12.079
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
vyākhyātā kṣatradharmeṇa vṛttirāpatsu bhārata। kathañcidvaiśyadharmeṇa jīveda vā brāhmaṇo na vā ॥12-79-1॥
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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
aśaktaḥ kṣatradharmeṇa vaiśyadharmeṇa vartayet। kṛṣigorakṣamāsthāya vyasane vṛttisaṅkṣaye ॥12-79-2॥
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.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
kāni paṇyāni vikrīṇan svargalokān na hīyate। brāhmaṇo vaiśyadharmeṇa vartayan bharatarṣabha ॥12-79-3॥
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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
surā lavaṇamityeva tilānkesariṇaḥ paśūn। ṛṣabhānmadhu māṁsaṁ ca kṛtānnaṁ ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-79-4॥
O Yudhishthira, liquor, salt, sesame seeds, lions, animals, bulls, honey, meat, and prepared food (are to be avoided).
sarvāsvavasthāsvetāni brāhmaṇaḥ parivarjayet। eteṣāṃ vikrayāttāta brāhmaṇo narakaṃ vrajet ॥12-79-5॥
A Brāhmaṇa should avoid these in all circumstances. O dear, by selling these, a Brāhmaṇa goes to hell.
ajo'gnirvaruṇo meṣaḥ sūryo'śvaḥ pṛthivī virāṭ। dhenuryajñaśca somaśca na vikreyāḥ kathañcana ॥12-79-6॥
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.
pakvenāmasya nimayaṃ na praśaṃsanti sādhavaḥ। nimayetpakvamāmena bhojanārthāya bhārata ॥12-79-7॥
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.
vayaṃ siddhamaśiṣyāmo bhavān sādhayatām idam। evaṃ samīkṣya nimayann adharmo 'sti kadācana ॥12-79-8॥
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.
atra te vartayiṣyāmi yathā dharmaḥ purātanaḥ। vyavahārapravṛttānāṃ tannibodha yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-79-9॥
Here, O Yudhiṣṭhira, I shall explain to you the ancient dharma as it pertains to those engaged in conduct; understand that.
bhavate'ham dadānīdaṃ bhavānetatprayacchatu। rucite vartate dharmo na balātsampravartate ॥12-79-10॥
I give this to you; let you give this. Dharma abides in what is agreeable; it is not established by force.
ityevaṃ sampravartanta vyavahārāḥ purātanāḥ। ṛṣīṇāmitareṣāṃ ca sādhu cedamasaṃśayam ॥12-79-11॥
Thus, these ancient practices were followed by the sages and others; this is certainly good and without doubt.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
atha tāta yadā sarvāḥ śastram ādadate prajāḥ। vyutkrāmanti svadharmebhyaḥ kṣatrasya kṣīyate balam ॥12-79-12॥
Then, O dear, when all the people take up arms and abandon their own duties, the strength of the kṣatriya class is diminished.
rājā trātā na loke syāt kiṃ tadā syāt parāyaṇam। etan me saṃśayaṃ brūhi vistareṇa pitāmaha ॥12-79-13॥
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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
dānena tapasā yajñairadroheṇa damena ca। brāhmaṇapramukhā varṇāḥ kṣemamiccheyurātmanaḥ ॥12-79-14॥
The classes, with the Brāhmaṇas at their head, should seek their own welfare through charity, austerity, sacrifice, non-injury, and self-restraint.
teṣāṃ ye vedabalinasta utthāya samantataḥ। rājño balaṃ vardhayeyurmaheṃdrasyeva devatāḥ ॥12-79-15॥
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).
rājño hi kṣīyamāṇasya brahmaivāhuḥ parāyaṇam। tasmādbrahmabalenaiva samuttheyaṃ vijānatā ॥12-79-16॥
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.
yadā tu vijayī rājā kṣemaṃ rāṣṭre'bhisandadheta. tadā varṇā yathādharmam āviśeyuḥ svakarmasu ॥12-79-17॥
When the victorious king establishes welfare in the kingdom, then the classes engage in their own duties according to dharma.
unmaryāde pravṛtte tu dasyubhiḥ saṅkare kṛte। sarve varṇā na duṣyeyuḥ śastravanto yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-79-18॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, when bandits cause confusion by transgressing boundaries, all castes would remain uncorrupted if they are armed.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
atha cet sarvataḥ kṣatraṃ praduṣyed brāhmaṇān prati। kas tasya brāhmaṇas trātā ko dharmaḥ kiṃ parāyaṇam ॥12-79-19॥
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?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śastreṇa ca balena ca। amāyayā māyayā ca niyantavyaṃ tadā bhavet॥12-79-20॥
It should then be controlled by austerity, celibacy, weapons, strength, absence of deceit, and also by deceit.
kṣatrasya-abhipravṛddhasya brāhmaṇeṣu viśeṣataḥ। brahmaiva saṃniyantṛ syāt-kṣatraṃ hi brahma-sambhavam ॥12-79-21॥
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.
adbhyo'gnirbrahmataḥ kṣatramaśmano lohamutthitam। teṣāṃ sarvatragaṃ tejaḥ svāsu yoniṣu śāmyati ॥12-79-22॥
Fire arises from water, the kṣatriya from the brāhmaṇa, iron from stone. The energy that pervades all of them returns to its own source.
