Muni's PlayThree Dharma Skandhas (The Branches of Dharma)
Mantra 2.23.1: The Three Branches of Dharma
The text classifies religious life into three “shoulders” or branches, but points to a fourth state as the ultimate goal.
Verse 2.23.1
Sanskrit
त्रयो धर्मस्कन्धाः — यज्ञोऽध्ययनं दानमिति प्रथमः, तप एव द्वितीयः, ब्रह्मचार्याचार्यकुलवासी तृतीयः । सर्व एते पुण्यलोका भवन्ति, ब्रह्मसंस्थोऽमृतत्वमेति ॥
Word-by-Word
त्रयः (Three) | धर्म-स्कन्धाः (branches of Dharma) | यज्ञः-अध्ययनं-दानम् (sacrifice, study, and alms) | इति (thus) | प्रथमः (the first) | तपः (penance/austerity) | एव (indeed) | द्वितीयः (the second) | ब्रह्मचारी-आचार्य-कुल-वासी (student living in teacher’s house) | तृतीयः (the third) | सर्वे (all) | एते (these) | पुण्य-लोकाः (worlds of the virtuous) | भवन्ति (become) | ब्रह्म-संस्थः (established in Brahman) | अमृतत्वम् (immortality) | एति (attains).
Translation
There are three branches of Dharma:
- Sacrifice, Study, and Alms (Yajña, Adhyayana, Dāna).
- Penance/Austerity (Tapas).
- Living as a lifelong student in the teacher’s house (Brahmacharya).
All these lead to the worlds of the virtuous; but he who is firmly established in Brahman (Brahmasaṃstha) attains immortality.
Reference: Chandogya Upanishad