12.063
Library: Bhishma highlights the importance of kindly duties to sustain and govern four classes and four orders.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
ज्याकर्षणं शत्रुनिबर्हणं च; कृषिर्वणिज्या पशुपालनं च। शुश्रूषणं चापि तथार्थहेतो; रकार्यमेतत्परमं द्विजस्य ॥१२-६३-१॥
jyākarṣaṇaṃ śatrunibarhaṇaṃ ca; kṛṣirvaṇijyā paśupālanaṃ ca. śuśrūṣaṇaṃ cāpi tathārthaheto; rakāryametatparamaṃ dvijasya ॥12-63-1॥
[ज्याकर्षणम् (jyākarṣaṇam) - bow-drawing; शत्रुनिबर्हणम् (śatrunibarhaṇam) - enemy-removal; च (ca) - and; कृषिः (kṛṣiḥ) - agriculture; वणिज्या (vaṇijyā) - trade; पशुपालनम् (paśupālanam) - animal-husbandry; च (ca) - and; शुश्रूषणम् (śuśrūṣaṇam) - service; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; तथा (tathā) - likewise; अर्थहेतोः (arthahetoḥ) - for the sake of wealth; एतत् (etat) - this; परम् (paramam) - supreme; कार्यं (kāryam) - duty; द्विजस्य (dvijasya) - of the twice-born;]
(Bow-drawing, enemy-removal and; agriculture, trade, animal-husbandry and. Service and also likewise for the sake of wealth; this supreme duty of the twice-born.)
Bow-drawing and removal of enemies; agriculture, trade, and animal husbandry; service also, likewise for the sake of wealth—these are the supreme duties of the twice-born.
सेव्यं तु ब्रह्मषट्कर्म गृहस्थेन मनीषिणा। कृतकृत्यस्य चारण्ये वासो विप्रस्य शस्यते ॥१२-६३-२॥
sevyaṃ tu brahmaṣaṭkarma gṛhasthena manīṣiṇā। kṛtakṛtyasya cāraṇye vāso viprasya śasyate ॥12-63-2॥
[सेव्यं (sevyaṃ) - to be practiced; तु (tu) - but; ब्रह्मषट्कर्म (brahmaṣaṭkarma) - the six duties of a Brāhmaṇa; गृहस्थेन (gṛhasthena) - by a householder; मनीषिणा (manīṣiṇā) - by a wise man; कृतकृत्यस्य (kṛtakṛtyasya) - of one who has accomplished his duties; च (ca) - and; अरण्ये (araṇye) - in the forest; वासः (vāsaḥ) - residence; विप्रस्य (viprasya) - of a Brāhmaṇa; शस्यते (śasyate) - is praised;]
(But the six duties of a Brāhmaṇa are to be practiced by a wise householder; and for one who has accomplished his duties, residence in the forest is praised for a Brāhmaṇa.)
A wise householder should practice the six duties of a Brāhmaṇa; when his duties are fulfilled, it is commendable for a Brāhmaṇa to reside in the forest.
राजप्रैष्यं कृषिधनं जीवनं च वणिज्यया। कौटिल्यं कौलटेयं च कुसीदं च विवर्जयेत् ॥१२-६३-३॥
rājapraiṣyaṃ kṛṣidhanaṃ jīvanaṃ ca vaṇijyayā। kauṭilyaṃ kaulaṭeyaṃ ca kusīdaṃ ca vivarjayet ॥12-63-3॥
[राजप्रैष्यं (rājapraiṣyaṃ) - royal service; कृषिधनं (kṛṣidhanaṃ) - wealth from agriculture; जीवनं (jīvanaṃ) - livelihood; च (ca) - and; वणिज्यया (vaṇijyayā) - by trade; कौटिल्यं (kauṭilyaṃ) - crookedness; कौलटेयं (kaulaṭeyaṃ) - deceit; च (ca) - and; कुसीदं (kusīdaṃ) - usury; च (ca) - and; विवर्जयेत् (vivarjayet) - should avoid;]
(Royal service, wealth from agriculture, livelihood and by trade; crookedness, deceit and usury and should avoid.)
One should avoid royal service, agricultural wealth, livelihood by trade, crookedness, deceit, and usury.
शूद्रो राजन्भवति ब्रह्मबन्धु; र्दुश्चारित्र्यो यश्च धर्मादपेतः। वृषलीपतिः पिशुनो नर्तकश्च; ग्रामप्रैष्यो यश्च भवेद्विकर्मा ॥१२-६३-४॥
śūdro rājanbhavati brahmabandhu; rduścāritryo yaśca dharmādapetaḥ। vṛṣalīpatiḥ piśuno nartakaśca; grāmapraiṣyo yaśca bhavedvikarmā ॥12-63-4॥
[शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - śūdra; राजन् (rājan) - O king; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; ब्रह्मबन्धुः (brahmabandhuḥ) - relative of a Brāhmaṇa; दुश्चारित्र्यः (duścāritryaḥ) - of bad conduct; यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; धर्मात् (dharmāt) - from dharma; अपेतः (apetaḥ) - departed; वृषलीपतिः (vṛṣalīpatiḥ) - husband of a śūdra woman; पिशुनः (piśunaḥ) - slanderer; नर्तकः (nartakaḥ) - dancer; च (ca) - and; ग्रामप्रैष्यः (grāmapraiṣyaḥ) - village messenger; यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; भवेत् (bhavet) - becomes; विकर्मा (vikarmā) - one of bad deeds;]
(A śūdra, O king, becomes a relative of a Brāhmaṇa; one of bad conduct and who has departed from dharma; the husband of a śūdra woman, a slanderer, a dancer, a village messenger, and one who becomes of bad deeds.)
