12.124
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.
इमे जना नरश्रेष्ठ प्रशंसन्ति सदा भुवि। धर्मस्य शीलमेवादौ ततो मे संशयो महान् ॥१२-१२४-१॥
ime janā naraśreṣṭha praśaṃsanti sadā bhuvi। dharmasya śīlamevādau tato me saṃśayo mahān ॥12-124-1॥
[इमे (ime) - these; जनाः (janāḥ) - people; नरश्रेष्ठ (naraśreṣṭha) - O best of men; प्रशंसन्ति (praśaṃsanti) - praise; सदा (sadā) - always; भुवि (bhuvi) - on earth; धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma; शीलम् (śīlam) - character; एव (eva) - indeed; आदौ (ādau) - at the beginning; ततः (tataḥ) - thereafter; मे (me) - to me; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt; महान् (mahān) - great;]
(These people, O best of men, always praise on earth that character alone is at the beginning of dharma; thereafter, to me, there is a great doubt.)
O best of men, these people always praise on earth that character alone is foremost in dharma; after that, I have a great doubt.
यदि तच्छक्यमस्माभिर्ज्ञातुं धर्मभृतां वर। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं यथैतदुपलभ्यते ॥१२-१२४-२॥
yadi tacchakya-m-asmābhir-jñātuṃ dharma-bhṛtāṃ vara। śrotum-icchāmi tat-sarvaṃ yathā-etad-upalabhyate ॥12-124-2॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; तत् (tat) - that; शक्यम् (śakyam) - possible; अस्माभिः (asmābhiḥ) - by us; ज्ञातुम् (jñātum) - to know; धर्मभृताम् (dharma-bhṛtām) - of the upholders of dharma; वर (vara) - O best; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; तत् (tat) - that; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; यथा (yathā) - as; एतत् (etat) - this; उपलभ्यते (upalabhyate) - is obtained;]
(If that is possible for us to know, O best of the upholders of dharma, I wish to hear all that as this is obtained.)
O best of the upholders of dharma, if it is possible for us to know, I wish to hear all of that as it is understood.
कथं नु प्राप्यते शीलं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भारत। किंलक्षणं च तत्प्रोक्तं ब्रूहि मे वदतां वर ॥१२-१२४-३॥
kathaṁ nu prāpyate śīlaṁ śrotum icchāmi bhārata। kiṁlakṣaṇaṁ ca tat proktaṁ brūhi me vadatāṁ vara ॥12-124-3॥
[कथं (kathaṁ) - how; नु (nu) - indeed; प्राप्यते (prāpyate) - is attained; शीलं (śīlam) - character; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; किंलक्षणं (kiṁlakṣaṇam) - what characteristics; च (ca) - and; तत् (tat) - that; प्रोक्तं (proktam) - declared; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; मे (me) - to me; वदतां (vadatām) - of speakers; वर (vara) - best;]
(How indeed is character attained? I wish to hear, O Bhārata. What are its characteristics, and that which has been declared, tell me, O best of speakers.)
O Bhārata, I wish to hear how character is attained. Please tell me, O best of speakers, what its characteristics are and what has been declared about it.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
पुरा दुर्योधनेनेह धृतराष्ट्राय मानद। आख्यातं तप्यमानेन श्रियं दृष्ट्वा तथागताम् ॥१२-१२४-४॥
purā duryodhaneneha dhṛtarāṣṭrāya mānada। ākhyātaṃ tapyamānena śriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā tathāgatām ॥12-124-4॥
[पुरा (purā) - formerly; दुर्योधनेन (duryodhanena) - by Duryodhana; इह (iha) - here; धृतराष्ट्राय (dhṛtarāṣṭrāya) - to Dhṛtarāṣṭra; मानद (mānada) - O bestower of honor; आख्यातं (ākhyātam) - was told; तप्यमानेन (tapyamānena) - by the one who was suffering; श्रियम् (śriyam) - prosperity; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; तथागताम् (tathāgatām) - thus arrived;]
(Formerly, here, by Duryodhana, to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, O bestower of honor, was told, by the one who was suffering, prosperity, having seen, thus arrived.)
O bestower of honor, formerly here, Duryodhana, seeing the prosperity that had thus arrived, and suffering, told this to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
इन्द्रप्रस्थे महाराज तव सभ्रातृकस्य ह। सभायां चावहसनं तत्सर्वं शृणु भारत ॥१२-१२४-५॥
indraprasthe mahārāja tava sabhrātṛkasya ha। sabhāyāṃ cāvahasanam tatsarvaṃ śṛṇu bhārata ॥12-124-5॥
[इन्द्रप्रस्थे (indraprasthe) - in Indraprastha; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; तव (tava) - your; सभ्रातृकस्य (sabhrātṛkasya) - with brothers; ह (ha) - indeed; सभायाम् (sabhāyām) - in the assembly; च (ca) - and; अवहसनम् (avahasanam) - mockery; तत् (tat) - that; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]
(In Indraprastha, O great king, your (event) with brothers indeed, in the assembly and the mockery, that all, hear, O Bhārata.)
O Bhārata, hear all about the mockery that took place in the assembly at Indraprastha involving you and your brothers, O great king.
भवतस्तां सभां दृष्ट्वा समृद्धिं चाप्यनुत्तमाम्। दुर्योधनस्तदासीनः सर्वं पित्रे न्यवेदयत् ॥१२-१२४-६॥
bhavatastāṃ sabhāṃ dṛṣṭvā samṛddhiṃ cāpyanuttamām। duryodhanastadāsīnaḥ sarvaṃ pitre nyavedayat ॥12-124-6॥
[भवतः (bhavataḥ) - of you; (honorific, addressing a respected person); तां (tām) - that; (feminine accusative singular); सभां (sabhām) - assembly; (accusative singular); दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; (absolutive of √dṛś, to see); समृद्धिं (samṛddhiṃ) - prosperity; (accusative singular); च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अनुत्तमाम् (anuttamām) - unsurpassed; (feminine accusative singular); दुर्योधनः (duryodhanaḥ) - Duryodhana; (subject, nominative singular); तदा (tadā) - then; आसीनः (āsīnaḥ) - seated; (nominative singular masculine); सर्वं (sarvaṃ) - all; everything; पित्रे (pitre) - to (his) father; (dative singular); न्यवेदयत् (nyavedayat) - reported; conveyed; (imperfect, 3rd person singular, causative of √vid, to inform);]
(Having seen that assembly of yours and also the unsurpassed prosperity, Duryodhana, then seated, reported everything to his father.)
After seeing your assembly and its unsurpassed prosperity, Duryodhana, while seated, conveyed everything to his father.
श्रुत्वा च धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि दुर्योधनवचस्तदा। अब्रवीत्कर्णसहितं दुर्योधनमिदं वचः ॥१२-१२४-७॥
śrutvā ca dhṛtarāṣṭro'pi duryodhanavacas-tadā। abravīt-karṇasahitaṃ duryodhanam-idaṃ vacaḥ ॥12-124-7॥
[श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; च (ca) - and; धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; अपि (api) - also; दुर्योधनवचः (duryodhanavacaḥ) - Duryodhana's words; तदा (tadā) - then; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; कर्णसहितं (karṇasahitaṃ) - together with Karna; दुर्योधनम् (duryodhanam) - to Duryodhana; इदं (idaṃ) - this; वचः (vacaḥ) - speech;]
(Having heard, and Dhritarashtra also Duryodhana's words then, said together with Karna to Duryodhana this speech.)
Having heard Duryodhana's words, Dhritarashtra then, together with Karna, spoke this speech to Duryodhana.
किमर्थं तप्यसे पुत्र श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। श्रुत्वा त्वामनुनेष्यामि यदि सम्यग्भविष्यसि ॥१२-१२४-८॥
kimarthaṃ tapyase putra śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ। śrutvā tvāmanuneṣyāmi yadi samyagbhaviṣyasi ॥12-124-8॥
[किमर्थम् (kimartham) - for what reason; तप्यसे (tapyase) - you are afflicted; पुत्र (putra) - son; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; तत्त्वतः (tattvataḥ) - truly; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; अनुनेष्यामि (anuneṣyāmi) - I will console; यदि (yadi) - if; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; भविष्यसि (bhaviṣyasi) - you will be; १२-१२४-८ (12-124-8) - 12-124-8;]
(For what reason are you afflicted, son? I wish to hear truly. Having heard you, I will console you, if you will be proper. "12-124-8")
Son, why are you troubled? I wish to hear the truth from you. After hearing, I will console you, if you are right. "12-124-8"
यथा त्वं महदैश्वर्यं प्राप्तः परपुरञ्जय। किङ्करा भ्रातरः सर्वे मित्राः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥१२-१२४-९॥
yathā tvaṃ mahadaiśvaryaṃ prāptaḥ parapurañjaya। kiṅkarā bhrātaraḥ sarve mitrāḥ sambandhinastathā ॥12-124-9॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; महत् (mahat) - great; ऐश्वर्यं (aiśvaryaṃ) - sovereignty; प्राप्तः (prāptaḥ) - attained; पर (para) - other; पुर (pura) - city; अञ्जय (añjaya) - conqueror; किङ्कराः (kiṅkarāḥ) - servants; भ्रातरः (bhrātaraḥ) - brothers; सर्वे (sarve) - all; मित्राः (mitrāḥ) - friends; सम्बन्धिनः (sambandhinaḥ) - relatives; तथा (tathā) - likewise;]
(Just as you, O conqueror of other cities, have attained great sovereignty, so all brothers, friends, and relatives are servants likewise.)
Just as you, O conqueror of other cities, have attained great sovereignty, so too all your brothers, friends, and relatives are your servants.
