12.098
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.
क्षत्रधर्मान्न पापीयान्धर्मोऽस्ति भरतर्षभ। अभियाने च युद्धे च राजा हन्ति महाजनम् ॥१२-९८-१॥
kṣatradharmān na pāpīyān dharmo 'sti bharatarṣabha। abhishyāne ca yuddhe ca rājā hanti mahājanam ॥12-98-1॥
[क्षत्रधर्मात् (kṣatradharmāt) - from the duty of a kṣatriya; न (na) - not; पापीयान् (pāpīyān) - more sinful; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; अस्ति (asti) - exists; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O bull among the Bharatas; अभियाने (abhiyāne) - in an expedition; च (ca) - and; युद्धे (yuddhe) - in battle; च (ca) - and; राजा (rājā) - the king; हन्ति (hanti) - kills; महाजनम् (mahājanam) - great people;]
(From the duty of a kṣatriya, there is no more sinful duty, O bull among the Bharatas. In an expedition and in battle, the king kills great people.)
O best of the Bharatas, there is no duty more sinful than the duty of a kṣatriya. In expeditions and battles, the king kills even great people.
अथ स्म कर्मणा येन लोकाञ्जयति पार्थिवः। विद्वञ्जिज्ञासमानाय प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ ॥१२-९८-२॥
atha sma karmaṇā yena lokāñjayati pārthivaḥ। vidvañjijñāsamānāya prabrūhi bharatarṣabha ॥12-98-2॥
[अथ (atha) - now; then; स्म (sma) - indeed; truly; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action; by deed; येन (yena) - by which; by whom; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; realms; जयति (jayati) - conquers; wins; पार्थिवः (pārthivaḥ) - king; ruler; विद्वन् (vidvan) - O learned one; wise; जिज्ञासमानाय (jijñāsamānāya) - to one who is desiring to know; to the inquirer; प्रब्रूहि (prabrūhi) - speak; tell; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of the Bharatas; bull among the Bharatas;]
(Now indeed, by which action the king conquers the worlds, O learned one, speak to the one desiring to know, O best of the Bharatas.)
Now, O best of the Bharatas, tell the inquirer, O learned one, by what action the king conquers the worlds.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
निग्रहेण च पापानां साधूनां प्रग्रहेण च। यज्ञैर्दानैश्च राजानो भवन्ति शुचयोऽमलाः ॥१२-९८-३॥
nigraheṇa ca pāpānāṃ sādhūnāṃ pragraheṇa ca। yajñairdānaiśca rājāno bhavanti śucayo'malāḥ ॥12-98-3॥
[निग्रहेण (nigraheṇa) - by restraint; च (ca) - and; पापानां (pāpānāṃ) - of the wicked; साधूनां (sādhūnāṃ) - of the virtuous; प्रग्रहेण (pragraheṇa) - by favor; च (ca) - and; यज्ञैः (yajñaiḥ) - by sacrifices; दानैः (dānaiḥ) - by gifts; च (ca) - and; राजानः (rājānaḥ) - kings; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; शुचयः (śucayaḥ) - pure; अमलाः (amalāḥ) - spotless;]
(By restraint and (towards) the wicked, by favor and (towards) the virtuous, by sacrifices and gifts, kings become pure and spotless.)
Kings become pure and spotless by restraining the wicked, favoring the virtuous, and through sacrifices and gifts.
उपरुन्धन्ति राजानो भूतानि विजयार्थिनः। त एव विजयं प्राप्य वर्धयन्ति पुनः प्रजाः ॥१२-९८-४॥
uparundhanti rājāno bhūtāni vijayārthinaḥ। ta eva vijayaṃ prāpya vardhayanti punaḥ prajāḥ ॥12-98-4॥
[उपरुन्धन्ति (uparundhanti) - obstruct; राजानः (rājānaḥ) - kings; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; विजयार्थिनः (vijayārthinaḥ) - desiring victory; ते (te) - they; एव (eva) - indeed; विजयम् (vijayam) - victory; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having attained; वर्धयन्ति (vardhayanti) - cause to prosper; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects;]
(Kings desiring victory obstruct beings. They indeed, having attained victory, cause the subjects to prosper again.)
Kings who seek victory obstruct beings, but once they have achieved victory, they again cause their subjects to prosper.
