12.079
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:
व्याख्याता क्षत्रधर्मेण वृत्तिरापत्सु भारत। कथञ्चिद्वैश्यधर्मेण जीवेद्वा ब्राह्मणो न वा ॥१२-७९-१॥
vyākhyātā kṣatradharmeṇa vṛttirāpatsu bhārata। kathañcidvaiśyadharmeṇa jīveda vā brāhmaṇo na vā ॥12-79-1॥
[व्याख्याता (vyākhyātā) - explained; क्षत्रधर्मेण (kṣatradharmeṇa) - by the duty of a kṣatriya; वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - livelihood; आपत्सु (āpatsu) - in times of distress; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; कथञ्चित् (kathañcit) - somehow; वैश्यधर्मेण (vaiśyadharmeṇa) - by the duty of a vaiśya; जीवेत् (jīvet) - may live; वा (vā) - or; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a brāhmaṇa; न (na) - not; वा (vā) - or;]
(Explained: by the duty of a kṣatriya, livelihood in times of distress, O Bhārata. Somehow, by the duty of a vaiśya, may live or a brāhmaṇa or not.)
O Bhārata, it is explained that in times of distress, livelihood may be maintained by the duty of a kṣatriya; or somehow, a brāhmaṇa may live by the duty of a vaiśya, or not.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
अशक्तः क्षत्रधर्मेण वैश्यधर्मेण वर्तयेत्। कृषिगोरक्षमास्थाय व्यसने वृत्तिसङ्क्षये ॥१२-७९-२॥
aśaktaḥ kṣatradharmeṇa vaiśyadharmeṇa vartayet। kṛṣigorakṣamāsthāya vyasane vṛttisaṅkṣaye ॥12-79-2॥
[अशक्तः (aśaktaḥ) - incapable; क्षत्रधर्मेण (kṣatradharmeṇa) - by the duty of a kṣatriya; वैश्यधर्मेण (vaiśyadharmeṇa) - by the duty of a vaiśya; वर्तयेत् (vartayet) - should subsist; कृषिगोरक्षमास्थाय (kṛṣigorakṣamāsthāya) - resorting to agriculture and cow protection; व्यासने (vyasane) - in adversity; वृत्तिसङ्क्षये (vṛttisaṅkṣaye) - in loss of livelihood;]
(One incapable (of subsisting) by the duty of a kṣatriya or by the duty of a vaiśya should subsist, resorting to agriculture and cow protection, in adversity, in loss of livelihood.)
If one is unable to maintain himself by the duties of a kṣatriya or vaiśya, he should take up agriculture and cow protection, especially in times of adversity or loss of livelihood.
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:
कानि पण्यानि विक्रीणन्स्वर्गलोकान्न हीयते। ब्राह्मणो वैश्यधर्मेण वर्तयन्भरतर्षभ ॥१२-७९-३॥
kāni paṇyāni vikrīṇan svargalokān na hīyate। brāhmaṇo vaiśyadharmeṇa vartayan bharatarṣabha ॥12-79-3॥
[कानि (kāni) - which; (neuter plural interrogative pronoun); पण्यानि (paṇyāni) - goods; merchandise; विक्रीणन् (vikrīṇan) - selling; स्वर्गलोकान् (svargalokān) - heavenly worlds; न (na) - not; हीयते (hīyate) - is deprived; is diminished; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; a member of the priestly class; वैश्यधर्मेण (vaiśyadharmeṇa) - by the duty of a vaiśya; by the conduct of a merchant; वर्तयन् (vartayan) - conducting; practicing; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O bull among the Bharatas;]
(Which goods selling, from the heavenly worlds is not deprived; a brāhmaṇa, by the duty of a vaiśya, conducting, O bull among the Bharatas.)
O bull among the Bharatas, a brāhmaṇa, conducting himself according to the duty of a vaiśya and selling goods, is not deprived of the heavenly worlds.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
सुरा लवणमित्येव तिलान्केसरिणः पशून्। ऋषभान्मधु मांसं च कृतान्नं च युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-७९-४॥
surā lavaṇamityeva tilānkesariṇaḥ paśūn। ṛṣabhānmadhu māṁsaṁ ca kṛtānnaṁ ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-79-4॥
[सुरा (surā) - liquor; लवणम् (lavaṇam) - salt; इति (iti) - thus; एव (eva) - indeed; तिलान् (tilān) - sesame seeds; केसरिणः (kesariṇaḥ) - lions; पशून् (paśūn) - animals; ऋषभान् (ṛṣabhān) - bulls; मधु (madhu) - honey; मांसं (māṁsaṁ) - meat; च (ca) - and; कृतान्नं (kṛtānnaṁ) - prepared food; च (ca) - and; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira;]
(Liquor, salt, thus indeed, sesame seeds, lions, animals, bulls, honey, meat and prepared food, and Yudhishthira.)
O Yudhishthira, liquor, salt, sesame seeds, lions, animals, bulls, honey, meat, and prepared food (are to be avoided).
सर्वास्ववस्थास्वेतानि ब्राह्मणः परिवर्जयेत्। एतेषां विक्रयात्तात ब्राह्मणो नरकं व्रजेत् ॥१२-७९-५॥
sarvāsvavasthāsvetāni brāhmaṇaḥ parivarjayet। eteṣāṃ vikrayāttāta brāhmaṇo narakaṃ vrajet ॥12-79-5॥
[सर्वासु (sarvāsu) - in all; (locative plural of sarvā, all;) अवस्थासु (avasthāsu) - conditions; (locative plural of avasthā, state, condition;) एतानि (etāni) - these; (neuter plural nominative of etad;) ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; (a Brāhmaṇa, priest;) परिवर्जयेत् (parivarjayet) - should avoid; (3rd person singular optative of pari-vṛj, to avoid;) एतेषाम् (eteṣām) - of these; (genitive plural of etad;) विक्रयात् (vikrayāt) - from selling; (ablative singular of vikraya, sale;) तात (tāta) - O dear; (vocative singular, an address;) ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; (a Brāhmaṇa, priest;) नरकम् (narakam) - hell; (accusative singular of naraka;) व्रजेत् (vrajet) - should go; (3rd person singular optative of vraj, to go;]
(In all conditions, these a Brāhmaṇa should avoid. From the sale of these, O dear, a Brāhmaṇa should go to hell.)
A Brāhmaṇa should avoid these in all circumstances. O dear, by selling these, a Brāhmaṇa goes to hell.