O king, a śūdra becomes a Brāhmaṇa's relative; one who is of bad conduct and has deviated from dharma; the husband of a śūdra woman, a slanderer, a dancer, a village messenger, and one who engages in wrongful acts.
जपन्वेदानजपंश्चापि राज; न्समः शूद्रैर्दासवच्चापि भोज्यः। एते सर्वे शूद्रसमा भवन्ति; राजन्नेतान्वर्जयेद्देवकृत्ये ॥१२-६३-५॥
japanvedānajapaṃścāpi rāja; nsamaḥ śūdrairdāsavaccāpi bhojyaḥ। ete sarve śūdrasamā bhavanti; rājannetānarjayeddeva-kṛtye ॥12-63-5॥
[जपन् (japan) - reciting; (from √jap, to mutter) वेदान् (vedān) - the Vedas; (accusative plural of veda) अजपम् (ajapam) - not reciting; (a-japam, not muttering) च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; राजन् (rājan) - O king; समः (samaḥ) - equal; शूद्रैः (śūdraiḥ) - with Śūdras; (instrumental plural of śūdra) दासवत् (dāsavat) - like servants; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; भोज्यः (bhojyaḥ) - to be enjoyed; (to be eaten, consumed) एते (ete) - these; सर्वे (sarve) - all; शूद्रसमा (śūdrasamā) - equal to Śūdras; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; राजन् (rājan) - O king; एतान् (etān) - these; वर्जयेत् (varjayet) - should avoid; देवकृत्ये (deva-kṛtye) - in divine rites; (in acts for the gods);]
(Reciting the Vedas and not reciting also, O king, is equal with Śūdras, and also like servants, to be enjoyed. These all become equal to Śūdras; O king, these should be avoided in divine rites.)
O king, whether reciting the Vedas or not, those who are like Śūdras or servants and are to be enjoyed, all these become equal to Śūdras; O king, these should be avoided in acts for the gods.
निर्मर्यादे चाशने क्रूरवृत्तौ; हिंसात्मके त्यक्तधर्मस्ववृत्ते। हव्यं कव्यं यानि चान्यानि राज; न्देयान्यदेयानि भवन्ति तस्मिन् ॥१२-६३-६॥
nirmaryāde cāśane krūravṛttau; hiṃsātmake tyaktadharmasvavṛtte| havyaṃ kavyaṃ yāni cānyāni rājan; deyānyadeyāni bhavanti tasmin ॥12-63-6॥
[निर्मर्यादे (nirmaryāde) - without-boundary; च (ca) - and; आशने (āśane) - in-eating; क्रूरवृत्तौ (krūravṛttau) - in-cruel-conduct; हिंसात्मके (hiṃsātmake) - in-violent-natured; त्यक्तधर्मस्ववृत्ते (tyaktadharmasvavṛtte) - abandoned-righteous-own-conduct; हव्यं (havyaṃ) - offering-to-gods; कव्यं (kavyaṃ) - offering-to-ancestors; यानि (yāni) - which; च (ca) - and; अन्यानि (anyāni) - other; राजन् (rājan) - O-king; देयानि (deyāni) - to-be-given; अदेयानि (adeyāni) - not-to-be-given; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in-that;]
(In one without boundaries and in eating, in cruel conduct, in violent-natured, in one who has abandoned righteous own conduct, offerings to gods, offerings to ancestors, and other things, O king, which are to be given or not to be given, become (so) in that.)
O king, in one who is without boundaries, cruel in conduct, violent in nature, and has abandoned righteous conduct, offerings to gods, offerings to ancestors, and other gifts, whether to be given or not, all become the same in that person.
तस्माद्धर्मो विहितो ब्राह्मणस्य; दमः शौचं चार्जवं चापि राजन्। तथा विप्रस्याश्रमाः सर्व एव; पुरा राजन्ब्रह्मणा वै निसृष्टाः ॥१२-६३-७॥
tasmāddharmo vihito brāhmaṇasya; damaḥ śaucaṃ cārjavaṃ cāpi rājan। tathā viprasyāśramāḥ sarva eva; purā rājanbrahmaṇā vai nisṛṣṭāḥ ॥12-63-7॥
[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; विहितः (vihitaḥ) - enjoined; ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - of the brāhmaṇa; दमः (damaḥ) - self-restraint; शौचम् (śaucam) - purity; च (ca) - and; आर्जवम् (ārjavam) - straightforwardness; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; राजन् (rājan) - O king; तथा (tathā) - likewise; विप्रस्य (viprasya) - of the brāhmaṇa; आश्रमाः (āśramāḥ) - stages of life; सर्वे (sarve) - all; एव (eva) - indeed; पुरा (purā) - formerly; राजन् (rājan) - O king; ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā) - by Brahmā; वै (vai) - indeed; निसृष्टाः (nisṛṣṭāḥ) - were established;]
(Therefore, duty is enjoined for the brāhmaṇa; self-restraint, purity, and straightforwardness also, O king. Likewise, all the stages of life of the brāhmaṇa indeed, formerly, O king, were established by Brahmā.)
Therefore, the duty prescribed for a brāhmaṇa is self-restraint, purity, and straightforwardness, O king. Likewise, all the stages of life for the brāhmaṇa were indeed established by Brahmā in ancient times, O king.
