12.028
Library: Vyasa narrates the song of stone, told to King Janaka, on the importance of time and timely actions.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
jñāti-śokābhitaptasya prāṇān abhyutsisṛkṣataḥ। jyeṣṭhasya pāṇḍu-putrasya vyāsaḥ śokam apānudat ॥12-28-1॥
Vyāsa dispelled the sorrow of the eldest Pāṇḍava, who was tormented by the grief of his kin and wished to give up his life.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। aśmagītaṃ naravyāghra tan nibodha yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-28-2॥
Here too, they recount an ancient story. O Yudhiṣṭhira, best of men, listen to this 'song of the stone'.
aśmānaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ prājñaṃ vaideho janako nṛpaḥ। saṃśayaṃ paripapraccha duḥkhaśokapariplutaḥ ॥12-28-3॥
King Janaka of Videha, overwhelmed by sorrow and grief, asked the wise Brahmin Aśmāna about his doubt.
janaka uvāca॥
Janaka said.
āgame yadi vāpāye jñātīnāṃ draviṇasya ca। nareṇa pratipattavyaṃ kalyāṇaṃ kathamicchatā ॥12-28-4॥
Whether gaining or losing, regarding relatives and wealth, a man who desires welfare should always act in a way that brings about good.
aśmovāca॥
The stone spoke.
utpannam imam ātmānaṃ narasya anantaraṃ tataḥ। tāni tāni abhivartante duḥkhāni ca sukhāni ca ॥12-28-5॥
As soon as this self arises in a man, thereafter, various sorrows and pleasures come upon him.
teṣām anyatarāpattau yadyadeva upasevate। tattaddhi cetanāmasya haratyabhram ivānilaḥ ॥12-28-6॥
When either of these occurs, whatever one attends to, that indeed removes the consciousness, just as wind removes a cloud.
abhijāto'smi siddho'smi nāsmi kevalamānuṣaḥ। ityevaṃ hetubhistasya tribhiścittaṃ prasicyati ॥12-28-7॥
He thinks, "I am nobly-born, I am perfected, I am not merely human." In this way, by these three causes, his mind is influenced.
sa prasiktamanā bhogān visṛjya pitṛsañcitān। parikṣīṇaḥ parasvānām ādānaṃ sādhu manyate ॥12-28-8॥
He, whose mind is attached, having given up the enjoyments accumulated by his ancestors and being impoverished, considers it proper to take the wealth of others.
tamatikrāntamaryādamādadānamasāmpratam। pratiṣedhanti rājāno lubdhā mṛgamiveṣubhiḥ ॥12-28-9॥
Greedy kings restrain him who has crossed the boundary and taken what is not appropriate, just as they would restrain a deer with arrows.
ye ca viṃśativarṣā vā triṃśadvarṣāś ca mānavāḥ। pareṇa te varṣaśatān na bhaviṣyanti pārthiva ॥12-28-10॥
O king, those humans who are twenty or thirty years old now, by far, will not reach a hundred years.
teṣāṃ paramaduḥkhānāṃ buddhyā bheṣajamādiśet। sarvapraāṇabhṛtāṃ vṛttaṃ prekṣamāṇastatastataḥ ॥12-28-11॥
He should, with intelligence, prescribe remedies for those who are extremely afflicted; observing the conduct of all living beings here and there.
mānasānāṃ punaryonirduḥkhānāṃ cittavibhramaḥ। aniṣṭopanipāto vā tṛtīyaṃ nopapadyate ॥12-28-12॥
For beings of mental origin, rebirth, suffering, or confusion of mind, or falling into misfortune—no third alternative arises.
evametāni duḥkhāni tāni tānīha mānavam। vividhānyupavartante tathā sāṃsparśakāni ca ॥12-28-13॥
Thus, all these sufferings, of various kinds, befall man here, as well as those arising from contact.
jarāmṛtyū ha bhūtāni khāditārau vṛkāviva। balināṃ durbalānāṃ ca hrasvānāṃ mahatāmapi ॥12-28-14॥
Old age and death devour all beings, just as wolves do, whether they are strong, weak, small, or even great.
na kaścijjātvatikrāmejjārāmṛtyū ha mānavaḥ। api sāgaraparyantāṃ vijityemāṃ vasundharām ॥12-28-15॥
No human being ever escapes old age and death, even if he conquers this entire earth up to the ocean.
sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ bhūtānāṃ paryupasthitam। prāptavyamavaśaiḥ sarvaṃ parihāro na vidyate ॥12-28-16॥
Whether happiness or sorrow comes to beings, all that must be experienced by those who lack control; there is no escape from it.
pūrve vayasi madhye vāpyuttame vā narādhipa। avarjanīyāste'rthā vai kāṅkṣitāśca tato'nyathā ॥12-28-17॥
O king, whether in youth, middle age, or old age, those objects which are to be acquired and desired should be sought; otherwise, it is not so.
supriyair-viprayogaś ca samprayogas tathāpriyaiḥ। arthānarthau sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ vidhānam anuvartate ॥12-28-18॥
Separation from those who are very dear and union with those who are unpleasant, gain and loss, happiness and sorrow—all these occur according to arrangement (destiny or order).
prādurbhāvaś ca bhūtānāṃ dehanyāsas tathaiva ca। prāptivyāyāmayogaś ca sarvam etat pratiṣṭhitam ॥12-28-19॥
The manifestation of beings, their embodiment, as well as attainment, effort, and union—all these are established.
gandhavarṇarasasparśā nivartante svabhāvataḥ। tathaiva sukhaduḥkhāni vidhānamanuvartate ॥12-28-20॥
Smell, color, taste, and touch naturally cease. Similarly, pleasure and pain follow the arrangement.
āsanaṃ śayanaṃ yānam utthānaṃ pāna-bhojanam। niyataṃ sarva-bhūtānāṃ kālenaiva bhavanty uta ॥12-28-21॥
Sitting, lying down, movement, rising, drinking and eating are all regulated for every being and occur only in due time.
vaidyāś cāpy āturāḥ santi balavantaḥ sudurbalāḥ। strīmantaś ca tathā ṣaṇḍhā vicitraḥ kālaparyayaḥ ॥12-28-22॥
Both physicians and patients may be strong or very weak, may have women or be impotent; the change of time is diverse.
kule janma tathā vīryam ārogyaṃ dhairyam eva ca। saubhāgyam upabhogaś ca bhavitavyena labhyate ॥12-28-23॥
Birth in a family, strength, health, courage, good fortune, and enjoyment are all attained by destiny.
santi putrāḥ subahavo daridrāṇām anicchatām। bahūnām icchatāṃ nāsti samṛddhānāṃ viceṣṭatām॥12-28-24॥
The poor who do not desire have many sons, but among the prosperous who strive, even those who desire do not have many sons.
vyādhir agnir jalaṃ śastraṃ bubhukṣā śvāpadaṃ viṣam | rajjvā ca maraṇaṃ jantor uccāc ca patanaṃ tathā ॥12-28-25॥
Disease, fire, water, weapons, hunger, wild animals, poison, death by rope, and falling from a height are also causes of death for a creature.
niryāṇaṃ yasya yaddiṣṭaṃ tena gacchati hetunā। dṛśyate nābhyatikrāmannatikrānto na vā punaḥ ॥12-28-26॥
One departs at the time ordained for him, by that cause; it is seen that no one transgresses, nor has transgressed, nor will transgress again.
dṛśyate hi yuvaiveha vinaśyan vasumān naraḥ। daridraś ca parikliṣṭaḥ śatavarṣo janādhipa ॥12-28-27॥
It is seen that even a wealthy young man perishes here, while a poor and afflicted king may live to a hundred years.
akiñcanāś ca dṛśyante puruṣāś cirajīvinaḥ। samṛddhe ca kule jātā vinaśyanti pataṅgavat ॥12-28-28॥
There are people without possessions and some who live long; even those born in prosperous families perish like moths.
prāyeṇa śrīmatāṃ loke bhoktuṃ śaktir na vidyate। kāṣṭhāny api hi jīryante daridrāṇāṃ narādhipa ॥12-28-29॥
O king, generally in this world, the wealthy lack the power to enjoy, while even the wood of the poor decays away.
aham etat karomīti manyate kālacoditaḥ। yadyad iṣṭam asantoṣād durātmā pāpam ācaran ॥12-28-30॥
The wicked-minded person, impelled by time, thinks, "I am doing this"; from dissatisfaction, whatever is desired, he commits sin.