अजोऽग्निर्वरुणो मेषः सूर्योऽश्वः पृथिवी विराट्। धेनुर्यज्ञश्च सोमश्च न विक्रेयाः कथञ्चन ॥१२-७९-६॥
ajo'gnirvaruṇo meṣaḥ sūryo'śvaḥ pṛthivī virāṭ। dhenuryajñaśca somaśca na vikreyāḥ kathañcana ॥12-79-6॥
[अजः (ajaḥ) - goat; अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; वरुणः (varuṇaḥ) - Varuṇa; मेषः (meṣaḥ) - ram; सूर्यः (sūryaḥ) - Sun; अश्वः (aśvaḥ) - horse; पृथिवी (pṛthivī) - earth; विराट् (virāṭ) - Virāṭ; धेनुः (dhenuḥ) - cow; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; च (ca) - and; सोमः (somaḥ) - Soma; च (ca) - and; न (na) - not; विक्रेयाः (vikreyāḥ) - to be sold; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way;]
(Goat, fire, Varuṇa, ram, Sun, horse, earth, Virāṭ, cow, sacrifice, and Soma are not to be sold in any way.)
A goat, fire, Varuṇa, a ram, the Sun, a horse, the earth, Virāṭ, a cow, a sacrifice, and Soma must never be sold under any circumstances.
पक्वेनामस्य निमयं न प्रशंसन्ति साधवः। निमयेत्पक्वमामेन भोजनार्थाय भारत ॥१२-७९-७॥
pakvenāmasya nimayaṃ na praśaṃsanti sādhavaḥ। nimayetpakvamāmena bhojanārthāya bhārata ॥12-79-7॥
[पक्वेन (pakvena) - by what is cooked; by the ripe; by the mature; अमस्य (amasya) - of the uncooked; of the unripe; of the raw; निमयं (nimayam) - mixing; combining; न (na) - not; प्रशंसन्ति (praśaṃsanti) - praise; approve; साधवः (sādhavaḥ) - the virtuous; the good people; निमयेत् (nimayet) - should mix; should combine; पक्वम् (pakvam) - cooked; ripe; mature; अामेन (āmena) - with the uncooked; with the raw; भोजनार्थाय (bhojanārthāya) - for the purpose of eating; for food; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; O descendant of Bharata;]
(By what is cooked, the mixing of the uncooked is not praised by the virtuous. One should mix the cooked with the uncooked for the purpose of eating, O Bhārata.)
O Bhārata, the virtuous do not approve of mixing the uncooked with the cooked. However, one should mix the cooked with the uncooked for the purpose of eating.
वयं सिद्धमशिष्यामो भवान्साधयतामिदम्। एवं समीक्ष्य निमयन्नाधर्मोऽस्ति कदाचन ॥१२-७९-८॥
vayaṃ siddhamaśiṣyāmo bhavān sādhayatām idam। evaṃ samīkṣya nimayann adharmo 'sti kadācana ॥12-79-8॥
[वयं (vayaṃ) - we; सिद्धम् (siddham) - accomplished; अशिष्यामः (aśiṣyāmaḥ) - shall not learn; भवान् (bhavān) - you; साधयताम् (sādhayatām) - may accomplish; इदम् (idam) - this; एवं (evaṃ) - thus; समीक्ष्य (samīkṣya) - having examined; निमयन् (nimayan) - not allowing; अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness; अस्ति (asti) - exists; कदाचन (kadācana) - at any time;]
(We shall not learn what is already accomplished; you may accomplish this. Thus, having examined, not allowing, unrighteousness exists at any time.)
We will not learn what is already accomplished; you should accomplish this. Thus, having examined, and not allowing it, unrighteousness never exists at any time.
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथा धर्मः पुरातनः। व्यवहारप्रवृत्तानां तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-७९-९॥
atra te vartayiṣyāmi yathā dharmaḥ purātanaḥ। vyavahārapravṛttānāṃ tannibodha yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-79-9॥
[अत्र (atra) - here; ते (te) - to you; वर्तयिष्यामि (vartayiṣyāmi) - I shall explain; यथा (yathā) - as; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; पुरातनः (purātanaḥ) - ancient; व्यवहारप्रवृत्तानाम् (vyavahārapravṛttānām) - of those engaged in conduct; तत् (tat) - that; निबोध (nibodha) - understand; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhiṣṭhira;]
(Here to you I shall explain as dharma (the) ancient (one); of those engaged in conduct that understand, O Yudhiṣṭhira.)
Here, O Yudhiṣṭhira, I shall explain to you the ancient dharma as it pertains to those engaged in conduct; understand that.
भवतेऽहं ददानीदं भवानेतत्प्रयच्छतु। रुचिते वर्तते धर्मो न बलात्सम्प्रवर्तते ॥१२-७९-१०॥
bhavate'ham dadānīdaṃ bhavānetatprayacchatu। rucite vartate dharmo na balātsampravartate ॥12-79-10॥
[भवते (bhavate) - to you; (dative singular of bhavat) अहम् (aham) - I; (first person singular pronoun) ददामि (dadāmi) - give; (from root dā, to give) इदम् (idam) - this; (neuter singular pronoun) भवान् (bhavān) - you; (respectful second person singular pronoun) एतत् (etat) - this; (neuter singular pronoun) प्रयच्छतु (prayacchatu) - may give; (imperative, from root dā with prefix pra-) रुचिते (rucite) - in what is agreeable; (locative singular of rucita) वर्तते (vartate) - abides; (from root vṛt, to exist, to abide) धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; (righteousness, law, duty) न (na) - not; बलात् (balāt) - by force; (ablative singular of bala, force) सम्प्रवर्तते (sampravartate) - is set in motion; (from root vṛt with prefix sam- and pra-);]
(To you I give this; let you give this. Dharma abides in what is agreeable, not set in motion by force.)
I give this to you; let you give this. Dharma abides in what is agreeable; it is not established by force.
इत्येवं सम्प्रवर्तन्त व्यवहाराः पुरातनाः। ऋषीणामितरेषां च साधु चेदमसंशयम् ॥१२-७९-११॥
ityevaṃ sampravartanta vyavahārāḥ purātanāḥ। ṛṣīṇāmitareṣāṃ ca sādhu cedamasaṃśayam ॥12-79-11॥
[इति (iti) - thus; एवम् (evam) - in this way; सम्प्रवर्तन्त (sampravartanta) - were conducted; व्यवहाराः (vyavahārāḥ) - practices; पुरातनाः (purātanāḥ) - ancient; ऋषीणाम् (ṛṣīṇām) - of the sages; इतरेषाम् (itareṣām) - of the others; च (ca) - and; साधु (sādhu) - good; च (ca) - and; इदम् (idam) - this; असंशयम् (asaṃśayam) - without doubt;]
(Thus in this way, ancient practices were conducted; of the sages and of the others, and this is good and without doubt.)
