12.076
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira; (proper noun; name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhishthira said;)
Yudhishthira said:
यया वृत्त्या महीपालो विवर्धयति मानवान्। पुण्यांश्च लोकाञ्जयति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-७६-१॥
yayā vṛttyā mahīpālo vivardhayati mānavān। puṇyāṃś ca lokāñ jayati tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-76-1॥
[यया (yayā) - by which; (instrumental singular, feminine) वृत्त्या (vṛttyā) - conduct; (instrumental singular, feminine) महीपालः (mahīpālaḥ) - king; (nominative singular, masculine) विवर्धयति (vivardhayati) - causes to prosper; (third person singular, present) मानवान् (mānavān) - humans; (accusative plural, masculine) पुण्यान् (puṇyān) - meritorious; (accusative plural, masculine) च (ca) - and; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; (accusative plural, masculine) जयति (jayati) - conquers; (third person singular, present) तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; (imperative, second person singular) पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire; (vocative singular, masculine);]
(By which conduct does the king cause humans to prosper, and conquer meritorious worlds? That, tell me, O grandsire.)
O grandsire, tell me by what conduct a king causes his people to prosper and attains the meritorious worlds.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
दानशीलो भवेद्राजा यज्ञशीलश्च भारत। उपवासतपःशीलः प्रजानां पालने रतः ॥१२-७६-२॥
dānaśīlo bhavedrājā yajñaśīlaśca bhārata। upavāsatapaḥśīlaḥ prajānāṃ pālane rataḥ ॥12-76-2॥
[दानशीलः (dānaśīlaḥ) - one whose nature is giving; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; राजा (rājā) - king; यज्ञशीलः (yajñaśīlaḥ) - one whose nature is sacrifice; च (ca) - and; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; उपवासतपःशीलः (upavāsatapaḥśīlaḥ) - one whose nature is fasting and austerity; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the subjects; पालने (pālane) - in protection; रतः (rataḥ) - engaged;]
(One whose nature is giving should be king, one whose nature is sacrifice, and, O Bhārata, one whose nature is fasting and austerity, engaged in the protection of the subjects.)
O Bhārata, a king should be endowed with the nature of giving, sacrifice, fasting, and austerity, and be devoted to the protection of his subjects.
सर्वाश्चैव प्रजा नित्यं राजा धर्मेण पालयेत्। उत्थानेनाप्रमादेन पूजयेच्चैव धार्मिकान् ॥१२-७६-३॥
sarvāś caiva prajā nityaṃ rājā dharmeṇa pālayet। utthānenāpramādena pūjayec caiva dhārmikān ॥12-76-3॥
[सर्वाः (sarvāḥ) - all; (feminine plural); च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; (people; citizens;) नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; राजा (rājā) - king; धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - by righteousness; (by dharma;) पालयेत् (pālayet) - should protect; उत्थानेन (utthānena) - by effort; अप्रमादेन (apramādena) - by vigilance; पूजयेत् (pūjayet) - should honor; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; धार्मिकान् (dhārmikān) - the righteous; (those who are righteous;]
(The king should always protect all the subjects indeed by righteousness; and by effort and vigilance, he should indeed honor the righteous.)
The king should always protect all his subjects through righteousness, and with effort and vigilance, he should honor the righteous.
राज्ञा हि पूजितो धर्मस्ततः सर्वत्र पूज्यते। यद्यदाचरते राजा तत्प्रजानां हि रोचते ॥१२-७६-४॥
rājñā hi pūjito dharmas tataḥ sarvatra pūjyate। yadyad ācarate rājā tat prajānāṃ hi rocate ॥12-76-4॥
[राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; हि (hi) - indeed; पूजितः (pūjitaḥ) - honored; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; ततः (tataḥ) - thereafter; सर्वत्र (sarvatra) - everywhere; पूज्यते (pūjyate) - is honored; यद्यत् (yadyat) - whatever; आचरते (ācarate) - acts; राजा (rājā) - the king; तत् (tat) - that; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the subjects; हि (hi) - indeed; रोचते (rocate) - is pleasing;]
(By the king indeed honored dharma; thereafter everywhere is honored. Whatever acts the king, that of the subjects indeed is pleasing.)
When dharma is honored by the king, it is honored everywhere. Whatever the king does, that indeed pleases the subjects.
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डश्च भवेन्मृत्युरिवारिषु। निहन्यात्सर्वतो दस्यून्न कामात्कस्यचित्क्षमेत् ॥१२-७६-५॥
nityamudyatadaṇḍaś ca bhaven mṛtyur ivāriṣu। nihanyāt sarvato dasyūn na kāmāt kasyacit kṣamet ॥12-76-5॥
[नित्यम् (nityam) - always; उद्यतदण्डः (udyatadaṇḍaḥ) - with raised staff (ready to punish); च (ca) - and; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; मृत्युः (mṛtyuḥ) - death; इव (iva) - like; अरिषु (ariṣu) - towards enemies; निहन्यात् (nihanyāt) - should slay; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - on all sides; दस्यून् (dasyūn) - robbers; न (na) - not; कामात् (kāmāt) - from desire; कस्यचित् (kasyacit) - of anyone; क्षमेत् (kṣamet) - should forgive;]
(Always with raised staff and should be like death towards enemies; should slay robbers on all sides; not from desire of anyone should forgive.)
He should always be ready to punish, like death to his enemies; he should destroy robbers everywhere, and should not forgive anyone out of personal desire.
