01.056 (Core) Significance of Mahabharata as Artha-shastra, Dharma-shastra, and also Mokhsa-shastra
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said,
कथितं वै समासेन त्वया सर्वं द्विजोत्तम। महाभारतमाख्यानं कुरूणां चरितं महत् ॥१॥
You have narrated, O foremost among Brahmins, the great epic of the Mahabharata, which contains the history of the Kurus.
कथां त्वनघ चित्रार्थामिमां कथयति त्वयि। विस्तरश्रवणे जातं कौतूहलमतीव मे ॥२॥
You narrate this fascinating story to me, O sinless one. My curiosity has greatly increased to hear it in detail.
स भवान्विस्तरेणेमां पुनराख्यातुमर्हति। न हि तृप्यामि पूर्वेषां शृण्वानश्चरितं महत् ॥३॥
You, please elaborate and narrate this story once again. I am not satisfied with hearing the previous one in brief.
न तत्कारणमल्पं हि धर्मज्ञा यत्र पाण्डवाः। अवध्यान्सर्वशो जघ्नुः प्रशस्यन्ते च मानवैः ॥४॥
O knower of righteousness, the reason for which the Pandavas, who were well-versed in Dharma, were not satisfied is not insignificant. They slew all the invincible warriors and were praised by people.
किमर्थं ते नरव्याघ्राः शक्ताः सन्तो ह्यनागसः। प्रयुज्यमानान्सङ्क्लेशान्क्षान्तवन्तो दुरात्मनाम् ॥५॥
Why were those tigers among men, capable as they were, not able to overcome the difficulties that befell them, while even snakes, when provoked, can be pacified? (Verse 5)
कथं नागायुतप्राणो बाहुशाली वृकोदरः। परिक्लिश्यन्नपि क्रोधं धृतवान्वै द्विजोत्तम ॥६॥
How is it that the mighty Bhimasena, who has the strength of a thousand elephants, did not give in to anger even when provoked? (Verse 6)
कथं सा द्रौपदी कृष्णा क्लिश्यमाना दुरात्मभिः। शक्ता सती धार्तराष्ट्रान्नादहद्घोरचक्षुषा ॥७॥
How was it that Draupadi, Krishna incarnate, who was tormented by the wicked-hearted, did not incinerate the Dhartarashtras with her fierce gaze, being capable to do so? (Verse 7)
कथं व्यतिक्रमन्द्यूते पार्थौ माद्रीसुतौ तथा। अनुव्रजन्नरव्याघ्रं वञ्च्यमानं दुरात्मभिः ॥८॥
How did the sons of Madri, Partha (Arjuna) and the others, manage to escape the deceit of the wicked-hearted, when they played at dice and were being cheated? (Verse 8)
कथं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठः सुतो धर्मस्य धर्मवित्। अनर्हः परमं क्लेशं सोढवान्स युधिष्ठिरः ॥९॥
How did Yudhishthira, the best among upholders of Dharma, the knower of righteousness and the virtuous son of Dharma, allow himself to be subjected to such great suffering, which he did not deserve? (Verse 9)
कथं च बहुलाः सेनाः पाण्डवः कृष्णसारथिः। अस्यन्नेकोऽनयत्सर्वाः पितृलोकं धनञ्जयः ॥१०॥
How did Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow and the charioteer Krishna, manage to single-handedly bring all those mighty armies to the abode of their ancestors? (Verse 10)
एतदाचक्ष्व मे सर्वं यथावृत्तं तपोधन। यद्यच्च कृतवन्तस्ते तत्र तत्र महारथाः ॥११॥
Please tell me everything exactly as it happened, O wealth of penance. Also, narrate the exploits performed by the great charioteers wherever they took place. (Verse 11)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said,
महर्षेः सर्वलोकेषु पूजितस्य महात्मनः। प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्यामिततेजसः ॥१२॥
I shall narrate the comprehensive doctrine of the great soul Vyasa, who is revered in all the worlds, endowed with immeasurable brilliance. (Verse 12)
इदं शतसहस्रं हि श्लोकानां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। सत्यवत्यात्मजेनेह व्याख्यातममितौजसा ॥१३॥
This composition, consisting of one hundred thousand verses, narrated by the son of Satyavati, possesses immeasurable brilliance. (Verse 13)
य इदं श्रावयेद्विद्वान्यश्चेदं शृणुयान्नरः। ते ब्रह्मणः स्थानमेत्य प्राप्नुयुर्देवतुल्यताम् ॥१४॥
One who recites this or listens to it with wisdom, attains a status equal to that of Brahma, the divine. (Verse 14)
इदं हि वेदैः समितं पवित्रमपि चोत्तमम्। श्राव्याणामुत्तमं चेदं पुराणमृषिसंस्तुतम् ॥१५॥
Indeed, this is the most sacred offering, even among the Vedas. It is the best of the puranas, revered by the sages, and the finest among what is worth listening to. (Verse 15)
अस्मिन्नर्थश्च धर्मश्च निखिलेनोपदिश्यते। इतिहासे महापुण्ये बुद्धिश्च परिनैष्ठिकी ॥१६॥
In this glorious narrative, righteousness in its entirety is expounded. It is an immensely virtuous epic, and imparts steadfast wisdom. (Verse 16)
अक्षुद्रान्दानशीलांश्च सत्यशीलाननास्तिकान्। कार्ष्णं वेदमिमं विद्वाञ्श्रावयित्वार्थमश्नुते ॥१७॥
The one who imparts this Veda, filled with non-violence, charity, truthfulness, and faith, to those who are non-envious and virtuous, will surely attain the desired objective. (Verse 17)
भ्रूणहत्याकृतं चापि पापं जह्यादसंशयम्। इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा पुरुषोऽपि सुदारुणः ॥१८॥