Thus, these ancient practices were followed by the sages and others; this is certainly good and without doubt.
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:
अथ तात यदा सर्वाः शस्त्रमाददते प्रजाः। व्युत्क्रामन्ति स्वधर्मेभ्यः क्षत्रस्य क्षीयते बलम् ॥१२-७९-१२॥
atha tāta yadā sarvāḥ śastram ādadate prajāḥ। vyutkrāmanti svadharmebhyaḥ kṣatrasya kṣīyate balam ॥12-79-12॥
[अथ (atha) - then; तात (tāta) - O dear; यदा (yadā) - when; सर्वाः (sarvāḥ) - all; शस्त्रम् (śastram) - weapon; आददते (ādadate) - take up; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; व्युत्क्रामन्ति (vyutkrāmanti) - deviate; स्वधर्मेभ्यः (svadharmebhyaḥ) - from their own duties; क्षत्रस्य (kṣatrasya) - of the kṣatriya; क्षीयते (kṣīyate) - is diminished; बलम् (balam) - strength;]
(Then, O dear, when all the subjects take up weapons, (and) deviate from their own duties, the strength of the kṣatriya is diminished.)
Then, O dear, when all the people take up arms and abandon their own duties, the strength of the kṣatriya class is diminished.
राजा त्राता न लोके स्यात्किं तदा स्यात्परायणम्। एतन्मे संशयं ब्रूहि विस्तरेण पितामह ॥१२-७९-१३॥
rājā trātā na loke syāt kiṃ tadā syāt parāyaṇam। etan me saṃśayaṃ brūhi vistareṇa pitāmaha ॥12-79-13॥
[राजा (rājā) - king; त्राता (trātā) - protector; न (na) - not; लोके (loke) - in the world; स्यात् (syāt) - may be; किं (kiṃ) - what; तदा (tadā) - then; स्यात् (syāt) - may be; परायणम् (parāyaṇam) - refuge; एतत् (etat) - this; मे (me) - my; संशयम् (saṃśayam) - doubt; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; विस्तरेण (vistareṇa) - in detail; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire;]
(The king (as) protector may not exist in the world; what then would be the refuge? This my doubt tell in detail, O grandsire.)
If the king is not the protector in the world, then what would be the refuge? O grandsire, please explain this doubt of mine in detail.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
दानेन तपसा यज्ञैरद्रोहेण दमेन च। ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा वर्णाः क्षेममिच्छेयुरात्मनः ॥१२-७९-१४॥
dānena tapasā yajñairadroheṇa damena ca। brāhmaṇapramukhā varṇāḥ kṣemamiccheyurātmanaḥ ॥12-79-14॥
[दानेन (dānena) - by giving; by charity; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; by penance; यज्ञैः (yajñaiḥ) - by sacrifices; अद्रोहेण (adroheṇa) - by non-injury; by absence of hostility; दमेन (damena) - by self-restraint; च (ca) - and; ब्राह्मणप्रमुखाः (brāhmaṇapramukhāḥ) - headed by the Brāhmaṇas; वर्णाः (varṇāḥ) - castes; classes; क्षेमम् (kṣemam) - welfare; well-being; इच्छेयुः (iccheyuḥ) - should desire; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - for themselves;]
(By giving, by austerity, by sacrifices, by non-injury, by self-restraint, and (thus) the classes headed by the Brāhmaṇas should desire welfare for themselves.)
The classes, with the Brāhmaṇas at their head, should seek their own welfare through charity, austerity, sacrifice, non-injury, and self-restraint.
तेषां ये वेदबलिनस्त उत्थाय समन्ततः। राज्ञो बलं वर्धयेयुर्महेन्द्रस्येव देवताः ॥१२-७९-१५॥
teṣāṃ ye vedabalinasta utthāya samantataḥ। rājño balaṃ vardhayeyurmaheṃdrasyeva devatāḥ ॥12-79-15॥
[तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; ये (ye) - who; वेदबलिनः (vedabalinaḥ) - strong in Vedic knowledge; ते (te) - they; उत्थाय (utthāya) - having arisen; समन्ततः (samantataḥ) - on all sides; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; बलम् (balam) - strength; वर्धयेयुः (vardhayeyuḥ) - would increase; महेन्द्रस्य (maheṃdrasya) - of Mahendra (Indra); इव (iva) - like; देवताः (devatāḥ) - the gods;]
(Of them, those who are strong in Vedic knowledge, having arisen on all sides, would increase the strength of the king, like the gods (increase the strength) of Mahendra (Indra).)
Among them, those who are powerful in Vedic knowledge, rising up from all sides, would strengthen the king's power just as the gods strengthen that of Mahendra (Indra).
राज्ञो हि क्षीयमाणस्य ब्रह्मैवाहुः परायणम्। तस्माद्ब्रह्मबलेनैव समुत्थेयं विजानता ॥१२-७९-१६॥
rājño hi kṣīyamāṇasya brahmaivāhuḥ parāyaṇam। tasmādbrahmabalenaiva samuttheyaṃ vijānatā ॥12-79-16॥
[राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; हि (hi) - indeed; क्षीयमाणस्य (kṣīyamāṇasya) - of one who is being diminished; ब्रह्म (brahma) - the Veda; एव (eva) - only; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; परायणम् (parāyaṇam) - the ultimate refuge; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; ब्रह्मबलेन (brahmabalena) - by the strength of the Veda; एव (eva) - only; समुत्थेयं (samuttheyaṃ) - one should rise; विजानता (vijānatā) - by one who knows;]
(Of the king indeed of one who is being diminished, the Veda only they say is the ultimate refuge. Therefore, by the strength of the Veda only, one should rise, by one who knows.)
It is said that for a king who is losing power, the Veda alone is the ultimate refuge. Therefore, one who understands should rise up relying solely on the strength of the Veda.
यदा तु विजयी राजा क्षेमं राष्ट्रेऽभिसंदधेत्। तदा वर्णा यथाधर्ममाविशेयुः स्वकर्मसु ॥१२-७९-१७॥
yadā tu vijayī rājā kṣemaṃ rāṣṭre'bhisandadheta. tadā varṇā yathādharmam āviśeyuḥ svakarmasu ॥12-79-17॥
[यदा (yadā) - when; तु (tu) - but; विजयी (vijayī) - victorious; राजा (rājā) - king; क्षेमं (kṣemaṃ) - welfare; राष्ट्रे (rāṣṭre) - in the kingdom; अभिसंदधेत् (abhisandadheta) - should establish; तदा (tadā) - then; वर्णाः (varṇāḥ) - classes; यथा (yathā) - according to; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; आविशेयुः (āviśeyuḥ) - should engage; स्वकर्मसु (svakarmasu) - in their own duties;]
(When, however, the victorious king should establish welfare in the kingdom, then the classes should engage in their own duties according to dharma.)
