12.080
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:
क्वसमुत्थाः कथंशीला ऋत्विजः स्युः पितामह। कथंविधाश्च राजेन्द्र तद्ब्रूहि वदतां वर ॥१२-८०-१॥
kvasamutthāḥ kathaṃśīlā ṛtvijaḥ syuḥ pitāmaha। kathaṃvidhāśca rājendra tadbrūhi vadatāṃ vara ॥12-80-1॥
[क्व (kva) - where; समुत्थाः (samutthāḥ) - arisen; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; शीला (śīlāḥ) - of character; ऋत्विजः (ṛtvijaḥ) - priests; स्युः (syuḥ) - may be; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire; कथंविधाः (kathaṃvidhāḥ) - of what kind; च (ca) - and; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; तत् (tat) - that; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; वदतां (vadatām) - of speakers; वर (vara) - best;]
(Where arisen, of what character, may the priests be, O grandsire? Of what kind and how, O king, tell that, O best of speakers.)
O grandsire, where do the priests arise from, and what is their character? O king, of what kind are they and how are they to be? Please tell that, O best of speakers.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
प्रतिकर्म पुराचार ऋत्विजां स्म विधीयते। आदौ छन्दांसि विज्ञाय द्विजानां श्रुतमेव च ॥१२-८०-२॥
pratikarma purācāra ṛtvijāṃ sma vidhīyate. ādau chandāṃsi vijñāya dvijānāṃ śrutam eva ca ॥12-80-2॥
[प्रतिकर्म (pratikarma) - counter-action; पुराचार (purācāra) - ancient practice; ऋत्विजां (ṛtvijām) - of the priests; स्म (sma) - indeed; विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed; आदौ (ādau) - at the beginning; छन्दांसि (chandāṃsi) - the metres; विज्ञाय (vijñāya) - having understood; द्विजानां (dvijānāṃ) - of the twice-born; श्रुतम् (śrutam) - the Veda; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and;]
(Counter-action, ancient practice of the priests indeed is prescribed. At the beginning, having understood the metres and the Veda of the twice-born indeed and.)
The counter-action, that is the ancient practice of the priests, is indeed prescribed. First, one should understand the metres and the Veda of the twice-born.
ये त्वेकरतयो नित्यं धीरा नाप्रियवादिनः। परस्परस्य सुहृदः संमताः समदर्शिनः ॥१२-८०-३॥
ye tvekaratayo nityaṃ dhīrā nāpriyavādinaḥ। parasparasya suhṛdaḥ saṃmatāḥ samadarśinaḥ ॥12-80-3॥
[ये (ye) - those who; तु (tu) - but; एकरतयः (ekaratayaḥ) - engaged in one pursuit; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; धीराः (dhīrāḥ) - steadfast ones; न (na) - not; अप्रियवादिनः (apriyavādinaḥ) - speaking unpleasant words; परस्परस्य (parasparasya) - of each other; सुहृदः (suhṛdaḥ) - well-wishers; संमताः (saṃmatāḥ) - respected; समदर्शिनः (samadarśinaḥ) - those who see equally;]
(Those who, but, engaged in one pursuit, always, steadfast ones, not, speaking unpleasant words, of each other, well-wishers, respected, those who see equally.)
But those who are always steadfast, engaged in one pursuit, do not speak unpleasant words, are well-wishers of each other, respected, and impartial.
येष्वानृशंस्यं सत्यं चाप्यहिंसा तप आर्जवम्। अद्रोहो नाभिमानश्च ह्रीस्तितिक्षा दमः शमः ॥१२-८०-४॥
yeṣv ānṛśaṁsyaṁ satyaṁ cāpy ahiṁsā tapa ārjavam। adroho nābhimānaś ca hrīs titikṣā damaḥ śamaḥ॥12-80-4॥
[येषु (yeṣu) - in whom; अनृशंस्यं (anṛśaṁsyaṁ) - non-cruelty; सत्यं (satyaṁ) - truth; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अहिंसा (ahiṁsā) - non-violence; तप (tapa) - austerity; आर्जवम् (ārjavam) - straightforwardness; अद्रोहः (adrohaḥ) - absence of malice; न (na) - not; अभिमानः (abhimānaḥ) - pride; च (ca) - and; ह्रीः (hrīḥ) - modesty; तितिक्षा (titikṣā) - forbearance; दमः (damaḥ) - self-restraint; शमः (śamaḥ) - tranquility;]
(In whom non-cruelty, truth, and also non-violence, austerity, straightforwardness, absence of malice, not pride, and modesty, forbearance, self-restraint, tranquility (are present).)