आच्छादयसि प्रावारानश्नासि पिशितोदनम्। आजानेया वहन्ति त्वां कस्माच्छोचसि पुत्रक ॥१२-१२४-१०॥
ācchādayasi prāvārānaśnāsi piśitodanam। ājāneyā vahanti tvāṃ kasmācchocasi putraka ॥12-124-10॥
[आच्छादयसि (ācchādayasi) - you cover; (from ā + chad, to cover) प्रावारान् (prāvārān) - garments; (plural, accusative of prāvāra, garment) अश्नासि (aśnāsi) - you eat; (from aś, to eat) पिशितोदनम् (piśitodanam) - meat-food; (piśita, meat + odana, food) आजानेयाः (ājāneyāḥ) - horses; (descendants of Ajāna, noble horses) वहन्ति (vahanti) - carry; (from vah, to carry) त्वाम् (tvām) - you; (accusative singular of tvam) कस्मात् (kasmāt) - why; (from kasmāt, for what reason) शोचसि (śocasi) - do you grieve; (from śuc, to grieve) पुत्रक (putraka) - dear son; (diminutive of putra, son);]
(You cover (yourself) with garments, you eat meat-food. Noble horses carry you. Why do you grieve, dear son?)
You are clothed in garments and eat food made of meat. Noble horses carry you. Why do you grieve, dear son?
दुर्योधन उवाच॥
duryodhana uvāca॥
[दुर्योधन (duryodhana) - Duryodhana; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he) spoke;]
(Duryodhana said;)
Duryodhana said.
दश तानि सहस्राणि स्नातकानां महात्मनाम्। भुञ्जते रुक्मपात्रीषु युधिष्ठिरनिवेशने ॥१२-१२४-११॥
daśa tāni sahasrāṇi snātakānāṃ mahātmanām। bhuñjate rukmapātrīṣu yudhiṣṭhiraniveśane ॥12-124-11॥
[दश (daśa) - ten; तानि (tāni) - those; सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi) - thousands; स्नातकानाम् (snātakānām) - of graduates (initiated ones); महात्मनाम् (mahātmanām) - of great souls; भुञ्जते (bhuñjate) - enjoy; रुक्मपात्रीषु (rukmapātrīṣu) - in golden vessels; युधिष्ठिरनिवेशने (yudhiṣṭhiraniveśane) - in the abode of Yudhishthira;]
(Ten thousand of those graduates, great souls, enjoy (food) in golden vessels in the abode of Yudhishthira.)
Ten thousand such initiated great souls dine from golden vessels in the residence of Yudhishthira.
दृष्ट्वा च तां सभां दिव्यां दिव्यपुष्पफलान्विताम्। अश्वांस्तित्तिरकल्माषान्रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥१२-१२४-१२॥
dṛṣṭvā ca tāṃ sabhāṃ divyāṃ divyapuṣpaphalānvitām। aśvāṃstitttirakal māṣānratnāni vividhāni ca ॥12-124-12॥
[दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; च (ca) - and; तां (tāṃ) - that; सभां (sabhām) - assembly hall; दिव्यां (divyām) - divine; दिव्यपुष्पफलान्विताम् (divyapuṣpaphalānvitām) - endowed with divine flowers and fruits; अश्वान् (aśvān) - horses; तित्तिर (tittira) - partridges; कल्माषान् (kalmāṣān) - spotted (ones); रत्नानि (ratnāni) - gems; विविधानि (vividhāni) - various; च (ca) - and;]
(Having seen that divine assembly hall endowed with divine flowers and fruits, and (having seen) horses, partridges, spotted (ones), various gems and (other things).)
Having seen that divine assembly hall adorned with celestial flowers and fruits, as well as horses, partridges, spotted animals, and various kinds of gems.
दृष्ट्वा तां पाण्डवेयानामृद्धिमिन्द्रोपमां शुभाम्। अमित्राणां सुमहतीमनुशोचामि मानद ॥१२-१२४-१३॥
dṛṣṭvā tāṃ pāṇḍaveyānām ṛddhim indropamāṃ śubhām। amitrāṇāṃ sumahatīm anuśocāmi mānada ॥12-124-13॥
[दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; ताम् (tām) - that; पाण्डवेयानाम् (pāṇḍaveyānām) - of the sons of Pāṇḍu; ऋद्धिम् (ṛddhim) - prosperity; इन्द्रोपमाम् (indropamām) - equal to Indra; शुभाम् (śubhām) - auspicious; अमित्राणाम् (amitrāṇām) - of the enemies; सुमहतीम् (sumahatīm) - very great; अनुशोचामि (anuśocāmi) - I grieve; मानद (mānada) - O bestower of honor;]
(Having seen that prosperity of the sons of Pāṇḍu, equal to Indra, auspicious, I grieve greatly for the enemies, O bestower of honor.)
O bestower of honor, seeing the auspicious prosperity of the sons of Pāṇḍu, which is equal to that of Indra, I greatly grieve for their enemies.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
[धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - Dhṛtarāṣṭra; (name of the king) उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Dhṛtarāṣṭra said;)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
यदीच्छसि श्रियं तात यादृशीं तां युधिष्ठिरे। विशिष्टां वा नरव्याघ्र शीलवान्भव पुत्रक ॥१२-१२४-१४॥
yadīcchasi śriyaṃ tāta yādṛśīṃ tāṃ yudhiṣṭhire। viśiṣṭāṃ vā naravyāghra śīlavānbhava putraka॥12-124-14॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; इच्छसि (icchasi) - you desire; श्रियम् (śriyam) - prosperity; तात (tāta) - dear one; यादृशीम् (yādṛśīm) - such as; ताम् (tām) - that; युधिष्ठिरे (yudhiṣṭhire) - in Yudhiṣṭhira; विशिष्टाम् (viśiṣṭām) - distinguished; वा (vā) - or; नरव्याघ्र (naravyāghra) - tiger among men; शीलवान् (śīlavān) - virtuous; भव (bhava) - be; पुत्रक (putraka) - son;]
(If you desire prosperity, dear one, such as that in Yudhiṣṭhira, or even more distinguished, O tiger among men, be virtuous, O son.)
If you wish for prosperity like that of Yudhiṣṭhira, or even greater, O best of men, then be virtuous, my son.
शीलेन हि त्रयो लोकाः शक्या जेतुं न संशयः। न हि किञ्चिदसाध्यं वै लोके शीलवतां भवेत् ॥१२-१२४-१५॥
śīlena hi trayo lokāḥ śakyā jetuṃ na saṃśayaḥ। na hi kiñcidasādhyaṃ vai loke śīlavatāṃ bhavet ॥12-124-15॥
[शीलेन (śīlena) - by virtue; of character; हि (hi) - indeed; त्रयः (trayaḥ) - three; लोकाः (lokāḥ) - worlds; शक्याः (śakyāḥ) - possible; to be conquered; जेतुम् (jetum) - to conquer; न (na) - not; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; असाध्यम् (asādhyam) - impossible; not to be accomplished; वै (vai) - truly; लोके (loke) - in the world; शीलवताम् (śīlavatām) - of the virtuous; of those with character; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be; becomes;]
(By virtue, indeed, the three worlds are possible to be conquered, not (is there) doubt. Not indeed anything impossible truly in the world of the virtuous may be.)
Indeed, by virtue, the three worlds can certainly be conquered—there is no doubt. Truly, for the virtuous, nothing in the world is impossible.
एकरात्रेण मान्धाता त्र्यहेण जनमेजयः। सप्तरात्रेण नाभागः पृथिवीं प्रतिपेदिवान् ॥१२-१२४-१६॥
ekarātreṇa māndhātā tryaheṇa janamejayaḥ। saptarātreṇa nābhāgaḥ pṛthivīṃ pratipedivān ॥12-124-16॥
[एकरात्रेण (ekarātreṇa) - by one night; मान्धाता (māndhātā) - Māndhātā; त्र्यहेण (tryaheṇa) - by three days; जनमेजयः (janamejayaḥ) - Janamejaya; सप्तरात्रेण (saptarātreṇa) - by seven nights; नाभागः (nābhāgaḥ) - Nābhāga; पृथिवीं (pṛthivīṃ) - the earth; प्रतिपेदिवान् (pratipedivān) - obtained; १२-१२४-१६ (12-124-16) - 12-124-16;]
(By one night Māndhātā, by three days Janamejaya, by seven nights Nābhāga obtained the earth. "12-124-16")
Māndhātā obtained the earth in one night, Janamejaya in three days, and Nābhāga in seven nights. "12-124-16"
एते हि पार्थिवाः सर्वे शीलवन्तो दमान्विताः। अतस्तेषां गुणक्रीता वसुधा स्वयमागमत् ॥१२-१२४-१७॥
ete hi pārthivāḥ sarve śīlavanto damānvitāḥ। atas teṣāṃ guṇakrītā vasudhā svayam āgamat ॥12-124-17॥
[एते (ete) - these; हि (hi) - indeed; पार्थिवाः (pārthivāḥ) - kings; सर्वे (sarve) - all; शीलवन्तः (śīlavantaḥ) - virtuous; दमान्विताः (damānvitāḥ) - endowed with self-control; अतः (ataḥ) - therefore; तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; गुणक्रीता (guṇakrītā) - acquired by virtue; वसुधा (vasudhā) - the earth; स्वयम् (svayam) - herself; आगमत् (āgamat) - came;]
(These indeed kings all virtuous endowed with self-control; therefore of them acquired by virtue the earth herself came.)
Because all these kings were virtuous and endowed with self-control, the earth herself came to them, won by their virtues.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। नारदेन पुरा प्रोक्तं शीलमाश्रित्य भारत ॥१२-१२४-१८॥
atrāpyudāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। nāradena purā proktaṃ śīlamāśritya bhārata ॥12-124-18॥
[अत्र (atra) - here; अपि (api) - also; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite; इमम् (imam) - this; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; नारदेन (nāradena) - by Nārada; पुरा (purā) - formerly; प्रोक्तम् (proktam) - spoken; शीलम् (śīlam) - conduct; आश्रित्य (āśritya) - having resorted to; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]
(Here also they cite this ancient history. Formerly spoken by Nārada, having resorted to conduct, O Bhārata.)
Here too, O Bhārata, they recount this ancient story, once told by Nārada, with conduct as its basis.
