12.114
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.
राजा राज्यमनुप्राप्य दुर्बलो भरतर्षभ। अमित्रस्यातिवृद्धस्य कथं तिष्ठेदसाधनः ॥१२-११४-१॥
rājā rājyam anuprāpya durbalo bharatarṣabha। amitrasya ativṛddhasya kathaṃ tiṣṭhet asādhanaḥ ॥12-114-1॥
[राजा (rājā) - king; राज्यम् (rājyam) - kingdom; अनुप्राप्य (anuprāpya) - having attained; दुर्बलः (durbalaḥ) - weak; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - bull among the Bharatas; अमित्रस्य (amitrasya) - of the enemy; अतिवृद्धस्य (ativṛddhasya) - excessively powerful; कथम् (katham) - how; तिष्ठेत् (tiṣṭhet) - could remain; असाधनः (asādhanaḥ) - without resources;]
(King, having attained the kingdom, weak, bull among the Bharatas, of the enemy, excessively powerful, how could remain without resources?)
O bull among the Bharatas, how could a weak king, having attained the kingdom, remain without resources when the enemy is excessively powerful?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। सरितां चैव संवादं सागरस्य च भारत ॥१२-११४-२॥
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। saritāṃ caiva saṃvādaṃ sāgarasya ca bhārata ॥12-114-2॥
[अत्र (atra) - here; अपि (api) - also; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite; इमम् (imam) - this; इतिहासं (itihāsaṃ) - history; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; सरितां (saritām) - of rivers; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; संवादं (saṃvādam) - dialogue; सागरस्य (sāgarasya) - of the ocean; च (ca) - and; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]
(Here also, they cite this ancient history, and indeed the dialogue of the rivers and the ocean, O Bhārata.)
Here too, O Bhārata, an ancient story is told, namely the conversation between the rivers and the ocean.
सुरारिनिलयः शश्वत्सागरः सरितां पतिः। पप्रच्छ सरितः सर्वाः संशयं जातमात्मनः ॥१२-११४-३॥
surārinilayaḥ śaśvatsāgaraḥ saritāṃ patiḥ। papraccha saritaḥ sarvāḥ saṃśayaṃ jātamātmanaḥ ॥12-114-3॥
[सुरारिनिलयः (surārinilayaḥ) - abode of the enemy of the gods; (i.e., Viṣṇu); शश्वत्-सागरः (śaśvat-sāgaraḥ) - eternal ocean; सरिताम् (saritām) - of rivers; पतिः (patiḥ) - lord; पप्रच्छ (papraccha) - asked; सरितः (saritaḥ) - the rivers; सर्वाः (sarvāḥ) - all; संशयम् (saṃśayam) - doubt; जातम् (jātam) - arisen; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - in himself;]
(The abode of the enemy of the gods, the eternal ocean, the lord of rivers, asked all the rivers about the doubt arisen in himself.)
The ocean, eternal and the lord of rivers, who is the abode of the enemy of the gods (Viṣṇu), asked all the rivers about a doubt that had arisen within himself.
समूलशाखान्पश्यामि निहतांश्छायिनो द्रुमान्। युष्माभिरिह पूर्णाभिरन्यांस्तत्र न वेतसम् ॥१२-११४-४॥
samūlaśākhān paśyāmi nihatāṃś chāyino drumān। yuṣmābhir iha pūrṇābhir anyāṃs tatra na vetasam ॥12-114-4॥
[समूलशाखान् (samūlaśākhān) - with roots and branches; पश्यामि (paśyāmi) - I see; निहतान् (nihatān) - struck down; छायिनः (chāyinaḥ) - providing shade; द्रुमान् (drumān) - trees; युष्माभिः (yuṣmābhiḥ) - by you; इह (iha) - here; पूर्णाभिः (pūrṇābhiḥ) - with full (ones); अन्यान् (anyān) - other; तत्र (tatra) - there; न (na) - not; वेतसम् (vetasam) - vetasa (willow tree);]
(I see trees with roots and branches, providing shade, struck down by you here with full (ones); other trees there are not vetasa (willow trees).)
