01.159
Library:Agaraparna advises Arjuna to take a Brahamna as priest.
Arjuna said.
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.
The Gandharva said.
O joy of the Pāṇḍavas, since you were without fire, without oblations, and not led by Brāhmaṇas, therefore you were overpowered by me.
Yakṣas, rākṣasas, gandharvas, piśācas, uragas, and humans all narrate in detail the story of the illustrious Kuru dynasty.
O hero, I have heard from Narada and other divine sages about the qualities of your wise predecessors.
I myself have also seen, while traveling, this entire earth, clothed by the ocean; this is the power of your own lineage.
O Arjuna, I recognize your teacher Bharadvāja as renowned and illustrious in the three worlds, both in the Veda and in archery.
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.
You are all divine and great-souled, the best among all weapon-bearers, heroic brothers, all steadfast in good conduct and vows.
But even knowing your excellent mind and intellect, O Partha, and that your souls are cultivated, he has still committed this insult here.
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.
At night, our strength increases even more; therefore, O son of Kunti, anger always enters me along with my wife.
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.
Brahmacarya is the highest duty, and you have perfectly observed it. Therefore, O Pārtha, in this battle, I have been conquered by you.
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.
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.
Therefore, in whatever action relating to offspring that is desired here for the welfare of men, self-controlled priests should be engaged in that.
The priests of kings should be engaged in the Veda and its six limbs, pure, speakers of truth, righteous in soul, and self-controlled.
Victory and heaven are assured for the king, and heaven follows immediately, whose priest is a knower of dharma, eloquent, virtuous, and pure.
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.
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.
A non-Brahmin king cannot conquer the earth at any time merely by valor or by descent from the Tapati lineage.
Therefore, O increaser of the Kurus' lineage, understand that a kingdom led by Brāhmaṇas can indeed be sustained for a long time.
