,the iksh-,patr of the ,svmi-,nrya4na   
,sect      ,,journal  ,,of  ,,the       
,,royal ,,asiatic ,,society4    ,new    
,series1 ,volume ,,xiv  ,london1 ,trbner
 and ,company  #ahhb   ,scanned and     
edited by ,christopher ,m4 ,weimer1 ,may
 #bjjb4 ,circumflexes represent macrons 
in this file1 and  represents c with an 
acute marking4  ,also1 the name ,brahma 
7not ,param ,brahma7 is spelled with a  
breve over the final a1 which is not    
represented4    ,,art4                  
,,xxiv4--,sansk4rit ,text of the        
iksh-,patr of the ,svmi-,nrya4na ,sect4 
,edited by ,professor ,monier ,williams1
 ,c4,i4,e41 ,d4,c4,l4   ,,the text of   
the iksh-,patr of the modern ,vaish4nava
 ,sect1 called ,svmi-,nrya4na1 was      
lithographed in ,samvat #aibh 7,a4,d4   
#ahgb7 by order of the ,heads of the    
,sect4  ,it has a ,gujart ,commentary by
 ,nitynanda-muni4  ,so far as ,i know1  
this is the only version of the text    
that has yet appeared4  ,it was given to
 me by the ,wartl ,mahrja on the        

occasion of my first visit to ,wartl in 
#ahge4  ,it is full of mistakes1 and in 
preparing the following edition of the  
text ,i have taken as my guide the far  
more accurate manuscript and ,sansk4rit 
commentary written by ,pa4n4dit         
atnanda-muni1 and given to me by the    
,mahrja on the same occasion4           
,,translation ,,of ,,the ,,foregoing    
,,iksh-,,patr4  ,,by ,,professor        
,,monier ,,williams4   ,in making the   
following translation ,i have been      
careful to study the ,sansk4rit         
commentary called ,artha-dpik1 written  
for me in clear beautiful characters by 
,pa4n4dit atnanda-muni 7one of the      
disciples of ,svmi-,nrya4na71 by order  
of the ,wartl ,mahrja1 after one of the 
formal visits to the ,wartl ,temple1    
which were kindly arranged for me by    
,mr4 ,frederick ,sheppard1 ,c4,s41 late 
,collector of ,kaira1 and now           
,commissioner4  ,the translation is the 
first ever made by any ,european        
scholar1 though it is right ,i should   

mention that ,i have consulted a fairly 
accurate version 7not always perfect    
either in its renderings or its         
,english7 written by ,she4th ,bhogill   
,prnjvands1 of the ,bombay ,education   
,society's ,institution1 ,ahmedabad1 and
 given in ,mr4 ,h4 ,c4 ,briggs' work1   
,the ,cities of ,gujarsh4tra4  ,i have  
also received assistance from my friend 
,pa4n4dit ,shymaj ,k4rish4na-varm1 of   
,balliol ,college1 ,oxford4   #a4  ,i   
meditate in my heart on that ,k4rish4na 
on whose left side is seated ,rdh1 on   
whose breast reclines r 7,lakshm71 and  
who enjoyed sport 7with them7 in        
,v4rindvana4  #b4  ,i1 ,sahajnanda4h    
,svm 7afterwards called ,svm-,nrya4na71 
living at ,v4rittlaya1 write this       
,letter of instructions 7or ,book of    
directions7 to all my followers         
scattered throughout various countries4 
#c4  ,let the two youths named          
,ayodhy-prasda and ,raghu-vra1 the sons 
of my two brothers1 ,rma-pratpa and     
,ih-rma1 who were the children of       

,dharma 7or ,hari-prasda72  #d4  ,and   
let those ,naish4thika ,brahmars 7that  
is to say1 those ,brahmans who continue 
,brahma-rs or celibates all their       
lives71 the chief among whom is         
,mukundnanda1 and those ,g4rihasthas    
7householders71 such as                 
,mayrma-,bha4t4ta1 and other of my      
followers2  #e4  ,and let those women1  
whether wives or widows1 who have become
 my disciples1 and the whole number of  
holy men 7,sdhus71 such as ,muktnanda   
and others2  #f4  ,let all these        
7persons7 constantly give heed to my    
prayers for their perpetual continuance 
in their own proper duties--7my prayers7
 offered up with repetition of the name 
,k4rish4na 7,nrya4na71 and in accordance
 with the sacred scriptures4            
7,literally--,let my benedictory words  
which keep them in their own duties be  
always read by all these persons        
accompanied by repetition of the name of
 ,k4rish4na1 and approved by the stras47
  #g4  ,let this ,letter of directions1 

which has important objects 7to be      
hereafter enumerated71 and which        
promotes the welfare of all living      
beings1 be studied with perfect         
concentration of mind by all these      
7persons74  #h4  ,those 7virtuous7      
persons who conform to the good usages  
enjoined by the sacred stras will always
 enjoy great happiness both in this     
world and in that which is to come4  #i4
  ,but those evil-minded persons who    
wilfully transgress such 7good usages7  
will certainly suffer great misery in   
this world as well as in the next4  #aj4
  ,therefore let all of you who are my  
disciples always remain careful and     
well-contented in the observance of this
 7,book of directions74  #aa4  ,let no  
followers of mine ever intentionally    
kill any living thing whatever--not even
 a louse1 flea1 or the most minute      
insect4  #ab4  ,the killing of any      
animal such as a goat1 etc41 for the    
purpose of sacrificing to the ,gods and 
,pit4ris1 must not be practised2 because

 it is declared1 that abstinence from   
injury to others is the highest of all  
duties4  #ac4  ,the killing of any human
 being in any way1 at any place1 for any
 object1 7even7 for the sake of         
acquiring a wife1 wealth1 or political  
supremacy1 is wholly prohibited4  #ad4  
,suicide at a sacred place of           
pilgrimage1 or from passion1 either by  
hanging1 or by poison in consequence of 
the commission of a criminal act        
,footnote3 ,a father sometimes kills    
himself because a criminal act has been 
committed by a member of his family1 is 
prohibited4  #ae4  ,flesh meat should   
never be eaten1 not even that which     
remains of a sacrifice4  ,spirituous    
liquor of any kind should never be      
drunk1 not even that presented to the   
,gods4  #af4  ,if an unlawful act has   
been committed anywhere by one's self or
 any other person1 no member either of  
one's own or any other person's body    
should be on that account mutilated with
 a weapon of any kind through anger4    

