसर्गाद् ब्राह्मणः शुभे। क्षत्रियो वैश्यशूद्रौ वा निसर्गादिति मे मतिः॥
The Illustrious One said The status of a Brahmana, O goddess is highly difficult to attain. O auspicious lady, one becomes a Brahmana through creation or birth. Similarly the Kshatriya, the Vaishya, and the Shudra, all becomes so through original creation. This is my opinion.
कर्मणा दुष्कृतेनेह स्थानाद् भ्रश्यति वै द्विजः। ज्येष्ठं वर्णमनुप्राप्य तस्माद् रक्षेद् वै द्विजः॥
He, however, that is born a Brahmana goes down from his status through his own evil deeds. Hence, the Brahmana, after having acquired the status of the first order, should always protect it.
स्थितो ब्राह्मणधर्मेण ब्राह्मण्यमुपजीवति। क्षत्रियो वाथ वैश्यो वा ब्रह्मभूयं स गच्छति॥
If one who is a Kshatriya or Vaishya performs those duties which are assigned to the Brahmana, after the manner of a Brahmana, he becomes a Brahman.
यस्तु विप्रत्वमुत्सृज्य क्षात्रं धर्मं निषेवते। ब्राह्मण्यात् स परिभ्रष्टः क्षत्रयोनौ प्रजायते॥
That Brahmana who renounces the duties of his order for following those of the Kshatriya, is considered as one who has fallen away from the status of a Brahmana and who has become a Kshatriya.
वैश्यकर्म च यो विप्रो लोभमोहव्यपाश्रयः। ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्लभं प्राप्य करोत्यमल्पमतिः सदा॥ स द्विजो वैश्यतामेति वैश्यो वा शूद्रतामियात्। स्वधर्मात् प्रच्युतो विप्रस्ततः शूद्रत्वमाप्नुते॥
That little-witted Brahmana, who, moved by cupidity and folly, follows the practices assigned to Vaishyas, forgetful of his position as a Brahmana that is highly difficult to attain, comes to be considered as one who has become a Vaishya. Likewise, one who is a Vaishya by birth may, by following the practices of a Shudra, become a Shudra. Indeed, a Brahmana falling away from the duties of his own order. may go down to the status of even a Shudra.
तत्रासौ निरयं प्राप्तो वर्णभ्रष्टो बहिष्कृतः। ब्रह्मलोकात् परिभ्रष्टः शूद्रः समुपजायते॥
Such a Brahmana, degraded from the order of his birth and outcasted, without attaining to the region of Brahman, sinks into Hell, and in his next birth becomes born as a Shudra.
क्षत्रियो वा महाभागे वैश्यो वा धर्मचारिणि। स्वानि कर्माण्यपाहाय शूद्रकर्म निषेवते॥ स्वस्थानात् स परिभ्रष्टो वर्णसंकरतां गतः। ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रत्वं याति तादृशः॥
A highly blessed Kshatriya or a Vaishya, who renounces the duties of his order, and follows the practices of a Shudra, falls away from his own order and becomes a person of mixed caste. It is in this way that a Brahmana, or a Kshatriya, or a Vaishya, comes by the position of a Shudra.
यस्तु बुद्धः स्वधर्मेण ज्ञानविज्ञानवाशुचिः। धर्मज्ञो धर्मनिरतः स धर्मफलमश्नुते॥
That man who has acquired clearness of vision through practice of the duties of his own casic, who is gifted with knowledge and science, who is pure (in body and inind), who knows every duty and is devoted to the practice of all his duties, is sure to enjoy the rewards of virtue.
इदं चैवापरं देवि ब्रह्मणा समुदाहृतम्। अध्यात्मं नैष्टिकं सद्भिर्धर्मकामैनिषेव्यते॥
I shall now recite to you, O goddess, a saying uttered by Brahman on this subject. The virtuous and those who are desirous of acquiring mcrit always pursue with firmness the culture of the soul.
