12.080
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said:
kvasamutthāḥ kathaṃśīlā ṛtvijaḥ syuḥ pitāmaha। kathaṃvidhāśca rājendra tadbrūhi vadatāṃ vara ॥12-80-1॥
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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
pratikarma purācāra ṛtvijāṃ sma vidhīyate. ādau chandāṃsi vijñāya dvijānāṃ śrutam eva ca ॥12-80-2॥
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.
ye tvekaratayo nityaṃ dhīrā nāpriyavādinaḥ। parasparasya suhṛdaḥ saṃmatāḥ samadarśinaḥ ॥12-80-3॥
But those who are always steadfast, engaged in one pursuit, do not speak unpleasant words, are well-wishers of each other, respected, and impartial.
yeṣv ānṛśaṁsyaṁ satyaṁ cāpy ahiṁsā tapa ārjavam। adroho nābhimānaś ca hrīs titikṣā damaḥ śamaḥ॥12-80-4॥
Those in whom non-cruelty, truthfulness, non-violence, austerity, straightforwardness, absence of malice, lack of pride, modesty, forbearance, self-restraint, and tranquility are found.
hrīmān satyadhṛtir dānto bhūtānām avihiṃsakaḥ। akāmadveṣasaṃyuktas tribhiḥ śuklaiḥ samanvitaḥ ॥12-80-5॥
He is modest, steadfast in truth, self-restrained, harmless to all beings, free from desire and hatred, and endowed with three pure qualities.
ahiṁsako jñānatṛptaḥ sa brahmāsanam arhati। ete mahartvijastāta sarve mānyā yathātatham ॥12-80-6॥
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.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
yad idaṃ vedavacanaṃ dakṣiṇāsu vidhīyate। idaṃ deyam idaṃ deyam na kvacid vyavatiṣṭhate॥12-80-7॥
Whatever Vedic injunction is prescribed regarding gifts, "This should be given, this should be given," it does not remain established anywhere.
nedaṃ prati dhanaṃ śāstram āpaddharmam aśāstrataḥ। ājñā śāstrasya ghoreyaṃ na śaktiṃ samavekṣate ॥12-80-8॥
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.
śraddhāmārabhya yaṣṭavyamityeṣā vaidikī śrutiḥ। mithyopetasya yajñasya kimu śraddhā kariṣyati ॥12-80-9॥
The Vedic scripture declares: "One should perform sacrifice beginning with faith." If a sacrifice is undertaken with falsehood, what can faith possibly achieve?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
na vedānāṃ paribhavān na śāṭhyena na māyayā। kaścin mahad avāpnoti mā te bhūd buddhir īdṛśī ॥12-80-10॥
No one attains greatness by disrespecting the Vedas, by deceit, or by illusion; let not your understanding be of this kind.
yajñāṅgaṃ dakṣiṇāstāta vedānāṃ paribṛṃhaṇam। na mantrā dakṣiṇāhīnāstārayanti kathaṃcana ॥12-80-11॥
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.
śaktistu pūrṇapātreṇa saṃmitānavamā bhavet। avaśyaṃ tāta yaṣṭavyaṃ tribhirvarṇairyathāvidhi ॥12-80-12॥
But the power should be measured with a full vessel, not inferior. Certainly, O dear, it must be offered with three colors as prescribed.
somo rājā brāhmaṇānāmityeṣā vaidikī śrutiḥ। taṃ ca vikretumicchanti na vṛthā vṛttiriṣyate ॥ tena krītena dharmeṇa tato yajñaḥ pratāyate ॥12-80-13॥
"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.
ityevaṃ dharmataḥ khyātam ṛṣibhir dharmavādibhiḥ। pumān yajñaś ca somaś ca nyāyavṛtto yathā bhavet॥ anyāyavṛttaḥ puruṣo na parasya na cātmanaḥ॥12-80-14॥
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.
śarīraṃ yajñapātrāṇi ityeṣā śrūyate śrutiḥ। tāni samyakpraṇītāni brāhmaṇānāṃ mahātmanām ॥12-80-15॥
The Veda declares: "The body is like sacrificial vessels." Those bodies, when properly maintained, belong to Brāhmaṇas of great soul.
tapo yajñād api śreṣṭham ity eṣā paramā śrutiḥ। tat te tapaḥ pravakṣyāmi vidvaṃs tad api me śṛṇu ॥12-80-16॥
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.
ahiṃsā satyavacanam-anṛśaṃsyaṃ damo ghṛṇā। etat tapo vidur dhīrā na śarīrasya śoṣaṇam ॥12-80-17॥
The wise know that non-injury, truthful speech, non-cruelty, self-restraint, and compassion constitute austerity, not the emaciation of the body.
aprāmāṇyaṃ ca vedānāṃ śāstrāṇāṃ cātilaṅghanam। avyavasthā ca sarvatra tadvai nāśanamātmanaḥ ॥12-80-18॥
Invalidity of the Vedas and śāstras, excessive transgression, and disorder everywhere—these indeed lead to one's own destruction.
nibodha daśahotṝṇāṃ vidhānaṃ pārtha yādṛśam। cittiḥ srukcittamājyaṃ ca pavitraṃ jñānamuttamam ॥12-80-19॥
O Pārtha, understand the arrangement of the ten priests: thought, ladle, mind, clarified butter, purifier, and supreme knowledge.
sarvaṃ jihmaṃ mṛtyupadam ārjavaṃ brahmaṇaḥ padam। etāvāñ jñānaviṣayaḥ kiṃ pralāpaḥ kariṣyati ॥12-80-20॥
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?
