12.066
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
श्रुता मे कथिताः पूर्वैश्चत्वारो मानवाश्रमाः। व्याख्यानमेषामाचक्ष्व पृच्छतो मे पितामह ॥१२-६६-१॥
O grandsire, I have heard from the ancients about the four human stages of life. Please explain their meaning to me, as I am asking you.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
विदिताः सर्व एवेह धर्मास्तव युधिष्ठिर। यथा मम महाबाहो विदिताः साधुसंमताः ॥१२-६६-२॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, all the dharmas here are known to you, just as they are to me, O mighty-armed one, and they are approved by the virtuous.
यत्तु लिङ्गान्तरगतं पृच्छसे मां युधिष्ठिर। धर्मं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ तन्निबोध नराधिप ॥१२-६६-३॥
O Yudhishthira, you ask me about the dharma that is hidden in another sign; O best of the upholders of dharma, O king of men, understand that.
सर्वाण्येतानि कौन्तेय विद्यन्ते मनुजर्षभ। साध्वाचारप्रवृत्तानां चातुराश्रम्यकर्मणाम् ॥१२-६६-४॥
O son of Kunti, O best among men, all these qualities are found among those who are engaged in righteous conduct and in the duties of the four āśramas.
अकामद्वेषयुक्तस्य दण्डनीत्या युधिष्ठिर। समेक्षिणश्च भूतेषु भैक्षाश्रमपदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-५॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, for one who is free from desire and hatred, who observes all beings equally, the path of mendicancy (bhaikṣāśrama) is appropriate according to the policy of punishment.
वेत्त्यादानविसर्गं यो निग्रहानुग्रहौ तथा। यथोक्तवृत्तेर्वीरस्य क्षेमाश्रमपदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-६॥
He who understands both the acts of taking and giving, as well as restraint and favour, and who acts according to the prescribed conduct, attains the state of welfare and peace suitable for a hero. (12-66-6)
ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिमित्राणि व्यापन्नानि युधिष्ठिर। समभ्युद्धरमाणस्य दीक्षाश्रमपदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-७॥
O Yudhishthira, when one's relatives, connections, and friends are afflicted, for one who is striving to rescue them, the state of initiation and hermitage is appropriate.
आह्निकं भूतयज्ञांश्च पितृयज्ञांश्च मानुषान्। कुर्वतः पार्थ विपुलान्वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-८॥
O Pārtha, for one performing daily, abundant offerings to beings, ancestors, and humans, the stage of the forest hermitage becomes appropriate.
पालनात्सर्वभूतानां स्वराष्ट्रपरिपालनात्। दीक्षा बहुविधा राज्ञो वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-९॥
By protecting all beings and his own kingdom, the king's consecration takes many forms; he may then enter the stage of forest hermitage.
वेदाध्ययननित्यत्वं क्षमाथाचार्यपूजनम्। तथोपाध्यायशुश्रूषा ब्रह्माश्रमपदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-१०॥
Constancy in Vedic study, forbearance, worship of the teacher, and likewise service to the sub-teacher—these constitute the state of the Brahmanical hermitage.
अजिह्ममशठं मार्गं सेवमानस्य भारत। सर्वदा सर्वभूतेषु ब्रह्माश्रमपदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-११॥
O Bhārata, for one who always follows the straight and honest path among all beings, the state of the hermitage of Brahman is attained.
वानप्रस्थेषु विप्रेषु त्रैविद्येषु च भारत। प्रयच्छतोऽर्थान्विपुलान्वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-१२॥
O Bhārata, among vānaprasthas, brāhmaṇas, and those learned in the three Vedas, one who gives abundant wealth may attain the next stage of life.
सर्वभूतेष्वनुक्रोशं कुर्वतस्तस्य भारत। आनृशंस्यप्रवृत्तस्य सर्वावस्थं पदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-१३॥
O Bhārata, one who practices compassion towards all beings and is devoted to non-cruelty attains a state in all circumstances.
बालवृद्धेषु कौरव्य सर्वावस्थं युधिष्ठिर। अनुक्रोशं विदधतः सर्वावस्थं पदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-१४॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, O descendant of Kuru, one should practice compassion towards children and the old in all conditions; in all circumstances, this should be the state.
बलात्कृतेषु भूतेषु परित्राणं कुरूद्वह। शरणागतेषु कौरव्य कुर्वन्गार्हस्थ्यमावसेत् ॥१२-६६-१५॥
O best of the Kurus, one should provide protection to beings who have been violated by force; O descendant of Kuru, among those who have sought refuge, one should live performing household duties.
चराचराणां भूतानां रक्षामपि च सर्वशः। यथार्हपूजां च सदा कुर्वन्गार्हस्थ्यमावसेत् ॥१२-६६-१६॥
He should live as a householder, always protecting all beings, both moving and unmoving, and performing proper worship as appropriate.
ज्येष्ठानुज्येष्ठपत्नीनां भ्रातॄणां पुत्रनप्तृणाम्। निग्रहानुग्रहौ पार्थ गार्हस्थ्यमिति तत्तपः ॥१२-६६-१७॥
O Pārtha, restraint and favour towards the wives of elders and younger, brothers, sons, and grandsons—this is regarded as the austerity of householders.
साधूनामर्चनीयानां प्रजासु विदितात्मनाम्। पालनं पुरुषव्याघ्र गृहाश्रमपदं भवेत् ॥१२-६६-१८॥
O best of men, the householder's life should be for the protection of the virtuous, the venerable, and those among the people who have realized their true self.
