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=== प्रथमाध्याय: ॥ First Adhyaya ===
=== प्रथमाध्याय: ॥ First Adhyaya ===
The story begins with that Vedavyasa was living happily in Varanasi when the munis (thoughtful sages) asked him the duties of all varnas (castes). So, he began his discourse by explaining where the Vedic dharma can prevail (verse 3) and so on. According to him, Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are twice-born i.e. they can chant Gayatri and thus, they should follow the Shrutis (Vedas), Smritis and Puranas (verse 5). The Shudra can practice dharma but without chanting the Vedic mantras, and words like svadha, svaha, vashat etc. (verse 6). He then extols different types of lower castes resulting from inter-caste marriages. One should purify oneself by a bath after talking to them and watch the sun after seeing them (verse 12). This is followed by the mention of sixteen sanskaras i.e. rituals from birth to death (verse 15) to be followed by different castes in various ways. Vedavyasa then details the do’s and dont’s of the Brahmachari.
The story begins with that Vedavyasa was living happily in Varanasi when the munis (thoughtful sages) asked him about the duties of all varnas (castes). So, he began his discourse by explaining where the Vedic dharma can prevail (verse 3) and so on. According to him, Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are twice-born i.e. they can chant Gayatri and thus, they should follow the Shrutis (Vedas), Smritis and Puranas (verse 5). The Shudra can practice dharma but without chanting the Vedic mantras, and words like svadha, svaha, vashat etc. (verse 6). He then extols different types of lower castes resulting from inter-caste marriages. According to him, one should purify oneself by a bath after talking to them and watch the sun after seeing them (verse 12). This is followed by the mention of sixteen sanskaras i.e. rituals from birth to death (verse 15) to be followed by different castes in various ways. Vedavyasa then details the do’s and dont’s of the Brahmachari.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Contents of Chapter One
!Verses
!Subject-matter
|-
|1 - 2
|Introduction
|-
|3 - 5
|Extent of Dharma
|-
|6 - 12
|Status of Shudra
|-
|13 - 19
|16 Samskaras
|-
|20
|Definition of a Vratya
|-
|21 - 41
|Description of a Brahmachari's life
|}
=== द्वितीयाध्याय: ॥ Second Adhyaya ===
=== द्वितीयाध्याय: ॥ Second Adhyaya ===
The second chapter with 56 verses deals with the second, Grihastha ashrama detailing the qualities of the bride and groom, marriageable castes, marriage ritual, duties of the wife and life of a widow. The relationship of the husband and wife is best expressed in the following verse 27:<blockquote>छायेवानुगता स्वच्छा सखीव हितकर्मसु । दासीवादिष्टकार्येषु भार्या भर्तु: सदा भवेत् ॥ chāyevānugatā svacchā sakhīva hitakarmasu | dāsīvādiṣṭakāryeṣu bhāryā bhartuh sadā bhavet ||</blockquote>Meaning: The wife should always chastely follow her husband like a shadow. She should be like his friend in welfare activities, should obey him like an attendant and the husband should always financially support her.
The second chapter with 56 verses deals with the second, Grihastha ashrama detailing the qualities of the bride and groom, marriageable castes, marriage ritual, duties of the wife and life of a widow. The relationship of the husband and wife is best expressed in the following verse 27:<blockquote>छायेवानुगता स्वच्छा सखीव हितकर्मसु । दासीवादिष्टकार्येषु भार्या भर्तु: सदा भवेत् ॥ chāyevānugatā svacchā sakhīva hitakarmasu | dāsīvādiṣṭakāryeṣu bhāryā bhartuh sadā bhavet ||</blockquote>Meaning: The wife should always chastely follow her husband like a shadow. She should be like his friend in welfare activities, should obey him like an attendant and the husband should always financially support her.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Contents of Chapter Two
!Verses
!Subject-matter
|-
|1 - 3
|Qualities of a suitable bride
|-
|4 - 18
|Marriage Ritual
|-
|19 - 43
|Qualities of an Ideal Wife
|-
|44 - 51
|Duties of a couple
|-
|52 - 56
|Duties of a widow
|}
=== तृतीयाध्याय: ॥ Third Adhyaya ===
=== तृतीयाध्याय: ॥ Third Adhyaya ===
Vyasa begins this chapter with the three kinds of karma i.e. action namely, nitya, naimittika and kamya with regards to the householders. According to him, a Brahmin who does not study the Vedas is a Shudra (verse 11).
