12.018
Library: Arjuna, quoting the conversation between King Janaka and his wife, says by protecting the people and practicing the highest charity, being devoted to Brahman and speaking the truth, we shall attain the desired worlds.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) - Vaiśampāyana; (proper noun, name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak, past tense singular third person);]
(Vaiśampāyana said;)
Vaiśampāyana said:
तूष्णीम्भूतं तु राजानं पुनरेवार्जुनोऽब्रवीत्। सन्तप्तः शोकदुःखाभ्यां राज्ञो वाक्षल्यपीडितः ॥१२-१८-१॥
tūṣṇīṃbhūtaṃ tu rājānaṃ punarevārjuno'bravīt। santaptaḥ śokaduḥkhābhyāṃ rājño vākṣalyapīḍitaḥ ॥12-18-1॥
[तूष्णीम्भूतं (tūṣṇīṃbhūtaṃ) - having become silent; तु (tu) - but; राजानं (rājānaṃ) - the king; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; एव (eva) - indeed; अर्जुनः (arjunaḥ) - Arjuna; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; सन्तप्तः (santaptaḥ) - afflicted; शोकदुःखाभ्यां (śokaduḥkhābhyāṃ) - by grief and sorrow; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; वाक्षल्यपीडितः (vākṣalyapīḍitaḥ) - oppressed by affection;]
(But when the king had become silent, Arjuna again spoke, afflicted by grief and sorrow, oppressed by affection for the king.)
But when the king fell silent, Arjuna, deeply afflicted by grief and sorrow and overwhelmed by affection for the king, spoke again.
कथयन्ति पुरावृत्तमितिहासमिमं जनाः। विदेहराज्ञः संवादं भार्यया सह भारत ॥१२-१८-२॥
kathayanti purāvṛttam itihāsam imaṃ janāḥ। videharājñaḥ saṃvādaṃ bhāryayā saha bhārata ॥12-18-2॥
[कथयन्ति (kathayanti) - they narrate; पुरा (purā) - ancient; वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - event; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; इमम् (imam) - this; जनाः (janāḥ) - people; विदेहराज्ञः (videharājñaḥ) - the king of Videha; संवादम् (saṃvādam) - dialogue; भार्यया (bhāryayā) - with (his) wife; सह (saha) - together; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]
(People narrate this ancient event, this history: the king of Videha's dialogue together with (his) wife, O Bhārata.)
O Bhārata, people recount this ancient history: the conversation between the king of Videha and his wife.
उत्सृज्य राज्यं भैक्षार्थं कृतबुद्धिं जनेश्वरम्। विदेहराजं महिषी दुःखिता प्रत्यभाषत ॥१२-१८-३॥
utsṛjya rājyaṃ bhaikṣārthaṃ kṛtabuddhiṃ janeśvaram। videharājaṃ mahiṣī duḥkhitā pratyabhāṣata ॥12-18-3॥
[उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; राज्यम् (rājyaṃ) - kingdom; भैक्षार्थम् (bhaikṣārtham) - for the purpose of alms; कृतबुद्धिम् (kṛtabuddhim) - having made up his mind; जनेश्वरम् (janeśvaram) - the lord of men; विदेहराजम् (videharājam) - the king of Videha; महिषी (mahiṣī) - queen; दुःखिता (duḥkhitā) - distressed; प्रत्यभाषत (pratyabhāṣata) - addressed;]
(Having abandoned the kingdom for the purpose of alms, having made up his mind, the lord of men, the king of Videha, was addressed by the distressed queen.)
The queen, distressed, addressed the king of Videha, who had resolved to abandon his kingdom for the life of alms.
धनान्यपत्यं मित्राणि रत्नानि विविधानि च। पन्थानं पावनं हित्वा जनको मौण्ड्यमास्थितः ॥१२-१८-४॥
dhanānyapatyaṃ mitrāṇi ratnāni vividhāni ca| panthānaṃ pāvanaṃ hitvā janako mauṇḍyamāsthitaḥ ||12-18-4||
[धनानि (dhanāni) - wealths; अपत्यं (apatyaṃ) - offspring; मित्राणि (mitrāṇi) - friends; रत्नानि (ratnāni) - gems; विविधानि (vividhāni) - various; च (ca) - and; पन्थानम् (panthānam) - path; पावनम् (pāvanam) - pure; हित्वा (hitvā) - having abandoned; जनकः (janakaḥ) - Janaka; मौण्ड्यम् (mauṇḍyam) - silence; आस्थितः (āsthitaḥ) - having resorted to;]
(Wealths, offspring, friends, gems, various and, the pure path having abandoned, Janaka silence having resorted to.)
Janaka, having abandoned wealth, offspring, friends, and various kinds of gems, resorted to the pure path of silence.
तं ददर्श प्रिया भार्या भैक्ष्यवृत्तिमकिञ्चनम्। धानामुष्टिमुपासीनं निरीहं गतमत्सरम् ॥१२-१८-५॥
taṃ dadarśa priyā bhāryā bhaikṣyavṛttimakiñcanam। dhānāmuṣṭimupāsīnaṃ nirīhaṃ gatamatsaram ॥12-18-5॥
[तं (taṃ) - him; ददर्श (dadarśa) - saw; प्रिया (priyā) - beloved; भार्या (bhāryā) - wife; भैक्ष्यवृत्तिम् (bhaikṣyavṛttim) - subsisting by alms; अकिञ्चनम् (akiñcanam) - possessing nothing; धानामुष्टिम् (dhānāmuṣṭim) - a handful of grains; उपासीनम् (upāsīnam) - sitting; निरीहम् (nirīham) - without effort; गतमत्सरम् (gatamatsaram) - free from envy;]
(His beloved wife saw him, subsisting by alms, possessing nothing, sitting with a handful of grains, without effort, free from envy.)