striyo'kṣā mṛgayā pānaṃ prasaṅgān ninditā budhaiḥ। dṛśyante cāpi bahavaḥ samprasaktā bahuśrutāḥ॥12-28-31॥
Women, gambling, hunting, and drinking are condemned by the wise due to their associations; yet, even among the learned, many are seen to be attached to them.
iti kālena sarvārthānīpsitānīpsitāni ca। spṛśanti sarvabhūtāni nimittaṃ nopalabhyate ॥12-28-32॥
Thus, in time, all beings experience all objects, both desired and undesired; the cause is not perceived.
vāyum ākāśam agniṃ ca candrādityāv ahaḥkṣape। jyotīṃṣi saritaḥ śailān kaḥ karoti bibharti vā ॥12-28-33॥
Who is it that creates or sustains the air, space, fire, the moon and sun, day and night, the lights, rivers, and mountains?
śītamuṣṇaṃ tathā varṣaṃ kālena parivartate। evameva manuṣyāṇāṃ sukhaduḥkhe nararṣabha ॥12-28-34॥
Just as cold, heat, and rain change with time, O best of men, so too do happiness and sorrow in people's lives.
nauṣadhāni na śāstrāṇi na homā na punarjapāḥ। trāyante mṛtyunopetaṃ jarayā vāpi mānavam ॥12-28-35॥
Neither medicines, nor scriptures, nor oblations, nor repeated recitations can save a human who is afflicted by death or even by old age.
yathā kāṣṭhaṃ ca kāṣṭhaṃ ca sameyātāṃ mahodadhau। sametya ca vyatīyātāṃ tadvad bhūtasamāgamaḥ ॥12-28-36॥
Just as two logs may meet by chance in the vast ocean, come together for a while, and then drift apart, so too is the meeting of living beings.
ye cāpi puruṣaiḥ strībhirgītavādyairupasthitāḥ। ye cānāthāḥ parānnādāḥ kālasteṣu samakriyaḥ ॥12-28-37॥
Time acts equally among all—whether they are attended by men and women with music, or are helpless and dependent on others' food.
mātṛpitṛsahasrāṇi putradāraśatāni ca। saṃsāreṣvanubhūtāni kasya te kasya vā vayam ॥12-28-38॥
We have experienced thousands of mothers and fathers, and hundreds of sons and wives, in the cycles of existence; to whom do they belong, and to whom do we belong?
naivāsya kaścidbhavitā nāyaṃ bhavati kasyacit। pathi saṅgatamevedaṃ dārabandhusuḥṛdgaṇaiḥ ॥12-28-39॥
No one truly belongs to anyone, nor does anyone belong to this one. On the journey, this companionship is only with groups of wife, relatives, and friends.
kvāsaṃ kvāsmi gamiṣyāmi ko nvahaṃ kimihāsthitaḥ। kasmātkamanuśoceyamityevaṃ sthāpayenmanaḥ ॥ anitye priyasaṃvāse saṃsāre cakravad-gatau ॥12-28-40॥
One should reflect: "Where am I, where will I go, who truly am I, what am I doing here? Why, for whom should I grieve?" In this way, one should steady the mind, realizing that association with loved ones in this world is impermanent and ever-revolving like a wheel.
na dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ pratyakṣaṃ paralokaṃ vidur-budhāḥ। āgamāṃs-tvanatikramya śraddhātavyaṃ bubhūṣatā ॥12-28-41॥
The wise do not know the other world through direct perception, as it has not been seen before; therefore, one who desires to live should believe in the scriptures without transgressing them.
kurvīta pitṛdaivatyaṃ dharmāṇi ca samācaret। yajec ca vidvān vidhivat trivargaṃ cāpy anuvrajet ॥12-28-42॥
One should perform ancestral and divine rites and properly practice righteous acts; the learned person should also offer sacrifices according to rule and pursue the three aims of life (dharma, artha, and kāma).
saṁnimajjaj-jagad-idaṁ gambhīre kāla-sāgare| jarā-mṛtyu-mahā-grāhe na kaścid-avabudhyate ॥12-28-43॥
No one realizes that this world is sinking in the deep ocean of time, seized by the great alligator of old age and death.
