12.011
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said:
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। तापसैः सह संवादं शक्रस्य भरतर्षभ ॥१२-११-१॥
O best of the Bharatas, right here they recount this ancient story: the conversation between Śakra and the ascetics.
केचिद्गृहान्परित्यज्य वनमभ्यगमन्द्विजाः। अजातश्मश्रवो मन्दाः कुले जाताः प्रवव्रजुः ॥१२-११-२॥
Some young twice-born, dull and born in good families, abandoned their homes and went to the forest for renunciation, even though their beards and moustaches had not yet grown.
धर्मोऽयमिति मन्वाना ब्रह्मचर्ये व्यवस्थिताः। त्यक्त्वा गृहान्पितॄंश्चैव तानिन्द्रोऽन्वकृपायत ॥१२-११-३॥
Thinking "this is righteousness," they remained steadfast in celibacy, having left their homes and ancestors; Indra felt compassion for them.
तानाबभाषे भगवान्पक्षी भूत्वा हिरण्मयः। सुदुष्करं मनुष्यैश्च यत्कृतं विघसाशिभिः ॥१२-११-४॥
The Lord, taking the form of a golden bird, addressed them: "What is accomplished by those who subsist on remnants is extremely difficult even for men."
पुण्यं च बत कर्मैषां प्रशस्तं चैव जीवितम्। संसिद्धास्ते गतिं मुख्यां प्राप्ता धर्मपरायणाः ॥१२-११-५॥
Indeed, the actions of these are meritorious and praiseworthy, and their lives are certainly noble; being perfected, those devoted to dharma have attained the highest state.
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
The sages said:
अहो बतायं शकुनिर्विघसाशान्प्रशंसति। अस्मान्नूनमयं शास्ति वयं च विघसाशिनः ॥१२-११-६॥
Ah, indeed, this bird praises those who eat remnants. Surely, he rebukes us, and we are the ones who eat remnants.
शकुनिरुवाच॥
Shakuni said:
नाहं युष्मान्प्रशंसामि पङ्कदिग्धान्रजस्वलान्। उच्छिष्टभोजिनो मन्दानन्ये वै विघसाशिनः ॥१२-११-७॥
I do not praise you who are smeared with mud and dust, who eat leftovers, who are dull, and others who indeed eat scraps.
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
The sages said:
इदं श्रेयः परमिति वयमेवाभ्युपास्महे। शकुने ब्रूहि यच्छ्रेयो भृशं वै श्रद्दधाम ते ॥१२-११-८॥
We consider this as the highest good and approach it with devotion. O bird, tell us what is truly best; we have great faith in you.
शकुनिरुवाच॥
Shakuni said:
यदि मां नाभिशङ्कध्वं विभज्यात्मानमात्मना। ततोऽहं वः प्रवक्ष्यामि याथातथ्यं हितं वचः ॥१२-११-९॥
If you do not doubt me and discern the self by the self, then I will tell you what is truly beneficial.
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
The sages said:
शृणुमस्ते वचस्तात पन्थानो विदितास्तव। नियोगे चैव धर्मात्मन्स्थातुमिच्छाम शाधि नः ॥१२-११-१०॥
O father, please listen to our words; you know the paths. In your command, O righteous one, we wish to abide; please instruct us.
शकुनिरुवाच॥
Shakuni said:
चतुष्पदां गौः प्रवरा लोहानां काञ्चनं वरम्। शब्दानां प्रवरो मन्त्रो ब्राह्मणो द्विपदां वरः ॥१२-११-११॥
Among quadrupeds, the cow is supreme; among metals, gold is the best; among all sounds, the mantra is the highest; among bipeds, the brāhmaṇa is the best.
मन्त्रोऽयं जातकर्मादि ब्राह्मणस्य विधीयते। जीवतो यो यथाकालं श्मशाननिधनादिति ॥१२-११-१२॥
This mantra is prescribed for a Brāhmaṇa for rites such as the birth ceremony; it applies to one who, while alive, at the proper time, until death at the cremation ground—thus.
कर्माणि वैदिकान्यस्य स्वर्ग्यः पन्थास्त्वनुत्तमः। अथ सर्वाणि कर्माणि मन्त्रसिद्धानि चक्षते ॥१२-११-१३॥
The Vedic actions are, for him, the unsurpassed path to heaven. Now, all actions accomplished by mantras are declared as such. "12-11-13".
आम्नायदृढवादीनि तथा सिद्धिरिहेष्यते। मासार्धमासा ऋतव आदित्यशशितारकम् ॥१२-११-१४॥
Here, attainment is sought through tradition and firm assertions. Months, half-months, seasons, the sun, the moon, and the stars are considered.
