05.131
Library: Kunti narrates the story of Vibhavari rebuking her son, encouraging him to fight.
kuntyuvāca॥
Kunti spoke:
atrāpyudāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam । vidurāyāśca saṃvādaṃ putrasya ca parantapa ॥5-131-1॥
Here is also cited an ancient story, the dialogue between Vidura and the son, O subduer of enemies.
atra śreyaśca bhūyaśca yathā sā vaktumarhati । yaśasvinī manyumatī kule jātā vibhāvarī ॥5-131-2॥
Here, the glorious and wise Vibhavari, born in a noble family, deserves to speak more and better.
kṣatradharmaratā dhanyā vidurā dīrghadarśinī । viśrutā rājasaṃsatsu śrutavākyā bahuśrutā ॥5-131-3॥
She is engaged in the duties of a warrior, fortunate, wise, and far-sighted. She is renowned in royal assemblies, eloquent, and learned.
vidurā nāma vai satyā jagarhe putramaurasam । nirjitaṃ sindhurājena śayānaṃ dīnacetasam ॥ anandanamadharmajñaṃ dviṣatāṃ harṣavardhanam ॥5-131-4॥
Vidura, known as Satyā, rebuked her son who was defeated by the king of Sindhu, lying there dejected and joyless, ignorant of righteousness, and a source of delight for his enemies.
na mayā tvaṃ na pitrāsi jātaḥ kvābhyāgato hyasi । nir-manyur-upaśākhīyaḥ puruṣaḥ klība-sādhanaḥ ॥5-131-5॥
You are neither born of me nor of your father. Where indeed have you come from? You are a man branching out without anger, using effeminate means.
yāvajjīvaṃ nirāśo'si kalyāṇāya dhuraṃ vaha । mātmānamavamanyasva mainamalpena bībharaḥ ॥ manaḥ kṛtvā sukalyāṇaṃ mā bhaistvaṃ pratisaṃstabha ॥5-131-6॥
As long as you live without hope, carry the burden for the welfare of others. Do not disregard yourself, and do not fear this small burden. Make your mind focused on well-being, do not be afraid, and remain steadfast.
uttiṣṭha he kāpuruṣa mā śeṣvaivaṃ parājitaḥ । amitrānnandayansarvānnirmāno bandhuśokadaḥ ॥5-131-7॥
Arise, O coward, do not lie defeated like this, making all your enemies rejoice, devoid of pride, and causing sorrow to your family.
supūrā vai kunadikā supūro mūṣikāñjaliḥ । susantoṣaḥ kāpuruṣaḥ svalpakenāpi tuṣyati ॥5-131-8॥
A small well is indeed filled with a handful of mice; a cowardly man finds great satisfaction even with a little.
apyarerārujandaṃṣṭrāmāśveva nidhanaṃ vraja । api vā saṃśayaṃ prāpya jīvite'pi parākrama ॥5-131-9॥
Even if you break the enemy's fang, proceed to death like a horse. Or, even if you encounter doubt, show valour in life.
apyareḥ śyenavacchidraṃ paśyestvaṃ viparikraman । vinadanvātha vā tūṣṇīṃ vyomni vāpariśaṅkitaḥ ॥5-131-10॥
Even as you move like a falcon, you should observe the enemy's weaknesses, whether you are shouting or silently, in the sky, while being cautious.
tvamevaṃ pretavaccheṣe kasmādvajrahato yathā । uttiṣṭha he kāpuruṣa mā śeṣvaivaṃ parājitaḥ ॥5-131-11॥
Why do you lie there like a dead man, as if struck by a thunderbolt? Get up, O coward, do not remain thus defeated.
māstaṃ gamastvaṃ kṛpaṇo viśrūyasva svakarmaṇā । mā madhye mā jaghanye tvaṃ mādho bhūstiṣṭha corjitaḥ ॥5-131-12॥
Do not set, you miserable one, be heard by your own duty. Do not be in the middle or the worst, but stand strong in the lower position.
alātaṃ tindukasyeva muhūrtamapi vijvala । mā tuṣāgnirivānarciḥ kākaraṅkhā jijīviṣuḥ ॥ muhūrtaṃ jvalitaṃ śreyo na tu dhūmāyitaṃ ciram ॥5-131-13॥
It is better to shine brightly for a short moment like a firebrand of the Tinduka tree than to exist like a chaff-fire without flame, longing to live like the cry of a crow. It is preferable to burn brightly for a moment than to smolder for a long time.
