05.132
Library: The story of Vibhavari continued...
विदुरोवाच॥
Vidura spoke:
अथैतस्यामवस्थायां पौरुषं हातुमिच्छसि । निहीनसेवितं मार्गं गमिष्यस्यचिरादिव ॥५-१३२-१॥
Then, in this state, if you wish to abandon your manliness, you will soon follow the path taken by the lowly.
यो हि तेजो यथाशक्ति न दर्शयति विक्रमात् । क्षत्रियो जीविताकाङ्क्षी स्तेन इत्येव तं विदुः ॥५-१३२-२॥
A warrior who does not display his strength according to his ability and valor, and is desirous of life, is indeed known as a thief.
अर्थवन्त्युपपन्नानि वाक्यानि गुणवन्ति च । नैव सम्प्राप्नुवन्ति त्वां मुमूर्षुमिव भेषजम् ॥५-१३२-३॥
Meaningful and appropriate statements, even if virtuous, do not reach you, just as medicine does not reach a dying person.
सन्ति वै सिन्धुराजस्य सन्तुष्टा बहवो जनाः । दौर्बल्यादासते मूढा व्यसनौघप्रतीक्षिणः ॥५-१३२-४॥
There are indeed many people satisfied with Sindhuraja. However, due to weakness, fools sit idly, awaiting a multitude of misfortunes.
सहायोपचयं कृत्वा व्यवसाय्य ततस्ततः । अनुदुष्येयुरपरे पश्यन्तस्तव पौरुषम् ॥५-१३२-५॥
After gathering allies and making efforts repeatedly, others would not envy you upon seeing your valor.
तैः कृत्वा सह सङ्घातं गिरिदुर्गालयांश्चर । काले व्यसनमाकाङ्क्षन्नैवायमजरामरः ॥५-१३२-६॥
By forming alliances with mountain fortresses, they move, desiring disaster in time, yet this one is not immortal.
सञ्जयो नामतश्च त्वं न च पश्यामि तत्त्वयि । अन्वर्थनामा भव मे पुत्र मा व्यर्थनामकः ॥५-१३२-७॥
Sanjaya, you are known by name, but I do not see that in reality. My son, be true to your name and do not be one who is falsely named.
सम्यग्दृष्टिर्महाप्राज्ञो बालं त्वां ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीत् । अयं प्राप्य महत्कृच्छ्रं पुनर्वृद्धिं गमिष्यति ॥५-१३२-८॥
The wise Brahmin told you, the child, that after facing great difficulties, this person will grow again.
तस्य स्मरन्ती वचनमाशंसे विजयं तव । तस्मात्तात ब्रवीमि त्वां वक्ष्यामि च पुनः पुनः ॥५-१३२-९॥
Recalling his words, I am hopeful for your success. Hence, dear one, I tell you, I will continue to speak repeatedly.
यस्य ह्यर्थाभिनिर्वृत्तौ भवन्त्याप्यायिताः परे । तस्यार्थसिद्धिर्नियता नयेष्वर्थानुसारिणः ॥५-१३२-१०॥
Indeed, when others are nourished in the accomplishment of one's purpose, success is assured in policies that align with that purpose.
समृद्धिरसमृद्धिर्वा पूर्वेषां मम सञ्जय । एवं विद्वान्युद्धमना भव मा प्रत्युपाहर ॥५-१३२-११॥
O Sanjaya, whether there is prosperity or not from our ancestors, be wise and ready for battle, do not counteract.
नातः पापीयसीं काञ्चिदवस्थां शम्बरोऽब्रवीत् । यत्र नैवाद्य न प्रातर्भोजनं प्रतिदृश्यते ॥५-१३२-१२॥
Śambara lamented the dire situation, noting that there was no worse condition than the current one, where food was not available either today or in the morning.
पतिपुत्रवधादेतत्परमं दुःखमब्रवीत् । दारिद्र्यमिति यत्प्रोक्तं पर्यायमरणं हि तत् ॥५-१३२-१३॥
The supreme sorrow from the killing of husband and son was expressed. It is said that poverty is indeed synonymous with death.