प्रह्रादेन हृतं राज्यं महेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः। शीलमाश्रित्य दैत्येन त्रैलोक्यं च वशीकृतम् ॥१२-१२४-१९॥
prahṛādena hṛtaṃ rājyaṃ mahendrasya mahātmanaḥ। śīlam āśritya daityena trailokyaṃ ca vaśīkṛtam ॥12-124-19॥
[प्रह्रादेन (prahṛādena) - by Prahlāda; हृतं (hṛtaṃ) - taken; seized; राज्यं (rājyaṃ) - kingdom; महेन्द्रस्य (mahendrasya) - of Mahendra (Indra); महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled; शीलम् (śīlam) - character; conduct; आश्रित्य (āśritya) - having resorted to; relying upon; दैत्येन (daityena) - by the Daitya (demon); त्रैलोक्यं (trailokyaṃ) - the three worlds; च (ca) - and; वशीकृतम् (vaśīkṛtam) - subjugated; brought under control;]
(By Prahlāda, the kingdom of the great-souled Mahendra (Indra) was seized. Relying upon character, the Daitya also subjugated the three worlds.)
Prahlāda seized the kingdom of the great-souled Indra. By relying on his character, the Daitya also brought the three worlds under his control.
ततो बृहस्पतिं शक्रः प्राञ्जलिः समुपस्थितः। उवाच च महाप्राज्ञः श्रेय इच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥१२-१२४-२०॥
tato bṛhaspatiṃ śakraḥ prāñjaliḥ samupasthitaḥ। uvāca ca mahāprājñaḥ śreya icchāmi veditum ॥12-124-20॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; बृहस्पतिम् (bṛhaspatim) - Bṛhaspati (the preceptor of gods); शक्रः (śakraḥ) - Śakra (Indra); प्राञ्जलिः (prāñjaliḥ) - with folded hands; समुपस्थितः (samupasthitaḥ) - approached; उवाच (uvāca) - said; च (ca) - and; महाप्राज्ञः (mahāprājñaḥ) - the highly wise one; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - the better (good, welfare); इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I desire; वेदितुम् (veditum) - to know;]
(Then Śakra (Indra), with folded hands, approached Bṛhaspati and the highly wise one said: "I desire to know the better (good, welfare).")
Then Śakra (Indra), with folded hands, approached Bṛhaspati and said: "I wish to know what is best."
ततो बृहस्पतिस्तस्मै ज्ञानं नैःश्रेयसं परम्। कथयामास भगवान्देवेन्द्राय कुरूद्वह ॥१२-१२४-२१॥
tato bṛhaspatistasmai jñānaṃ naiḥśreyasaṃ param। kathayāmāsa bhagavāndevendrāya kurūdvaha ॥12-124-21॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; बृहस्पतिः (bṛhaspatiḥ) - Bṛhaspati; तस्मै (tasmai) - to him; ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge; नैःश्रेयसम् (naiḥśreyasam) - leading to the highest good; परम् (param) - supreme; कथयामास (kathayāmāsa) - related; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the revered one; देवेन्द्राय (devendrāya) - to Devendra; कुरूद्वह (kurūdvaha) - O best of the Kurus;]
(Then Bṛhaspati to him knowledge leading to the highest good, supreme, related, the revered one, to Devendra, O best of the Kurus.)
Then Bṛhaspati, O best of the Kurus, imparted to Devendra the supreme knowledge that leads to the highest good.
एतावच्छ्रेय इत्येव बृहस्पतिरभाषत। इन्द्रस्तु भूयः पप्रच्छ क्व विशेषो भवेदिति ॥१२-१२४-२२॥
etāvacchreya ity-eva bṛhaspatir abhāṣata। indrastu bhūyaḥ papraccha kva viśeṣo bhaved iti ॥12-124-22॥
[एतावत् (etāvat) - this much; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - better; इति (iti) - thus; एव (eva) - indeed; बृहस्पतिः (bṛhaspatiḥ) - Bṛhaspati; अभाषत (abhāṣata) - spoke; इन्द्रः (indraḥ) - Indra; तु (tu) - but; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - further; पप्रच्छ (papraccha) - asked; क्व (kva) - where; विशेषः (viśeṣaḥ) - distinction; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be; इति (iti) - thus;]
(This much is better, thus indeed Bṛhaspati spoke. But Indra further asked, "Where would the distinction be, thus.")
Bṛhaspati said, "This much is better." But Indra asked further, "Where would the distinction lie?"
बृहस्पतिरुवाच॥
bṛhaspatiruvāca॥
[बृहस्पति (bṛhaspati) - Bṛhaspati; (the preceptor of the gods); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bṛhaspati said;)
Bṛhaspati said.
विशेषोऽस्ति महांस्तात भार्गवस्य महात्मनः। तत्रागमय भद्रं ते भूय एव पुरंदर ॥१२-१२४-२३॥
viśeṣo'sti mahāṃs-tāta bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ। tatrāgamaya bhadraṃ te bhūya eva puraṃdara ॥12-124-23॥
[विशेषः (viśeṣaḥ) - distinction; specialness; अस्ति (asti) - is; exists; महान् (mahān) - great; mighty; तात (tāta) - O dear one; father; भार्गवस्य (bhārgavasya) - of Bhārgava; (descendant of Bhṛgu); महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled; of the magnanimous; तत्र (tatra) - there; आगमय (āgamaya) - bring; cause to come; भद्रं (bhadraṃ) - good; auspicious; ते (te) - to you; for you; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; further; एव (eva) - indeed; only; पुरंदर (puraṃdara) - O Indra; destroyer of cities;]
(Distinction is, great O dear one, of Bhārgava, of the great-souled. There bring good to you again indeed, O Indra.)
O Indra, there is a great distinction of the magnanimous Bhārgava, O dear one. Go there again and bring good fortune to you.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
[धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - Dhṛtarāṣṭra; (name of the blind king); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak; 3rd person singular, perfect tense);]
(Dhṛtarāṣṭra said;)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said:
आत्मनस्तु ततः श्रेयो भार्गवात्सुमहायशाः। ज्ञानमागमयत्प्रीत्या पुनः स परमद्युतिः ॥१२-१२४-२४॥
ātmanas tu tataḥ śreyo bhārgavāt sumahāyaśāḥ। jñānam āgamayat prītyā punaḥ sa paramadyutiḥ ॥12-124-24॥
[आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the self; तु (tu) - but; ततः (tataḥ) - then; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - better; भार्गवात् (bhārgavāt) - from Bhārgava; सुमहायशाः (sumahāyaśāḥ) - of great fame; ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge; आगमयत् (āgamayat) - caused to be obtained; प्रीत्या (prītyā) - with affection; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; सः (saḥ) - he; परमद्युतिः (paramadyutiḥ) - of supreme splendor;]
(But then, the one of great fame, from Bhārgava, caused knowledge, which is better for the self, to be obtained again with affection; he of supreme splendor.)
But then, the illustrious one, out of affection, again obtained from Bhārgava the knowledge that is best for the self; he was of supreme splendor.
तेनापि समनुज्ञातो भार्गवेण महात्मना। श्रेयोऽस्तीति पुनर्भूयः शुक्रमाह शतक्रतुः ॥१२-१२४-२५॥
tenāpi samanujñāto bhārgaveṇa mahātmanā। śreyo'stīti punarbhūyaḥ śukramāha śatakratuḥ ॥12-124-25॥
[तेनापि (tenāpi) - by him also; समनुज्ञातः (samanujñātaḥ) - having been permitted; भार्गवेण (bhārgaveṇa) - by Bhārgava; महात्मना (mahātmanā) - by the great-souled one; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - the better (good, welfare); अस्ति (asti) - is; इति (iti) - thus; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - further; शुक्रः (śukraḥ) - Śukra; आह (āha) - said; शतक्रतुः (śatakratuḥ) - Śatakratu (Indra);]
(By him also having been permitted by Bhārgava, the great-souled one, Śatakratu (Indra) again further said to Śukra: "There is welfare (good) thus.")
Having also been permitted by the great-souled Bhārgava, Śatakratu (Indra) again said to Śukra, "There is indeed welfare."
भार्गवस्त्वाह धर्मज्ञः प्रह्रादस्य महात्मनः। ज्ञानमस्ति विशेषेण ततो हृष्टश्च सोऽभवत् ॥१२-१२४-२६॥
bhārgavas tv āha dharmajñaḥ prahrādasya mahātmanaḥ। jñānam asti viśeṣeṇa tato hṛṣṭaś ca so'bhavat ॥12-124-26॥
[भार्गवः (bhārgavaḥ) - descendant of Bhṛgu; तु (tu) - but; आह (āha) - said; धर्मज्ञः (dharmajñaḥ) - knower of dharma; प्रह्रादस्य (prahrādasya) - of Prahlāda; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled; ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge; अस्ति (asti) - is; विशेषेण (viśeṣeṇa) - especially; ततः (tataḥ) - thereupon; हृष्टः (hṛṣṭaḥ) - gladdened; च (ca) - and; सः (saḥ) - he; अभवत् (abhavat) - became;]
(The descendant of Bhṛgu, however, said: The knower of dharma, Prahlāda the great-souled, has knowledge especially; thereupon he became gladdened.)
Bhārgava said, "Prahlāda, the great-souled knower of dharma, possesses special knowledge; therefore, he became gladdened."
स ततो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा प्रह्रादं पाकशासनः। सृत्वा प्रोवाच मेधावी श्रेय इच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥१२-१२४-२७॥
sa tato brāhmaṇo bhūtvā prahrādaṃ pākaśāsanaḥ। śrutvā provāca medhāvī śreya icchāmi veditum ॥12-124-27॥
[स (sa) - he; ततः (tataḥ) - then; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; (a Brahmin;) भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; प्रह्रादम् (prahrādam) - Prahlāda; (name of a person;) पाकशासनः (pākaśāsanaḥ) - Pākaśāsana; (epithet of Indra;) श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; प्रोवाच (provāca) - spoke; मेधावी (medhāvī) - wise one; श्रेय (śreya) - the better; (good, welfare;) इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I desire; वेदितुम् (veditum) - to know;]
(He then, having become a brāhmaṇa, Pākaśāsana (Indra), having heard Prahlāda, the wise one spoke: "I desire to know the better (good).")
Then Pākaśāsana (Indra), having assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa, after hearing Prahlāda, spoke wisely: "I wish to know what is best."