When the victorious king establishes welfare in the kingdom, then the classes engage in their own duties according to dharma.
उन्मर्यादे प्रवृत्ते तु दस्युभिः सङ्करे कृते। सर्वे वर्णा न दुष्येयुः शस्त्रवन्तो युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-७९-१८॥
unmaryāde pravṛtte tu dasyubhiḥ saṅkare kṛte। sarve varṇā na duṣyeyuḥ śastravanto yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-79-18॥
[उन्मर्यादे (unmaryāde) - when the boundaries are transgressed; प्रवृत्ते (pravṛtte) - when arisen; तु (tu) - but; दस्युभिः (dasyubhiḥ) - by bandits; सङ्करे (saṅkare) - in confusion (of castes); कृते (kṛte) - when made; सर्वे (sarve) - all; वर्णा (varṇā) - castes; न (na) - not; दुष्येयुः (duṣyeyuḥ) - would be corrupted; शस्त्रवन्तः (śastravantaḥ) - armed (ones); युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhiṣṭhira;]
(When the boundaries are transgressed and confusion is created by bandits, all castes, O Yudhiṣṭhira, would not be corrupted if they are armed.)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, when bandits cause confusion by transgressing boundaries, all castes would remain uncorrupted if they are armed.
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:
अथ चेत्सर्वतः क्षत्रं प्रदुष्येद्ब्राह्मणान्प्रति। कस्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्त्राता को धर्मः किं परायणम् ॥१२-७९-१९॥
atha cet sarvataḥ kṣatraṃ praduṣyed brāhmaṇān prati। kas tasya brāhmaṇas trātā ko dharmaḥ kiṃ parāyaṇam ॥12-79-19॥
[अथ (atha) - now; then; चेत् (cet) - if; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - from all sides; क्षत्रम् (kṣatram) - the kṣatriya class; प्रदुष्येत् (praduṣyet) - would become corrupted; ब्राह्मणान् (brāhmaṇān) - towards the brāhmaṇas; प्रति (prati) - against; towards; कः (kaḥ) - who; तस्य (tasya) - of them; of that; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; त्राता (trātā) - protector; कः (kaḥ) - who; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; righteousness; किम् (kim) - what; परायणम् (parāyaṇam) - refuge; ultimate goal;]
(Now, if from all sides the kṣatriya class would become corrupted towards the brāhmaṇas, who is their brāhmaṇa protector, who is dharma, what is the refuge?)
Now, if the kṣatriya class everywhere turns against the brāhmaṇas, who will be the brāhmaṇas' protector? What will be dharma, and what will be their refuge?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण शस्त्रेण च बलेन च। अमायया मायया च नियन्तव्यं तदा भवेत् ॥१२-७९-२०॥
tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śastreṇa ca balena ca। amāyayā māyayā ca niyantavyaṃ tadā bhavet॥12-79-20॥
[तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; ब्रह्मचर्येण (brahmacaryeṇa) - by celibacy; शस्त्रेण (śastreṇa) - by weapon; च (ca) - and; बलेन (balena) - by strength; च (ca) - and; अमायया (amāyayā) - by absence of deceit; मायया (māyayā) - by deceit; च (ca) - and; नियन्तव्यम् (niyantavyam) - to be controlled; तदा (tadā) - then; भवेत् (bhavet) - it should be;]
(By austerity, by celibacy, by weapon and by strength, by absence of deceit and by deceit, it should then be controlled.)
It should then be controlled by austerity, celibacy, weapons, strength, absence of deceit, and also by deceit.
क्षत्रस्याभिप्रवृद्धस्य ब्राह्मणेषु विशेषतः। ब्रह्मैव संनियन्तृ स्यात्क्षत्रं हि ब्रह्मसम्भवम् ॥१२-७९-२१॥
kṣatrasya-abhipravṛddhasya brāhmaṇeṣu viśeṣataḥ। brahmaiva saṃniyantṛ syāt-kṣatraṃ hi brahma-sambhavam ॥12-79-21॥
[क्षत्रस्य (kṣatrasya) - of the kṣatriya; अभिप्रवृद्धस्य (abhipravṛddhasya) - greatly increased; ब्राह्मणेषु (brāhmaṇeṣu) - among the brāhmaṇas; विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ) - especially; ब्रह्म (brahma) - the Veda; एव (eva) - indeed; संनियन्तृ (saṃniyantṛ) - controller; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; क्षत्रं (kṣatram) - the kṣatriya; हि (hi) - indeed; ब्रह्मसम्भवम् (brahma-sambhavam) - originated from the Veda;]
(Of the greatly increased kṣatriya, especially among the brāhmaṇas, the Veda alone should be the controller; for the kṣatriya is indeed originated from the Veda.)
Even when the power of the kṣatriya is greatly increased, especially among the brāhmaṇas, the Veda alone should be the controller; for the kṣatriya indeed originates from the Veda.
अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम्। तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति ॥१२-७९-२२॥
adbhyo'gnirbrahmataḥ kṣatramaśmano lohamutthitam। teṣāṃ sarvatragaṃ tejaḥ svāsu yoniṣu śāmyati ॥12-79-22॥
[अद्भ्यः (adbhyaḥ) - from waters; अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; ब्रह्मतः (brahmataḥ) - from brāhmaṇa (priestly class); क्षत्रम् (kṣatram) - kṣatriya (warrior class); अश्मनः (aśmanaḥ) - from stone; लोहम् (loham) - iron; उत्थितम् (utthitam) - arisen; तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; सर्वत्रगम् (sarvatragam) - pervading everywhere; तेजः (tejaḥ) - splendor; स्वासु (svāsu) - in their own; योनिṣu (yoniṣu) - origins; शाम्यति (śāmyati) - subsides;]
(From waters, fire; from brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya; from stone, iron arisen. Of them, the splendor pervading everywhere subsides in their own origins.)
Fire arises from water, the kṣatriya from the brāhmaṇa, iron from stone. The energy that pervades all of them returns to its own source.