His beloved wife saw him, who lived by begging, possessed nothing, sat with a handful of grains, was without effort, and free from envy.
तमुवाच समागम्य भर्तारमकुतोभयम्। क्रुद्धा मनस्विनी भार्या विविक्ते हेतुमद्वचः ॥१२-१८-६॥
tam uvāca samāgamya bhartāram akutobhayam। kruddhā manasvinī bhāryā vivikte hetumad vacaḥ ॥12-18-6॥
[तम् (tam) - him; उवाच (uvāca) - said; समागम्य (samāgamya) - having approached; भर्तारम् (bhartāram) - husband; अकुतोभयम् (akutobhayam) - one who is fearless; क्रुद्धा (kruddhā) - angry (feminine); मनस्विनी (manasvinī) - high-minded (feminine); भार्या (bhāryā) - wife; विविक्ते (vivikte) - in private; हेतुमत् (hetumat) - with reason; वचः (vacaḥ) - speech;]
(Having approached her fearless husband, the angry, high-minded wife spoke to him in private, words endowed with reason.)
The high-minded wife, angry, approached her fearless husband in private and spoke to him words full of reason.
कथमुत्सृज्य राज्यं स्वं धनधान्यसमाचितम्। कापालीं वृत्तिमास्थाय धानामुष्टिर्वनेऽचरः ॥१२-१८-७॥
katham utsṛjya rājyaṃ svaṃ dhanadhānyasamācitam। kāpālīṃ vṛttim āsthāya dhānāmuṣṭir vane'caraḥ ॥12-18-7॥
[कथम् (katham) - how; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; राज्यम् (rājyaṃ) - kingdom; स्वम् (svam) - one's own; धन (dhana) - wealth; धान्य (dhānya) - grain; समाचितम् (samācitam) - accumulated; कापालीम् (kāpālīm) - Kāpālika (skull-bearing ascetic); वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - livelihood; आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having adopted; धान (dhāna) - grain; मुष्टिः (muṣṭiḥ) - a handful; वने (vane) - in the forest; अचरः (acaraḥ) - did you live;]
(How, having abandoned your own kingdom, accumulated wealth and grain, having adopted the livelihood of a Kāpālika, did you live in the forest on a handful of grain?)
How did you, after giving up your own kingdom and all your accumulated wealth and grain, adopt the life of a skull-bearing ascetic and live in the forest on just a handful of grain?
प्रतिज्ञा तेऽन्यथा राजन्विचेष्टा चान्यथा तव। यद्राज्यं महदुत्सृज्य स्वल्पे तुष्यसि पार्थिव ॥१२-१८-८॥
pratijñā te'nyathā rājan viceṣṭā cānyathā tava। yad rājyaṃ mahad utsṛjya svalpe tuṣyasi pārthiva॥12-18-8॥
[प्रतिज्ञा (pratijñā) - vow; ते (te) - your; अन्यथा (anyathā) - otherwise; राजन् (rājan) - O king; विचेष्टा (viceṣṭā) - actions; च (ca) - and; अन्यथा (anyathā) - otherwise; तव (tava) - your; यत् (yat) - that which; राज्यम् (rājyaṃ) - kingdom; महत् (mahat) - great; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; स्वल्पे (svalpe) - in little; तुष्यसि (tuṣyasi) - you are satisfied; पार्थिव (pārthiva) - O ruler;]
(Your vow is otherwise, O king, and your actions are otherwise; having abandoned a great kingdom, you are satisfied with little, O ruler.)
O king, your vow and your actions are at odds; having given up a great kingdom, you are content with little, O ruler.
नैतेनातिथयो राजन्देवर्षिपितरस्तथा। शक्यमद्य त्वया भर्तुं मोघस्तेऽयं परिश्रमः ॥१२-१८-९॥
naitenātithayo rājan devarṣipitaras tathā। śakyam adya tvayā bhartuṃ moghas te'yaṃ pariśramaḥ ॥12-18-9॥
[न (na) - not; एतेन (etena) - by this; अतिथयः (atithayaḥ) - guests; राजन् (rājan) - O king; देवर्षि (devarṣi) - divine sages; पितरः (pitaraḥ) - ancestors; तथा (tathā) - also; शक्यम् (śakyam) - possible; अद्य (adya) - today; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; भर्तुं (bhartuṃ) - to be satisfied; मोगः (moghaḥ) - fruitless; ते (te) - your; अयम् (ayam) - this; परिश्रमः (pariśramaḥ) - effort;]
(Not by this are the guests, O king, the divine sages and ancestors also, possible today by you to be satisfied; fruitless is this your effort.)
O king, by this, neither the guests, nor the divine sages, nor the ancestors can be satisfied by you today; your effort is in vain.
देवतातिथिभिश्चैव पितृभिश्चैव पार्थिव। सर्वैरेतैः परित्यक्तः परिव्रजसि निष्क्रियः ॥१२-१८-१०॥
devatātithibhiścaiva pitṛbhiścaiva pārthiva। sarvairētaiḥ parityaktaḥ parivrajasi niṣkriyaḥ ॥12-18-10॥
[देवताः (devatāḥ) - deities; अतिथिभिः (atithibhiḥ) - by guests; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; पितृभिः (pitṛbhiḥ) - by ancestors; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; पार्थिव (pārthiva) - O king; सर्वैः (sarvaiḥ) - by all; एतैः (etaiḥ) - these; परित्यक्तः (parityaktaḥ) - abandoned; परिव्रजसि (parivrajasi) - you wander; निष्क्रियः (niṣkriyaḥ) - inactive;]
(O king, indeed by deities, by guests, and indeed by ancestors, by all these you have been abandoned; you wander inactive.)
O king, you have been abandoned by all—deities, guests, and ancestors—and now you wander about, inactive.
