03.027
Library: Baka Dalbhya advises Yudhisthira to have Brahmanas always with him for his own welfare.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
वसत्स्वथ द्वैतवने पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु। अनुकीर्णं महारण्यं ब्राह्मणैः समपद्यत ॥३-२७-१॥
When the great-souled Pāṇḍavas were living in the Dvaita forest, the vast forest became filled with Brāhmaṇas. (3-27-1)
ईर्यमाणेन सततं ब्रह्मघोषेण सर्वतः। ब्रह्मलोकसमं पुण्यमासीद्द्वैतवनं सरः ॥३-२७-२॥
As it was being traversed, the Dwaita forest lake, always resounding with the sacred chant of Brahman on all sides, was as holy as Brahma-loka. (3-27-2)
यजुषामृचां च साम्नां च गद्यानां चैव सर्वशः। आसीदुच्चार्यमाणानां निस्वनो हृदयङ्गमः ॥३-२७-३॥
The recitation of the Yajus, Ṛc, Sāman, and all prose passages produced a resonance, as they were uttered, that touched the heart. (3-27-3)
ज्याघोषः पाण्डवेयानां ब्रह्मघोषश्च धीमताम्। संसृष्टं ब्रह्मणा क्षत्रं भूय एव व्यरोचत ॥३-२७-४॥
The twang of the bows of the sons of Pāṇḍu and the chanting of the wise blended together; the combined power of the Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas shone forth even more. (3-27-4)
अथाब्रवीद्बको दाल्भ्यो धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्। सन्ध्यां कौन्तेयमासीनमृषिभिः परिवारितम् ॥३-२७-५॥
Then Baka Dalbhya addressed Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kunti, who was seated at twilight and surrounded by sages. (3-27-5)
पश्य द्वैतवने पार्थ ब्राह्मणानां तपस्विनाम्। होमवेलां कुरुश्रेष्ठ सम्प्रज्वलितपावकाम् ॥३-२७-६॥
O Partha, see in the Dvaita forest the ascetic Brāhmaṇas at the time of their oblation, O best of the Kurus, with the fire blazing. (3-27-6)
चरन्ति धर्मं पुण्येऽस्मिंस्त्वया गुप्ता धृतव्रताः। भृगवोऽङ्गिरसश्चैव वासिष्ठाः काश्यपैः सह ॥३-२७-७॥
The Bhṛgus, Aṅgirasas, and Vāsiṣṭhas, together with the Kāśyapas, who are steadfast in their vows and protected by you, practice dharma in this holy place. (3-27-7)
आगस्त्याश्च महाभागा आत्रेयाश्चोत्तमव्रताः। सर्वस्य जगतः श्रेष्ठा ब्राह्मणाः सङ्गतास्त्वया ॥३-२७-८॥
The most fortunate descendants of Agastya and the excellent-vowed descendants of Atri, the best brāhmaṇas in the world, have all assembled here by you. (3-27-8)
इदं तु वचनं पार्थ शृण्वेकाग्रमना मम। भ्रातृभिः सह कौन्तेय यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि कौरव ॥३-२७-९॥
But listen attentively to this speech of mine, O son of Pṛthā, along with your brothers, O son of Kuntī, which I am about to tell you, O descendant of Kuru. (3-27-9)
ब्रह्म क्षत्रेण संसृष्टं क्षत्रं च ब्रह्मणा सह। उदीर्णौ दहतः शत्रून्वनानीवाग्निमारुतौ ॥३-२७-१०॥
When priestly and warrior powers are united, and both rise up together, they burn their enemies like fire and wind burn forests. (3-27-10)
नाब्राह्मणस्तात चिरं बुभूषे; दिच्छन्निमं लोकममुं च जेतुम्। विनीतधर्मार्थमपेतमोहं; लब्ध्वा द्विजं नुदति नृपः सपत्नान् ॥३-२७-११॥
O dear, a non-brāhmaṇa does not long endure who desires to conquer both this world and the next; but a king, having obtained a brāhmaṇa who is trained in dharma and artha and free from delusion, drives away his rivals. (3-27-11)
चरन्नैःश्रेयसं धर्मं प्रजापालनकारितम्। नाध्यगच्छद्बलिर्लोके तीर्थमन्यत्र वै द्विजात् ॥३-२७-१२॥
While following the supreme duty arising from protecting his subjects, Bali did not find in the world any holy place greater than that which comes from a Brāhmaṇa. (3-27-12)
अनूनमासीदसुरस्य कामै; र्वैरोचनेः श्रीरपि चाक्षयासीत्। लब्ध्वा महीं ब्राह्मणसम्प्रयोगा; त्तेष्वाचरन्दुष्टमतो व्यनश्यत् ॥३-२७-१३॥