प्रह्रादस्त्वब्रवीद्विप्रं क्षणो नास्ति द्विजर्षभ। त्रैलोक्यराज्ये सक्तस्य ततो नोपदिशामि ते ॥१२-१२४-२८॥
prahrādas tv abravīd vipraṃ kṣaṇo nāsti dvijarṣabha। trailokyarājye saktasya tato nopadiśāmi te ॥12-124-28॥
[प्रह्रादः (prahrādaḥ) - Prahlāda; (proper noun) तु (tu) - but; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; विप्रं (vipram) - to the brāhmaṇa; क्षणः (kṣaṇaḥ) - a moment; न (na) - not; अस्ति (asti) - is; द्विजर्षभ (dvijarṣabha) - O best of brāhmaṇas; त्रैलोक्यराज्ये (trailokyarājye) - in the sovereignty of the three worlds; सक्तस्य (saktasya) - of one attached; ततः (tataḥ) - therefore; न (na) - not; उपदिशामि (upadiśāmi) - I instruct; ते (te) - to you;]
(Prahlāda but said to the brāhmaṇa: "A moment is not (available), O best of brāhmaṇas, for one attached to the sovereignty of the three worlds; therefore, I do not instruct you.")
Prahlāda replied to the brāhmaṇa, "O best of brāhmaṇas, for one attached to the sovereignty of the three worlds, not even a moment is available; therefore, I cannot instruct you."
ब्राह्मणस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं कस्मिन्काले क्षणो भवेत्। ततोपदिष्टमिच्छामि यद्यत्कार्यान्तरं भवेत् ॥१२-१२४-२९॥
brāhmaṇas tv abravīd vākyaṃ kasmin kāle kṣaṇo bhavet। tato upadiṣṭam icchāmi yadyat kāryāntaraṃ bhavet ॥12-124-29॥
[ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; तु (tu) - but; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; वाक्यम् (vākyaṃ) - speech; कस्मिन् (kasmin) - in which; काले (kāle) - time; क्षणः (kṣaṇaḥ) - moment; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be; ततः (tataḥ) - then; उपदिष्टम् (upadiṣṭam) - instructed; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; यद्यत् (yadyat) - whatever; कार्य-अन्तरम् (kāryāntaram) - other task; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be;]
(The brāhmaṇa but said speech: in which time would the moment be? Then instructed (I) wish, whatever other task would be.)
But the brāhmaṇa said: "At what time would the moment occur? Then, I wish to be instructed as to whatever other task there may be."
ततः प्रीतोऽभवद्राजा प्रह्रादो ब्रह्मवादिने। तथेत्युक्त्वा शुभे काले ज्ञानतत्त्वं ददौ तदा ॥१२-१२४-३०॥
tataḥ prīto'bhavad rājā prahrādo brahmavādine. tathety uktvā śubhe kāle jñānatattvaṃ dadau tadā ॥12-124-30॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; प्रीतः (prītaḥ) - pleased; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; राजा (rājā) - king; प्रह्रादः (prahrādaḥ) - Prahlada; ब्रह्मवादिने (brahmavādine) - to the speaker of Brahman; तथेत्युक्त्वा (tathety uktvā) - having said 'so be it'; शुभे (śubhe) - auspicious; काले (kāle) - at the time; ज्ञानतत्त्वम् (jñānatattvam) - the essence of knowledge; ददौ (dadau) - gave; तदा (tadā) - then;]
(Then the pleased king Prahlada became (so), to the speaker of Brahman, having said 'so be it', at the auspicious time, gave the essence of knowledge then.)
Then King Prahlada, being pleased, said 'so be it' to the speaker of Brahman and, at an auspicious time, gave the essence of knowledge.
ब्राह्मणोऽपि यथान्यायं गुरुवृत्तिमनुत्तमाम्। चकार सर्वभावेन यद्वत्स मनसेच्छति ॥१२-१२४-३१॥
brāhmaṇo'pi yathānyāyaṃ guruvṛttimanuttamām। cakāra sarvabhāvena yadvatsa manasecchati ॥12-124-31॥
[ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; अपि (api) - also; यथा (yathā) - as; अन्यायम् (anyāyam) - according to rule; गुरु (guru) - teacher; वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - service; अनुत्तमाम् (anuttamām) - unsurpassed; चकार (cakāra) - performed; सर्वभावेन (sarvabhāvena) - with all disposition; यत् (yat) - as; वत्स (vatsa) - O child; मनसः (manasaḥ) - of the mind; इच्छति (icchati) - desires;]
(The brāhmaṇa also, as per rule, performed unsurpassed service to the teacher with all disposition, as, O child, the mind desires.)
O child, the brāhmaṇa too, in accordance with the rules, rendered the highest service to his teacher with complete devotion, just as the mind desires.
पृष्टश्च तेन बहुशः प्राप्तं कथमरिंदम। त्रैलोक्यराज्यं धर्मज्ञ कारणं तद्ब्रवीहि मे ॥१२-१२४-३२॥
pṛṣṭaś ca tena bahuśaḥ prāptaṃ katham ariṃdama। trailokyarājyaṃ dharmajña kāraṇaṃ tad bravīhi me ॥12-124-32॥
[पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - asked; च (ca) - and; तेन (tena) - by him; बहुशः (bahuśaḥ) - many times; प्राप्तं (prāptam) - obtained; कथम् (katham) - how; अरिंदम (ariṃdama) - O subduer of enemies; त्रैलोक्यराज्यं (trailokyarājyaṃ) - sovereignty of the three worlds; धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - knower of dharma; कारणं (kāraṇam) - reason; तत् (tat) - that; ब्रवीहि (bravīhi) - tell; मे (me) - to me;]
(Asked and by him many times obtained how, O subduer of enemies, the sovereignty of the three worlds, O knower of dharma, the reason that tell to me.)
O subduer of enemies, you have been asked many times by him how the sovereignty of the three worlds was obtained. O knower of dharma, tell me the reason for that.
प्रह्राद उवाच॥
prahṛāda uvāca॥
[प्रह्राद (prahṛāda) - Prahāda; (proper name); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Prahāda said;)
Prahāda said:
नासूयामि द्विजश्रेष्ठ राजास्मीति कदाचन। कव्यानि वदतां तात संयच्छामि वहामि च ॥१२-१२४-३३॥
nāsūyāmi dvijaśreṣṭha rājāsmīti kadācana। kavyāni vadatāṃ tāta saṃyacchāmi vahāmi ca ॥12-124-33॥
[न (na) - not; असूयामि (asūyāmi) - I envy; द्विजश्रेष्ठ (dvijaśreṣṭha) - O best of twice-born; राजा (rājā) - king; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; इति (iti) - thus; कदाचन (kadācana) - ever; कव्यानि (kavyāni) - oblations to ancestors; वदताम् (vadatām) - of those who speak; तात (tāta) - O dear one; संयच्छामि (saṃyacchāmi) - I restrain; वहामि (vahāmi) - I carry; च (ca) - and;]
(Not I envy, O best of twice-born, king am I thus ever. Oblations to ancestors of those who speak, O dear one, I restrain, I carry and.)
O best of the twice-born, I never envy anyone saying 'I am king.' O dear one, I both restrain and carry out the ancestral offerings of those who recite them.
ते विस्रब्धाः प्रभाषन्ते संयच्छन्ति च मां सदा। ते मा कव्यपदे सक्तं शुश्रूषुमनसूयकम् ॥१२-१२४-३४॥
te visrabdhāḥ prabhāṣante saṃyacchanti ca māṃ sadā। te mā kavyapade saktaṃ śuśrūṣumanasūyakam ॥12-124-34॥
[ते (te) - they; विस्रब्धाः (visrabdhāḥ) - confident; प्रभाषन्ते (prabhāṣante) - speak; संयच्छन्ति (saṃyacchanti) - restrain; च (ca) - and; माम् (mām) - me; सदा (sadā) - always; ते (te) - they; माम् (mām) - me; कव्यपदे (kavyapade) - in poetic speech; सक्तम् (saktam) - attached; शुश्रूषुमनसूयकम् (śuśrūṣumanasūyakam) - desirous to listen, without envy;]
(They, confident, speak, restrain and me always. They me, attached in poetic speech, desirous to listen, without envy.)
They, being confident, always speak and restrain me. They see me as one attached to poetic speech, eager to listen, and free from envy.
धर्मात्मानं जितक्रोधं संयतं संयतेन्द्रियम्। समाचिन्वन्ति शास्तारः क्षौद्रं मध्विव मक्षिकाः ॥१२-१२४-३५॥
dharmātmānaṃ jitakrodhaṃ saṃyataṃ saṃyatendriyam। samācinvanti śāstāraḥ kṣaudraṃ madhviva makṣikāḥ ॥12-124-35॥
[धर्मात्मानम् (dharmātmānam) - one whose soul is righteous; जितक्रोधम् (jitakrodham) - who has conquered anger; संयतम् (saṃyatam) - self-restrained; संयतेन्द्रियम् (saṃyatendriyam) - whose senses are controlled; समाचिन्वन्ति (samācinvanti) - collect together; शास्तारः (śāstāraḥ) - teachers; क्षौद्रम् (kṣaudram) - honey; मधु इव (madhu iva) - like honey; मक्षिकाः (makṣikāḥ) - bees;]
(Teachers collect together the righteous-souled, who has conquered anger, is self-restrained, and whose senses are controlled, like bees (collect) honey.)
Just as bees gather honey, teachers gather around a person who is righteous, self-controlled, has conquered anger, and has mastery over his senses.
सोऽहं वागग्रपिष्टानां रसानामवलेहिता। स्वजात्यानधितिष्ठामि नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमाः ॥१२-१२४-३६॥
so'ham vāg-agrapiṣṭānāṃ rasānām avalehitā। svajātī-anadhitiṣṭhāmi nakṣatrāṇīva candramāḥ ॥12-124-36॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; अहम् (aham) - I; वाक्-अग्र-पिष्टानाम् (vāk-agra-piṣṭānām) - of those ground at the tip of speech; रसानाम् (rasānām) - of tastes; अवलेहिता (avalehitā) - taster; स्व-जात्या (sva-jātyā) - by own kind; अनधितिष्ठामि (anadhitiṣṭhāmi) - I do not preside over; नक्षत्राणि-इव (nakṣatrāṇi-iva) - like the stars; चन्द्रमाः (candramāḥ) - the moon;]
(He, I, of those ground at the tip of speech, of tastes, taster; by own kind, I do not preside over; like the stars, the moon.)