I see the shade-giving trees with roots and branches struck down by you here with full force; among the other trees there, there are no vetasa (willow trees).
अकायश्चाल्पसारश्च वेतसः कूलजश्च वः। अवज्ञाय नशक्यो वा किञ्चिद्वा तेन वः कृतम् ॥१२-११४-५॥
akāyaś cālpasāraś ca vetasaḥ kūlajaś ca vaḥ। avajñāya naśakyo vā kiñcid vā tena vaḥ kṛtam ॥12-114-5॥
[अकायः (akāyaḥ) - without body; च (ca) - and; अल्पसारः (alpasāraḥ) - of little essence; च (ca) - and; वेतसः (vetasaḥ) - of the cane; कूलजः (kūlajaḥ) - born on the bank; च (ca) - and; वः (vaḥ) - your; अवज्ञाय (avajñāya) - having disregarded; न (na) - not; शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - possible; वा (vā) - or; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; वा (vā) - or; तेन (tena) - by him; वः (vaḥ) - to you; कृतम् (kṛtam) - done;]
(Without body and of little essence, the cane, born on the bank, and yours—having been disregarded, not possible or anything or by him to you done.)
The cane, which is without substance and grows on the riverbank, is yours; having been disregarded, nothing at all can be done to you by him.
तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि सर्वासामेव वो मतम्। यथा कूलानि चेमानि भित्त्वा नानीयते वशम् ॥१२-११४-६॥
tad ahaṃ śrotum icchāmi sarvāsām eva vo matam। yathā kūlāni ca imāni bhittvā na ānīyate vaśam ॥12-114-6॥
[तत् (tat) - that; अहम् (aham) - I; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I desire; सर्वासाम् (sarvāsām) - of all; एव (eva) - indeed; वः (vo) - your; मतम् (matam) - opinion; यथा (yathā) - as; कूलानि (kūlāni) - banks; च (ca) - and; इमानि (imāni) - these; भित्त्वा (bhittvā) - having broken; न (na) - not; आनीयते (ānīyate) - is brought; वशम् (vaśam) - under control;]
(That I desire to hear the opinion of all of you indeed; as these banks, having been broken, are not brought under control.)
Therefore, I wish to hear the opinion of all of you; just as, when these banks are broken, control is not regained.
ततः प्राह नदी गङ्गा वाक्यमुत्तरमर्थवत्। हेतुमद्ग्राहकं चैव सागरं सरितां पतिम् ॥१२-११४-७॥
tataḥ prāha nadī gaṅgā vākyam uttaram arthavat। hetumad grāhakaṃ caiva sāgaraṃ saritāṃ patim ॥12-114-7॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; प्राह (prāha) - spoke; नदी (nadī) - river; गङ्गा (gaṅgā) - Gaṅgā; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - speech; उत्तरम् (uttaram) - reply; अर्थवत् (arthavat) - meaningful; हेतुमत् (hetumat) - with reason; ग्राहकं (grāhakam) - convincing; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; सागरम् (sāgaram) - to the ocean; सरिताम् (saritām) - of rivers; पतिम् (patim) - lord;]
(Then the river Gaṅgā spoke a meaningful, reasoned, and convincing reply to the ocean, the lord of rivers.)
Then Gaṅgā, the river, gave a meaningful and reasoned reply to the ocean, the lord of rivers.
