Chapter 2

Manusmriti Chapter 2

Sanskrit

सङ्कल्पमूलः कामो वै यज्ञाः सङ्कल्पसम्भवाः ।
व्रतानि यमधर्माश्च सर्वे सङ्कल्पजाः स्मृताः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

saṅkalpamūlaḥ kāmo vai yajñāḥ saṅkalpasambhavāḥ |
vratāni yamadharmāśca sarve saṅkalpajāḥ smṛtāḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Desire has its root in Thought; Sacrifices proceed from Thought; Vows and Restraints—all these have been described as originating in Thought.

---

Sanskrit

एकाक्षरं परं ब्रह्म प्राणायामः परं तपः ।
सावित्र्यास्तु परं नास्ति मौनात् सत्यं विशिष्यते ॥ ८३ ॥

Transliteration

ekākṣaraṃ paraṃ brahma prāṇāyāmaḥ paraṃ tapaḥ |
sāvitryāstu paraṃ nāsti maunāt satyaṃ viśiṣyate || 83 ||

Translation

The mono-syllable is the highest Brahman; Breath-suspensions are the highest austerity; nothing is higher than the Sāvitrī verse; truth is better than Silence.

---

Sanskrit

न जातु कामः कामानामुपभोगेन शाम्यति ।
हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मैव भूय एवाभिवर्धते ॥ ९४ ॥

Transliteration

na jātu kāmaḥ kāmānāmupabhogena śāmyati |
haviṣā kṛṣṇvartmaiva bhūya evābhivardhate || 94 ||

Translation

Never is desire appeased by the enjoyment of desires; it only waxes stronger, like fire by clarified butter.

---

Sanskrit

वशे कृत्वेन्द्रियग्रामं संयम्य च मनस्तथा ।
सर्वान् संसाधयेदर्थानक्षिण्वन् योगतस्तनुम् ॥ १०० ॥

Transliteration

vaśe kṛtvendriyagrāmaṃ saṃyamya ca manस्तthā |
sarvān saṃsādhayedarthānakṣiṇvan yogatastanum || 100 ||

Translation

Having brought the host of organs under control, and having also subdued the mind, one should accomplish all his purposes, taking care not to injure his body.

---

Sanskrit

विषादप्यमृतं ग्राह्यं बालादपि सुभाषितम् ।
अमित्रादपि सद्वृत्तममेध्यादपि काञ्चनम् ॥ २३९ ॥

Transliteration

viṣādapyamṛtaṃ grāhyaṃ bālādapi subhāṣitam |
amitrādapi sadvṛttamamedhyādapi kāñcanam || 239 ||

Translation

Nectar mat be taken even from poison, good advice even prom a child; good conduct (may be learnt) even from a foe; and gold (mat be taken) even from an impure source.