One should definitely renounce the sin of causing abortion. There is no doubt about it. Upon hearing this narrative, even a person of cruel disposition will mend his ways. (Verse 18)
जयो नामेतिहासोऽयं श्रोतव्यो विजिगीषुणा। महीं विजयते सर्वां शत्रूंश्चापि पराजयेत् ॥१९॥
This narrative, known as "Victory," should be heard by those desiring triumph. It bestows victory upon the listener, causing the defeat of all adversaries. (Verse 19)
इदं पुंसवनं श्रेष्ठमिदं स्वस्त्ययनं महत्। महिषीयुवराजाभ्यां श्रोतव्यं बहुशस्तथा ॥२०॥
This is the most excellent means of purification, this great recitation. It is also an auspicious rite. It should be heard by queens, princes, and kings, as well as by the common people, numerous times. (Verse 20)
अर्थशास्त्रमिदं पुण्यं धर्मशास्त्रमिदं परम्। मोक्षशास्त्रमिदं प्रोक्तं व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना ॥२१॥
This is a virtuous treatise on economic principles, the supreme scripture on righteousness, and it is also considered as a scripture for liberation. This has been expounded by Vyasa, who possesses immeasurable wisdom. (Verse 21)
सम्प्रत्याचक्षते चैव आख्यास्यन्ति तथापरे। पुत्राः शुश्रूषवः सन्ति प्रेष्याश्च प्रियकारिणः ॥२२॥
Even now, some proclaim and others will declare in the future that those who have sons, those who are devoted to their well-being, and those who are pleasing to their loved ones, are truly wealthy. (Verse 22)
शरीरेण कृतं पापं वाचा च मनसैव च। सर्वं तत्त्यजति क्षिप्रमिदं शृण्वन्नरः सदा ॥२३॥
Whatever sins one commits through the body, speech, or mind, a person can quickly abandon them by constantly hearing this narrative. (Verse 23)
भारतानां महज्जन्म शृण्वतामनसूयताम्। नास्ति व्याधिभयं तेषां परलोकभयं कुतः ॥२४॥
For those who are born in the land of Bharata and who listen to this with a pure heart, there is no fear of diseases, let alone the fear of the next world. (Verse 24)
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं पुण्यं तथैव च। कृष्णद्वैपायनेनेदं कृतं पुण्यचिकीर्षुणा ॥२५॥
By the desire for virtue, this auspicious, glorious, long-lasting, heavenly and meritorious composition has been created by Krishna Dvaipayana (Vyasa). (Verse 25)
कीर्तिं प्रथयता लोके पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। अन्येषां क्षत्रियाणां च भूरिद्रविणतेजसाम् ॥२६॥
This great epic extols the fame of the Pandavas in the world. It also enhances the splendor of other mighty warriors among the Kshatriyas. (Verse 26)
यथा समुद्रो भगवान्यथा च हिमवान्गिरिः। ख्यातावुभौ रत्ननिधी तथा भारतमुच्यते ॥२७॥
Just as the ocean is considered supreme among bodies of water, and the Himalayas are considered the foremost among mountains, similarly, the Mahabharata is renowned as the treasure trove of jewels among epics. (Verse 27)
य इदं श्रावयेद्विद्वान्ब्राह्मणानिह पर्वसु। धूतपाप्मा जितस्वर्गो ब्रह्मभूयं स गच्छति ॥२८॥
The one who recites this to the learned Brahmins during the Parva (sacrificial ceremony), having purified themselves of sins, attains the heavenly abode and ultimately becomes one with Brahman. (Verse 28)
यश्चेदं श्रावयेच्छ्राद्धे ब्राह्मणान्पादमन्ततः। अक्षय्यं तस्य तच्छ्राद्धमुपतिष्ठेत्पितृनपि ॥२९॥
If one were to recite this during a sacred ritual in the presence of Brahmins, the imperishable merit of that ritual would also extend to their ancestors. (Verse 29)
अह्ना यदेनश्चाज्ञानात्प्रकरोति नरश्चरन्। तन्महाभारताख्यानं श्रुत्वैव प्रविलीयते ॥३०॥
A person, due to ignorance, may commit misdeeds during the day and night. However, upon hearing the narrative of the Mahabharata, they are instantly cleansed of their sins. (Verse 30)
भारतानां महज्जन्म महाभारतमुच्यते। निरुक्तमस्य यो वेद सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥३१॥
The great birth among the Bharatas is known as the Mahabharata. One who understands its meaning is absolved of all sins through it, just as one is absolved of all sins through the Nirukta (etymology). (Verse 31)
त्रिभिर्वर्षैः सदोत्थायी कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः। महाभारतमाख्यानं कृतवानिदमुत्तमम् ॥३२॥
Sage Krishna Dvaipayana, also known as Vyasa, composed this excellent Mahabharata narrative, which spans three years. (Verse 32)
धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च मोक्षे च भरतर्षभ। यदिहास्ति तदन्यत्र यन्नेहास्ति न तत्क्वचित् ॥३३॥
O foremost among the Bharatas! Whatever is found here in this Mahabharata concerning dharma (righteousness), artha (prosperity), kama (pleasure), and moksha (liberation), can be found elsewhere. Whatever is not found here is not found anywhere. (Verse 33)
