12.013
sahadeva uvāca॥
Sahadeva said:
na bāhyaṃ dravyam utsṛjya siddhir bhavati bhārata। śārīraṃ dravyam utsṛjya siddhir bhavati vā na vā ॥12-13-1॥
O Bhārata, perfection is not attained by merely giving up external objects. Whether perfection is attained by giving up the body or not, that is the question.
bāhyadravyavimuktasya śārīreṣu ca gṛdhyataḥ। yo dharmo yat sukhaṃ vā syād dviṣatāṃ tat tathāstu naḥ॥12-13-2॥
May whatever duty or happiness that exists for our enemies, for those who are free from external possessions and those attached to bodies, be the same for us.
śārīraṃ dravyam utsṛjya pṛthivīm anuśāsataḥ। yo dharmo yat sukhaṃ vā syāt suhṛdāṃ tat tathāstu naḥ॥12-13-3॥
Having renounced bodily possessions, for the ruler of the earth, may whatever righteousness or happiness exists for friends, let that be so for us.
dvy-akṣaras tu bhaven mṛtyus try-akṣaraṃ brahma śāśvatam। mameti ca bhaven mṛtyur na mameti ca śāśvatam ॥12-13-4॥
The word with two syllables leads to death, but the word with three syllables is eternal Brahman. Saying "mine" leads to death, while saying "not mine" leads to the eternal.
brahmamṛtyū ca tau rājannātmanyeva samāśritau| adṛśyamānau bhūtāni yodhayetāmasaṃśayam ॥12-13-5॥
O king, Brahman and death, both indeed reside within the self; unseen, they undoubtedly cause beings to engage in conflict.
avināśo'sya sattvasya niyato yadi bhārata। bhittvā śarīraṃ bhūtānāṃ na hiṃsā pratipatsyate ॥12-13-6॥
O Bhārata, if it is established that the being is indestructible, then by piercing the bodies of beings, destruction does not occur.
athāpi ca sahotpattiḥ sattvasya pralayastathā। naṣṭe śarīre naṣṭaṃ syādvṛthā ca syātkriyāpathaḥ ॥12-13-7॥
Furthermore, the being's origin and dissolution occur together; when the body is destroyed, the path of action is also destroyed and becomes futile.
tasmādekāntamutsṛjya pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraiśca yaḥ। panthā niṣevitaḥ sadbhiḥ sa niṣevyo vijānatā ॥12-13-8॥
Therefore, one should not pursue a solitary or exclusive path, but should follow the path that has been practiced by the wise and the ancients.
labdhvāpi pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ sahasthāvarajaṅgamām। na bhuṅkte yo nṛpaḥ samyaṅniṣphalaṃ tasya jīvitam ॥12-13-9॥
Even if a king gains the whole earth with all its immovable and movable beings, if he does not properly enjoy it, his life is fruitless.
atha vā vasato rājan vane vanyena jīvataḥ। dravyeṣu yasya mamatā mṛtyor āsye sa vartate ॥12-13-10॥
O king, even for one living in the forest on forest produce, if he has attachment to possessions, he remains in the jaws of death.
bāhyābhyantarabhūtānāṃ svabhāvaṃ paśya bhārata। ye tu paśyanti tadbhāvaṃ mucyante mahato bhayāt ॥12-13-11॥
O Bhārata, see the true nature of external and internal beings. Those who perceive that true nature are freed from great fear.
bhavān pitā bhavān mātā bhavān bhrātā bhavān guruḥ। duḥkhapralāpān ārtasya tasmāt me kṣantum arhasi ॥12-13-12॥
You are my father, you are my mother, you are my brother, you are my teacher. Therefore, you ought to forgive my words of sorrow, as I am afflicted.
tathyaṃ vā yadi vā'tathyaṃ yan mayaitat prabhāṣitam। tad viddhi pṛthivī-pāla bhaktyā bharata-sattama ॥12-13-13॥
O best of the Bharatas, O protector of the earth, know with devotion whatever I have spoken, whether it is truth or untruth.