I am the taster of the essences ground at the tip of speech; among my own kind, I do not preside, just as the moon does not preside over the stars.
एतत्पृथिव्याममृतमेतच्चक्षुरनुत्तमम्। यद्ब्राह्मणमुखे कव्यमेतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रवर्तते ॥१२-१२४-३७॥
etat pṛthivyām amṛtam etat cakṣur anuttamam। yad brāhmaṇamukhe kavyam etat śrutvā pravartate ॥12-124-37॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām) - on the earth; अमृतम् (amṛtam) - immortal; nectar; एतत् (etat) - this; चक्षुः (cakṣuḥ) - eye; अनुत्तमम् (anuttamam) - unsurpassed; highest; यत् (yat) - which; ब्राह्मणमुखे (brāhmaṇamukhe) - in the mouth of a Brāhmaṇa; कव्यम् (kavyam) - poetry; sacred verse; एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; प्रवर्तते (pravartate) - proceeds; spreads;]
(This on the earth is nectar, this is the unsurpassed eye; which, having heard this poetry in the mouth of a Brāhmaṇa, proceeds.)
This is nectar on earth, this is the highest vision; when this poetry is heard from the mouth of a Brāhmaṇa, it spreads forth.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
[धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - Dhṛtarāṣṭra; (name of the king; literally: 'one whose kingdom is firm') ; उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak) ;]
(Dhṛtarāṣṭra said;)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said:
एतावच्छ्रेय इत्याह प्रह्रादो ब्रह्मवादिनम्। शुश्रूषितस्तेन तदा दैत्येन्द्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥१२-१२४-३८॥
etāvacchreya ityāha prahrādo brahmavādinam। śuśrūṣitastena tadā daityendro vākyamabravīt ॥12-124-38॥
[एतावत् (etāvat) - this much; so far; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - the best; auspiciousness; इति (iti) - thus; so; आह (āha) - said; प्रह्रादः (prahrādaḥ) - Prahlada; ब्रह्मवादिनम् (brahmavādinam) - to the speaker of Brahman; to the sage; शुश्रूषितः (śuśrūṣitaḥ) - having been listened to; served; तेन (tena) - by him; तदा (tadā) - then; दैत्येन्द्रः (daityendraḥ) - the lord of the Daityas; Prahlada; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - word; speech; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke; said;]
(This much is the best, thus said Prahlada to the speaker of Brahman. Having been listened to by him, then the lord of the Daityas spoke the word.)
Prahlada said to the sage, "This much is the best." Having listened to him, the lord of the Daityas then spoke these words.
यथावद्गुरुवृत्त्या ते प्रीतोऽस्मि द्विजसत्तम। वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते प्रदातास्मि न संशयः ॥१२-१२४-३९॥
yathāvad-guruvṛttyā te prīto'smi dvijasattama। varaṃ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṃ te pradātāsmi na saṃśayaḥ ॥12-124-39॥
[यथावद् (yathāvad) - as is proper; as it should be; गुरुवृत्त्या (guruvṛttyā) - by service to the teacher; by the conduct towards the guru; ते (te) - by you; प्रीतः (prītaḥ) - pleased; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; द्विजसत्तम (dvijasattama) - O best of the twice-born; वरं (varaṃ) - a boon; वृणीष्व (vṛṇīṣva) - choose; भद्रं (bhadraṃ) - auspicious; good; ते (te) - for you; प्रदातास्मि (pradātāsmi) - I am the giver; न (na) - not; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt;]
(As is proper, by service to the teacher, by you, pleased I am, O best of the twice-born; a boon choose, auspicious for you, I am the giver, not doubt.)
O best of the twice-born, I am pleased with you for your proper service to your teacher. Ask for a boon that is auspicious for you; I am the giver—there is no doubt about it.
कृतमित्येव दैत्येन्द्रमुवाच स च वै द्विजः। प्रह्रादस्त्वब्रवीत्प्रीतो गृह्यतां वर इत्युत ॥१२-१२४-४०॥
kṛtamityeva daityendramuvāca sa ca vai dvijaḥ। prahrādastvabravītpṛto gṛhyatāṃ vara ityuta ॥12-124-40॥
[कृतम् (kṛtam) - done; accomplished; इति (iti) - thus; so; एव (eva) - indeed; certainly; दैत्येन्द्रम् (daityendram) - to the lord of the Daityas; to the king of demons; उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke; सः (saḥ) - he; च (ca) - and; वै (vai) - indeed; truly; द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - the twice-born; the Brāhmaṇa; प्रह्रादः (prahrādaḥ) - Prahlāda; तु (tu) - but; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; spoke; प्रीतः (prītaḥ) - pleased; delighted; गृह्यताम् (gṛhyatām) - let it be accepted; let it be taken; वरः (varaḥ) - boon; favor; इति (iti) - thus; so; उत (uta) - indeed;]
(Done—thus indeed to the lord of the Daityas he said, and that Brāhmaṇa indeed; Prahlāda, however, said, pleased: Let the boon be accepted, thus indeed.)
He said to the lord of the Daityas, "It is done," and that Brāhmaṇa also spoke thus. Prahlāda, being pleased, said, "Let the boon be accepted."
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
[ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa) - brāhmaṇa; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(brāhmaṇa said;)
The brāhmaṇa said:
यदि राजन्प्रसन्नस्त्वं मम चेच्छसि चेद्धितम्। भवतः शीलमिच्छामि प्राप्तुमेष वरो मम ॥१२-१२४-४१॥
yadi rājanprasannastvaṃ mama cecchasi ceddhitam। bhavataḥ śīlamicchāmi prāptumeṣa varo mama ॥12-124-41॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; राजन् (rājan) - O king; प्रसन्नः (prasannaḥ) - pleased; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; मम (mama) - my; चेत् (cet) - if; इच्छसि (icchasi) - you desire; चेत् (ced) - if; हितम् (hitam) - welfare; भवतः (bhavataḥ) - your; शीलम् (śīlam) - character; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I desire; प्राप्तुम् (prāptum) - to obtain; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; वरः (varaḥ) - boon; मम (mama) - my;]
(If, O king, you are pleased and if you desire my welfare, I desire to obtain your character; this is my boon.)
If you are pleased, O king, and wish for my welfare, then I desire to obtain your character; this is the boon I seek.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
[धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - Dhṛtarāṣṭra; (name of the blind king); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak, with prefix 'u-');]
(Dhṛtarāṣṭra said;)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said:
ततः प्रीतश्च दैत्येन्द्रो भयं चास्याभवन्महत्। वरे प्रदिष्टे विप्रेण नाल्पतेजायमित्युत ॥१२-१२४-४२॥
tataḥ prītaś ca daityendro bhayaṃ cāsy abhavan mahat। vare pradiṣṭe vipreṇa nālpatejāyam ity uta ॥12-124-42॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; प्रीतः (prītaḥ) - pleased; च (ca) - and; दैत्येन्द्रः (daityendraḥ) - the lord of the Daityas; भयम् (bhayam) - fear; च (ca) - and; अस्य (asya) - to him; अभवत् (abhavat) - arose; महत् (mahat) - great; वरे (vare) - in the boon; प्रदिष्टे (pradiṣṭe) - having been granted; विप्रेण (vipreṇa) - by the Brāhmaṇa; न (na) - not; अल्पतेजायम् (alpa-tejāyam) - to one of little energy; इति (iti) - thus; उत (uta) - indeed;]
(Then the lord of the Daityas was pleased and great fear also arose in him; in the boon granted by the Brāhmaṇa, (it was said) 'not to one of little energy,' thus indeed.)
Then the lord of the Daityas was pleased, but at the same time great fear arose in him; for in the boon granted by the Brāhmaṇa, it was stated, 'not to one of little energy,' thus indeed.
एवमस्त्विति तं प्राह प्रह्रादो विस्मितस्तदा। उपाकृत्य तु विप्राय वरं दुःखान्वितोऽभवत् ॥१२-१२४-४३॥
evam astv iti taṃ prāha prahrādo vismitas tadā। upākṛtya tu viprāya varaṃ duḥkhānvito'bhavat ॥12-124-43॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; अस्तु (astu) - let it be; इति (iti) - thus; तं (taṃ) - him; प्राह (prāha) - said; प्रह्रादः (prahrādaḥ) - Prahlāda; विस्मितः (vismitaḥ) - astonished; तदा (tadā) - then; उपाकृत्य (upākṛtya) - having served; तु (tu) - but; विप्राय (viprāya) - to the Brāhmaṇa; वरम् (varam) - boon; दुःखान्वितः (duḥkhānvitaḥ) - afflicted with sorrow; अभवत् (abhavat) - became;]
(Thus, let it be—having said so to him, Prahlāda, astonished then, having served the Brāhmaṇa, but, to the Brāhmaṇa, the boon, afflicted with sorrow, became.)
Prahlāda, astonished, said to him, "So be it." Then, after serving the Brāhmaṇa, he granted the boon, but became afflicted with sorrow.
दत्ते वरे गते विप्रे चिन्तासीन्महती ततः। प्रह्रादस्य महाराज निश्चयं न च जग्मिवान् ॥१२-१२४-४४॥
datte vare gate vipre cintāsīn mahatī tataḥ। prahrādasya mahārāja niścayaṃ na ca jagmivān॥12-124-44॥
[दत्ते (datte) - having been given; (from √dā, to give; वरे (vare) - boon; (from vara, boon; गते (gate) - having gone; (from √gam, to go; विप्रे (vipre) - to the brāhmaṇa; (from vipra, brāhmaṇa; चिन्तासीन् (cintāsīn) - became anxious; (from √cint, to think, to worry; महती (mahatī) - great; (from mahant, great; ततः (tataḥ) - then; (from tataḥ, then; प्रह्रादस्य (prahrādasya) - of Prahlāda; (genitive of Prahlāda; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; (vocative of mahārāja; निश्चयम् (niścayam) - decision; (from niścaya, decision; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; जग्मिवान् (jagmivān) - had reached; (from √gam, to go, perfect participle;]
(Having given the boon and with the brāhmaṇa gone, then he became greatly anxious; O great king, Prahlāda had not reached a decision.)