अपविध्यन्ति पापानि दानयज्ञतपोबलैः। अनुग्रहेण भूतानां पुण्यमेषां प्रवर्धते ॥१२-९८-५॥
apavidhyanti pāpāni dānayajñatapobalaiḥ। anugraheṇa bhūtānāṃ puṇyameṣāṃ pravardhate ॥12-98-5॥
[अपविध्यन्ति (apavidhyanti) - cast away; पापानि (pāpāni) - sins; दान (dāna) - gift; यज्ञ (yajña) - sacrifice; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; बलैः (balaiḥ) - by the strengths; अनुग्रहेण (anugraheṇa) - by the favor; भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of beings; पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - merit; एषाम् (eṣām) - of these; प्रवर्धते (pravardhate) - increases;]
(They cast away sins by the strengths of gift, sacrifice, and austerity. By the favor to beings, the merit of these increases.)
Sins are cast away by the strengths of charity, sacrifice, and austerity. By showing favor to beings, their merit increases.
यथैव क्षेत्रनिर्दाता निर्दन्वै क्षेत्रमेकदा। हिनस्ति कक्षं धान्यं च न च धान्यं विनश्यति ॥१२-९८-६॥
yathaiva kṣetranirdātā nirdanvai kṣetram ekadā। hinasti kakṣaṃ dhānyaṃ ca na ca dhānyaṃ vinaśyati॥12-98-6॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; एव (eva) - indeed; क्षेत्र-निर्दाता (kṣetra-nirdātā) - field-destroyer; निर्दन्वै (nirdanvai) - by uprooting; क्षेत्रम् (kṣetram) - field; एकदा (ekadā) - at one time; हिनस्ति (hinasti) - destroys; कक्षम् (kakṣam) - the fence; धान्यम् (dhānyam) - grain; च (ca) - and; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; धान्यम् (dhānyam) - grain; विनश्यति (vinaśyati) - perishes;]
(Just as indeed a field-destroyer, by uprooting, at one time destroys the field, the fence, and the grain, but the grain does not perish.)
Just as a person who destroys a field, by uprooting it, at once destroys the field, its fence, and the grain, but the grain itself does not perish.
एवं शस्त्राणि मुञ्चन्तो घ्नन्ति वध्यानथैकदा। तस्यैषा निष्कृतिः कृत्स्ना भूतानां भावनं पुनः ॥१२-९८-७॥
evaṃ śastrāṇi muñcanto ghnanti vadhyān atha ekadā। tasya eṣā niṣkṛtiḥ kṛtsnā bhūtānām bhāvanam punaḥ ॥12-98-7॥
[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; शस्त्राणि (śastrāṇi) - weapons; मुञ्चन्तः (muñcantaḥ) - releasing; घ्नन्ति (ghnanti) - kill; वध्यान् (vadhyān) - those to be slain; अथ (atha) - then; एकदा (ekadā) - once; तस्य (tasya) - his; एषा (eṣā) - this; निष्कृतिः (niṣkṛtiḥ) - atonement; कृत्स्ना (kṛtsnā) - complete; भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of beings; भावनम् (bhāvanam) - restoration; पुनः (punaḥ) - again;]
(Thus, releasing weapons, they kill those to be slain, then once; for him, this is the complete atonement: the restoration of beings again.)
Thus, when one releases weapons and kills those who are to be slain, then, at some point, this is his complete atonement: to restore all beings again.
यो भूतानि धनज्यानाद्वधात्क्लेशाच्च रक्षति। दस्युभ्यः प्राणदानात्स धनदः सुखदो विराट् ॥१२-९८-८॥
yo bhūtāni dhanajyānād vadhāt kleśāc ca rakṣati। dasyubhyaḥ prāṇadānāt sa dhanadaḥ sukhadaḥ virāṭ ॥12-98-8॥
[यो (yaḥ) - who; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; धनज्यानात् (dhanajyānāt) - from the bowstring; वधात् (vadhāt) - from killing; क्लेशात् (kleśāt) - from suffering; च (ca) - and; रक्षति (rakṣati) - protects; दस्युभ्यः (dasyubhyaḥ) - from robbers; प्राणदानात् (prāṇadānāt) - from giving up life; सः (saḥ) - he; धनदः (dhanadaḥ) - giver of wealth; सुखदः (sukhadaḥ) - giver of happiness; विराट् (virāṭ) - the great one;]
(He who protects beings from the bowstring, from killing, and from suffering, from robbers, from giving up life, he is the giver of wealth, the giver of happiness, the great one.)
He who protects beings from the bowstring, from killing, from suffering, from robbers, and from giving up his life is the giver of wealth, the giver of happiness, the great one.