यस्त्वं त्रैविद्यवृद्धानां ब्राह्मणानां सहस्रशः। भर्ता भूत्वा च लोकस्य सोऽद्यान्यैर्भृतिमिच्छसि ॥१२-१८-११॥
yas tvaṃ traividyavṛddhānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ sahasraśaḥ| bhartā bhūtvā ca lokasya so'dyānyairbhṛtimicchasi ॥12-18-11॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; त्वम् (tvam) - you; त्रैविद्यवृद्धानाम् (traividyavṛddhānām) - of the elders learned in the three Vedas; ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of the Brāhmaṇas; सहस्रशः (sahasraśaḥ) - by thousands; भर्ता (bhartā) - the protector; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; च (ca) - and; लोकस्य (lokasya) - of the world; सः (saḥ) - he; अद्य (adya) - today; अन्यैः (anyaiḥ) - by others; भृतिम् (bhṛtim) - sustenance; इच्छसि (icchasi) - you desire;]
(Who you, of the elders learned in the three Vedas, of the Brāhmaṇas, by thousands, the protector having become and of the world, he, today, by others, sustenance you desire.)
You, who have been the protector of thousands of Brāhmaṇas learned in the three Vedas and of the world, now today desire sustenance from others.
श्रियं हित्वा प्रदीप्तां त्वं श्ववत्सम्प्रति वीक्ष्यसे। अपुत्रा जननी तेऽद्य कौसल्या चापतिस्त्वया ॥१२-१८-१२॥
śriyaṃ hitvā pradīptāṃ tvaṃ śvavatsamprati vīkṣyase। aputrā jananī te'dya kausalyā cāpatistvayā ॥12-18-12॥
[श्रियम् (śriyam) - prosperity; wealth; हित्वा (hitvā) - having abandoned; प्रदीप्ताम् (pradīptām) - radiant; blazing; त्वम् (tvam) - you; श्ववत् (śvavat) - like a dog; सम्प्रति (samprati) - now; at present; वीक्ष्यसे (vīkṣyase) - are seen; are regarded; अपुत्रा (aputrā) - sonless; without a son; जननी (jananī) - mother; ते (te) - your; अद्य (adya) - today; कौसल्या (kausalyā) - Kausalya; च (ca) - and; अपतिः (apatiḥ) - without a husband; husbandless; त्वया (tvayā) - by you;]
(Having abandoned radiant prosperity, you are now seen like a dog. Your mother Kausalya is today sonless, and by you, also husbandless.)
Having given up your radiant prosperity, you are now regarded like a dog. Today, your mother Kausalya is without a son, and because of you, also without a husband.
अशीतिर्धर्मकामास्त्वां क्षत्रियाः पर्युपासते। त्वदाशामभिकाङ्क्षन्त्यः कृपणाः फलहेतुकाः ॥१२-१८-१३॥
aśītirdharmakāmāstvāṃ kṣatriyāḥ paryupāsate। tvadāśāmabhikāṅkṣantyaḥ kṛpaṇāḥ phalahetukāḥ ॥12-18-13॥
[अशीतिः (aśītiḥ) - eighty; धर्मकामाः (dharmakāmāḥ) - those desiring dharma; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; क्षत्रियाः (kṣatriyāḥ) - kṣatriyas; पर्युपासते (paryupāsate) - worship all around; त्वत् (tvat) - your; आशाम् (āśām) - hope; अभिकाङ्क्षन्त्यः (abhikāṅkṣantyaḥ) - those desiring; कृपणाः (kṛpaṇāḥ) - the pitiable; फलहेतुकाः (phalahetukāḥ) - those seeking results;]
(Eighty desiring dharma kṣatriyas worship you all around; pitiable ones, seeking results, desire your hope.)
Eighty kṣatriyas who desire dharma worship you; pitiable ones, seeking results, long for your favor.
ताश्च त्वं विफलाः कुर्वन्काँल्लोकान्नु गमिष्यसि। राजन्संशयिते मोक्षे परतन्त्रेषु देहिषु ॥१२-१८-१४॥
tāś ca tvaṃ viphalaḥ kurvan kān lokān nu gamiṣyasi. rājan saṃśayite mokṣe paratantreṣu dehiṣu ॥12-18-14॥
[ताः (tāḥ) - those (results); च (ca) - and; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; विफलाः (viphalaḥ) - fruitless; कुर्वन् (kurvan) - doing; कान् (kān) - which; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; नु (nu) - indeed; गमिष्यसि (gamiṣyasi) - will go; राजन् (rājan) - O king; संशयिते (saṃśayite) - doubtful; मोक्षे (mokṣe) - in liberation; परतन्त्रेषु (paratantreṣu) - dependent upon others; देहिषु (dehiṣu) - in embodied beings;]
(And you, doing those fruitless (acts), to which worlds indeed will you go? O king, when liberation is doubtful, (and you are) dependent upon others in embodied beings.)
And you, performing those fruitless acts, to which worlds will you go? O king, when liberation is uncertain and you are dependent on others in embodied forms.
नैव तेऽस्ति परो लोको नापरः पापकर्मणः। धर्म्यान्दारान्परित्यज्य यस्त्वमिच्छसि जीवितुम् ॥१२-१८-१५॥
naiva te'sti paro loko nāparaḥ pāpakarmaṇaḥ। dharmyāndārān parityajya yastvam icchasi jīvitum ॥12-18-15॥
[न (na) - not; एव (eva) - indeed; ते (te) - for you; अस्ति (asti) - there is; परः (paraḥ) - another; लोकः (lokaḥ) - world; न (na) - not; अपः (aparaḥ) - other; पापकर्मणः (pāpakarmaṇaḥ) - of the evil-doer; धर्म्यान् (dharmyān) - righteous; दारान् (dārān) - wives; परित्यज्य (parityajya) - having abandoned; यः (yaḥ) - who; त्वम् (tvam) - you; इच्छसि (icchasi) - desire; जीवितुम् (jīvitum) - to live;]
(Indeed, for you there is not another world, nor is there for the evil-doer another; having abandoned righteous wives, you who desire to live.)