उग्रानं गर्हितं देवि गणान्नं श्राद्धसूतकम्। दुष्टानं नैव भोक्तव्यं शूद्रान्नं नैव कर्हिचित्॥
The food that comes from cruel and fierce persons is censurable. So also is the food that has been cooked for serving a large number of persons. The same is said of the food that is cooked for the first Shraddha of a dead person. So also is the food that is sullied for the usual faults and the food that is supplied by a Shudra. These should never be taken by a Brahmana at any time.
शूद्रान्नं गर्हितं देवि सदा देवैर्महात्मभिः। पितामहमुखोत्सृष्टं प्रमाणमिति मे मतिः॥
The food of a Shudra, O goddess, is always disapproved of by the great deities. This, I think, is the authority enunciated by the Grandfather with his own mouth.
शूद्रान्नेनावशेषेण जठरे या म्रियेद् द्विजः। आहिताग्निस्तथा यज्वा स शूद्रगतिभाग् भवेत्॥
If a Brahmana, who has set up the sacred fire and who performs sacrifices, were to die with any portion of a Shudra's food remaining undigested in his stomach, he is sure to be born a Shudra.
तेन शूद्रानशेषेण ब्रह्मस्थानादपाकृतः। ब्राह्मणः शूद्रतामेति नास्ति तत्र विचारणा॥
On account of those remains of a Shudra's food in his stomach, he falls away from the position of a Brahmana. Such a Brahmana becomes surely a Shudra.
यस्यान्नेनावशेषेण जठरे यो म्रियेद् द्विजः। तां तां योनि व्रजेद् विप्रो यस्यान्नमुपजीवति॥
The Brahmana in his next life comes by the position of that order upon whose food he lives through life or with the undigested portion of whose food in his stomach he dies.
ब्राह्मणत्वं शुभं प्राप्य दुर्लभं योऽवमन्यते। अभोज्यान्नानि चाश्नाति स द्विजत्वात् पतेत वै॥
That man who having acquired the sacred position of a Brahmana which is so difficult to acquire, disregards it and eats forbidden food, falls away from his high status.
सुरापो ब्रह्महा क्षुद्रश्चोरो भग्नवतोऽशुचिः। स्वाध्यायवर्जित: पापो लुब्धो नैकृतिकः शठः॥ अव्रती वृषलीभर्ता कुण्डाशी सोमविक्रयी। निहीनसेवी विप्रो हि पतति ब्रह्मयोनितः॥
That Brahmana who drinks alcohol, who becomes guilty of Brahmanicide or mean in his conduct, or a thief, or who breaks his vows, or becomes impure, or unmindful of his Vedic studies, or sinful, or characterised by cupidity, or guilty of cunning, or a cheat, or who does not observe vows, or who marries a Shudra woman, or who derives his livelihood by pandering to the lusts of other people, or who sells the Soma plant, or who serves a person of a low caste, falls away from his status of Brahman-hood.
गुरुतल्पी गुरुद्रोही गुरुकुत्सारतिश्च यः। ब्रह्मविच्चापि पतति ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मयोनितः॥
That Brahmana who violates the bed of his preceptor, or who takes a pleasure in speaking ill of him, falls away from the status of Brahmanahood even if he knows Brahma.
एभिस्तु कर्मभिर्देवि शुभैराचरितैस्तथा। शूद्रो ब्राह्मणतां याति वैश्यः क्षत्रियतां व्रजेत्॥
By these good deeds again, O goddess, when performed, a Shudra becomes Brahmana, and Vaishya becomes Kshatriya.
शूद्रकर्माणि सर्वाणि यथान्यायं यथाविधि। शुश्रूषां परिचर्यां च ज्येष्ठे वर्णे प्रयत्नतः॥
The Shudra should perform all the duties sanctioned for him, properly and according to the ordinance. He should always serve, with obedience and humility, persons of the three others castes and serve them with care.