#ag4  ,all theft is prohibited1 even    
that which is committed under pretence  
of contributing to religious purposes2  
nor must such things as wood and flowers
 that have an owner ever be abstracted  
without his permission4  #ah4  ,let no  
male or female followers of mine ever   
commit adultery4  ,let them shun gaming 
and similar vices1 and abstain from all 
intoxicating liquors and substances such
 as hemp1 etc4  #ai4  ,nowhere--except  
in ,jaganntha-pur--let a man accept     
water or food which has been cooked by  
one from whom food is not to be taken   
7i4e4 from a person of low caste71 even 
though that food may have formed the    
,prasda ,footnote3 ,by ,prasda is meant 
the remains of food presented as an     
offering to a god4  ,here the word must 
be either prasd or prasdi1 from prasdin 
of ,k4rish4na 7that is1 the remains of  
what has been presented as an offering  
to ,k4rish4na74  #bj4  ,no calumnious   
language must be used against any one   
for the sake of promoting one's own     

interests4  ,no abusive words must ever 
be spoken4  #ba4  ,never use nor listen 
to profane language against the ,gods1  
sacred places1 ,brhmans1 holy women1    
,sdhus and the ,vedas4  #bb4  ,the      
remains of the offering to that ,goddess
 to whom flesh and liquor are offered   
and in whose presence the killing of    
goats1 etc41 takes place1 are not to be 
eaten4  #bc4  ,if you happen on the road
 to see before you a temple of iva or   
any other ,god1 having first made a     
salutation1 respectfully enter inside to
 view the image4  #bd4  ,let no one     
abandon the duties of the class and     
order to which he belongs1 nor practise 
the religious duties of others2 nor have
 anything to do with those propounded by
 heretical teachers4  #be4  ,the        
narrative of the exploits of the ,lord  
,k4rish4na should not be heard from the 
mouth of any person whose words lead one
 to fall from his worship or from duty4 
#bf4  ,never tell a truth which is      
likely to cause serious injury to       

yourself or to any one else4  ,avoid    
associating with ungrateful persons4    
,never accept a bribe from any person   
whatever4  #bg4  ,never associate with  
thieves1 wicked or vicious persons1     
heretics1 people who are in love1 and   
people who are engaged in dishonest     
occupations4  #bh4  ,never associate    
with those who1 through eager desire to 
obtain a wife1 wealth or some sensual   
gratification1 practise sinful acts     
under pretext of devotion to religion or
 to sacred knowledge4  #bi4  ,never pay 
attention to those books in which       
,k4rish4na and his incarnations are     
impugned by controversial arguments4    
#cj4  ,no unstrained water or milk      
should be drunk1 nor should water       
containing minute insects be used for   
such purposes as bathing1 etc4  #ca4    
,never take medicine which is mixed with
 spirituous liquor or flesh meat2 or    
which has been prescribed by a physician
 whose character is unknown4  #cb4      
,never allow bodily excretions or       

evacuations or saliva to fall in places 
prohibited by the stras or by public    
custom4  #cc4  ,never enter or leave 7a 
house7 by a side entrance 7or private   
door72 never take up your residence at a
 place belonging to another person1     
without asking the owner's permission4  
#cd4  ,males ought not to listen to     
7discourses on7 religious knowledge1 or 
to tales 7about the exploits of heroes7 
from the mouths of women1 ,footnote3    
,this is in strict unison with the      
present ,hind practice of keeping women 
ignorant4  ,that women in ancient times 
were not only educated1 but sometimes   
erudite and celebrated as religious     
teachers1 is proved by the example of   
,maitrey1 ,grg and others nor ought they
 to carry on controversial discussions  
with females2 nor with a king or his    
officials4  #ce4  ,never speak          
disrespectfully of religious preceptors1
 of superiors1 of those who have gained 
renown in the world1 of learned men1 and
 of those that carry arms4  #cf4  ,never

 do any act rashly2 nor be slow in a    
religious duty4 ,impart to others the   
knowledge you may receive1 and daily    
associate with holy men4  #cg4  ,do not 
go empty-handed to pay a visit to a     
religious preceptor1 a god or a king4   
,never betray a trust or violate        
confidence4  ,never praise yourself with
 your own lips4  #ch4  ,the clothing of 
my followers should not be of such an   
improper kind that1 when put on1 the    
limbs are exposed to view4  #ci4  ,the  
worship of ,k4rish4na must not be       
performed without attending to religious
 duties4  ,adoration of ,k4rish4na      
should not be abandoned through fear of 
the reproaches of ignorant people4  #dj4
  ,on religious festivals and on        
ordinary days1 the males and females    
that go to ,k4rish4na's temple should   
keep separate and not touch each other4 
#da4  ,those twice-born persons who have
 received initiation into the worship of
 ,k4rish4na from a duly qualified       
religious teacher should always wear on 

their necks two rosaries made of ,tuls  
wood 7one for ,rdh and another for      
,k4rish4na71 and should make an upright 
mark on their foreheads4  #db4  ,this   
mark should be made with ,gop-andana    
7i4e4 white earth from ,dvrik71 or with 
sandal which is left from that employed 
in the worship of ,hari 7,k4rish4na71   
and mixed with saffron4  #dc4  ,within  
this 7erect mark7 there ought to be made
 a round 7v4ritta7 mark with the        
materials 7or earth7 used for the       
,pu4n4dra1 or with saffron which has    
served for the ,prasda of ,rdh and      
,k4rish4na 7that is1 with a portion left
 from that employed in their worship74  
#dd4  ,those pure dras who are          
worshippers of ,k4rish4na1 while        
practising their own peculiar duties1   
should1 like the twice-born1 use a      
rosary and a vertical mark on the       
forehead4  #de4  ,by those 7dra7        
worshippers who are different from the  
pure dras two rosaries made of sandal   
wood1 etc41 are to be worn on the       

