12.023
Library: Sage Vyasa, concurring with Bhima, says the practice of householder duties is the highest, and for a warrior like him who is knowledgeable, taking the burden of ruling the kingdom is suitable.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) - Vaiśampāyana; (name of the sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Vaiśampāyana said;)
Vaiśampāyana said:
एवमुक्तस्तु कौन्तेयो गुडाकेशेन भारत। नोवाच किञ्चित्कौरव्यस्ततो द्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् ॥१२-२३-१॥
evam-uktas-tu kaunteyo guḍākeśena bhārata। novāca kiñcit-kauravyas-tato dvaipāyano'bravīt ॥12-23-1॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - having been spoken; तु (tu) - but; कौन्तेयः (kaunteyaḥ) - son of Kunti; गुडाकेशेन (guḍākeśena) - by Guḍākeśa; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; न (na) - not; उवाच (uvāca) - spoke; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; कौरव्यः (kauravyaḥ) - descendant of Kuru; ततः (tataḥ) - then; द्वैपायनः (dvaipāyanaḥ) - Vyāsa; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]
(Thus having been addressed by Guḍākeśa, O Bhārata, the son of Kunti did not say anything. Then Vyāsa, the descendant of Kuru, spoke.)
After Guḍākeśa spoke thus, O Bhārata, the son of Kunti remained silent. Then Vyāsa, the sage, spoke.
बीभत्सोर्वचनं सम्यक्सत्यमेतद्युधिष्ठिर। शास्त्रदृष्टः परो धर्मः स्मृतो गार्हस्थ्य आश्रमः ॥१२-२३-२॥
bībhatsor vacanaṃ samyak satyam etad yudhiṣṭhira। śāstra-dṛṣṭaḥ paro dharmaḥ smṛto gārhasthya āśramaḥ॥12-23-2॥
[बीभत्सोः (bībhatsor) - of Bhīma; वचनम् (vacanam) - speech; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; सत्यं (satyam) - true; एतत् (etat) - this; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhiṣṭhira; शास्त्रदृष्टः (śāstra-dṛṣṭaḥ) - as seen in the scriptures; परः (paraḥ) - supreme; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; स्मृतः (smṛtaḥ) - is considered; गार्हस्थ्य (gārhasthya) - householder's; आश्रमः (āśramaḥ) - āśrama;]
(O Yudhiṣṭhira, the speech of Bhīma is proper and true. The householder's āśrama is considered the supreme duty as seen in the scriptures.)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma's words are correct and true. According to the scriptures, the householder's stage of life is regarded as the highest dharma.
स्वधर्मं चर धर्मज्ञ यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि। न हि गार्हस्थ्यमुत्सृज्य तवारण्यं विधीयते ॥१२-२३-३॥
svadharmaṃ cara dharmajña yathāśāstraṃ yathāvidhi। na hi gārhasthyam utsṛjya tavāraṇyaṃ vidhīyate ॥12-23-3॥
[स्वधर्मं (svadharmaṃ) - one's own duty; चर (cara) - perform; धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - knower of dharma; यथाशास्त्रं (yathāśāstraṃ) - according to śāstra; यथाविधि (yathāvidhi) - according to rule; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; गार्हस्थ्यम् (gārhasthyam) - householder's life; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - abandoning; तव (tava) - for you; अरण्यम् (araṇyam) - forest; विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed;]
(Perform your own duty, O knower of dharma, according to śāstra and according to rule. Indeed, abandoning the householder's life, the forest is not prescribed for you.)
O knower of dharma, perform your own duty as prescribed by the śāstra and by rule. For you, abandoning the householder's life, going to the forest is not prescribed.
गृहस्थं हि सदा देवाः पितर ऋषयस्तथा। भृत्याश्चैवोपजीवन्ति तान्भजस्व महीपते ॥१२-२३-४॥
gṛhasthaṃ hi sadā devāḥ pitara ṛṣayas tathā। bhṛtyāś caivopajīvanti tān bhajasva mahīpate ॥12-23-4॥
[गृहस्थम् (gṛhastham) - householder; हि (hi) - indeed; सदा (sadā) - always; देवाः (devāḥ) - gods; पितरः (pitaraḥ) - ancestors; ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ) - sages; तथा (tathā) - likewise; भृत्याः (bhṛtyāḥ) - servants; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; उपजीवन्ति (upajīvanti) - subsist upon; तान् (tān) - them; भजस्व (bhajasva) - honor; महीपते (mahīpate) - O king;]
(Indeed, always the gods, ancestors, sages likewise, and servants indeed subsist upon the householder; honor them, O king.)
O king, always honor those upon whom the gods, ancestors, sages, and servants depend—the householder.