After granting the boon and as the brāhmaṇa departed, he became greatly anxious; O great king, Prahlāda had not yet made up his mind.
तस्य चिन्तयतस्तात छायाभूतं महाद्युते। तेजो विग्रहवत्तात शरीरमजहात्तदा ॥१२-१२४-४५॥
tasya cintayatastāta chāyābhūtaṃ mahādyute। tejo vigrahavattāta śarīramajahāttadā ॥12-124-45॥
[तस्य (tasya) - of him; चिन्तयतः (cintayataḥ) - while thinking; तात (tāta) - O dear; छायाभूतं (chāyābhūtaṃ) - having become a shadow; महाद्युते (mahādyute) - O greatly radiant one; तेजः (tejaḥ) - radiance; विग्रहवत् (vigrahavat) - having form; तात (tāta) - O dear; शरीरम् (śarīram) - body; अजहात् (ajahāt) - did not abandon; तदा (tadā) - then;]
(Of him, while thinking, O dear, having become a shadow, O greatly radiant one, the radiance having form, O dear, did not abandon the body then.)
O dear, while he was thinking, his radiance, having assumed a form like a shadow, did not leave his body at that time, O greatly radiant one.
तमपृच्छन्महाकायं प्रह्रादः को भवानिति। प्रत्याह ननु शीलोऽस्मि त्यक्तो गच्छाम्यहं त्वया ॥१२-१२४-४६॥
tam apṛcchan mahākāyaṃ prahrādaḥ ko bhavān iti। pratyāha nanu śīlo'smi tyakto gacchāmy ahaṃ tvayā ॥12-124-46॥
[तम् (tam) - him; अपृच्छन् (apṛcchan) - asked; महाकायम् (mahākāyam) - great-bodied; प्रह्रादः (prahrādaḥ) - Prahlāda; कः (kaḥ) - who; भवान् (bhavān) - you; इति (iti) - thus; प्रत्याह (pratyāha) - replied; ननु (nanu) - indeed; शीलः (śīlaḥ) - Śīla; अस्मि (asmi) - am; त्यक्तः (tyaktaḥ) - abandoned; गच्छामि (gacchāmi) - I go; अहम् (aham) - I; त्वया (tvayā) - by you;]
(Prahlāda asked the great-bodied him: "Who are you?" He replied: "Indeed, I am Śīla, abandoned, I go by you.")
Prahlāda asked the great-bodied being, "Who are you?" He replied, "I am Śīla, whom you have abandoned, and I am leaving because of you."
तस्मिन्द्विजवरे राजन्वत्स्याम्यहमनिन्दितम्। योऽसौ शिष्यत्वमागम्य त्वयि नित्यं समाहितः ॥ इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हितं तद्वै शक्रं चान्वविशत्प्रभो ॥१२-१२४-४७॥
tasmin dvijavare rājan vatsyāmy aham aninditam। yo'sau śiṣyatvam āgamya tvayi nityaṃ samāhitaḥ ॥ ity uktvāntarhitaṃ tad vai śakraṃ cānvaviśat prabho ॥12-124-47॥
[तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; (locative singular of 'tat') द्विजवरे (dvijavare) - in the best of twice-born; (locative singular of 'dvijavara') राजन् (rājan) - O king; (vocative singular of 'rājan') वत्स्यामि (vatsyāmi) - I shall stay; (1st person singular future of 'vas') अहम् (aham) - I; (pronoun) अनिन्दितम् (aninditam) - blamelessly; (adverb) यः (yaḥ) - who; (relative pronoun) असौ (asau) - that; (pronoun) शिष्यत्वम् (śiṣyatvam) - the state of being a disciple; (noun) आगम्य (āgamya) - having attained; (absolutive of 'ā-gam') त्वयि (tvayi) - in you; (locative singular of 'tvam') नित्यम् (nityam) - always; (adverb) समाहितः (samāhitaḥ) - concentrated; (past participle of 'sam-ā-dhā') इति (iti) - thus; (particle) उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having said; (absolutive of 'vac') अन्तर्हितम् (antarhitam) - disappeared; (past participle of 'antar-dhā') तत् (tat) - that; (pronoun) वै (vai) - indeed; (particle) शक्रम् (śakram) - Indra; (accusative singular of 'śakra') च (ca) - and; (conjunction) अन्वविशत् (anvaviśat) - entered after; (3rd person singular past of 'anu-viś') प्रभो (prabho) - O lord; (vocative singular of 'prabhu');]
(In that best of twice-born, O king, I shall stay blamelessly. He who, having attained the state of disciple, is always concentrated in you. Thus having said, that indeed disappeared, and entered Indra, O lord.)
O king, I shall reside blamelessly in that best of twice-born. He who has become a disciple and is always devoted to you—having thus spoken, that one disappeared and entered Indra, O lord.
तस्मिंस्तेजसि याते तु तादृग्रूपस्ततोऽपरः। शरीरान्निःसृतस्तस्य को भवानिति चाब्रवीत् ॥१२-१२४-४८॥
tasmiṃs tejasī yāte tu tādṛg rūpas tato'paraḥ। śarīrān niḥsṛtas tasya ko bhavān iti cābravīt॥12-124-48॥
[तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; (locative singular of 'tat') तेजसि (tejasī) - in the brilliance; (locative singular of 'tejas') याते (yāte) - having gone; (past participle of 'yā') तु (tu) - but; तादृक् (tādṛk) - such; (of that kind) रूपः (rūpaḥ) - form; (nominative singular of 'rūpa') ततः (tataḥ) - from that; अपरः (aparaḥ) - another; (nominative singular of 'apara') शरीरात् (śarīrāt) - from the body; निःसृतः (niḥsṛtaḥ) - emerged; (past participle of 'niḥsṛ') तस्य (tasya) - his; कः (kaḥ) - who; भवान् (bhavān) - you; (honorific) इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; (past tense of 'brū');]
(But when that brilliance had departed, another such form emerged from his body. And he said, "Who are you?")
But when that brilliance departed, another form of that kind emerged from his body. And he said, "Who are you?"
धर्मं प्रह्राद मां विद्धि यत्रासौ द्विजसत्तमः। तत्र यास्यामि दैत्येन्द्र यतः शीलं ततो ह्यहम् ॥१२-१२४-४९॥
dharmaṃ prahrāda māṃ viddhi yatrāsau dvijasattamaḥ। tatra yāsyāmi daityendra yataḥ śīlaṃ tato hyaham ॥12-124-49॥
[धर्मम् (dharmaṃ) - righteousness; प्रह्राद (prahrāda) - Prahlāda; माम् (mām) - me; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; यत्र (yatra) - where; असौ (asau) - this; द्विजसत्तमः (dvijasattamaḥ) - best of Brāhmaṇas; तत्र (tatra) - there; यास्यामि (yāsyāmi) - I will go; दैत्येन्द्र (daityendra) - O lord of Daityas; यतः (yataḥ) - because; शीलम् (śīlam) - character; ततः (tataḥ) - from that; हि (hi) - indeed; अहम् (aham) - I;]
(O Prahlāda, know me as righteousness. Where this best of Brāhmaṇas is, there I will go, O lord of Daityas, because character is indeed from that.)
O Prahlāda, know me as righteousness. Wherever this best of Brāhmaṇas is, there I will go, O lord of Daityas, for character indeed arises from that.
ततोऽपरो महाराज प्रज्वलन्निव तेजसा। शरीरान्निःसृतस्तस्य प्रह्रादस्य महात्मनः ॥१२-१२४-५०॥
tato'paro mahārāja prajvalanniva tejasā। śarīrānniḥsṛtastasya prahrādasya mahātmanaḥ ॥12-124-50॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; अपरो (aparaḥ) - another; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; प्रज्वलन् (prajvalan) - blazing; इव (iva) - as if; तेजसा (tejasā) - with brilliance; शरीरात् (śarīrāt) - from the body; निःसृतः (niḥsṛtaḥ) - emerged; तस्य (tasya) - his; प्रह्रादस्य (prahrādasya) - of Prahlāda; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - the great-souled;]
(Then another, O great king, blazing as if with brilliance, emerged from the body of that great-souled Prahlāda.)
Then, O great king, another being, blazing as if with brilliance, emerged from the body of the great-souled Prahlāda.
को भवानिति पृष्टश्च तमाह स महाद्युतिः। सत्यमस्म्यसुरेन्द्राग्र्य यास्येऽहं धर्ममन्विह ॥१२-१२४-५१॥
ko bhavāniti pṛṣṭaśca tamāha sa mahādyutiḥ। satyamasmyasurendrāgrya yāsye'haṃ dharmamanviha ॥12-124-51॥
[को (ko) - who; भवान् (bhavān) - you (honorific); इति (iti) - thus; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - asked; च (ca) - and; तम् (tam) - him; आह (āha) - said; सः (saḥ) - he; महाद्युतिः (mahādyutiḥ) - of great splendor; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; असुरेन्द्राग्र्य (asurendrāgrya) - foremost among the lords of asuras; यास्ये (yāsye) - I shall go; अहम् (aham) - I; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; अन्विह (anviha) - to pursue;]
(Who are you?—thus (he) was asked, and to him, he of great splendor said: "I am truth, the foremost among the lords of asuras; I shall go to pursue dharma here.")
When asked, "Who are you?", he of great splendor replied, "I am indeed the foremost among the lords of asuras, and I am going here to pursue dharma."
