12.020
Library: The divine sage advises King Yudhisthira on the importance of wealth and how it should be used for sacrifice alone.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
तस्मिन्वाक्यान्तरे वक्ता देवस्थानो महातपाः। अभिनीततरं वाक्यमित्युवाच युधिष्ठिरम् ॥१२-२०-१॥
At that point, the speaker, the divine sage and great ascetic, addressed Yudhishthira with an even more humble statement, saying:
यद्वचः फल्गुनेनोक्तं न ज्यायोऽस्ति धनादिति। अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि तदेकाग्रमनाः शृणु ॥१२-२०-२॥
I will now tell you what Phalguna said, 'There is nothing greater than wealth.' Listen to this with focused attention.
अजातशत्रो धर्मेण कृत्स्ना ते वसुधा जिता। तां जित्वा न वृथा राजंस्त्वं परित्यक्तुमर्हसि ॥१२-२०-३॥
O unconquered one, you have won the whole earth by righteousness. Having conquered her, O king, you should not abandon her without cause.
चतुष्पदी हि निःश्रेणी कर्मण्येषा प्रतिष्ठिता। तां क्रमेण महाबाहो यथावज्जय पार्थिव ॥१२-२०-४॥
O mighty-armed king, this four-stepped ladder to liberation is established in action. Conquer it properly, step by step.
तस्मात्पार्थ महायज्ञैर्यजस्व बहुदक्षिणैः। स्वाध्याययज्ञा ऋषयो ज्ञानयज्ञास्तथापरे ॥१२-२०-५॥
Therefore, O Pārtha, perform great sacrifices with many gifts; the sages performed sacrifices of self-study, and others performed sacrifices of knowledge likewise.
कर्मनिष्ठांस्तु बुध्येथास्तपोनिष्ठांश्च भारत। वैखानसानां राजेन्द्र वचनं श्रूयते यथा ॥१२-२०-६॥
O Bhārata, you should know the distinction between those devoted to action and those devoted to austerity. O king, the statement of the Vaikhānasas is heard as follows: "12-20-6".
ईहते धनहेतोर्यस्तस्यानीहा गरीयसी। भूयान्दोषः प्रवर्धेत यस्तं धनमपाश्रयेत् ॥१२-२०-७॥
For one who strives for wealth, not striving is better. The fault would be greater for one who depends on such wealth.
कृच्छ्राच्च द्रव्यसंहारं कुर्वन्ति धनकारणात्। धनेन तृषितोऽबुद्ध्या भ्रूणहत्यां न बुध्यते ॥१२-२०-८॥
Driven by hardship, people accumulate wealth for the sake of money; blinded by craving for wealth and lacking understanding, they do not realize the sin of foeticide.
अनर्हते यद्ददाति न ददाति यदर्हते। अनर्हार्हापरिज्ञानाद्दानधर्मोऽपि दुष्करः ॥१२-२०-९॥
If one gives to the unworthy and not to the worthy, due to not discerning between the unworthy and the worthy, even the virtue of giving becomes difficult to practice.
यज्ञाय सृष्टानि धनानि धात्रा; यष्टादिष्टः पुरुषो रक्षिता च। तस्मात्सर्वं यज्ञ एवोपयोज्यं; धनं ततोऽनन्तर एव कामः ॥१२-२०-१०॥
Wealth is created by the Creator for sacrifice; the sacrificer and the worshipped person are protected. Therefore, everything should be used for sacrifice; only then, immediately, comes the fulfillment of desire.
यज्ञैरिन्द्रो विविधैरन्नवद्भिर्देवान्सर्वानभ्ययान्महौजाः। तेनेन्द्रत्वं प्राप्य विभ्राजतेऽसौ; तस्माद्यज्ञे सर्वमेवोपयोज्यम् ॥१२-२०-११॥
Indra, by means of various sacrifices with food-offerings, approached all the gods with great strength. By this, having attained the status of Indra, he shines; therefore, everything is indeed to be used in sacrifice.
महादेवः सर्वमेधे महात्मा; हुत्वात्मानं देवदेवो विभूतः। विश्वाँल्लोकान्व्याप्य विष्टभ्य कीर्त्या; विरोचते द्युतिमान्कृत्तिवासाः ॥१२-२०-१२॥
The great god Mahādeva, the great-souled one, in every sacrifice, having offered himself, the god of gods, having become glorious, pervading and supporting all worlds by his fame, shines resplendently, the wearer of hides.
आविक्षितः पार्थिवो वै मरुत्तः; स्वृद्ध्या मर्त्यो योऽजयद्देवराजम्। यज्ञे यस्य श्रीः स्वयं संनिविष्टा; यस्मिन्भाण्डं काञ्चनं सर्वमासीत् ॥१२-२०-१३॥
Marutta, the king descended from Avikṣit, was so prosperous that as a mortal he conquered even the king of the gods. In his sacrifice, prosperity herself was present, and all the vessels used were made of gold.
हरिश्चन्द्रः पार्थिवेन्द्रः श्रुतस्ते; यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा पुण्यकृद्वीतशोकः। ऋद्ध्या शक्रं योऽजयन्मानुषः सं; स्तस्माद्यज्ञे सर्वमेवोपयोज्यम् ॥१२-२०-१४॥
Hariścandra, the king of kings, as you have heard, performed sacrifices, did meritorious deeds, and became free from sorrow. By his prosperity, he, a man, conquered Indra; therefore, everything should indeed be employed in sacrifice.
