Bhūmi-khaṇḍa · Chapter 13
Sourceसोमशर्मोवाच- लक्षणं ब्रह्मचर्यस्य तन्मे विस्तरतो वद । कीदृशं ब्रह्मचर्यं च यदि जानासि भामिनि १। नित्यं सत्ये रतिर्यस्य पुण्यात्मा तुष्टितां व्रजेत् । ऋतौ प्राप्ते व्रजेन्नारीं स्वीयां दोषविवर्जितः २। स्वकुलस्य सदाचारं कदानैव विमुंचति । एतदेव समाख्यातं गृहस्थस्य द्विजोत्तम ३। ब्रह्मचर्यं मया प्रोक्तं गृहिणामुत्तमं किल । यतीनां तु प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ४। दमसत्यसमायुक्तः पापाद्भीतस्तु सर्वदा । भार्यासंगं वर्जयित्वा ध्यानज्ञानप्रतिष्ठितः ५। यतीनां ब्रह्मचर्यं च समाख्यातं तवाग्रतः । तप एव प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मेनिगदतः शृणु ६। आचारेण प्रवर्तेत कामक्रोधविवर्जितः । प्राणिनामुपकाराय संस्थितउद्यमावृतः ७। तप एवं समाख्यातं सत्यमेवं वदाम्यहम् । परद्रव्येष्वलोलुप्त्वं परस्त्रीषु तथैव च ८। दृष्ट्वा मतिर्न यस्य स्यात्स सत्यः परिकीर्तितः । दानमेव प्रवक्ष्यामि येन जीवंति मानवाः ९। आत्मसौख्यं प्रतीच्छेद्यः स इहैव परत्र वा । अन्नस्यापि महादानं सुखस्यैव ध्रुवस्य वा १०। ग्रासमात्रं तथा देयं क्षुधार्ताय न संशयः । दत्ते सति महत्पुण्यममृतं सोश्नुते सदा ११। दिनेदिने प्रदातव्यं यथाविभवसंभवम् । तृणं शय्यां च वचनं गृहच्छायां सुशीतलाम् १२। भूमिमापस्तथा चान्नं प्रियवाक्यमनुत्तमम् । आसनं वचनालापं कौटिल्येन विवर्जितम् १३। आत्मनो जीवनार्थाय नित्यमेव करोति यः । देवान्पितॄन्समभ्यर्च्य एवं दानं ददाति यः १४। इहैव मोदते सो वै परत्र हि तथैव च । अवंध्यं दिवसं यो वै दानाध्ययनकर्मभिः १५। प्रकुर्यान्मानुषो भूत्वा स देवो नात्र संशयः । नियमं च प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मसाधनमुत्तमम् १६। देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च पूजास्वभिरतो हि यः । नित्यं नियमसंयुक्तो दानव्रतेषु सुव्रत १७। उपकारेषु पुण्येषु नियमोऽयं प्रकीर्तितः । क्षमारूपं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां द्विजसत्तम १८। पराक्रोशं हि संश्रुत्य ताडिते सति केनचित् । क्रोधं न चैव गच्छेत्तु ताडितो न हि ताडयेत् १९। सहिष्णुः स्यात्स धर्मात्मा नहि रागं प्रयाति च । समश्नाति परं सौख्यमिह चामुत्र वापि च २०। एवं क्षमा समाख्याता शौचमेवं वदाम्यहम् । सबाह्याभ्यंतरे यो वै शुद्धो रागविवर्जितः २१। स्नानाचमनकैरेव व्यवहारेण वर्तते । शौचमेवं समाख्यातमहिंसां तु वदाम्यहम् २२। तृणमपि विना कार्यञ्छेत्तव्यं न विजानता । अहिंसानिरतो भूयाद्यथात्मनि तथापरे २३। शांतिमेव प्रक्ष्यामि शांत्या सुखं समश्नुते । शांतिरेव प्रकर्तव्या क्लेशान्नैव परित्यजेत् २४। भूतवैरं विसृज्यैव मन एवं प्रकारयेत् । एवं शांतिः समाख्याता अस्तेयं तु वदाम्यहम् २५। परस्वं नैव हर्तव्यं परजाया तथैव च । मनोभिर्वचनैः कायैर्मन एवं प्रकारयेत् २६। दममेव