Those in whom non-cruelty, truthfulness, non-violence, austerity, straightforwardness, absence of malice, lack of pride, modesty, forbearance, self-restraint, and tranquility are found.
ह्रीमान्सत्यधृतिर्दान्तो भूतानामविहिंसकः। अकामद्वेषसंयुक्तस्त्रिभिः शुक्लैः समन्वितः ॥१२-८०-५॥
hrīmān satyadhṛtir dānto bhūtānām avihiṃsakaḥ। akāmadveṣasaṃyuktas tribhiḥ śuklaiḥ samanvitaḥ ॥12-80-5॥
[ह्रीमान् (hrīmān) - possessed of modesty; सत्यधृतिः (satyadhṛtiḥ) - one whose firmness is in truth; दान्तः (dāntaḥ) - self-restrained; भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of beings; अविहिंसकः (avihiṃsakaḥ) - non-injurious; अकामद्वेषसंयुक्तः (akāmadveṣasaṃyuktaḥ) - endowed with absence of desire and hatred; त्रिभिः (tribhiḥ) - with three; शुक्लैः (śuklaiḥ) - pure (qualities); समन्वितः (samanvitaḥ) - endowed;]
(Possessed of modesty, whose firmness is in truth, self-restrained, non-injurious to beings, endowed with absence of desire and hatred, endowed with three pure (qualities).)
He is modest, steadfast in truth, self-restrained, harmless to all beings, free from desire and hatred, and endowed with three pure qualities.
अहिंसको ज्ञानतृप्तः स ब्रह्मासनमर्हति। एते महर्त्विजस्तात सर्वे मान्या यथातथम् ॥१२-८०-६॥
ahiṁsako jñānatṛptaḥ sa brahmāsanam arhati। ete mahartvijastāta sarve mānyā yathātatham ॥12-80-6॥
[अहिंसकः (ahiṁsakaḥ) - non-violent one; ज्ञानतृप्तः (jñānatṛptaḥ) - satisfied with knowledge; सः (saḥ) - he; ब्रह्मासनम् (brahmāsanam) - seat of Brahman; अर्हति (arhati) - deserves; एते (ete) - these; महर्त्विजः (mahartvijaḥ) - great priests; तात (tāta) - dear one; सर्वे (sarve) - all; मान्याः (mānyāḥ) - worthy of respect; यथातथम् (yathātatham) - in every way;]
(The non-violent one, satisfied with knowledge, he deserves the seat of Brahman. These, O dear one, all great priests are worthy of respect in every way.)
He who is non-violent and satisfied with knowledge deserves the seat of Brahman. All these great priests, dear one, are worthy of respect in every way.
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:
यदिदं वेदवचनं दक्षिणासु विधीयते। इदं देयमिदं देयं न क्वचिद्व्यवतिष्ठते ॥१२-८०-७॥
yad idaṃ vedavacanaṃ dakṣiṇāsu vidhīyate। idaṃ deyam idaṃ deyam na kvacid vyavatiṣṭhate॥12-80-7॥
[यत् (yat) - which; इदं (idaṃ) - this; वेदवचनम् (vedavacanam) - Vedic statement; दक्षिणासु (dakṣiṇāsu) - among gifts; विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed; इदं (idaṃ) - this; देयम् (deyam) - to be given; इदं (idaṃ) - this; देयम् (deyam) - to be given; न (na) - not; क्वचित् (kvacit) - anywhere; व्यवतिष्ठते (vyavatiṣṭhate) - remains established;]
(Which this Vedic statement among gifts is prescribed, this is to be given, this is to be given, not anywhere remains established.)
Whatever Vedic injunction is prescribed regarding gifts, "This should be given, this should be given," it does not remain established anywhere.