तस्मिन्ननुगते धर्मं पुरुषे पुरुषोऽपरः। निश्चक्राम ततस्तस्मात्पृष्टश्चाह महात्मना ॥ वृत्तं प्रह्राद मां विद्धि यतः सत्यं ततो ह्यहम् ॥१२-१२४-५२॥
tasminnanugate dharmaṃ puruṣe puruṣo'paraḥ। niścakrāma tatastasmātpṛṣṭaścāha mahātmanā ॥ vṛttaṃ prahrāda māṃ viddhi yataḥ satyaṃ tato hyaham ॥12-124-52॥
[तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; अनुगते (anugate) - having followed; धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - dharma; पुरुषे (puruṣe) - in the person; पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - person; अपरः (aparaḥ) - another; निश्चक्राम (niścakrāma) - departed; ततः (tataḥ) - from there; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - from that; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - having been asked; च (ca) - and; आह (āha) - said; महात्मना (mahātmanā) - by the great-souled one; वृत्तं (vṛttaṃ) - conduct; प्रह्राद (prahrāda) - Prahlāda; मां (māṃ) - me; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; यतः (yataḥ) - because; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; ततः (tataḥ) - from that; हि (hi) - indeed; अहम् (aham) - I;]
(In that person in whom dharma was followed, another person departed from there; having been asked by the great-souled one, he said: "Prahlāda, know me as conduct, because from that (comes) truth; therefore, I am (that).")
When dharma was followed in that person, another person departed from there; when questioned by the great-souled one, he said: "Prahlāda, know me as conduct, for from conduct comes truth; therefore, I am that."
तस्मिन्गते महाश्वेतः शरीरात्तस्य निर्ययौ। पृष्टश्चाह बलं विद्धि यतो वृत्तमहं ततः ॥ इत्युक्त्वा च ययौ तत्र यतो वृत्तं नराधिप ॥१२-१२४-५३॥
tasmin gate mahāśvetaḥ śarīrāt tasya niryayau। pṛṣṭaś ca āha balaṃ viddhi yataḥ vṛttam ahaṃ tataḥ ॥ ity uktvā ca yayau tatra yataḥ vṛttaṃ narādhipa ॥12-124-53॥
[तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in him; गते (gate) - having gone; महाश्वेतः (mahāśvetaḥ) - Mahāśveta; शरीरात् (śarīrāt) - from the body; तस्य (tasya) - his; निर्ययौ (niryayau) - departed; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - having been asked; च (ca) - and; आह (āha) - said; बलम् (balaṃ) - strength; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; यतः (yataḥ) - from which; वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - event; अहम् (aham) - I; ततः (tataḥ) - from that; इति (iti) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having spoken; च (ca) - and; ययौ (yayau) - went; तत्र (tatra) - there; यतः (yataḥ) - where; वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - event; नराधिप (narādhipa) - O king;]
(In him having gone, Mahāśveta departed from his body. Having been asked, he also said, "Know the strength from which the event (happened) from me." Thus having spoken, he went there where the event (happened), O king.)
When he had departed, Mahāśveta left his body. When questioned, he said, "Know the strength from which this event occurred to me." Having said this, he went there where the event took place, O king.
ततः प्रभामयी देवी शरीरात्तस्य निर्ययौ। तामपृच्छत्स दैत्येन्द्रः सा श्रीरित्येवमब्रवीत् ॥१२-१२४-५४॥
tataḥ prabhāmayī devī śarīrāttasya niryayau। tāmapṛcchatsa daityendraḥ sā śrīrityevamabravīt ॥12-124-54॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; प्रभामयी (prabhāmayī) - full of radiance; देवी (devī) - goddess; शरीरात् (śarīrāt) - from (his) body; तस्य (tasya) - his; निर्ययौ (niryayau) - departed; ताम् (tām) - her; अपृच्छत् (apṛcchat) - asked; सः (saḥ) - he; दैत्येन्द्रः (daityendraḥ) - lord of the daityas; सा (sā) - she; श्रीः (śrīḥ) - Śrī (goddess of fortune); इति (iti) - thus; एवम् (evam) - in this way; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]
(Then the radiant goddess departed from his body. The lord of the daityas asked her. She said, "I am Śrī," thus.)
Then, the radiant goddess emerged from his body. The lord of the daityas asked her, and she replied, "I am Śrī."
उषितास्मि सुखं वीर त्वयि सत्यपराक्रमे। त्वया त्यक्ता गमिष्यामि बलं यत्र ततो ह्यहम् ॥१२-१२४-५५॥
uṣitāsmi sukhaṃ vīra tvayi satyaparākrame। tvayā tyaktā gamiṣyāmi balaṃ yatra tato hyaham ॥12-124-55॥
[उषिता (uṣitā) - remained; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; सुखं (sukham) - happily; वीर (vīra) - O hero; त्वयि (tvayi) - in you; सत्यपराक्रमे (satyaparākrame) - truly valiant; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; त्यक्ता (tyaktā) - abandoned; गमिष्यामि (gamiṣyāmi) - I shall go; बलं (balam) - strength; यत्र (yatra) - where; ततः (tataḥ) - from there; हि (hi) - indeed; अहम् (aham) - I;]
(I have remained happily, O hero, in you, truly valiant. Abandoned by you, I shall go where strength is; from there indeed I (will go).)
O hero of true valor, I have lived happily with you. Now, abandoned by you, I will go wherever strength is; from there, indeed, I shall go.
ततो भयं प्रादुरासीत्प्रह्रादस्य महात्मनः। अपृच्छत च तां भूयः क्व यासि कमलालये ॥१२-१२४-५६॥
tato bhayaṃ prādurāsīt prahrādasya mahātmanaḥ। apṛcchata ca tāṃ bhūyaḥ kva yāsi kamalālaye ॥12-124-56॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; भयम् (bhayam) - fear; प्रादुरासीत् (prādurāsīt) - arose; प्रह्रादस्य (prahrādasya) - of Prahlāda; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great-souled; अपृच्छत् (apṛcchat) - asked; च (ca) - and; ताम् (tām) - her; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; क्व (kva) - where; यासि (yāsi) - are you going; कमलालये (kamalālaye) - O abode of lotuses;]
(Then fear arose in Prahlāda, the great-souled one. And he again asked her, "Where are you going, O abode of lotuses?")
Then fear arose in the great-souled Prahlāda. He again asked her, "Where are you going, O abode of lotuses?"
त्वं हि सत्यव्रता देवी लोकस्य परमेश्वरी। कश्चासौ ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठस्तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥१२-१२४-५७॥
tvaṃ hi satyavratā devī lokasya parameśvarī। kaścāsau brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhas tattvam icchāmi veditum ॥12-124-57॥
[त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; हि (hi) - indeed; सत्यव्रता (satyavratā) - one of true vows; देवी (devī) - goddess; लोकस्य (lokasya) - of the world; परमेश्वरी (parameśvarī) - supreme mistress; कः (kaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; असौ (asau) - that; ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठः (brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhaḥ) - best among Brāhmaṇas; तत्त्वम् (tattvam) - truth; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; वेदितुम् (veditum) - to know;]
(You indeed are of true vows, goddess, supreme mistress of the world. Who is that best among Brāhmaṇas? I wish to know the truth.)
You are truly devoted to truth, O goddess, supreme mistress of the world. Who is that foremost Brāhmaṇa? I wish to know the truth about him.
श्रीरुवाच॥
śrīr uvāca॥
[श्रीः (śrīḥ) - prosperity; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Prosperity said.)
Śrī said.
स शक्रो ब्रह्मचारी च यस्त्वया चोपशिक्षितः। त्रैलोक्ये ते यदैश्वर्यं तत्तेनापहृतं प्रभो ॥१२-१२४-५८॥
sa śakro brahmacārī ca yastvayā copaśikṣitaḥ। trailokye te yadaiśvaryaṃ tattenāpahṛtaṃ prabho ॥12-124-58॥
[स (sa) - he; शक्रः (śakraḥ) - Śakra (Indra); ब्रह्मचारी (brahmacārī) - celibate; च (ca) - and; यः (yaḥ) - who; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; च (ca) - and; उपशिक्षितः (upaśikṣitaḥ) - instructed; त्रैलोक्ये (trailokye) - in the three worlds; ते (te) - your; यत् (yat) - which; ऐश्वर्यम् (aiśvaryam) - sovereignty; तत् (tat) - that; तेन (tena) - by him; अपहृतम् (apahṛtam) - taken away; प्रभो (prabho) - O lord;]
(He, Śakra, the celibate, and who was instructed by you, in the three worlds, your sovereignty, that, by him, has been taken away, O lord.)
O lord, that Śakra, who was a celibate and was instructed by you, has taken away your sovereignty in the three worlds.
शीलेन हि त्वया लोकाः सर्वे धर्मज्ञ निर्जिताः। तद्विज्ञाय महेन्द्रेण तव शीलं हृतं प्रभो ॥१२-१२४-५९॥
śīlena hi tvayā lokāḥ sarve dharmajña nirjitāḥ। tad vijñāya mahendreṇa tava śīlaṃ hṛtaṃ prabho ॥12-124-59॥
[शीलेन (śīlena) - by virtue; by good conduct; हि (hi) - indeed; surely; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; लोकाः (lokāḥ) - worlds; beings; सर्वे (sarve) - all; धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - knower of dharma; righteous one; निर्जिताः (nirjitāḥ) - conquered; subdued; तत् (tat) - that; विज्ञाय (vijñāya) - having understood; knowing; महेन्द्रेण (mahendreṇa) - by Mahendra; by Indra; तव (tava) - your; शीलम् (śīlam) - virtue; good conduct; हृतम् (hṛtam) - taken; stolen; प्रभो (prabho) - O lord;]
(By virtue indeed by you all worlds, O knower of dharma, are conquered. That having understood, by Mahendra your virtue was taken, O lord.)
Because of your virtue, O knower of dharma, all the worlds have indeed been conquered by you. Knowing this, Mahendra (Indra) has taken away your virtue, O lord.
धर्मः सत्यं तथा वृत्तं बलं चैव तथा ह्यहम्। शीलमूला महाप्राज्ञ सदा नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥१२-१२४-६०॥
dharmaḥ satyaṃ tathā vṛttaṃ balaṃ caiva tathā hy aham। śīlamūlā mahāprājña sadā nāsty atra saṃśayaḥ ॥12-124-60॥
[धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; तथा (tathā) - likewise; वृत्तं (vṛttaṃ) - conduct; बलं (balaṃ) - strength; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; तथा (tathā) - likewise; हि (hi) - indeed; अहम् (aham) - I; शीलमूला (śīlamūlā) - rooted in character; महाप्राज्ञ (mahāprājña) - O greatly wise one; सदा (sadā) - always; न (na) - not; अस्ति (asti) - is; अत्र (atra) - here; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt;]
(Righteousness, truth, likewise conduct, and strength indeed, likewise indeed I—rooted in character, O greatly wise one, always there is no doubt here.)