throat1 and only a round mark is to be  
made on the forehead4  #df4  ,those     
twice-born of my followers1 who have    
inherited from their forefathers the    
custom of using a rosary of ,rudrksha   
berries 7sacred to iva71 and the three  
horizontal 7aiva7 marks1 should not     
discontinue that practice4  #dg4        
,nrya4na and iva should be equally      
regarded as manifestations of one and   
the same ,universal ,spirit1 since both 
have been declared in the ,vedas to be  
forms of ,brahma4 ,footnote3 ,this      
precept furnishes an interesting proof  
of the tolerant character of            
,vaish4navism1 and of its harmony with  
the pantheism of the ,vednta4  #dh4  ,in
 times of slight distress my adherents  
shall not chiefly 7or by preference7    
follow the laws which are laid down by  
the stras for times of 7excessive7      
distress4  #di4  ,every day let every   
man awake before sunrise1 and after     
calling on the name of ,k4rish4na1      
proceed to the rites of bodily          

purification4  #ej4  ,having seated     
himself in some place apart1 let him    
cleanse his teeth1 and then1 having     
bathed with pure water1 put on two      
well-washed garments 7an under and an   
upper74  #ea4  ,then having seated      
himself on a clean and single           
7asa4mkr4na7 seat placed on ground      
purified 7with cow-dung1 etc471 let a   
man sip water with his face either to   
the east or north4  #eb4  ,my male      
followers should then make the vertical 
mark with the round spot in it on their 
foreheads1 and wives should only make a 
circular mark with red powder 7of       
saffron74  #ec4  ,a widow is prohibited 
from making either a vertical or round  
mark on her forehead4  ,in the next     
place all my followers ought to engage  
in the mental worship of ,k4rish4na4    
#ed4  ,after engaging in mental worship1
 let them bow down before the pictures  
of ,rdh and ,k4rish4na1 and repeat the  
eight-syllabled prayer to ,k4rish4na    
7that is--the formula meaning           

',k4rish4na is my refuge'7 as many times
 as possible4  ,after that they may     
apply themselves to their secular       
affairs4  #ee4  ,all my ordinary        
disciples should perform the preceding  
rules2 but those who like ,ambarsha have
 dedicated their whole souls 7to the    
,deity7 should be most particular in    
performing the duties ending with mental
 worship in the order enumerated 7in the
 preceding six verses as well as the    
following73--  #ef4  7,such devoted     
persons7 should also then worship an    
image made of either stone or metal1 and
 the black stone called la-grma         
7representing ,vish4nu71 with the       
7sixteen7 offerings 7of sandal1 etc471  
such as are procurable1 and the         
eight-syllabled mantra of ,k4rish4na    
should be repeated 7manu  mantra74  #eg4
  ,next 7in order to the performance of 
brahma-yajna7 the hymn celebrating the  
praises of ,k4rish4na should be recited 
according to ability1 and those that    
have not studied ,sansk4rit should at   

least repeat his name4  #eh4  ,all who  
have devoted themselves 7in this way7 to
 the worship of ,k4rish4na1 should next 
present an offering 7of cooked food7 to 
him1 and then they should eat the       
remains of the offering 7prsdikam74     
,they should at all times be full of    
joy4  #ei4  ,since they are called the  
passionless 7nirgu4na7 worshippers of   
the passionless ,k4rish4na1 therefore1  
in consequence of that1 all their acts  
are also 7called7 passionless           
7nirgu4na74  #fj4  ,by these devoted    
7worshippers7 indeed no water should be 
drunk1 nor should any leaves1 roots or  
fruits anywhere be eaten which have not 
been presented to ,k4rish4na4  #fa4     
,all those who from old age or some     
grievous calamity are unable 7to perform
 worship7 should make over the 7image or
 ala-grma stone7 of ,k4rish4na to the   
charge of some other devotee 7able to   
carry on the proper services71 and      
should themselves act to the best of    
their ability4  #fb4  ,an image 7or     

la-grma7 of ,k4rish4na1 given by a      
religious leader 7rya71 or consecrated  
by him1 should be worshipped1 but to    
other images it is sufficient to make   
obeisance4  #fc4  ,every day all my     
followers should go to the temple of    
,god in the evening1 and there loudly   
repeat the names of the lord of ,rdhik4 
#fd4  ,the story of his exploits should 
be related as well as heard with the    
greatest reverence1 and on festivals    
hymns in praise of ,k4rish4na should be 
sung accompanied by musical instruments4
  #fe4  ,in this manner all my followers
 should every day perform religious     
duties4  ,moreover1 they should study   
works both in ,sansk4rit and in the     
popular dialects1 according to their    
mental abilities4  #ff4  ,whatever      
individual is appointed to any office1  
he should be so appointed with strict   
regard to his qualifications1 after due 
consideration1 and never in any other   
way4  #fg4  ,let every one always       
provide his own servants with food and  

clothing in the most suitable manner1   
and according to his own pecuniary      
means4  #fh4  ,in conversation every    
person should be addressed conformably  
to his character 7or qualities71 and    
suitably to time and place1 and not in  
any other manner4  #fi4  ,by all        
well-conducted persons due deference    
must be shown to a religious guide1 a   
king1 an elder1 an ascetic1 a learned   
man1 and one that practises austerities1
 by rising from the seat and so forth4  
#gj4  ,no man should sit down on the    
ground in the presence of a religious   
preceptor1 a god1 or king1 or in a      
7solemn7 assembly1 in such a            
7disrespectful7 attitude as to make one 
foot rest on the thigh1 or with a cloth 
tied round the 7waist and7 knees4  #ga4 
,a controversial discussion should never
 be carried on with a religious teacher 
7rya74  ,he is to be honoured with gifts
 of food1 money1 clothes1 and with all  
other things according to ability4  #gb4
  ,when any of my disciples hear of his 

