03.027
Library: Baka Dalbhya advises Yudhisthira to have Brahmanas always with him for his own welfare.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
vasatsvatha dvaitavane pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu। anukīrṇaṃ mahāraṇyaṃ brāhmaṇaiḥ samapadyata ॥3-27-1॥
When the great-souled Pāṇḍavas were living in the Dvaita forest, the vast forest became filled with Brāhmaṇas. (3-27-1)
īryamāṇena satataṃ brahmaghoṣeṇa sarvataḥ। brahmalokasamaṃ puṇyam āsīd dvaitavanaṃ saraḥ॥3-27-2॥
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)
yajuṣām ṛcām ca sāmnām ca gadyānām caiva sarvaśaḥ। āsīd uccāryamāṇānām nisvano hṛdayaṅgamaḥ ॥3-27-3॥
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)
jyāghoṣaḥ pāṇḍaveyānāṃ brahmaghoṣaś ca dhīmatām। saṃsṛṣṭaṃ brahmaṇā kṣatraṃ bhūya eva vyarocata ॥3-27-4॥
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)
athābravīdbako dālbhyō dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram। sandhyāṃ kaunteyam āsīnam ṛṣibhiḥ parivāritam ॥3-27-5॥
Then Baka Dalbhya addressed Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kunti, who was seated at twilight and surrounded by sages. (3-27-5)
paśya dvaitavane pārtha brāhmaṇānāṃ tapasvinām। homavelāṃ kuruśreṣṭha samprajvalitapāvakām ॥3-27-6॥
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)
caranti dharmaṃ puṇye'smiṃstvayā guptā dhṛtavratāḥ। bhṛgavo'ṅgirasaścaiva vāsiṣṭhāḥ kāśyapaiḥ saha ॥3-27-7॥
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)
āgastyāś ca mahābhāgā ātreyāś cottamavratāḥ। sarvasya jagataḥ śreṣṭhā brāhmaṇāḥ saṅgatās tvayā ॥3-27-8॥
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)
idaṃ tu vacanaṃ pārtha śṛṇvekāgramanā mama। bhrātṛbhiḥ saha kaunteya yat tvāṃ vakṣyāmi kaurava ॥3-27-9॥
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)
brahma kṣatreṇa saṁsṛṣṭaṁ kṣatraṁ ca brahmaṇā saha। udīrṇau dahataḥ śatrūn vanān iva agni-mārutau ॥3-27-10॥
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)
nābrāhmaṇastāta ciraṃ bubhūṣe; dicchannimaṃ lokamamuṃ ca jetum। vinītadharmārthamapetamoham; labdhvā dvijaṃ nudati nṛpaḥ sapatnān ॥3-27-11॥
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)
carannaiḥśreyasaṃ dharmaṃ prajāpālanakāritam। nādhyagacchadbalirloke tīrthamanyatra vai dvijāt ॥3-27-12॥
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)
anūnam āsīd asurasya kāmaiḥ; vairocaneḥ śrīr api ca akṣayā āsīt. labdhvā mahīm brāhmaṇa-samprayogāt; teṣu ācaran duṣṭam ataḥ vyanaśyat ॥3-27-13॥
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)
nābrāhmaṇaṃ bhūmir iyaṃ sabhūti; rvarṇaṃ dvitīyaṃ bhajate cirāya. samudranemir namate tu tasmai; yaṃ brāhmaṇaḥ śāsti nayair vinītaḥ ॥3-27-14॥
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)
kuñjarasyeva saṅgrāme'parigṛhyāṅkuśagraham। brāhmaṇairviprahīṇasya kṣatrasya kṣīyate balam ॥3-27-15॥
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)
brahmaṇyanupamā dṛṣṭiḥ kṣātramapratimaṃ balam। tau yadā carataḥ sārdhamatha lokaḥ prasīdati ॥3-27-16॥
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)
yathā hi sumahānagniḥ kakṣaṃ dahati sānilaḥ। tathā dahati rājanyo brāhmaṇena samaṃ ripūn ॥3-27-17॥
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)
brāhmaṇebhyo'tha medhāvī buddhiparyeṣaṇaṃ caret। alabdhāsya ca lābhāya labdhasya ca vivṛddhaye ॥3-27-18॥
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)
alabdhalābhāya ca labdhavṛddhaye; yathārhatīrthapratipādanāya. yaśasvinaṃ vedavidaṃ vipaścitaṃ; bahuśrutaṃ brāhmaṇameva vāsaya ॥3-27-19॥
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)
brāhmaṇeṣūttamā vṛttis tava nityaṃ yudhiṣṭhira। tena te sarvalokeṣu dīpyate prathitaṃ yaśaḥ ॥3-27-20॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, your conduct is always excellent among Brāhmaṇas; by that, your renowned fame shines in all worlds. (3-27-20)
tataste brāhmaṇāḥ sarve bakaṃ dāl'bhyam apūjayan। yudhiṣṭhire stūyamāne bhūyaḥ sumanaso'bhavan ॥3-27-21॥
Then all those Brāhmaṇas honored Baka Dalbhya. While Yudhiṣṭhira was being praised, they again became happy-minded. (3-27-21)
dvaipāyano nāradaś ca jāmadagnyaḥ pṛthuśravāḥ। indradyumno bhālukiś ca kṛtacetāḥ sahasrapāt ॥3-27-22॥
Dvaipayana, Narada, Jamadagnya, Prithushrava, Indradyumna, Bhaluki, Kritacheta, and Sahasrapat were present. (3-27-22)
karṇaśravāś ca muñjaś ca lavaṇāśvaś ca kāśyapaḥ। hārītaḥ sthūṇakarṇaś ca agniveśyo 'tha śaunakaḥ॥3-27-23॥
Karṇaśravas, Muñja, Lavaṇāśva, Kāśyapa, Hārīta, Sthūṇakarṇa, Agniveśya, and then Śaunaka. (3-27-23)
ṛtavāk ca suvāk ca eva bṛhadaśva ṛtāvasuḥ। ūrdhvaretā vṛṣāmitraḥ suhotraḥ hotravāhanaḥ ॥3-27-24॥
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)
ete cānye ca bahavo brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ। ajātaśatrum ānarcuḥ puraṃdaram iva ṛṣayaḥ ॥3-27-25॥
These and many other Brāhmaṇas of firm vows worshipped Ajātaśatru, just as sages worship Purandara. (3-27-25)