The asura was not lacking in enjoyments; the prosperity of Virocana's son was also undiminished. Having obtained the earth through association with a Brāhmaṇa, when they acted wickedly among themselves, therefore, they perished. (3-27-13)
नाब्राह्मणं भूमिरियं सभूति; र्वर्णं द्वितीयं भजते चिराय। समुद्रनेमिर्नमते तु तस्मै; यं ब्राह्मणः शास्ति नयैर्विनीतः ॥३-२७-१४॥
This earth, with all its riches, does not long belong to a non-brāhmaṇa; it is the other class that enjoys it for a long time. The ocean's rim bows only to him whom a brāhmaṇa, disciplined in conduct, instructs. (3-27-14)
कुञ्जरस्येव सङ्ग्रामेऽपरिगृह्याङ्कुशग्रहम्। ब्राह्मणैर्विप्रहीणस्य क्षत्रस्य क्षीयते बलम् ॥३-२७-१५॥
Just as the strength of an elephant in battle is diminished if the goad-handle is not seized, so too the strength of a Kṣatriya bereft of Brāhmaṇas is diminished. (3-27-15)
ब्रह्मण्यनुपमा दृष्टिः क्षात्रमप्रतिमं बलम्। तौ यदा चरतः सार्धमथ लोकः प्रसीदति ॥३-२७-१६॥
When those two, endowed with devotion to Brahman and incomparable vision, and possessing unrivaled kṣatriya strength, move about together, then the world becomes pleased. (3-27-16)
यथा हि सुमहानग्निः कक्षं दहति सानिलः। तथा दहति राजन्यो ब्राह्मणेन समं रिपून् ॥३-२७-१७॥
Just as a very great fire, aided by the wind, burns dry wood, so too does a kṣatriya, together with a brāhmaṇa, destroy his enemies. (3-27-17)
ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽथ मेधावी बुद्धिपर्येषणं चरेत्। अलब्धस्य च लाभाय लब्धस्य च विवृद्धये ॥३-२७-१८॥
Then, for the Brāhmaṇas, the intelligent person should pursue intellectual inquiry; so that what has not been gained may be obtained, and what has been gained may be increased. (3-27-18)
अलब्धलाभाय च लब्धवृद्धये; यथार्हतीर्थप्रतिपादनाय। यशस्विनं वेदविदं विपश्चितं; बहुश्रुतं ब्राह्मणमेव वासय ॥३-२७-१९॥
For those who have not obtained gain and for those whose gain has increased, and for the proper establishment of sacred places, cause to reside a glorious, Veda-knowing, wise, and well-learned brāhmaṇa. (3-27-19)
ब्राह्मणेषूत्तमा वृत्तिस्तव नित्यं युधिष्ठिर। तेन ते सर्वलोकेषु दीप्यते प्रथितं यशः ॥३-२७-२०॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, your conduct is always excellent among Brāhmaṇas; by that, your renowned fame shines in all worlds. (3-27-20)
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे बकं दाल्भ्यमपूजयन्। युधिष्ठिरे स्तूयमाने भूयः सुमनसोऽभवन् ॥३-२७-२१॥
Then all those Brāhmaṇas honored Baka Dalbhya. While Yudhiṣṭhira was being praised, they again became happy-minded. (3-27-21)
द्वैपायनो नारदश्च जामदग्न्यः पृथुश्रवाः। इन्द्रद्युम्नो भालुकिश्च कृतचेताः सहस्रपात् ॥३-२७-२२॥
Dvaipayana, Narada, Jamadagnya, Prithushrava, Indradyumna, Bhaluki, Kritacheta, and Sahasrapat were present. (3-27-22)
कर्णश्रवाश्च मुञ्जश्च लवणाश्वश्च काश्यपः। हारीतः स्थूणकर्णश्च अग्निवेश्योऽथ शौनकः ॥३-२७-२३॥
Karṇaśravas, Muñja, Lavaṇāśva, Kāśyapa, Hārīta, Sthūṇakarṇa, Agniveśya, and then Śaunaka. (3-27-23)
ऋतवाक्च सुवाक्चैव बृहदश्व ऋतावसुः। ऊर्ध्वरेता वृषामित्रः सुहोत्रो होत्रवाहनः ॥३-२७-२४॥
Bṛhadaśva, Ṛtāvasu, Vṛṣāmitra, Suhotra, and Hotravāhana were all known for their truthful and virtuous speech; among them was also one whose seed was upward. (3-27-24)
एते चान्ये च बहवो ब्राह्मणाः संशितव्रताः। अजातशत्रुमानर्चुः पुरंदरमिवर्षयः ॥३-२७-२५॥
These and many other Brāhmaṇas of firm vows worshipped Ajātaśatru, just as sages worship Purandara. (3-27-25)