आश्रमस्थानि सर्वाणि यस्तु वेश्मनि भारत। आददीतेह भोज्येन तद्गार्हस्थ्यं युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-६६-१९॥
O Bhārata, whoever in the house here supports all the hermitages with food, that is true householdership, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
यः स्थितः पुरुषो धर्मे धात्रा सृष्टे यथार्थवत्। आश्रमाणां स सर्वेषां फलं प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमम् ॥१२-६६-२०॥
Whoever is firmly established in the dharma created by the Creator, in accordance with reality, attains the highest fruit of all the āśramas.
यस्मिन्न नश्यन्ति गुणाः कौन्तेय पुरुषे सदा। आश्रमस्थं तमप्याहुर्नरश्रेष्ठं युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-६६-२१॥
O Yudhishthira, even one residing in an āśrama, in whom the qualities are always destroyed, is called the best among men, O son of Kunti.
स्थानमानं वयोमानं कुलमानं तथैव च। कुर्वन्वसति सर्वेषु ह्याश्रमेषु युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-६६-२२॥
O Yudhishthira, one who acts according to the measure of place, age, and family, indeed dwells harmoniously in all hermitages.
देशधर्मांश्च कौन्तेय कुलधर्मांस्तथैव च। पालयन्पुरुषव्याघ्र राजा सर्वाश्रमी भवेत् ॥१२-६६-२३॥
O son of Kunti, a king, the tiger among men, should uphold both the duties of the land and the family, and thus become one who is established in all stages of life.
काले विभूतिं भूतानामुपहारांस्तथैव च। अर्हयन्पुरुषव्याघ्र साधूनामाश्रमे वसेत् ॥१२-६६-२४॥
At the proper time, honoring the sacred offerings and gifts of beings in the same way, O tiger among men, one should dwell in the hermitage of the virtuous.
दशधर्मगतश्चापि यो धर्मं प्रत्यवेक्षते। सर्वलोकस्य कौन्तेय राजा भवति सोऽऽश्रमी ॥१२-६६-२५॥
O son of Kunti, he who possesses the tenfold dharma and also examines dharma becomes the king of all people, transcending the orders of life.
ये धर्मकुशला लोके धर्मं कुर्वन्ति साधवः। पालिता यस्य विषये पादोंऽशस्तस्य भूपतेः ॥१२-६६-२६॥
Those who are skilled in dharma in the world, the virtuous who perform dharma, being protected in whose domain, a portion of their merit belongs to that king.
धर्मारामान्धर्मपरान्ये न रक्षन्ति मानवान्। पार्थिवाः पुरुषव्याघ्र तेषां पापं हरन्ति ते ॥१२-६६-२७॥
Those who delight in dharma and those devoted to adharma do not protect people; O tiger among men, it is the kings who remove their sins.
ये च रक्षासहायाः स्युः पार्थिवानां युधिष्ठिर। ते चैवांशहराः सर्वे धर्मे परकृतेऽनघ ॥१२-६६-२८॥
O Yudhishthira, those who are the helpers in the protection of kings, they all, being sharers of the portion, indeed act in righteousness and in accordance with the natural order, O sinless one.
सर्वाश्रमपदे ह्याहुर्गार्हस्थ्यं दीप्तनिर्णयम्। पावनं पुरुषव्याघ्र यं वयं पर्युपास्महे ॥१२-६६-२९॥
O tiger among men, it is said that householdership, which we approach, is the most decisive and purifying among all stages of life.
आत्मोपमस्तु भूतेषु यो वै भवति मानवः। न्यस्तदण्डो जितक्रोधः स प्रेत्य लभते सुखम् ॥१२-६६-३०॥
But among all beings, that human who treats others as himself, who has renounced violence and conquered anger, attains happiness after death.
धर्मोत्थिता सत्त्ववीर्या धर्मसेतुवटाकरा। त्यागवाताध्वगा शीघ्रा नौस्त्वा सन्तारयिष्यति ॥१२-६६-३१॥
The swift boat, built upon dharma, powered by courage and renunciation, will surely carry you across.
यदा निवृत्तः सर्वस्मात्कामो योऽस्य हृदि स्थितः। तदा भवति सत्त्वस्थस्ततो ब्रह्म समश्नुते ॥१२-६६-३२॥
When all desires have been withdrawn from the heart, and the one who abides there is established in sattva, then he attains Brahman.
सुप्रसन्नस्तु भावेन योगेन च नराधिप। धर्मं पुरुषशार्दूल प्राप्स्यसे पालने रतः ॥१२-६६-३३॥
O king, if you are very pleased, with sincerity and dedication, O best of men, you will attain righteousness by being engaged in protection.
वेदाध्ययनशीलानां विप्राणां साधुकर्मणाम्। पालने यत्नमातिष्ठ सर्वलोकस्य चानघ ॥१२-६६-३४॥
O sinless one, make every effort to protect the Brāhmaṇas who are devoted to the study of the Vedas and to virtuous deeds, as well as all the worlds.
वने चरति यो धर्ममाश्रमेषु च भारत। रक्षया तच्छतगुणं धर्मं प्राप्नोति पार्थिवः ॥१२-६६-३५॥
O Bhārata, the king who protects dharma in the forest and in the āśramas attains that dharma a hundredfold.
एष ते विविधो धर्मः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ कीर्तितः। अनुतिष्ठ त्वमेनं वै पूर्वैर्दृष्टं सनातनम् ॥१२-६६-३६॥
O best of the Pāṇḍavas, this manifold dharma has been explained to you. Now, perform this, for it has been regarded as eternal by the ancients.
चातुराश्रम्यमेकाग्रः चातुर्वर्ण्यं च पाण्डव। धर्मं पुरुषशार्दूल प्राप्स्यसे पालने रतः ॥१२-६६-३७॥
O Pāṇḍava, being single-minded in upholding the four āśramas and the four varṇas, and being devoted to the protection of dharma, O best among men, you will attain righteousness.