तिष्ठन्त्येते यथास्थानं नगा ह्येकनिकेतनाः। ततस्त्यजन्ति तत्स्थानं प्रातिलोम्यादचेतसः ॥१२-११४-८॥
tiṣṭhantyete yathāsthānaṃ nagā hyekaniketanāḥ। tatastyajanti tatsthānaṃ prātilomyādacetasaḥ ॥12-114-8॥
[तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti) - stand; remain; abide; एते (ete) - these; they; यथा (yathā) - as; according to; स्थानं (sthānaṃ) - place; position; नगा (nagāḥ) - trees; हि (hi) - indeed; surely; एकनिकेतनाः (ekaniketanāḥ) - having a single abode; dwelling in one place; ततः (tataḥ) - then; from that; त्यजन्ति (tyajanti) - abandon; leave; तत् (tat) - that; स्थानं (sthānaṃ) - place; position; प्रातिलोम्यात् (prātilomyāt) - from contrary nature; due to opposition; अचेतसः (acetasaḥ) - unconscious; without intelligence;]
(These trees, indeed dwelling in one place, stand as per their position; then, due to contrary nature, those without intelligence abandon that place.)
These trees, though they remain rooted in one place, eventually abandon their spot due to their contrary nature, being devoid of consciousness.
वेतसो वेगमायान्तं दृष्ट्वा नमति नेतरः। स च वेगेऽभ्यतिक्रान्ते स्थानमासाद्य तिष्ठति ॥१२-११४-९॥
vetaso vegamāyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā namati netaraḥ। sa ca vege'bhyatikrānte sthānam āsādya tiṣṭhati ॥12-114-9॥
[वेतसः (vetasaḥ) - of the bamboo; वेगम् (vegam) - speed; आयान्तम् (āyāntam) - coming; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; नमति (namati) - bows; न (na) - not; इतरः (itaraḥ) - the other; सः (saḥ) - he; च (ca) - and; वेगे (vege) - when the speed; अभ्यतिक्रान्ते (abhyatikrānte) - has been surpassed; स्थानम् (sthānam) - place; आसाद्य (āsādya) - having reached; तिष्ठति (tiṣṭhati) - remains;]
(Having seen the speed coming of the bamboo, the other does not bow. And he, when the speed has been surpassed, having reached the place, remains.)
Seeing the bamboo's speed approaching, the other does not bow; but when the speed is surpassed, he, having reached the place, stands firm.
कालज्ञः समयज्ञश्च सदा वश्यश्च नोद्रुमः। अनुलोमस्तथास्तब्धस्तेन नाभ्येति वेतसः ॥१२-११४-१०॥
kālajñaḥ samayajñaś ca sadā vaśyaś ca nodrumaḥ| anulomas tathāstabdhas tena nābhyeti vetasaḥ ॥12-114-10॥
[कालज्ञः (kālajñaḥ) - knower of time; समयज्ञः (samayajñaḥ) - knower of proper occasion; च (ca) - and; सदा (sadā) - always; वश्यः (vaśyaḥ) - controllable; च (ca) - and; नोद्रुमः (nodrumaḥ) - the fig tree; अनुलोमः (anulomaḥ) - pliant; तथा (tathā) - likewise; अस्तब्धः (astabdhaḥ) - unsteady; तेन (tena) - by that; न (na) - not; अभ्येति (abhyeti) - approaches; वेतसः (vetasaḥ) - the reed;]
(The fig tree, though a knower of time, a knower of proper occasion, always controllable, does not approach the reed, which is pliant, likewise unsteady, by that.)
The fig tree, though wise in time and occasion and always controllable, does not approach the reed, which is pliant and unsteady.
मारुतोदकवेगेन ये नमन्त्युन्नमन्ति च। ओषध्यः पादपा गुल्मा न ते यान्ति पराभवम् ॥१२-११४-११॥
mārutodakavegena ye namantyunnamanti ca। oṣadhyaḥ pādapā gulmā na te yānti parābhavam ॥12-114-11॥
[मारुत (māruta) - wind; उदक (udaka) - water; वेगेन (vegena) - by the force; ये (ye) - those who; नमन्ति (namanti) - bend; उन्नमन्ति (unnamanti) - rise up; च (ca) - and; ओषध्यः (oṣadhyaḥ) - herbs; पादपा (pādapā) - trees; गुल्मा (gulmā) - shrubs; न (na) - not; ते (te) - they; यान्ति (yānti) - go; पराभवम् (parābhavam) - to destruction;]
(By the force of wind and water, those who bend also rise up; herbs, trees, and shrubs, they do not go to destruction.)