For you, there is neither another world nor is there for the evil-doer; having abandoned righteous wives, you desire to live.
स्रजो गन्धानलङ्कारान्वासांसि विविधानि च। किमर्थमभिसन्त्यज्य परिव्रजसि निष्क्रियः ॥१२-१८-१६॥
srajo gandhān-alaṅkārān vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca| kimartham abhi-santyajya parivrajasi niṣkriyaḥ ॥12-18-16॥
[स्रजः (srajaḥ) - garlands; गन्धान् (gandhān) - fragrances; अलङ्कारान् (alaṅkārān) - ornaments; वासांसि (vāsāṃsi) - clothes; विविधानि (vividhāni) - various; च (ca) - and; किमर्थम् (kimartham) - for what reason; अभिसन्त्यज्य (abhi-santyajya) - having completely abandoned; परिव्रजसि (parivrajasi) - do you wander as an ascetic; निष्क्रियः (niṣkriyaḥ) - inactive;]
(Garlands, fragrances, ornaments, clothes, and various (other things)—for what reason, having completely abandoned (them), do you wander as an inactive ascetic?)
Having given up garlands, fragrances, ornaments, clothes, and various other things, for what reason do you wander as an inactive ascetic?
निपानं सर्वभूतानां भूत्वा त्वं पावनं महत्। आढ्यो वनस्पतिर्भूत्वा सोऽद्यान्यान्पर्युपाससे ॥१२-१८-१७॥
nipānaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ bhūtvā tvaṃ pāvanaṃ mahat | āḍhyo vanaspatir bhūtvā so'dyānyān paryupāsase ||12-18-17||
[निपानम् (nipānam) - watering place; सर्वभूतानाम् (sarvabhūtānām) - of all beings; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; त्वम् (tvam) - you; पावनम् (pāvanam) - purifier; महत् (mahat) - great; आढ्यः (āḍhyaḥ) - rich; वनस्पतिः (vanaspatiḥ) - tree; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; सः (saḥ) - he; अद्य (adya) - today; अन्यान् (anyān) - others; पर्युपाससे (paryupāsase) - you serve;]
(Having become the watering place of all beings, you (are) the great purifier. Having become the rich tree, today you serve others.)
Having become the watering place for all beings, you are the great purifier. Today, having become the rich tree, you serve others.
खादन्ति हस्तिनं न्यासे क्रव्यादा बहवोऽप्युत। बहवः कृमयश्चैव किं पुनस्त्वामनर्थकम् ॥१२-१८-१८॥
khādanti hastinaṃ nyāse kravyādā bahavo'pyuta। bahavaḥ kṛmayaścaiva kiṃ punastvāmanarthakam ॥12-18-18॥
[खादन्ति (khādanti) - they eat; हस्तिनं (hastinaṃ) - elephant; न्यासे (nyāse) - when deposited (dead body); क्रव्यादाः (kravyādāḥ) - flesh-eaters; बहवः (bahavaḥ) - many; अपि (api) - also; उत (uta) - indeed; बहवः (bahavaḥ) - many; कृमयः (kṛmayaḥ) - worms; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - certainly; किम् (kim) - what (then); पुनः (punaḥ) - again; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; अनर्थकम् (anarthakam) - useless one;]
(They eat the elephant when deposited (dead body), many flesh-eaters also indeed; many worms too certainly, what (then) again you, useless one.)
When even the dead body of an elephant is eaten by many flesh-eaters and by many worms, what then to say of you, who are useless?
य इमां कुण्डिकां भिन्द्यात्त्रिविष्टब्धं च ते हरेत्। वासश्चापहरेत्तस्मिन्कथं ते मानसं भवेत् ॥१२-१८-१९॥
ya imāṃ kuṇḍikāṃ bhindyāt triviṣṭabdhaṃ ca te haret। vāsaś cāpaharet tasmin kathaṃ te mānasaṃ bhavet ॥12-18-19॥
[य (ya) - who; इमां (imām) - this; कुण्डिकां (kuṇḍikām) - water-pot; भिन्द्यात् (bhindyāt) - should break; त्रिविष्टब्धं (triviṣṭabdham) - firmly placed; च (ca) - and; ते (te) - your; हरेत् (haret) - should take away; वासः (vāsaḥ) - garment; च (ca) - and; अपहरेत् (apaharet) - should steal; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; ते (te) - your; मानसं (mānasaṃ) - mind; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be;]
(Who should break this water-pot, and should take away your firmly placed (water-pot), and should also steal the garment there — how would your mind be in that?)
If someone were to break this water-pot, take away your firmly placed vessel, and also steal your garment there, how would your mind react to that?
यस्त्वयं सर्वमुत्सृज्य धानामुष्टिपरिग्रहः। यदानेन समं सर्वं किमिदं मम दीयते ॥ धानामुष्टिरिहार्थश्चेत्प्रतिज्ञा ते विनश्यति ॥१२-१८-२०॥
yastvayaṃ sarvam utsṛjya dhānāmuṣṭi-parigrahaḥ। yadānena samaṃ sarvaṃ kim idaṃ mama dīyate॥ dhānāmuṣṭir ihārthaś cet pratijñā te vinaśyati॥12-18-20॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; त्वयम् (tvayam) - by you; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; धानामुष्टि (dhānāmuṣṭi) - fistful of grain; परिग्रहः (parigrahaḥ) - acceptance; यत् (yat) - which; अनेन (anena) - by this; समम् (samam) - equally; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; किम् (kim) - what; इदम् (idam) - this; मम (mama) - to me; दीयते (dīyate) - is given; धानामुष्टिः (dhānāmuṣṭiḥ) - fistful of grain; इह (iha) - here; अर्थः (arthaḥ) - purpose; चेत् (cet) - if; प्रतिज्ञा (pratijñā) - vow; ते (te) - your; विनश्यति (vinaśyati) - is destroyed;]
(Whoever, having abandoned all, accepts a fistful of grain; whatever by this is given to me equally as all, what is this? If the fistful of grain here is the purpose, your vow is destroyed.)
