11.007
Pancharatra-Ext: Allegory of chariot and how one can attain Brahman!
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
aho'bhihitamākhyānaṃ bhavatā tattvadarśinā। bhūya eva tu me harṣaḥ śrotuṃ vāgamṛtaṃ tava ॥11-7-1॥
Oh, the story you have spoken, O seer of truth! My joy increases again and again to hear the nectar of your words.
vidura uvāca॥
Vidura said:
śṛṇu bhūyaḥ pravakṣyāmi mārgasyaitasya vistaram। yacchrutvā vipramucyante saṃsārebhyo vicakṣaṇāḥ ॥11-7-2॥
Listen once more as I explain in detail this path, which, when heard, frees the wise from the bonds of worldly existence.
yathā tu puruṣo rājan dīrgham adhvānam āsthitaḥ। kvacit kvacit śramāt sthātā kurute vāsam eva vā॥11-7-3॥
O king, just as a man who has undertaken a long journey, at some places or at others, due to fatigue, either stands or takes rest.
evaṃ saṃsāraparyāye garbhavāseṣu bhārata। kurvanti durbudhā vāsaṃ mucyante tatra paṇḍitāḥ ॥11-7-4॥
O Bhārata, thus, in the cycle of rebirth, the ignorant take residence in wombs, but the wise are liberated from there.
tasmād adhvānam eva etam āhuḥ śāstra-vido janāḥ। yat tu saṃsāra-gahanaṃ vanam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ॥11-7-5॥
Therefore, those who know the scriptures call this the path, but the wise call the dense forest of worldly existence a forest.
so'yaṃ lokasamāvarto martyānāṃ bharatarṣabha. carāṇāṃ sthāvarāṇāṃ ca gṛdhyet tatra na paṇḍitaḥ ॥11-7-6॥
O best of Bharatas, this worldly cycle of mortals, of moving and stationary beings, should not be coveted by the wise.
śārīrā mānasāścaiva martyānāṃ ye tu vyādhayaḥ। pratyakṣāśca parokṣāśca te vyālāḥ kathitā budhaiḥ॥11-7-7॥
The wise say that the bodily and mental diseases of mortals, whether manifest or hidden, are like serpents.
kliśyamānāś ca tair nityaṃ hanyamānāś ca bhārata। svakarmabhir mahāvyālair nodvijanty alpabuddhayaḥ ॥11-7-8॥
O Bhārata, those of little intelligence, though constantly afflicted and struck by their own actions and by great serpents, do not feel any fear.
athāpi tair vimucyeta vyādhibhiḥ puruṣo nṛpa। āvṛṇotyeva taṃ paścāj jarā rūpavināśinī ॥11-7-9॥
O king, even if a man is freed from those diseases, afterwards old age, which destroys beauty, inevitably overtakes him.
śabda-rūpa-rasa-sparśair gandhaiś ca vividhair api। majjamānaṃ mahā-paṅke nirālambhe samantataḥ ॥11-7-10॥
Surrounded on all sides, unsupported, one sinks into the great mire by sound, form, taste, touch, and various smells.
saṃvatsarartavo māsāḥ pakṣāhorātrasandhayaḥ। krameṇāsya pralumpanti rūpam āyus tathaiva ca ॥11-7-11॥
The year, seasons, months, fortnights, days and nights, and their junctions, in order, gradually destroy his form and life in the same way.
ete kālasya nidhayo naitāñjānanti durbudhāḥ। atrābhilikhitānyāhuḥ sarvabhūtāni karmaṇā ॥11-7-12॥
These are the treasures of time, but the foolish do not understand them. Here, it is said that all beings are recorded by their actions.
rathaṃ śarīraṃ bhūtānāṃ sattvam āhus tu sārathim | indriyāṇi hayān āhuḥ karma buddhiś ca raśmayaḥ ||11-7-13||
They say that the body is the chariot for beings, the mind is the charioteer, the senses are the horses, action is the reins, and intellect guides all.
teṣāṃ hayānāṃ yo vegaṃ dhāvatām anudhāvati। sa tu saṃsāracakre'smiṃś cakravat parivartate ॥11-7-14॥
He who pursues the speed of those running horses keeps revolving in the cycle of worldly existence, just like a wheel.
yastānyamayate buddhyā sa yantā na nivartate। yāmyamāhū rathaṃ hyenaṃ muhyante yena durbudhāḥ ॥11-7-15॥
He who restrains those (senses) with his intellect is called the true charioteer and does not fall back. This body is called the chariot, and those who lack understanding are deluded by it.
sa caitatprāpnute rājanyatvaṃ prāpto narādhipa। rājyanāśaṃ suhṛnnāśaṃ sutanāśaṃ ca bhārata ॥11-7-16॥
He who attains royal status, O Bhārata, also faces the loss of his kingdom, friends, and sons.
anutarṣulam evaitad duḥkhaṃ bhavati bhārata. sādhuḥ paramaduḥkhānāṃ duḥkhabhaiṣajyam ācaret ॥11-7-17॥
O Bhārata, suffering arises only when there is no envy. The virtuous person should practice the remedy for the suffering of those who are greatly afflicted.
na vikramo na cāpyartho na mitraṃ na suhṛj-janaḥ। tathonmocayate duḥkhād yathātmā sthirasaṃyamaḥ ॥11-7-18॥
Neither valor, nor wealth, nor friends, nor even well-wishers can free one from sorrow as effectively as one's own steadfast self-control.
tasmān maitraṃ samāsthāya śīlam āpadya bhārata। damaḥ tyāgaḥ apramādaḥ ca te trayaḥ brahmaṇaḥ hayāḥ॥11-7-19॥
Therefore, O Bhārata, adopt friendliness as your conduct. Self-control, renunciation, and vigilance—these three are considered the horses of Brahman.
śīlaraśmisamāyukte sthito yo mānase rathe। tyaktvā mṛtyubhayam rājan brahmalokaṃ sa gacchati ॥11-7-20॥
O king, he who is established in the chariot of the mind, endowed with the rays of virtue, and who has given up the fear of death, attains the world of Brahma.