āyurvedam adhīyānāḥ kevalaṃ saparigraham। dṛśyante bahavo vaidyā vyādhibhiḥ samabhiplutāḥ ॥12-28-44॥
Many physicians who study Ayurveda only for material gain are themselves seen to be afflicted by diseases.
te pibantaḥ kaṣāyāṃś ca sarpīṃṣi vividhāni ca। na mṛtyumativartante velām iva mahodadhiḥ ॥12-28-45॥
Even though they drink astringent substances and various kinds of clarified butter, they do not overcome death, just as the great ocean does not cross its boundary.
rasāyanavidaścaiva suprayuktarasāyanāḥ। dṛśyante jarayā bhagnā nagā nāgairivotttamaiḥ ॥12-28-46॥
Even those who know rasāyana and have properly used it are seen broken by old age, just as trees are broken by the best elephants.
tathaiva tapasopetāḥ svādhyāyābhyasane ratāḥ। dātāro yajñaśīlāśca na taranti jarāntakau॥12-28-47॥
Similarly, those who are endowed with austerity, devoted to self-study, generous, and inclined to sacrifice, do not overcome old age and death.
na hy ahāni nivartante na māsā na punaḥ samāḥ। jātānāṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ na pakṣā na punaḥ kṣapāḥ॥12-28-48॥
For all living beings that are born, the days, months, years, fortnights, and nights never return again.
so'yaṃ vipulamadhvānaṃ kālena dhruvamadhruvaḥ। naro'vaśaḥ samabhyeti sarvabhūtaniṣevitam ॥12-28-49॥
He, being helpless, traverses this vast path of life, which is certain and uncertain by the force of time, and is frequented by all beings.
deho vā jīvato'bhyeti jīvo vābhyeti dehataḥ। pathi saṅgatamevedaṃ dārairanyaiśca bandhubhiḥ ॥12-28-50॥
Either the body joins the living soul, or the soul departs from the body. On the journey (of life), this body is accompanied only by wives, other people, and relatives.
nāyam atyanta-saṃvāso labhyate jātu kenacit। api svena śarīreṇa kim utānyena kenacit॥12-28-51॥
This constant association is never attained by anyone; even with one's own body, let alone with another.
kva nu te'dya pitā rājan kva nu te'dya pitāmahaḥ। na tvaṃ paśyasi tān adya na tvāṃ paśyanti te'pi ca॥12-28-52॥
O king, where is your father today, and where is your grandfather? Today, you do not see them, nor do they see you.
na hyeva puruṣo draṣṭā svargasya narakasya vā। āgamastu satāṃ cakṣurnṛpate tamihācara ॥12-28-53॥
O king, no man is indeed a seer of heaven or hell; but scripture is the eye of the good—practice that here.
caritabrahmacaryo hi prajāyeta yajeta ca। pitṛdevamaharṣīṇāmānṛṇyāyānasūyakaḥ ॥12-28-54॥
After practicing celibacy, one should marry and perform sacrifices, thus fulfilling obligations to ancestors, gods, and sages, and remaining free from envy.
sa yajñaśīlaḥ prajane niviṣṭaḥ; prāgbrahmacārī pravibhaktapakṣaḥ. ārādhayan svargam imaṃ ca lokaṃ; paraṃ ca muktvā hṛdayavyalīkam ॥12-28-55॥
He, possessing a sacrificial disposition and established among people, who was formerly a celibate student with a well-disciplined mind, worshipped both heaven and this world; and, having abandoned all deceit from his heart, also attained the higher realm.
samyagghi dharmaṃ carato nṛpasya; dravyāṇi cāpyāharato yathāvat। pravṛttacakrasya yaśo'bhivardhate; sarveṣu lokeṣu carācareṣu ॥12-28-56॥
When a king properly follows dharma and rightly acquires resources, his fame spreads everywhere, among all beings, both moving and unmoving.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
ityevamājñāya videharājo; vākyaṃ samagraṃ paripūrṇahetuḥ. aśmānamāmantrya viśuddhabuddhiḥ; yayau gṛhaṃ svaṃ prati śāntaśokaḥ ॥12-28-57॥
Thus, understanding everything in this way, the king of Videha, after addressing the stone and with a purified mind, went to his own house, his sorrow having been calmed.
tathā tvam apy acyuta muñca śoka; muttiṣṭha śakropama harṣam ehi. kṣātreṇa dharmeṇa mahī jitā te; tāṃ bhuṅkṣva kuntīsuta mā viṣādīḥ ॥12-28-58॥
Therefore, you too, O Acyuta, cast off your sorrow; rise up, like Indra, and embrace joy. By the warrior's code, you have conquered the earth; enjoy it, O son of Kuntī, and do not grieve.