नेदं प्रति धनं शास्त्रमापद्धर्ममशास्त्रतः। आज्ञा शास्त्रस्य घोरेयं न शक्तिं समवेक्षते ॥१२-८०-८॥
nedaṃ prati dhanaṃ śāstram āpaddharmam aśāstrataḥ। ājñā śāstrasya ghoreyaṃ na śaktiṃ samavekṣate ॥12-80-8॥
[ने (na) - not; इदं (idaṃ) - this; प्रति (prati) - towards; धनं (dhanaṃ) - wealth; शास्त्रम् (śāstram) - scripture; आपद्धर्मम् (āpaddharmam) - emergency-duty; अशास्त्रतः (aśāstrataḥ) - not according to scripture; आज्ञा (ājñā) - command; शास्त्रस्य (śāstrasya) - of scripture; घोरा (ghorā) - terrible; इयम् (iyam) - this; न (na) - not; शक्तिम् (śaktim) - power; समवेक्षते (samavekṣate) - considers;]
(Not this towards wealth scripture (is), emergency-duty not according to scripture. Command of scripture, this terrible, does not consider power.)
This scripture is not for the pursuit of wealth, nor is emergency-duty to be done contrary to scripture. The command of scripture, even if terrible, does not consider one's power.
श्रद्धामारभ्य यष्टव्यमित्येषा वैदिकी श्रुतिः। मिथ्योपेतस्य यज्ञस्य किमु श्रद्धा करिष्यति ॥१२-८०-९॥
śraddhāmārabhya yaṣṭavyamityeṣā vaidikī śrutiḥ। mithyopetasya yajñasya kimu śraddhā kariṣyati ॥12-80-9॥
[श्रद्धा (śraddhā) - faith; आरभ्य (ārabhya) - having begun; यष्टव्यम् (yaṣṭavyam) - should be sacrificed; इति (iti) - thus; एषा (eṣā) - this; वैदिकी (vaidikī) - Vedic; श्रुतिः (śrutiḥ) - revelation; मिथ्या (mithyā) - false; उपेतस्य (upetasya) - of one who is endowed with; यज्ञस्य (yajñasya) - of the sacrifice; किम् (kim) - what; उ (u) - indeed; श्रद्धा (śraddhā) - faith; करिष्यति (kariṣyati) - will accomplish;]
(Having begun with faith, one should sacrifice—thus is this Vedic revelation. For a sacrifice performed with falsehood, what indeed will faith accomplish?)
The Vedic scripture declares: "One should perform sacrifice beginning with faith." If a sacrifice is undertaken with falsehood, what can faith possibly achieve?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
न वेदानां परिभवान्न शाठ्येन न मायया। कश्चिन्महदवाप्नोति मा ते भूद्बुद्धिरीदृशी ॥१२-८०-१०॥
na vedānāṃ paribhavān na śāṭhyena na māyayā। kaścin mahad avāpnoti mā te bhūd buddhir īdṛśī ॥12-80-10॥
[न (na) - not; वेदानाम् (vedānām) - of the Vedas; परिभवात् (paribhavāt) - from disrespect; न (na) - not; शाठ्येन (śāṭhyena) - by deceit; न (na) - not; मायया (māyayā) - by illusion; कश्चित् (kaścit) - anyone; महत् (mahat) - great; अवाप्नोति (avāpnoti) - attains; मा (mā) - let not; ते (te) - your; भूत् (bhūt) - be; बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ) - understanding; ईदृशी (īdṛśī) - such; ॥१२-८०-१०॥ (॥12-80-10॥) -;]
(Not from disrespect of the Vedas, not by deceit, not by illusion, does anyone attain the great; let not your understanding be such.)
No one attains greatness by disrespecting the Vedas, by deceit, or by illusion; let not your understanding be of this kind.
यज्ञाङ्गं दक्षिणास्तात वेदानां परिबृंहणम्। न मन्त्रा दक्षिणाहीनास्तारयन्ति कथञ्चन ॥१२-८०-११॥
yajñāṅgaṃ dakṣiṇāstāta vedānāṃ paribṛṃhaṇam। na mantrā dakṣiṇāhīnāstārayanti kathaṃcana ॥12-80-11॥
[यज्ञाङ्गम् (yajñāṅgam) - sacrifice-limb; दक्षिणाः (dakṣiṇāḥ) - offerings; तात (tāta) - O dear; वेदानाम् (vedānām) - of the Vedas; परिबृंहणम् (paribṛṃhaṇam) - augmentation; न (na) - not; मन्त्राः (mantrāḥ) - mantras; दक्षिणा-हीनाः (dakṣiṇā-hīnāḥ) - devoid of offerings; तारयन्ति (tārayanti) - lead across; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way;]
(Offerings, O dear, are a limb of sacrifice, an augmentation of the Vedas. Mantras devoid of offerings do not lead across in any way.)
