12.115
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
vidvān mūrkha-pragalbhena mṛdu-stīkṣṇena bhārata। ākruśyamānaḥ sadasi kathaṃ kuryād ariṃdama ॥12-115-1॥
O Bhārata, when a wise person is insulted in the assembly by an arrogant fool or by someone who is gentle yet harsh, how should he respond, O subduer of enemies?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
śrūyatāṃ pṛthivīpāla yathaiṣo'rtho'nugīyate। sadā sucetāḥ sahate narasyehālpacetasaḥ ॥12-115-2॥
O king, listen as this meaning is recited: The wise always endures here the consequences of a man of little understanding.
aruṣyan kruśyamānasya sukṛtaṃ nāma vindati। duṣkṛtaṃ cātmanaḥ marṣī ruṣyaty evāpamārṣṭi vai ॥12-115-3॥
One who does not become angry while being tormented attains merit; and even if a patient person becomes angry at his own misdeed, he indeed removes it.
ṭiṭṭibhaṃ tam upekṣeta vāśamānam ivāturam। lokavidveṣam āpanno niṣphalaṃ pratipadyate ॥12-115-4॥
One who is hated by the world, like a distressed lapwing crying out, is ignored and achieves nothing fruitful.
iti sa ślāghate nityaṃ tena pāpena karmaṇā। idamukto mayā kaścit saṃmato janasaṃsadi ॥ sa tatra vrīḍitaḥ śuṣko mṛtakalpo'vatiṣṭhati ॥12-115-5॥
Thus he always boasts of that sinful deed. This was said by me, someone respected in the public assembly. There, he stands, ashamed, dried up, as if dead.
ślāghannaślāghanīyena karmaṇā nirapatrapaḥ। upekṣitavyo dāntena tādṛśaḥ puruṣādhamaḥ ॥12-115-6॥
A shameless person who praises himself for actions that are not worthy of praise is to be disregarded by the self-restrained; such a one is the lowest among men.
yadyad brūyād alpamatiḥ tat-tad asya sahet sadā। prākṛtaḥ hi praśaṁsan vā nindan vā kiṁ kariṣyati॥ vane kāka iva abuddhiḥ vā āśamānaḥ nirarthakam॥ 12-115-7॥
Whatever a person of little intellect says should always be tolerated; for what can an ordinary person, whether he praises or criticizes, actually do? In the forest, a crow, or a fool, or one who merely hopes, acts to no purpose.
yadi vāgbhiḥ prayogaḥ syāt prayoge pāpakarmaṇaḥ। vāgevārtho bhavettasya na hy evārtho jighāṁsataḥ॥12-115-8॥
If words are used by one who acts with evil intent, then for him, the meaning is only in the words; truly, there is no real meaning for one who seeks to harm.
niṣekaṃ viparītaṃ sa ācaṣṭe vṛttaceṣṭayā। mayūra iva kaupīnaṃ nṛtyansandarśayanniva ॥12-115-9॥
He describes the reverse emission with circular movement, like a peacock dancing and displaying its loincloth.
yasyāvācyaṃ na loke'sti nākāryaṃ vāpi kiñcana। vācaṃ tena na saṃdadhyācchuciḥ saṅkliṣṭakarmaṇā ॥12-115-10॥
A pure person, for whom there is nothing unspeakable or improper in the world, should not speak words with impure actions.
pratyakṣaṃ guṇavādī yaḥ parokṣaṃ tu vinindakāḥ। sa mānavaḥ śvavalloke naṣṭalokaparāyaṇaḥ ॥12-115-11॥
A person who praises virtues to one's face but criticizes behind the back is, in the world of men, like one whose connection to society is lost, akin to living among dogs.
tādṛg-jana-śatasya-api yad dadāti juhoti ca| parokṣeṇa-apavādena tat nāśayati sa kṣaṇāt ॥12-115-12॥
Whatever a person of such kind gives or offers, even if it is to a hundred people, if he destroys it by secrecy and slander, he loses it instantly.
tasmāt prājño naraḥ sadyas tādṛśaṃ pāpacetasam। varjayet sādhubhir varjyaṃ sārameyāmiṣaṃ yathā ॥12-115-13॥
Therefore, a wise person should at once shun someone of such evil mind, just as the virtuous avoid dog’s flesh.
parivādaṃ bruvāṇo hi durātmā vai mahātmane। prakāśayati doṣān svān sarpaḥ phaṇam iva ucchritam ॥12-115-14॥
When a wicked person slanders a great soul, he only reveals his own faults, just as a serpent displays its raised hood.
taṃ svakarmāṇi kurvāṇaṃ pratikartuṃ ya icchati। bhasmakūṭa ivābuddhiḥ kharo rajasi majjati ॥12-115-15॥
One who wishes to oppose a person engaged in his own duties, like a foolish donkey, sinks in the dust just as a heap of ashes does.
manuṣyaśālā-vṛkam-apraśāntam; janāpavāde satataṃ niviṣṭam। mātaṅgam-unmattam-iva-un-nadantam; tyajet taṃ śvānam-iva-atiraudram ॥12-115-16॥
One should abandon a person who, like a wolf in a human dwelling, is never at peace, who is always involved in slandering people, and who, like a mad elephant, roars uncontrollably—just as one would abandon a very fierce dog.
adhīrajuṣṭe pathi vartamānaṃ; damādapetaṃ vinayācca pāpam। arivrataṃ nityamabhūtikāmaṃ; dhigastu taṃ pāpamatim manuṣyam ॥12-115-17॥
Let there be condemnation for that evil-minded man who, existing on the path joined with the unsteady, has evil departed from self-restraint and humility, always has the conduct of an enemy, and desires misfortune.
pratyucyamānas tu hi bhūya ebhir niśāmya mā bhūs tvam athārta-rūpaḥ। uccasya nīcena hi samprayogaṃ vigarhayanti sthira-buddhayo ye॥12-115-18॥
But when you are addressed again by these, do not become distressed. Those of steady intellect censure the association of the high with the low.
kruddho daśārdhena hi tāḍayed vā; sa pāṃsubhir vāpakirettuṣair vā. vivṛtya dantāṃś ca vibhīṣayed vā; siddhaṃ hi mūrkhe kupite nṛśaṃse ॥12-115-19॥
If angry, one may strike with a tenth part, or sprinkle with dust or husks, or terrify by baring the teeth; indeed, this is effective with a fool who is enraged and cruel.
vigarhaṇāṃ paramadurātmanā kṛtāṃ; saheta yaḥ saṃsadi durjanān naraḥ। paṭhed idaṃ cāpi nidarśanaṃ sadā; na vāṅmayaṃ sa labhati kiñcid apriyam ॥12-115-20॥
Whoever, in an assembly, endures reproach inflicted by a most wicked person, and always recites this example, never receives any unpleasant speech.
