Chapter 71

Vishnu Smriti 71

Now, he shall not despise anyone. // Vi_71.1 //

And he shall not mock those with deficient or superfluous limbs, the ignorant, or the poor. // Vi_71.2 //

He shall not serve the lowly. // Vi_71.3 //

He shall not perform any act that is hostile to the study of the Veda. // Vi_71.4 //

He shall adopt a dress appropriate to his age. // Vi_71.5 //

And to his learning, family, wealth, and country. // Vi_71.6 //

Not an arrogant one. // Vi_71.7 //

He shall be one who constantly reflects on the scriptures and other sciences. // Vi_71.8 //

If he has wealth, he shall not be one who wears old and dirty clothes. // Vi_71.9 //

He shall not say, "There is nothing." // Vi_71.10 //

He shall not wear a garland that is without scent, has a strong smell, or is red. // Vi_71.11 //

He may wear a red one if it grows in water. // Vi_71.12 //

And a staff of bamboo. // Vi_71.13 //

And a water-pot with water. // Vi_71.14 //

A sacred thread of cotton. // Vi_71.15 //

And two golden earrings. // Vi_71.16 //

He shall not look at the rising sun. // Vi_71.17 //

Nor the setting sun. // Vi_71.18 //

Nor when it is hidden by a cloth. // Vi_71.19 //

Nor its reflection in a mirror or in water. // Vi_71.20 //

Not at midday. // Vi_71.21 //

Not at the face of an angry preceptor. // Vi_71.22 //

Not at his own reflection in oil or water. // Vi_71.23 //

Not in a dirty mirror. // Vi_71.24 //

Not at his wife at mealtime. // Vi_71.25 //

Not a naked woman. // Vi_71.26 //

Not anyone who is urinating. // Vi_71.27 //

Not an elephant that has broken loose from its post. // Vi_71.28 //

And not the fighting of bulls and other animals from an unsafe place. // Vi_71.29 //

Not a madman. // Vi_71.30 //

Not an intoxicated person. // Vi_71.31 //

He shall not throw anything impure into the fire. // Vi_71.32 //

Nor blood. // Vi_71.33 //

Nor poison. // Vi_71.34 //

And also not into water. // Vi_71.35 //

He shall not step over a fire. // Vi_71.36 //

He shall not warm his feet at it. // Vi_71.37 //

He shall not wipe them on kuśa grass. // Vi_71.38 //

He shall not wash them in a bronze vessel. // Vi_71.39 //

Not one foot with the other. // Vi_71.40 //

He shall not scratch the ground. // Vi_71.41 //

He shall not be a crusher of clods of earth. // Vi_71.42 //

He shall not be a cutter of grass. // Vi_71.43 //

He shall not cut his nails or hair with his teeth. // Vi_71.44 //

And he shall avoid gambling. // Vi_71.45 //

And basking in the morning sun. // Vi_71.46 //

He shall not wear clothes, shoes, garlands, or a sacred thread worn by another. // Vi_71.47 //

He shall not give advice to a Śūdra. // Vi_71.48 //

Nor leftovers or sacrificial offerings. // Vi_71.49 //

Nor sesame seeds. // Vi_71.50 //

Nor shall he instruct him in dharma. // Vi_71.51 //

Nor in a vow. // Vi_71.52 //

He shall not scratch his head or stomach with both hands together. // Vi_71.53 //

He shall not refuse curd or flowers. // Vi_71.54 //

He shall not pull off his own garland. // Vi_71.55 //

He shall not awaken one who is sleeping. // Vi_71.56 //

He shall not make a red thing colorless. // Vi_71.57 //

He shall not speak to a menstruating woman. // Vi_71.58 //

Not to Mlecchas or outcastes. // Vi_71.59 //

In the presence of a fire, a deity, or a Brāhmaṇa, he shall raise his right hand. // Vi_71.60 //

He shall not point out a cow grazing in another's field. // Vi_71.61 //

Nor a calf that is drinking. // Vi_71.62 //

He shall not gladden the arrogant. // Vi_71.63 //

He shall not reside in a kingdom ruled by a Śūdra. // Vi_71.64 //

Nor in one crowded with unrighteous people. // Vi_71.65 //

He shall not live with one who is without a physician. // Vi_71.66 //

Nor in a place afflicted by disease. // Vi_71.67 //

Not for a long time on a mountain. // Vi_71.68 //

He shall not perform a useless action. // Vi_71.69 //

Not dancing or singing. // Vi_71.70 //

Not clapping. // Vi_71.71 //

He shall not utter obscenities. // Vi_71.72 //

Not an untruth. // Vi_71.73 //

Not what is unpleasant. // Vi_71.74 //

He shall not touch anyone on a vital spot. // Vi_71.75 //

He who wishes to live a long life shall not despise himself. // Vi_71.76 //

He shall perform the twilight worship for a long time. // Vi_71.77 //

He shall not play with snakes or weapons. // Vi_71.78 //

He shall not touch the orifices of his body without a reason. // Vi_71.79 //

He shall not raise a stick against another. // Vi_71.80 //

He shall strike one who is to be disciplined for the sake of discipline. // Vi_71.81 //

Him on the back with a split bamboo or a rope. // Vi_71.82 //

He shall avoid slander of deities, Brāhmaṇas, the scriptures, and great souls. // Vi_71.83 //

And wealth and desire that are contrary to dharma. // Vi_71.84 //

And even a religious duty, if it is hated by the people. // Vi_71.85 //

And on festival days, he shall perform rites of peace and oblations. // Vi_71.86 //

He shall not cut even a blade of grass. // Vi_71.87 //

And he shall remain adorned. // Vi_71.88 //

Thus he shall be a follower of proper conduct. // Vi_71.89 //

That which is declared by the Veda and the Smṛti to be righteous, and which is practiced by the good, / A man who desires dharma and has conquered his senses shall practice that proper conduct. || Vi_71.90 ||

From proper conduct one obtains long life, from proper conduct the desired state, / From proper conduct imperishable wealth, and proper conduct destroys inauspicious marks. || Vi_71.91 ||

A man who is endowed with good conduct, even if he is devoid of all auspicious marks, / Who has faith and is free from envy, lives for a hundred years. || Vi_71.93 ||