12.025
Library: Vyasa narrates the story of Hayagriva, how after properly acquiring the Vedas and studying the śāstras, and after rightly protecting the kingdom, the noble-souled Vājigrīva, having established the fourfold order in his own duty, rejoices in the world of the gods.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
पुनरेव महर्षिस्तं कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्। अजातशत्रुं कौन्तेयमिदं वचनमर्थवत् ॥१२-२५-१॥
Once again, the great sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) addressed Ajātaśatru, the son of Kuntī (Yudhiṣṭhira), with these meaningful words.
अरण्ये वसतां तात भ्रातॄणां ते तपस्विनाम्। मनोरथा महाराज ये तत्रासन्युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-२५-२॥
O Yudhishthira, O great king, the desires that existed there among your ascetic brothers dwelling in the forest, O dear one.
तानिमे भरतश्रेष्ठ प्राप्नुवन्तु महारथाः। प्रशाधि पृथिवीं पार्थ ययातिरिव नाहुषः ॥१२-२५-३॥
O best of the Bharatas, may those great chariot-warriors become mine. O Partha, rule the earth like Yayati, the son of Nahusha.
अरण्ये दुःखवसतिरनुभूता तपस्विभिः। दुःखस्यान्ते नरव्याघ्राः सुखं त्वनुभवन्त्विमे ॥१२-२५-४॥
In the forest, ascetics endured suffering; when the suffering ends, these heroic men truly experience happiness.
धर्ममर्थं च कामं च भ्रातृभिः सह भारत। अनुभूय ततः पश्चात्प्रस्थातासि विशां पते ॥१२-२५-५॥
O Bhārata, after you have experienced duty, wealth, and desire together with your brothers, then afterwards, O lord of the people, you will depart.
अतिथीनां च पितॄणां देवतानां च भारत। आनृण्यं गच्छ कौन्तेय ततः स्वर्गं गमिष्यसि ॥१२-२५-६॥
O Bhārata, if you attain freedom from debts to guests, ancestors, and deities, O son of Kuntī, then you will reach heaven.
सर्वमेधाश्वमेधाभ्यां यजस्व कुरुनन्दन। ततः पश्चान्महाराज गमिष्यसि परां गतिम् ॥१२-२५-७॥
O Kurunandana, perform the Sarvamedha and Aśvamedha sacrifices. Then, O great king, afterwards you will attain the highest state.
भ्रातॄंश्च सर्वान्क्रतुभिः संयोज्य बहुदक्षिणैः। सम्प्राप्तः कीर्तिमतुलां पाण्डवेय भविष्यसि ॥१२-२५-८॥
O son of Pandu, by performing sacrifices with many gifts together with all your brothers, you will attain unequalled fame.
विद्म ते पुरुषव्याघ्र वचनं कुरुनन्दन। शृणु मच्च यथा कुर्वन्धर्मान्न च्यवते नृपः ॥१२-२५-९॥
O tiger among men, delighter of the Kurus, we know your words. Listen also as I tell you how a king, by performing his duties, does not stray from the path.
आददानस्य च धनं निग्रहं च युधिष्ठिर। समानं धर्मकुशलाः स्थापयन्ति नरेश्वर ॥१२-२५-१०॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, O king, those skilled in dharma establish equal wealth and restraint for the one who takes.
देशकालप्रतीक्षे यो दस्योर्दर्शयते नृपः। शास्त्रजां बुद्धिमास्थाय नैनसा स हि युज्यते ॥१२-२५-११॥
He who, waiting for the right place and time, reveals the robbers, the king, relying on intellect derived from the śāstra, is indeed not blamed for sin.
आदाय बलिषड्भागं यो राष्ट्रं नाभिरक्षति। प्रतिगृह्णाति तत्पापं चतुर्थांशेन पार्थिवः ॥१२-२५-१२॥
If a king, having collected one-sixth of the tribute, does not protect the kingdom, he incurs a fourth part of that sin.