अहं महाकुले जाता ह्रदाद्ध्रदमिवागता । ईश्वरी सर्वकल्याणैर्भर्त्रा परमपूजिता ॥५-१३२-१४॥
I was born into a noble family and have transitioned seamlessly, like moving from one lake to another. As a goddess, I am greatly revered by my husband, who embodies all that is auspicious.
महार्हमाल्याभरणां सुमृष्टाम्बरवाससम् । पुरा दृष्ट्वा सुहृद्वर्गो मामपश्यत्सुदुर्गताम् ॥५-१३२-१५॥
Once, when my friends saw me adorned with expensive garlands and ornaments, dressed in clean clothes, they later saw me in a very poor state.
यदा मां चैव भार्यां च द्रष्टासि भृशदुर्बले । न तदा जीवितेनार्थो भविता तव सञ्जय ॥५-१३२-१६॥
When you see both me and my wife in a very weakened state, Sanjaya, you will find no purpose in life.
दासकर्मकरान्भृत्यानाचार्यर्त्विक्पुरोहितान् । अवृत्त्यास्मान्प्रजहतो दृष्ट्वा किं जीवितेन ते ॥५-१३२-१७॥
Seeing the servants, laborers, dependents, teachers, priests, and family priests abandoning us without any means of livelihood, what is the point of your life?
यदि कृत्यं न पश्यामि तवाद्येह यथा पुरा । श्लाघनीयं यशस्यं च का शान्तिर्हृदयस्य मे ॥५-१३२-१८॥
If I do not see your duty here today as it was before, what praiseworthy glory and peace of heart can I have?
नेति चेद्ब्राह्मणान्ब्रूयां दीर्यते हृदयं मम । न ह्यहं न च मे भर्ता नेति ब्राह्मणमुक्तवान् ॥५-१३२-१९॥
If I were to tell the Brahmins, "No, it is not so," it would break my heart. Indeed, neither I nor my husband said this to the Brahmin.
वयमाश्रयणीयाः स्म नाश्रितारः परस्य च । सान्यानाश्रित्य जीवन्ती परित्यक्ष्यामि जीवितम् ॥५-१३२-२०॥
We were meant to rely on ourselves, not be dependent on others. Depending on others for living, I will abandon life.
अपारे भव नः पारमप्लवे भव नः प्लवः । कुरुष्व स्थानमस्थाने मृतान्सञ्जीवयस्व नः ॥५-१३२-२१॥
Be our boundless boat in the shoreless sea; create a place where there is none, and bring our dead back to life.
सर्वे ते शत्रवः सह्या न चेज्जीवितुमिच्छसि । अथ चेदीदृशीं वृत्तिं क्लीबामभ्युपपद्यसे ॥५-१३२-२२॥
All those enemies can be endured if you do not wish to live. However, if you choose to adopt such cowardly behavior.
निर्विण्णात्मा हतमना मुञ्चैतां पापजीविकाम् । एकशत्रुवधेनैव शूरो गच्छति विश्रुतिम् ॥५-१३२-२३॥
Disheartened and dejected, you should abandon this sinful way of living. A hero gains fame by defeating even a single enemy.
इन्द्रो वृत्रवधेनैव महेन्द्रः समपद्यत । माहेन्द्रं च ग्रहं लेभे लोकानां चेश्वरोऽभवत् ॥५-१३२-२४॥
Indra, by killing Vṛtra, truly became the great Indra. He acquired the position of Māhendra and became the lord of all worlds.
नाम विश्राव्य वा सङ्ख्ये शत्रूनाहूय दंशितान् । सेनाग्रं वापि विद्राव्य हत्वा वा पुरुषं वरम् ॥५-१३२-२५॥
Announce the name or call the provoked enemies in battle, scatter the army front, or kill the best man.
यदैव लभते वीरः सुयुद्धेन महद्यशः । तदैव प्रव्यथन्तेऽस्य शत्रवो विनमन्ति च ॥५-१३२-२६॥
When a hero gains great fame through a noble battle, his enemies become distressed and bow down to him.
त्यक्त्वात्मानं रणे दक्षं शूरं कापुरुषा जनाः । अवशाः पूरयन्ति स्म सर्वकामसमृद्धिभिः ॥५-१३२-२७॥
Cowardly men, having abandoned their capable and heroic selves in battle, helplessly fulfill all desires.