arrival1 they should immediately show   
their respect by advancing to meet him1 
and when he departs1 they should        
accompany him as far as the confines of 
the village4  #gc4  ,if an act1 attended
 with large recompense1 be opposed to   
religious duty1 that act ought not to be
 committed2 for religious duty 7when    
performed7 confers all desired objects4 
#gd4  ,an unrighteous act that may have 
been committed by great persons in      
former times must never be held 7worthy 
of imitation72 but their virtuous       
conduct only is to be imitated4  #ge4   
,let not the secrets of any one be ever 
anywhere divulged1 the neglect          
7vyatikrama7 of proper respect 7for     
those deserving of reverence7 should    
never be made1 7as if all were to be    
looked at7 with an equal eye 7of        
esteem74  #gf4  ,all my disciples should
 practise special religious observances 
during the four special months          
7beginning with sh4dha74  ,but those who
 are sickly need only practise the same 

in the one month of rva4na only4  #gg4  
,reading and listening to the exploits  
of ,vish4nu1 singing his praises1 solemn
 worship1 repetition of his mantra      
7,great ,k4rish4na is my refuge71       
recitation of the hymn of praise 7i4e4  
of the thousand names of ,vish4nu71     
reverential circumambulations 7from left
 to right with the right side towards   
the object adored71  #gh4  ,prostration 
with the eight members 7of the body7    
these are considered the best religious 
observances2 any one of these ought to  
be performed with special devotion4     
#gi4  ,the fasts of all the eleventh    
days 7of the waxing and waning moon7    
should be carefully observed2 also of   
the birthdays of ,k4rish4na2 and of the 
night of iva 7iva-rtri7 with rejoicings 
during the day4  #hj4  ,on a fast-day   
sleeping by day should most carefully be
 avoided1 since by such sleep the merit 
of fasting is lost to men1 quite as much
 as by sexual intercourse4  #ha4        
,whatever appointed order of religious  

fasts and festivals 7vrata and utsava7  
was enjoined by r ,vi4th4thalea         
7,vi4th4thala-natha71 who was the son of
 r ,vallabhrya1 the most eminent of     
,vaish4navas4  #hb4  ,having conformed  
to that order1 all religious fasts and  
festivals should be observed            
accordingly2 and the form of worshipping
 ,k4rish4na directed by him             
7,vi4th4thalea7 should be adopted4  #hc4
  ,a pilgrimage to the ,trthas1 or holy 
places1 of which ,dvrik 7,k4rish4na's   
city in ,gujart7 is the chief1 should be
 performed according to rule4  ,love and
 ,charity should be shown towards the   
poor by all1 according to ability4  #hd4
  ,vish4nu1 iva1 ,ga4na-pati 7,ga4nea71 
,prvat1 and the ,sun1 these five deities
 should be honoured with worship by my  
followers4  ,footnote3 ,it is evident   
from this verse1 as from verse #dg1 that
 although ,vaish4navas give preferential
 worship to ,vish4nu1 they are really   
,pantheists in the sense of honouring   
other deities1 as manifestations of the 

,supreme ,being4  ,it may be observed   
that although five deities are here     
mentioned1 ,ga4napati and ,prvat are    
connected with iva1 as the ,sun is with 
,vish4nu4  #he4  ,when at any place a   
calamity is caused by a demon or by any 
similar cause1 the charm called ,nrya4na
 should be recited or the mantra of     
,hanumn should be muttered1 but not the 
mantra of any inferior god less         
esteemed4  #hf4  ,on the occurrence of  
eclipses of the sun and moon1 all my    
followers should immediately suspend    
their other business1 and1 having       
purified themselves1 should make        
repetition of the 7eight-syllabled7     
mantra of ,k4rish4na4  #hg4  ,when the  
eclipse has passed off1 they should     
bathe with their clothes on1 and those  
who are householders should distribute  
gifts according to their ability4       
,other persons 7who have no worldly     
means7 should engage in the worship of  
the supreme ,lord 7,vish4nu74  #hh4     
,those followers of mine who belong to  

the four classes should observe1 in     
conformity with the stras1 the rules in 
regard to the contraction of impurity   
through births and deaths1 according to 
the degree of kinship4  #hi4  ,brhmans  
should possess tranquillity of mind1    
self-restraint1 forbearance1 contentment
 and similar virtues4 ,kshatriyas 7or   
the soldier caste7 should be remarkable 
for bravery1 fortitude1 and the like    
qualities4  #ij4  ,vaiyas 7or the       
agricultural and commercial caste7      
should occupy themselves in mercantile  
pursuits1 money-lending1 and the like4  
dras 7or the servile class7 should be   
employed in serving the twice-born1 etc4
  #ia4  ,the twice-born should perform  
at the proper seasons1 and according to 
their means--each according to his own  
domestic rules--the twelve purificatory 
rites ,footnote3 ,of these only six are 
now generally performed1 viz43--#a1 the 
birth-ceremony1 or touching the tongue  
of a new-born infant with clarified     
butter1 etc42 #b1 the name-giving       

ceremony on the tenth day2 #c1 tonsure2 
#d1 induction into the privileges of the
 twice-born1 by investiture with the    
sacred thread2 #e1 solemn return home   
from the house of a preceptor after     
completing the prescribed course of     
study2 #f1 marriage4  ,see ,indian      
,wisdom1 p4 #bdf4 7sanskra71 the 7six7  
daily duties ,footnote3 ,the six daily  
duties 7called ,nitya-karman71 according
 to ,parara1 are3--#a1 bathing2 #b1     
morning and evening prayer 7sandhy72 #c1
 repetition of sacred texts2 #d1        
offerings to fire 7homa72 #e1 worship of
 ancestors2 #f1 worship of the gods4    
,the six daily acts enjoined by ,manu   
are different4  ,see ,indian ,wisdom1 p4
 #bdd41 and the raddha offerings to the 
spirits of departed ancestors4  #ib4    
,if intentionally or unintentionally any
 sin1 great or small1 be committed1 the 
proper penance must be performed        
according to ability4  #ic4  ,the       
,vedas1 the ,vednta-stras of ,vyasa1 the
 ,bhgavata-pur4na and the thousand names

 of ,vish4nu in the ,mahbhrata1  #id4   
,the ,bhagavad-gt and the precepts of   
,vidura1 the ,vsudeva-mhtmya from the   
,vaish4nava-kha4n4da of the             
,skanda-,pur4na1  #ie4  ,and the        
,sm4riti of ,yjnavalkya1 which is one of
 the ,dharma-stras1 these eight sacred  
books are approved by me as authorities4
  ,footnote3 ,i commend this list to the
 attention of those ,european scholars  
who wish to be guided by ,indian        
authorities in determining the real     
sacred books of ,india4  #if4  ,all my  
twice-born disciples who wish good to   
themselves should recite these sacred   
books and hear them recited4  #ig4  ,in 
deciding questions of ancient usage     
7ra71 or practice1 or penance1 the code 
of ,yjnavalkya1 with its commentary the 
,mitkshar1 should be taken 7as the best 
authority74  #ih4  ,the tenth and fifth 
books of the ,bhgavata ,pur4na are to be
 regarded as having the preeminence over
 all the other sacred books for the     
understanding of the glory of           

