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CHAPTERI.
1.ThegreatsagesapproachedManu,whowasseatedwithacollectedmind,and,havingduly
worshippedhim,spokeasfollows:
2.'Deign,divineone,todeclaretouspreciselyandindueorderthesacredlawsofeachofthe(four
chief)castes(varna)andoftheintermediateones.
3.'Forthou,OLord,aloneknowestthepurport,(i.e.)therites,andtheknowledgeofthesoul,(taught)in
thiswholeordinanceoftheSelfexistent(Svayambhu),whichisunknowableandunfathomable.'
4.He,whosepowerismeasureless,beingthusaskedbythehighmindedgreatsages,dulyhonoured
them,andanswered,'Listen!'
5.This(universe)existedintheshapeofDarkness,unperceived,destituteofdistinctivemarks,
unattainablebyreasoning,unknowable,whollyimmersed,asitwere,indeepsleep.
6.ThenthedivineSelfexistent(Svayambhu,himself)indiscernible,(but)making(all)this,thegreat
elementsandtherest,discernible,appearedwithirresistible(creative)power,dispellingthedarkness.
7.Hewhocanbeperceivedbytheinternalorgan(alone),whoissubtile,indiscernible,andeternal,who
containsallcreatedbeingsandisinconceivable,shoneforthofhisown(will).
8.He,desiringtoproducebeingsofmanykindsfromhisownbody,firstwithathoughtcreatedthe
waters,andplacedhisseedinthem.
9.That(seed)becameagoldenegg,inbrilliancyequaltothesuninthat(egg)hehimselfwasbornas
Brahman,theprogenitorofthewholeworld.
10.Thewatersarecallednarah,(for)thewatersare,indeed,theoffspringofNaraastheywerehisfirst
residence(ayana),hethenceisnamedNarayana.
11.Fromthat(first)cause,whichisindiscernible,eternal,andbothrealandunreal,wasproducedthat
male(Purusha),whoisfamedinthisworld(undertheappellationof)Brahman.
12.Thedivineoneresidedinthateggduringawholeyear,thenhehimselfbyhisthought(alone)divided
itintotwohalves
13.Andoutofthosetwohalvesheformedheavenandearth,betweenthemthemiddlesphere,theeight
pointsofthehorizon,andtheeternalabodeofthewaters.
14.Fromhimself(atmanah)healsodrewforththemind,whichisbothrealandunreal,likewisefromthe
mindegoism,whichpossessesthefunctionofselfconsciousness(andis)lordly
15.Moreover,thegreatone,thesoul,andall(products)affectedbythethreequalities,and,intheirorder,
thefiveorganswhichperceivetheobjectsofsensation.
16.But,joiningminuteparticlesevenofthosesix,whichpossessmeasurelesspower,withparticlesof
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himself,hecreatedallbeings.
17.Becausethosesix(kindsof)minuteparticles,whichformthe(creator's)frame,enter(asri)these
(creatures),thereforethewisecallhisframesarira,(thebody.)
18.Thatthegreatelementsenter,togetherwiththeirfunctionsandthemind,throughitsminutepartsthe
framerofallbeings,theimperishableone.
19.Butfromminutebody(framing)particlesofthesesevenverypowerfulPurushasspringsthis
(world),theperishablefromtheimperishable.
20.Amongthemeachsucceeding(element)acquiresthequalityoftheprecedingone,andwhatever
place(inthesequence)eachofthemoccupies,evensomanyqualitiesitisdeclaredtopossess.
21.Butinthebeginningheassignedtheirseveralnames,actions,andconditionstoall(createdbeings),
evenaccordingtothewordsoftheVeda.
22.He,theLord,alsocreatedtheclassofthegods,whoareendowedwithlife,andwhosenatureis
actionandthesubtileclassoftheSadhyas,andtheeternalsacrifice.
23.Butfromfire,wind,andthesunhedrewforththethreefoldeternalVeda,calledRik,Yagus,and
Saman,forthedueperformanceofthesacrifice.
24.Timeandthedivisionsoftime,thelunarmansionsandtheplanets,therivers,theoceans,the
mountains,plains,andunevenground.
25.Austerity,speech,pleasure,desire,andanger,thiswholecreationhelikewiseproduced,ashedesired
tocallthesebeingsintoexistence.
