12.124
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O best of men, these people always praise on earth that character alone is foremost in dharma; after that, I have a great doubt.
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.
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.
Bhīṣma said.
O bestower of honor, formerly here, Duryodhana, seeing the prosperity that had thus arrived, and suffering, told this to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
O Bhārata, hear all about the mockery that took place in the assembly at Indraprastha involving you and your brothers, O great king.
After seeing your assembly and its unsurpassed prosperity, Duryodhana, while seated, conveyed everything to his father.
Having heard Duryodhana's words, Dhritarashtra then, together with Karna, spoke this speech to Duryodhana.
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"
Just as you, O conqueror of other cities, have attained great sovereignty, so too all your brothers, friends, and relatives are your servants.
You are clothed in garments and eat food made of meat. Noble horses carry you. Why do you grieve, dear son?
Duryodhana said.
Ten thousand such initiated great souls dine from golden vessels in the residence of Yudhishthira.
Having seen that divine assembly hall adorned with celestial flowers and fruits, as well as horses, partridges, spotted animals, and various kinds of gems.
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.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
If you wish for prosperity like that of Yudhiṣṭhira, or even greater, O best of men, then be virtuous, my son.
Indeed, by virtue, the three worlds can certainly be conquered—there is no doubt. Truly, for the virtuous, nothing in the world is impossible.
Māndhātā obtained the earth in one night, Janamejaya in three days, and Nābhāga in seven nights. "12-124-16"
Because all these kings were virtuous and endowed with self-control, the earth herself came to them, won by their virtues.
Here too, O Bhārata, they recount this ancient story, once told by Nārada, with conduct as its basis.
Prahlāda seized the kingdom of the great-souled Indra. By relying on his character, the Daitya also brought the three worlds under his control.
Then Śakra (Indra), with folded hands, approached Bṛhaspati and said: "I wish to know what is best."
Then Bṛhaspati, O best of the Kurus, imparted to Devendra the supreme knowledge that leads to the highest good.
Bṛhaspati said, "This much is better." But Indra asked further, "Where would the distinction lie?"
Bṛhaspati said.
O Indra, there is a great distinction of the magnanimous Bhārgava, O dear one. Go there again and bring good fortune to you.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said:
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.
Having also been permitted by the great-souled Bhārgava, Śatakratu (Indra) again said to Śukra, "There is indeed welfare."
Bhārgava said, "Prahlāda, the great-souled knower of dharma, possesses special knowledge; therefore, he became gladdened."
Then Pākaśāsana (Indra), having assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa, after hearing Prahlāda, spoke wisely: "I wish to know what is best."
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."
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."
Then King Prahlada, being pleased, said 'so be it' to the speaker of Brahman and, at an auspicious time, gave the essence of knowledge.
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.
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.
Prahāda said:
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.
They, being confident, always speak and restrain me. They see me as one attached to poetic speech, eager to listen, and free from envy.
Just as bees gather honey, teachers gather around a person who is righteous, self-controlled, has conquered anger, and has mastery over his senses.
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.
This is nectar on earth, this is the highest vision; when this poetry is heard from the mouth of a Brāhmaṇa, it spreads forth.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said:
Prahlada said to the sage, "This much is the best." Having listened to him, the lord of the Daityas then spoke these words.
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.
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."
The brāhmaṇa said:
If you are pleased, O king, and wish for my welfare, then I desire to obtain your character; this is the boon I seek.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said:
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.
Prahlāda, astonished, said to him, "So be it." Then, after serving the Brāhmaṇa, he granted the boon, but became afflicted with sorrow.
After granting the boon and as the brāhmaṇa departed, he became greatly anxious; O great king, Prahlāda had not yet made up his mind.
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.
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."
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.
But when that brilliance departed, another form of that kind emerged from his body. And he said, "Who are you?"
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.
Then, O great king, another being, blazing as if with brilliance, emerged from the body of the great-souled Prahlāda.
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."
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."
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.
Then, the radiant goddess emerged from his body. The lord of the daityas asked her, and she replied, "I am Śrī."
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.
Then fear arose in the great-souled Prahlāda. He again asked her, "Where are you going, O abode of lotuses?"
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.
Śrī said.
O lord, that Śakra, who was a celibate and was instructed by you, has taken away your sovereignty in the three worlds.
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.
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.
Bhīṣma said.
After Śrī had spoken thus and departed, and all those including Yudhiṣṭhira had left, Duryodhana again addressed his father with these words.
O delight of the Kauravas, I wish to know the essence of character. Please tell me the means by which character is attained.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
O king, listen in brief to the attainment of character, the means of which was previously declared by the great-souled Prahlāda.
The absence of hostility towards all beings, whether by action, mind, or speech, along with kindness, charity, and good conduct—this is praised.
One should never perform any action, however strenuous, that is not for the welfare of others or that would cause oneself shame.
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.
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.
O son, having truly understood this, become virtuous. If you wish for excellent prosperity, O dear, seek it from Yudhiṣṭhira.
Bhīṣma said.
Dhritarashtra spoke this to his son, O king. Do this, O son of Kunti, and then you will obtain the result.