यः स्याद्दान्तः सोमप आर्यशीलः; सानुक्रोशः सर्वसहो निराशीः। ऋजुर्मृदुरनृशंसः क्षमावान् स वै विप्रो नेतरः पापकर्मा ॥१२-६३-८॥
yaḥ syāddāntaḥ somapa āryaśīlaḥ; sānukrośaḥ sarvasaho nirāśīḥ। ṛjurmṛduranṛśaṃsaḥ kṣamāvān sa vai vipro netaraḥ pāpakarmā ॥12-63-8॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; स्यात् (syāt) - might be; दान्तः (dāntaḥ) - self-restrained; सोमप (somapa) - Soma-drinker; आर्यशीलः (āryaśīlaḥ) - of noble conduct; सानुक्रोशः (sānukrośaḥ) - compassionate; सर्वसहः (sarvasahaḥ) - enduring all; निराशीः (nirāśīḥ) - without expectation; ऋजुः (ṛjuḥ) - upright; मृदुः (mṛduḥ) - gentle; अनृशंसः (anṛśaṃsaḥ) - non-cruel; क्षमावान् (kṣamāvān) - forbearing; सः (saḥ) - he; वै (vai) - indeed; विप्रः (vipraḥ) - sage; नेतरः (netaraḥ) - not another; पापकर्मा (pāpakarmā) - evil-doer;]
(Who might be self-restrained, Soma-drinker, of noble conduct, compassionate, enduring all, without expectation, upright, gentle, non-cruel, forbearing, he indeed is a sage, not another evil-doer.)
He who is self-restrained, drinks Soma, has noble conduct, is compassionate, endures all, is without expectation, upright, gentle, non-cruel, and forbearing—he alone is truly a sage, not anyone else who does evil deeds.
शूद्रं वैश्यं राजपुत्रं च राजँ; ल्लोकाः सर्वे संश्रिता धर्मकामाः। तस्माद्वर्णाञ्जातिधर्मेषु सक्ता; न्मत्वा विष्णुर्नेच्छति पाण्डुपुत्र ॥१२-६३-९॥
śūdraṃ vaiśyaṃ rājaputraṃ ca rājam; lokāḥ sarve saṃśritā dharmakāmāḥ। tasmādvarṇāñjātidharmeṣu saktān matvā viṣṇur necchati pāṇḍuputra ॥12-63-9॥
[शूद्रं (śūdram) - śūdra; वैश्यं (vaiśyam) - vaiśya; राजपुत्रं (rājaputram) - prince; च (ca) - and; राजँ (rājam) - king; लोकाः (lokāḥ) - people; सर्वे (sarve) - all; संश्रिता (saṃśritā) - resorted to; धर्मकामाः (dharmakāmāḥ) - desiring dharma; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; वर्णान् (varṇān) - castes; जातिधर्मेषु (jātidharmeṣu) - in the duties of birth; सक्तान् (saktān) - attached; मत्वा (matvā) - considering; विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ) - Viṣṇu; न (na) - not; इच्छति (icchati) - desires; पाण्डुपुत्र (pāṇḍuputra) - O son of Pāṇḍu;]
(śūdra, vaiśya, prince and king; all people desiring dharma have resorted. Therefore, considering those attached to caste and duties of birth, Viṣṇu does not desire, O son of Pāṇḍu.)
O son of Pāṇḍu, Viṣṇu does not desire those who are attached to caste and duties of birth, considering that all people—śūdra, vaiśya, prince, and king—have resorted to dharma.
लोके चेदं सर्वलोकस्य न स्या; च्चातुर्वर्ण्यं वेदवादाश्च न स्युः। सर्वाश्चेज्याः सर्वलोकक्रियाश्च; सद्यः सर्वे चाश्रमस्था न वै स्युः ॥१२-६३-१०॥
loke cedam sarvalokasya na syā; caturvarṇyaṃ vedavādāśca na syuḥ। sarvāścejyāḥ sarvalokakriyāśca; sadyaḥ sarve cāśramasthā na vai syuḥ ॥12-63-10॥
[लोके (loke) - in the world; च (ca) - and; इदं (idam) - this; सर्वलोकस्य (sarvalokasya) - of all worlds; न (na) - not; स्यात् (syāt) - would be; च (ca) - and; चतुर्वर्ण्यं (caturvarṇyam) - the fourfold order; वेदवादाः (vedavādāḥ) - Vedic doctrines; च (ca) - and; न (na) - not; स्युः (syuḥ) - would be; सर्वाः (sarvāḥ) - all; च (ca) - and; इज्याः (ijyāḥ) - sacrifices; सर्वलोकक्रियाः (sarvalokakriyāḥ) - all actions of all worlds; च (ca) - and; सद्यः (sadyaḥ) - immediately; सर्वे (sarve) - all; च (ca) - and; आश्रमस्थाः (āśramasthāḥ) - those established in the āśramas; न (na) - not; वै (vai) - indeed; स्युः (syuḥ) - would be;]
(In the world, if this (were) not (so), of all worlds (the order) would not exist; and the fourfold order and Vedic doctrines would not exist. All sacrifices and all actions of all worlds, and immediately all those established in the āśramas, indeed, would not exist.)
If this were not so in the world, then the order of all worlds would not exist; neither would the fourfold order nor the Vedic doctrines. All sacrifices and all actions of all worlds, and immediately all those established in the āśramas, would not exist.