Vyasa begins this chapter with the three kinds of karma i.e. action namely, nitya, naimittika and kamya with regards to the householders. According to him, a Brahmin who does not study the Vedas is a Shudra (verse 11).
{| class="wikitable"
|+Contents of Chapter Three
!Verses
!Subject-matter
|-
|1 - 71
|Duties of a Householder
|}
=== चतुर्थाध्याय: ॥Fourth Adhyaya ===
=== चतुर्थाध्याय: ॥Fourth Adhyaya ===
The last chapter starts with the eulogy of the domestic life that there is no duty higher than that of the householder.<blockquote>गृहाश्रमात् परो धर्मो नास्ति नास्ति पुन: पुन:॥ gṛhāśramāt paro dharmo nāsti nāsti punah punah || (4.2)</blockquote>It then continues with the duties of the husband and how he should conduct himself in the house especially regarding the donations to Brahmins (verse 15 onwards). Vyasa seems to be a champion of the Brahmins as he states:<blockquote>ब्राह्मणात् परमं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति॥ brāhmaṇāt paramaṃ tīrthaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati || (4.12)</blockquote>He defines Acharya to be one who maintains the daily fires, is an ascetic and teaches Vedas along with Kalpa and Upanishads:<blockquote>अग्निहोत्री तपस्वी च वेदमध्यापयेच्च य:। सकल्पं सरहस्यं च तमाचार्यं प्रचक्षते॥ agnihotrī tapasvī ca vedamadhyāpayecca yah | sakalpaṃ sarahasyaṃ ca tamācāryaṃ pracakṣate || (4.43)</blockquote>
The last chapter starts with the eulogy of the domestic life that there is no duty higher than that of the householder.<blockquote>गृहाश्रमात् परो धर्मो नास्ति नास्ति पुन: पुन:॥ gṛhāśramāt paro dharmo nāsti nāsti punah punah || (4.2)</blockquote>It then continues with the duties of the husband and how he should conduct himself in the house especially regarding the donations to Brahmins (verse 15 onwards). Vyasa seems to be a champion of the Brahmins as he states:<blockquote>ब्राह्मणात् परमं तीर्थं न भूतं न भविष्यति॥ brāhmaṇāt paramaṃ tīrthaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati || (4.12)</blockquote>He defines Acharya to be one who maintains the daily fires, is an ascetic and teaches Vedas along with Kalpa and Upanishads:<blockquote>अग्निहोत्री तपस्वी च वेदमध्यापयेच्च य:। सकल्पं सरहस्यं च तमाचार्यं प्रचक्षते॥ agnihotrī tapasvī ca vedamadhyāpayecca yah | sakalpaṃ sarahasyaṃ ca tamācāryaṃ pracakṣate || (4.43)</blockquote>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Contents of Chapter Four
!Verses
!Subject-matter
|-
|1 and 72
|Eulogy of Vyasa Smrti
|-
|2
|Eulogy of Grihastha Ashrama
|-
|3 - 11
|Qualities of an Ideal Householder
|-
|12
|Eulogy of an ideal Brahmana
|-
|13 and 14
|Auspicious Pilgrimage Sites
|-
|15-36, 39, 59-70
|Qualities of Dana (Donation)
|-
|37 and 46
|Qualities of an Ideal Brahmana
|-
|40 - 45
|Types of Brahmanas
|-
|71
|Five types of Brahma-ghataka
|}
== उपसंहार: ॥ Conclusion ==
== उपसंहार: ॥ Conclusion ==