प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रे द्विजसत्तम । दमनादिंद्रियाणां वै मनसोपि विकारिणः २७। औद्धत्यं नाशयेत्तेषां स चैतन्यो वशी तदा । शुश्रूषां तु प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्मशास्त्रेषु यादृशी २८। पूर्वाचार्यैर्यथा प्रोक्ता तामेवं प्रवदाम्यहम् । वाचा देहेन मनसा गुरुकार्यं प्रसाधयेत् २९। जायतेऽनुग्रहो यत्र शुश्रूषा सा निगद्यते । सांगो धर्मः समाख्यातस्तवाग्रे द्विजसत्तम ३०। अन्यच्च ते प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रोतुमिच्छसि यत्पते । ईदृशे चापि धर्मे तु वर्तते यो नरः सदा ३१। संसारे तस्य संभूतिः पुनरेव न जायते । स्वर्गं गच्छति धर्मेण सत्यंसत्यं वदाम्यहम् ३२। एवं ज्ञात्वा महाप्राज्ञ धर्ममेव व्रजस्व हि । सर्वं हि प्राप्यते कांत यदसाध्यं महीतले ३३। धर्मप्रसादतस्तस्मात्कुरु वाक्यं ममैव हि । भार्यायास्तुवचः श्रुत्वा सोमशर्मा सुबुद्धिमान् ३४। पुनः प्रोवाच तां भार्यां सुमनां धर्मवादिनीम् ३५।
somaśarmovāca- lakṣaṇaṃ brahmacaryasya tanme vistarato vada | kīdṛśaṃ brahmacaryaṃ ca yadi jānāsi bhāmini 1| nityaṃ satye ratiryasya puṇyātmā tuṣṭitāṃ vrajet | ṛtau prāpte vrajennārīṃ svīyāṃ doṣavivarjitaḥ 2| svakulasya sadācāraṃ kadānaiva vimuṃcati | etadeva samākhyātaṃ gṛhasthasya dvijottama 3| brahmacaryaṃ mayā proktaṃ gṛhiṇāmuttamaṃ kila | yatīnāṃ tu pravakṣyāmi tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu 4| damasatyasamāyuktaḥ pāpādbhītastu sarvadā | bhāryāsaṃgaṃ varjayitvā dhyānajñānapratiṣṭhitaḥ 5| yatīnāṃ brahmacaryaṃ ca samākhyātaṃ tavāgrataḥ | tapa eva pravakṣyāmi tanmenigadataḥ śṛṇu 6| ācāreṇa pravarteta kāmakrodhavivarjitaḥ | prāṇināmupakārāya saṃsthitaudyamāvṛtaḥ 7| tapa evaṃ samākhyātaṃ satyamevaṃ vadāmyaham | paradravyeṣvaloluptvaṃ parastrīṣu tathaiva ca 8| dṛṣṭvā matirna yasya syātsa satyaḥ parikīrtitaḥ | dānameva pravakṣyāmi yena jīvaṃti mānavāḥ 9| ātmasaukhyaṃ pratīcchedyaḥ sa ihaiva paratra vā | annasyāpi mahādānaṃ sukhasyaiva dhruvasya vā 10| grāsamātraṃ tathā deyaṃ kṣudhārtāya na saṃśayaḥ | datte sati mahatpuṇyamamṛtaṃ sośnute sadā 11| dinedine pradātavyaṃ yathāvibhavasaṃbhavam | tṛṇaṃ śayyāṃ ca vacanaṃ gṛhacchāyāṃ suśītalām 12| bhūmimāpastathā cānnaṃ priyavākyamanuttamam | āsanaṃ vacanālāpaṃ kauṭilyena vivarjitam 13| ātmano jīvanārthāya nityameva karoti yaḥ | devānpitṝnsamabhyarcya evaṃ dānaṃ dadāti yaḥ 14| ihaiva modate so vai paratra hi tathaiva ca | avaṃdhyaṃ divasaṃ yo vai dānādhyayanakarmabhiḥ 15| prakuryānmānuṣo bhūtvā sa devo nātra saṃśayaḥ | niyamaṃ ca pravakṣyāmi dharmasādhanamuttamam 16| devānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ ca pūjāsvabhirato hi yaḥ | nityaṃ niyamasaṃyukto dānavrateṣu suvrata 17| upakāreṣu puṇyeṣu niyamo'yaṃ prakīrtitaḥ | kṣamārūpaṃ pravakṣyāmi śrūyatāṃ dvijasattama 18| parākrośaṃ hi saṃśrutya tāḍite sati kenacit | krodhaṃ na caiva gacchettu tāḍito na hi tāḍayet 19| sahiṣṇuḥ syātsa dharmātmā nahi rāgaṃ prayāti ca | samaśnāti paraṃ saukhyamiha cāmutra vāpi ca 20| evaṃ kṣamā samākhyātā śaucamevaṃ vadāmyaham | sabāhyābhyaṃtare yo vai śuddho rāgavivarjitaḥ 21| snānācamanakaireva vyavahāreṇa vartate | śaucamevaṃ samākhyātamahiṃsāṃ tu vadāmyaham 22| tṛṇamapi vinā kāryañchettavyaṃ na vijānatā | ahiṃsānirato bhūyādyathātmani tathāpare 23| śāṃtimeva prakṣyāmi śāṃtyā sukhaṃ samaśnute | śāṃtireva prakartavyā kleśānnaiva parityajet 24| bhūtavairaṃ visṛjyaiva mana evaṃ prakārayet | evaṃ śāṃtiḥ samākhyātā asteyaṃ tu vadāmyaham 25| parasvaṃ naiva hartavyaṃ parajāyā tathaiva ca | manobhirvacanaiḥ kāyairmana evaṃ prakārayet 26| damameva pravakṣyāmi tavāgre dvijasattama | damanādiṃdriyāṇāṃ vai manasopi vikāriṇaḥ 27| auddhatyaṃ nāśayetteṣāṃ sa caitanyo vaśī tadā | śuśrūṣāṃ tu pravakṣyāmi dharmaśāstreṣu yādṛśī 28| pūrvācāryairyathā proktā tāmevaṃ pravadāmyaham | vācā dehena manasā gurukāryaṃ prasādhayet 29| jāyate'nugraho yatra śuśrūṣā sā nigadyate | sāṃgo dharmaḥ samākhyātastavāgre dvijasattama 30| anyacca te pravakṣyāmi śrotumicchasi yatpate | īdṛśe cāpi dharme tu vartate yo naraḥ sadā 31| saṃsāre tasya saṃbhūtiḥ punareva na jāyate | svargaṃ gacchati dharmeṇa satyaṃsatyaṃ vadāmyaham 32| evaṃ jñātvā mahāprājña dharmameva vrajasva hi | sarvaṃ hi prāpyate kāṃta yadasādhyaṃ mahītale 33| dharmaprasādatastasmātkuru vākyaṃ mamaiva hi | bhāryāyāstuvacaḥ śrutvā somaśarmā subuddhimān 34| punaḥ provāca tāṃ bhāryāṃ sumanāṃ dharmavādinīm 35|
English translation
Somaśarman said :
1. O beautiful lady, tell me in detail the characteristics of Celibacy if you know them. Of what nature is Celibacy?
Sumanā said :
2. (He is a true celibate) who is always interested in truth; he the righteous one would (i.e. is) always be satisfied; and being free from faults would approach (i.e. cohabit with) his own wife when she menstruates.
3-4a. He never gives up the good practices of his family. O best brāhmaṇa , I have told you this (i.e. these characteristics) of a householder. I have indeed explained to you the celibacy of (i.e. as observed by) householders.
