Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Matsyapurana 40

English (machine translation) 40

Language
English

40.1

Aṣṭaka said:
How does the householder, wandering, reach the gods? How the mendicant? How the one who performs the work of a teacher?
How does the forest dweller, established on the good path? In this matter they now declare many things.

40.2

Yayāti said:
Studying when summoned, diligent in the teacher's service, rising first and lying down last,
gentle, self-controlled, steadfast, vigilant, devoted to recitation, the student of the Veda succeeds.

40.3

Having obtained wealth acquired righteously, he should sacrifice, give continually, feed guests,
and take nothing that is not given by others; this is the ancient secret doctrine of the householder.

40.4

Living by his own strength, turning away from sin, giving to others, not tormenting others,
such a sage reaches the foremost accomplishment, living in the forest with restrained food and action.

40.5

Not living by a craft, always without a house, with senses conquered, released from everything,
sleeping without a home, desiring little, wandering through regions, wandering alone—he is the mendicant.

40.6

That night in which people take delight, conquered by desires, and with pleasure—
in that very night the wise man, living in the forest, should strive to be self-restrained.

40.7

Ten [generations] before and ten after, his kinsmen, and himself as the twenty-first,
the forest-dweller preserves with good deeds, having abandoned his bodily elements in the forest.

40.8

Aṣṭaka said:
How many divine sages are there, and how many vows of silence are there?
Tell us that; we wish to hear.

40.9

Yayāti said:
He for whom the village is left behind while dwelling in the forest,
or for whom the forest is left behind while dwelling in the village—he would be a sage, O lord of people.

40.10

Aṣṭaka said:
How is the village left behind for one dwelling in the forest,
or how is the forest left behind for one dwelling in the village?

40.11

Yayāti said:
A forest sage should not enjoy village things;
thus the village is left behind for him while dwelling in the forest.

40.12

Without sacred fire, without a home, a sage without lineage or school,
he should desire only so much rags as covers his loincloth.

40.13

He should desire only as much food as maintains his vital breaths; / then, though dwelling in the village, the forest is behind him.

40.14

He who renounces desires, abandons ritual works, conquers his senses, / and adopts the vow of silence as a silent sage—he attains perfection in the world.

40.15

With washed teeth, trimmed nails, always bathed, adorned, / pure, established in white deeds—who should not honor him?

40.16

Emaciated by ascetic fervor, thin, his flesh, bones, and blood depleted, / when he becomes free of dualities, the silent sage is established in silence.

40.17

Then, having conquered this world, he conquers the other world as well. / But when the silent sage grazes for food with his mouth like a cow, / then whatever comes to him from all worlds is fit for immortality.

Translations (1)

Linked texts (1)