26.Moreover,inordertodistinguishactions,heseparatedmeritfromdemerit,andhecausedthe
creaturestobeaffectedbythepairs(ofopposites),suchaspainandpleasure.
27.Butwiththeminuteperishableparticlesofthefive(elements)whichhavebeenmentioned,this
whole(world)isframedindueorder.
28.ButtowhatevercourseofactiontheLordatfirstappointedeach(kindofbeings),thataloneithas
spontaneouslyadoptedineachsucceedingcreation.
29.Whateverheassignedtoeachatthe(first)creation,noxiousnessorharmlessness,gentlenessor
ferocity,virtueorsin,truthorfalsehood,thatclung(afterwards)spontaneouslytoit.
30.Asatthechangeoftheseasonseachseasonofitsownaccordassumesitsdistinctivemarks,evenso
corporealbeings(resumeinnewbirths)their(appointed)courseofaction.
31.ButforthesakeoftheprosperityoftheworldshecausedtheBrahmana,theKshatriya,theVaisya,
andtheSudratoproceedfromhismouth,hisarms,histhighs,andhisfeet.
32.Dividinghisownbody,theLordbecamehalfmaleandhalffemalewiththat(female)heproduced
Virag.
33.Butknowme,Omostholyamongthetwiceborn,tobethecreatorofthiswhole(world),whomthat
male,Virag,himselfproduced,havingperformedausterities.
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34.ThenI,desiringtoproducecreatedbeings,performedverydifficultausterities,and(thereby)called
intoexistencetengreatsages,lordsofcreatedbeings,
35.Mariki,Atri,Angiras,Pulastya,Pulaha,Kratu,Praketas,Vasishtha,Bhrigu,andNarada.
36.TheycreatedsevenotherManuspossessinggreatbrilliancy,godsandclassesofgodsandgreatsages
ofmeasurelesspower,
37.Yakshas(theservantsofKubera,thedemonscalled)RakshasasandPisakas,Gandharvas(or
musiciansofthegods),Apsarases(thedancersofthegods),Asuras,(thesnakedeitiescalled)Nagasand
Sarpas,(thebirddeitiescalled)Suparnasandtheseveralclassesofthemanes,
38.Lightnings,thunderboltsandclouds,imperfect(rohita)andperfectrainbows,fallingmeteors,
supernaturalnoises,comets,andheavenlylightsofmanykinds,
39(Horsefaced)Kinnaras,monkeys,fishes,birdsofmanykinds,cattle,deer,men,andcarnivorous
beastswithtworowsofteeth,
40.Smallandlargewormsandbeetles,moths,lice,flies,bugs,allstingingandbitinginsectsandthe
severalkindsofimmovablethings.
41.Thuswasthiswhole(creation),boththeimmovableandthemovable,producedbythosehigh
mindedonesbymeansofausteritiesandatmycommand,(eachbeing)accordingto(theresultsof)its
actions.
42.Butwhateveractisstated(tobelong)to(eachof)thosecreaturesherebelow,thatIwilltrulydeclare
toyou,aswellastheirorderinrespecttobirth.
43.Cattle,deer,carnivorousbeastswithtworowsofteeth,Rakshasas,Pisakas,andmenarebornfrom
thewomb.
44.Fromeggsarebornbirds,snakes,crocodiles,fishes,tortoises,aswellassimilarterrestrialand
aquatic(animals).
45.Fromhotmoisturespringstingingandbitinginsects,lice,flies,bugs,andallother(creatures)ofthat
kindwhichareproducedbyheat.
46.Allplants,propagatedbyseedorbyslips,growfromshootsannualplants(arethose)which,bearing
manyflowersandfruits,perishaftertheripeningoftheirfruit
47.(Thosetrees)whichbearfruitwithoutflowersarecalledvanaspati(lordsoftheforest)butthose
whichbearbothflowersandfruitarecalledvriksha.
48.Butthevariousplantswithmanystalks,growingfromoneorseveralroots,thedifferentkindsof
grasses,theclimbingplantsandthecreepersspringallfromseedorfromslips.
49.These(plants)whicharesurroundedbymultiformDarkness,theresultoftheiracts(informer
existences),possessinternalconsciousnessandexperiencepleasureandpain.