yadā chinattyayo'śmānam agniś cāpo'bhipadyate। kṣatraṃ ca brāhmaṇaṃ dveṣṭi tadā śāmyanti te trayaḥ ॥12-79-23॥
When iron cuts stone, fire meets water, and the kṣatriya hates the brāhmaṇa, then those three forces are subdued.
tasmādbrahmaṇi śāmyanti kṣatriyāṇāṃ yudhiṣṭhira। samudīrṇānyajeyāni tejāṃsi ca balāni ca ॥12-79-24॥
Therefore, O Yudhiṣṭhira, the arisen and unconquerable powers and strengths of the Kṣatriyas are subdued in the Brāhmaṇa.
brahmavīrye mṛdūbhūte kṣatravīrye ca durbale। duṣṭeṣu sarvavarṇeṣu brāhmaṇānprati sarvaśaḥ ॥12-79-25॥
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.
ye tatra yuddhaṃ kurvanti tyaktvā jīvitam ātmanaḥ। brāhmaṇān parirakṣanto dharmam ātmānam eva ca ॥12-79-26॥
Those who, there, fight having given up their own lives, protecting Brāhmaṇas, dharma, and themselves.
manasvino manyumantaḥ puṇyalokā bhavanti te। brāhmaṇārthaṃ hi sarveṣāṃ śastragrahaṇamiṣyate ॥12-79-27॥
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.
ati sviṣṭasvadhītānāṃ lokān ati tapasvinām। anāśakāgnyor viśatāṃ śūrā yānti parāṃ gatim॥ evam evātmanas tyāgān nānyaṃ dharmaṃ vidur janāḥ॥12-79-28॥
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.
tebhyo namaś ca bhadraṃ ca ye śarīrāṇi juhvati। brahmadviṣo niyacchantas teṣāṃ no'stu salokatā ॥ brahmalokajitaḥ svargyān vīrāṃs tān manur abravīt ॥12-79-29॥
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.'
yathāśvamedhāvabhṛthe snātāḥ pūtā bhavantyuta। duṣkṛtaḥ sukṛtaścaiva tathā śastrahatā raṇe ॥12-79-30॥
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.
bhavatyadharmo dharmo hi dharmādharmāvubhāvapi. kāraṇāddeśakālasya deśakālaḥ sa tādṛśaḥ ॥12-79-31॥
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.
maitrāḥ krūrāṇi kurvanto jayanti svargam uttamam। dharmyāḥ pāpāni kurvanto gacchanti paramāṃ gatim ॥12-79-32॥
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.
brāhmaṇas triṣu kāleṣu śastraṃ gṛhṇan na duṣyati। ātmatrāṇe varṇadoṣe durgasya niyameṣu ca ॥12-79-33॥
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.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said:
abhyutthite dasyubale kṣatrārthe varṇasaṅkare. sampramūḍheṣu varṇeṣu yadyanyo'bhibhavedbalī ॥12-79-34॥
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.
brāhmaṇo yadi vā vaiśyaḥ śūdro vā rājasattama। dasyubhyo'tha prajā rakṣeddaṇḍaṃ dharmeṇa dhārayan ॥12-79-35॥
O best of kings, whether he is a brāhmaṇa, vaiśya, or śūdra, he should protect the people from robbers, upholding punishment through justice.
kāryaṃ kuryān na vā kuryāt saṃvāryo vā bhaven na vā। na sma śastraṃ grahītavyam anyatra kṣatrabandhutaḥ ॥12-79-36॥
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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
apāre yo bhavet pāram aplave yaḥ plavo bhavet। śūdro vā yadi vāpy anyaḥ sarvathā mānam arhati ॥12-79-37॥
In the boundless ocean of existence, whoever becomes a means to cross over, whether a Śūdra or anyone else, in every way deserves respect.
yamāśritya narā rājan vartayeyur yathāsukham। anāthāḥ pālyamānā vai dasyubhiḥ paripīḍitāḥ ॥12-79-38॥
O king, when people relied on Yama, they acted as they wished, and the unprotected, though supposedly under protection, were actually oppressed by robbers.
tameva pūjayeraṃste prītyā svamiva bāndhavam। mahaddhyabhīkṣṇaṃ kauravya kartā sanmānamarhati ॥12-79-39॥
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.
kim ukṣṇā avahatā kṛtyam kiṃ dhenvā ca api adugdhayā | vandhyayā bhāryayā ko arthaḥ ko arthaḥ rājñā api arakṣatā ॥12-79-40॥
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?
yathā dārumayo hastī yathā carmamayo mṛgaḥ। yathā hyanetraḥ śakaṭaḥ pathi kṣetraṃ yathoṣaram ॥12-79-41॥
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).
evaṃ brahmānadhīyānaṃ rājā yaś ca na rakṣitā। na varṣati ca yo meghaḥ sarva ete nirarthakāḥ ॥12-79-42॥
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.
nityaṃ yastu sato rakṣed asataś ca nibarhayet। sa eva rājā kartavyas tena sarvam idaṃ dhṛtam ॥12-79-43॥
He alone is to be made king who always protects the good and restrains the wicked; by him, all this is upheld.
