The Smritis guide the way; On Dharma for the day.
On social conduct, law; Tracing paths without a flaw.
Through rites of cleansing and a heart that is pure,
Shankha makes the penance path clear and sure. [1]
With gifts for the needy and rites for the dead,
Shatatapa shows how a holy life is led. [2]
On the duties of home and the stages of life,
Vyasa gives counsel to the husband and wife. [3]
Of ancient traditions and the lineage of old,
Vashishta’s decrees are like treasures of gold. [4]
With laws for the kingdom and devotion so deep,
Vishnu’s commands are the ones we must keep. [5]
For the deeds that we do and the judgment we face,
Yama provides the strict boundaries of grace. [6]
