03.204
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markaṇḍeya said.
evaṃ saṅkathite kṛtsne mokṣadharme yudhiṣṭhira। dṛḍhaṃ prītamanā vipro dharmavyādhamuvāca ha ॥03-204-1॥
Thus, when the entire topic of liberation and righteousness had been fully discussed, O Yudhishthira, the Brāhmaṇa, with steadfast joy in his heart, spoke to Dharma-vyādha. (03-204-1)
nyāyayuktam idaṃ sarvaṃ bhavatā parikīrtitam। na te'sty aviditaṃ kiñcid dharmeṣv iha hi dṛśyate॥03-204-2॥
Everything you have proclaimed here is in accordance with justice. Indeed, nothing at all concerning dharma appears to be unknown to you. (3-204-2)
vyādha uvāca॥
The hunter said;
pratyakṣaṃ mama yo dharmas taṃ paśya dvijasattama। yena siddhir iyaṃ prāptā mayā brāhmaṇapuṅgava ॥03-204-3॥
See that direct law of mine, O best of twice-born. By which this accomplishment has been attained by me, O foremost Brāhmaṇa. (03-204-3)
uttiṣṭha bhagavan-kṣipraṃ praviśyābhyantaraṃ gṛham। draṣṭum-arhasi dharmajña mātaraṃ pitaraṃ ca me ॥03-204-4॥
Arise, O venerable one, quickly enter the inner house; you, knower of dharma, ought to see my mother and father. (03-204-4)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
ity uktaḥ sa praviśyātha dadarśa paramārcitam। saudhaṃ hṛdyaṃ catuḥśālam atīva ca manoharam ॥03-204-5॥
Thus, having been told, he then entered and saw a palace most highly honored, pleasing to the heart, with four halls, and very delightful. (03-204-5)
devatāgṛhasaṅkāśaṃ daivataiś ca supūjitam। śayanāsanasambādhaṃ gandhaiś ca paramairyutam ॥03-204-6॥
(That place was) like the abode of the gods, thoroughly honored by the deities, furnished with beds and seats, and suffused with the most excellent fragrances. (03-204-6)
tatra śuklāmbara-dharau pitarāv asya pūjitau। kṛtāhārau sutuṣṭau tau upaviṣṭau varāsane॥ dharma-vyādhas tu tau dṛṣṭvā pādeṣu śirasā apatata॥03-204-7॥
There, his two parents, wearing white garments, honored, having eaten, well satisfied, were seated upon a noble seat. But Dharma-vyādha, upon seeing them, fell at their feet with his head. (03-204-7)
vṛddhāv ūcatuḥ॥
The two elders spoke.
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha dharmajña dharmastvām abhirakṣatu। prītau svas tava śaucena dīrgham āyur avāpnuhi॥ satputreṇa tvayā putra nityakālaṃ supūjitau॥03-204-8॥
Arise, arise, O knower of dharma! May dharma protect you. With purity, for your welfare and delight, attain long life. O son, always be respected and honored along with your virtuous son. (03-204-8)
na te'nyad daivataṃ kiñcid daivateṣv api vartate. prayatatvād dvijātīnām damenāsi samanvitaḥ ॥03-204-9॥
For you, there is truly no other deity among the gods. Because of the self-restraint of the twice-born, you are endowed with the discipline of self-control. (03-204-9)
pituḥ pitāmahā ye ca tathaiva prapitāmahāḥ। prītās te satataṃ putra damenāvāṃ ca pūjayā ॥03-204-10॥
O son, the grandfathers of your father and likewise the great-grandfathers are always pleased by our self-restraint and honoring.
manasā karmaṇā vācā śuśrūṣā naiva hīyate। na cānyā vitathā buddhir dṛśyate sāmprataṃ tava॥03-204-11॥
Your desire to serve is not in the least diminished by mind, action, or speech; nor is any other untrue intention seen in you at present. (03-204-11)
jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa yathā vṛddhau supūjitau। tathā tvayā kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ tad-viśiṣṭaṃ ca putraka॥03-204-12॥
Just as the elders were well-honored by Rāma, the son of Jamadagni, O son, so all has been done by you, and even more than that. (03-204-12)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
tatastaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ tābhyāṃ dharmavyādho nyavedayat। tau svāgaten a taṃ vipram arcayāmāsatus tadā ॥03-204-13॥
Then Dharmavyādha introduced that brāhmaṇa to the two of them. The two of them then welcomed and worshipped the brāhmaṇa. (03-204-13)
pratigṛhya ca tāṃ pūjāṃ dvijaḥ papraccha tāvubhau। saputrābhyāṃ sabhṛtyābhyāṃ kaccidvāṃ kuśalaṃ gṛhe॥ anāmayaṃ ca vāṃ kaccitsadaiveha śarīrayoḥ॥03-204-14॥
Having received their worship, the Brahmin asked both of them, "Are you both well in your home, together with your sons and attendants? And do you always enjoy good health here in your bodies?" (03-204-14)
vṛddhāv ūcatuḥ॥
The two old men said.