O dear, offerings are an essential part of sacrifice and serve to augment the Vedas. Mantras that lack offerings never bring about deliverance in any way.
शक्तिस्तु पूर्णपात्रेण संमितानवमा भवेत्। अवश्यं तात यष्टव्यं त्रिभिर्वर्णैर्यथाविधि ॥१२-८०-१२॥
śaktistu pūrṇapātreṇa saṃmitānavamā bhavet। avaśyaṃ tāta yaṣṭavyaṃ tribhirvarṇairyathāvidhi ॥12-80-12॥
[शक्तिः (śaktiḥ) - power; तु (tu) - but; पूर्णपात्रेण (pūrṇapātreṇa) - by a full vessel; संमिता (saṃmitā) - measured; अनवमा (anavamā) - not inferior; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; अवश्यं (avaśyaṃ) - certainly; तात (tāta) - O dear; यष्टव्यम् (yaṣṭavyam) - must be offered; त्रिभिः (tribhiḥ) - by three; वर्णैः (varṇaiḥ) - with colors; यथाविधि (yathāvidhi) - according to rule;]
(But power should be measured by a full vessel, not inferior. Certainly, O dear, it must be offered with three colors according to rule.)
But the power should be measured with a full vessel, not inferior. Certainly, O dear, it must be offered with three colors as prescribed.
सोमो राजा ब्राह्मणानामित्येषा वैदिकी श्रुतिः। तं च विक्रेतुमिच्छन्ति न वृथा वृत्तिरिष्यते ॥ तेन क्रीतेन धर्मेण ततो यज्ञः प्रतायते ॥१२-८०-१३॥
somo rājā brāhmaṇānāmityeṣā vaidikī śrutiḥ। taṃ ca vikretumicchanti na vṛthā vṛttiriṣyate ॥ tena krītena dharmeṇa tato yajñaḥ pratāyate ॥12-80-13॥
[सोमः (somaḥ) - Soma; (the ritual drink, or the Moon deity); राजा (rājā) - king; (sovereign); ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of the Brāhmaṇas; (priests); इति (iti) - thus; (quotation marker); एषा (eṣā) - this; (feminine); वैदिकी (vaidikī) - Vedic; (pertaining to the Veda); श्रुतिः (śrutiḥ) - revelation; (scripture); तं (taṃ) - him; (accusative singular); च (ca) - and; (conjunction); विक्रेतुम् (vikretum) - to sell; (infinitive); इच्छन्ति (icchanti) - they wish; (desire); न (na) - not; (negation); वृथा (vṛthā) - in vain; (uselessly); वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - livelihood; (means of living); इष्यते (iṣyate) - is accepted; (is considered); तेन (tena) - by that; (instrumental singular); क्रीतेन (krītena) - by what is bought; (by purchase); धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - by righteousness; (by dharma); ततः (tataḥ) - from that; (thereafter); यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; (ritual); प्रतायते (pratāyate) - is performed; (is accomplished);]
(Soma king of the Brāhmaṇas thus this Vedic revelation. Him and to sell they wish not in vain livelihood is accepted. By that bought by righteousness from that sacrifice is performed.)
"Soma is the king of the Brāhmaṇas"—this is a Vedic revelation. They wish to sell him, but a livelihood is not accepted in vain. By what is righteously bought with that, the sacrifice is performed.