यं हि धर्मं चरन्तीह प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिताः। चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य राजा भारत विन्दति ॥१२-७६-६॥
yaṃ hi dharmaṃ carantīha prajā rājñā surakṣitāḥ। caturthaṃ tasya dharmasya rājā bhārata vindati ॥12-76-6॥
[यं (yaṃ) - which; हि (hi) - indeed; धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - duty; चरन्ति (caranti) - practice; इह (iha) - here; प्रजा (prajā) - subjects; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; सुरक्षिताः (surakṣitāḥ) - protected; चतुर्थं (caturthaṃ) - a fourth part; तस्य (tasya) - of that; धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of duty; राजा (rājā) - the king; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; विन्दति (vindati) - obtains;]
(Which indeed duty practice here subjects by the king protected, a fourth part of that duty the king, O Bhārata, obtains.)
O Bhārata, the king obtains a fourth part of the merit of that duty which is practiced here by the subjects protected by the king.
यदधीते यद्यजते यद्ददाति यदर्चति। राजा चतुर्थभाक्तस्य प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ॥१२-७६-७॥
yad-adhīte yad-yajate yad-dadāti yad-arcati। rājā caturthabhāktasya prajā dharmeṇa pālayan ॥12-76-7॥
[यत् (yat) - whatever; अधीते (adhīte) - studies; यत् (yat) - whatever; यजते (yajate) - sacrifices; यत् (yat) - whatever; ददाति (dadāti) - gives; यत् (yat) - whatever; अर्चति (arcati) - worships; राजा (rājā) - king; चतुर्थभाक्तस्य (caturthabhāktasya) - of the fourth part; प्रजा (prajā) - subjects; धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - by righteousness; पालयन् (pālayan) - protecting;]
(Whatever (one) studies, whatever (one) sacrifices, whatever (one) gives, whatever (one) worships, the king, protecting the subjects by righteousness, (is) entitled to a fourth part (of the merit).)
Whatever a person studies, sacrifices, gives, or worships, the king, by protecting his subjects with righteousness, is entitled to a fourth part of that merit.
यद्राष्ट्रेऽकुशलं किञ्चिद्राज्ञोऽरक्षयतः प्रजाः। चतुर्थं तस्य पापस्य राजा भारत विन्दति ॥१२-७६-८॥
yad-rāṣṭre'kuśalaṃ kiñcid-rājño'rakṣayataḥ prajāḥ। caturthaṃ tasya pāpasya rājā bhārata vindati ॥12-76-8॥
[यत् (yat) - which; राष्ट्रे (rāṣṭre) - in the kingdom; अकुशलं (akuśalam) - evil; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - any; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; अरक्षयतः (arakṣayataḥ) - not protecting; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; चतुर्थं (caturtham) - a fourth part; तस्य (tasya) - of that; पापस्य (pāpasya) - of the sin; राजा (rājā) - the king; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; विन्दति (vindati) - obtains;]
(Which evil whatsoever in the kingdom, of the king not protecting the subjects, a fourth part of that sin the king, O Bhārata, obtains.)
O Bhārata, whatever evil occurs in the kingdom due to the king not protecting his subjects, the king acquires a fourth part of that sin.
अप्याहुः सर्वमेवेति भूयोऽर्धमिति निश्चयः। कर्मणः पृथिवीपाल नृशंसोऽनृतवागपि ॥ तादृशात्किल्बिषाद्राजा शृणु येन प्रमुच्यते ॥१२-७६-९॥
apyāhuḥ sarvameveti bhūyo'rdhamiti niścayaḥ। karmaṇaḥ pṛthivīpāla nṛśaṃso'nṛtavāgapi ॥ tādṛśātkilbiṣādrājā śṛṇu yena pramucyate ॥12-76-9॥
[अपि (api) - also; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; एव (eva) - indeed; इति (iti) - thus; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; अर्धम् (ardham) - half; इति (iti) - thus; निश्चयः (niścayaḥ) - decision; कर्मणः (karmaṇaḥ) - of the act; पृथिवीपाल (pṛthivīpāla) - O protector of the earth; नृशंसः (nṛśaṃsaḥ) - cruel; अनृतवाक् (anṛtavāk) - one who speaks untruth; अपि (api) - also; तादृशात् (tādṛśāt) - from such; किल्बिषात् (kilbiṣāt) - from sin; राजा (rājā) - the king; शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear; येन (yena) - by which; प्रमुच्यते (pramucyate) - is released;]
(Also, they say "all"; thus, again, "half"; thus, (this is the) decision. Of the act, O protector of the earth, (if) cruel, one who speaks untruth also, from such sin, the king, hear by which is released.)
They also say, O protector of the earth, that some consider the whole act, others again half, as the decision. If a king is cruel or speaks untruth, hear by what means he is released from such sin.
प्रत्याहर्तुमशक्यं स्याद्धनं चोरैर्हृतं यदि। स्वकोशात्तत्प्रदेयं स्यादशक्तेनोपजीवता ॥१२-७६-१०॥
pratyāhartumaśakyaṃ syāddhanaṃ corairhṛtaṃ yadi। svakoshāttatpradeyaṃ syādaśaktenopajīvatā ॥12-76-10॥
[प्रत्याहर्तुम् (pratyāhartum) - to recover; (from upasarga 'prati' + dhātu 'āhṛ') अशक्यं (aśakyaṃ) - impossible; (a- not + śakya possible) स्यात् (syāt) - would be; (optative of 'as' to be) धनं (dhanaṃ) - wealth; चोरैः (coraiḥ) - by thieves; हृतं (hṛtaṃ) - taken; (from dhātu 'hṛ' to take) यदि (yadi) - if; स्वकोशात् (svakośāt) - from one's own treasury; तत् (tat) - that; प्रदेयं (pradeyaṃ) - should be given; (from dhātu 'dā' to give, with prefix 'pra') स्यात् (syāt) - would be; अशक्तेन (aśaktena) - by one unable; (a- not + śakta able) उपजीवता (upajīvatā) - subsisting; (from upasarga 'upa' + dhātu 'jīv' to live);]
(If the wealth taken by thieves would be impossible to recover, that should be given from one's own treasury by one subsisting who is unable.)