यश्च त्रयाणां वर्णानामिच्छेदाश्रमसेवनम्। कर्तुमाश्रमदृष्टांश्च धर्मांस्ताञ्शृणु पाण्डव ॥१२-६३-११॥
yaś ca trayāṇāṃ varṇānām iccheda āśrama-sevanam | kartum āśrama-dṛṣṭāṃś ca dharmāṃs tāñ śṛṇu pāṇḍava ॥12-63-11॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; त्रयाणाम् (trayāṇām) - of the three; वर्णानाम् (varṇānām) - of castes; इच्छेत् (icchet) - desires; आश्रमसेवनम् (āśrama-sevanam) - practice of āśramas; कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do; आश्रमदृष्टान् (āśrama-dṛṣṭān) - prescribed by āśramas; च (ca) - and; धर्मान् (dharmān) - duties; तान् (tān) - those; शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear; पाण्डव (pāṇḍava) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(And who, of the three castes, desires to practice the āśramas, to do the duties prescribed by the āśramas—those, hear, O Pāṇḍava.)
O Pāṇḍava, hear about the duties prescribed for those among the three castes who wish to practice the āśramas.
शुश्रूषाकृतकृत्यस्य कृतसन्तानकर्मणः। अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य राजानं शूद्रस्य जगतीपते ॥१२-६३-१२॥
śuśrūṣā-kṛta-kṛtyasya kṛta-santāna-karmaṇaḥ। abhyanujñāpya rājānaṃ śūdrasya jagatīpate ॥12-63-12॥
[शुश्रूषा (śuśrūṣā) - service; desire to serve; कृत (kṛta) - done; accomplished; कृत्यस्य (kṛtyasya) - of one whose duties; कृत (kṛta) - performed; accomplished; सन्तान (santāna) - progeny; offspring; कर्मणः (karmaṇaḥ) - of the act; अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य (abhyanujñāpya) - having obtained permission; राजानं (rājānam) - the king; शूद्रस्य (śūdrasya) - of the Śūdra; जगतीपते (jagatīpate) - O lord of the earth;]
(Of one whose duties of service have been accomplished, whose act of progeny has been performed, having obtained permission from the king, O lord of the earth, of the Śūdra.)
O lord of the earth, the Śūdra, having accomplished his duties of service and having performed the act of progeny, after obtaining permission from the king.
अल्पान्तरगतस्यापि दशधर्मगतस्य वा। आश्रमा विहिताः सर्वे वर्जयित्वा निराशिषम् ॥१२-६३-१३॥
alpāntaragatasya api daśadharmagatasya vā। āśramā vihitāḥ sarve varjayitvā nirāśiṣam ॥12-63-13॥
[अल्प (alpa) - little; अन्तरगतस्य (antaragatasya) - of one who has entered within; अपि (api) - even; दशधर्मगतस्य (daśadharmagatasya) - of one who has attained the tenfold dharma; वा (vā) - or; आश्रमाः (āśramāḥ) - āśramas; विहिताः (vihitāḥ) - prescribed; सर्वे (sarve) - all; वर्जयित्वा (varjayitvā) - excluding; निराशिषम् (nirāśiṣam) - one without desire for reward;]
(Even for one who has entered a little within or one who has attained the tenfold dharma, all the prescribed āśramas are (to be) excluded, except for one without desire for reward.)
Whether one has made little progress or attained the tenfold dharma, all prescribed āśramas are to be avoided except for one who is without desire for reward.
भैक्षचर्यां न तु प्राहुस्तस्य तद्धर्मचारिणः। तथा वैश्यस्य राजेन्द्र राजपुत्रस्य चैव हि ॥१२-६३-१४॥
bhaikṣacaryāṃ na tu prāhus tasya taddharmacāriṇaḥ। tathā vaiśyasya rājendra rājaputrasya caiva hi ॥12-63-14॥
[भैक्षचर्यां (bhaikṣacaryām) - the practice of begging; (for alms); न (na) - not; तु (tu) - but; प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they have said; तस्य (tasya) - of him; तत् (tat) - that; धर्मचारिणः (dharmacāriṇaḥ) - follower of dharma; तथा (tathā) - likewise; वैश्यस्य (vaiśyasya) - of the Vaiśya; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; राजपुत्रस्य (rājaputrasya) - of the prince; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; हि (hi) - surely;]
(The practice of begging, but not, they have said, for him, that follower of dharma. Likewise, of the Vaiśya, O king, of the prince, and indeed surely.)
O king, the practice of begging is not prescribed for the follower of dharma; likewise, it is not for the Vaiśya or the prince.
कृतकृत्यो वयोतीतो राज्ञः कृतपरिश्रमः। वैश्यो गच्छेदनुज्ञातो नृपेणाश्रममण्डलम् ॥१२-६३-१५॥
kṛtakṛtyo vayotīto rājñaḥ kṛtapariśramaḥ। vaiśyo gacchedanujñāto nṛpeṇāśramamaṇḍalam ॥12-63-15॥
[कृतकृत्यः (kṛtakṛtyaḥ) - one who has accomplished his duties; वयोतीतः (vayotītaḥ) - one who has passed his age; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - by the king; कृतपरिश्रमः (kṛtapariśramaḥ) - one who has completed his labors; वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - the Vaiśya; गच्छेत् (gacchet) - should go; अनुज्ञातः (anujñātaḥ) - having been permitted; नृपेण (nṛpeṇa) - by the king; आश्रममण्डलम् (āśramamaṇḍalam) - the circle of hermitages;]
(One who has accomplished his duties, who has passed his age, who has completed his labors—the Vaiśya, having been permitted by the king, should go to the circle of hermitages.)