स सर्वयज्ञैरीजानो राजाथाभयदक्षिणैः। अनुभूयेह भद्राणि प्राप्नोतीन्द्रसलोकताम् ॥१२-९८-९॥
sa sarvayajñair ijānaḥ rājā atha abhayadakṣiṇaiḥ। anubhūya iha bhadrāṇi prāpnoti indrasalokatām ॥12-98-9॥
[स (sa) - he; सर्वयज्ञैः (sarvayajñaiḥ) - by all sacrifices; इजाञः (ijānaḥ) - performing; राजा (rājā) - the king; अथ (atha) - then; अभयदक्षिणैः (abhayadakṣiṇaiḥ) - with gifts of fearlessness; अनुभूय (anubhūya) - having experienced; इह (iha) - here; भद्राणि (bhadrāṇi) - auspicious things; प्राप्नोति (prāpnoti) - attains; इन्द्रसलोकताम् (indrasalokatām) - the state of Indra's world;]
(He, the king, performing all sacrifices, then with gifts of fearlessness, having experienced auspicious things here, attains the state of Indra's world.)
The king who performs all sacrifices and gives gifts of fearlessness, after experiencing auspicious things in this world, attains the realm of Indra.
ब्राह्मणार्थे समुत्पन्ने योऽभिनिःसृत्य युध्यते। आत्मानं यूपमुच्छ्रित्य स यज्ञोऽनन्तदक्षिणः ॥१२-९८-१०॥
brāhmaṇārthe samutpanne yo’bhiniḥsṛtya yudhyate। ātmānaṃ yūpamucchṛtya sa yajño’nantadakṣiṇaḥ ॥12-98-10॥
[ब्राह्मण-अर्थे (brāhmaṇa-arthe) - for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa; समुत्पन्ने (samutpanne) - having arisen; यः (yaḥ) - who; अभिनिःसृत्य (abhiniḥsṛtya) - having gone forth; युध्यते (yudhyate) - fights; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - himself; यूपम् (yūpam) - as the sacrificial post; उच्छ्रित्य (ucchṛtya) - having raised; सः (saḥ) - he; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - is a sacrifice; अनन्त-दक्षिणः (ananta-dakṣiṇaḥ) - with endless gifts;]
(For the sake of a Brāhmaṇa, when a conflict arises, he who, having gone forth, fights, having raised himself as the sacrificial post, he is a sacrifice with endless gifts.)
When a conflict arises for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa, whoever goes forth and fights, offering himself as the sacrificial post, that act is regarded as a sacrifice with endless rewards.
अभीतो विकिरञ्शत्रून्प्रतिगृह्णञ्शरांस्तथा। न तस्मात्त्रिदशाः श्रेयो भुवि पश्यन्ति किञ्चन ॥१२-९८-११॥
abhīto vikirañśatrūn pratigṛhṇañśarāṃs tathā। na tasmāt tridaśāḥ śreyo bhuvi paśyanti kiñcana ॥12-98-11॥
[अभीतः (abhītaḥ) - fearless; विकिरन् (vikiran) - scattering; शत्रून् (śatrūn) - enemies; प्रतिगृह्णन् (pratigṛhṇan) - receiving; शरान् (śarān) - arrows; तथा (tathā) - thus; न (na) - not; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from him; त्रिदशाः (tridaśāḥ) - the gods; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - better; भुवि (bhuvi) - on earth; पश्यन्ति (paśyanti) - see; किञ्चन (kiñcana) - anything;]
(Fearless, scattering enemies, receiving arrows thus, not from him do the gods see anything better on earth.)
Fearlessly scattering his enemies and receiving arrows in return, the gods do not see anything better than him on earth.
तस्य यावन्ति शस्त्राणि त्वचं भिन्दन्ति संयुगे। तावतः सोऽश्नुते लोकान्सर्वकामदुहोऽक्षयान् ॥१२-९८-१२॥
tasya yāvanti śastrāṇi tvacaṃ bhindanti saṃyuge। tāvataḥ so'śnute lokān sarvakāmadukho'kṣayān ॥12-98-12॥
[तस्य (tasya) - of him; यावन्ति (yāvanti) - as many as; शस्त्राणि (śastrāṇi) - weapons; त्वचम् (tvacam) - skin; भिन्दन्ति (bhindanti) - pierce; संयुगे (saṃyuge) - in battle; तावतः (tāvataḥ) - so many; सः (saḥ) - he; अश्नुते (aśnute) - attains; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; सर्वकामदुहः (sarvakāmaduhaḥ) - granting all desires; अक्षयान् (akṣayān) - imperishable;]
(Of him, as many weapons as pierce (his) skin in battle, so many imperishable worlds granting all desires he attains.)
