11.003
Pancharatra and Core: Vidura's advice on the temporary nature of life.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
सुभाषितैर्महाप्राज्ञ शोकोऽयं विगतो मम। भुय एव तु वाक्यानि श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥११-३-१॥
O greatly wise one, your wise words have dispelled my grief. Yet, I wish to hear more words of truth from you.
अनिष्टानां च संसर्गादिष्टानां च विवर्जनात्। कथं हि मानसैर्दुःखैः प्रमुच्यन्तेऽत्र पण्डिताः ॥११-३-२॥
How are the wise freed from mental sufferings here, when they are associated with undesired things and deprived of desired things?
विदुर उवाच॥
Vidura said:
यतो यतो मनो दुःखात्सुखाद्वापि प्रमुच्यते। ततस्ततः शमं लब्ध्वा सुगतिं विन्दते बुधः ॥११-३-३॥
Wherever the mind is freed from sorrow or even happiness, the wise person, having attained tranquility, finds a good path.
अशाश्वतमिदं सर्वं चिन्त्यमानं नरर्षभ। कदलीसंनिभो लोकः सारो ह्यस्य न विद्यते ॥११-३-४॥
O best of men, this entire world is impermanent. When considered, the world is like a plantain tree; it truly has no real essence.
गृहाण्येव हि मर्त्यानामाहुर्देहानि पण्डिताः। कालेन विनियुज्यन्ते सत्त्वमेकं तु शोभनम् ॥११-३-५॥
The wise say that the bodies of mortals are like houses; over time, they perish, but the one auspicious essence remains.
यथा जीर्णमजीर्णं वा वस्त्रं त्यक्त्वा तु वै नरः। अन्यद्रोचयते वस्त्रमेवं देहाः शरीरिणाम् ॥११-३-६॥
Just as a person discards worn out or even unworn clothes and puts on others, so too the embodied soul discards old bodies and takes on new ones.
वैचित्रवीर्य वासं हि दुःखं वा यदि वा सुखम्। प्राप्नुवन्तीह भूतानि स्वकृतेनैव कर्मणा ॥११-३-७॥
Beings here, including Vicitravīrya, experience either suffering or happiness in their lives solely as a result of their own actions, by their own karma.
कर्मणा प्राप्यते स्वर्गं सुखं दुःखं च भारत। ततो वहति तं भारमवशः स्ववशोऽपि वा ॥११-३-८॥
O Bhārata, it is through actions that one attains heaven, happiness, and sorrow. Thereafter, one must bear that burden, whether helplessly or even with self-control.
यथा च मृन्मयं भाण्डं चक्रारूढं विपद्यते। किञ्चित्प्रक्रियमाणं वा कृतमात्रमथापि वा ॥११-३-९॥
Just as a clay pot on the wheel may break, whether it is still being shaped, has just been made, or even otherwise.
छिन्नं वाप्यवरोप्यन्तमवतीर्णमथापि वा। आर्द्रं वाप्यथ वा शुष्कं पच्यमानमथापि वा ॥११-३-१०॥
Whether it is cut, uprooted, fallen, wet, dry, or being cooked, in any of these conditions.
अवतार्यमाणमापाकादुद्धृतं वापि भारत। अथ वा परिभुज्यन्तमेवं देहाः शरीरिणाम् ॥११-३-११॥
O Bhārata, the bodies of embodied beings are either immersed in water and lifted out, or are thus consumed.
गर्भस्थो वा प्रसूतो वाप्यथ वा दिवसान्तरः। अर्धमासगतो वापि मासमात्रगतोऽपि वा ॥११-३-१२॥
Whether one is in the womb, just born, a few days old, half a month old, or only a month old, or any of these.
संवत्सरगतो वापि द्विसंवत्सर एव वा। यौवनस्थोऽपि मध्यस्थो वृद्धो वापि विपद्यते ॥११-३-१३॥
Whether one has lived a year, or two years, or is in youth, middle age, or old age, anyone may die.
प्राक्कर्मभिस्तु भूतानि भवन्ति न भवन्ति च। एवं सांसिद्धिके लोके किमर्थमनुतप्यसे ॥११-३-१४॥
Beings come into existence or not due to their previous actions. So, in this world of accomplishment, why do you grieve?
यथा च सलिले राजन्क्रीडार्थमनुसञ्चरन्। उन्मज्जेच्च निमज्जेच्च किञ्चित्सत्त्वं नराधिप ॥११-३-१५॥
O king, just as a creature playing in water sometimes rises up and sometimes sinks down, so too is the nature of beings, O ruler of men.
एवं संसारगहनादुन्मज्जननिमज्जनात्। कर्मभोगेन बध्यन्तः क्लिश्यन्ते येऽल्पबुद्धयः ॥११-३-१६॥
Thus, those of little intelligence, bound by the enjoyment of actions, are tormented as they repeatedly emerge and submerge in the deep ocean of worldly existence.
ये तु प्राज्ञाः स्थिताः सत्ये संसारान्तगवेषिणः। समागमज्ञा भूतानां ते यान्ति परमां गतिम् ॥११-३-१७॥
But those who are wise, established in truth, seeking the end of worldly existence, and who understand the union of all beings, they attain the highest state.