When a Vaiśya has fulfilled his duties, passed his prime, and completed his labors, he should, with the king's permission, retire to the circle of hermitages.
वेदानधीत्य धर्मेण राजशास्त्राणि चानघ। सन्तानादीनि कर्माणि कृत्वा सोमं निषेव्य च ॥१२-६३-१६॥
vedān adhītya dharmeṇa rājaśāstrāṇi ca anagha। santānādīni karmāṇi kṛtvā somaṃ niṣevya ca ॥12-63-16॥
[वेदान् (vedān) - the Vedas; अधीत्य (adhītya) - having studied; धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - by righteousness; राजशास्त्राणि (rājaśāstrāṇi) - the treatises on polity; च (ca) - and; अनघ (anagha) - O sinless one; सन्तानादीनि (santānādīni) - progeny and others; कर्माणि (karmāṇi) - actions; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having performed; सोमम् (somaṃ) - Soma (ritual drink); निषेव्य (niṣevya) - having partaken; च (ca) - and;]
(Having studied the Vedas, by righteousness, and the treatises on polity, O sinless one, having performed actions such as progeny and others, and having partaken of Soma.)
O sinless one, after studying the Vedas and the treatises on polity in accordance with righteousness, performing duties such as begetting progeny, and partaking of Soma, (one attains the desired result).
पालयित्वा प्रजाः सर्वा धर्मेण वदतां वर। राजसूयाश्वमेधादीन्मखानन्यांस्तथैव च ॥१२-६३-१७॥
pālayitvā prajāḥ sarvā dharmeṇa vadatāṃ vara। rājasūyāśvamedhādīnmakhānanyāṃstathaiva ca ॥12-63-17॥
[पालयित्वा (pālayitvā) - having protected; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; सर्वा (sarvā) - all; धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - by righteousness; वदतां (vadatām) - of speakers; वर (vara) - best; राजसूयाश्वमेधादीन् (rājasūyāśvamedhādīn) - Rājasūya, Aśvamedha, etc.; मखान् (makhān) - sacrifices; अन्यांश्च (anyāṃśca) - and others; तथैव (tathaiva) - likewise; च (ca) - and;]
(Having protected all the subjects by righteousness, O best of speakers, likewise (perform) Rājasūya, Aśvamedha, and other sacrifices and others.)
O best of speakers, after protecting all the subjects by righteousness, you should also perform Rājasūya, Aśvamedha, and other such sacrifices.
समानीय यथापाठं विप्रेभ्यो दत्तदक्षिणः। सङ्ग्रामे विजयं प्राप्य तथाल्पं यदि वा बहु ॥१२-६३-१८॥
samānīya yathāpāṭhaṃ viprebhyo dattadakṣiṇaḥ। saṅgrāme vijayaṃ prāpya tathālpaṃ yadi vā bahu ॥12-63-18॥
[समानीय (samānīya) - having been brought together; यथा (yathā) - as; पाठं (pāṭham) - recitation; विप्रेभ्यः (viprebhyaḥ) - to the Brāhmaṇas; दत्तदक्षिणः (datta-dakṣiṇaḥ) - having given gifts; सङ्ग्रामे (saṅgrāme) - in battle; विजयम् (vijayam) - victory; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having obtained; तथा (tathā) - likewise; अल्पम् (alpam) - little; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; बहु (bahu) - much;]
(Having brought together, as per recitation, to the Brāhmaṇas, having given gifts; in battle, having obtained victory, likewise little if or much.)
Having assembled as per the recitation and given gifts to the Brāhmaṇas, whether the victory obtained in battle is little or much, (it is to be honored thus).
स्थापयित्वा प्रजापालं पुत्रं राज्ये च पाण्डव। अन्यगोत्रं प्रशस्तं वा क्षत्रियं क्षत्रियर्षभ ॥१२-६३-१९॥
sthāpayitvā prajāpālaṃ putraṃ rājye ca pāṇḍava। anyagotraṃ praśastaṃ vā kṣatriyaṃ kṣatriyarṣabha ॥12-63-19॥
[स्थापयित्वा (sthāpayitvā) - having installed; (from sthā - to place, with causative and absolutive suffix) प्रजापालं (prajāpālam) - protector of the people; (praja - people, pāla - protector; accusative singular) पुत्रं (putram) - son; (accusative singular) राज्ये (rājye) - in the kingdom; (locative singular) च (ca) - and; पाण्डव (pāṇḍava) - O Pāṇḍava; (vocative singular, addressing Yudhiṣṭhira) अन्यगोत्रं (anyagotraṃ) - of another lineage; (anya - other, gotra - lineage; accusative singular) प्रशस्तं (praśastaṃ) - approved; (praśasta - praised, approved; accusative singular) वा (vā) - or; क्षत्रियं (kṣatriyaṃ) - a Kṣatriya; (accusative singular) क्षत्रियर्षभ (kṣatriyarṣabha) - O bull among Kṣatriyas; (vocative singular, addressing Yudhiṣṭhira);]
(Having installed the protector of the people, your son, in the kingdom, O Pāṇḍava, or another approved Kṣatriya of another lineage, O bull among Kṣatriyas.)
O Pāṇḍava, having installed your son, the protector of the people, in the kingdom, or (if not possible) another approved Kṣatriya of a different lineage, O best of Kṣatriyas.