,k4rish4na4  #ii4  ,the tenth and fifth 
books of the ,bhgavata ,pur4na and the  
code of ,yjnavalkya are respectively my 
,bhakti-stra 7manual of faith71         
,yoga-stra 7manual of devotion71 and    
,dharma-stra 7manual of law74  #ajj4    
,as a treatise on the soul1 the         
commentary on the ,bhagavad-,gt as well 
as that on the rraka-,stras of ,vysa1   
made by ,rmnujrya1 commends itself to my
 approval4  #aja4  ,whatever precepts in
 these sacred books have for their      
subject the excessive exaltation of     
,k4rish4na and of ,justice 7,v4risha71  
of faith and of indifference to the     
world--  #ajb4  ,such precepts should be
 regarded as taking precedence over all 
others4  ,their essential doctrine is   
that devotion to ,k4rish4na should be   
joined with the performance of duty4    
#ajc4  ,duty 7dharma7 is that good      
practice which is enjoined both by the  
,veda 7ruti7 and by the law 7,sm4riti7  
founded on the ,veda4  ,devotion        
7bhakti7 is intense love for ,k4rish4na1

 accompanied with a due sense of his    
glory4  #ajd4  ,indifference to worldly 
objects means absence of satisfaction in
 any object except ,k4rish4na4  ,true   
knowledge consists in discriminating    
rightly between the nature of the       
personal soul 7jiva71 of the external   
world 7,my71 and of the ,supreme ,being 
7a74  #aje4  ,the personal soul dwells  
in the heart4  ,it is as subtle as an   
atom2 it is all thought2 it has the     
faculty of knowledge2 it is ascertained 
to be constantly pervading the whole    
body 7i4e4 the three corporeal envelopes
 kra4na1 skshma1 and sthla7 by its power
 of perception2 it is characterized by  
indivisibility and the like4  #ajf4     
,the external world 7,my7 is identical  
with the energizing power of ,k4rish4na4
  ,it is composed of the three ,gu4nas2 
it is darkness2 it is to be understood  
as the cause of the soul's having such  
ideas in regard to the body1 and the    
things relating to the body1 as are     
conveyed by the expressions ,i1 mine1   

and the like4  #ajg4  ,he who abides in 
the living personal soul in the         
character of an internal monitor1 as the
 personal soul dwells in the heart1 he  
is to be considered as the              
,self-existent ,supreme ,being1 the     
,rewarder of all actions4  #ajh4  ,that 
,being1 known by various names--such as 
the glorious ,k4rish4na1 ,param ,brahma1
 ,bhagavn1 ,purushottama4h--the cause of
 all manifestations1 is to be adored by 
us as our one chosen deity4  #aji4  ,he1
 together with ,rdh1 should be regarded 
as the ,supreme ,lord1 under the name of
 ,rdh-,k4rish4na4  ,with ,rukmi4n and   
,ram he is known as ,lakshm-,nrya4na4   
#aaj4  ,when joined with ,arjuna1 he is 
known by the name of ,nara-,nrya4na2    
when associated with ,bala-bhadra 7     
,bala-rma71 or any other divine         
personage1 he is called ,ram-,k4rish4na 
and so on4  #aaa4  ,those devoted       
7female companions of the god7 ,rdh and 
his other 7consorts7 are in some places 
represented at his side4  ,in other     

places 7their images do not appear1     
because7 they are supposed to be one    
with his body and he with theirs4  #aab4
  ,on no account let it be supposed that
 difference in forms makes any          
difference in the identity of the deity4
  ,for the two-armed ,k4rish4na may     
exhibit himself with four arms 7or      
eight1 or a thousand1 or any number of  
arms74  #aac4  ,towards him alone ought 
all faith and worship 7bhakti7 to be    
directed by every human being on earth  
in every possible manner4  ,nothing     
else1 except such 7faith71 is able to   
procure salvation4  #aad4  ,the best    
result of the virtues of those who      
possess good qualities is faith in      
,k4rish4na and association with holy    
men2 without these1 even persons who    
know 7the stras7 go downwards 7towards a
 lower state74  #aae4  ,meditation      
should be directed towards ,k4rish4na1  
his incarnations and their images1 but  
not towards living men1 nor 7inferior7  
gods1 etc41 nor devotees1 nor 7even7    

those who 7merely7 have knowledge of    
,brahma4  #aaf4  ,having perceived1 by  
abstract meditation1 that the ,spirit or
 ,self is distinct from its three bodies
 7viz4 the gross1 subtle and causal     
bodies71 and that it is a portion of the
 one ,spirit of the ,universe 7,brahma71
 every man ought to worship ,k4rish4na  
by means of that 7self7 at all times4   
#aag4  ,the tenth book of the           
,bhgavata-,pur4na should be listened to 
reverentially1 and learned men should   
read it daily or 7if frequent reading is
 impossible1 at least7 once a year4     
#aah4  ,the repetition 7of the          
,bhgavata71 as well as of the thousand  
names of ,vish4nu1 etc41 should be      
performed as far as possible in a pure  
place 7such as the precincts of a       
temple72 for 7such repetition7 causes   
the accomplishment of desired objects4  
#aai4  ,on the occurrence of any        
disaster caused by the elements 7such as
 a flood or fire71 or when any human    
calamity or sickness takes place1 a man 