Whoever, having abandoned everything, accepts only a fistful of grain—whatever is given to me by this equally as all, what is this? If the fistful of grain here is the purpose, your vow is destroyed.
का वाहं तव को मे त्वं कोऽद्य ते मय्यनुग्रहः। प्रशाधि पृथिवीं राजन्यत्र तेऽनुग्रहो भवेत् ॥ प्रासादं शयनं यानं वासांस्याभरणानि च ॥१२-१८-२१॥
kā vāhaṃ tava ko me tvaṃ ko'dya te mayyanugrahaḥ। praśādhi pṛthivīṃ rājanya tra te'nugraho bhavet ॥ prāsādaṃ śayanaṃ yānaṃ vāsāṃsyābharaṇāni ca ॥12-18-21॥
[का (kā) - who (feminine); वा (vā) - or; अहं (ahaṃ) - I; तव (tava) - your; को (ko) - who (masculine); मे (me) - my; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; कः (kaḥ) - who; (elided in sandhi as कोऽद्य) अद्य (adya) - today; ते (te) - your; मयि (mayi) - in me; अनुग्रहः (anugrahaḥ) - favor; grace; प्रशाधि (praśādhi) - rule; govern; पृथिवीं (pṛthivīṃ) - the earth; राजन् (rājan) - O king; यत्र (yatra) - where; ते (te) - your; अनुग्रहः (anugrahaḥ) - favor; grace; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be; प्रासादं (prāsādaṃ) - palace; शयनं (śayanaṃ) - bed; यानं (yānaṃ) - vehicle; वासांसि (vāsāṃsi) - garments; आभरणानि (ābharaṇāni) - ornaments; च (ca) - and;]
(Who am I or who are you to me, who are you today, what is your favor to me? Rule the earth, O king, where your favor may be. Palace, bed, vehicle, garments, and ornaments.)
Who am I to you, and who are you to me? What is your favor to me today? O king, rule the earth wherever your favor may be. The palace, bed, vehicle, garments, and ornaments are yours.
श्रिया निराशैरधनैस्त्यक्तमित्रैरकिञ्चनैः। सौखिकैः सम्भृतानर्थान्यः सन्त्यजसि किं नु तत् ॥१२-१८-२२॥
śriyā nirāśair adhanais tyakta-mitrair akiñcanair। saukhikaiḥ sambhṛtān arthān yaḥ santyajasi kiṃ nu tat ॥12-18-22॥
[श्रिया (śriyā) - by prosperity; निराशैः (nirāśaiḥ) - by hopeless ones; अधनैः (adhanais) - by the poor; त्यक्तमित्रैः (tyakta-mitraiḥ) - by those who have abandoned friends; अकिञ्चनैः (akiñcanair) - by those who possess nothing; सौखिकैः (saukhikaiḥ) - by seekers of pleasure; सम्भृतान् (sambhṛtān) - accumulated; अर्थान् (arthān) - wealths; यः (yaḥ) - who; सन्त्यजसि (santyajasi) - you abandon; किं (kiṃ) - what; नु (nu) - indeed; तत् (tat) - that;]
(By prosperity, by hopeless ones, by the poor, by those who have abandoned friends, by those who possess nothing, by seekers of pleasure, the accumulated wealths—who, you abandon; what indeed is that?)
What indeed is that wealth, accumulated by prosperity, by hopeless, poor, friendless, destitute, and pleasure-seeking people, which you abandon?
योऽत्यन्तं प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्यश्च दद्यात्सदैव हि। तयोस्त्वमन्तरं विद्धि श्रेयांस्ताभ्यां क उच्यते ॥१२-१८-२३॥
yo'tyantaṃ pratigṛhṇīyād yaś ca dadyāt sadaiva hi। tayos tvam antaraṃ viddhi śreyāṃs tābhyāṃ ka ucyate ॥12-18-23॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; अत्यन्तम् (atyantam) - excessively; प्रतिगृह्णीयात् (pratigṛhṇīyāt) - would accept; यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; दद्यात् (dadyāt) - would give; सदैव (sadaiva) - always; हि (hi) - indeed; तयोः (tayoḥ) - of those two; त्वम् (tvam) - you; अन्तरम् (antaram) - difference; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; श्रेयान् (śreyān) - superior; ताभ्याम् (tābhyām) - among those two; कः (kaḥ) - who; उच्यते (ucyate) - is said;]
(Who would excessively accept and who would always give, indeed; of those two, you know the difference; who among those two is said to be superior?)
Whoever always receives excessively and whoever always gives—know the difference between those two; who among them is considered superior?
सदैव याचमानेषु सत्सु दम्भविवर्जिषु। एतेषु दक्षिणा दत्ता दावाग्नाविव दुर्हुतम् ॥१२-१८-२४॥
sadaiva yācamāneṣu satsudambhavivarjiṣu। eteṣu dakṣiṇā dattā dāvāgnāviva durhutam ॥12-18-24॥
[सदैव (sadaiva) - always; याचमानेषु (yācamāneṣu) - in those who are asking; सत्सु (satsu) - among the good; दम्भविवर्जिषु (dambha-vivarjiṣu) - in those devoid of hypocrisy; एतेषु (eteṣu) - in these; दक्षिणा (dakṣiṇā) - gift (offering); दत्ता (dattā) - given; दावाग्नाविव (dāvāgnāviva) - like in a forest fire; दुर्हुतम् (durhutam) - badly offered;]
(Always, in those who are asking, among the good, in those devoid of hypocrisy—in these, a gift given is like an offering badly made in a forest fire.)