यदा छिनत्त्ययोऽश्मानमग्निश्चापोऽभिपद्यते। क्षत्रं च ब्राह्मणं द्वेष्टि तदा शाम्यन्ति ते त्रयः ॥१२-७९-२३॥
yadā chinattyayo'śmānam agniś cāpo'bhipadyate। kṣatraṃ ca brāhmaṇaṃ dveṣṭi tadā śāmyanti te trayaḥ ॥12-79-23॥
[यदा (yadā) - when; छिनत्ति (chinattti) - cuts; अयः (ayaḥ) - iron; अश्मानम् (aśmānam) - stone; अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; च (ca) - and; अपः (apaḥ) - water; अभिपद्यते (abhipadyate) - approaches; क्षत्रम् (kṣatram) - the kṣatriya; च (ca) - and; ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - the brāhmaṇa; द्वेष्टि (dveṣṭi) - hates; तदा (tadā) - then; शाम्यन्ति (śāmyanti) - are pacified; ते (te) - those; त्रयः (trayaḥ) - three;]
(When iron cuts stone, fire approaches water, and the kṣatriya hates the brāhmaṇa, then those three are pacified.)
When iron cuts stone, fire meets water, and the kṣatriya hates the brāhmaṇa, then those three forces are subdued.
तस्माद्ब्रह्मणि शाम्यन्ति क्षत्रियाणां युधिष्ठिर। समुदीर्णान्यजेयानि तेजांसि च बलानि च ॥१२-७९-२४॥
tasmādbrahmaṇi śāmyanti kṣatriyāṇāṃ yudhiṣṭhira। samudīrṇānyajeyāni tejāṃsi ca balāni ca ॥12-79-24॥
[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; from that; from this cause; ब्रह्मणि (brahmaṇi) - in the Brāhmaṇa; in the Brāhmaṇa class; in the Brāhmaṇa principle; शाम्यन्ति (śāmyanti) - are pacified; are subdued; are calmed; क्षत्रियाणाम् (kṣatriyāṇām) - of the Kṣatriyas; of the warrior class; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhiṣṭhira; समुदीर्णानि (samudīrṇāni) - arisen; stirred up; excited; अजेयानि (ajeyāni) - invincible; unconquerable; तेजांसि (tejāṃsi) - powers; energies; splendours; च (ca) - and; बलानि (balāni) - strengths; forces; च (ca) - and;]
(Therefore, in the Brāhmaṇa, O Yudhiṣṭhira, the powers and strengths of the Kṣatriyas, which are arisen and invincible, are pacified.)
Therefore, O Yudhiṣṭhira, the arisen and unconquerable powers and strengths of the Kṣatriyas are subdued in the Brāhmaṇa.
ब्रह्मवीर्ये मृदूभूते क्षत्रवीर्ये च दुर्बले। दुष्टेषु सर्ववर्णेषु ब्राह्मणान्प्रति सर्वशः ॥१२-७९-२५॥
brahmavīrye mṛdūbhūte kṣatravīrye ca durbale। duṣṭeṣu sarvavarṇeṣu brāhmaṇānprati sarvaśaḥ ॥12-79-25॥
[ब्रह्मवीर्ये (brahmavīrye) - in the strength of Brahmins; मृदूभूते (mṛdūbhūte) - having become soft; क्षत्रवीर्ये (kṣatravīrye) - in the strength of Kṣatriyas; च (ca) - and; दुर्बले (durbale) - having become weak; दुष्टेषु (duṣṭeṣu) - in the wicked; सर्ववर्णेषु (sarvavarṇeṣu) - among all castes; ब्राह्मणान् (brāhmaṇān) - towards the Brāhmaṇas; प्रति (prati) - towards; सर्वशः (sarvaśaḥ) - in every way;]
(When the strength of the Brahmins has become soft, and the strength of the Kṣatriyas has become weak, among all castes, in the wicked, towards the Brāhmaṇas, in every way.)
When the power of the Brahmins has diminished and the strength of the Kṣatriyas has weakened, among all castes, the wicked act against the Brāhmaṇas in every possible way.
ये तत्र युद्धं कुर्वन्ति त्यक्त्वा जीवितमात्मनः। ब्राह्मणान्परिरक्षन्तो धर्ममात्मानमेव च ॥१२-७९-२६॥
ye tatra yuddhaṃ kurvanti tyaktvā jīvitam ātmanaḥ। brāhmaṇān parirakṣanto dharmam ātmānam eva ca ॥12-79-26॥
[ये (ye) - who; तत्र (tatra) - there; युद्धम् (yuddham) - battle; कुर्वन्ति (kurvanti) - perform; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of themselves; ब्राह्मणान् (brāhmaṇān) - Brāhmaṇas; परिरक्षन्तः (parirakṣantaḥ) - protecting; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - the self; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and;]
(Who there perform battle, having abandoned life of themselves, protecting Brāhmaṇas, dharma, and indeed the self.)
Those who, there, fight having given up their own lives, protecting Brāhmaṇas, dharma, and themselves.
मनस्विनो मन्युमन्तः पुण्यलोका भवन्ति ते। ब्राह्मणार्थं हि सर्वेषां शस्त्रग्रहणमिष्यते ॥१२-७९-२७॥
manasvino manyumantaḥ puṇyalokā bhavanti te। brāhmaṇārthaṃ hi sarveṣāṃ śastragrahaṇamiṣyate ॥12-79-27॥
[मनस्विनः (manasvinaḥ) - of strong-minded ones; मन्युमन्तः (manyumantaḥ) - possessing anger; पुण्यलोकाः (puṇyalokāḥ) - virtuous worlds; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; ते (te) - they; ब्राह्मणार्थम् (brāhmaṇārtham) - for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa; हि (hi) - indeed; सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all; शस्त्रग्रहणम् (śastragrahaṇam) - taking up arms; इष्यते (iṣyate) - is approved;]
(Of strong-minded ones, possessing anger, virtuous worlds become for them. For the sake of a Brāhmaṇa indeed, of all, taking up arms is approved.)
Those who are strong-minded and possess righteous anger attain virtuous worlds. Taking up arms is approved for all, but only for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa.