He attains as many imperishable worlds that grant all desires as the number of weapons that pierce his skin in battle.
न तस्य रुधिरं गात्रादावेधेभ्यः प्रवर्तते। स ह तेनैव रक्तेन सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥१२-९८-१३॥
na tasya rudhiraṃ gātrād āvedhebhyaḥ pravartate। sa ha tenaiva raktena sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate ॥12-98-13॥
[न (na) - not; तस्य (tasya) - of him; रुधिरं (rudhiraṃ) - blood; गात्रात् (gātrāt) - from the body; आवेधेभ्यः (āvedhebhyaḥ) - from wounds; प्रवर्तते (pravartate) - flows; स (sa) - he; ह (ha) - indeed; तेनैव (tenaiva) - by that very; रक्तेन (raktena) - by blood; सर्वपापैः (sarvapāpaiḥ) - from all sins; प्रमुच्यते (pramucyate) - is released;]
(Not of him blood from the body from wounds flows. He indeed by that very blood from all sins is released.)
No blood flows from his body from wounds; by that very blood, he is indeed released from all sins.
यानि दुःखानि सहते व्रणानामभितापने। न ततोऽस्ति तपो भूय इति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥१२-९८-१४॥
yāni duḥkhāni sahate vraṇānām abhitāpane। na tato'sti tapo bhūya iti dharmavido viduḥ ॥12-98-14॥
[यानि (yāni) - which; (plural, neuter) दुःखानि (duḥkhāni) - pains; sufferings; सहते (sahate) - endures; bears; व्रणानाम् (vraṇānām) - of wounds; अभितापने (abhitāpane) - in the burning; in the torment; न (na) - not; ततः (tataḥ) - than that; अस्ति (asti) - there is; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; penance; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - greater; more; इति (iti) - thus; धर्मविदः (dharmavidaḥ) - knowers of dharma; विदुः (viduḥ) - know;]
(Which pains one endures in the burning of wounds, there is no austerity greater than that—thus knowers of dharma know.)
The knowers of dharma say: 'There is no austerity greater than enduring the pains of burning wounds.'
पृष्ठतो भीरवः सङ्ख्ये वर्तन्तेऽधमपूरुषाः। शूराच्छरणमिच्छन्तः पर्जन्यादिव जीवनम् ॥१२-९८-१५॥
pṛṣṭhato bhīravaḥ saṅkhye vartante'dhamapūruṣāḥ। śūrāccharaṇamicchantaḥ parjanyādiva jīvanam ॥12-98-15॥
[पृष्ठतः (pṛṣṭhataḥ) - behind; भीरवः (bhīravaḥ) - the fearful ones; सङ्ख्ये (saṅkhye) - in number; वर्तन्ते (vartante) - exist; अधम (adhama) - lowest; पूरुषाः (pūruṣāḥ) - men; शूरात् (śūrāt) - from the brave; शरणम् (śaraṇam) - refuge; इच्छन्तः (icchantaḥ) - desiring; पर्जन्यात् (parjanyāt) - from the rain-cloud; इव (iva) - like; जीवनम् (jīvanam) - life;]
(Behind, the fearful ones exist in number, the lowest men; desiring refuge from the brave, like life from the rain-cloud.)
The cowardly, who are many, remain behind; the lowest men seek protection from the brave, just as life depends on the rain-cloud.
यदि शूरस्तथा क्षेमे प्रतिरक्षेत्तथा भये। प्रतिरूपं जनाः कुर्युर्न च तद्वर्तते तथा ॥१२-९८-१६॥
yadi śūras tathā kṣeme pratirakṣet tathā bhaye। pratirūpaṃ janāḥ kuryur na ca tadvartate tathā ॥12-98-16॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; शूरः (śūraḥ) - hero; तथा (tathā) - in that way; क्षेमे (kṣeme) - in safety; प्रतिरक्षेत् (pratirakṣet) - should protect; तथा (tathā) - in that way; भये (bhaye) - in danger; प्रतिरूपं (pratirūpam) - similarly; जनाः (janāḥ) - people; कुर्युः (kuryuḥ) - should do; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; तद्वर्तते (tadvartate) - that happens; तथा (tathā) - in that way;]
(If the hero should protect in safety, in that way (he should protect) in danger; similarly, people should act, but that does not happen in that way.)