50.The(various)conditionsinthisalwaysterribleandconstantlychangingcircleofbirthsanddeathsto
whichcreatedbeingsaresubject,arestatedtobeginwith(thatof)Brahman,andtoendwith(thatof)
these(justmentionedimmovablecreatures).
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51.Whenhewhosepowerisincomprehensible,hadthusproducedtheuniverseandmen,hedisappeared
inhimself,repeatedlysuppressingoneperiodbymeansoftheother.
52.Whenthatdivineonewakes,thenthisworldstirswhenheslumberstranquilly,thentheuniverse
sinkstosleep.
53.Butwhenhereposesincalmsleep,thecorporealbeingswhosenatureisaction,desistfromtheir
actionsandmindbecomesinert.
54.Whentheyareabsorbedallatonceinthatgreatsoul,thenhewhoisthesoulofallbeingssweetly
slumbers,freefromallcareandoccupation.
55.Whenthis(soul)hasentereddarkness,itremainsforalongtimeunitedwiththeorgans(of
sensation),butperformsnotitsfunctionsitthenleavesthecorporealframe.
56.When,beingclothedwithminuteparticles(only),itentersintovegetableoranimalseed,itthen
assumes,united(withthefinebody),a(new)corporealframe.
57.Thushe,theimperishableone,by(alternately)wakingandslumbering,incessantlyrevivifiesand
destroysthiswholemovableandimmovable(creation).
58.ButhehavingcomposedtheseInstitutes(ofthesacredlaw),himselftaughtthem,accordingtothe
rule,tomealoneinthebeginningnextI(taughtthem)toMarikiandtheothersages.
59.Bhrigu,here,willfullyrecitetoyoutheseInstitutesforthatsagelearnedthewholeinitsentirety
fromme.
60.ThenthatgreatsageBhrigu,beingthusaddressedbyManu,spoke,pleasedinhisheart,toallthe
sages,'Listen!'
61.Sixotherhighminded,verypowerfulManus,whobelongtotheraceofthisManu,thedescendantof
theSelfexistent(Svayambhu),andwhohaveseverallyproducedcreatedbeings,
62.(Are)Svarokisha,Auttami,Tamasa,Raivata,Kakshusha,possessinggreatlustre,andthesonof
Vivasvat.
63.ThesesevenverygloriousManus,thefirstamongwhomisSvayambhuva,producedandprotected
thiswholemovableandimmovable(creation),eachduringtheperiod(allottedtohim).
64.Eighteennimeshas(twinklingsoftheeye,areonekashtha),thirtykashthasonekala,thirtykalasone
muhurta,andasmany(muhurtas)onedayandnight.
65.Thesundividesdaysandnights,bothhumananddivine,thenight(beingintended)forthereposeof
createdbeingsandthedayforexertion.
66.Amonthisadayandanightofthemanes,butthedivisionisaccordingtofortnights.Thedark
(fortnight)istheirdayforactiveexertion,thebright(fortnight)theirnightforsleep.
67.Ayearisadayandanightofthegodstheirdivisionis(asfollows):thehalfyearduringwhichthe
sunprogressestothenorthwillbetheday,thatduringwhichitgoessouthwardsthenight.
68.Buthearnowthebrief(descriptionof)thedurationofanightandadayofBrahmanandofthe
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severalages(oftheworld,yuga)accordingtotheirorder.
69.TheydeclarethattheKritaage(consistsof)fourthousandyears(ofthegods)thetwilightpreceding
itconsistsofasmanyhundreds,andthetwilightfollowingitofthesamenumber.
70.Intheotherthreeageswiththeirtwilightsprecedingandfollowing,thethousandsandhundredsare
diminishedbyone(ineach).
71.Thesetwelvethousand(years)whichthushavebeenjustmentionedasthetotaloffour(human)ages,
arecalledoneageofthegods.
72.Butknowthatthesumofonethousandagesofthegods(makes)onedayofBrahman,andthathis
nighthasthesamelength.
73.Those(only,who)knowthattheholydayofBrahman,indeed,endsafter(thecompletionof)one
thousandages(ofthegods)andthathisnightlastsaslong,(arereally)menacquaintedwith(thelength
of)daysandnights.