निबोध च यथातिष्ठन्धर्मान्न च्यवते नृपः। निग्रहाद्धर्मशास्त्राणामनुरुध्यन्नपेतभीः ॥ कामक्रोधावनादृत्य पितेव समदर्शनः ॥१२-२५-१३॥
Understand also: The king, who abides by the dharmas and does not deviate from them, restrains himself according to the dharma-śāstras, follows them without fear, and, disregarding desire and anger, is impartial like a father.
दैवेनोपहते राजा कर्मकाले महाद्युते। प्रमादयति तत्कर्म न तत्राहुरतिक्रमम् ॥१२-२५-१४॥
They say that when a king, afflicted by fate, errs in action during a great contest, such an act is not regarded as a transgression.
तरसा बुद्धिपूर्वं वा निग्राह्या एव शत्रवः। पापैः सह न संदध्याद्राष्ट्रं पण्यं न कारयेत् ॥१२-२५-१५॥
Enemies should be restrained either by force or with intelligence. One should not make alliances with the wicked, nor should the kingdom be treated as merchandise.
शूराश्चार्याश्च सत्कार्या विद्वांसश्च युधिष्ठिर। गोमतो धनिनश्चैव परिपाल्या विशेषतः ॥१२-२५-१६॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, valiant people, teachers, those worthy of respect, learned ones, cow-owners, and the wealthy must especially be protected.
व्यवहारेषु धर्म्येषु नियोज्याश्च बहुश्रुताः। गुणयुक्तेऽपि नैकस्मिन्विश्वस्याच्च विचक्षणः ॥१२-२५-१७॥
In matters of conduct, those to be appointed should be well-learned and righteous; even if someone is endowed with virtues, wisdom is not found in only one person in the world.
अरक्षिता दुर्विनीतो मानी स्तब्धोऽभ्यसूयकः। एनसा युज्यते राजा दुर्दान्त इति चोच्यते ॥१२-२५-१८॥
A king who is unprotected, ill-disciplined, proud, arrogant, and envious is afflicted by sin and is called uncontrollable.
येऽरक्ष्यमाणा हीयन्ते दैवेनोपहते नृपे। तस्करैश्चापि हन्यन्ते सर्वं तद्राजकिल्बिषम् ॥१२-२५-१९॥
When a king, struck by fate, fails to protect, and all is destroyed by thieves, all that loss is the king's fault.
सुमन्त्रिते सुनीते च विधिवच्चोपपादिते। पौरुषे कर्मणि कृते नास्त्यधर्मो युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-२५-२०॥
O Yudhishthira, when an action is undertaken with good counsel, proper guidance, and in accordance with rules, and is accomplished through one's own effort, there is no unrighteousness.
विपद्यन्ते समारम्भाः सिध्यन्त्यपि च दैवतः। कृते पुरुषकारे तु नैनः स्पृशति पार्थिवम् ॥१२-२५-२१॥
Undertakings may fail or succeed by fate, but when human effort is applied, evil does not touch the person on earth.
अत्र ते राजशार्दूल वर्तयिष्ये कथामिमाम्। यद्वृत्तं पूर्वराजर्षेर्हयग्रीवस्य पार्थिव ॥१२-२५-२२॥
O king, tiger among kings, I will now tell you this story of what befell the former royal sage Hayagrīva.
शत्रून्हत्वा हतस्याजौ शूरस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। असहायस्य धीरस्य निर्जितस्य युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-२५-२३॥
O Yudhishthira, having slain enemies in battle, for the hero whose actions are unwearied, for the helpless, for the steadfast, and for the conquered.
यत्कर्म वै निग्रहे शात्रवाणां; योगश्चाग्र्यः पालने मानवानाम्। कृत्वा कर्म प्राप्य कीर्तिं सुयुद्धे; वाजिग्रीवो मोदते देवलोके ॥१२-२५-२४॥
The action of restraining enemies and the supreme discipline in protecting people—having performed such deeds and gained fame in righteous battle, Vājigrīva rejoices in the world of the gods.
सन्त्यक्तात्मा समरेष्वाततायी; शस्त्रैश्छिन्नो दस्युभिरर्द्यमानः। अश्वग्रीवः कर्मशीलो महात्मा; संसिद्धात्मा मोदते देवलोके ॥१२-२५-२५॥
Aśvagrīva, who had completely renounced self, was an aggressor in battles, cut down by weapons and tormented by robbers; being active in deeds and great-souled, with a perfected self, now rejoices in the world of the gods.