If wealth stolen by thieves cannot be recovered, then one who is unable to recover it and subsists should provide that amount from his own treasury.
सर्ववर्णैः सदा रक्ष्यं ब्रह्मस्वं ब्राह्मणास्तथा। न स्थेयं विषये तेषु योऽपकुर्याद्द्विजातिषु ॥१२-७६-११॥
sarvavarṇaiḥ sadā rakṣyaṃ brahmasvaṃ brāhmaṇās tathā। na stheyaṃ viṣaye teṣu yo'pakuryād dvijātiṣu ॥12-76-11॥
[सर्ववर्णैः (sarvavarṇaiḥ) - by all castes; सदा (sadā) - always; रक्ष्यम् (rakṣyam) - to be protected; ब्रह्मस्वम् (brahmasvam) - property of a Brāhmaṇa; ब्राह्मणाः (brāhmaṇāḥ) - Brāhmaṇas; तथा (tathā) - also; न (na) - not; स्थेयम् (stheyam) - should remain; विषये (viṣaye) - in the domain; तेषु (teṣu) - among them; यः (yaḥ) - who; अपकुर्यात् (apakuryāt) - would harm; द्विजातिषु (dvijātiṣu) - towards the twice-born;]
(By all castes always to be protected is the property of a Brāhmaṇa; Brāhmaṇas also. Not should remain in the domain among them who would harm the twice-born.)
The property of a Brāhmaṇa should always be protected by all castes; Brāhmaṇas as well. No one should remain in the domain of those who would harm the twice-born.
ब्रह्मस्वे रक्ष्यमाणे हि सर्वं भवति रक्षितम्। तेषां प्रसादे निर्वृत्ते कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नृपः ॥१२-७६-१२॥
brahmasve rakṣyamāṇe hi sarvaṃ bhavati rakṣitam। teṣāṃ prasāde nirvṛtte kṛtakṛtyo bhaven nṛpaḥ॥12-76-12॥
[ब्रह्मस्वे (brahmasve) - in the Brahmins; (brahma + su, locative singular) रक्ष्यमाणे (rakṣyamāṇe) - being protected; (rakṣ, passive participle, locative singular) हि (hi) - indeed; सर्वं (sarvaṃ) - all; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; रक्षितम् (rakṣitam) - protected; तेषां (teṣāṃ) - of them; प्रसादे (prasāde) - by the favor; (prasāda, locative singular) निर्वृत्ते (nirvṛtte) - when accomplished; (nir-vṛt, past participle, locative singular) कृतकृत्यः (kṛtakṛtyaḥ) - one who has accomplished his duty; भवेत् (bhavet) - becomes; नृपः (nṛpaḥ) - the king;]
(When the Brahmins are being protected, indeed, all becomes protected. By their favor being accomplished, the king becomes one who has accomplished his duty.)
When the Brahmins are protected, everything is protected. When their favor is obtained, the king has fulfilled his duty.
पर्जन्यमिव भूतानि महाद्रुममिव द्विजाः। नरास्तमुपजीवन्ति नृपं सर्वार्थसाधकम् ॥१२-७६-१३॥
parjanyam iva bhūtāni mahādrumam iva dvijāḥ। narās tam upajīvanti nṛpaṃ sarvārthasādhakam ॥12-76-13॥
[पर्जन्यम् (parjanyam) - rain-cloud; इव (iva) - like; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - creatures; महाद्रुमम् (mahādrumam) - great tree; इव (iva) - like; द्विजाः (dvijāḥ) - twice-born; नराः (narāḥ) - men; तम् (tam) - him; उपजीवन्ति (upajīvanti) - subsist upon; नृपम् (nṛpam) - king; सर्वार्थसाधकम् (sarvārthasādhakam) - accomplisher of all purposes;]
(Creatures (subsist) on the rain-cloud like (birds on) a great tree; men subsist upon him, the king, accomplisher of all purposes.)
Just as all creatures depend on the rain-cloud and birds on a great tree, so do people depend on the king who accomplishes all purposes.
न हि कामात्मना राज्ञा सततं शठबुद्धिना। नृशंसेनातिलुब्धेन शक्याः पालयितुं प्रजाः ॥१२-७६-१४॥
na hi kāmātmanā rājñā satataṃ śaṭhabuddhinā। nṛśaṃsenātilubdhena śakyāḥ pālayituṃ prajāḥ ॥12-76-14॥
[न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; कामात्मना (kāmātmanā) - by one whose nature is desire; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by a king; सततं (satatam) - always; शठबुद्धिना (śaṭhabuddhinā) - with deceitful intellect; नृशंसेन (nṛśaṃsena) - by a cruel (person); अतिलुब्धेन (atilubdhena) - by an exceedingly greedy (person); शक्याः (śakyāḥ) - possible; पालयितुं (pālayitum) - to protect; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects;]
(Not indeed by one whose nature is desire, by a king, always with deceitful intellect, by a cruel, by an exceedingly greedy, possible to protect subjects.)