If a hero protects in times of safety, he should do so in times of danger as well; similarly, people ought to act, but it does not always happen that way.
यदि ते कृतमाज्ञाय नमस्कुर्युः सदैव तम्। युक्तं न्याय्यं च कुर्युस्ते न च तद्वर्तते तथा ॥१२-९८-१७॥
yadi te kṛtamājñāya namaskuryuḥ sadaiva tam। yuktaṃ nyāyyaṃ ca kuryuste na ca tadvartate tathā ॥12-98-17॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; ते (te) - they; कृतम् (kṛtam) - done; आज्ञाय (ājñāya) - having understood; नमस्कुर्युः (namaskuryuḥ) - should bow; सदैव (sadaiva) - always; तम् (tam) - to him; युक्तम् (yuktam) - proper; न्याय्यम् (nyāyyam) - just; च (ca) - and; कुर्युः (kuryuḥ) - should do; ते (te) - they; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; तत् (tat) - that; वर्तते (vartate) - proceeds; तथा (tathā) - thus;]
(If they, having understood what is done, should always bow to him; they should do what is proper and just, and they do not act otherwise thus.)
If they, having understood what has been done, always show respect to him, and act in a proper and just manner, and do not behave otherwise, then it is appropriate.
पुरुषाणां समानानां दृश्यते महदन्तरम्। सङ्ग्रामेऽनीकवेलायामुत्क्रुष्टेऽभिपतत्सु च ॥१२-९८-१८॥
puruṣāṇāṃ samānānāṃ dṛśyate mahadantaram। saṅgrāme'níkavelāyāmutkṛṣṭe'bhipatatsu ca ॥12-98-18॥
[पुरुषाणाम् (puruṣāṇām) - of men; समानानाम् (samānānām) - of those who are equal; दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen; महत् (mahat) - great; अन्तरम् (antaram) - difference; सङ्ग्रामे (saṅgrāme) - in battle; अनीकवेलायाम् (anīkavelāyām) - at the time of arraying troops; उत्क्रुष्टे (utkṛṣṭe) - when raised; अभिपतत्सु (abhipatatsu) - when attacking; च (ca) - and;]
(Of men who are equal, a great difference is seen; in battle, at the time of arraying troops, when raised and when attacking.)
Even among men who are otherwise equal, a great difference is seen—especially in battle, at the time of arraying troops, when the ranks are raised and the attack begins.
पतत्यभिमुखः शूरः परान्भीरुः पलायते। आस्थायास्वर्ग्यमध्वानं सहायान्विषमे त्यजन् ॥१२-९८-१९॥
pataty abhimukhaḥ śūraḥ parān bhīruḥ palāyate। āsthāyāsvargyam adhvānaṃ sahāyān viṣame tyajan ॥12-98-19॥
[अभिमुखः (abhimukhaḥ) - facing; towards; शूरः (śūraḥ) - hero; परान् (parān) - enemies; भीरुः (bhīruḥ) - coward; पलायते (palāyate) - flees; आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having undertaken; अस्वर्ग्यम् (asvargyam) - not leading to heaven; अध्वानम् (adhvānam) - path; सहायान् (sahāyān) - companions; विषमे (viṣame) - in difficulty; त्यजन् (tyajan) - abandoning;]
(The hero falls facing (the enemy); the coward flees from the enemies. Having undertaken a path not leading to heaven, abandoning companions in difficulty.)
A hero falls facing the enemy, while a coward flees from the enemy. One who undertakes a path that does not lead to heaven abandons his companions in times of difficulty.
मा स्म तांस्तादृशांस्तात जनिष्ठाः पुरुषाधमान्। ये सहायान्रणे हित्वा स्वस्तिमन्तो गृहान्ययुः ॥१२-९८-२०॥
mā sma tāṃstādṛśāṃstāta janiṣṭhāḥ puruṣādhamān। ye sahāyāṇraṇe hitvā svastimanto gṛhānyayuḥ ॥12-98-20॥
[मा (mā) - do not; स्म (sma) - indeed; ताँस् (tāṃs) - those; तादृशान् (tādṛśān) - such; तात (tāta) - O dear; जनिष्ठाः (janiṣṭhāḥ) - be born; पुरुष-अधमान् (puruṣa-adhamān) - men-lowest; ये (ye) - who; सहायान् (sahāyān) - companions; रणे (raṇe) - in battle; हित्वा (hitvā) - having abandoned; स्वस्तिमन्तः (svastimantaḥ) - safe; गृहान् (gṛhān) - homes; ययुः (yayuḥ) - went;]
(Do not indeed, O dear, be born as such men of the lowest kind, who, having abandoned companions in battle, went safely to their homes.)