74.Attheendofthatdayandnighthewhowasasleep,awakesand,afterawaking,createsmind,which
isbothrealandunreal.
75.Mind,impelledby(Brahman's)desiretocreate,performstheworkofcreationbymodifyingitself,
thenceetherisproducedtheydeclarethatsoundisthequalityofthelatter.
76.Butfromether,modifyingitself,springsthepure,powerfulwind,thevehicleofallperfumesthatis
heldtopossessthequalityoftouch.
77.Nextfromwindmodifyingitself,proceedsthebrilliantlight,whichilluminatesanddispelsdarkness
thatisdeclaredtopossessthequalityofcolour
78.Andfromlight,modifyingitself,(isproduced)water,possessingthequalityoftaste,fromwaterearth
whichhasthequalityofsmellsuchisthecreationinthebeginning.
79.Thebeforementionedageofthegods,(or)twelvethousand(oftheiryears),beingmultipliedby
seventyone,(constituteswhat)isherenamedtheperiodofaManu(Manvantara).
80.TheManvantaras,thecreationsanddestructions(oftheworld,are)numberlesssporting,asitwere,
Brahmanrepeatsthisagainandagain.
81.IntheKritaageDharmaisfourfootedandentire,and(sois)Truthnordoesanygainaccruetomen
byunrighteousness.
82.Intheother(threeages),byreasonof(unjust)gains(agama),Dharmaisdeprivedsuccessivelyofone
foot,andthrough(theprevalenceof)theft,falsehood,andfraudthemerit(gainedbymen)isdiminished
byonefourth(ineach).
83.(Menare)freefromdisease,accomplishalltheiraims,andlivefourhundredyearsintheKritaage,
butintheTretaand(ineachof)thesucceeding(ages)theirlifeislessenedbyonequarter.
84.Thelifeofmortals,mentionedintheVeda,thedesiredresultsofsacrificialritesandthe
(supernatural)powerofembodied(spirits)arefruitsproportionedamongmenaccordingto(thecharacter
of)theage.
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85.Onesetofduties(isprescribed)formenintheKritaage,differentonesintheTretaandinthe
Dvapara,and(again)another(set)intheKali,inaproportionas(those)agesdecreaseinlength.
86.IntheKritaagethechief(virtue)isdeclaredtobe(theperformanceof)austerities,intheTreta
(divine)knowledge,intheDvapara(theperformanceof)sacrifices,intheKaliliberalityalone.
87.ButinordertoprotectthisuniverseHe,themostresplendentone,assignedseparate(dutiesand)
occupationstothosewhosprangfromhismouth,arms,thighs,andfeet.
88.ToBrahmanasheassignedteachingandstudying(theVeda),sacrificingfortheirownbenefitandfor
others,givingandaccepting(ofalms).
89.TheKshatriyahecommandedtoprotectthepeople,tobestowgifts,tooffersacrifices,tostudy(the
Veda),andtoabstainfromattachinghimselftosensualpleasures
90.TheVaisyatotendcattle,tobestowgifts,tooffersacrifices,tostudy(theVeda),totrade,tolend
money,andtocultivateland.
91.OneoccupationonlythelordprescribedtotheSudra,toservemeeklyeventhese(other)threecastes.
92.Manisstatedtobepurerabovethenavel(thanbelow)hencetheSelfexistent(Svayambhu)has
declaredthepurest(part)ofhim(tobe)hismouth.
93.AstheBrahmanasprangfrom(Brahman's)mouth,ashewasthefirstborn,andashepossessesthe
Veda,heisbyrightthelordofthiswholecreation.
94.FortheSelfexistent(Svayambhu),havingperformedausterities,producedhimfirstfromhisown
mouth,inorderthattheofferingsmightbeconveyedtothegodsandmanesandthatthisuniversemight
bepreserved.
95.Whatcreatedbeingcansurpasshim,throughwhosemouththegodscontinuallyconsumethe
sacrificialviandsandthemanestheofferingstothedead?
96.Ofcreatedbeingsthemostexcellentaresaidtobethosewhichareanimatedoftheanimated,those
whichsubsistbyintelligenceoftheintelligent,mankindandofmen,theBrahmanas
97.OfBrahmanas,thoselearned(intheVeda)ofthelearned,thosewhorecognise(thenecessityandthe
mannerofperformingtheprescribedduties)ofthosewhopossessthisknowledge,thosewhoperform
themoftheperformers,thosewhoknowtheBrahman.