अति स्विष्टस्वधीतानां लोकानति तपस्विनाम्। अनाशकाग्न्योर्विशतां शूरा यान्ति परां गतिम् ॥ एवमेवात्मनस्त्यागान्नान्यं धर्मं विदुर्जनाः ॥१२-७९-२८॥
ati sviṣṭasvadhītānāṃ lokān ati tapasvinām। anāśakāgnyor viśatāṃ śūrā yānti parāṃ gatim॥ evam evātmanas tyāgān nānyaṃ dharmaṃ vidur janāḥ॥12-79-28॥
[अति (ati) - beyond; स्विष्टस्वधीतानां (sviṣṭasvadhītānām) - of those who have performed the most excellent oblations; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; अति (ati) - beyond; तपस्विनाम् (tapasvinām) - of ascetics; अनाशक (anāśaka) - of those who do not eat; अग्न्योः (agnyoḥ) - of the two fires; विशताम् (viśatām) - of those who enter; शूराः (śūrāḥ) - heroes; यान्ति (yānti) - go; पराम् (parām) - supreme; गतिम् (gatim) - state; एवम् (evam) - thus; एव (eva) - indeed; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of oneself; त्यागात् (tyāgāt) - from renunciation; न (na) - not; अन्यं (anyaṃ) - other; धर्मम् (dharmaṃ) - duty; विदुः (viduḥ) - know; जनाः (janāḥ) - people;]
(Beyond the worlds attained by those who have performed the most excellent oblations, and beyond those of ascetics, the heroes who enter the two fires without eating go to the supreme state. Thus, people know no other duty than renunciation of oneself.)
Heroes who enter the two fires without eating attain a supreme state, surpassing the worlds gained by the most excellent sacrificers and ascetics. Thus, people recognize no higher duty than self-renunciation.
तेभ्यो नमश्च भद्रं च ये शरीराणि जुह्वति। ब्रह्मद्विषो नियच्छन्तस्तेषां नोऽस्तु सलोकता ॥ ब्रह्मलोकजितः स्वर्ग्यान्वीरांस्तान्मनुरब्रवीत् ॥१२-७९-२९॥
tebhyo namaś ca bhadraṃ ca ye śarīrāṇi juhvati। brahmadviṣo niyacchantas teṣāṃ no'stu salokatā ॥ brahmalokajitaḥ svargyān vīrāṃs tān manur abravīt ॥12-79-29॥
[तेभ्यः (tebhyaḥ) - to them; नमः (namaḥ) - obeisance; च (ca) - and; भद्रं (bhadram) - welfare; च (ca) - and; ये (ye) - who; शरीराणि (śarīrāṇi) - bodies; जुह्वति (juhvati) - offer (in sacrifice); ब्रह्मद्विषः (brahmadviṣaḥ) - haters of Brahman; नियच्छन्तः (niyacchantaḥ) - restraining; तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; नः (naḥ) - our; अस्तु (astu) - may be; सलोकता (salokatā) - dwelling in the same world; ब्रह्मलोकजितः (brahmalokajitaḥ) - conqueror of Brahma-world; स्वर्ग्यान् (svargyān) - fit for heaven; वीरान् (vīrān) - heroes; तान् (tān) - them; मनुः (manuḥ) - Manu; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]
(To them obeisance and welfare, who offer bodies (in sacrifice), restraining haters of Brahman; may there be for us dwelling in the same world as them. The conqueror of Brahma-world, Manu, said to those heroes fit for heaven.)
Manu, the conqueror of the Brahma-world, said: 'Obeisance and welfare to those heroes who offer their bodies in sacrifice, restraining the haters of Brahman; may we dwell in the same world as them.'
यथाश्वमेधावभृथे स्नाताः पूता भवन्त्युत। दुष्कृतः सुकृतश्चैव तथा शस्त्रहता रणे ॥१२-७९-३०॥
yathāśvamedhāvabhṛthe snātāḥ pūtā bhavantyuta। duṣkṛtaḥ sukṛtaścaiva tathā śastrahatā raṇe ॥12-79-30॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; अश्वमेध-अवभृथे (aśvamedha-avabhṛthe) - at the horse-sacrifice ablution; स्नाताः (snātāḥ) - those who have bathed; पूता (pūtāḥ) - purified; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; उत (uta) - indeed; दुष्कृतः (duṣkṛtaḥ) - evil-doer; सुकृतः (sukṛtaḥ) - virtuous; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - also; तथा (tathā) - in the same way; शस्त्रहताः (śastrahatāḥ) - those slain by weapons; रणे (raṇe) - in battle;]
(Just as those who have bathed at the horse-sacrifice ablution become purified indeed, so both the evil-doer and the virtuous, those slain by weapons in battle, (become purified).)
Just as those who bathe at the horse-sacrifice ablution are purified, so too, whether evil-doer or virtuous, those slain by weapons in battle are purified.
भवत्यधर्मो धर्मो हि धर्माधर्मावुभावपि। कारणाद्देशकालस्य देशकालः स तादृशः ॥१२-७९-३१॥
bhavatyadharmo dharmo hi dharmādharmāvubhāvapi. kāraṇāddeśakālasya deśakālaḥ sa tādṛśaḥ ॥12-79-31॥
[भवति (bhavati) - becomes; occurs; अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness; non-dharma; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; dharma; हि (hi) - indeed; surely; धर्म-अधर्मौ (dharma-adharmau) - righteousness and unrighteousness; dharma and adharma; उभौ (ubhau) - both; अपि (api) - also; even; कारणात् (kāraṇāt) - due to cause; from reason; देश-कालस्य (deśa-kālasya) - of place and time; देश-कालः (deśa-kālaḥ) - place and time; सः (saḥ) - he; that; तादृशः (tādṛśaḥ) - such; of that kind;]
(Unrighteousness becomes righteousness indeed; both righteousness and unrighteousness also (arise) due to the cause of place and time; that place and time is such.)
Sometimes unrighteousness becomes righteousness; indeed, both righteousness and unrighteousness depend on the circumstances of place and time; such is the nature of place and time.
मैत्राः क्रूराणि कुर्वन्तो जयन्ति स्वर्गमुत्तमम्। धर्म्याः पापानि कुर्वन्तो गच्छन्ति परमां गतिम् ॥१२-७९-३२॥
maitrāḥ krūrāṇi kurvanto jayanti svargam uttamam। dharmyāḥ pāpāni kurvanto gacchanti paramāṃ gatim ॥12-79-32॥
[मैत्राः (maitrāḥ) - friendly ones; क्रूराणि (krūrāṇi) - cruel (acts); कुर्वन्तः (kurvantaḥ) - doing; जयन्ति (jayanti) - conquer; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - supreme; धर्म्याः (dharmyāḥ) - righteous ones; पापानि (pāpāni) - sins; कुर्वन्तः (kurvantaḥ) - doing; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; परमाम् (paramām) - supreme; गतिम् (gatim) - state;]
(Friendly ones, doing cruel (acts), conquer the supreme heaven. Righteous ones, doing sins, go to the supreme state.)
Those who are friendly, even if they perform cruel acts, attain the highest heaven. Those who are righteous, even if they commit sins, reach the supreme state.