O dear, never become like those base men who, having deserted their companions in battle, returned safely to their homes.
अस्वस्ति तेभ्यः कुर्वन्ति देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः। त्यागेन यः सहायानां स्वान्प्राणांस्त्रातुमिच्छति ॥१२-९८-२१॥
asvasti tebhyaḥ kurvanti devā indrapurogamāḥ। tyāgena yaḥ sahāyānāṃ svānprāṇāṃstrātumicchati ॥12-98-21॥
[अस्वस्ति (asvasti) - not-welfare; not-auspiciousness; तेभ्यः (tebhyaḥ) - to them; कुर्वन्ति (kurvanti) - do; make; देवाः (devāḥ) - gods; इन्द्रपुरोगमाः (indrapurogamāḥ) - with Indra at the forefront; त्यागेन (tyāgena) - by renunciation; यः (yaḥ) - who; सहायानाम् (sahāyānām) - of companions; स्वान् (svān) - own; प्राणान् (prāṇān) - lives; त्रातुम् (trātum) - to protect; इच्छति (icchati) - desires;]
(Not-welfare to them do the gods with Indra at the forefront. By renunciation, who of companions own lives to protect desires.)
The gods led by Indra do not grant welfare to those who, by renunciation, desire to protect the lives of their own companions.
तं हन्युः काष्ठलोष्टैर्वा दहेयुर्वा कटाग्निना। पशुवन्मारयेयुर्वा क्षत्रिया ये स्युरीदृशाः ॥१२-९८-२२॥
taṃ hanyuḥ kāṣṭhaloṣṭair vā daheyur vā kaṭāgninā| paśuvan mārayeyur vā kṣatriyā ye syur īdṛśāḥ ||12-98-22||
[तं (taṃ) - him; हन्युः (hanyuḥ) - would kill; काष्ठलोष्टैः (kāṣṭhaloṣṭaiḥ) - with sticks and clods; वा (vā) - or; दहेयुः (daheyuḥ) - would burn; वा (vā) - or; कटाग्निना (kaṭāgninā) - with funeral fire; पशुवत् (paśuvat) - like an animal; मारयेयुः (mārayeyuḥ) - would slay; वा (vā) - or; क्षत्रियाः (kṣatriyāḥ) - Kṣatriyas; ये (ye) - who; स्युः (syuḥ) - would be; ईदृशाः (īdṛśāḥ) - such as these;]
(Him would kill with sticks and clods or would burn or with funeral fire, like an animal would slay or, Kṣatriyas who would be such as these.)
Kṣatriyas who are of such kind would kill him with sticks and clods, or burn him with funeral fire, or slay him like an animal.
अधर्मः क्षत्रियस्यैष यच्छय्यामरणं भवेत्। विसृजञ्श्लेष्मपित्तानि कृपणं परिदेवयन् ॥१२-९८-२३॥
adharmaḥ kṣatriyasya eṣa yat śayyāmaraṇaṃ bhavet। visṛjan śleṣmapittāni kṛpaṇaṃ paridevayan ॥12-98-23॥
[अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness; क्षत्रियस्य (kṣatriyasya) - of a kṣatriya; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; यत् (yat) - that; शय्या-अमरणम् (śayyā-amaraṇam) - death on a bed; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be; विसृजन् (visṛjan) - releasing; श्लेष्म-पित्तानि (śleṣma-pittāni) - phlegm and bile; कृपणम् (kṛpaṇam) - miserable; परिदेवयन् (paridevayan) - lamenting;]
(Unrighteousness of a kṣatriya is this: that death on a bed would be, releasing phlegm and bile, miserable, lamenting.)
For a kṣatriya, it is unrighteous to die on a bed, lying miserable, lamenting, and releasing phlegm and bile.