should be wholly occupied in striving to
 preserve himself and other people and  
in nothing else4  #abj4  ,religious     
usages1 business transactions and       
penances1 should be adapted to country1 
time1 age1 property1 rank and ability4  
#aba4  ,the 7philosophical7 doctrine    
approved by me is the ,viish4tdvaita 7of
 ,rmnuja7 ,footnote3 ,this verse proves 
that in their philosophical ideas the   
,svmi-,nrya4na sect are followers of the
 ,rmnuja sect4  ,compare verse #ajj41   
and the desired heavenly abode is       
,goloka4  ,there to worship ,k4rish4na1 
and be united with him as the ,supreme  
,soul of the ,universe1 is to be        
considered salvation 7,mukti74  #abb4   
,these that have been specified are the 
general duties1 applicable to all my    
followers1 whether male or female4  ,now
 ,i am about to enumerate the special   
duties4  #abc4  ,the two sons of my     
elder and younger brothers 7viz4        
,ayodhy-prasda and ,raghu-vra7 ought    
never to impart instruction to any women

 except their nearest relations4  #abd4 
,they ought never to touch or converse  
with any women in any place whatever4   
,cruelty should never be shown towards  
any person4  ,a deposit belonging to    
another should never be taken charge of4
  #abe4  ,in business matters no one    
should stand security for any other     
person4  ,in passing through a time of  
distress it is right to ask for alms1   
but debts should not be contracted4     
#abf4  ,one should not sell corn        
bestowed by one's own disciples2 having 
given away old corn1 new corn is to be  
bought4  ,that is not called a sale4    
#abg4  ,on the fourth day of the        
light-half of the month ,bhdra1 the     
worship of ,ga4nea should be performed1 
and on the fourteenth of the dark-half  
of vina1 ,hanumn should be worshipped4  
#abh4  ,those two sons 7of my brothers1 
viz4 ,ayodhy-prasda and ,raghu-vra71 who
 have been appointed as spiritual guides
 to guard the religious interests of my 
followers1 should initiate all desirous 

of obtaining salvation 7in the use of   
the mantra of ,k4rish4na74  #abi4  ,they
 should cause each of their disciples to
 continue steadfast in his own appointed
 duty4  ,honour should be paid to holy  
men1 and the sacred stras should be     
reverently repeated4  #acj4  ,worship of
 ,lakshm-,nrya4na1 and other forms of   
,k4rish4na that have been set up and    
consecrated by me in the great temples1 
should be performed with the proper     
ceremonies4  #aca4  ,any one who may    
come to the temple of ,k4rish4na to ask 
for a gift of food 7cooked or uncooked7 
should be received with respect1 and    
food given to him according to ability4 
#acb4  ,having established a school for 
giving instruction1 some learned ,brhman
 should be appointed over it4  ,true    
knowledge should be promoted throughout 
the world1 for that is an act of great  
merit4  #acc4  ,the two wives of these  
7sons of my brothers71 with the         
permission of their respective husbands1
 should initiate females only 7eva7 in  

the ,mantra of ,k4rish4na4  #acd4  ,they
 should never touch or speak to other   
males than their nearest relations2 nor 
should they ever show their faces to    
them4  #ace4  ,my male followers who are
 householders should never touch widows 
unless they are their own near          
relatives4  #acf4  ,they should not     
remain alone in any private place with a
 youthful mother1 sister or daughter1   
except in a time of distress4  ,nor     
should a wife be given away 7to another 
man74  #acg4  ,no attachment should on  
any account be formed with a woman who  
in any transactions has been brought    
into connexion with the king of the     
country4  #ach4  ,when a guest has      
arrived at a house1 he should be        
honoured by those 7who live in it7 with 
food and other things according to      
ability4  ,offerings to the ,gods and   
the ,pit4ris 7at the ,devat-tarpa4na and
 ,pit4ri-tarpa4na and rddha ceremonies7 
should be made according to right usage 
and according to one's means4  #aci4    

,it is the duty of my disciples1 as long
 as they live and according to their    
ability1 to honour with faithful        
attention their father1 mother1         
spiritual preceptor1 and any one        
affected with sickness4  #adj4  ,every  
person should1 according to his ability1
 carry on some occupation suitable to   
his caste and religious order4  ,those  
that live by agriculture should not     
allow a bull to be gelded4  #ada4       
,provisions and money should be laid by 
according to circumstances and time2 and
 those that keep cattle should store up 
as much hay as these animals may need   
for their consumption4  #adb4  ,if a man
 can himself attend to the proper       
feeding of cows and other animals with  
hay and water1 then only he may keep    
them1 otherwise he must not do so4      
#adc4  ,no business in regard to giving 
or receiving land or property should    
ever be transacted even with a son or   
friend1 without a written deed attested 
by witnesses4  #add4  ,when any         

pecuniary transactions connected with   
giving away a girl in marriage have to  
be transacted for one's self or another 
person1 the money to be delivered over  
should not be settled by verbal         
agreement1 but only by a written        
contract attested by witnesses4  #ade4  
,a man's expenditure ought always to be 
in proportion to his income4  ,otherwise
 it is certain that great misery will   
arise4  #adf4  ,every day one should    
take note of one's income and           
expenditure in the regular business of  
life1 and write them down with one's own
 hand4  #adg4  ,my followers should     
assign a tithe of the grain1 money1     
etc41 acquired by their own occupation  
or exertions1 to ,k4rish4na1 and the    
poor should give a twentieth part4      
#adh4  ,the due performance of fasts1 of
 which the eleventh-day fasts are the   
principal1 should be effected according 
to the stras and one's ability2 for this
 will lead to the attainment of desired 
objects4  #adi4  ,every year in the     

month rva4na one should perform1 or     
cause others to perform1 cheerfully the 
worship of iva with the leaves of the   
,bilva-tree1 etc4  #aej4  ,neither      
money1 nor utensils1 nor ornaments1 nor 
clothes should be borrowed for use 7on  
festive occasions7 from one's own       
spiritual preceptor1 or from the temple 
of ,k4rish4na4  #aea4  ,while going to  
do homage to great ,k4rish4na1 to a     
spiritual preceptor1 or to a holy man1  
food should not be accepted from others 
on the road1 or at the places of        
pilgrimage2 for such food takes away    
religious merit4  #aeb4  ,the full      
amount of promised wages should be paid 
to a workman4  ,payment of a debt is    
never to be kept secret4  ,let no one   
have any dealings with wicked men4      
#aec4  ,if through great distress caused
 by a famine1 by enemies1 or by 7the    
oppression of7 a king1 any danger of    
destruction arises anywhere to          
character1 wealth or life1  #aed4  ,the 
wise among my followers should at once  