ब्राह्मणस्त्रिषु कालेषु शस्त्रं गृह्णन्न दुष्यति। आत्मत्राणे वर्णदोषे दुर्गस्य नियमेषु च ॥१२-७९-३३॥
brāhmaṇas triṣu kāleṣu śastraṃ gṛhṇan na duṣyati। ātmatrāṇe varṇadoṣe durgasya niyameṣu ca ॥12-79-33॥
[ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; त्रिषु (triṣu) - in three; कालेषु (kāleṣu) - times; शस्त्रं (śastram) - weapon; गृह्णन् (gṛhṇan) - taking; न (na) - not; दुष्यति (duṣyati) - is defiled; आत्मत्राणे (ātmatrāṇe) - for self-protection; वर्णदोषे (varṇadoṣe) - in case of caste fault; दुर्गस्य (durgasya) - of a fort; नियमेषु (niyameṣu) - in observances; च (ca) - and;]
(A brāhmaṇa, taking up a weapon in three times, is not defiled: for self-protection, in case of caste fault, and in the observances of a fort.)
A brāhmaṇa is not defiled by taking up arms in three situations: for self-protection, in the case of a caste violation, and in the defense or observances of a fort.
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:
अभ्युत्थिते दस्युबले क्षत्रार्थे वर्णसङ्करे। सम्प्रमूढेषु वर्णेषु यद्यन्योऽभिभवेद्बली ॥१२-७९-३४॥
abhyutthite dasyubale kṣatrārthe varṇasaṅkare. sampramūḍheṣu varṇeṣu yadyanyo'bhibhavedbalī ॥12-79-34॥
[अभ्युत्थिते (abhyutthite) - having arisen; (from abhi- + ut- + sthā) दस्युबले (dasyubale) - robber force; (dasyu + bala) क्षत्रार्थे (kṣatrārthe) - for the sake of kṣatriyas; (kṣatra + arthe) वर्णसङ्करे (varṇasaṅkare) - in the confusion of castes; (varṇa + saṅkara) सम्प्रमूढेषु (sampramūḍheṣu) - when thoroughly deluded; (sam- + pra- + mūḍha + eṣu) वर्णेषु (varṇeṣu) - among the castes; (varṇa + eṣu) यदि (yadi) - if; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; अभिभवेत् (abhibhavet) - might overpower; (abhi- + bhū + vēt) बली (balī) - the stronger; (balin);]
(When the robber force has arisen for the sake of kṣatriyas, in the confusion of castes, when the castes are thoroughly deluded, if another, the stronger, might overpower.)
When the robber force arises for the sake of the kṣatriyas, and there is confusion among the castes, if, in such delusion, a stronger person of another caste overpowers them.
ब्राह्मणो यदि वा वैश्यः शूद्रो वा राजसत्तम। दस्युभ्योऽथ प्रजा रक्षेद्दण्डं धर्मेण धारयन् ॥१२-७९-३५॥
brāhmaṇo yadi vā vaiśyaḥ śūdro vā rājasattama। dasyubhyo'tha prajā rakṣeddaṇḍaṃ dharmeṇa dhārayan ॥12-79-35॥
[ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; (a member of the priestly class); यदि (yadi) - if; (in case); वा (vā) - or; (alternatively); वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - vaiśya; (a member of the merchant class); शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - śūdra; (a member of the servant class); वा (vā) - or; (alternatively); राजसत्तम (rājasattama) - O best of kings; (addressing the king); दस्युभ्यः (dasyubhyaḥ) - from robbers; (from bandits); अथ (atha) - then; (thereafter); प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; (people); रक्षेत् (rakṣet) - should protect; (should guard); दण्डम् (daṇḍam) - punishment; (rod of authority); धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - by righteousness; (by justice); धारयन् (dhārayan) - upholding; (maintaining);]
(Whether a brāhmaṇa, or a vaiśya, or a śūdra, O best of kings, he should protect the subjects from robbers, upholding punishment by righteousness.)
O best of kings, whether he is a brāhmaṇa, vaiśya, or śūdra, he should protect the people from robbers, upholding punishment through justice.
कार्यं कुर्यान्न वा कुर्यात्संवार्यो वा भवेन्न वा। न स्म शस्त्रं ग्रहीतव्यमन्यत्र क्षत्रबन्धुतः ॥१२-७९-३६॥
kāryaṃ kuryān na vā kuryāt saṃvāryo vā bhaven na vā। na sma śastraṃ grahītavyam anyatra kṣatrabandhutaḥ ॥12-79-36॥
[कार्यं (kāryam) - action; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - one should do; न (na) - not; वा (vā) - or; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - one should do; संवार्यः (saṃvāryaḥ) - to be restrained; वा (vā) - or; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; न (na) - not; वा (vā) - or; न (na) - not; स्म (sma) - indeed; शस्त्रं (śastram) - weapon; ग्रहीतव्यम् (grahītavyam) - should be taken; अन्यत्र (anyatra) - except; क्षत्रबन्धुतः (kṣatrabandhutaḥ) - from enmity with a kṣatriya;]
(Action one should do or not do, restraint should be or not; indeed, weapon should not be taken except from enmity with a kṣatriya.)
One may or may not perform an action, or may or may not restrain; but a weapon should not be taken up except in the case of enmity with a kṣatriya.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
अपारे यो भवेत्पारमप्लवे यः प्लवो भवेत्। शूद्रो वा यदि वाप्यन्यः सर्वथा मानमर्हति ॥१२-७९-३७॥
apāre yo bhavet pāram aplave yaḥ plavo bhavet। śūdro vā yadi vāpy anyaḥ sarvathā mānam arhati ॥12-79-37॥
[अपारे (apāre) - in the boundless; यः (yaḥ) - who; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be; पारम् (pāram) - the other shore; अप्लवे (aplave) - without a raft; यः (yaḥ) - who; प्लवः (plavaḥ) - raft; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be; शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Śūdra; वा (vā) - or; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; अपि (api) - even; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; सर्वथा (sarvathā) - in every way; मानम् (mānam) - respect; अर्हति (arhati) - deserves;]
(In the boundless, who would be the other shore without a raft, who would be a raft; a Śūdra or even another, in every way deserves respect.)
In the boundless ocean of existence, whoever becomes a means to cross over, whether a Śūdra or anyone else, in every way deserves respect.