It is never possible for a king who is driven by desire, always deceitful in mind, cruel, and excessively greedy to protect his subjects.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
नाहं राज्यसुखान्वेषी राज्यमिच्छाम्यपि क्षणम्। धर्मार्थं रोचये राज्यं धर्मश्चात्र न विद्यते ॥१२-७६-१५॥
nāhaṃ rājyasukhānveṣī rājyamicchāmyapi kṣaṇam। dharmārthaṃ rocaye rājyaṃ dharmaścātra na vidyate ॥12-76-15॥
[न (na) - not; अहम् (aham) - I; राज्यसुख (rājyasukha) - kingdom's happiness; अन्वेषी (anveṣī) - seeker; राज्यम् (rājyam) - kingdom; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I desire; अपि (api) - even; क्षणम् (kṣaṇam) - for a moment; धर्मार्थम् (dharmārtham) - for the sake of dharma; रोचये (rocaye) - I approve; राज्यम् (rājyam) - kingdom; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; च (ca) - and; अत्र (atra) - here; न (na) - not; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists;]
(Not I kingdom's happiness seeker; kingdom I desire even for a moment; for the sake of dharma I approve kingdom; dharma and here not exists.)
I am not a seeker of the pleasures of kingship; I do not desire the kingdom even for a moment. I approve of the kingdom only for the sake of dharma, but here, dharma does not exist.
तदलं मम राज्येन यत्र धर्मो न विद्यते। वनमेव गमिष्यामि तस्माद्धर्मचिकीर्षया ॥१२-७६-१६॥
tad alaṃ mama rājyena yatra dharmo na vidyate। vanam eva gamiṣyāmi tasmād dharmacikīrṣayā ॥12-76-16॥
[तत् (tat) - that; अलम् (alam) - enough; मम (mama) - my; राज्येन (rājyena) - by kingdom; यत्र (yatra) - where; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; न (na) - not; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists; वनम् (vanam) - forest; एव (eva) - only; गमिष्यामि (gamiṣyāmi) - I shall go; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; धर्मचिकीर्षया (dharmacikīrṣayā) - with desire to practice dharma;]
(That is enough of my kingdom where dharma does not exist. I shall go only to the forest, therefore, with the desire to practice dharma.)
"That is enough of my kingdom where dharma does not exist. Therefore, I shall go only to the forest with the desire to practice dharma."
तत्र मेध्येष्वरण्येषु न्यस्तदण्डो जितेन्द्रियः। धर्ममाराधयिष्यामि मुनिर्मूलफलाशनः ॥१२-७६-१७॥
tatra medhyeṣvaraṇyeṣu nyastadaṇḍo jitendriyaḥ। dharmam ārādhayiṣyāmi munir mūlaphalāśanaḥ ॥12-76-17॥
[तत्र (tatra) - there; मेध्येषु (medhyeṣu) - in pure; अरण्येषु (araṇyeṣu) - forests; न्यस्तदण्डः (nyastadaṇḍaḥ) - one who has laid down the staff; जितेन्द्रियः (jitendriyaḥ) - one who has conquered the senses; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; आराधयिष्यामि (ārādhayiṣyāmi) - I shall worship; मुनिः (muniḥ) - the sage; मूलफलाशनः (mūlaphalāśanaḥ) - eating roots and fruits;]
(There, in pure forests, having laid down the staff, having conquered the senses, I shall worship dharma, the sage eating roots and fruits.)
There, in those pure forests, having renounced the staff and conquered the senses, I, the sage subsisting on roots and fruits, shall devote myself to dharma.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
वेदाहं तव या बुद्धिरानृशंस्यगुणैव सा। न च शुद्धानृशंस्येन शक्यं महदुपासितुम् ॥१२-७६-१८॥
vedāhaṃ tava yā buddhir ānṛśaṃsyaguṇaiva sā। na ca śuddhānṛśaṃsyena śakyaṃ mahad upāsitum ॥12-76-18॥
[वेद (veda) - I know; अहम् (aham) - I; तव (tava) - your; या (yā) - which; बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ) - intellect; आनृशंस्यगुणः (ānṛśaṃsyaguṇaḥ) - the quality of compassion; एव (eva) - indeed; सा (sā) - that; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; शुद्ध (śuddha) - pure; आनृशंस्येन (ānṛśaṃsyena) - by compassion; शक्यम् (śakyam) - possible; महत् (mahat) - the great; उपासितुम् (upāsitum) - to worship;]
(I know your intellect which is indeed endowed with the quality of compassion; but the great cannot be worshipped by pure compassion alone.)
I know that your intellect is endowed with the quality of compassion; however, the great cannot be worshipped by pure compassion alone.
अपि तु त्वा मृदुं दान्तमत्यार्यमतिधार्मिकम्। क्लीबं धर्मघृणायुक्तं न लोको बहु मन्यते ॥१२-७६-१९॥
api tu tvā mṛduṃ dāntam atyāryam atidhārmikam। klībaṃ dharmaghṛṇāyuktaṃ na loko bahu manyate ॥12-76-19॥
[अपि (api) - indeed; तु (tu) - but; त्वा (tvā) - you; मृदुं (mṛduṃ) - gentle; दान्तम् (dāntam) - self-restrained; अत्यार्यम् (atyāryam) - exceedingly noble; अतिधार्मिकम् (atidhārmikam) - very righteous; क्लीबं (klībaṃ) - unmanly; धर्मघृणा-युक्तं (dharmaghṛṇā-yuktaṃ) - endowed with aversion to unrighteousness; न (na) - not; लोकः (lokaḥ) - people; बहु (bahu) - much; मन्यते (manyate) - regard;]
(Indeed but you gentle self-restrained exceedingly noble very righteous unmanly endowed with aversion to unrighteousness not people much regard.)
