Chapter 12 - The conduct of the wise

Aurva

The householder should worship gods, cattle, brahmins, holy men, the elderly and his teachers. Twice a day he should perform the sandhyā rituals and fire sacrifices. 1

A prudent person should always wear garments that have no holes, take medicine as recommended and carry gemstones for protection. 2

With clean and freshly pomaded hair, a man should always wear a pleasant scent and dress in tasteful garments with attractive garlands of white flowers. 3

He should never take another’s property, or make the slightest harsh remark, but should speak politely and truthfully, without mentioning another person’s faults. 4

He shouldn’t covet another man’s wife, nor seek enmity with him, sire, nor should he ride in an unsafe vehicle or rest in the shade of an overhanging cliff. 5

Those who are odious, wicked, drunk, aggressive or louse-infested, prostitutes and their clients, the lowly, liars, wastrels, slanderers and cheats— 6

A wise person should befriend none of these, nor should he travel with them alone. 7

He should never dive into a fast-flowing river, sire, or enter a burning house or climb to the top of a tree. 8

He shouldn’t grind his teeth, pick his nose or yawn without covering his mouth, and he should try not to sigh or cough. 9

A wise person shouldn’t laugh raucously, break wind loudly, bite his nails, snap off stalks of grass or scratch the ground. 10

A wise man doesn’t chew his beard or crumble clods of earth. He doesn’t look at auspicious heavenly bodies when he’s impure, master, 11

Or at another man’s wife when she is naked, or at the setting sun. He shouldn’t express disgust when he sees a corpse, because the odour of the dead arises from the moon. 12

At night, he should always avoid crossroads, sacred trees, groves near cremation grounds and the company of immoral women. 13

A wise man never oversteps the shadow of a sacred object, a deity, a brahmin or a heavenly body, nor should he enter a lonely forest by himself or sleep in a vacant house. 14

He should avoid hair, bones, thorns, filth, food offerings, ashes, chaff and places splashed with other people’s bathwater. 15

A wise person should never seek refuge with unworthy folk or amuse himself with rogues. He shouldn’t approach wild animals, nor should he dawdle when he rises in the morning. 16

A prudent person wastes no time when waking up or turning in, or when standing, sitting, lying down or working, sire. 17

He should keep clear of animals with tusks and horns, your majesty, and avoid frosts, thunderstorms and heat. 18

A wise man never bathes or sleeps or drinks water while he’s naked, nor should he drink anything or worship deities if the top of his lower garment is loose. 19

He shouldn’t perform a fire sacrifice, worship the deities, undertake any other ritual, rinse his mouth, make a speech or recite a prayer while wearing just a single garment. 20

He should never sit with those who misbehave; decent people shouldn’t spend as much as half a moment in such company. 21

A wise man never quarrels with superiors or inferiors, sire—marriages and arguments are best conducted between equals. 22

A wise man shouldn’t start an argument but avoid pointless hostility; a little loss may be endured, but the wise reject the wealth that’s won with aggravation. 23

After bathing, a person shouldn’t wipe his limbs with a towel or with his hands or shake his hair or rinse his mouth before he’s standing. 24

He shouldn’t sit cross-legged in the presence of important people or stretch his legs towards them. He should kneel with modesty when he’s with his guru. 25

He shouldn’t pass auspicious or holy places or crossroads on the left, nor should he pass inauspicious ones on the right. 26

An educated person does not spit, defecate or urinate while facing the moon, fire, the sun, water, the wind or important people. 27

He shouldn’t urinate while standing on a road, nor should he ever step over mucus, excrement, blood or urine. 28

Clearing the throat and blowing the nose are not recommended at mealtimes, when making food offerings, during other auspicious rituals, prayers or fire sacrifices or in the presence of important people. 29

A prudent man should never disrespect women, but neither should he trust them. He shouldn’t be impatient with them, but neither should he grant them authority. 30

A wise person who is attentive to correct conduct shouldn’t leave his house, your majesty, without respectfully acknowledging the sacred images, flowers, gems, sacrificial butter and venerable persons inside it. 31

He should be circumspect at crossroads and attentive towards sacrifices at the proper season. He should assist virtuous people in distress and seek the company of the learned. 32

One who venerates the deities and sages with devotion, who offers food and water to the spirits, and who welcomes guests hospitably, may reach the highest realms. 33

A restrained individual whose speech is beneficial, measured, kind and timely, sire, will reach those worlds that are the source of everlasting happiness. 34

One who is intelligent, modest, patient, devout and polite, and who respects wisdom, worthy people and his elders, will proceed to peerless realms. 35

A wise man shouldn’t study Vedas when there is unseasonal thunder or anything inauspicious, or on days when he’s impure or during an eclipse. 36

Heaven is the least reward for that good man who calms the angry, who treats each person as his kin, who is selfless and who reassures the timid. 37

One concerned for his own welfare should carry an umbrella in rain or shine, a stick at night or in a forest and should always wear sandals. 38

A wise man shouldn’t look up, to either side or in the distance when walking, but should keep his eyes on the ground two paces in front of him.^[1] 39

The restrained man who shuns each cause of wickedness will never know the slightest diminution of virtue, wealth or love. 40

Sinless in the presence of the sinful, a kindly word upon his lips, a heart that’s filled with benevolence—such a man holds liberation in the palm of his hand. 41

The world is upheld by the dignity of those who are always free from passion, beyond the reach of lust and greed and anger and firmly set on perfect conduct. 42

A wise person, therefore, speaks the truth when it’s pleasing to another, but when the truth is painful, he stays silent. 43

He shouldn’t speak if he thinks his words are merely pleasant but unhelpful. It’s better to offer something beneficial even if it’s hard to hear. 44

A wise man strives with body, voice and mind for the benefit of living beings in this world and the next. 45

So ends Chapter Twelve in Book Three of the glorious Viṣṇu Purāṇa.

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

The text says ‘the length of a yoke’ in front of him.