वयांसि पशवश्चैव भूतानि च महीपते। गृहस्थैरेव धार्यन्ते तस्माज्ज्येष्ठाश्रमो गृही ॥१२-२३-५॥
vayāṃsi paśavaś caiva bhūtāni ca mahīpate। gṛhasthair eva dhāryante tasmāj jyeṣṭhāśramo gṛhī ॥12-23-5॥
[वयांसि (vayāṃsi) - ages; (or beings of various ages;) पशवः (paśavaḥ) - animals; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - creatures; च (ca) - and; महीपते (mahīpate) - O king; गृहस्थैः (gṛhasthaiḥ) - by householders; एव (eva) - indeed; धार्यन्ते (dhāryante) - are supported; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; ज्येष्ठाश्रमः (jyeṣṭhāśramaḥ) - the eldest āśrama (stage of life, i.e., householder); गृही (gṛhī) - householder;]
(Ages, animals, and creatures, O king, are indeed supported by householders; therefore, the householder is the eldest āśrama.)
O king, ages, animals, and all beings are maintained by householders alone; therefore, the householder's stage is considered the foremost among āśramas.
सोऽयं चतुर्णामेतेषामाश्रमाणां दुराचरः। तं चराविमनाः पार्थ दुश्चरं दुर्बलेन्द्रियैः ॥१२-२३-६॥
so'yaṃ caturṇāmeteṣāmāśramāṇāṃ durācaraḥ। taṃ carāvimanāḥ pārtha duścaraṃ durbalendriyaiḥ ॥12-23-6॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; अयम् (ayam) - this; चतुर्णाम् (caturṇām) - of the four; एतेषाम् (eteṣām) - of these; आश्रमाणाम् (āśramāṇām) - of āśramas; दुराचरः (durācaraḥ) - difficult to practice; तम् (tam) - that; चरा (carā) - practice; अविमनाः (avimanāḥ) - without despondency; पार्थ (pārtha) - O Pārtha; दुश्चरम् (duścaram) - difficult to perform; दुर्बल-इन्द्रियैः (durbala-indriyaiḥ) - by those with weak senses;]
(He, this among the four āśramas, is difficult to practice. That, practice without despondency, O Pārtha, (for it is) difficult to perform by those with weak senses.)
Among the four āśramas, this one is difficult to practice. Practice that without despondency, O Pārtha, for it is hard to accomplish for those whose senses are weak.
वेदज्ञानं च ते कृत्स्नं तपश्च चरितं महत्। पितृपैतामहे राज्ये धुरमुद्वोढुमर्हसि ॥१२-२३-७॥
vedajñānaṃ ca te kṛtsnaṃ tapaśca caritaṃ mahat। pitṛpaitāmahe rājye dhuramudvoḍhumarhasi ॥12-23-7॥
[वेद (veda) - Veda; ज्ञानं (jñānam) - knowledge; च (ca) - and; ते (te) - your; कृत्स्नं (kṛtsnam) - entire; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; च (ca) - and; चरितं (caritam) - performed; महत् (mahat) - great; पितृपैतामहे (pitṛpaitāmahe) - ancestral (of father and grandfather); राज्ये (rājye) - in the kingdom; धुरम् (dhuram) - burden; उद्वोढुम् (udvoḍhum) - to bear; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you are worthy;]
(The knowledge of the Vedas and all your great austerity performed—you are worthy to bear the burden in the ancestral kingdom.)
You possess the knowledge of the Vedas and have performed great austerities; you are worthy to bear the burden of rule in the kingdom of your forefathers.
तपो यज्ञस्तथा विद्या भैक्षमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः। ध्यानमेकान्तशीलत्वं तुष्टिर्दानं च शक्तितः ॥१२-२३-८॥
tapo yajñas tathā vidyā bhaikṣam indriyanigrahaḥ। dhyānam ekāntaśīlatvaṃ tuṣṭir dānaṃ ca śaktitaḥ॥12-23-8॥
[तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; तथा (tathā) - likewise; विद्या (vidyā) - knowledge; भैक्षम् (bhaikṣam) - alms; इन्द्रियनिग्रहः (indriyanigrahaḥ) - restraint of the senses; ध्यानम् (dhyānam) - meditation; एकान्तशीलत्वम् (ekāntaśīlatvam) - solitude and good conduct; तुष्टिः (tuṣṭiḥ) - contentment; दानम् (dānam) - charity; च (ca) - and; शक्तितः (śaktitaḥ) - according to ability;]
(Austerity, sacrifice, likewise knowledge, alms, restraint of the senses, meditation, solitude and good conduct, contentment, charity and according to ability.)
Austerity, sacrifice, knowledge, alms, control of the senses, meditation, solitude and virtuous conduct, contentment, and charity according to one's ability.