But even though you are gentle, self-restrained, exceedingly noble, very righteous, unmanly, and endowed with aversion to unrighteousness, people do not think highly of you.
राजधर्मानवेक्षस्व पितृपैतामहोचितान्। नैतद्राज्ञामथो वृत्तं यथा त्वं स्थातुमिच्छसि ॥१२-७६-२०॥
rājadharmān avekṣasva pitṛpaitāmahocitān। naitad rājñām atho vṛttaṃ yathā tvaṃ sthātum icchasi॥12-76-20॥
[राजधर्मान् (rājadharmān) - kingly duties; अवेक्षस्व (avekṣasva) - consider; पितृपैतामहोचितान् (pitṛpaitāmahocitān) - appropriate to fathers and grandfathers; न (na) - not; एतत् (etat) - this; राज्ञाम् (rājñām) - of kings; अथ (atha) - and; उ (u) - indeed; वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - conduct; यथा (yathā) - as; त्वम् (tvam) - you; स्थातुम् (sthātum) - to remain; इच्छसि (icchasi) - you wish;]
(Consider the kingly duties appropriate to fathers and grandfathers; this is not the conduct of kings, and as you wish to remain (so), (it is not proper).)
Consider the royal duties that are appropriate to your forefathers; this is not the conduct of kings, and it is not proper for you to wish to remain in this way.
न हि वैक्लव्यसंसृष्टमानृशंस्यमिहास्थितः। प्रजापालनसम्भूतं प्राप्ता धर्मफलं ह्यसि ॥१२-७६-२१॥
na hi vaiklavyasaṃsṛṣṭamānṛśaṃsyamihāsthitaḥ। prajāpālanasambhūtaṃ prāptā dharmaphalaṃ hyasi ॥12-76-21॥
[न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; वैक्लव्य (vaiklavyā) - weakness; संसृष्ट (saṃsṛṣṭa) - joined with; मानृशंस्य (mānṛśaṃsya) - cruelty; इह (iha) - here; आस्थितः (āsthitaḥ) - situated; प्रजापालन (prajāpālana) - protection of subjects; सम्भूतं (sambhūtaṃ) - arisen; प्राप्ता (prāptā) - obtained; धर्मफलं (dharmaphalaṃ) - fruit of dharma; हि (hi) - indeed; असि (asi) - you are;]
(Not indeed joined with weakness and cruelty, here situated; protection of subjects arisen, obtained fruit of dharma indeed you are.)
You are not one who is joined with weakness and cruelty here; by protecting your subjects, you have indeed obtained the fruit of dharma.
न ह्येतामाशिषं पाण्डुर्न च कुन्त्यन्वयाचत। न चैतां प्राज्ञतां तात यया चरसि मेधया ॥१२-७६-२२॥
na hy etām āśiṣaṃ pāṇḍur na ca kunti anvayācata। na ca etāṃ prājñatāṃ tāta yayā carasi medhayā ॥12-76-22॥
[न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; एताम् (etām) - this; आशिषम् (āśiṣam) - blessing; पाण्डुः (pāṇḍuḥ) - Pāṇḍu; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; कुन्ति (kunti) - Kuntī; अन्वयाचत (anvayācata) - requested; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; एताम् (etām) - this; प्राज्ञताम् (prājñatām) - wisdom; तात (tāta) - dear one; यया (yayā) - by which; चरसि (carasi) - you act; मेधया (medhayā) - with intelligence;]
(Not indeed this blessing did Pāṇḍu nor Kuntī request; nor this wisdom, dear one, by which you act with intelligence.)
Neither Pāṇḍu nor Kuntī ever asked for this blessing; nor, dear one, for this wisdom by which you act with such intelligence.
शौर्यं बलं च सत्त्वं च पिता तव सदाब्रवीत्। माहात्म्यं बलमौदार्यं तव कुन्त्यन्वयाचत ॥१२-७६-२३॥
śauryaṃ balaṃ ca sattvaṃ ca pitā tava sadābravīt। māhātmyaṃ balam audāryaṃ tava kunti anvayācat ॥12-76-23॥
[शौर्यं (śauryaṃ) - heroism; बलं (balaṃ) - strength; च (ca) - and; सत्त्वं (sattvaṃ) - fortitude; च (ca) - and; पिता (pitā) - father; तव (tava) - your; सदा (sadā) - always; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; माहात्म्यं (māhātmyaṃ) - greatness; बलम् (balam) - strength; औदार्यं (audāryaṃ) - generosity; तव (tava) - your; कुन्ति (kunti) - Kunti; अन्वयाचत् (anvayācat) - requested;]
(Heroism, strength, and fortitude—your father always said (these). Greatness, strength, and generosity—Kunti requested (these) for you.)
Your father always spoke of your heroism, strength, and fortitude. Kunti requested greatness, strength, and generosity for you.
