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.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
evam-uktas-tu kaunteyo guḍākeśena bhārata। novāca kiñcit-kauravyas-tato dvaipāyano'bravīt ॥12-23-1॥
After Guḍākeśa spoke thus, O Bhārata, the son of Kunti remained silent. Then Vyāsa, the sage, spoke.
bībhatsor vacanaṃ samyak satyam etad yudhiṣṭhira। śāstra-dṛṣṭaḥ paro dharmaḥ smṛto gārhasthya āśramaḥ॥12-23-2॥
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.
svadharmaṃ cara dharmajña yathāśāstraṃ yathāvidhi। na hi gārhasthyam utsṛjya tavāraṇyaṃ vidhīyate ॥12-23-3॥
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.
gṛhasthaṃ hi sadā devāḥ pitara ṛṣayas tathā। bhṛtyāś caivopajīvanti tān bhajasva mahīpate ॥12-23-4॥
O king, always honor those upon whom the gods, ancestors, sages, and servants depend—the householder.
vayāṃsi paśavaś caiva bhūtāni ca mahīpate। gṛhasthair eva dhāryante tasmāj jyeṣṭhāśramo gṛhī ॥12-23-5॥
O king, ages, animals, and all beings are maintained by householders alone; therefore, the householder's stage is considered the foremost among āśramas.
so'yaṃ caturṇāmeteṣāmāśramāṇāṃ durācaraḥ। taṃ carāvimanāḥ pārtha duścaraṃ durbalendriyaiḥ ॥12-23-6॥
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.
vedajñānaṃ ca te kṛtsnaṃ tapaśca caritaṃ mahat। pitṛpaitāmahe rājye dhuramudvoḍhumarhasi ॥12-23-7॥
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.
tapo yajñas tathā vidyā bhaikṣam indriyanigrahaḥ। dhyānam ekāntaśīlatvaṃ tuṣṭir dānaṃ ca śaktitaḥ॥12-23-8॥
Austerity, sacrifice, knowledge, alms, control of the senses, meditation, solitude and virtuous conduct, contentment, and charity according to one's ability.
brāhmaṇānāṃ mahārāja ceṣṭāḥ saṃsiddhikārikāḥ। kṣatriyāṇāṃ ca vakṣyāmi tavāpi viditaṃ punaḥ ॥12-23-9॥
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.
yajño vidyā samutthānam asantoṣaḥ śriyaṃ prati। daṇḍadhāraṇam atyugraṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam ॥12-23-10॥
Sacrifice, knowledge, initiative, and discontent with regard to prosperity; wielding a very severe rod, and the protection of the subjects.
vedajñānaṃ tathā kṛtsnaṃ tapaḥ sucaritaṃ tathā। draviṇopārjanaṃ bhūri pātreṣu pratipādanam ॥12-23-11॥
Knowledge of the Veda, complete austerity, good conduct, acquisition of abundant wealth, and giving to the deserving are all important.
etāni rājñāṃ karmāṇi sukṛtāni viśāṃ pate। imaṃ lokam amuṃ lokaṃ sādhayantīti naḥ śrutam ॥12-23-12॥
O lord of the people, we have heard that these meritorious actions of kings accomplish both this world and the next.
teṣāṃ jyāyastu kaunteya daṇḍadhāraṇam ucyate। balaṃ hi kṣatriye nityaṃ bale daṇḍaḥ samāhitaḥ ॥12-23-13॥
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.
etāś ceṣṭāḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ rājan saṃsiddhikārikāḥ। api gāthām imāṃ cāpi bṛhaspatir abhāṣata ॥12-23-14॥
O king, these are the actions of the kṣatriyas that lead to success. Bṛhaspati also spoke this very verse.
bhūmir etau nigirati sarpo bilaśayān iva। rājānaṃ cāviroddhāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cāpravāsinam ॥12-23-15॥
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.
sudyumnaś cāpi rājarṣiḥ śrūyate daṇḍadhāraṇāt। prāptavān paramāṃ siddhiṃ dakṣaḥ prācetaso yathā ॥12-23-16॥
It is said that Sudyumna, the royal sage, by upholding discipline, attained supreme perfection, just as Dakṣa, the son of Pracetas, did.