ब्राह्मणानां महाराज चेष्टाः संसिद्धिकारिकाः। क्षत्रियाणां च वक्ष्यामि तवापि विदितं पुनः ॥१२-२३-९॥
brāhmaṇānāṃ mahārāja ceṣṭāḥ saṃsiddhikārikāḥ। kṣatriyāṇāṃ ca vakṣyāmi tavāpi viditaṃ punaḥ ॥12-23-9॥
[ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of the Brāhmaṇas; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; चेष्टाः (ceṣṭāḥ) - activities; संसिद्धिकारिकाः (saṃsiddhikārikāḥ) - those leading to perfection; क्षत्रियाणाम् (kṣatriyāṇām) - of the Kṣatriyas; च (ca) - and; वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - I shall declare; तव (tava) - to you; अपि (api) - also; विदितम् (viditam) - known; पुनः (punaḥ) - again;]
(O great king, I shall declare the activities of the Brāhmaṇas, those leading to perfection, and also of the Kṣatriyas, again, to you, as already known.)
O great king, I will again explain to you the activities of the Brāhmaṇas that lead to perfection, as well as those of the Kṣatriyas, even though you already know them.
यज्ञो विद्या समुत्थानमसन्तोषः श्रियं प्रति। दण्डधारणमत्युग्रं प्रजानां परिपालनम् ॥१२-२३-१०॥
yajño vidyā samutthānam asantoṣaḥ śriyaṃ prati। daṇḍadhāraṇam atyugraṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam ॥12-23-10॥
[यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; विद्या (vidyā) - knowledge; समुत्थानम् (samutthānam) - arising; असन्तोषः (asantoṣaḥ) - non-contentment; श्रियम् (śriyam) - prosperity; प्रति (prati) - towards; दण्डधारणम् (daṇḍadhāraṇam) - bearing the rod (of punishment); अत्युग्रं (atyugram) - very severe; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the subjects; परिपालनम् (paripālanam) - protection;]
(Sacrifice, knowledge, arising, non-contentment towards prosperity; bearing the rod (of punishment) very severe, protection of the subjects.)
Sacrifice, knowledge, initiative, and discontent with regard to prosperity; wielding a very severe rod, and the protection of the subjects.
वेदज्ञानं तथा कृत्स्नं तपः सुचरितं तथा। द्रविणोपार्जनं भूरि पात्रेषु प्रतिपादनम् ॥१२-२३-११॥
vedajñānaṃ tathā kṛtsnaṃ tapaḥ sucaritaṃ tathā। draviṇopārjanaṃ bhūri pātreṣu pratipādanam ॥12-23-11॥
[वेदज्ञानं (vedajñānam) - knowledge of the Veda; तथा (tathā) - likewise; कृत्स्नं (kṛtsnam) - entire; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; सुचरितं (sucaritam) - good conduct; तथा (tathā) - likewise; द्रविणोपार्जनं (draviṇopārjanam) - acquisition of wealth; भूरि (bhūri) - abundant; पात्रेषु (pātreṣu) - to the deserving; प्रतिपादनम् (pratipādanam) - giving; ॥१२-२३-११॥ (॥12-23-11॥) -;]
(Knowledge of the Veda, likewise entire austerity, good conduct likewise, acquisition of abundant wealth, giving to the deserving.)
Knowledge of the Veda, complete austerity, good conduct, acquisition of abundant wealth, and giving to the deserving are all important.
एतानि राज्ञां कर्माणि सुकृतानि विशां पते। इमं लोकममुं लोकं साधयन्तीति नः श्रुतम् ॥१२-२३-१२॥
etāni rājñāṃ karmāṇi sukṛtāni viśāṃ pate। imaṃ lokam amuṃ lokaṃ sādhayantīti naḥ śrutam ॥12-23-12॥
[एतानि (etāni) - these; (neuter plural) राज्ञां (rājñām) - of kings; कर्माणि (karmāṇi) - actions; सुकृतानि (sukṛtāni) - well-done; meritorious; विशां (viśām) - of the people; पते (pate) - O lord; इमं (imaṃ) - this; लोकम् (lokam) - world; अमुं (amuṃ) - that; लोकम् (lokam) - world; साधयन्ति (sādhayanti) - accomplish; (they) bring about; इति (iti) - thus; नः (naḥ) - to us; श्रुतम् (śrutam) - has been heard;]
(These actions of kings, O lord of the people, well-done, accomplish this world and that world—thus it has been heard by us.)
O lord of the people, we have heard that these meritorious actions of kings accomplish both this world and the next.
