03.181
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तं विवक्षन्तमालक्ष्य कुरुराजो महामुनिम्। कथासञ्जननार्थाय चोदयामास पाण्डवः ॥०३-१८१-१॥
Seeing him wishing to speak, the Kuru king prompted the great sage in order to initiate a conversation. (03-181-1)
भवान्दैवतदैत्यानामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्। राजर्षीणां च सर्वेषां चरितज्ञः सनातनः ॥०३-१८१-२॥
You are the eternal knower of the deeds of the gods and the daityas, of the sages and great souls, and of all the royal sages. (03-181-2)
सेव्यश्चोपासितव्यश्च मतो नः काङ्क्षितश्चिरम्। अयं च देवकीपुत्रः प्राप्तोऽस्मानवलोककः ॥०३-१८१-३॥
He whom we have long desired to serve and worship, this Devakī's son, has now come to us as the observer. (03-181-3)
भवत्येव हि मे बुद्धिर्दृष्ट्वात्मानं सुखाच्च्युतम्। धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च दुर्वृत्तानृध्यतः प्रेक्ष्य सर्वशः ॥०३-१८१-४॥
My understanding indeed arises (so), for when I see myself fallen from happiness, and also see the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—men of wicked conduct—prospering in every way, (such thoughts arise in me). (03-181-4)
कर्मणः पुरुषः कर्ता शुभस्याप्यशुभस्य च। स्वफलं तदुपाश्नाति कथं कर्ता स्विदीश्वरः ॥०३-१८१-५॥
A man is the doer of actions, both good and bad, and he enjoys his own results. How, then, could God be the doer? (03-181-5)
अथ वा सुखदुःखेषु नृणां ब्रह्मविदां वर। इह वा कृतमन्वेति परदेहेऽथ वा पुनः ॥०३-१८१-६॥
O best of Brahman-knowers, in regard to happiness and unhappiness experienced by men, a deed follows either here or again in another body. (03-181-6)
देही च देहं सन्त्यज्य मृग्यमाणः शुभाशुभैः। कथं संयुज्यते प्रेत्य इह वा द्विजसत्तम ॥०३-१८१-७॥
O best of the twice-born, after the embodied one abandons the body and is sought after by good and evil, how does he unite after death or here? (03-181-7)
ऐहलौकिकमेवैतदुताहो पारलौकिकम्। क्व च कर्माणि तिष्ठन्ति जन्तोः प्रेतस्य भार्गव ॥०३-१८१-८॥
Is this only of this world, or perhaps of the other world? And where do the actions of a being, of the deceased, remain, O Bhārgava? (03-181-8)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said;
त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नो यथावद्वदतां वर। विदितं वेदितव्यं ते स्थित्यर्थमनुपृच्छसि ॥०३-१८१-९॥
This additional question posed by you, O best of speakers, is proper; you enquire what is known and what yet remains to be known, for the sake of stability. (03-181-9)
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि तदिहैकमनाः शृणु। यथेहामुत्र च नरः सुखदुःखमुपाश्नुते ॥०३-१८१-१०॥
Here, I will explain this to you; therefore, listen attentively. Just as a man experiences happiness and sorrow here and in the other world. (03-181-10)
निर्मलानि शरीराणि विशुद्धानि शरीरिणाम्। ससर्ज धर्मतन्त्राणि पूर्वोत्पन्नः प्रजापतिः ॥०३-१८१-११॥
Prajapati, who existed from before, created pure and purified bodies for embodied beings and the systems of dharma. (03-181-11)
अमोघबलसङ्कल्पाः सुव्रताः सत्यवादिनः। ब्रह्मभूता नराः पुण्याः पुराणाः कुरुनन्दन ॥०३-१८१-१२॥
O delight of the Kurus, those men who are ancient, virtuous, become one with Brahman, truth-speaking, firm in excellent vows, and whose resolutions are unfailing. (03-181-12)
सर्वे देवैः समायान्ति स्वच्छन्देन नभस्तलम्। ततश्च पुनरायान्ति सर्वे स्वच्छन्दचारिणः ॥०३-१८१-१३॥
All the gods assemble freely in the sky; then again, all those who move at will return. (03-181-13)
स्वच्छन्दमरणाश्चासन्नराः स्वच्छन्दजीविनः। अल्पबाधा निरातङ्का सिद्धार्था निरुपद्रवाः ॥०३-१८१-१४॥
They die at their own will, are easily approachable, live as they please, suffer little affliction, are free from danger, have attained their goals, and face no obstacles. (03-181-14)
द्रष्टारो देवसङ्घानामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्। प्रत्यक्षाः सर्वधर्माणां दान्ता विगतमत्सराः ॥०३-१८१-१५॥