कुर्यादविमनाः शूद्रः सततं सत्पथे स्थितः। देवद्विजातिसत्कर्ता सर्वातिथ्यकृतव्रतः॥
Always following the path of virtue, the Shudra should cheerfully do all this. He should honour the celestials and twiceborn persons. He should observe the vow of hospitality to all persons.
ऋतुकालाभिगामी च नियतो नियताशनः चोक्षश्चोक्षजनान्वेषी शेषान्नकृतभोजनः॥
With senses kept under control and becoming abstemious in food, he should never approach his wife except in her season. He should ever search after persons who are holy and pure. As regards food, he should eat that which remains after the needs of all persons have been fulfilled.
वृथामांसं न भुञ्जीत शूद्रो वैश्यत्वमृच्छति। ऋतवागनहंवादी निर्द्वन्द्वः शमकोविदः॥
If, indeed, the Shudra wishes to be a Vaishya (in his next life), he should also abstain from meat of animals not killed in sacrifices. If a Vaishya wishes to be a Brahmana (in his next life), he should perform these duties. He should be truthful in speech, and shorn of pride or arrogance. He should be above all pairs of opposites. He should observe the duties of peace and tranquility.
यजते नित्ययज्ञैश्च स्वाध्यायपरमः शुचिः। दान्तो ब्राह्मणसत्कर्ता सर्ववर्णबुभूषकः॥ गृहस्थव्रतमातिष्ठन् द्विकालकृतभोजनः। शेषाशी विजिताहारो निष्कामो निरहंवदः॥ अग्निहोत्रमुपासंश्च जुह्वानश्च यथाविधि। सर्वातिथ्यमुपातिष्ठशेषान्नकृतभोजनः॥ त्रेताग्निमन्त्रविहितो वैश्यो भवति वै द्विजः। स वैश्यः क्षत्रियकुले शुचौ महति जायते॥
He should worship the celestials in sacrifices, attend with devotion to the study and recitation of the Vedas, and become pure in body and mind. He should keep his senses under control, honour the Brahmanas, and seek the behoof of all the orders. Living like a householder and eating only twice a day at the appointed hours, he should satisfy his hunger with only such food as reinains after all the members of his family with dependants and guests have been fed. He should be abstemious in food, and act without being actuated by the desire of reward. He should be free from egotism. He should worship the deities in the Agnihotra and pour libations according to the ordinance. Performing the duties of hospitality towards all persons, he should, as already said, cat the food that remains after serving all others for whom it has been cooked. He should, according to the ordinances laid down, adore the three fires. Such a Vaishya of pure conduct is born in his next life in a high Kshatriya family.
स वैश्यः क्षत्रियो जातो जन्मप्रभृति संस्कृतः। उपनीतो व्रतपरो द्विजो भवति सत्कृतः॥
If a Vaishya, after having taken birth as a Kshatriya, performs the usual purificatory rites, becomes invested with the sacred thread, and betakes himself of the observance of vows, he becomes, in his next life, an honoured Brahmana.
ददाति यजते यज्ञैः समृद्धैराप्तदक्षिणैः। अधीत्य स्वर्गमन्विच्छंस्त्रेताग्निशरणः सदा॥
Indeed, after his birth as a Kshatriya, he should make presents, worship the deities in great sacrifices with profuse presents, study the Vedas, and desirous of attaining to Heaven, should adore the three fires.
आर्तहस्तप्रदो नित्यं प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्। सत्यः सत्यानि कुरुते नित्यं यः सुखदर्शनः॥
He should interfere for removing the sorrows of the distressed, and should always rightcously cherish and protect his subjects. He should be truthful, and do all true works, and seek happiness in conduct like this.
धर्मदण्डो न निर्दण्डो धर्मकार्यानुशासकः। यन्त्रितः कार्यकरणैः षड्भागकृतलक्षणः॥
He should administer proper punishments, without laying aside the rod of punishment for good. He should induce men to do righteous deeds. Guided by considerations of policy, he should take a sixth of the produce of the fields.