इत्येवं धर्मतः ख्यातमृषिभिर्धर्मवादिभिः। पुमान्यज्ञश्च सोमश्च न्यायवृत्तो यथा भवेत् ॥ अन्यायवृत्तः पुरुषो न परस्य न चात्मनः ॥१२-८०-१४॥
ityevaṃ dharmataḥ khyātam ṛṣibhir dharmavādibhiḥ। pumān yajñaś ca somaś ca nyāyavṛtto yathā bhavet॥ anyāyavṛttaḥ puruṣo na parasya na cātmanaḥ॥12-80-14॥
[इति (iti) - thus; एवम् (evam) - in this manner; धर्मतः (dharmataḥ) - according to dharma; ख्यातम् (khyātam) - declared; ऋषिभिः (ṛṣibhiḥ) - by sages; धर्मवादिभिः (dharmavādibhiḥ) - by those who speak of dharma; पुमान् (pumān) - man; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; च (ca) - and; सोमः (somaḥ) - Soma; च (ca) - and; न्यायवृत्तः (nyāyavṛttaḥ) - engaged in justice; यथा (yathā) - as; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; अन्यायवृत्तः (anyāyavṛttaḥ) - engaged in injustice; पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - man; न (na) - not; परस्य (parasya) - for another; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - for oneself;]
(Thus, in this manner, according to dharma, declared by sages, by those who speak of dharma: man, sacrifice, and Soma should be engaged in justice as it should be. A man engaged in injustice is not (beneficial) for another nor for oneself.)
Thus, as declared by sages who speak of dharma, a man, sacrifice, and Soma should act justly. A man who acts unjustly benefits neither others nor himself.
शरीरं यज्ञपात्राणि इत्येषा श्रूयते श्रुतिः। तानि सम्यक्प्रणीतानि ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् ॥१२-८०-१५॥
śarīraṃ yajñapātrāṇi ityeṣā śrūyate śrutiḥ। tāni samyakpraṇītāni brāhmaṇānāṃ mahātmanām ॥12-80-15॥
[शरीरं (śarīram) - body; यज्ञपात्राणि (yajñapātrāṇi) - sacrificial vessels; इति (iti) - thus; एषा (eṣā) - this; श्रूयते (śrūyate) - is heard; श्रुतिः (śrutiḥ) - Veda; तानि (tāni) - those; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; प्रणीतानि (praṇītāni) - conducted; ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of the Brāhmaṇas; महात्मनाम् (mahātmanām) - of the great-souled;]
(The body (is) sacrificial vessels—thus this is heard (in) the Veda. Those, properly conducted, (are) of the Brāhmaṇas, of the great-souled.)
The Veda declares: "The body is like sacrificial vessels." Those bodies, when properly maintained, belong to Brāhmaṇas of great soul.
तपो यज्ञादपि श्रेष्ठमित्येषा परमा श्रुतिः। तत्ते तपः प्रवक्ष्यामि विद्वंस्तदपि मे शृणु ॥१२-८०-१६॥
tapo yajñād api śreṣṭham ity eṣā paramā śrutiḥ। tat te tapaḥ pravakṣyāmi vidvaṃs tad api me śṛṇu ॥12-80-16॥
[तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; यज्ञात् (yajñāt) - than sacrifice; अपि (api) - even; श्रेष्ठम् (śreṣṭham) - superior; इति (iti) - thus; एषा (eṣā) - this; परमा (paramā) - supreme; श्रुतिः (śrutiḥ) - scriptural statement; तत् (tat) - that; ते (te) - to you; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi) - I shall explain; विद्वन् (vidvan) - O learned one; तत् (tat) - that; अपि (api) - also; मे (me) - to me; शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear;]
(Austerity is even superior to sacrifice, thus this is the supreme scriptural statement. That austerity I shall explain to you, O learned one, that also hear from me.)
Austerity is declared to be even superior to sacrifice; this is the highest scriptural teaching. Now, O learned one, I will explain that austerity to you—listen to it from me.
अहिंसा सत्यवचनमानृशंस्यं दमो घृणा। एतत्तपो विदुर्धीरा न शरीरस्य शोषणम् ॥१२-८०-१७॥
ahiṃsā satyavacanam-anṛśaṃsyaṃ damo ghṛṇā। etat tapo vidur dhīrā na śarīrasya śoṣaṇam ॥12-80-17॥
[अहिंसा (ahiṃsā) - non-injury; सत्यवचनम् (satyavacanam) - truthful speech; अनृशंस्यम् (anṛśaṃsyam) - non-cruelty; दमः (damaḥ) - self-restraint; घृणा (ghṛṇā) - compassion; एतत् (etat) - this; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; विदुः (viduḥ) - know; धीराः (dhīrāḥ) - the wise; न (na) - not; शरीरस्य (śarīrasya) - of the body; शोषणम् (śoṣaṇam) - emaciation;]
(Non-injury; truthful speech; non-cruelty; self-restraint; compassion; this austerity the wise know, not the emaciation of the body.)