A gift given always to those who ask, among the virtuous and free from hypocrisy, is, in these cases, like an offering poorly made in a forest fire.
जातवेदा यथा राजन्नादग्ध्वैवोपशाम्यति। सदैव याचमानो वै तथा शाम्यति न द्विजः ॥१२-१८-२५॥
jātavedā yathā rājan nādagdhvaivopaśāmyati। sadaiva yācamāno vai tathā śāmyati na dvijaḥ ॥12-18-25॥
[जातवेदा (jātavedā) - Agni; यथा (yathā) - just as; राजन् (rājan) - O king; न (na) - not; अदग्ध्वा (adagdvā) - without burning; एव (eva) - indeed; उपशाम्यति (upaśāmyati) - subsides; सदैव (sadaiva) - always; याचमानः (yācamānaḥ) - one who begs; वै (vai) - indeed; तथा (tathā) - in that way; शाम्यति (śāmyati) - subsides; न (na) - not; द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - a Brāhmaṇa;]
(Just as, O king, Agni does not subside without burning, so too, a Brāhmaṇa who always begs does not subside.)
O king, just as fire does not subside without consuming, so too, a Brāhmaṇa who is always begging does not cease.
सतां च वेदा अन्नं च लोकेऽस्मिन्प्रकृतिर्ध्रुवा। न चेद्दाता भवेद्दाता कुतः स्युर्मोक्षकाङ्क्षिणः ॥१२-१८-२६॥
satāṃ ca vedā annaṃ ca loke'smin prakṛtir dhruvā | na ced dātā bhaved dātā kutaḥ syur mokṣakāṅkṣiṇaḥ ||12-18-26||
[सतां (satām) - of the good; च (ca) - and; वेदाः (vedāḥ) - Vedas; अन्नं (annaṃ) - food; च (ca) - and; लोकेऽस्मिन् (loke'smin) - in this world; प्रकृतिः (prakṛtiḥ) - nature; ध्रुवा (dhruvā) - constant; न (na) - not; चेत् (cet) - if; दाता (dātā) - giver; भवेत् (bhavet) - were; दाता (dātā) - giver; कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; स्युः (syuḥ) - would be; मोक्षकाङ्क्षिणः (mokṣakāṅkṣiṇaḥ) - those desiring liberation;]
(Of the good, the Vedas and food in this world are constant by nature. If there were no giver, from where would there be those desiring liberation?)
For the virtuous, the Vedas and food are ever-present in this world by their very nature. If there were no giver, how could there be seekers of liberation?
अन्नाद्गृहस्था लोकेऽस्मिन्भिक्षवस्तत एव च। अन्नात्प्राणः प्रभवति अन्नदः प्राणदो भवेत् ॥१२-१८-२७॥
annād-gṛhasthā loke'smin bhikṣavas tata eva ca। annāt prāṇaḥ prabhavati annadaḥ prāṇado bhavet ॥12-18-27॥
[अन्नात् (annāt) - from food; गृहस्थाः (gṛhasthāḥ) - householders; लोके (loke) - in the world; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; भिक्षवः (bhikṣavaḥ) - mendicants; तत (tata) - then; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; अन्नात् (annāt) - from food; प्राणः (prāṇaḥ) - life-breath; प्रभवति (prabhavati) - arises; अन्नदः (annadaḥ) - giver of food; प्राणदः (prāṇadaḥ) - giver of life; भवेत् (bhavet) - becomes;]
(From food, householders (and) mendicants in this world (exist); from food, life-breath arises; the giver of food becomes the giver of life.)
In this world, both householders and mendicants depend on food; from food, life arises; one who gives food becomes the giver of life.
गृहस्थेभ्योऽभिनिर्वृत्ता गृहस्थानेव संश्रिताः। प्रभवं च प्रतिष्ठां च दान्ता निन्दन्त आसते ॥१२-१८-२८॥
gṛhasthebhyo'bhinirvṛttā gṛhasthāneva saṃśritāḥ। prabhavaṃ ca pratiṣṭhāṃ ca dāntā nindanta āsate ॥12-18-28॥
[गृहस्थेभ्यः (gṛhasth ebhyaḥ) - from householders; अभिनिर्वृत्ता (abhinirvṛttā) - originated; गृहस्थानेव (gṛhasthān eva) - indeed in householders; संश्रिताः (saṃśritāḥ) - resorted; प्रभवम् (prabhavam) - origin; च (ca) - and; प्रतिष्ठाम् (pratiṣṭhām) - foundation; च (ca) - and; दान्ताः (dāntāḥ) - the self-restrained; निन्दन्ति (nindanti) - censure; आसते (āsate) - sit; ॥१२-१८-२८॥ (॥12-18-28॥) - ॥12-18-28॥;]
(Originated from householders, indeed resorted to householders, the self-restrained censure both origin and foundation, they sit.)
Those who have originated from householders and have resorted to householders, the self-restrained, censure both origin and foundation, and remain seated.
त्यागान्न भिक्षुकं विद्यान्न मौण्ड्यान्न च याचनात्। ऋजुस्तु योऽर्थं त्यजति तं सुखं विद्धि भिक्षुकम् ॥१२-१८-२९॥
tyāgānna bhikṣukaṃ vidyānna mauṇḍyānna ca yācanāt| ṛjustu yo'rthaṃ tyajati taṃ sukhaṃ viddhi bhikṣukam ॥12-18-29॥
[त्यागात् (tyāgāt) - from renunciation; न (na) - not; भिक्षुकम् (bhikṣukam) - a mendicant; विद्यात् (vidyāt) - should consider; न (na) - not; मौण्ड्यात् (mauṇḍyāt) - from shaving the head; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; याचनात् (yācanāt) - from begging; ऋजुः (ṛjuḥ) - the upright one; तु (tu) - but; यः (yaḥ) - who; अर्थम् (artham) - wealth; त्यजति (tyajati) - abandons; तम् (tam) - him; सुखम् (sukham) - happy; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; भिक्षुकम् (bhikṣukam) - a mendicant;]
(One should not consider a mendicant as such from renunciation, nor from shaving the head, nor from begging; but know him as a happy mendicant who, being upright, abandons wealth.)
