03.245
vrīhī-drauṇika-parva
Festival of the rice heap (measured in a droṇa vessel)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
vane nivasatāṃ teṣāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām| varṣāṇyekādaśātiyuḥ kṛcchreṇa bharatarṣabha ॥03-245-1॥
O best of the Bharatas, for those great-souled Pāṇḍavas dwelling in the forest, eleven years passed with difficulty. (03-245-1)
phalamūlāśanās te hi sukhārhā duḥkham uttamam। prāptakālam anudhyāntaḥ sehur uttamapūruṣāḥ॥03-245-2॥
Those who subsist on fruits and roots, truly deserving of happiness, endured the greatest suffering at the appropriate time, contemplating it—such were the noblest of men. (03-245-2)
yudhiṣṭhirastu rājarṣirātmakarmāparādhajam। cintayans mahābāhurbhrātṝṇāṃ duḥkhamuttamam॥03-245-3॥
But Yudhiṣṭhira, the royal sage and mighty-armed, pondering the greatest sorrow of his brothers arising from the fault of his own action. (03-245-3)
na suṣvāpa sukhaṁ rājā hṛdi śalyair ivārpitaiḥ. daurātmyam anupaśyaṁs tatkāle dyūtodbhavasya hi ॥03-245-4॥
The king could not sleep well, as though tormented by arrows in his heart, constantly reflecting on the wickedness that had arisen at the time of the dice game. (03-245-4)
saṁsmaran paruṣā vācaḥ sūtaputrasya pāṇḍavaḥ। niḥśvāsaparamo dīno bibhrat kopaviṣaṁ mahat॥03-245-5॥
Remembering the harsh words of the charioteer's son, the son of Pāṇḍu, deeply dejected and sighing, was bearing great anger like poison. (03-245-5)
arjuno yamajau cobhau draupadī ca yaśasvinī। sa ca bhīmo mahātejāḥ sarveṣāmuttamo balī ॥ yudhiṣṭhiramudīkṣantaḥ sehurduḥkhamanuttamam ॥03-245-6॥
Arjuna, both the twin sons of Yama, and Draupadī the renowned, as well as Bhīma of great energy, the most powerful of all, looked at Yudhiṣṭhira and together endured the greatest suffering. (03-245-6)
avaśiṣṭamalpakālaṃ manvānāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ। vapuranyadivākārṣurutsāhāmarṣaceṣṭitaiḥ ॥03-245-7॥
Thinking that only a little time remained, the great men acted as if they possessed another form, through movements of enthusiasm and impatience. (03-245-7)
kasyacit tv atha kālasya vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ। ājagāma mahāyogī pāṇḍavān avalokakaḥ॥03-245-8॥
Then, at a certain time, Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī, the great yogin and observer of the Pāṇḍavas, arrived. (03-245-8)
tam āgatam abhiprekṣya kuntī-putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। pratyudgamya mahātmānam pratyagṛhṇād yathā-vidhi॥03-245-9॥
When he saw him arrive, Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī, went out to meet the great-souled one and received him according to custom. (03-245-9)
tam āsīnam upāsīnaḥ śuśrūṣur niyatendriyaḥ। toṣayan praṇipātena vyāsaṃ pāṇḍavanandanaḥ॥03-245-10॥
Arjuna, the delight of the Pāṇḍavas, having approached Vyāsa who was seated, desirous of service and with controlled senses, gratified him by prostration. (03-245-10)
tān avekṣya kṛśān pautrān vane vanyena jīvataḥ। maharṣir anukampārtham abravīt bāṣpa-gadgadam ॥03-245-11॥
Seeing his emaciated grandsons living on forest fare in the forest, the great sage, moved by compassion, spoke with a voice choked with tears. (03-245-11)
yudhiṣṭhira mahābāho śṛṇu dharmabhṛtāṃ vara। nātaptatapasaḥ putra prāpnuvanti mahatsukham ॥03-245-12॥
Yudhishthira, O mighty-armed, listen, O best of those who uphold dharma. O son, those whose austerities are not performed do not attain great happiness. (03-245-12)
sukhaduḥkhe hi puruṣaḥ paryāyeṇopasevate। nātyantamasukhaṃ kaścit prāpnoti puruṣarṣabha ॥03-245-13॥
Indeed, a person experiences happiness and sorrow in turns. O best of men, no one attains only utter unhappiness. (03-245-13)
prajñāvāṁstveva puruṣaḥ saṁyuktaḥ parayā dhiyā। udayāstamayajño hi na śocati na hṛṣyati॥03-245-14॥
But indeed, a wise person united with supreme intelligence, knowing both rise and fall, neither grieves nor rejoices. (03-245-14)
sukham-āpatitaṃ seved-duḥkham-āpatitaṃ sahet। kālaprāptam-upāsīta sasyānām-iva karṣakaḥ ॥03-245-15॥
One should enjoy happiness that arrives, endure sorrow that comes, and wait for what comes in due season, just as a farmer waits for his crops. (03-245-15)
tapaso hi paraṁ nāsti tapasā vindate mahat। nāsādhyaṁ tapasaḥ kiñciditi buddhyasva bhārata॥03-245-16॥
Indeed, for penance there is nothing higher; by penance one attains greatness. Nothing is unattainable by penance—know this, O Bhārata. (03-245-16)
satyam ārjavam akrodhaḥ saṃvibhāgo damaḥ śamaḥ। anasūyā-vihiṃsā ca śaucam indriya-saṃyamaḥ॥ sādhanāni mahārāja narāṇāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām॥03-245-17॥