mā ha sma kasyacidgehe janī rājñaḥ kharīmṛduḥ । kṛtvā mānuṣyakaṃ karma sṛtvājiṃ yāvaduttamam ॥ dharmasyānṛṇyamāpnoti na cātmānaṃ vigarhate ॥5-131-14॥
One should not remember the wife of anyone in the house, whether harsh or gentle, after performing human duties and hearing of the battle as long as it is excellent. This way, one attains freedom from the debt of duty and does not blame oneself.
alabdhvā yadi vā labdhvā nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ । ānantaryaṃ cārabhate na prāṇānāṃ dhanāyate ॥5-131-15॥
Whether they gain or not, the wise do not grieve. They act immediately and do not value life for the sake of wealth.
udbhāvayasva vīryaṃ vā tāṃ vā gaccha dhruvāṃ gatim । dharmaṃ putrāgrataḥ kṛtvā kiṃnimittaṃ hi jīvasi ॥5-131-16॥
Manifest your strength or proceed to that certain state. Having fulfilled your duty before your son, why indeed do you continue to live?
iṣṭāpūrtaṃ hi te klība kīrtiśca sakalā hatā । vicchinnaṃ bhogamūlaṃ te kiṃnimittaṃ hi jīvasi ॥5-131-17॥
O coward, your sacrificial rites and charitable acts, as well as your entire fame, are destroyed. Your source of enjoyment is severed. For what reason do you continue to live?
śatrurnimajjata grāhyo jaṅghāyāṃ prapatiṣyatā । viparicchinnamūlo'pi na viṣīdetkathaṃcana ॥ udyamya dhuramutkarṣedājāneyakṛtaṃ smaran ॥5-131-18॥
Seize the enemy who is sinking by the leg when they are about to fall. Even if one's roots are cut off, one should never despair. Lift the burden and pull, remembering the deeds of Hanuman.
kuru sattvaṁ ca mānaṁ ca viddhi pauruṣamātmanaḥ । udbhāvaya kulaṁ magnaṁ tvatkṛte svayameva hi ॥5-131-19॥
Cultivate strength and honor, recognize your own manliness. Indeed, you must personally uplift the family that has sunk because of you.
yasya vṛttaṃ na jalpanti mānavā mahadadbhutam । rāśivardhanamātraṃ sa naiva strī na punaḥ pumān ॥5-131-20॥
A person whose deeds are not spoken of as great and wonderful by others is merely someone who adds to the population; such a person is neither truly a woman nor a man.
dāne tapasi śaurye ca yasya na prathitaṃ yaśaḥ । vidyāyāmarthalābhe vā māturuccāra eva saḥ ॥5-131-21॥
A person whose fame is not recognized in acts of charity, austerity, valor, knowledge, or wealth acquisition is merely a mention by the mother.
śrutena tapasā vāpi śriyā vā vikrameṇa vā । janānyo'bhibhavatyanyānkarmaṇā hi sa vai pumān ॥5-131-22॥
A person who surpasses others through learning, austerity, wealth, valor, or action is truly a man.
na tveva jālmīṃ kāpālīṃ vṛttimeṣitumarhasi । nṛśaṃsyāmayaśasyāṃ ca duḥkhāṃ kāpuruṣocitām ॥5-131-23॥
You should not engage in deceitful and cruel actions that are inglorious, painful, and suited to a coward.
yam enam abhinandeyur amitrāḥ puruṣaṃ kṛśam । lokasya samavajñātaṃ nihīnāśanavāsasam ॥5-131-24॥
Enemies would praise this thin man, who is despised by the world and deprived of food and clothing.
aholābhakaraṃ dīnamalpajīvanamalpakam । nedṛśaṃ bandhumāsādya bāndhavaḥ sukhamedhate ॥5-131-25॥
Alas, it is beneficial to have a poor, short-lived, insignificant relative. A kinsman does not find happiness in such a relative.
avṛttyaiva vipatsyāmo vayaṃ rāṣṭrātpravāsitāḥ । sarvakāmarasairhīnāḥ sthānabhraṣṭā akiñcanāḥ ॥5-131-26॥
Indeed, due to lack of livelihood, we will find ourselves in distress, exiled from the kingdom, deprived of all pleasures, displaced from our positions, and left destitute.