They are seers of the assemblies of gods, of the sages and great souls, directly perceiving all truths, self-controlled, and free from envy. (03-181-15)
आसन्वर्षसहस्राणि तथा पुत्रसहस्रिणः। ततः कालान्तरेऽन्यस्मिन्पृथिवीतलचारिणः ॥०३-१८१-१६॥
They lived for thousands of years, each with thousands of sons; then, in another age, they walked upon the earth. (03-181-16)
कामक्रोधाभिभूतास्ते मायाव्याजोपजीविनः। लोभमोहाभिभूताश्च त्यक्ता देवैस्ततो नराः ॥०३-१८१-१७॥
Men who are overcome by desire, anger, greed, and delusion, and who live by deceit and hypocrisy, are therefore abandoned by the gods. (03-181-17)
अशुभैः कर्मभिः पापास्तिर्यङ्नरकगामिनः। संसारेषु विचित्रेषु पच्यमानाः पुनः पुनः ॥०३-१८१-१८॥
Because of inauspicious acts, evil ones repeatedly go to births as animals and to hell, being tormented again and again in the various worlds of transmigration. (03-181-18)
मोघेष्टा मोघसङ्कल्पा मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः। सर्वातिशङ्किनश्चैव संवृत्ताः क्लेशभागिनः ॥ अशुभैः कर्मभिश्चापि प्रायशः परिचिह्निताः ॥०३-१८१-१९॥
Those whose desires, resolves, and knowledge are vain, who are unintelligent and always doubting, become the bearers of suffering; and are generally known by unwholesome actions as well. (03-181-19)
दौष्कुल्या व्याधिबहुला दुरात्मानोऽप्रतापिनः। भवन्त्यल्पायुषः पापा रौद्रकर्मफलोदयाः ॥ नाथन्तः सर्वकामानां नास्तिका भिन्नसेतवः ॥०३-१८१-२०॥
Born in low families, suffering from many diseases, evil-minded, lacking prowess, they are short-lived, wicked, born from the fruit of cruel deeds. Without any protector for all their desires, atheists, and those who have broken their limits. (03-181-20)
जन्तोः प्रेतस्य कौन्तेय गतिः स्वैरिह कर्मभिः। प्राज्ञस्य हीनबुद्धेश्च कर्मकोशः क्व तिष्ठति ॥०३-१८१-२१॥
O son of Kuntī, what is the destination of a being who has died, determined by their own actions here? And where does the storehouse of actions remain for the wise and for the dull-minded? (03-181-21)
क्वस्थस्तत्समुपाश्नाति सुकृतं यदि वेतरत्। इति ते दर्शनं यच्च तत्राप्यनुनयं शृणु ॥०३-१८१-२२॥
Who, situated where, enjoys that good or other deed—thus is my explanation to you, and now hear also the conciliation in that matter. (03-181-22)
अयमादिशरीरेण देवसृष्टेन मानवः। शुभानामशुभानां च कुरुते सञ्चयं महत् ॥०३-१८१-२३॥
This human, with the initial body created by the gods, makes a great accumulation of both auspicious and inauspicious deeds. (03-181-23)
आयुषोऽन्ते प्रहायेदं क्षीणप्रायं कलेवरम्। सम्भवत्येव युगपद्योनौ नास्त्यन्तराभवः ॥०३-१८१-२४॥
At the end of life, one abandons this worn-out body, and instantly arises in another womb; there is no interval of non-existence. (03-181-24)
तत्रास्य स्वकृतं कर्म छायेवानुगतं सदा। फलत्यथ सुखार्हो वा दुःखार्हो वापि जायते ॥०३-१८१-२५॥
There, his actions performed by himself, always following him like a shadow, bear fruit; then he is born either as one deserving happiness or as one deserving suffering. (03-181-25)
कृतान्तविधिसंयुक्तः स जन्तुर्लक्षणैः शुभैः। अशुभैर्वा निरादानो लक्ष्यते ज्ञानदृष्टिभिः ॥०३-१८१-२६॥
That living being, united with the decree of death, is perceived by those endowed with knowledge through auspicious or inauspicious signs, or as one devoid of acquisition. (03-181-26)
एषा तावदबुद्धीनां गतिरुक्ता युधिष्ठिर। अतः परं ज्ञानवतां निबोध गतिमुत्तमाम् ॥०३-१८१-२७॥
This is as far as the path of the intelligent has been stated, O Yudhiṣṭhira. Now, learn the supreme path, which is beyond, of the wise. (03-181-27)
मनुष्यास्तप्ततपसः सर्वागमपरायणाः। स्थिरव्रताः सत्यपरा गुरुशुश्रूषणे रताः ॥०३-१८१-२८॥
Men who have performed intense austerities, who are devoted to all the scriptures, steadfast in their vows, devoted to truth, and engaged in service to the teacher. (03-181-28)
सुशीलाः शुक्लजातीयाः क्षान्ता दान्ताः सुतेजसः। शुभयोन्यन्तरगताः प्रायशः शुभलक्षणाः ॥०३-१८१-२९॥
They are of good disposition, fair origin, patient, self-restrained, endowed with excellent brilliance, mostly born in auspicious families, and possess auspicious marks. (03-181-29)