Those who yield to the force of wind and water—herbs, trees, and shrubs—bend and then rise again; they do not meet with destruction.
यो हि शत्रोर्विवृद्धस्य प्रभोर्वधविनाशने। पूर्वं न सहते वेगं क्षिप्रमेव स नश्यति ॥१२-११४-१२॥
yo hi śatrorvivṛddhasya prabhorvadhavināśane। pūrvaṃ na sahate vegaṃ kṣiprameva sa naśyati ॥12-114-12॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; हि (hi) - indeed; शत्रोः (śatroḥ) - of the enemy; विवृद्धस्य (vivṛddhasya) - grown/increased; प्रभोः (prabhoḥ) - of the powerful; वधविनाशने (vadhavināśane) - in killing and destroying; पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - before; न (na) - not; सहते (sahate) - endures; वेगम् (vegam) - force; क्षिप्रम् (kṣipram) - quickly; एव (eva) - indeed; सः (saḥ) - he; नश्यति (naśyati) - perishes;]
(Who indeed, of the enemy grown powerful in killing and destroying, does not endure the force at first, he quickly indeed perishes.)
He who does not withstand the initial force of a powerful and growing enemy in matters of destruction and killing, quickly perishes.
सारासारं बलं वीर्यमात्मनो द्विषतश्च यः। जानन्विचरति प्राज्ञो न स याति पराभवम् ॥१२-११४-१३॥
sārāsāraṃ balaṃ vīryam ātmano dviṣataś ca yaḥ। jānan vicarati prājño na sa yāti parābhavam ॥12-114-13॥
[सारासारम् (sārāsāram) - essence and non-essence; बलम् (balam) - strength; वीर्यम् (vīryam) - energy; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of oneself; द्विषतः (dviṣataḥ) - of the enemy; च (ca) - and; यः (yaḥ) - who; जानन् (jānan) - knowing; विचरति (vicarati) - moves about; प्राज्ञः (prājñaḥ) - the wise one; न (na) - not; सः (saḥ) - he; याति (yāti) - goes; पराभवम् (parābhavam) - defeat;]
(Who, knowing the essence and non-essence, strength, energy of oneself and of the enemy, moves about—the wise one, he does not go to defeat.)
A wise person who understands the essence and non-essence, strength, and energy of both himself and his enemy, and acts accordingly, never meets with defeat.
एवमेव यदा विद्वान्मन्येतातिबलं रिपुम्। संश्रयेद्वैतसीं वृत्तिमेवं प्रज्ञानलक्षणम् ॥१२-११४-१४॥
evameva yadā vidvān manyetātibalaṃ ripum। saṃśrayed vaitasīṃ vṛttim evaṃ prajñānalakṣaṇam ॥12-114-14॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; एव (eva) - indeed; यदा (yadā) - when; विद्वान् (vidvān) - the wise one; मन्येत (manyeta) - should consider; अतिबलम् (atibalam) - very strong; रिपुम् (ripum) - enemy; संश्रयेत् (saṃśrayet) - should resort; वैतसीम् (vaitasīm) - flexible (like a cane); वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - conduct; एवम् (evam) - thus; प्रज्ञान (prajñāna) - of wisdom; लक्षणम् (lakṣaṇam) - characteristic;]
(Thus indeed, when the wise one should consider the enemy as very strong, he should resort to a conduct flexible (like a cane); thus is the characteristic of wisdom.)
Thus, when a wise person perceives the enemy to be very powerful, he should adopt a flexible approach; this is the mark of wisdom.
