12.133
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। यथा दस्युः समर्यादः प्रेत्यभावे न नश्यति ॥१२-१३३-१॥
Here too, they narrate this ancient story: Just as a robber who has proper conduct does not perish after death.
प्रहर्ता मतिमाञ्शूरः श्रुतवाननृशंसवान्। रक्षन्नक्षयिणं धर्मं ब्रह्मण्यो गुरुपूजकः ॥१२-१३३-२॥
He is a striker, intelligent, brave, learned, compassionate, protector of the imperishable dharma, devoted to Brahman, and worshipper of the guru.
निषाद्यां क्षत्रियाज्जातः क्षत्रधर्मानुपालकः। कापव्यो नाम नैषादिर्दस्युत्वात्सिद्धिमाप्तवान् ॥१२-१३३-३॥
Kāpayva, born to a Kṣatriya and a Niṣādī woman, who upheld the duties of a Kṣatriya, was known as a Naiṣādi. Because of his life as a robber, he attained success.
अरण्ये सायपूर्वाह्णे मृगयूथप्रकोपिता। विधिज्ञो मृगजातीनां निपानानां च कोविदः ॥१२-१३३-४॥
In the forest, in the early afternoon, agitated by herds of deer, there was an expert who knew the rules regarding the species of deer and their watering places.
सर्वकाननदेशज्ञः पारियात्रचरः सदा। धर्मज्ञः सर्वभूतानाममोघेषुर्दृढायुधः ॥१२-१३३-५॥
He knows all the forest regions, always wanders in the Pāriyātra mountains; he is knowledgeable in dharma, knows all beings, has unfailing arrows, and is firmly armed.
अप्यनेकशताः सेना एक एव जिगाय सः। स वृद्धावन्धपितरौ महारण्येऽभ्यपूजयत् ॥१२-१३३-६॥
He alone conquered even hundreds of armies. In the great forest, he honored his aged and blind parents.
मधुमांसैर्मूलफलैरन्नैरुच्चावचैरपि। सत्कृत्य भोजयामास सम्यक्परिचचार च ॥१२-१३३-७॥
He honored them and fed them properly with honey, meats, roots, fruits, and various kinds of foods, and also served them well.
आरण्यकान्प्रव्रजितान्ब्राह्मणान्परिपालयन्। अपि तेभ्यो मृगान्हत्वा निनाय च महावने ॥१२-१३३-८॥
He protected the forest-dwelling ascetic Brāhmaṇas, and also brought them deer, having killed (the deer) for them, in the great forest.
ये स्म न प्रतिगृह्णन्ति दस्युभोजनशङ्कया। तेषामासज्य गेहेषु काल्य एव स गच्छति ॥१२-१३३-९॥
Those who, out of suspicion that the food is from robbers, do not accept it—if such food is kept in their houses, it departs by morning.
तं बहूनि सहस्राणि ग्रामणित्वेऽभिवव्रिरे। निर्मर्यादानि दस्यूनां निरनुक्रोशकारिणाम् ॥१२-१३३-१०॥
Many thousands chose him as the village head among the robbers, who were without boundaries and acted without compassion.
दस्यव ऊचुः॥
The robbers said.
मुहूर्तदेशकालज्ञ प्राज्ञ शीलदृढायुध। ग्रामणीर्भव नो मुख्यः सर्वेषामेव संमतः ॥१२-१३३-११॥
Be the chief leader for us, one who knows the right moment, place, and time, wise, steadfast in conduct and arms, and accepted by all.
यथा यथा वक्ष्यसि नः करिष्यामस्तथा तथा। पालयास्मान्यथान्यायं यथा माता यथा पिता ॥१२-१३३-१२॥
Whatever you instruct us, we shall act accordingly. Please protect us justly, as a mother or a father would.
कापव्य उवाच॥
Kāpavya said.
मा वधीस्त्वं स्त्रियं भीरुं मा शिशुं मा तपस्विनम्। नायुध्यमानो हन्तव्यो न च ग्राह्या बलात्स्त्रियः ॥१२-१३३-१३॥
Do not kill a woman, a fearful person, a child, or an ascetic. One who is not fighting should not be killed, and women should not be seized by force.