ग्राम्यधर्मे न सेवेते स्वच्छन्देनार्थकोविदः। ऋतुकाले तु धर्मात्मा पत्नीमुपशयेत् सदा॥
He should never indulge in sexual pleasure, but live cheerfully and independently, wellconversant with the science of Wealth or Profit. Of righteous soul, he should seek his married with only in her season.
सदोपवासी नियतः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः। बर्हिष्कान्तरिते नित्यं शयानोऽग्निगृहे सदा॥
He should always observe fasts, keep his soul under restraint, devote himself to the study of the Vedas, and be pure in body and mind, He should sleep on blades of Kusha grass spread out in his fired chamber.
सर्वातिथ्यं त्रिवर्गस्य कुर्वाण: सुमनाः सदा। शूद्राणां चान्नकामानां नित्यं सिद्धमिति ब्रुवन्॥
He should pursue the three-fold objects of life, and be always cheerful. He should always say "it is ready” to Shudras desirous of food.
अर्थाद् वा यदि वा कामान्न किंचिदुपलक्षयेत्। पितृदेवातिथिकृते साधनं कुरुते च यः॥
He should never wish for anything from motives of gain or pleasure. He should adore the ancestors and gods and guests.
स्ववेश्ननि यथान्यायमुपास्ते भक्ष्यमेव च। त्रिकालमग्निहोत्रं च जुह्वानो वै यथाविधि॥
In his own house he should live the life of a mendicant. He should duly worship the deities in his Agnihotra, morning, noon, and evening every day, by pouring libations according to the ordinance.
गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय रणे चाभिमुखो हतः। त्रेताग्निमन्त्रपूतात्मा समाविश्य द्विजो भवेत्॥
With his face turned towards the enemy, he should renounce his life-breaths in battle fought for the behoof of kine and Brahmanas. Or he may enter the three fires sanctified with Mantras and renounce his body. By doing all this he is born in his next life as a Brahmana.
ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नः संस्कृतो वेदपारगः। विप्रो भवति धर्मात्मा क्षत्रियः स्वेन कर्मणा॥
Gifted with knowledge and science, purified from all dross, and fully conversant with the Vedas, a pious Kshatriya, by his own deeds, becomes, a Brahmana.
एतैः कर्मफलैर्देवि न्यूनजातिकुलोद्धवः। शूद्रोऽप्यागमसम्पन्नो द्विजो भवति संस्कृतः॥
It is with the help of these deeds, goddess, that a person who has originated from a dreaded caste, viz., a Shudra, may become a Brahmana purged off of all sins and possessed of Vedic learning.
ब्राह्मणो वाप्यसवृत्तः सर्वसंकरभोजनः। ब्राह्मण्यं स समुत्सृज्य शूद्रो भवति तादृशः॥
One who is a Brahmana, when he becomes wicked in conduct and observes no distinction about food, falls away from the status of Brahmanahood and becomes a Shudra.
कर्मभिः शुचिभिर्देवि शुद्धात्मा विजितेन्द्रियः। शूद्रोऽपि द्विजवत् सेव्य इति ब्रह्माब्रवीत् स्वयम्॥४८
Even a Shudra, O goddess, who has purified his soul by pure deeds and who has controlled all his senses, deserves to be waited upon and served with respect as a Brahmana. This has been said by the SelfCreate Brahman himself.
स्वभावः कर्म च शुभं यत्र शूद्रेऽपि तिष्ठति। विशिष्टः स द्विजाते विज्ञेय इति मे मतिः॥
When a pious nature and pious deeds are seen in even a Shudra, he should, according to my opinion, be held supcrior to a person of the three twiceborn classes.