98.TheverybirthofaBrahmanaisaneternalincarnationofthesacredlawforheisbornto(fulfil)the
sacredlaw,andbecomesonewithBrahman.
99.ABrahmana,comingintoexistence,isbornasthehighestonearth,thelordofallcreatedbeings,for
theprotectionofthetreasuryofthelaw.
100.Whateverexistsintheworldis,thepropertyoftheBrahmanaonaccountoftheexcellenceofhis
originTheBrahmanais,indeed,entitledtoall.
101.TheBrahmanaeatsbuthisownfood,wearsbuthisownapparel,bestowsbuthisowninalmsother
mortalssubsistthroughthebenevolenceoftheBrahmana.
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102.Inordertoclearlysettlehisdutiesthoseoftheother(castes)accordingtotheirorder,wiseManu
sprungfromtheSelfexistent,composedtheseInstitutes(ofthesacredLaw).
103.AlearnedBrahmanamustcarefullystudythem,andhemustdulyinstructhispupilsinthem,but
nobodyelse(shalldoit).
104.ABrahmanawhostudiestheseInstitutes(and)faithfullyfulfilstheduties(prescribedtherein),is
nevertaintedbysins,arisingfromthoughts,words,ordeeds.
105.Hesanctifiesanycompany(whichhemayenter),sevenancestorsandsevendescendants,andhe
alonedeserves(topossess)thiswholeearth.
106.(Tostudy)this(work)isthebestmeansofsecuringwelfare,itincreasesunderstanding,itprocures
fameandlonglife,it(leadsto)supremebliss.
107.Inthis(work)thesacredlawhasbeenfullystatedaswellasthegoodandbadqualitiesof(human)
actionsandtheimmemorialruleofconduct,(tobefollowed)byallthefourcastes(varna).
108.Theruleofconductistranscendentlaw,whetheritbetaughtintherevealedtextsorinthesacred
traditionhenceatwicebornmanwhopossessesregardforhimself,shouldbealwayscarefulto(follow)
it.
109.ABrahmanawhodepartsfromtheruleofconduct,doesnotreapthefruitoftheVeda,buthewho
dulyfollowsit,willobtainthefullreward.
110.Thesageswhosawthatthesacredlawisthusgroundedontheruleofconduct,havetakengood
conducttobethemostexcellentrootofallausterity.
111.Thecreationoftheuniverse,theruleofthesacraments,theordinancesofstudentship,andthe
respectfulbehaviour(towardsGurus),themostexcellentruleofbathing(onreturnfromtheteacher's
house),
112.(Thelawof)marriageandthedescriptionofthe(various)marriagerites,theregulationsforthe
greatsacrificesandtheeternalruleofthefuneralsacrifices,
113.Thedescriptionofthemodesof(gaining)subsistenceandthedutiesofaSnataka,(therules
regarding)lawfulandforbiddenfood,thepurificationofmenandofthings,
114.Thelawsconcerningwomen,(thelaw)ofhermits,(themannerofgaining)finalemancipationand
(of)renouncingtheworld,thewholedutyofakingandthemannerofdecidinglawsuits,
115.Therulesfortheexaminationofwitnesses,thelawsconcerninghusbandandwife,thelawof
(inheritanceand)division,(thelawconcerning)gamblingandtheremovalof(mennocuouslike)thorns,
116.(Thelawconcerning)thebehaviourofVaisyasandSudras,theoriginofthemixedcastes,thelaw
forallcastesintimesofdistressandthelawofpenances,
117.Thethreefoldcourseoftransmigrations,theresultof(goodorbad)actions,(themannerof
attaining)supremeblissandtheexaminationofthegoodandbadqualitiesofactions,
118.Theprimevallawsofcountries,ofcastes(gati),offamilies,andtherulesconcerninghereticsand
companies(oftradersandthelike)(allthat)ManuhasdeclaredintheseInstitutes.
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119.AsManu,inreplytomyquestions,formerlypromulgatedtheseInstitutes,evensolearnyealsothe
(wholework)fromme.

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