नित्यं स्वाहा स्वधा नित्यमुभे मानुषदैवते। पुत्रेष्वाशासते नित्यं पितरो दैवतानि च ॥१२-७६-२४॥
nityaṃ svāhā svadhā nityam ubhe mānuṣadaivate। putreṣv āśāsate nityaṃ pitaro daivatāni ca ॥12-76-24॥
[नित्यं (nityam) - always; स्वाहा (svāhā) - oblation to gods; स्वधा (svadhā) - oblation to ancestors; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; उभे (ubhe) - both; मानुषदैवते (mānuṣadaivate) - human and divine (entities); पुत्रेषु (putreṣu) - in sons; आशासते (āśāsate) - desire; expect; नित्यं (nityam) - always; पितरः (pitaraḥ) - ancestors; दैवतानि (daivatāni) - divine beings; च (ca) - and;]
(Always 'svāhā' (oblation to gods), 'svadhā' (oblation to ancestors), always both human and divine (entities). In sons, always, the ancestors and divine beings desire (or expect).)
Oblations of 'svāhā' and 'svadhā' are always offered to both human and divine entities. Ancestors and divine beings always have expectations regarding sons.
दानमध्ययनं यज्ञः प्रजानां परिपालनम्। धर्ममेतमधर्मं वा जन्मनैवाभ्यजायिथाः ॥१२-७६-२५॥
dānam adhyayanaṃ yajñaḥ prajānāṃ paripālanam। dharmam etam adharmaṃ vā janmanaiva abhyajāyithāḥ ॥12-76-25॥
[दानम् (dānam) - gift; offering; अध्ययनम् (adhyayanaṃ) - study; recitation; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; ritual; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of beings; of subjects; परिपालनम् (paripālanam) - protection; maintenance; धर्मम् (dharmam) - righteousness; duty; एतम् (etam) - this; अधर्मम् (adharmam) - unrighteousness; non-duty; वा (vā) - or; जन्मना (janmanā) - by birth; एव (eva) - indeed; only; अभ्यजायिथाः (abhyajāyithāḥ) - you were born; you have arisen;]
(Gift, study, sacrifice, protection of beings, this righteousness or unrighteousness, by birth indeed you were born.)
You were born by nature for gift, study, sacrifice, and protection of beings; this righteousness or unrighteousness is inherent to you from birth.
काले धुरि नियुक्तानां वहतां भार आहिते। सीदतामपि कौन्तेय न कीर्तिरवसीदति ॥१२-७६-२६॥
kāle dhuri niyuktānāṃ vahatāṃ bhāra āhite। sīdatām api kaunteya na kīrtir avasīdati॥12-76-26॥
[काले (kāle) - in time; धुरि (dhuri) - in the yoke; नियुक्तानाम् (niyuktānām) - of those appointed; वहताम् (vahatām) - of those bearing; भार (bhāra) - the burden; आहिते (āhite) - placed; सीदताम् (sīdatām) - of those who are sinking; अपि (api) - even; कौन्तेय (kaunteya) - O son of Kunti; न (na) - not; कीर्तिः (kīrtiḥ) - fame; अवसीदति (avasīdati) - sinks;]
(In time, for those appointed in the yoke, bearing the burden placed, even if they are sinking, O son of Kunti, fame does not sink.)
O Kaunteya, even when those appointed to the yoke and bearing the burden placed upon them are sinking, their fame does not sink.
समन्ततो विनियतो वहत्यस्खलितो हि यः। निर्दोषकर्मवचनात्सिद्धिः कर्मण एव सा ॥१२-७६-२७॥
samantato viniyato vahaty askhalito hi yaḥ। nirdoṣakarma-vacanāt siddhiḥ karmaṇa eva sā ॥12-76-27॥
[समन्ततः (samantataḥ) - on all sides; विनियतः (viniyataḥ) - restrained; वहति (vahati) - carries; अस्खलितः (askhalitaḥ) - unfaltering; हि (hi) - indeed; यः (yaḥ) - who; निर्दोषकर्मवचनात् (nirdoṣa-karma-vacanāt) - from the statement of faultless action; सिद्धिः (siddhiḥ) - success; कर्मणः (karmaṇaḥ) - of action; एव (eva) - only; सा (sā) - that; ॥१२-७६-२७॥ (॥12-76-27॥) - ;]
(On all sides, the one who is restrained, carries unfaltering indeed; from the statement of faultless action, success is only of action, that.)
He who is restrained on all sides and acts unfalteringly, indeed, success comes only from faultless action; that is the true accomplishment of action.
नैकान्तविनिपातेन विचचारेह कश्चन। धर्मी गृही वा राजा वा ब्रह्मचार्यथ वा पुनः ॥१२-७६-२८॥
naikāntavinipātena vicacāreha kaścana। dharmī gṛhī vā rājā vā brahmacāryatha vā punaḥ ॥12-76-28॥
[नैकान्तविनिपातेन (naikāntavinipātena) - not by absolute downfall; विचचार (vicacāra) - wandered; इह (iha) - here; कश्चन (kaścana) - anyone; धर्मी (dharmī) - righteous; गृही (gṛhī) - householder; वा (vā) - or; राजा (rājā) - king; वा (vā) - or; ब्रह्मचार्यथ (brahmacāryatha) - or student of sacred knowledge; वा (vā) - or; पुनः (punaḥ) - again;]
(Not by absolute downfall did anyone here wander, whether righteous, householder, king, or student of sacred knowledge, or again.)
No one here, whether a righteous person, a householder, a king, or a student of sacred knowledge, ever wandered due to absolute downfall.