The wise know that non-injury, truthful speech, non-cruelty, self-restraint, and compassion constitute austerity, not the emaciation of the body.
अप्रामाण्यं च वेदानां शास्त्राणां चातिलङ्घनम्। अव्यवस्था च सर्वत्र तद्वै नाशनमात्मनः ॥१२-८०-१८॥
aprāmāṇyaṃ ca vedānāṃ śāstrāṇāṃ cātilaṅghanam। avyavasthā ca sarvatra tadvai nāśanamātmanaḥ ॥12-80-18॥
[अप्रामाण्यं (aprāmāṇyaṃ) - invalidity; non-authoritativeness; च (ca) - and; वेदानां (vedānāṃ) - of the Vedas; शास्त्राणां (śāstrāṇāṃ) - of the śāstras; of the scriptures; च (ca) - and; अतिलङ्घनम् (atilaṅghanam) - excessive transgression; overstepping; अव्यवस्था (avyavasthā) - disorder; lack of order; च (ca) - and; सर्वत्र (sarvatra) - everywhere; तत् (tat) - that; वै (vai) - indeed; नाशनम् (nāśanam) - destruction; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of oneself;]
(Invalidity and of the Vedas, of the śāstras and excessive transgression, disorder and everywhere—that indeed is the destruction of oneself.)
Invalidity of the Vedas and śāstras, excessive transgression, and disorder everywhere—these indeed lead to one's own destruction.
निबोध दशहोतॄणां विधानं पार्थ यादृशम्। चित्तिः स्रुक्चित्तमाज्यं च पवित्रं ज्ञानमुत्तमम् ॥१२-८०-१९॥
nibodha daśahotṝṇāṃ vidhānaṃ pārtha yādṛśam। cittiḥ srukcittamājyaṃ ca pavitraṃ jñānamuttamam ॥12-80-19॥
[निबोध (nibodha) - understand; दश (daśa) - ten; होतॄणां (hotṝṇāṃ) - of the priests; विधानं (vidhānam) - arrangement; पार्थ (pārtha) - O Pārtha; यादृशम् (yādṛśam) - of what kind; चित्तिः (cittiḥ) - thought; स्रुक् (sruk) - ladle; चित्तम् (cittam) - mind; आज्यं (ājyaṃ) - clarified butter; च (ca) - and; पवित्रं (pavitraṃ) - purifier; ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - supreme;]
(Understand the arrangement of the ten priests, O Pārtha, of what kind: thought, ladle, mind, clarified butter, and purifier, knowledge, supreme.)
O Pārtha, understand the arrangement of the ten priests: thought, ladle, mind, clarified butter, purifier, and supreme knowledge.
सर्वं जिह्मं मृत्युपदमार्जवं ब्रह्मणः पदम्। एतावाञ्ज्ञानविषयः किं प्रलापः करिष्यति ॥१२-८०-२०॥
sarvaṃ jihmaṃ mṛtyupadam ārjavaṃ brahmaṇaḥ padam। etāvāñ jñānaviṣayaḥ kiṃ pralāpaḥ kariṣyati ॥12-80-20॥
[सर्वं (sarvam) - all; everything; जिह्मं (jihmam) - crooked; deceitful; मृत्युपदम् (mṛtyupadam) - state of death; mortal condition; आर्जवम् (ārjavam) - straightforwardness; honesty; ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ) - of Brahman; of the Absolute; पदम् (padam) - state; position; एतावान् (etāvān) - so much; thus far; ज्ञानविषयः (jñānaviṣayaḥ) - object of knowledge; किं (kiṃ) - what; why; प्रलापः (pralāpaḥ) - talk; prattle; करिष्यति (kariṣyati) - will do; will accomplish;]
(All is crooked, the state of death is straightforwardness, the state of Brahman. Thus far is the object of knowledge. What will prattle accomplish?)
Everything is crooked; straightforwardness is the state of death, but the state of Brahman is beyond. This is the extent of knowledge. What use is idle talk?