अर्चयित्वा पितॄन्सम्यक्पितृयज्ञैर्यथाविधि। देवान्यज्ञैरृषीन्वेदैरर्चित्वा चैव यत्नतः ॥१२-६३-२०॥
arcayitvā pitṝn samyak pitṛyajñair yathāvidhi। devān yajñair ṛṣīn vedair arcitvā caiva yatnataḥ॥12-63-20॥
[अर्चयित्वा (arcayitvā) - having worshipped; पितॄन् (pitṝn) - the ancestors; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; पितृयज्ञैः (pitṛyajñaiḥ) - with ancestral rites; यथाविधि (yathāvidhi) - according to rule; देवान् (devān) - the gods; यज्ञैः (yajñaiḥ) - with sacrifices; ऋषीन् (ṛṣīn) - the sages; वेदैः (vedaiḥ) - with Vedas; अर्चित्वा (arcitvā) - having worshipped; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; यत्नतः (yatnataḥ) - with effort;]
(Having worshipped the ancestors properly with ancestral rites according to rule, and having worshipped the gods with sacrifices, the sages with Vedas, indeed with effort.)
He properly worshipped the ancestors with ancestral rites as prescribed, and also diligently worshipped the gods with sacrifices and the sages with the Vedas.
अन्तकाले च सम्प्राप्ते य इच्छेदाश्रमान्तरम्। आनुपूर्व्याश्रमान्राजन्गत्वा सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् ॥१२-६३-२१॥
antakāle ca samprāpte ya icchedāśramāntaram। ānupūrvyāśramānrājan gatvā siddhimavāpnuyāt ॥12-63-21॥
[अन्तकाले (antakāle) - at the end time; च (ca) - and; सम्प्राप्ते (samprāpte) - having arrived; यः (yaḥ) - who; इच्छेत् (icchet) - desires; आश्रम-अन्तरम् (āśrama-antaram) - another āśrama; आनुपूर्व्या (ānupūrvyā) - in sequence; आश्रमान् (āśramān) - āśramas; राजन् (rājan) - O king; गत्वा (gatvā) - having gone; सिद्धिम् (siddhim) - perfection; अवाप्नुयात् (avāpnuyāt) - may attain;]
(At the end time and having arrived, who desires another āśrama, in sequence, having gone through the āśramas, O king, may attain perfection.)
O king, when the end time arrives, whoever desires to enter another āśrama, by proceeding through the āśramas in order, may attain perfection.
राजर्षित्वेन राजेन्द्र भैक्षचर्याध्वसेवया। अपेतगृहधर्मोऽपि चरेज्जीवितकाम्यया ॥१२-६३-२२॥
rājarṣitvena rājendra bhaikṣacaryādhvasevayā। apetagṛhadharmo'pi carejjīvitakāmyayā ॥12-63-22॥
[राजर्षित्वेन (rājarṣitvena) - by the state of being a royal sage; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; भैक्षचर्याध्वसेवया (bhaikṣacaryādhvasevayā) - by the practice of the path of mendicancy; अपेतगृहधर्मः (apetagṛhadharmaḥ) - one whose householder's duties are abandoned; अपि (api) - even; चरेत् (caret) - should live; जीवितकाम्यया (jīvitakāmyayā) - with the desire for life;]
(By the state of being a royal sage, O king, by the practice of the path of mendicancy, even one whose householder's duties are abandoned should live with the desire for life.)
O king, even a royal sage, having abandoned the duties of a householder, should live by practicing the path of mendicancy, if he desires to preserve his life.
न चैतन्नैष्ठिकं कर्म त्रयाणां भरतर्षभ। चतुर्णां राजशार्दूल प्राहुराश्रमवासिनाम् ॥१२-६३-२३॥
na caitannaiṣṭhikaṃ karma trayāṇāṃ bharatarṣabha। caturṇāṃ rājaśārdūla prāhurāśramavāsinām ॥12-63-23॥
[न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; एतत् (etat) - this; नैष्ठिकम् (naiṣṭhikam) - final; कर्म (karma) - action; त्रयाणाम् (trayāṇām) - of the three; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of the Bharatas; चतुर्णाम् (caturṇām) - of the four; राजशार्दूल (rājaśārdūla) - O tiger among kings; प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they say; आश्रमवासिनाम् (āśramavāsinām) - of the dwellers in the āśramas;]
(Not and this final action of the three, O best of the Bharatas. Of the four, O tiger among kings, they say, of the dwellers in the āśramas.)
O best of the Bharatas, this is not the final action for the three. O tiger among kings, for the four, the dwellers in the āśramas say so.
बह्वायत्तं क्षत्रियैर्मानवानां; लोकश्रेष्ठं धर्ममासेवमानैः। सर्वे धर्माः सोपधर्मास्त्रयाणां; राज्ञो धर्मादिति वेदाच्छृणोमि ॥१२-६३-२४॥
bahvāyattaṃ kṣatriyair mānavānāṃ; lokaśreṣṭhaṃ dharmam āsevamānaiḥ। sarve dharmāḥ sopadharmās trayāṇāṃ; rājño dharmād iti vedāc chṛṇomi ॥12-63-24॥
[बहु-आयत्तं (bahu-āyattaṃ) - much-dependent; क्षत्रियैः (kṣatriyaiḥ) - by kṣatriyas; मानवानां (mānavānāṃ) - of men; लोक-श्रेष्ठं (loka-śreṣṭham) - best among people; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; आसेवमानैः (āsevamānaiḥ) - by those practicing; सर्वे (sarve) - all; धर्माः (dharmāḥ) - dharmas; स-उपधर्माः (sa-upadharmāḥ) - with subsidiary dharmas; त्रयाणां (trayāṇām) - of the three; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; धर्मात् (dharmāt) - from dharma; इति (iti) - thus; वेदात् (vedāt) - from the Veda; शृणोमि (śṛṇomi) - I hear;]
(Much-dependent by kṣatriyas of men; best among people dharma by those practicing. All dharmas with subsidiary dharmas of the three; from the king's dharma thus from the Veda I hear.)