O greatly wise one, righteousness, truth, conduct, and strength—all these, as well as myself, are always rooted in character; there is never any doubt about this.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
एवमुक्त्वा गता तु श्रीस्ते च सर्वे युधिष्ठिर। दुर्योधनस्तु पितरं भूय एवाब्रवीदिदम् ॥१२-१२४-६१॥
evam-uktvā gatā tu śrīs-te ca sarve yudhiṣṭhira। duryodhanas-tu pitaraṃ bhūya evābravīd-idam ॥12-124-61॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having spoken; गता (gatā) - departed; तु (tu) - but; श्रीः (śrīḥ) - Śrī (the goddess of fortune); ते (te) - those; च (ca) - and; सर्वे (sarve) - all; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; दुर्योधनः (duryodhanaḥ) - Duryodhana; तु (tu) - but; पितरम् (pitaram) - father; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; एव (eva) - indeed; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; इदम् (idam) - this;]
(Thus having spoken, Śrī departed, but those all and Yudhiṣṭhira. But Duryodhana again indeed said this to his father.)
After Śrī had spoken thus and departed, and all those including Yudhiṣṭhira had left, Duryodhana again addressed his father with these words.
शीलस्य तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेत्तुं कौरवनन्दन। प्राप्यते च यथा शीलं तमुपायं वदस्व मे ॥१२-१२४-६२॥
śīlasya tattvam icchāmi vettuṃ kauravanandana। prāpyate ca yathā śīlaṃ tam upāyaṃ vadasva me ॥12-124-62॥
[शीलस्य (śīlasya) - of character; तत्त्वम् (tattvam) - essence; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I desire; वेत्तुम् (vettuṃ) - to know; कौरवनन्दन (kauravanandana) - O delight of the Kauravas; प्राप्यते (prāpyate) - is attained; च (ca) - and; यथा (yathā) - as; शीलम् (śīlam) - character; तम् (tam) - that; उपायम् (upāyam) - means; वदस्व (vadasva) - please tell; मे (me) - to me;]
(Of character the essence I desire to know, O delight of the Kauravas. As character is attained, that means please tell to me.)
O delight of the Kauravas, I wish to know the essence of character. Please tell me the means by which character is attained.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
[धृतराष्ट्र (dhṛtarāṣṭra) - Dhṛtarāṣṭra (name of the blind king); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Dhṛtarāṣṭra said;)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
सोपायं पूर्वमुद्दिष्टं प्रह्रादेन महात्मना। सङ्क्षेपतस्तु शीलस्य शृणु प्राप्तिं नराधिप ॥१२-१२४-६३॥
sopāyaṃ pūrvamuddiṣṭaṃ prahrādena mahātmanā। saṅkṣepatastu śīlasya śṛṇu prāptiṃ narādhipa ॥12-124-63॥
[सः (saḥ) - he; उपायम् (upāyam) - means; पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - previously; उद्दिष्टम् (uddiṣṭam) - declared; प्रह्रादेन (prahrādena) - by Prahlāda; महात्मना (mahātmanā) - by the great-souled; सङ्क्षेपतः (saṅkṣepataḥ) - in brief; तु (tu) - but; शीलस्य (śīlasya) - of character; शृणु (śṛṇu) - listen; प्राप्तिम् (prāptim) - attainment; नराधिप (narādhipa) - O king;]
(He, the means previously declared by Prahlāda, the great-souled; but in brief, listen to the attainment of character, O king.)
O king, listen in brief to the attainment of character, the means of which was previously declared by the great-souled Prahlāda.
अद्रोहः सर्वभूतेषु कर्मणा मनसा गिरा। अनुग्रहश्च दानं च शीलमेतत्प्रशस्यते ॥१२-१२४-६४॥
adrohaḥ sarvabhūteṣu karmaṇā manasā girā। anugrahaś ca dānaṃ ca śīlam etat praśasyate ॥12-124-64॥
[अद्रोहः (adrohaḥ) - absence of hostility; सर्वभूतेषु (sarvabhūteṣu) - towards all beings; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action; मनसा (manasā) - by mind; गिरा (girā) - by speech; अनुग्रहः (anugrahaḥ) - kindness; च (ca) - and; दानं (dānam) - charity; च (ca) - and; शीलम् (śīlam) - good conduct; एतत् (etat) - this; प्रशस्यते (praśasyate) - is praised;]
(Absence of hostility towards all beings by action, by mind, by speech; kindness and charity and good conduct—this is praised.)
The absence of hostility towards all beings, whether by action, mind, or speech, along with kindness, charity, and good conduct—this is praised.
यदन्येषां हितं न स्यादात्मनः कर्म पौरुषम्। अपत्रपेत वा येन न तत्कुर्यात्कथञ्चन ॥१२-१२४-६५॥
yadanyeṣāṃ hitaṃ na syādātmanaḥ karma pauruṣam। apatrapeta vā yena na tatkuryātkathaṃcana ॥12-124-65॥
[यत् (yat) - which; अन्येषाम् (anyeṣām) - of others; हितम् (hitam) - welfare; न (na) - not; स्यात् (syāt) - would be; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of oneself; कर्म (karma) - action; पौरुषम् (pauruṣam) - effort; अपत्रपेत (apatrapeta) - would cause shame; वा (vā) - or; येन (yena) - by which; न (na) - not; तत् (tat) - that; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - should do; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way;]
(Which action of effort of oneself would not be the welfare of others, or by which one would be ashamed, that one should not do in any way.)
One should never perform any action, however strenuous, that is not for the welfare of others or that would cause oneself shame.
तत्तु कर्म तथा कुर्याद्येन श्लाघेत संसदि। एतच्छीलं समासेन कथितं कुरुसत्तम ॥१२-१२४-६६॥
tattu karma tathā kuryādyena ślāgheta saṃsadi। etacchīlaṃ samāsena kathitaṃ kurusattama ॥12-124-66॥
[तत् (tat) - that; तु (tu) - but; कर्म (karma) - action; तथा (tathā) - thus; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - should do; येन (yena) - by which; श्लाघेत (ślāgheta) - one may be praised; संसदि (saṃsadi) - in the assembly; एतत् (etat) - this; शीलं (śīlam) - conduct; समासेन (samāsena) - in brief; कथितं (kathitam) - has been stated; कुरुसत्तम (kurusattama) - O best of the Kurus;]
(But that action should be done thus, by which one may be praised in the assembly. This conduct, in brief, has been stated, O best of the Kurus.)
But that action should be performed in such a way that one is praised in the assembly. In brief, this is the conduct that has been described, O best of the Kurus.
यद्यप्यशीला नृपते प्राप्नुवन्ति क्वचिच्छ्रियम्। न भुञ्जते चिरं तात समूलाश्च पतन्ति ते ॥१२-१२४-६७॥
yadyapy aśīlā nṛpate prāpnuvanti kvacic chriyam। na bhuñjate ciraṃ tāta samūlāś ca patanti te ॥12-124-67॥
[यद्यपि (yadyapi) - even if; although; अशीला (aśīlā) - without good character; of bad conduct; नृपते (nṛpate) - O king; प्राप्नुवन्ति (prāpnuvanti) - attain; reach; क्वचित् (kvacit) - sometimes; at some place; श्रियं (śriyam) - prosperity; wealth; न (na) - not; भुञ्जते (bhuñjate) - enjoy; partake; चिरम् (ciram) - for long; for a long time; तात (tāta) - dear one; O dear; समूलाः (samūlāḥ) - with roots; completely; च (ca) - and; पतन्ति (patanti) - fall; perish; ते (te) - they; those;]
(Even if those without good character, O king, sometimes attain prosperity, they do not enjoy it for long, dear one; they, with roots, also fall.)
O king, even if people of bad conduct sometimes gain prosperity, they do not enjoy it for long, dear one; they, along with their roots, eventually perish.
एतद्विदित्वा तत्त्वेन शीलवान्भव पुत्रक। यदीच्छसि श्रियं तात सुविशिष्टां युधिष्ठिरात् ॥१२-१२४-६८॥
etadviditvā tattvena śīlavānbhava putraka। yadīcchasi śriyaṃ tāta suviśiṣṭāṃ yudhiṣṭhirāt ॥12-124-68॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; विदित्वा (viditvā) - having known; तत्त्वेन (tattvena) - truly; शीलवान् (śīlavān) - virtuous; भव (bhava) - be; पुत्रक (putraka) - O son; यदि (yadi) - if; इच्छसि (icchasi) - you desire; श्रियम् (śriyam) - prosperity; तात (tāta) - O dear; सुविशिष्टाम् (suviśiṣṭām) - excellent; युधिष्ठिरात् (yudhiṣṭhirāt) - from Yudhiṣṭhira;]
(Having known this truly, be virtuous, O son. If you desire excellent prosperity, O dear, (obtain it) from Yudhiṣṭhira.)
O son, having truly understood this, become virtuous. If you wish for excellent prosperity, O dear, seek it from Yudhiṣṭhira.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
एतत्कथितवान्पुत्रे धृतराष्ट्रो नराधिप। एतत्कुरुष्व कौन्तेय ततः प्राप्स्यसि तत्फलम् ॥१२-१२४-६९॥
etat-kathitavān putre dhṛtarāṣṭro narādhipa। etat kuruṣva kaunteya tataḥ prāpsyasi tat-phalam ॥12-124-69॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; कथितवान् (kathitavān) - has spoken; पुत्रे (putre) - to (his) son; धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; नराधिप (narādhipa) - O king; एतत् (etat) - this; कुरुष्व (kuruṣva) - do; कौन्तेय (kaunteya) - O son of Kunti; ततः (tataḥ) - then; प्राप्स्यसि (prāpsyasi) - you will obtain; तत् (tat) - that; फलम् (phalam) - fruit;]
(This has been spoken to (his) son by Dhritarashtra, O king. This do, O son of Kunti; then you will obtain that fruit.)
Dhritarashtra spoke this to his son, O king. Do this, O son of Kunti, and then you will obtain the result.