सर्वथा स्त्री न हन्तव्या सर्वसत्त्वेषु युध्यता। नित्यं गोब्राह्मणे स्वस्ति योद्धव्यं च तदर्थतः ॥१२-१३३-१४॥
Under all circumstances, a woman must never be killed; even in battle among all beings, one must always fight for the welfare of cows and Brāhmaṇas, and fight only for that purpose.
सस्यं च नापहन्तव्यं सीरविघ्नं च मा कृथाः। पूज्यन्ते यत्र देवाश्च पितरोऽतिथयस्तथा ॥१२-१३३-१५॥
Do not destroy crops or cause obstruction to ploughing. In places where gods, ancestors, and guests are worshipped likewise.
सर्वभूतेष्वपि च वै ब्राह्मणो मोक्षमर्हति। कार्या चापचितिस्तेषां सर्वस्वेनापि या भवेत् ॥१२-१३३-१६॥
A brāhmaṇa, even among all beings, truly deserves liberation. Reverence should be shown to them, even if it requires all of one's possessions.
यस्य ह्येते सम्प्ररुष्टा मन्त्रयन्ति पराभवम्। न तस्य त्रिषु लोकेषु त्राता भवति कश्चन ॥१२-१३३-१७॥
If these people, being thoroughly enraged, plot ruin for someone, then in all the three worlds, there is no one who can protect him.
यो ब्राह्मणान्परिभवेद्विनाशं वापि रोचयेत्। सूर्योदय इवावश्यं ध्रुवं तस्य पराभवः ॥१२-१३३-१८॥
Whoever insults Brāhmaṇas or even wishes for their destruction, his downfall is as certain and inevitable as the sunrise.
इहैव फलमासीनः प्रत्याकाङ्क्षति शक्तितः। ये ये नो न प्रदास्यन्ति तांस्तान्सेनाभियास्यति ॥१२-१३३-१९॥
He waits here itself for the result, expecting as per his ability. Whoever does not give to us, the army will march against them.
शिष्ट्यर्थं विहितो दण्डो न वधार्थं विनिश्चयः। ये च शिष्टान्प्रबाधन्ते धर्मस्तेषां वधः स्मृतः ॥१२-१३३-२०॥
Punishment is instituted for the protection of the virtuous, not for the purpose of killing; but those who harm the virtuous, for them, killing is considered righteous.
ये हि राष्ट्रोपरोधेन वृत्तिं कुर्वन्ति केचन। तदेव तेऽनु मीयन्ते कुणपं कृमयो यथा ॥१२-१३३-२१॥
Those who make their living by harming the kingdom are regarded just like worms in a corpse.
ये पुनर्धर्मशास्त्रेण वर्तेरन्निह दस्यवः। अपि ते दस्यवो भूत्वा क्षिप्रं सिद्धिमवाप्नुयुः ॥१२-१३३-२२॥
Even if robbers here were to conduct themselves according to the dharmaśāstra, they too, having become robbers, would quickly attain success.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
तत्सर्वमुपचक्रुस्ते कापव्यस्यानुशासनम्। वृत्तिं च लेभिरे सर्वे पापेभ्यश्चाप्युपारमन् ॥१२-१३३-२३॥
They all followed the instruction of Kāpavya; everyone obtained their livelihood and also refrained from sinful acts.
कापव्यः कर्मणा तेन महतीं सिद्धिमाप्तवान्। साधूनामाचरन्क्षेमं दस्यून्पापान्निवर्तयन् ॥१२-१३३-२४॥
Kāpavya achieved great accomplishment by his actions; he ensured the welfare of the virtuous by turning away evil robbers.
इदं कापव्यचरितं यो नित्यमनुकीर्तयेत्। नारण्येभ्यः स भूतेभ्यो भयमार्छेत्कदाचन ॥१२-१३३-२५॥
Whoever always recites this account of Kāpavya will never experience fear from the forests or from any beings at any time.
भयं तस्य न मर्त्येभ्यो नामर्त्येभ्यः कथञ्चन। न सतो नासतो राजन्स ह्यरण्येषु गोपतिः ॥१२-१३३-२६॥
O king, the lord of cows has no fear from mortals or immortals, nor from the existent or the non-existent, in any way, even in the forests.