अविक्षतेन देहेन प्रलयं योऽधिगच्छति। क्षत्रियो नास्य तत्कर्म प्रशंसन्ति पुराविदः ॥१२-९८-२४॥
avikṣatena dehena pralayaṃ yo'dhigacchati। kṣatriyo nāsya tatkarma praśaṃsanti purāvidaḥ ॥12-98-24॥
[अविक्षतेन (avikṣatena) - by uninjured; देहेन (dehena) - by the body; प्रलयम् (pralayam) - death; यः (yaḥ) - who; अधिगच्छति (adhigacchati) - attains; क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - a Kshatriya; न (na) - not; अस्य (asya) - his; तत् (tat) - that; कर्म (karma) - act; प्रशंसन्ति (praśaṃsanti) - praise; पुराविदः (purāvidaḥ) - knowers of old (tradition);]
(By an uninjured body, who attains death; a Kshatriya, not his that act, praise knowers of old (tradition).)
The knowers of ancient tradition do not praise that act of a Kshatriya who meets death with an uninjured body.
न गृहे मरणं तात क्षत्रियाणां प्रशस्यते। शौटीराणामशौटीरमधर्म्यं कृपणं च तत् ॥१२-९८-२५॥
na gṛhe maraṇaṃ tāta kṣatriyāṇāṃ praśasyate। śauṭīrāṇāmaśauṭīramadharmyaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ ca tat ॥12-98-25॥
[न (na) - not; गृहे (gṛhe) - in the house; मरणं (maraṇam) - death; तात (tāta) - O dear (father/son); क्षत्रियाणां (kṣatriyāṇām) - of kṣatriyas; प्रशस्यते (praśasyate) - is praised; शौटीराणाम् (śauṭīrāṇām) - of warriors; अशौटीरम् (aśauṭīram) - unwarrior-like; अधर्म्यम् (adharmyam) - unrighteous; कृपणं (kṛpaṇam) - wretched; च (ca) - and; तत् (tat) - that;]
(Not in the house death, O dear, of kṣatriyas is praised. Of warriors, unwarrior-like, unrighteous, wretched and that.)
O dear, death in the house is not praised for kṣatriyas. For warriors, such a death is unwarrior-like, unrighteous, and wretched.
इदं दुःखमहो कष्टं पापीय इति निष्टनन्। प्रतिध्वस्तमुखः पूतिरमात्यान्बहु शोचयन् ॥१२-९८-२६॥
idaṃ duḥkhamaho kaṣṭaṃ pāpīya iti niṣṭanan। pratidhvastamukhaḥ pūtiramātyānbahu śocayan ॥12-98-26॥
[इदं (idaṃ) - this; दुःखमहो (duḥkhamaho) - O great suffering; कष्टं (kaṣṭam) - painful; पापीय (pāpīya) - more sinful; इति (iti) - thus; निष्टनन् (niṣṭanan) - groaning; प्रतिध्वस्तमुखः (pratidhvastamukhaḥ) - with a face cast down; पूतिरमात्यान् (pūtir amātyān) - his ministers (who were) impure; बहु (bahu) - much; शोचयन् (śocayan) - lamenting;]
(This, O great suffering, painful, more sinful, thus groaning, with a face cast down, (seeing) his impure ministers, much lamenting.)
Groaning, 'This is great suffering, painful, even more sinful,' with his face cast down, he greatly lamented his impure ministers.
अरोगाणां स्पृहयते मुहुर्मृत्युमपीच्छति। वीरो दृप्तोऽभिमानी च नेदृशं मृत्युमर्हति ॥१२-९८-२७॥
arogāṇāṃ spṛhayate muhurmṛtyumapīcchati. vīro dṛpto'bhimānī ca nedṛśaṃ mṛtyumarhati ॥12-98-27॥
[अरोगाणां (arogāṇām) - of the healthy; स्पृहयते (spṛhayate) - desires; मुहु: (muhuḥ) - again and again; मृत्युम् (mṛtyum) - death; अपि (api) - even; इच्छति (icchati) - wishes; वीरः (vīraḥ) - hero; दृप्तः (dṛptaḥ) - proud; अभिमानी (abhimānī) - arrogant; च (ca) - and; न (na) - not; इदृशम् (idṛśam) - such; मृत्युम् (mṛtyum) - death; अर्हति (arhati) - deserves;]
(Of the healthy, desires again and again, even wishes for death. A hero, proud and arrogant, does not deserve such a death.)
The healthy sometimes even long for death repeatedly. But a hero, proud and arrogant, does not deserve such a death.