राज्यं वाप्युग्रविभ्रंशं संशयो जीवितस्य वा । प्रलब्धस्य हि शत्रोर्वै शेषं कुर्वन्ति साधवः ॥५-१३२-२८॥
The virtuous indeed manage what remains of a kingdom, a great downfall, a doubt of life, or the deception of an enemy.
स्वर्गद्वारोपमं राज्यमथ वाप्यमृतोपमम् । रुद्धमेकायने मत्वा पतोल्मुक इवारिषु ॥५-१३२-२९॥
The kingdom, resembling the gate of heaven or like nectar, was blocked in a single path, perceived as a blazing firebrand among enemies.
जहि शत्रून्रणे राजन्स्वधर्ममनुपालय । मा त्वा पश्येत्सुकृपणं शत्रुः श्रीमान्कदाचन ॥५-१३२-३०॥
O king, conquer your enemies in battle and uphold your duty. Never let the enemy see you as pitiable, O prosperous one.
अस्मदीयैश्च शोचद्भिर्नदद्भिश्च परैर्वृतम् । अपि त्वां नानुपश्येयं दीना दीनमवस्थितम् ॥५-१३२-३१॥
Even amidst our lamenting and crying people and others, I would not see you, distressed and miserable, in such a state.
उष्य सौवीरकन्याभिः श्लाघस्वार्थैर्यथा पुरा । मा च सैन्धवकन्यानामवसन्नो वशं गमः ॥५-१३२-३२॥
After staying with the daughters of Sauvīra, praised and with purpose as before, do not fall under the control of the daughters of Sindhu, feeling downcast.
युवा रूपेण सम्पन्नो विद्ययाभिजनेन च । यस्त्वादृशो विकुर्वीत यशस्वी लोकविश्रुतः ॥ वोढव्ये धुर्यनडुवन्मन्ये मरणमेव तत् ॥५-१३२-३३॥
A young man, endowed with beauty, knowledge, and noble birth, who acts like you, is famous and renowned in the world. Bearing burdens like a beast of burden, I think that is akin to death itself.
यदि त्वामनुपश्यामि परस्य प्रियवादिनम् । पृष्ठतोऽनुव्रजन्तं वा का शान्तिर्हृदयस्य मे ॥५-१३२-३४॥
If I see you speaking pleasantly to someone else or following them, how can my heart be at peace?
नास्मिञ्जातु कुले जातो गच्छेद्योऽन्यस्य पृष्ठतः । न त्वं परस्यानुधुरं तात जीवितुमर्हसि ॥५-१३२-३५॥
In this family, no one born should ever follow behind another. Dear son, you should not live under the control of another.
अहं हि क्षत्रहृदयं वेद यत्परिशाश्वतम् । पूर्वैः पूर्वतरैः प्रोक्तं परैः परतरैरपि ॥५-१३२-३६॥
I truly understand the eternal essence of a warrior's heart, as spoken by the ancients, the more ancient, others, and even the most ancient.
यो वै कश्चिदिहाजातः क्षत्रियः क्षत्रधर्मवित् । भयाद्वृत्तिसमीक्षो वा न नमेदिह कस्यचित् ॥५-१३२-३७॥
Any warrior born here, who understands the duty of a warrior, should not bow to anyone out of fear or mere observance of conduct.
उद्यच्छेदेव न नमेदुद्यमो ह्येव पौरुषम् । अप्यपर्वणि भज्येत न नमेदिह कस्यचित् ॥५-१३२-३८॥
Effort should be like the rising sun, never bowing down, as it represents true manliness. Even in adversity, it may break but should not bow to anyone here.
मातङ्गो मत्त इव च परीयात्सुमहामनाः । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमेन्नित्यं धर्मायैव च सञ्जय ॥५-१३२-३९॥
The wise person, like an intoxicated elephant, should roam freely and consistently show respect to the Brahmins and uphold Dharma, O Sanjaya.
नियच्छन्नितरान्वर्णान्विनिघ्नन्सर्वदुष्कृतः । ससहायोऽसहायो वा यावज्जीवं तथा भवेत् ॥५-१३२-४०॥
One should control others' appearances and destroy all misdeeds, whether with help or without, for as long as one lives.