O great king, truthfulness, straightforwardness, absence of anger, sharing, self-control, tranquillity, absence of envy, non-violence, purity, and control over the senses are the means for men who perform virtuous actions. (03-245-17)
adharmarucayo mūḍhās tiryaggatiparāyaṇāḥ। kṛcchrāṃ yonim anuprāpya na sukhaṃ vindate janāḥ ॥03-245-18॥
Foolish people inclined to unrighteousness, attached to the path of animals, having attained a difficult birth, do not find happiness. (03-245-18)
iha yat kriyate karma tat paratra upabhujyate। tasmāt śarīraṃ yuñjīta tapasā niyamena ca॥03-245-19॥
Whatever action is performed here is experienced in the next world; therefore, one should employ the body with austerity and discipline. (03-245-19)
yathāśakti prayacchec ca sampūjyābhipraṇamya ca| kāle pātre ca hṛṣṭātmā rājan vigatamatsaraḥ ॥03-245-20॥
O king, one should give according to one’s ability, properly honoring and bowing to the worthy recipient, at the right time, with a delighted mind, and free from envy. (03-245-20)
satyavādī labhetāyur anāyāsam athārjavī। akrodhano'nasūyaś ca nirvṛtiṁ labhate parām ॥03-245-21॥
One who speaks the truth attains a long life and ease, and an honest person, free from anger and jealousy, attains the highest peace. (03-245-21)
dāntaḥ śamaparaḥ śaśvat-parikleśaṃ na vindati। na ca tapyati dāntātmā dṛṣṭvā paragatāṃ śriyam ॥03-245-22॥
One who is self-restrained and devoted to tranquility never experiences constant affliction; nor does a person of subdued mind grieve upon seeing wealth passing to another. (03-245-22)
saṃvibhaktā ca dātā ca bhogavān sukhavān naraḥ। bhavati ahiṃsakaś ca eva param ārogyam aśnute ॥03-245-23॥
A man who shares and gives, and who enjoys happiness, becomes non-violent and truly attains supreme health. (03-245-23)
mānyān mānayitā janma kule mahati vindati। vyasanaiḥ na tu saṃyogaṃ prāpnoti vijitendriyaḥ॥03-245-24॥
He who honors those worthy of honor is born in a noble family; but one who has mastered his senses does not come into contact with misfortune. (03-245-24)
śubhānuśayabuddhir hi saṁyuktaḥ kāladharmaṇā। prādurbhavati tadyogāt kalyāṇamatir eva saḥ॥03-245-25॥
One whose intellect is inclined toward goodness, when united with the destiny of time, manifestly becomes a person of auspicious understanding. (03-245-25)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
bhagavan dāna-dharmāṇāṃ tapaso vā mahāmune। kiṃ svid bahuguṇaṃ pretya kiṃ vā duṣkaram ucyate॥03-245-26॥
O venerable one, among the meritorious acts of giving and austerity, O great sage, what indeed is considered the most virtuous after death, and what is said to be difficult to perform? (03-245-26)
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said;
dānān na duṣkarataraṁ pṛthivyām asti kiñcana। arthe hi mahatī tṛṣṇā sa ca duḥkhena labhyate ॥03-245-27॥
There is nothing on earth more difficult than giving. There is indeed a great craving for wealth, and it is obtained only with hardship. (03-245-27)
parityajya priyān prāṇān dhanārthaṃ hi mahāhavam। praviśanti narā vīrāḥ samudram aṭavīṃ tathā ॥03-245-28॥
For the sake of wealth, heroes abandon their dear ones and even their lives, and men enter into great battles, the ocean, and the forest as well. (03-245-28)
kṛṣigorakṣyamityeke pratipadyanti mānavāḥ। puruṣāḥ preṣyatāmeke nirgacchanti dhanārthinaḥ ॥03-245-29॥
Some men undertake agriculture and cow protection. Other men go out as servants, seeking wealth. (03-245-29)
tasya duḥkhārjitasyaivaṃ parityāgaḥ suduṣkaraḥ। na duṣkarataraṃ dānāttasmāddānaṃ mataṃ mama ॥03-245-30॥
Thus, renouncing what has been obtained with suffering is very difficult. Nothing is more difficult than giving; therefore, giving is, in my opinion, the highest. (03-245-30)
viśeṣas tv atra vijñeyo nyāyenopārjitaṃ dhanam। pātre deśe ca kāle ca sādhubhyaḥ pratipādayet॥03-245-31॥
But here, a special rule is to be understood: wealth that is acquired justly should be given to deserving persons, at the right place and time, and to the virtuous. (03-245-31)
anyāyasamupāttena dānadharmo dhanena yaḥ। kriyate na sa kartāraṃ trāyate mahato bhayāt॥03-245-32॥
A charitable act performed with wealth obtained unjustly does not save the giver from great danger. (03-245-32)
pātre dānaṃ svalpam-api kāle dattaṃ yudhiṣṭhira. manasā suviśuddhena pretyānantaphalaṃ smṛtam ॥03-245-33॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, even a little gift given at the proper time to a worthy recipient with a very pure mind is considered to yield infinite results after death. (03-245-33)
atrāpy udāharantīm am itihāsaṃ purātanam। vrīhi-droṇa-parityāgād yat phalaṃ prāpa mudgalaḥ॥03-245-34॥
Here, too, they cite the following ancient story: the reward that Mudgala received from giving up a measure of rice. (03-245-34)