न योनि पि संस्कारो न श्रुतं न च संततिः। कारणानि द्विजत्वस्य वृत्तमेव तु कारणम्॥
Neither birth, nor the purificatory rites, nor learning, nor offspring, can be considered as grounds for conferring upon one the dignity of a twiceborn person Indeed, conduct is the only ground.
सर्वोऽयं ब्राह्मणौ लोके वृत्तेन तु विधीयते। वृत्ते स्थितस्तु शूद्रोऽपि ब्राह्मणत्वं नियच्छति॥
All Brahmanas in this world are Brahmanas on account of conduct. A Shudra, if he is of good conduct, is considered as equal to a B-ahmana.
ब्राह्मः स्वभावः सुश्रोणि समः सर्वत्र मे मतिः। निर्गुणं निर्मलं ब्रह्म यत्र तिष्ठति स द्विजः॥
The position of Brahma, O auspicious lady, is equal wherever it exists. This is my opinion. He, indeed, is a Brahmana in whom the dignity of Brahman exists, that condition which is bereft of qualities and which has no stain attached to it.
एते योनिफला देवि स्थानभागनिदर्शकाः। स्वयं च वरदेनोक्ता ब्रह्मणा सृजता प्रजाः॥
The boongiving Brahman, while he created all creatures, himself said that the division of human beings into the four orders as dependant on birth is only for purposes of classification.
ब्राह्मणोऽपि महत् क्षेत्रं लोके चरति पादवत्। यत् तत्र बीजं वपति सा कृषिः प्रेत्य भाविनि॥
The Brahmana is a great field in this world, a field having feet, for it moves from place to place. He who plants seeds in that field, O beautiful lady, reaps the corps in the next world.
विघसाशिना सदा भाव्यं सत्पथालम्बिना तथा। ब्राह्मं हि मार्गमाक्रम्य वर्तितव्यं बुभूषता॥
That Brahmana who wishes to secure his own good, should always live upon the remains of the food that may remain in his house after satisfying the need of all others. He should always follow the path of virtue. Indeed, he should tread along the path of Brahma.
संहिताध्यायिना भाव्यं गृहे वै गृहमेधिना। नित्यं स्वाध्यायिना भाव्यं च चाध्ययनजीविना॥
He should live, engaged in the study of the Samhitas, and remaining at home he should perform all the duties of a householder. He should always be given to the study of the Vedas, but be should never derive the means of livelihood from such study.
एवंभूतो हि यो विप्रः सत्पथं सत्पथे स्थितः। आहिताग्निरधीयानो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते॥
That Brahmana who always acts thus, following the path of virtue, adoring his sacred fire, and engaged in the study of the Vedas, comes to be considered as Brahma.
ब्राह्मण्यं देवि सम्प्राप्य रक्षितव्यं यतात्मना। योनिप्रतिग्रहादानैः कर्मभिश्च शुचिस्मिते॥
Having acquired the position of a Brahinana, it should always be protected with care, O you of sweet smiles, by avoiding the stain of contact with persons born in inferior castes, by abstaining from the acceptance of gifts, and by other acts laid down in the scriptures.
एतत् ते गुह्यमाख्यातं यथा शूद्रो भवेद् द्विजः। ब्राह्मणो वा च्युतो धर्माद् यथा शूद्रत्वमाप्नुते॥
I have thus told you a mystery, viz., the manner in which a Shudra may become a Brahmana, or that by which a Brahmana falls away from his own pure position and becomes a Shudra, stain of contact with persons born in inferior castes, by abstaining from the acceptance of gifts, and by other acts laid down in the scriptures.
एतत् ते गुह्यमाख्यातं यथा शूद्रो भवेद् द्विजः। ब्राह्मणो वा च्युतो धर्माद् यथा शूद्रत्वमाप्नुते॥
I have thus told you a mystery, viz., the manner in which a Shudra may become a Brahmana, or that by which a Brahmana falls away from his own pure position and becomes a Shudra,