12.028
Library: Vyasa narrates the song of stone, told to King Janaka, on the importance of time and timely actions.
Vaiśampāyana said.
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 said.
Here too, they recount an ancient story. O Yudhiṣṭhira, best of men, listen to this 'song of the stone'.
King Janaka of Videha, overwhelmed by sorrow and grief, asked the wise Brahmin Aśmāna about his doubt.
Janaka said.
Whether gaining or losing, regarding relatives and wealth, a man who desires welfare should always act in a way that brings about good.
The stone spoke.
As soon as this self arises in a man, thereafter, various sorrows and pleasures come upon him.
When either of these occurs, whatever one attends to, that indeed removes the consciousness, just as wind removes a cloud.
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.
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.
Greedy kings restrain him who has crossed the boundary and taken what is not appropriate, just as they would restrain a deer with arrows.
O king, those humans who are twenty or thirty years old now, by far, will not reach a hundred years.
He should, with intelligence, prescribe remedies for those who are extremely afflicted; observing the conduct of all living beings here and there.
For beings of mental origin, rebirth, suffering, or confusion of mind, or falling into misfortune—no third alternative arises.
Thus, all these sufferings, of various kinds, befall man here, as well as those arising from contact.
Old age and death devour all beings, just as wolves do, whether they are strong, weak, small, or even great.
No human being ever escapes old age and death, even if he conquers this entire earth up to the ocean.
Whether happiness or sorrow comes to beings, all that must be experienced by those who lack control; there is no escape from it.
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.
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).
The manifestation of beings, their embodiment, as well as attainment, effort, and union—all these are established.
Smell, color, taste, and touch naturally cease. Similarly, pleasure and pain follow the arrangement.
Sitting, lying down, movement, rising, drinking and eating are all regulated for every being and occur only in due time.
Both physicians and patients may be strong or very weak, may have women or be impotent; the change of time is diverse.
Birth in a family, strength, health, courage, good fortune, and enjoyment are all attained by destiny.
The poor who do not desire have many sons, but among the prosperous who strive, even those who desire do not have many sons.
Disease, fire, water, weapons, hunger, wild animals, poison, death by rope, and falling from a height are also causes of death for a creature.
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.
It is seen that even a wealthy young man perishes here, while a poor and afflicted king may live to a hundred years.
There are people without possessions and some who live long; even those born in prosperous families perish like moths.
O king, generally in this world, the wealthy lack the power to enjoy, while even the wood of the poor decays away.
The wicked-minded person, impelled by time, thinks, "I am doing this"; from dissatisfaction, whatever is desired, he commits sin.
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.
Thus, in time, all beings experience all objects, both desired and undesired; the cause is not perceived.
Who is it that creates or sustains the air, space, fire, the moon and sun, day and night, the lights, rivers, and mountains?
Just as cold, heat, and rain change with time, O best of men, so too do happiness and sorrow in people's lives.
Neither medicines, nor scriptures, nor oblations, nor repeated recitations can save a human who is afflicted by death or even by old age.
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.
Time acts equally among all—whether they are attended by men and women with music, or are helpless and dependent on others' food.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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).
No one realizes that this world is sinking in the deep ocean of time, seized by the great alligator of old age and death.
Many physicians who study Ayurveda only for material gain are themselves seen to be afflicted by diseases.
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.
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.
Similarly, those who are endowed with austerity, devoted to self-study, generous, and inclined to sacrifice, do not overcome old age and death.
For all living beings that are born, the days, months, years, fortnights, and nights never return again.
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.
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.
This constant association is never attained by anyone; even with one's own body, let alone with another.
O king, where is your father today, and where is your grandfather? Today, you do not see them, nor do they see you.
O king, no man is indeed a seer of heaven or hell; but scripture is the eye of the good—practice that here.
After practicing celibacy, one should marry and perform sacrifices, thus fulfilling obligations to ancestors, gods, and sages, and remaining free from envy.
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.
When a king properly follows dharma and rightly acquires resources, his fame spreads everywhere, among all beings, both moving and unmoving.
Vyāsa said.
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.
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.