quit even their own native country1 and 
having gone to another1 let them reside 
there happily4  #aee4  ,wealthy         
householders should perform those       
sacrifices in honour of ,vish4nu which  
entail no killing of animals4  ,brhmans 
and holy men 7,sdhus7 should be fed on  
festival days at sacred places of       
pilgrimage4  #aef4  ,they should observe
 the great festivals in honour of the   
,deity in the temples1 and should       
distribute various gifts among ,brhmans 
who are deserving objects 7of           
generosity74  #aeg4  ,kings who are my  
followers should govern all their       
subjects in accordance with the law     
7laid down in the ,dharma-stras71 and   
should protect them as if they were     
their children1 and should establish the
 observance of proper duties throughout 
the whole land4  #aeh4  ,they should be 
well acquainted with the circumstances  
of their kingdom2 as1 for example1 with 
the seven ,angas 7viz4 the duties of the
 sovereign1 minister1 ally1 treasury1   

territory1 fortresses and army72 the    
four ,upyas 7viz4 conciliation1 sowing  
dissension1 bribing1 and punishing72 the
 six ,gu4nas 7viz4 peace1 war1 marching1
 sitting encamped1 dividing the forces1 
having recourse to an ally for          
protection72 and the places of resort to
 which spies should be sent4  ,they     
should also make themselves acquainted  
with the men who are skilled in legal   
procedure1 and with all the court       
functionaries1 observing by the right   
signs whether any ought to be punished  
or not4  ,footnote3 ,with reference to  
this verse compare ,manu's directions to
 ,kings 7,books vii4 and viii471 and the
 precepts in the ,vigraha chapter of the
 ,hitopadea4  #aei4  ,wives should      
honour their husbands as if they were   
gods1 and never offend them with        
improper language1 though they be       
diseased1 indigent1 or imbecile4        
,footnote3 ,compare ,manu1 v4 #aed4     
#afj4  ,no communication1 even though   
arising naturally 7shajika71 should be  

held with any other man who may be      
possessed of beauty1 youth and good     
qualities4  #afa4  ,a chaste woman      
should not allow her navel1 thighs1 or  
breasts to be seen by males2 nor should 
she remain without an upper garment     
7anuttary71 nor should she look at 7the 
antics of7 buffoons1 nor associate with 
an immodest woman4  #afb4  ,a wife while
 her husband is absent in a foreign     
country should wear neither ornaments   
nor fine clothes2 she ought not to      
frequent other people's houses1 and     
should abstain from laughing and talking
 with other women4  #afc4  ,widows      
should serve the ,god ,k4rish4na with   
minds intent on him as their only       
husband2 they should live under the     
control of their father1 or other male  
members of the family1 and never in     
independence4  #afd4  ,they must never  
at any time touch any men except their  
nearest relations1 and when young they  
should never without necessity engage in
 conversation with youthful men4  #afe4 

,if an infant male-child touch them1 no 
blame attaches to them1 any more than   
from contact with a dumb animal2 nor if 
they are compelled from necessity to    
talk with or touch an old man4  #aff4   
,instruction in any science should not  
be received by them from any man except 
from their nearest relations4  ,they    
should frequently emaciate their bodies 
by vows and fasts4  #afg4  ,they should 
never give away to others the money     
which is required for their own support4
  ,that only must be given away which   
they have in excess4  #afh4  ,they      
should eat only one meal a day1 and     
should sleep on the ground2 they should 
never look at 7animals7 engaged in      
sexual acts4  #afi4  ,they must never   
wear the dress of a married woman1 nor  
of a female ascetic1 nor of a mendicant1
 nor any unbecoming attire4  #agj4      
,they should neither associate with nor 
touch a woman who has been guilty of    
procuring abortion2 nor should they     
either converse about1 or hear stories  

of the loves of the male sex4  #aga4    
,except in times of distress widows who 
are young should never remain alone in  
secret places along with men1 even with 
their own relatives1 if youthful4  #agb4
  ,they should never join in the frolics
 practised at the ,hol festival1 nor    
should they put on ornaments or finely  
woven clothes composed of cotton or     
metal threads4  #agc4  ,neither wives   
nor widows ought ever to bathe without  
wearing clothes4  ,no woman should ever 
conceal the first appearance of her     
monthly periods4  #agd4  ,a woman at    
that season should not for an interval  
of three days touch any human being1    
clothes1 etc42 nor ought she to do so   
till she has bathed on the fourth day4  
#age4  ,those of my followers who have  
taken the vow of ,naish4thika ,brahmars 
7that is1 of perpetual celibacy and     
chastity7 must not knowingly either     
touch or converse with or look at women4
  #agf4  ,they should never talk or     
listen to conversations about women1 and

 they should not perform their ablutions
 or other religious rites at places     
where women pass backwards and forwards4
  #agg4  ,they should never knowingly   
touch or look at even the pictures or   
wooden images of women1 unless they be  
the representations of goddesses4  #agh4
  ,they should neither draw any likeness
 of a woman1 nor touch her clothes4     
,they must never knowingly look even at 
animals engaged in sexual acts4  #agi4  
,they should neither touch nor look at a
 male dressed up as a woman2 nor should 
they sing the praises of the ,deity with
 a view to being heard by women4  #ahj4 
,they should pay no attention to the    
command of even their spiritual         
preceptor if likely to lead them to a   
breach of their vow of chastity4  ,they 
should continue steadfast1 contented1   
and humble-minded4  #aha4  ,when a woman
 insists on forcing herself near them1  
they should immediately try to keep her 
off by expostulating with her1 and 7if  
she still approaches7 by reproaching    