रणेषु कदनं कृत्वा ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः। तीक्ष्णैः शस्त्रैः सुविक्लिष्टः क्षत्रियो मृत्युमर्हति ॥१२-९८-२८॥
raṇeṣu kadanaṃ kṛtvā jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ। tīkṣṇaiḥ śastraiḥ suvikliṣṭaḥ kṣatriyo mṛtyum arhati ॥12-98-28॥
[रणेषु (raṇeṣu) - in battles; कदनं (kadanaṃ) - slaughter; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; ज्ञातिभिः (jñātibhiḥ) - by kinsmen; परिवारितः (parivāritaḥ) - surrounded; तीक्ष्णैः (tīkṣṇaiḥ) - by sharp; शस्त्रैः (śastraiḥ) - weapons; सुविक्लिष्टः (suvikliṣṭaḥ) - well-tormented; क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - a Kṣatriya; मृत्युम् (mṛtyum) - death; अर्हति (arhati) - deserves;]
(In battles, having performed slaughter, surrounded by kinsmen, well-tormented by sharp weapons, a Kṣatriya deserves death.)
A Kṣatriya, after engaging in slaughter in battle, surrounded by his kinsmen and grievously wounded by sharp weapons, is worthy of death.
शूरो हि सत्यमन्युभ्यामाविष्टो युध्यते भृशम्। कृत्यमानानि गात्राणि परैर्नैवावबुध्यते ॥१२-९८-२९॥
śūro hi satyamanyubhyām āviṣṭo yudhyate bhṛśam। kṛtyamānāni gātrāṇi parair naivāvabudhyate॥12-98-29॥
[शूरः (śūraḥ) - hero; हि (hi) - indeed; सत्यमन्युभ्याम् (satyamanyubhyām) - by true anger; आविष्टः (āviṣṭaḥ) - overpowered; युध्यते (yudhyate) - fights; भृशम् (bhṛśam) - intensely; कृत्यमानानि (kṛtyamānāni) - being injured; गात्राणि (gātrāṇi) - limbs; परैः (paraiḥ) - by others; न (na) - not; एव (eva) - at all; अवबुध्यते (avabudhyate) - he perceives;]
(The hero, indeed, overpowered by true anger, fights intensely; being injured, his limbs by others, he does not at all perceive.)
Indeed, a hero overpowered by true anger fights fiercely; even when his limbs are injured by others, he does not perceive it.
स सङ्ख्ये निधनं प्राप्य प्रशस्तं लोकपूजितम्। स्वधर्मं विपुलं प्राप्य शक्रस्यैति सलोकताम् ॥१२-९८-३०॥
sa saṅkhye nidhanaṃ prāpya praśastaṃ lokapūjitam। svadharmaṃ vipulaṃ prāpya śakrasya iti salokatām ॥12-98-30॥
[स (sa) - he; सङ्ख्ये (saṅkhye) - in battle; निधनं (nidhanaṃ) - death; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having attained; प्रशस्तं (praśastam) - glorious; लोकपूजितम् (lokapūjitam) - honored by people; स्वधर्मं (svadharmaṃ) - one's own duty; विपुलं (vipulaṃ) - great; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having attained; शक्रस्य (śakrasya) - of Indra; इति (iti) - thus; सलोकताम् (salokatām) - the same world (as);]
(He, having attained death in battle, glorious and honored by people, having attained his own great duty, thus attains the same world as Indra.)
He who meets his end in battle, honored and renowned, having fulfilled his own great duty, thus attains the same world as Indra.
सर्वो योधः परं त्यक्तुमाविष्टस्त्यक्तजीवितः। प्राप्नोतीन्द्रस्य सालोक्यं शूरः पृष्ठमदर्शयन् ॥१२-९८-३१॥
sarvo yodhaḥ paraṃ tyaktum āviṣṭas tyaktajīvitaḥ। prāpnotīndrasya sālokaṃ śūraḥ pṛṣṭham adarśayan ॥12-98-31॥
[सर्वः (sarvaḥ) - every; योधः (yodhaḥ) - warrior; परम् (param) - supreme; त्यक्तुम् (tyaktum) - to abandon; आविष्टः (āviṣṭaḥ) - possessed; त्यक्त-जीवितः (tyakta-jīvitaḥ) - having abandoned life; प्राप्नोति (prāpnoti) - attains; इन्द्रस्य (indrasya) - of Indra; सालोक्यम् (sālokyam) - the same world; शूरः (śūraḥ) - hero; पृष्ठम् (pṛṣṭham) - back; अदर्शयन् (adarśayan) - not showing;]
(Every warrior, possessed to abandon the supreme, having abandoned life, attains the same world of Indra; the hero, not showing his back.)
Every warrior who is determined to abandon even his life for the highest cause attains the world of Indra; the hero never turns his back in battle.