तेषां ज्यायस्तु कौन्तेय दण्डधारणमुच्यते। बलं हि क्षत्रिये नित्यं बले दण्डः समाहितः ॥१२-२३-१३॥
teṣāṃ jyāyastu kaunteya daṇḍadhāraṇam ucyate। balaṃ hi kṣatriye nityaṃ bale daṇḍaḥ samāhitaḥ ॥12-23-13॥
[तेषां (teṣām) - of them; ज्यायः (jyāyas) - superior; तु (tu) - but; कौन्तेय (kaunteya) - O son of Kunti; दण्डधारणम् (daṇḍadhāraṇam) - bearing of the staff (punishment); उच्यते (ucyate) - is said; बलम् (balam) - strength; हि (hi) - indeed; क्षत्रिये (kṣatriye) - in a kṣatriya; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; बले (bale) - in strength; दण्डः (daṇḍaḥ) - the staff (punishment); समाहितः (samāhitaḥ) - is established;]
(But among them, O son of Kunti, the bearing of the staff (punishment) is said to be superior; indeed, in a kṣatriya, strength is always established in the staff (punishment).)
O son of Kunti, among all these, the wielding of punishment is considered superior; for in a kṣatriya, strength is always established in the power of punishment.
एताश्चेष्टाः क्षत्रियाणां राजन्संसिद्धिकारिकाः। अपि गाथामिमां चापि बृहस्पतिरभाषत ॥१२-२३-१४॥
etāś ceṣṭāḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ rājan saṃsiddhikārikāḥ। api gāthām imāṃ cāpi bṛhaspatir abhāṣata ॥12-23-14॥
[एताः (etāḥ) - these; (feminine plural nominative) चेष्टाः (ceṣṭāḥ) - actions; efforts; क्षत्रियाणां (kṣatriyāṇām) - of the kṣatriyas; (genitive plural) राजन् (rājan) - O king; संसिद्धिकारिकाः (saṃsiddhikārikāḥ) - leading to accomplishment; (feminine plural nominative) अपि (api) - also; गाथाम् (gāthām) - verse; (accusative singular) इमाम् (imām) - this; (feminine accusative singular) च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; बृहस्पतिः (bṛhaspatiḥ) - Bṛhaspati; (subject) अभाषत (abhāṣata) - spoke; (imperfect, 3rd person singular) १२-२३-१४ (12-23-14) - 12-23-14;]
(These actions of the kṣatriyas, O king, are leading to accomplishment. Also, Bṛhaspati spoke this very verse.)
O king, these are the actions of the kṣatriyas that lead to success. Bṛhaspati also spoke this very verse.
भूमिरेतौ निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव। राजानं चाविरोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम् ॥१२-२३-१५॥
bhūmir etau nigirati sarpo bilaśayān iva। rājānaṃ cāviroddhāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cāpravāsinam ॥12-23-15॥
[भूमिः (bhūmiḥ) - earth; एतौ (etau) - these two; निगिरति (nigirati) - swallows; सर्पः (sarpaḥ) - serpent; बिलशयान् (bilaśayān) - dwelling in holes; इव (iva) - like; राजानम् (rājānam) - king; च (ca) - and; अविरोद्धारम् (aviroddhāram) - one who is not opposed; ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - brāhmaṇa; च (ca) - and; अप्रवासिनम् (apravāsinam) - one who does not go abroad;]
(The earth swallows these two, like a serpent dwelling in holes: a king who is not opposed and a brāhmaṇa who does not go abroad.)
The earth consumes two types of people, just as a serpent living in holes does: a king who faces no opposition and a brāhmaṇa who does not travel abroad.
सुद्युम्नश्चापि राजर्षिः श्रूयते दण्डधारणात्। प्राप्तवान्परमां सिद्धिं दक्षः प्राचेतसो यथा ॥१२-२३-१६॥
sudyumnaś cāpi rājarṣiḥ śrūyate daṇḍadhāraṇāt। prāptavān paramāṃ siddhiṃ dakṣaḥ prācetaso yathā ॥12-23-16॥
[सुद्युम्नः (sudyumnaḥ) - Sudyumna; (proper name); च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; राजर्षिः (rājarṣiḥ) - royal sage; श्रूयते (śrūyate) - is heard; दण्डधारणात् (daṇḍadhāraṇāt) - from upholding the rod (of discipline); प्राप्तवान् (prāptavān) - attained; परमां (paramām) - supreme; सिद्धिं (siddhiṃ) - perfection; दक्षः (dakṣaḥ) - Dakṣa; (proper name); प्राचेतसः (prācetasaḥ) - son of Pracetas; यथा (yathā) - just as;]
(Sudyumna also, the royal sage, is heard (to have) from upholding the rod (of discipline), attained supreme perfection, just as Dakṣa, the son of Pracetas.)
It is said that Sudyumna, the royal sage, by upholding discipline, attained supreme perfection, just as Dakṣa, the son of Pracetas, did.
