12.021
Library: Divine sages advise Yudhishthira - The knower of dharma should restrain the wicked, favour the good, and, having established his subjects on the path of righteousness, conduct himself accordingly.
देवस्थान उवाच॥
The temple spoke:
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। इन्द्रेण समये पृष्टो यदुवाच बृहस्पतिः ॥१२-२१-१॥
Right here, they recount this ancient story: When Indra asked at that time, Bṛhaspati spoke as follows.
सन्तोषो वै स्वर्गतमः सन्तोषः परमं सुखम्। तुष्टेर्न किञ्चित्परतः सुसम्यक्परितिष्ठति ॥१२-२१-२॥
Contentment is truly the highest heaven; contentment is the greatest happiness. Nothing stands better than contentment.
यदा संहरते कामान्कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः। तदात्मज्योतिरात्मैव स्वात्मनैव प्रसीदति ॥१२-२१-३॥
When one withdraws all desires like a tortoise withdraws its limbs, then the self, shining by its own light, becomes peaceful by itself.
न बिभेति यदा चायं यदा चास्मान्न बिभ्यति। कामद्वेषौ च जयति तदात्मानं प्रपश्यति ॥१२-२१-४॥
When this person does not fear, and when he does not fear us, and conquers desire and hatred, then he clearly perceives the self.
यदासौ सर्वभूतानां न क्रुध्यति न दुष्यति। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा ॥१२-२१-५॥
When a person, towards all beings, neither becomes angry nor is corrupted in action, mind, or speech, then he attains Brahman.
एवं कौन्तेय भूतानि तं तं धर्मं तथा तथा। तदा तदा प्रपश्यन्ति तस्माद्बुध्यस्व भारत ॥१२-२१-६॥
O son of Kunti, beings perceive their respective duties in various ways at different times; therefore, O Bharata, understand this.
अन्ये शमं प्रशंसन्ति व्यायाममपरे तथा। नैकं न चापरं केचिदुभयं च तथापरे ॥१२-२१-७॥
Some praise tranquility, others praise exertion; some do not praise either one or the other, while some others praise both.
यज्ञमेके प्रशंसन्ति संन्यासमपरे जनाः। दानमेके प्रशंसन्ति केचिदेव प्रतिग्रहम् ॥ केचित्सर्वं परित्यज्य तूष्णीं ध्यायन्त आसते ॥१२-२१-८॥
Some people praise sacrifice, others praise renunciation; some praise charity, and some praise only the acceptance of gifts. Some, having abandoned everything, sit in silence and meditate.
राज्यमेके प्रशंसन्ति सर्वेषां परिपालनम्। हत्वा भित्त्वा च छित्त्वा च केचिदेकान्तशीलिनः ॥१२-२१-९॥
Some praise the rule and protection of all; others, after killing, piercing, and cutting, are devoted to solitude.
एतत्सर्वं समालोक्य बुधानामेष निश्चयः। अद्रोहेणैव भूतानां यो धर्मः स सतां मतः ॥१२-२१-१०॥
After considering all this, the wise have concluded: the duty which consists in non-injury to beings is regarded as the highest by the virtuous.
अद्रोहः सत्यवचनं संविभागो धृतिः क्षमा। प्रजनः स्वेषु दारेषु मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ॥१२-२१-११॥
Absence of hostility, speaking the truth, sharing with others, steadfastness, forgiveness, having offspring, gentleness with one's own wives, modesty, and absence of fickleness.
धनं धर्मप्रधानेष्टं मनुः स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत्। तस्मादेवं प्रयत्नेन कौन्तेय परिपालय ॥१२-२१-१२॥
Manu Svāyambhuva declared, "Wealth is to be sought when righteousness is primary." Therefore, O son of Kunti, you should protect it diligently in this way.
यो हि राज्ये स्थितः शश्वद्वशी तुल्यप्रियाप्रियः। क्षत्रियो यज्ञशिष्टाशी राजशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित् ॥१२-२१-१३॥
He who, established in the kingdom, is always self-controlled, impartial to pleasure and displeasure, a Kṣatriya who partakes of the remnants of sacrifice and knows the true essence of royal scriptures.
असाधुनिग्रहरतः साधूनां प्रग्रहे रतः। धर्मे वर्त्मनि संस्थाप्य प्रजा वर्तेत धर्मवित् ॥१२-२१-१४॥
The knower of dharma should restrain the wicked, favor the good, and, having established his subjects on the path of righteousness, conduct himself accordingly.
पुत्रसङ्क्रामितश्रीस्तु वने वन्येन वर्तयन्। विधिना श्रामणेनैव कुर्यात्कालमतन्द्रितः ॥१२-२१-१५॥
But when a man's prosperity has passed to his son, he should live in the forest, sustaining himself on forest produce, following the rules like an ascetic, and spend his time diligently.
य एवं वर्तते राजा राजधर्मविनिश्चितः। तस्यायं च परश्चैव लोकः स्यात्सफलो नृप ॥ निर्वाणं तु सुदुष्पारं बहुविघ्नं च मे मतम् ॥१२-२१-१६॥
A king who acts in this way, firmly established in the duties of kingship, will find both this world and the next fruitful, O king. However, in my opinion, liberation is very difficult to attain and is beset with many obstacles.
एवं धर्ममनुक्रान्ताः सत्यदानतपःपराः। आनृशंस्यगुणैर्युक्ताः कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः ॥१२-२१-१७॥
Thus, having followed dharma, devoted to truth, charity, and austerity, endowed with the qualities of compassion, and free from desire and anger.
प्रजानां पालने युक्ता दममुत्तममास्थिताः। गोब्राह्मणार्थं युद्धेन सम्प्राप्ता गतिमुत्तमाम् ॥१२-२१-१८॥
They, engaged in protecting the people and practicing supreme self-restraint, attained the highest state through battle for the sake of cows and Brāhmaṇas.
एवं रुद्राः सवसवस्तथादित्याः परन्तप। साध्या राजर्षिसङ्घाश्च धर्ममेतं समाश्रिताः ॥ अप्रमत्तास्ततः स्वर्गं प्राप्ताः पुण्यैः स्वकर्मभिः ॥१२-२१-१९॥
O scorcher of foes, thus the Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, Sādhyas, and assemblies of royal sages have all resorted to this dharma. By being vigilant, they attained heaven through the merits of their own actions.