धनुर्यूपो रशना ज्या शरः स्रु; क्स्रुवः खड्गो रुधिरं यत्र चाज्यम्। रथो वेदी कामगो युद्धमग्नि; श्चातुर्होत्रं चतुरो वाजिमुख्याः ॥१२-२५-२६॥
The bow is likened to the sacrificial post, the cord to the bowstring, the arrow to the ladle; the sword is the spoon, blood is the clarified butter. The chariot is the altar, desire is the motive, battle is the fire; the four chief horses represent the four priests of the sacrifice.
हुत्वा तस्मिन्यज्ञवह्नावथारी; न्पापान्मुक्तो राजसिंहस्तरस्वी। प्राणान्हुत्वा चावभृथे रणे स; वाजिग्रीवो मोदते देवलोके ॥१२-२५-२७॥
Having performed oblations in the sacrificial fire, then the mighty lion among kings, freed from sin, having offered his life in the final bath of battle, now rejoices in the world of the gods.
राष्ट्रं रक्षन्बुद्धिपूर्वं नयेन; सन्त्यक्तात्मा यज्ञशीलो महात्मा। सर्वाँल्लोकान्व्याप्य कीर्त्या मनस्वी; वाजिग्रीवो मोदते देवलोके ॥१२-२५-२८॥
Vājigrīva, who protected the nation with wisdom and policy, selflessly devoted to sacrifice and of great soul, whose fame pervades all worlds, now rejoices in the world of the gods.
दैवीं सिद्धिं मानुषीं दण्डनीतिं; योगन्यायैः पालयित्वा महीं च। तस्माद्राजा धर्मशीलो महात्मा; हयग्रीवो मोदते स्वर्गलोके ॥१२-२५-२९॥
By upholding both divine and human accomplishments and the science of punishment through union and justice, King Hayagrīva, a great-souled and righteous ruler, enjoys happiness in the heavenly realm.
विद्वांस्त्यागी श्रद्दधानः कृतज्ञ; स्त्यक्त्वा लोकं मानुषं कर्म कृत्वा। मेधाविनां विदुषां संमतानां; तनुत्यजां लोकमाक्रम्य राजा ॥१२-२५-३०॥
The king, being learned, a renouncer, faithful, and grateful, after abandoning the human world and performing his duties, entered the realm esteemed by the wise, the intelligent, and those who have departed their bodies.
सम्यग्वेदान्प्राप्य शास्त्राण्यधीत्य; सम्यग्राष्ट्रं पालयित्वा महात्मा। चातुर्वर्ण्यं स्थापयित्वा स्वधर्मे; वाजिग्रीवो मोदते देवलोके ॥१२-२५-३१॥
After properly acquiring the Vedas and studying the śāstras, and after rightly protecting the kingdom, the noble-souled Vājigrīva, having established the fourfold order in his own duty, rejoices in the world of the gods.
जित्वा सङ्ग्रामान्पालयित्वा प्रजाश्च; सोमं पीत्वा तर्पयित्वा द्विजाग्र्यान्। युक्त्या दण्डं धारयित्वा प्रजानां; युद्धे क्षीणो मोदते देवलोके ॥१२-२५-३२॥
After conquering battles, protecting his people, drinking Soma, satisfying the foremost Brahmins, and justly administering punishment to his subjects, a king who is worn out in battle rejoices in the world of the gods.
वृत्तं यस्य श्लाघनीयं मनुष्याः; सन्तो विद्वांसश्चार्हयन्त्यर्हणीयाः। स्वर्गं जित्वा वीरलोकांश्च गत्वा; सिद्धिं प्राप्तः पुण्यकीर्तिर्महात्मा ॥१२-२५-३३॥
He whose conduct is praiseworthy is honored by men, the virtuous, and the learned as worthy of honor; having conquered heaven and reached the worlds of heroes, and having attained perfection, the great-souled one of virtuous fame.