kuśalaṃ no gṛhe vipra bhṛtyavarge ca sarvaśaḥ। kaccittvamapyavighnena samprāpto bhagavanniha ॥03-204-15॥
O brāhmaṇa, is everything well with us in the house and among the group of servants in every way? Have you too, O revered one, arrived here without any trouble? (03-204-15)
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Markandeya said;
bāḍhamityeva tau vipraḥ pratyuvāca mudānvitaḥ। dharmavyādhas tu taṃ vipram arthavad vākyam abravīt॥03-204-16॥
The Brāhmaṇa replied to them joyfully, saying, “Certainly!” But the righteous hunter addressed the Brāhmaṇa with meaningful words. (03-204-16)
pitā mātā ca bhagavann etau me daivataṁ param। yad daivatebhyaḥ kartavyaṁ tad etābhyāṁ karomy aham ॥03-204-17॥
Father and mother, O revered one, these two are the supreme deity for me. What should be done for the deities, that I do for these two. (03-204-17)
trayastr̥ṃśadyathā devāḥ sarve śakrapurogamāḥ। sampūjyāḥ sarvalokasya tathā vr̥ddhāvimau mama॥03-204-18॥
Just as all the thirty-three gods, headed by Śakra, are to be worshipped by all the worlds, so these two elders of mine are likewise to be honored. (03-204-18)
upahārān āharanto devatānāṃ yathā dvijāḥ। kurvate tadvad etābhyāṃ karomy aham atandritaḥ ॥03-204-19॥
Just as the twice-born bring offerings to the deities, in the same way I perform (my duties) with these two (hands), untiringly. (03-204-19)
etau me paramaṃ brahman pitā mātā ca daivatam। etau puṣpaiḥ phalai ratnaiḥ toṣayāmi sadā dvija ॥03-204-20॥
O Brahman, these two—my father and mother—are my supreme divinity. O twice-born, I always please these two with flowers, fruits, and gems. (03-204-20)
etāvevāgnayo mahyaṃ yānvadanti manīṣiṇaḥ। yajñā vedāśca catvāraḥ sarvametau mama dvija ॥03-204-21॥
O twice-born, those two alone which the wise call the fires—the sacrifices and the four Vedas—all these are mine. (3-204-21)
etadarthaṃ mama prāṇā bhāryā putrāḥ suhṛjjanāḥ। saputrādāraḥ śuśrūṣāṃ nityam eva karomy aham ॥03-204-22॥
For this purpose, I always serve—along with my wife and sons, my life, my friends; I do indeed perform service always. (03-204-22)
svayaṃ ca snāpayāmyetau tathā pādau pradhāvaye. āhāraṃ samprayacchāmi svayaṃ ca dvijasattama ॥03-204-23॥
I personally bathe these two, wash their feet, and also offer them food myself, O best of the twice-born. (03-204-23)
anukūlāḥ kathā vacmi vipriyaṃ parivarjayan। adharmenāpi saṃyuktaṃ priyamābhyāṃ karomyaham ॥03-204-24॥
I say what is agreeable, avoiding what is unpleasant; even if something dear to both of you is joined with unrighteousness, I do it. (03-204-24)
dharmam-eva guruṃ jñātvā karomi dvijasattama। atandritaḥ sadā vipra śuśrūṣāṃ vai karomy-aham ॥03-204-25॥
Recognizing dharma itself as the true teacher, O best of the twice-born, I act accordingly. Without negligence, O Brāhmaṇa, I always render service indeed. (03-204-25)
pañcaiva guravo brahmanpuruṣasya bubhūṣataḥ। pitā mātāgnirātmā ca guruśca dvijasattama ॥03-204-26॥
O Brāhmaṇa, for a man desiring to live, there are indeed five teachers: father, mother, fire, self, and preceptor, O best of twice-born. (03-204-26)
eteṣu yastu varteta samyageva dvijottama। bhaveyuragnayastasya paricīrṇāstu nityaśaḥ ॥ gārhasthye vartamānasya dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ ॥03-204-27॥
O best of the twice-born, among these duties, he who acts properly would always have his sacred fires well-maintained. This is the eternal duty of one abiding in the householder stage. (03-204-27)