Do not think one is a mendicant merely by renunciation, shaving the head, or begging; rather, know that person to be a true and happy mendicant who, being upright, gives up wealth.
असक्तः सक्तवद्गच्छन्निःसङ्गो मुक्तबन्धनः। समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च स वै मुक्तो महीपते ॥१२-१८-३०॥
asaktaḥ saktavadgacchanniḥsaṅgo muktabandhanaḥ। samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca sa vai mukto mahīpate ॥12-18-30॥
[असक्तः (asaktaḥ) - not attached; सक्तवत् (saktavat) - like one who is attached; गच्छन् (gacchan) - going; निःसङ्गः (niḥsaṅgaḥ) - free from association; मुक्तबन्धनः (muktabandhanaḥ) - released from bondage; समः (samaḥ) - equal; शत्रौ (śatrau) - in enemy; च (ca) - and; मित्रे (mitre) - in friend; च (ca) - and; सः (saḥ) - he; वै (vai) - indeed; मुक्तः (muktaḥ) - liberated; महीपते (mahīpate) - O king;]
(Not attached, going like one who is attached, free from association, released from bondage, equal in enemy and in friend, he indeed is liberated, O king.)
O king, he who is unattached, moves about as if attached, is free from association and released from bondage, and who is equal towards both enemy and friend, he indeed is liberated.
परिव्रजन्ति दानार्थं मुण्डाः काषायवाससः। सिता बहुविधैः पाशैः सञ्चिन्वन्तो वृथामिषम् ॥१२-१८-३१॥
parivrajanti dānārthaṃ muṇḍāḥ kāṣāyavāsasaḥ। sitā bahuvidhaiḥ pāśaiḥ sañcinvanto vṛthāmiṣam ॥12-18-31॥
[परिव्रजन्ति (parivrajanti) - they wander forth; दानार्थं (dānārtham) - for the sake of gifts; मुण्डाः (muṇḍāḥ) - shaven-headed ones; काषायवाससः (kāṣāyavāsasaḥ) - clad in ochre robes; सिता (sitā) - white (female); बहुविधैः (bahuvidhaiḥ) - by many kinds; पाशैः (pāśaiḥ) - with bonds; सञ्चिन्वन्तः (sañcinvantaḥ) - gathering; वृथामिषम् (vṛthāmiṣam) - useless bait;]
(They wander forth for the sake of gifts, shaven-headed, clad in ochre robes; the white one, with many kinds of bonds, gathering useless bait.)
Shaven-headed ascetics, clad in ochre robes, wander for the sake of gifts; the white one, with many kinds of snares, gathers useless bait.
त्रयीं च नाम वार्तां च त्यक्त्वा पुत्रांस्त्यजन्ति ये। त्रिविष्टब्धं च वासश्च प्रतिगृह्णन्त्यबुद्धयः ॥१२-१८-३२॥
trayīṃ ca nāma vārtāṃ ca tyaktvā putrāṃstyajanti ye। triviṣṭabdhaṃ ca vāsaśca pratigṛhṇantyabuddhayaḥ ॥12-18-32॥
[त्रयीम् (trayīm) - the three Vedas; च (ca) - and; नाम (nāma) - by name; वार्ताम् (vārtām) - worldly occupation; च (ca) - and; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; पुत्रान् (putrān) - sons; त्यजन्ति (tyajanti) - they abandon; ये (ye) - those who; त्रिविष्टब्धम् (triviṣṭabdham) - heaven; च (ca) - and; वासः (vāsaḥ) - residence; च (ca) - and; प्रतिगृह्णन्ति (pratigṛhṇanti) - they accept; अबुद्धयः (abuddhayaḥ) - the unwise;]
(Those who, having abandoned the three Vedas by name and worldly occupation, abandon sons, and the unwise accept heaven and residence.)
Those who, abandoning the three Vedas and worldly occupations, also forsake their sons—such unwise people accept heaven and residence.
अनिष्कषाये काषायमीहार्थमिति विद्धि तत्। धर्मध्वजानां मुण्डानां वृत्त्यर्थमिति मे मतिः ॥१२-१८-३३॥
aniṣkaṣāye kāṣāyam īha-artham iti viddhi tat। dharma-dhvajānām muṇḍānām vṛtti-artham iti me matiḥ ॥12-18-33॥
[अनिष्कषाये (aniṣkaṣāye) - not-purified; (for one) not purified; काषायम् (kāṣāyam) - ochre-robe; इह (iha) - here; अर्थम् (artham) - for the sake; इति (iti) - thus; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; तत् (tat) - that; धर्मध्वजानाम् (dharma-dhvajānām) - of the banners of dharma; मुण्डानाम् (muṇḍānām) - of the shaven-headed; वृत्त्यर्थम् (vṛtti-artham) - for the sake of livelihood; इति (iti) - thus; मे (me) - my; मतिः (matiḥ) - opinion;]
(Know that the ochre-robe here is for the sake of one not purified; that is my opinion, that it is for the sake of livelihood of the banners of dharma, the shaven-headed.)
Know that here the ochre-robe is for those not purified; in my opinion, it is for the livelihood of the so-called banners of dharma, the shaven-headed.