4b-6a. Now I shall explain to you the celibacy of (i.e. as observed by) the ascetics. Listen to me who am explaining it. He is always endowed with restraint and truthfulness; and is always afraid of sin. Avoiding (i.e. he avoids) union with his wife, he is settled in meditation and knowledge. I have (thus) told you the celibacy of the ascetics.
6b-9a. (Now) I shall just explain penance. Listen to me who am explaining it. Free from carnal desires and anger he should behave according to the (proper) rules. He remains full of exertion for obliging beings. I have thus explained penance. (Now) I shall speak about truthfulness in the same manner. He is called truthful, whose mind, on seeing other’s wealth or wives, would (i.e. does) not have longing for them.
9b-16a. I shall just explain charity by means of which human beings live. He who desires his own happiness in this or in the next world, should make the great gift of food or (i.e.) of eternal happiness. Similarly at least a morsel should be given to one who is oppressed by hunger. There is no misgiving about it. When (food) is given (like this) it leads to great religious merit, and he ever obtains immortality. Everyday a man should give, as is possible according to his wealth, grass, a bed, words, very cool shadow of (i.e. shelter in his) house; so also he should give land, water, food, excellent pleasing words, a seat, words free from crookedness. He, who, for his own existence, daily does this, and honouring deities and manes, thus give gifts, is happy in this world and in the next world also. He, who, even being born as a human being, would make (every) day fruitful by means ofgiving gifts, study and (other) rites, is (just) a god; there is no doubt about this.
16b-18a. I shall explain to you restraint ( niyama )—the excellent means of religious merit. (He is a restrained person) who is engaged in worshipping deities and brāhmaṇas , is always full of restraint and is engaged in vows like giving gifts and other meritorious obligations. This is restraint that I have explained.
18b-20. O best of brāhmaṇa, I shall now explain the nature of forgiveness. (Please) listen. Hearing the loud cry of someone being beaten by someone else, he should not get angry, and should not beat (back) even if he is beaten. The pious one should be patient. He has no attachment. He gets great happiness here (i.e. in this world) and in the next world.
21-22a. I have thus explained forgiveness. Now I shall explain purity. He is pure, who is pure externally and internally, and is free from attachment. He lives with such practices as bath and sipping water.
22b-23. I have thus explained purity. Now I shall tell you about non-violence. One who knows should not (i.e. one should not deliberately) pull off even (a blade of) grass. He should be devoted to harmlessness; should look upon others as upon himself.
24-25a. I shall (now) explain tranquility. A man gets happiness through tranquility. He should observe tranquility, and should not at all give it up because of trouble. Giving up enmity with beings, he should thus make up his mind.
25b-26. Thus I have explained tranquility. Now I shall tell about non-stealing. A man should not snatch away other’s wealth or should not kidnap other’s wife, mentally, by words or physically (i.e. should not think or talk about or do these things). Thus he should make up his mind.
27-28a. O best brāhmaṇa, I shall just explain to you sense-control ( dama ). Being sensible and controlling himself, he should destroy the insolence of his senses and his mind susceptible to emotions by curbing them.
28b-32a. I shall explain to you service ( śuśrūṣā ) as is told in religious texts, and shall tell you about it as it is explained by former preceptors. By means of words, mind and body one should accomplish his preceptor’s mission. That is said to be service where (i.e. by which) favour is produced. O best brāhmaṇa, I have explained to you Dharma (i.e. righteousness) in all its forms. O my husband, I shall tell you anything more that you desire to hear. A man who always lives in (i.e. practises) Dharma like this is never again born in this mundane existence.
32b. By means of (practising) Dharma he goes to heaven. I am telling you the truth, (and) the truth (only).
33-34a. Knnowing thus, O you highly intelligent one, go to (i.e. practise) Dharma. O dear one, everythig, that is difficult to be accomplished on earth is obtained by the favour of Dharma. (Please) do only what I tell you.
34b-35. Hearing the words of his wife, the very intelligent Somaśarman , again spoke to his wife, Sumanā , who explained Dharma.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 35302, revision 334910 (2022-04-07T22:41:13Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc364220.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.