12.132
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्र कर्मान्तवचनं कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः। प्रत्यक्षावेव धर्मार्थौ क्षत्रियस्य विजानतः ॥ तत्र न व्यवधातव्यं परोक्षा धर्मयापना ॥१२-१३२-१॥
Here, the ancient authorities mention the statement about the conclusion of action. For the kṣatriya who understands, both dharma and artha are directly perceived. In that context, indirect maintenance of dharma should not be hindered. 12-132-1.
अधर्मो धर्म इत्येतद्यथा वृकपदं तथा। धर्माधर्मफले जातु न ददर्शेह कश्चन ॥१२-१३२-२॥
Unrighteousness is called righteousness; just as with a wolf's footprint, so it is. No one here has ever seen the fruits of righteousness or unrighteousness.
बुभूषेद्बलवानेव सर्वं बलवतो वशे। श्रियं बलममात्यांश्च बलवानिह विन्दति ॥१२-१३२-३॥
A powerful person should wish to bring everything under the sway of the strong. In this world, it is the strong who gain prosperity, strength, and loyal ministers.
यो ह्यनाढ्यः स पतितस्तदुच्छिष्टं यदल्पकम्। बह्वपथ्यं बलवति न किञ्चित्त्रायते भयात् ॥१२-१३२-४॥
He who is not wealthy is fallen; whatever little remnant remains, even if much and unwholesome, does not protect the strong from fear.
उभौ सत्याधिकारौ तौ त्रायेते महतो भयात्। अति धर्माद्बलं मन्ये बलाद्धर्मः प्रवर्तते ॥१२-१३२-५॥
Both authorities of truth protect from great fear. I believe that strength is superior to dharma; from strength, dharma arises.
बले प्रतिष्ठितो धर्मो धरण्यामिव जङ्गमः। धूमो वायोरिव वशं बलं धर्मोऽनुवर्तते ॥१२-१३२-६॥
Dharma, when established in strength, moves on the earth like a living being; just as smoke follows the wind, so does dharma follow strength.
अनीश्वरे बलं धर्मो द्रुमं वल्लीव संश्रिता। वश्यो बलवतां धर्मः सुखं भोगवतामिव ॥ नास्त्यसाध्यं बलवतां सर्वं बलवतां शुचि ॥१२-१३२-७॥
For those without power, righteousness depends on strength just as a creeper depends on a tree; righteousness is subject to the powerful, and happiness to those who enjoy. Nothing is impossible for the powerful; for the powerful, everything is attainable and pure.
दुराचारः क्षीणबलः परिमाणं नियच्छति। अथ तस्मादुद्विजते सर्वो लोको वृकादिव ॥१२-१३२-८॥
A person of wicked conduct and diminished strength restricts his own scope; then, everyone avoids him just as people avoid a wolf.
अपध्वस्तो ह्यवमतो दुःखं जीवति जीवितम्। जीवितं यदवक्षिप्तं यथैव मरणं तथा ॥१२-१३२-९॥
A life that is cast down and despised lives in suffering. A life that is rejected is just like death itself.
यदेनमाहुः पापेन चारित्रेण विनिक्षतम्। स भृशं तप्यतेऽनेन वाक्षल्येन परिक्षतः ॥१२-१३२-१०॥
He whom they say is smeared by sin and conduct, he is greatly tormented and afflicted by this harshness.
अत्रैतदाहुराचार्याः पापस्य परिमोक्षणे। त्रयीं विद्यां निषेवेत तथोपासीत स द्विजान् ॥१२-१३२-११॥
Here, the teachers declare regarding the removal of sin: one should study the threefold Vedic knowledge and likewise honor the Brahmins.
प्रसादयेन्मधुरया वाचाप्यथ च कर्मणा। महामनाश्चैव भवेद्विवहेच्च महाकुले ॥१२-१३२-१२॥
One should win over others with sweet words and actions; and in marriage, one should be noble-minded, especially in a distinguished family.
इत्यस्मीति वदेदेवं परेषां कीर्तयन्गुणान्। जपेदुदकशीलः स्यात्पेशलो नातिजल्पनः ॥१२-१३२-१३॥
One should say, 'Thus I am,' and in this way praise the qualities of others; one should recite, be pure in habits, gentle, and not excessively talkative.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रं सम्प्रविशेद्बहु कृत्वा सुदुष्करम्। उच्यमानोऽपि लोकेन बहु तत्तदचिन्तयन् ॥१२-१३२-१४॥
He repeatedly entered the Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatriya orders, performing very difficult deeds; even when people spoke much about various things, he paid no attention to them.
अपापो ह्येवमाचारः क्षिप्रं बहुमतो भवेत्। सुखं वित्तं च भुञ्जीत वृत्तेनैतेन गोपयेत् ॥ लोके च लभते पूजां परत्र च महत्फलम् ॥१२-१३२-१५॥
A person of such conduct is indeed free from sin and quickly becomes highly respected. He should enjoy happiness and wealth, and protect them by this conduct. In this world, he attains honor, and in the next, great reward.