काषायैरजिनैश्चीरैर्नग्नान्मुण्डाञ्जटाधरान्। बिभ्रत्साधून्महाराज जय लोकाञ्जितेन्द्रियः ॥१२-१८-३४॥
kāṣāyair ajinaiś cīrair nagnān muṇḍān jaṭādharān। bibhrat sādhūn mahārāja jaya lokān jitendriyaḥ॥12-18-34॥
[काषायैः (kāṣāyaiḥ) - with ochre garments; अजिनैः (ajinaiḥ) - with animal skins; चीरैः (cīraiḥ) - with bark garments; नग्नान् (nagnān) - naked ones; मुण्डान् (muṇḍān) - shaven-headed ones; जटाधरान् (jaṭādharān) - matted-haired ones; बिभ्रत् (bibhrat) - bearing; साधून् (sādhūn) - ascetics; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; जय (jaya) - victory; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; जितेन्द्रियः (jitendriyaḥ) - one who has conquered the senses;]
(Bearing ascetics with ochre garments, animal skins, bark garments, naked ones, shaven-headed ones, matted-haired ones, O great king, victory to the worlds, one who has conquered the senses.)
O great king, you bear ascetics who wear ochre robes, animal skins, bark garments, who are naked, shaven-headed, or matted-haired; victory to the worlds, O conqueror of the senses.
अग्न्याधेयानि गुर्वर्थान्क्रतून्सपशुदक्षिणान्। ददात्यहरहः पूर्वं को नु धर्मतरस्ततः ॥१२-१८-३५॥
agnyādheyāni gurvarthān kratūn sa-paśu-dakṣiṇān। dadāty aharahaḥ pūrvaṃ ko nu dharmataras tataḥ॥12-18-35॥
[अग्न्याधेयानि (agnyādheyāni) - things to be offered into the fire; गुर्वर्थान् (gurvarthān) - for the sake of the teacher; क्रतून् (kratūn) - sacrifices; सपशुदक्षिणान् (sa-paśu-dakṣiṇān) - with animals and gifts; ददाति (dadāti) - gives; अहरहः (aharahaḥ) - day by day; पूर्वं (pūrvam) - before; कः (kaḥ) - who; नु (nu) - indeed; धर्मतरः (dharmataraḥ) - more righteous; ततः (tataḥ) - than that;]
(He gives, day by day, things to be offered into the fire, for the sake of the teacher, sacrifices with animals and gifts, before; who indeed is more righteous than that?)
He daily gives offerings for the fire, for the teacher, and sacrifices with animals and gifts; who, then, can be more righteous than he?
तत्त्वज्ञो जनको राजा लोकेऽस्मिन्निति गीयते। सोऽप्यासीन्मोहसम्पन्नो मा मोहवशमन्वगाः ॥१२-१८-३६॥
tattvajño janako rājā loke'sminniti gīyate. so'pyāsīn mohasampanno mā mohavaśamanvagāḥ ॥12-18-36॥
[तत्त्वज्ञः (tattvajñaḥ) - knower of truth; जनकः (janakaḥ) - Janaka; राजा (rājā) - king; लोके (loke) - in the world; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; इति (iti) - thus; गीयते (gīyate) - is sung; सः (saḥ) - he; अपि (api) - also; आसीत् (āsīt) - was; मोहसम्पन्नः (moha-sampannaḥ) - possessed of delusion; मा (mā) - do not; मोहवशम् (moha-vaśam) - under the sway of delusion; अन्वगाः (anvagāḥ) - follow; ॥१२-१८-३६॥ (॥12-18-36॥) - ;]
(The knower of truth, King Janaka, is thus sung in this world. He too was possessed of delusion. Do not follow the sway of delusion.)
King Janaka, renowned as a knower of truth in this world, was also once overcome by delusion. Therefore, do not let yourself be led by delusion.
एवं धर्ममनुक्रान्तं सदा दानपरैर्नरैः। आनृशंस्यगुणोपेतैः कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः ॥१२-१८-३७॥
evaṃ dharmam anukrāntaṃ sadā dānaparair naraiḥ। ānṛśaṃsyaguṇopetaiḥ kāmakrodhavivarjitāḥ ॥12-18-37॥
[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; अनुक्रान्तम् (anukrāntam) - followed; सदा (sadā) - always; दानपरैः (dānaparaiḥ) - by those intent on giving; नरैः (naraiḥ) - by men; आनृशंस्यगुणोपेतैः (ānṛśaṃsyaguṇopetaiḥ) - endowed with the quality of compassion; कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः (kāmakrodhavivarjitāḥ) - free from desire and anger;]
(Thus, dharma, followed always by men intent on giving, endowed with the quality of compassion, free from desire and anger.)
Thus, dharma was always followed by men devoted to charity, endowed with compassion, and free from desire and anger.
पालयन्तः प्रजाश्चैव दानमुत्तममास्थिताः। इष्टाँल्लोकानवाप्स्यामो ब्रह्मण्याः सत्यवादिनः ॥१२-१८-३८॥
pālayantaḥ prajāścaiva dānamuttamamāsthitāḥ। iṣṭāṃllokānavāpsyāmo brahmaṇyāḥ satyavādinaḥ ॥12-18-38॥
[पालयन्तः (pālayantaḥ) - protecting; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; दानम् (dānam) - charity; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - supreme; आस्थिताः (āsthitāḥ) - engaged in; इष्टान् (iṣṭān) - desired; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; अवाप्स्यामः (avāpsyāmaḥ) - we shall attain; ब्रह्मण्याः (brahmaṇyāḥ) - devoted to Brahman; सत्यवादिनः (satyavādinaḥ) - truth-speaking;]
(Protecting the subjects and indeed engaged in supreme charity, we, devoted to Brahman and truth-speaking, shall attain the desired worlds.)
By protecting the people and practicing the highest charity, being devoted to Brahman and speaking the truth, we shall attain the desired worlds.