her4  #ahb4  ,in cases where their own  
lives1 or those of women1 are in        
jeopardy1 they may be allowed contact or
 conversation with women1 such contact  
being necessary for the saving of life4 
#ahc4  ,they should not anoint their    
lips with oil4  ,they should not carry  
weapons4  ,they should not dress        
themselves in unbecoming costume4  ,they
 should subdue the sense of taste4      
#ahd4  ,if in the house of any ,brhman  
the meals are cooked and served up by a 
woman1 they should not go there to ask  
for food1 but should ask for it at some 
other house4  #ahe4  ,they should       
constantly repeat the ,vedas and stras1 
and serve their spiritual preceptor4    
,they must shun the society of women1   
and of men who are fond of women4  #ahf4
  ,he who is by birth a ,brhman should  
on no account drink water from a        
leathern vessel2 nor should he ever eat 
garlic1 onions1 etc4  #ahg4  ,nor must  
he eat food without having first        
performed his ablutions1 the ,sandhy    

service1 repetition of the ,gyatri1 the 
worship of ,vish4nu1 and the ,vaivadeva 
ceremony4  ,footnote3 ,this ceremony1   
which partly consists in throwing       
portions of food into the fire1 before  
dinner1 as an offering to all the       
deities1 will be fully described in my  
new work on ,religious ,thought and     
,life in ,india1 to be published by ,mr4
 ,murray4  #ahh4  ,all who are ,sdhus   
are bound1 just like those who have made
 a vow of perpetual celibacy1 to avoid  
associating with women1 or with men who 
are fond of women1 and should subdue    
their 7six7 internal enemies 7lust1     
anger1 avarice1 infatuation1 pride1 and 
envy74  #ahi4  ,they should subjugate   
all the senses1 more especially the     
sense of taste2 they should neither lay 
by a store of property themselves1 nor  
make others do so for them4  #aij4      
,they must not take charge of any one's 
deposit1 they should never relax their  
firmness1 nor allow a woman to enter    
their abodes at any time4  ,footnote3   

,we may notice that there is no little  
repetition in this ,book of             
instructions1 especially in enforcing   
the duty of keeping clear of all        
feminine seductions4  #aia4  ,except at 
a time of distress1 they should never go
 anywhere by night without a companion1 
nor should they travel to any place     
singly4  #aib4  ,they should not use a  
costly variegated cloth1 or one dyed    
with kusumbha1 or dyed in any other way2
 or any expensive cloth1 though freely  
presented to them by another4  #aic4    
,they should not go to the houses of    
householders unless for the purpose of  
asking alms1 or for being present at an 
assembly4 ,they should not spend time   
uselessly without devoting any of it to 
the worship of the ,deity4  #aid4  ,to  
the abode of a householder in which only
 males are employed for serving up the  
cooked food1 and where no woman is to be
 seen--  #aie4  ,to the house of such a 
householder only should my ,sdhus resort
 for participation in a meal1 otherwise 

they should ask for uncooked food1 and  
prepare it themselves4  #aif4  ,all my  
holiest sages should conduct themselves 
in the same manner as ,bharata1 son of  
4,rishabha1 the idiot ,brhman           
7,ja4da-vipra71 did in ancient times4   
,footnote3 ,the story is told in        
,vish4nu-pur4na1 ii4 #ac4  ,he feigned  
idiocy1 that he might not be troubled   
with worldly society and might so give  
his undivided attention to devotional   
exercises4  #aig4  ,those holy men      
7,sdhus7 who are ,brahmars should       
diligently abstain from eating or using 
betel-leaves1 opium1 tobacco 7tamla71   
etc4  #aih4  ,they should never accept a
 meal given on the performance of the   
,sanskra ceremonies1 beginning with that
 of conception2 ,footnote3 ,see note to 
verse #ia4 nor on performing the rddha  
ceremony at death1 nor at that performed
 on the #abth day after decease4  #aii4 
,they should never sleep during the day1
 unless afflicted with sickness1 etc4   
,they should never gossip about local   

matters1 nor intentionally listen to    
such gossip4  #bjj4  ,they should not   
lie down on a bedstead except when      
suffering from illness or other         
affliction1 and should be guileless and 
straightforward in their behaviour      
towards other ,sdhus4  #bja4  ,they     
should patiently bear abusive language1 
or even blows from evil-minded persons1 
and wish good to 7them in return74      
#bjb4  ,they should not undertake the   
work of a go-between or informer1 or    
spy2 they should never show selfishness 
or partiality towards their relations4  
#bjc4  ,thus ,i have specified in a     
summary manner the general duties of    
all4  ,those who desire more particular 
instructions must refer to the sacred   
books handed down by tradition4  #bjd4  
,having myself extracted the essence of 
an the sacred strs1 ,i have written this
 ,directory1 which leads men to the     
attainment of desired objects4  #bje4   
,hence it is incumbent on my followers1 
having their minds well controlled1 to  

conduct themselves in conformity with   
its precepts1 and not according to their
 own wills4  #bjf4  ,those males and    
females of my disciples who will act    
according to these directions shall     
certainly obtain the four great objects 
of human desires 7viz4 ,dharma1         
religious merit2 ,artha1 wealth2 ,kma1  
pleasure2 and ,moksha1 final beatitude74
  #bjg4  ,those who will not act        
according to these 7directions7 shall be
 considered by my male and female       
followers as excluded from communion    
with my sect4  #bjh4  ,my followers     
should daily read this ,book of         
directions1 and those who do not know   
how to read should listen to others     
reading it4  #bji4  ,but in the absence 
of a reader 7vaktrabhve71 worship should
 be paid to it every day1 and it should 
be honoured with the greatest reverence 
as my word and my representative4  #baj4
  ,this ,directory should only be given 
to those persons who are endowed with a 
nature of the divine type2 never to a   

man possessing a nature of the          
demoniacal type4  ,footnote3 ,the       
,pur4nas divide all men into two        
classes3 those whose nature is divine1  
and those whose nature is demoniacal4   
#baa4  ,this ,book of directions1       
bringing welfare 7to all who study it71 
was completed on the first day of the   
season of spring in the year #ahhb of   
the era of ,vikramditya4  7  ,a4,d4     
#ahbf74  #bab4  ,may ,k4rish4na1 the    
remover of the sufferings of his        
worshippers1 the maintainer of devotion1
 accompanied with the performance of    
proper duties1 the bestower of the      
desires of the heart1 grant us blessings
 of all kinds6