I hear from the Veda that all dharmas, along with their subsidiary dharmas, of the three (classes) are dependent upon the dharma of the king, which is practiced by kṣatriyas and is the best among people.
यथा राजन्हस्तिपदे पदानि; संलीयन्ते सर्वसत्त्वोद्भवानि। एवं धर्मान्राजधर्मेषु सर्वा; न्सर्वावस्थं सम्प्रलीनान्निबोध ॥१२-६३-२५॥
yathā rājan hastipade padāni; saṃlīyante sarvasattvodbhavāni। evaṃ dharmān rājadharmeṣu sarvā; n sarvāvasthaṃ sampralīnān nibodha ॥12-63-25॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; राजन् (rājan) - O king; हस्तिपदे (hastipade) - in the elephant's footprint; पदानि (padāni) - the footprints; संलीयन्ते (saṃlīyante) - merge; सर्वसत्त्वोद्भवानि (sarvasattvodbhavāni) - originated from all beings; एवं (evaṃ) - thus; धर्मान् (dharmān) - dharmas; राजधर्मेषु (rājadharmeṣu) - in royal duties; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; सर्वावस्थं (sarvāvasthaṃ) - in every state; सम्प्रलीनान् (sampralīnān) - completely merged; निबोध (nibodha) - know; ॥१२-६३-२५॥ (॥12-63-25॥) - ;]
(Just as, O king, the footprints merge in the elephant's footprint, those originated from all beings; thus, know that all dharmas are completely merged in royal duties in every state.)
O king, just as the footprints of all creatures merge in the footprint of the elephant, in the same way, know that all dharmas are comprehensively included in the royal duties in every situation.
अल्पाश्रयानल्पफलान्वदन्ति; धर्मानन्यान्धर्मविदो मनुष्याः। महाश्रयं बहुकल्याणरूपं; क्षात्रं धर्मं नेतरं प्राहुरार्याः ॥१२-६३-२६॥
alpāśrayānalpaphalānvadanti; dharmānanyāndharmavido manuṣyāḥ। mahāśrayaṃ bahukalyāṇarūpaṃ; kṣātraṃ dharmaṃ netaraṃ prāhurāryāḥ ॥12-63-26॥
[अल्पाश्रयान् (alpāśrayān) - of small foundation; अल्पफलान् (alpa-phalān) - of little fruit; वदन्ति (vadanti) - they speak; धर्मान् (dharmān) - dharmas; अन्यान् (anyān) - other; धर्मविदः (dharmavidaḥ) - knowers of dharma; मनुष्याः (manuṣyāḥ) - men; महाश्रयम् (mahāśrayam) - of great foundation; बहुकल्याणरूपम् (bahukalyāṇarūpam) - of much auspicious form; क्षात्रम् (kṣātram) - kṣātra; धर्मम् (dharmaṃ) - dharma; नेतरम् (netaram) - not other; प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they declare; आर्याः (āryāḥ) - the noble ones;]
(Those men who know dharma speak of other dharmas as of small foundation and little fruit; the noble ones declare the kṣātra dharma, of great foundation and of much auspicious form, as not other.)
Those who know dharma consider other dharmas to be of little substance and benefit; the noble ones declare that the kṣātra dharma, being of great foundation and much auspiciousness, is the true one.
सर्वे धर्मा राजधर्मप्रधानाः; सर्वे धर्माः पाल्यमाना भवन्ति। सर्वत्यागो राजधर्मेषु राजं; स्त्यागे चाहुर्धर्ममग्र्यं पुराणम् ॥१२-६३-२७॥
sarve dharmā rājadharma-pradhānāḥ; sarve dharmāḥ pālyamānā bhavanti। sarvatyāgo rājadharmeṣu rājaṃ; styāge cāhur dharmam agryaṃ purāṇam ॥12-63-27॥
[सर्वे (sarve) - all; धर्माः (dharmāḥ) - dharmas; राजधर्मप्रधानाः (rājadharma-pradhānāḥ) - having royal duty as foremost; सर्वे (sarve) - all; धर्माः (dharmāḥ) - dharmas; पाल्यमानाः (pālyamānāḥ) - being protected; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; सर्वत्यागः (sarvatyāgaḥ) - complete renunciation; राजधर्मेषु (rājadharmeṣu) - in royal duties; राजम् (rājam) - king; त्यागे (tyāge) - in renunciation; च (ca) - and; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; अग्र्यम् (agryam) - the foremost; पुराणम् (purāṇam) - ancient;]
(All dharmas have royal duty as foremost; all dharmas, when protected, exist. Complete renunciation among royal duties is for the king; and in renunciation, they say, dharma is the foremost, ancient.)
All dharmas are led by royal duty; all dharmas are preserved when protected. Complete renunciation in royal duties is for the king; and in renunciation, the ancient tradition says, dharma is the highest.