अल्पं तु साधुभूयिष्ठं यत्कर्मोदारमेव तत्। कृतमेवाकृताच्छ्रेयो न पापीयोऽस्त्यकर्मणः ॥१२-७६-२९॥
alpaṃ tu sādhubhūyiṣṭhaṃ yat karmodārameva tat। kṛtamevākṛtāc chreyo na pāpīyo'styakarmaṇaḥ ॥12-76-29॥
[अल्पम् (alpam) - small; brief; तु (tu) - but; साधु-भूयिष्ठम् (sādhu-bhūyiṣṭham) - mostly good; abounding in virtue; यत् (yat) - which; कर्म (karma) - action; deed; उदारम् (udāram) - noble; generous; एव (eva) - indeed; only; तत् (tat) - that; कृतम् (kṛtam) - done; performed; एव (eva) - indeed; only; अकृतात् (akṛtāt) - than what is not done; than inaction; श्रेयो (śreyaḥ) - better; superior; न (na) - not; पापीयः (pāpīyaḥ) - worse; more sinful; अस्ति (asti) - is; अकर्मणः (akarmaṇaḥ) - than inaction; of non-action;]
(But even a small action which is mostly good and noble, that indeed is better than what is not done; there is nothing worse than inaction.)
Even a small act, if it is mostly virtuous and noble, is better than not acting at all; there is nothing worse than inaction.
यदा कुलीनो धर्मज्ञः प्राप्नोत्यैश्वर्यमुत्तमम्। योगक्षेमस्तदा राजन्कुशलायैव कल्पते ॥१२-७६-३०॥
yadā kulīno dharmajñaḥ prāpnotyaiśvaryamuttamam। yogakṣemastadā rājan kuśalāyaiva kalpate ॥12-76-30॥
[यदा (yadā) - when; कुलीनः (kulīnaḥ) - noble-born; धर्मज्ञः (dharmajñaḥ) - knower of dharma; प्राप्नोति (prāpnoti) - attains; ऐश्वर्यम् (aiśvaryam) - prosperity; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - highest; योगक्षेमः (yogakṣemaḥ) - acquisition and preservation; तदा (tadā) - then; राजन् (rājan) - O king; कुशलाय (kuśalāya) - for welfare; एव (eva) - indeed; कल्पते (kalpate) - becomes fit;]
(When a noble-born knower of dharma attains the highest prosperity, then, O king, acquisition and preservation become indeed fit for welfare.)
O king, when a noble and righteous person attains the highest prosperity, then acquisition and preservation are truly directed towards welfare.
दानेनान्यं बलेनान्यमन्यं सूनृतया गिरा। सर्वतः परिगृह्णीयाद्राज्यं प्राप्येह धार्मिकः ॥१२-७६-३१॥
dānenānyaṃ balenānyamanyaṃ sūnṛtayā girā। sarvataḥ parigṛhṇīyādrājyaṃ prāpyeha dhārmikaḥ ॥12-76-31॥
[दानेन (dānena) - by gift; अन्यं (anyam) - another; बलेन (balena) - by strength; अन्यम् (anyam) - another; अन्यं (anyam) - another; सूनृतया (sūnṛtayā) - by truthfulness; गिरा (girā) - by speech; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - from all sides; परिगृह्णीयात् (parigṛhṇīyāt) - should acquire; राज्यम् (rājyam) - kingdom; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having obtained; इह (iha) - here; धार्मिकः (dhārmikaḥ) - the righteous one;]
(By gift, another; by strength, another; by truthfulness, by speech, another; from all sides, should acquire the kingdom, having obtained here, the righteous one.)
A righteous person, having obtained the kingdom here, should acquire (subjects) from all sides—some by gifts, some by strength, and others by truthful speech.
यं हि वैद्याः कुले जाता अवृत्तिभयपीडिताः। प्राप्य तृप्ताः प्रतिष्ठन्ति धर्मः कोऽभ्यधिकस्ततः ॥१२-७६-३२॥
yaṃ hi vaidyāḥ kule jātā avṛttibhayapīḍitāḥ। prāpya tṛptāḥ pratiṣṭhanti dharmaḥ ko'bhyadhikastataḥ ॥12-76-32॥
[यं (yaṃ) - whom; हि (hi) - indeed; वैद्याः (vaidyāḥ) - physicians; कुले (kule) - in a family; जाता (jātā) - born; अवृत्तिभयपीडिताः (avṛttibhayapīḍitāḥ) - afflicted by fear of lack of livelihood; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having obtained; तृप्ताः (tṛptāḥ) - satisfied; प्रतिष्ठन्ति (pratiṣṭhanti) - remain; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; कः (kaḥ) - what; अभ्यधिकः (abhyadhikaḥ) - superior; ततः (tataḥ) - than that;]
(Whom indeed physicians born in a family, afflicted by fear of lack of livelihood, having obtained (livelihood), satisfied, remain—what righteousness is superior to that?)
When physicians born in a family, afflicted by fear of lack of livelihood, obtain satisfaction and remain content, what righteousness is greater than that?
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
किं न्वतः परमं स्वर्ग्यं का न्वतः प्रीतिरुत्तमा। किं न्वतः परमैश्वर्यं ब्रूहि मे यदि मन्यसे ॥१२-७६-३३॥
kiṁ nvataḥ paramaṁ svargyaṁ kā nvataḥ prītiruttamā। kiṁ nvataḥ paramaīśvaryaṁ brūhi me yadi manyase ॥12-76-33॥
[किं (kiṁ) - what; नु (nu) - indeed; अतः (ataḥ) - from this; परमं (paramaṁ) - supreme; स्वर्ग्यम् (svargyam) - heavenly; का (kā) - which; नु (nu) - indeed; अतः (ataḥ) - from this; प्रीतिः (prītiḥ) - delight; उत्तमा (uttamā) - highest; किं (kiṁ) - what; नु (nu) - indeed; अतः (ataḥ) - from this; परम-ऐश्वर्यम् (parama-aiśvaryam) - supreme sovereignty; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; मे (me) - to me; यदि (yadi) - if; मन्यसे (manyase) - you think;]
(What indeed from this is the supreme heavenly (state)? Which indeed from this is the highest delight? What indeed from this is the supreme sovereignty? Tell me, if you think (so).)