यमाश्रित्य नरा राजन्वर्तयेयुर्यथासुखम्। अनाथाः पाल्यमाना वै दस्युभिः परिपीडिताः ॥१२-७९-३८॥
yamāśritya narā rājan vartayeyur yathāsukham। anāthāḥ pālyamānā vai dasyubhiḥ paripīḍitāḥ ॥12-79-38॥
[यमाश्रित्य (yamāśritya) - having resorted to Yama; नराः (narāḥ) - men; राजन् (rājan) - O king; वर्तयेयुः (vartayeyuḥ) - would conduct; यथा (yathā) - as; सुखम् (sukham) - pleasure; अनाथाः (anāthāḥ) - the unprotected; पाल्यमानाः (pālyamānāḥ) - being protected; वै (vai) - indeed; दस्युभिः (dasyubhiḥ) - by robbers; परिपीडिताः (paripīḍitāḥ) - oppressed;]
(Having resorted to Yama, O king, men would conduct themselves as they pleased. The unprotected, though being protected, were indeed oppressed by robbers.)
O king, when people relied on Yama, they acted as they wished, and the unprotected, though supposedly under protection, were actually oppressed by robbers.
तमेव पूजयेरंस्ते प्रीत्या स्वमिव बान्धवम्। महद्ध्यभीक्ष्णं कौरव्य कर्ता सन्मानमर्हति ॥१२-७९-३९॥
tameva pūjayeraṃste prītyā svamiva bāndhavam। mahaddhyabhīkṣṇaṃ kauravya kartā sanmānamarhati ॥12-79-39॥
[तम् (tam) - him; एव (eva) - only; पूजयेरन् (pūjayeran) - should honor; ते (te) - they; प्रीत्या (prītyā) - with affection; स्वम् (svam) - one's own; इव (iva) - as if; बान्धवम् (bāndhavam) - relative; महत् (mahat) - great; अभिक्ष्णम् (abhīkṣṇam) - constantly; कौरव्य (kauravya) - O descendant of Kuru; कर्ता (kartā) - the doer; सन्मानम् (sanmānam) - honor; अर्हति (arhati) - deserves;]
(They should honor him only with affection as if (he were) their own relative. O descendant of Kuru, the doer of great and constant (deeds) deserves honor.)
They should honor him with affection as if he were their own relative. O Kauravya, one who performs great and constant deeds deserves to be honored.
किमुक्ष्णावहता कृत्यं किं धेन्वा चाप्यदुग्धया। वन्ध्यया भार्यया कोऽर्थः कोऽर्थो राज्ञाप्यरक्षता ॥१२-७९-४०॥
kim ukṣṇā avahatā kṛtyam kiṃ dhenvā ca api adugdhayā | vandhyayā bhāryayā ko arthaḥ ko arthaḥ rājñā api arakṣatā ॥12-79-40॥
[किम् (kim) - what; उक्ष्णा (ukṣṇā) - by a bull; अवहत्या (avahatā) - by one who does not pull (the plough); कृत्यम् (kṛtyam) - work; किम् (kim) - what; धेन्वा (dhenvā) - by a cow; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अदुग्धया (adugdhayā) - by one that does not give milk; वन्ध्यया (vandhyayā) - by a barren (woman); भार्यया (bhāryayā) - by a wife; कः (kaḥ) - what; अर्थः (arthaḥ) - purpose; कः (kaḥ) - what; अर्थः (arthaḥ) - purpose; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by a king; अपि (api) - also; अरक्षता (arakṣatā) - by one who does not protect;]
(What work (is accomplished) by a bull that does not pull (the plough)? What (is accomplished) by a cow that does not give milk? What is the purpose of a barren wife? What is the purpose of a king who does not protect?)
What use is there for a bull that does not pull, a cow that does not give milk, a barren wife, or a king who does not protect?
यथा दारुमयो हस्ती यथा चर्ममयो मृगः। यथा ह्यनेत्रः शकटः पथि क्षेत्रं यथोषरम् ॥१२-७९-४१॥
yathā dārumayo hastī yathā carmamayo mṛgaḥ। yathā hyanetraḥ śakaṭaḥ pathi kṣetraṃ yathoṣaram ॥12-79-41॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; दारुमयः (dārumayaḥ) - made of wood; हस्ती (hastī) - elephant; यथा (yathā) - just as; चर्ममयः (carmamayaḥ) - made of skin; मृगः (mṛgaḥ) - animal; (deer, beast); यथा (yathā) - just as; हि (hi) - indeed; अनेत्रः (anetraḥ) - without axle; शकटः (śakaṭaḥ) - cart; पथि (pathi) - on the road; क्षेत्रम् (kṣetram) - field; यथा (yathā) - just as; उषरम् (uṣaram) - barren land;]
(Just as a wooden elephant, just as an animal made of skin, just as indeed a cart without an axle on the road, just as a field (is) barren land.)
Just as a wooden elephant, or an animal made of skin, or a cart without an axle on the road, or a field that is barren land, (so is the case being described).
एवं ब्रह्मानधीयानं राजा यश्च न रक्षिता। न वर्षति च यो मेघः सर्व एते निरर्थकाः ॥१२-७९-४२॥
evaṃ brahmānadhīyānaṃ rājā yaś ca na rakṣitā। na varṣati ca yo meghaḥ sarva ete nirarthakāḥ ॥12-79-42॥
[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; ब्रह्मानधीयानं (brahmānadhīyānam) - one who does not study the Veda; राजा (rājā) - king; यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; न (na) - not; रक्षिता (rakṣitā) - protector; न (na) - not; वर्षति (varṣati) - rains; च (ca) - and; यः (yaḥ) - who; मेघः (meghaḥ) - cloud; सर्व (sarva) - all; एते (ete) - these; निरर्थकाः (nirarthakāḥ) - useless;]
(Thus, one who does not study the Veda, a king who is not a protector, and a cloud which does not rain—all these are useless.)
Thus, one who does not study the Veda, a king who does not protect, and a cloud that does not rain—all these are useless.
नित्यं यस्तु सतो रक्षेदसतश्च निबर्हयेत्। स एव राजा कर्तव्यस्तेन सर्वमिदं धृतम् ॥१२-७९-४३॥
nityaṃ yastu sato rakṣed asataś ca nibarhayet। sa eva rājā kartavyas tena sarvam idaṃ dhṛtam ॥12-79-43॥
[नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; यः (yaḥ) - who; तु (tu) - but; सतः (sataḥ) - of the good; रक्षेत् (rakṣet) - should protect; असतः (asataḥ) - of the wicked; च (ca) - and; निबर्हयेत् (nibarhayet) - should restrain; सः (saḥ) - he; एव (eva) - indeed; राजा (rājā) - king; कर्तव्यः (kartavyaḥ) - to be appointed; तेन (tena) - by him; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; इदं (idaṃ) - this; धृतम् (dhṛtam) - is upheld;]
(Always, who but of the good should protect, and of the wicked should restrain; he indeed king to be appointed; by him all this is upheld.)
He alone is to be made king who always protects the good and restrains the wicked; by him, all this is upheld.