मज्जेत्त्रयी दण्डनीतौ हतायां; सर्वे धर्मा न भवेयुर्विरुद्धाः। सर्वे धर्माश्चाश्रमाणां गताः स्युः; क्षात्रे त्यक्ते राजधर्मे पुराणे ॥१२-६३-२८॥
majjett trayī daṇḍanītau hatāyāṃ; sarve dharmā na bhaveyur viruddhāḥ। sarve dharmāś cāśramāṇāṃ gatāḥ syuḥ; kṣātre tyakte rājadharme purāṇe ॥12-63-28॥
[मज्जेत् (majjet) - would sink; त्रयी (trayī) - the three Vedas; दण्डनीतौ (daṇḍanītau) - in the science of punishment; हतायां (hatāyāṃ) - when destroyed; सर्वे (sarve) - all; धर्माः (dharmāḥ) - dharmas; न (na) - not; भवेयुः (bhaveyuḥ) - would exist; विरुद्धाः (viruddhāḥ) - opposed; सर्वे (sarve) - all; धर्माः (dharmāḥ) - dharmas; च (ca) - and; आश्रमाणां (āśramāṇāṃ) - of the āśramas; गताः (gatāḥ) - gone; स्युः (syuḥ) - would be; क्षात्रे (kṣātre) - in kṣātra (warrior order); त्यक्ते (tyakte) - when abandoned; राजधर्मे (rājadharme) - in royal duty; पुराणे (purāṇe) - ancient;]
(The three Vedas would sink when the science of punishment is destroyed; all dharmas would not exist opposed. All dharmas of the āśramas would be gone; when the kṣātra (warrior order) is abandoned, in the ancient royal duty.)
If the science of punishment is destroyed, the three Vedas would perish; all dharmas would not exist in opposition. All the dharmas of the āśramas would disappear; when the kṣātra (warrior order) and the ancient royal duty are abandoned.
सर्वे त्यागा राजधर्मेषु दृष्टाः; सर्वा दीक्षा राजधर्मेषु चोक्ताः। सर्वे योगा राजधर्मेषु चोक्ताः; सर्वे लोका राजधर्मान्प्रविष्टाः ॥१२-६३-२९॥
sarve tyāgā rājadharmeṣu dṛṣṭāḥ; sarvā dīkṣā rājadharmeṣu coktāḥ. sarve yogā rājadharmeṣu coktāḥ; sarve lokā rājadharmān praviṣṭāḥ ॥12-63-29॥
[सर्वे (sarve) - all; (masculine plural nominative) त्यागा (tyāgāḥ) - renunciations; (masculine plural nominative) राजधर्मेषु (rājadharmeṣu) - in royal duties; (locative plural) दृष्टाः (dṛṣṭāḥ) - are seen; (masculine plural nominative) सर्वा (sarvāḥ) - all; (feminine plural nominative) दीक्षा (dīkṣāḥ) - initiations; (feminine plural nominative) राजधर्मेषु (rājadharmeṣu) - in royal duties; (locative plural) च (ca) - and; उक्ताः (uktāḥ) - are stated; (feminine plural nominative) सर्वे (sarve) - all; (masculine plural nominative) योगा (yogāḥ) - disciplines; (masculine plural nominative) राजधर्मेषु (rājadharmeṣu) - in royal duties; (locative plural) च (ca) - and; उक्ताः (uktāḥ) - are stated; (masculine plural nominative) सर्वे (sarve) - all; (masculine plural nominative) लोका (lokāḥ) - worlds; (masculine plural nominative) राजधर्मान् (rājadharmān) - royal duties; (accusative plural) प्रविष्टाः (praviṣṭāḥ) - have entered; (masculine plural nominative);]
(All renunciations are seen in royal duties; all initiations are stated in royal duties and; all disciplines are stated in royal duties and; all worlds have entered royal duties.)
All forms of renunciation are found within royal duties; all initiations are described within royal duties; all disciplines are described within royal duties; all worlds are encompassed by royal duties.
यथा जीवाः प्रकृतौ वध्यमाना; धर्माश्रितानामुपपीडनाय। एवं धर्मा राजधर्मैर्वियुक्ताः; सर्वावस्थं नाद्रियन्ते स्वधर्मम् ॥१२-६३-३०॥
yathā jīvāḥ prakṛtau vadhyamānā; dharmāśritānām upapīḍanāya। evaṃ dharmā rājadharmair viyuktāḥ; sarvāvasthaṃ nādriyante svadharmam ॥12-63-30॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; जीवाः (jīvāḥ) - living beings; प्रकृतौ (prakṛtau) - in nature; वध्यमाना (vadhyamānā) - being destroyed; धर्माश्रितानाम् (dharmāśritānām) - of those who have taken refuge in dharma; उपपीडनाय (upapīḍanāya) - for the affliction; एवं (evaṃ) - thus; धर्माः (dharmāḥ) - dharmas; राजधर्मैः (rājadharmaiḥ) - by royal duties; वियुक्ताः (viyuktāḥ) - deprived; सर्वावस्थम् (sarvāvastham) - in all conditions; न (na) - not; आद्रियन्ते (ādriyante) - are respected; स्वधर्मम् (svadharmam) - one's own dharma;]
(Just as living beings in nature, being destroyed, for the affliction of those who have taken refuge in dharma; thus dharmas, deprived by royal duties, in all conditions, are not respected, one's own dharma.)
Just as living beings in nature are destroyed for the affliction of those who have taken refuge in dharma, so too, when dharmas are deprived of royal duties, in all circumstances, one's own dharma is not respected.