जितेन्द्रियत्वाद्वशिनः शुक्लत्वान्मन्दरोगिणः। अल्पबाधपरित्रासाद्भवन्ति निरुपद्रवाः ॥०३-१८१-३०॥
Because they have mastery over their senses, self-control, purity, and only minor ailments, and because disturbances and dangers are kept minimal, such people remain free from troubles. (03-181-30)
च्यवन्तं जायमानं च गर्भस्थं चैव सर्वशः। स्वमात्मानं परं चैव बुध्यन्ते ज्ञानचक्षुषः ॥ कर्मभूमिमिमां प्राप्य पुनर्यान्ति सुरालयम् ॥०३-१८१-३१॥
Those whose eye is knowledge perceive falling, being born, and being situated in the womb in all ways; they perceive both their own self and the supreme. Having obtained this field of action, they again go to the abode of the gods. (03-181-31)
किञ्चिद्दैवाद्धठात्किञ्चित्किञ्चिदेव स्वकर्मभिः। प्राप्नुवन्ति नरा राजन्मा तेऽस्त्वन्या विचारणा ॥०३-१८१-३२॥
O King, men obtain something by fate, something by sudden chance, and only a little by their own actions; let there be for you no other consideration. (03-181-32)
इमामत्रोपमां चापि निबोध वदतां वर। मनुष्यलोके यच्छ्रेयः परं मन्ये युधिष्ठिर ॥०३-१८१-३३॥
O Yudhishthira, best of speakers, know also this simile here; I consider that to be the highest good among humans. (03-181-33)
इह वैकस्य नामुत्र अमुत्रैकस्य नो इह। इह चामुत्र चैकस्य नामुत्रैकस्य नो इह ॥०३-१८१-३४॥
Indeed, of one person it is here, not there. And there of one, not here. Here and there, and of one, not there of one, not here. (03-181-34)
धनानि येषां विपुलानि सन्ति; नित्यं रमन्ते सुविभूषिताङ्गाः। तेषामयं शत्रुवरघ्न लोको; नासौ सदा देहसुखे रतानाम् ॥०३-१८१-३५॥
Those whose riches are abundant, who always delight in adornment, for them, this world which destroys the foremost of enemies does not exist; this (world) is not always for those who are attached to bodily pleasures. (03-181-35)
ये योगयुक्तास्तपसि प्रसक्ताः; स्वाध्यायशीला जरयन्ति देहान्। जितेन्द्रिया भूतहिते निविष्टा; स्तेषामसौ नायमरिघ्न लोकः ॥०३-१८१-३६॥
Those who are united with yoga, devoted to austerity, engaged in self-study, who wear out their bodies, who have conquered their senses and are absorbed in the welfare of beings—for them, this enemy-destroying world does not exist. (3-181-36)
ये धर्ममेव प्रथमं चरन्ति; धर्मेण लब्ध्वा च धनानि काले। दारानवाप्य क्रतुभिर्यजन्ते; तेषामयं चैव परश्च लोकः ॥०३-१८१-३७॥
Those who practise only righteousness first, who obtain wealth in due time through righteousness, who marry wives, and perform sacrifices with those riches— for them, both this world and the next belong.
ये नैव विद्यां न तपो न दानं; न चापि मूढाः प्रजने यतन्ते। न चाधिगच्छन्ति सुखान्यभाग्या; स्तेषामयं चैव परश्च नास्ति ॥०३-१८१-३८॥
Those who do not pursue knowledge, austerity, or giving, nor do the deluded strive among people, and the unfortunate do not attain happiness; for such people, neither this world nor the next exists. (03-181-38)
सर्वे भवन्तस्त्वतिवीर्यसत्त्वा; दिव्यौजसः संहननोपपन्नाः। लोकादमुष्मादवनिं प्रपन्नाः; स्वधीतविद्याः सुरकार्यहेतोः ॥०३-१८१-३९॥
All of you are of unsurpassed strength and energy, of divine power and well-built bodies, who have come to earth from that world, having mastered learning on your own, for the purpose of work on behalf of the gods. (03-181-39)
कृत्वैव कर्माणि महान्ति शूरा; स्तपोदमाचारविहारशीलाः। देवानृषीन्प्रेतगणांश्च सर्वा; न्सन्तर्पयित्वा विधिना परेण ॥०३-१८१-४०॥
Having performed great deeds, the heroes steadfast in austerity, charity, good conduct, and noble habits, having duly satisfied all the gods, sages, and hosts of departed spirits by the highest method. (03-181-40)
स्वर्गं परं पुण्यकृतां निवासं; क्रमेण सम्प्राप्स्यथ कर्मभिः स्वैः। मा भूद्विशङ्का तव कौरवेन्द्र; दृष्ट्वात्मनः क्लेशमिमं सुखार्ह ॥०३-१८१-४१॥
You will gradually attain the supreme heaven, the abode of the virtuous, through your own actions. Do not doubt, O king of the Kauravas; having seen your own suffering, you are worthy of happiness. (03-181-41)
