01.159
Library:Agaraparna advises Arjuna to take a Brahamna as priest.
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
कारणं ब्रूहि गन्धर्व किं तद्येन स्म धर्षिताः। यान्तो ब्रह्मविदः सन्तः सर्वे रात्रावरिंदम ॥१-१५९-१॥
O Gandharva, tell me the reason—what is it by which they were truly affronted? All the virtuous Brahman-knowers, O subduer of enemies, were leaving at night.
गन्धर्व उवाच॥
The Gandharva said.
अनग्नयोऽनाहुतयो न च विप्रपुरस्कृताः। यूयं ततो धर्षिताः स्थ मया पाण्डवनन्दन ॥१-१५९-२॥
O joy of the Pāṇḍavas, since you were without fire, without oblations, and not led by Brāhmaṇas, therefore you were overpowered by me.
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वाः पिशाचोरगमानवाः। विस्तरं कुरुवंशस्य श्रीमतः कथयन्ति ते ॥१-१५९-३॥
Yakṣas, rākṣasas, gandharvas, piśācas, uragas, and humans all narrate in detail the story of the illustrious Kuru dynasty.
नारदप्रभृतीनां च देवर्षीणां मया श्रुतम्। गुणान्कथयतां वीर पूर्वेषां तव धीमताम् ॥१-१५९-४॥
O hero, I have heard from Narada and other divine sages about the qualities of your wise predecessors.
स्वयं चापि मया दृष्टश्चरता सागराम्बराम्। इमां वसुमतीं कृत्स्नां प्रभावः स्वकुलस्य ते ॥१-१५९-५॥
I myself have also seen, while traveling, this entire earth, clothed by the ocean; this is the power of your own lineage.
वेदे धनुषि चाचार्यमभिजानामि तेऽर्जुन। विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु भारद्वाजं यशस्विनम् ॥१-१५९-६॥
O Arjuna, I recognize your teacher Bharadvāja as renowned and illustrious in the three worlds, both in the Veda and in archery.
धर्मं वायुं च शक्रं च विजानाम्यश्विनौ तथा। पाण्डुं च कुरुशार्दूल षडेतान्कुलवर्धनान् ॥ पितृनेतानहं पार्थ देवमानुषसत्तमान् ॥१-१५९-७॥
O Pārtha, I know Dharma, Vāyu, Indra, the Aśvins, and Pāṇḍu—these six increasers of the family, led by their fathers, O tiger among Kurus, the best among gods and men.
दिव्यात्मानो महात्मानः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वराः। भवन्तो भ्रातरः शूराः सर्वे सुचरितव्रताः ॥१-१५९-८॥
You are all divine and great-souled, the best among all weapon-bearers, heroic brothers, all steadfast in good conduct and vows.
उत्तमां तु मनोबुद्धिं भवतां भावितात्मनाम्। जानन्नपि च वः पार्थ कृतवानिह धर्षणाम् ॥१-१५९-९॥
But even knowing your excellent mind and intellect, O Partha, and that your souls are cultivated, he has still committed this insult here.
स्त्रीसकाशे च कौरव्य न पुमान्क्षन्तुमर्हति। धर्षणामात्मनः पश्यन्बाहुद्रविणमाश्रितः ॥१-१५९-१०॥
O Kauravya, in the presence of a woman, a man who relies on the strength of his arms should not tolerate an insult to himself.
नक्तं च बलमस्माकं भूय एवाभिवर्धते। यतस्ततो मां कौन्तेय सदारं मन्युराविशत् ॥१-१५९-११॥
At night, our strength increases even more; therefore, O son of Kunti, anger always enters me along with my wife.
सोऽहं त्वयेह विजितः सङ्ख्ये तापत्यवर्धन। येन तेनेह विधिना कीर्त्यमानं निबोध मे ॥१-१५९-१२॥
O increaser of the Tapati lineage, here in battle I have been conquered by you. Understand from me by which method this is being praised here.
ब्रह्मचर्यं परो धर्मः स चापि नियतस्त्वयि। यस्मात्तस्मादहं पार्थ रणेऽस्मिन्विजितस्त्वया ॥१-१५९-१३॥
Brahmacarya is the highest duty, and you have perfectly observed it. Therefore, O Pārtha, in this battle, I have been conquered by you.
यस्तु स्यात्क्षत्रियः कश्चित्कामवृत्तः परन्तप। नक्तं च युधि युध्येत न स जीवेत्कथञ्चन ॥१-१५९-१४॥
But, O scorcher of foes, any kṣatriya who acts according to his desires and fights at night in battle will not survive in any way.
यस्तु स्यात्कामवृत्तोऽपि राजा तापत्य सङ्गरे। जयेन्नक्तञ्चरान्सर्वान्स पुरोहितधूर्गतः ॥१-१५९-१५॥
But if a king, even though given to desires, fights in battle and conquers all the night-roamers, having received the blessings of the priest, he is victorious.
तस्मात्तापत्य यत्किञ्चिन्नृणां श्रेय इहेप्सितम्। तस्मिन्कर्मणि योक्तव्या दान्तात्मानः पुरोहिताः ॥१-१५९-१६॥
Therefore, in whatever action relating to offspring that is desired here for the welfare of men, self-controlled priests should be engaged in that.
वेदे षडङ्गे निरताः शुचयः सत्यवादिनः। धर्मात्मानः कृतात्मानः स्युर्नृपाणां पुरोहिताः ॥१-१५९-१७॥
The priests of kings should be engaged in the Veda and its six limbs, pure, speakers of truth, righteous in soul, and self-controlled.
जयश्च नियतो राज्ञः स्वर्गश्च स्यादनन्तरम्। यस्य स्याद्धर्मविद्वाग्मी पुरोधाः शीलवाञ्शुचिः ॥१-१५९-१८॥
Victory and heaven are assured for the king, and heaven follows immediately, whose priest is a knower of dharma, eloquent, virtuous, and pure.
लाभं लब्धुमलब्धं हि लब्धं च परिरक्षितुम्। पुरोहितं प्रकुर्वीत राजा गुणसमन्वितम् ॥१-१५९-१९॥
A king should appoint as priest a person endowed with virtues, in order to obtain gain not yet obtained, and to protect gain already obtained.
पुरोहितमते तिष्ठेद्य इच्छेत्पृथिवीं नृपः। प्राप्तुं मेरुवरोत्तंसां सर्वशः सागराम्बराम् ॥१-१५९-२०॥
A king wishing to gain the whole earth, adorned with the best of Meru and encircled by oceans, should always act according to the counsel of his priest.
न हि केवलशौर्येण तापत्याभिजनेन च। जयेदब्राह्मणः कश्चिद्भूमिं भूमिपतिः क्वचित् ॥१-१५९-२१॥
A non-Brahmin king cannot conquer the earth at any time merely by valor or by descent from the Tapati lineage.
तस्मादेवं विजानीहि कुरूणां वंशवर्धन। ब्राह्मणप्रमुखं राज्यं शक्यं पालयितुं चिरम् ॥१-१५९-२२॥
Therefore, O increaser of the Kurus' lineage, understand that a kingdom led by Brāhmaṇas can indeed be sustained for a long time.