What, then, is the highest heavenly state from this? Which is the greatest delight from this? What is the supreme sovereignty from this? Tell me, if you think so.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
यस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठिताः सम्यक्क्षेमं विन्दन्ति तत्क्षणम्। स स्वर्गजित्तमोऽस्माकं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥१२-७६-३४॥
yasmin pratiṣṭhitāḥ samyak kṣemaṃ vindanti tat-kṣaṇam। sa svarga-jit tamaḥ asmākaṃ satyam etad bravīmi te ॥12-76-34॥
[यस्मिन् (yasmin) - in whom; प्रतिष्ठिताः (pratiṣṭhitāḥ) - established; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; क्षेमम् (kṣemam) - well-being; विन्दन्ति (vindanti) - find; तत् (tat) - that; क्षणम् (kṣaṇam) - moment; सः (saḥ) - he; स्वर्गजित् (svarga-jit) - conqueror of heaven; तमः (tamaḥ) - best; अस्माकम् (asmākam) - of us; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; एतत् (etat) - this; ब्रवीमि (bravīmi) - I say; ते (te) - to you;]
(In whom those established properly find well-being at that moment, he is the best conqueror of heaven among us; this is the truth, I say to you.)
He in whom those who are properly established instantly find well-being is the best among us, a conqueror of heaven; this is the truth, I tell you.
त्वमेव प्रीतिमांस्तस्मात्कुरूणां कुरुसत्तम। भव राजा जय स्वर्गं सतो रक्षासतो जहि ॥१२-७६-३५॥
tvam eva prītimāṁs tasmāt kurūṇāṁ kurusattama। bhava rājā jaya svargaṁ sato rakṣāsato jahi ॥12-76-35॥
[त्वम् (tvam) - you; एव (eva) - indeed; प्रीतिमान् (prītimān) - possessed of affection; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; कुरूणाम् (kurūṇām) - of the Kurus; कुरुसत्तम (kurusattama) - O best of the Kurus; भव (bhava) - be; राजा (rājā) - king; जय (jaya) - conquer; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; सतः (sataḥ) - of the good; रक्षा (rakṣā) - protect; असतः (asataḥ) - of the wicked; जहि (jahi) - destroy;]
(You indeed, possessed of affection, therefore, of the Kurus, O best of the Kurus, be king; conquer heaven; of the good, protect; of the wicked, destroy.)
Therefore, O best of the Kurus, you alone, full of affection for the Kurus, become king; win heaven; protect the good and destroy the wicked.
अनु त्वा तात जीवन्तु सुहृदः साधुभिः सह। पर्जन्यमिव भूतानि स्वादुद्रुममिवाण्डजाः ॥१२-७६-३६॥
anu tvā tāta jīvantu suhṛdaḥ sādhubhiḥ saha। parjanyamiva bhūtāni svādu-drumamivāṇḍajāḥ ॥12-76-36॥
[अनु (anu) - after; along; त्वा (tvā) - you; तात (tāta) - dear one; father; जीवन्तु (jīvantu) - may live; may survive; सुहृदः (suhṛdaḥ) - friends; well-wishers; साधुभिः (sādhubhiḥ) - with the virtuous; with good people; सह (saha) - together; with; पर्जन्यम् (parjanyam) - rain; raincloud; इव (iva) - like; as; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - creatures; beings; स्वादु (svādu) - sweet; pleasant; द्रुमम् (drumam) - tree; इव (iva) - like; as; अण्डजाः (aṇḍajāḥ) - those born from eggs; birds;]
(May your friends, dear one, live along with the virtuous with you; just as creatures (live) with the rain, and birds (live) with the sweet tree.)
Dear one, may your friends live with you and the virtuous, just as creatures thrive with the rain and birds with a sweet tree.
धृष्टं शूरं प्रहर्तारमनृशंसं जितेन्द्रियम्। वत्सलं संविभक्तारमनु जीवन्तु त्वां जनाः ॥१२-७६-३७॥
dhṛṣṭaṃ śūraṃ prahartāram anṛśaṃsaṃ jitendriyam। vatsalaṃ saṃvibhaktāram anu jīvantu tvāṃ janāḥ ॥12-76-37॥
[धृष्टम् (dhṛṣṭam) - bold; शूरम् (śūram) - heroic; प्रहर्तारम् (prahartāram) - striker; अनृशंसम् (anṛśaṃsam) - not cruel; जितेन्द्रियम् (jitendriyam) - one who has conquered the senses; वत्सलम् (vatsalam) - affectionate; संविभक्तारम् (saṃvibhaktāram) - distributor; अनु (anu) - after; जीवन्तु (jīvantu) - may live; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; जनाः (janāḥ) - people;]
(Bold, heroic, striker, not cruel, one who has conquered the senses, affectionate, distributor—after (you), may the people live.)
May the people live after you, who are bold, heroic, a striker, not cruel, self-controlled, affectionate, and a distributor (of wealth or gifts).