ईहन्ते सर्वभूतानि तदृतं कर्मसङ्गिनाम्। सिद्धिक्षेत्रमिदं पुण्यमयमेवाश्रमो महान् ॥१२-११-१५॥
All beings strive for that truth, for those attached to action. This hermitage is truly a great and meritorious field of accomplishment.
अथ ये कर्म निन्दन्तो मनुष्याः कापथं गताः। मूढानामर्थहीनानां तेषामेनस्तु विद्यते ॥१२-११-१६॥
Now, those men who criticize action and have gone on the wrong path—among the deluded and those devoid of meaning—for them, indeed, sin exists.
देववंशान्पितृवंशान्ब्रह्मवंशांश्च शाश्वतान्। सन्त्यज्य मूढा वर्तन्ते ततो यान्त्यश्रुतीपथम् ॥१२-११-१७॥
Having abandoned the divine, ancestral, and eternal lineages of Brahma, the deluded conduct themselves otherwise; as a result, they go to a path that is unheard of.
एतद्वोऽस्तु तपो युक्तं ददानीत्यृषिचोदितम्। तस्मात्तदध्यवसतस्तपस्वि तप उच्यते ॥१२-११-१८॥
"Let this be your austerity, joined with resolve, as I give it, prompted by the sage. Therefore, that which the ascetic resolves is called austerity."
देववंशान्पितृवंशान्ब्रह्मवंशांश्च शाश्वतान्। संविभज्य गुरोश्चर्यां तद्वै दुष्करमुच्यते ॥१२-११-१९॥
It is said that dividing the eternal lineages of the gods, ancestors, and Brahma, and performing the teacher's conduct, is indeed a difficult task.
देवा वै दुष्करं कृत्वा विभूतिं परमां गताः। तस्माद्गार्हस्थ्यमुद्वोढुं दुष्करं प्रब्रवीमि वः ॥१२-११-२०॥
The gods, by performing difficult deeds, attained the highest powers. Therefore, I declare to you that undertaking household life is difficult.
तपः श्रेष्ठं प्रजानां हि मूलमेतन्न संशयः। कुटुम्बविधिनानेन यस्मिन्सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१२-११-२१॥
Austerity is certainly the supreme root of all beings; there is no doubt about this. By this rule of family, everything is established.
एतद्विदुस्तपो विप्रा द्वंद्वातीता विमत्सराः। तस्माद्वनं मध्यमं च लोकेषु तप उच्यते ॥१२-११-२२॥
The wise, who have transcended dualities and are free from envy, know this as austerity; therefore, in the worlds, both the forest and the middle path are called austerity.
दुराधर्षं पदं चैव गच्छन्ति विघसाशिनः। सायम्प्रातर्विभज्यान्नं स्वकुटुम्बे यथाविधि ॥१२-११-२३॥
Those who eat only the remnants, after properly dividing food among their family in the evening and morning according to rule, attain a state that is difficult to assail.
दत्त्वातिथिभ्यो देवेभ्यः पितृभ्यः स्वजनस्य च। अवशिष्टानि येऽश्नन्ति तानाहुर्विघसाशिनः ॥१२-११-२४॥
Those who, after giving to guests, gods, ancestors, and their own people, eat the leftovers, are called 'eaters of remnants.'
तस्मात्स्वधर्ममास्थाय सुव्रताः सत्यवादिनः। लोकस्य गुरवो भूत्वा ते भवन्त्यनुपस्कृताः ॥१२-११-२५॥
Therefore, adhering to their own duty, being virtuous and truthful, they become teachers of the world and remain unadorned.
त्रिदिवं प्राप्य शक्रस्य स्वर्गलोके विमत्सराः। वसन्ति शाश्वतीर्वर्षा जना दुष्करकारिणः ॥१२-११-२६॥
Those who perform difficult deeds dwell for eternal years, free from envy, in the world of Śakra, having attained the highest heaven.
ततस्ते तद्वचः श्रुत्वा तस्य धर्मार्थसंहितम्। उत्सृज्य नास्तिकगतिं गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममाश्रिताः ॥१२-११-२७॥
Then, having heard his words imbued with dharma and artha, they abandoned the path of disbelief and embraced the dharma of household life.
तस्मात्त्वमपि दुर्धर्ष धैर्यमालम्ब्य शाश्वतम्। प्रशाधि पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां हतामित्रां नरोत्तम ॥१२-११-२८॥
Therefore, O best of men, you too, O unconquerable one, take up eternal fortitude and rule the whole earth, now that your enemies are slain.