avarṇakāriṇaṃ satsu kulavaṃśasya nāśanam । kaliṃ putrapravādena sañjaya tvāmajījanam ॥5-131-27॥
O Sanjaya, I have begotten you as Kali, who causes the destruction of family lineage and loss of caste among the virtuous, through the rumor of a son.
niramārṣaṃ nirutsāhaṃ nirvīryamarinandanam । mā sma sīmantinī kācijjanayetputramīdṛśam ॥5-131-28॥
Let no woman give birth to a son who is without anger, enthusiasm, or strength, and is a delight to enemies.
mā dhūmāya jvalātyantamākramya jahi śātravān । jvala mūrdhanyamitrāṇāṃ muhūrtamapi vā kṣaṇam ॥5-131-29॥
Do not produce smoke; instead, burn intensely and attack to destroy the enemies. Burn the chief enemies even if only for a moment or an instant.
etāvāneva puruṣo yadamarṣī yadakṣamī । kṣamāvānniramarṣaśca naiva strī na punaḥ pumān ॥5-131-30॥
A true man is one who is patient and without impatience, not just a woman or a man.
santoṣo vai śriyaṃ hanti tathānukrośa eva ca । anutthānabhaye cobhe nirīho nāśnute mahat ॥5-131-31॥
Indeed, contentment destroys prosperity, and so does compassion. Both fear of inactivity and indifference do not lead to greatness.
ebhyo nikṛtipāpebhyaḥ pramuñcātmānamātmanā । āyasaṃ hṛdayaṃ kṛtvā mṛgayasva punaḥ svakam ॥5-131-32॥
Free yourself from these deceitful sins by your own effort. Strengthen your heart like iron and seek your true self once more.
puraṁ viṣahate yasmāttasmātpuruṣa ucyate । tamāhurvyarthanāmānaṁ strīvadya iha jīvati ॥5-131-33॥
A man is called so because he endures the city. They say he lives here with a useless name, like a woman.
śūrasyōrjitasattvasya siṁhavikrāntagāminaḥ । diṣṭabhāvaṁ gatasyāpi vighase modate prajā ॥5-131-34॥
The people find joy even in difficult times when a hero of strong character and lion-like courage meets his destined end.
ya ātmanaḥ priyasukhe hitvā mṛgayate śriyam । amātyānāmatho harṣamādadhātyacireṇa saḥ ॥5-131-35॥
He who forsakes his own comfort in pursuit of wealth soon brings joy to his ministers.
putra uvāca॥
The son spoke:
kiṁ nu te māmapaśyantyāḥ pṛthivyā api sarvayā । kimābharaṇakṛtyaṁ te kiṁ bhogairjīvitena vā ॥5-131-36॥
What is the use of the entire earth to you if you cannot see me? What is the use of ornaments, enjoyments, or even life itself?
mātovāca॥
The mother spoke:
kimadyakānāṃ ye lokā dviṣantastānavāpnuyuḥ । ye tvādṛtātmanāṃ lokāḥ suhṛdastānvrajantu naḥ ॥5-131-37॥
May those who harbor envy reach the realms meant for the envious, while our friends journey to the realms of the respectful.
bhṛtyairvihīyamānānāṃ parapiṇḍopajīvinām । kṛpaṇānāmasattvānāṃ mā vṛttimanuvartithāḥ ॥5-131-38॥
Avoid adopting the ways of those who are weak, miserly, dependent on others for sustenance, and abandoned by their own servants.
anu tvāṃ tāta jīvantu brāhmaṇāḥ suhṛdastathā । parjanyamiva bhūtāni devā iva śatakratum ॥5-131-39॥
May the Brahmins and friends continue to thrive after you, dear father, just as beings flourish with rain and gods with Indra.
yamājīvanti puruṣaṃ sarvabhūtāni sañjaya । pakvaṃ drumamivāsādya tasya jīvitamarthavat ॥5-131-40॥
O Sanjaya, all beings live for the man who, like a ripe tree, having reached maturity, finds his life meaningful.
yasya śūrasya vikrāntairedhante bāndhavāḥ sukham । tridaśā iva śakrasya sādhu tasyeha jīvitam ॥5-131-41॥
The life of a hero whose relatives thrive in happiness due to his courage is indeed good, just like the gods live under the rule of Indra.
svabāhubalamāśritya yo'bhyujjīvati mānavaḥ । sa loke labhate kīrtiṃ paratra ca śubhāṃ gatim ॥5-131-42॥
A man who relies on his own strength and thrives will gain fame in this world and an auspicious path in the hereafter.
