12.135
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्रैव चेदमव्यग्रः शृण्वाख्यानमनुत्तमम्। दीर्घसूत्रं समाश्रित्य कार्याकार्यविनिश्चये ॥१२-१३५-१॥
If you are undistracted right here, listen to this unsurpassed narrative, which, by resorting to a detailed explanation, determines what is duty and what is not.
नातिगाधे जलस्थाये सुहृदः शकुलास्त्रयः। प्रभूतमत्स्ये कौन्तेय बभूवुः सहचारिणः ॥१२-१३५-२॥
O son of Kunti, in a not very deep pond, three fish who were friends lived together among many other fish.
अत्रैकः प्राप्तकालज्ञो दीर्घदर्शी तथापरः। दीर्घसूत्रश्च तत्रैकस्त्रयाणां जलचारिणाम् ॥१२-१३५-३॥
Here, among the three water-dwellers, one is a knower of the right time and far-sighted, another is a procrastinator.
कदाचित्तज्जलस्थायं मत्स्यबन्धाः समन्ततः। निःस्रावयामासुरथो निम्नेषु विविधैर्मुखैः ॥१२-१३५-४॥
Once, the fishermen all around caused the water-dwelling creature to be drained out into the low places through various openings.
प्रक्षीयमाणं तं बुद्ध्वा जलस्थायं भयागमे। अब्रवीद्दीर्घदर्शी तु तावुभौ सुहृदौ तदा ॥१२-१३५-५॥
But then, the farsighted one, having understood that he was being diminished, dwelling in water at the coming of danger, spoke to those two friends.
इयमापत्समुत्पन्ना सर्वेषां सलिलौकसाम्। शीघ्रमन्यत्र गच्छामः पन्था यावन्न दुष्यति ॥१२-१३५-६॥
This calamity has arisen for all the water-dwellers. Let us quickly go elsewhere before the path is ruined.
अनागतमनर्थं हि सुनयैर्यः प्रबाधते। न स संशयमाप्नोति रोचतां वां व्रजामहे ॥१२-१३५-७॥
He who, by good policies, prevents misfortune before it arrives, never falls into doubt. Let us go to what pleases you both.
दीर्घसूत्रस्तु यस्तत्र सोऽब्रवीत्सम्यगुच्यते। न तु कार्या त्वरा यावदिति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥१२-१३५-८॥
But as for the procrastinator there, he is said to have spoken properly. However, one should not act with haste as long as this is my determined thought.
अथ सम्प्रतिपत्तिज्ञः प्राब्रवीद्दीर्घदर्शिनम्। प्राप्ते काले न मे किञ्चिन्न्यायतः परिहास्यते ॥१२-१३५-९॥
Then the one who understood the proper procedure said to the farsighted person: "When the time comes, nothing of mine will be rightly ridiculed."
एवमुक्तो निराक्रामद्दीर्घदर्शी महामतिः। जगाम स्रोतसैकेन गम्भीरसलिलाशयम् ॥१२-१३५-१०॥
Thus addressed, the far-seeing and wise one departed; he went by a single current to the deep reservoir of water.
ततः प्रस्रुततोयं तं समीक्ष्य सलिलाशयम्। बबन्धुर्विविधैर्योगैर्मत्स्यान्मत्स्योपजीविनः ॥१२-१३५-११॥
Then, seeing that the water-reservoir was overflowing, the fishermen caught the fishes there by various methods.
विलोड्यमाने तस्मिंस्तु स्रुततोये जलाशये। अगच्छद्ग्रहणं तत्र दीर्घसूत्रः सहापरैः ॥१२-१३५-१२॥
While the reservoir of water was being agitated, the procrastinator, along with others, did not manage to catch anything there.
उद्दानं क्रियमाणं च मत्स्यानां वीक्ष्य रज्जुभिः। प्रविश्यान्तरमन्येषामग्रसत्प्रतिपत्तिमान् ॥१२-१३५-१३॥
Seeing the fishes being lifted with ropes, the discerning one entered inside the others and ate.
ग्रस्तमेव तदुद्दानं गृहीत्वास्त तथैव सः। सर्वानेव तु तांस्तत्र ते विदुर्ग्रथिता इति ॥१२-१३५-१४॥
He, having seized that summary, remained just so. But there, they knew all those to be bound thus.
ततः प्रक्षाल्यमानेषु मत्स्येषु विमले जले। त्यक्त्वा रज्जुं विमुक्तोऽभूच्छीघ्रं सम्प्रतिपत्तिमान् ॥१२-१३५-१५॥
Then, as the fishes were being washed in the clear water, he let go of the rope and was quickly freed, regaining his composure.
दीर्घसूत्रस्तु मन्दात्मा हीनबुद्धिरचेतनः। मरणं प्राप्तवान्मूढो यथैवोपहतेन्द्रियः ॥१२-१३५-१६॥
But the procrastinator, dull-minded, lacking intellect and awareness, is as good as dead, just like one whose senses are impaired.
एवं प्राप्ततमं कालं यो मोहान्नावबुध्यते। स विनश्यति वै क्षिप्रं दीर्घसूत्रो यथा झषः ॥१२-१३५-१७॥
He who, out of delusion, does not recognize the time when it has fully arrived, perishes quickly, just as a procrastinator perishes like a fish.
आदौ न कुरुते श्रेयः कुशलोऽस्मीति यः पुमान्। स संशयमवाप्नोति यथा सम्प्रतिपत्तिमान् ॥१२-१३५-१८॥
A man who, thinking 'I am skilled,' does not perform a good deed at the outset, attains doubt, just like one who truly understands.
अनागतविधानं तु यो नरः कुरुते क्षमम्। श्रेयः प्राप्नोति सोऽत्यर्थं दीर्घदर्शी यथा ह्यसौ ॥१२-१३५-१९॥
A man who prudently plans for the future attains great prosperity, just like one who is truly far-sighted.
कलाः काष्ठा मुहूर्ताश्च दिना नाड्यः क्षणा लवाः। पक्षा मासाश्च ऋतवस्तुल्याः संवत्सराणि च ॥१२-१३५-२०॥
Parts of time, kāṣṭhās, muhūrtas, days, nāḍis, moments, instants, fortnights, months, seasons, and years are all equal (in their respective measures).
पृथिवी देश इत्युक्तः कालः स च न दृश्यते। अभिप्रेतार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं न्यायतो यच्च तत्तथा ॥१२-१३५-२१॥
The earth is called a region, but time is not seen. For the accomplishment of the intended purpose, whatever is according to rule, that is so.
एतौ धर्मार्थशास्त्रेषु मोक्षशास्त्रेषु चर्षिभिः। प्रधानाविति निर्दिष्टौ कामेशाभिमतौ नृणाम् ॥१२-१३५-२२॥
These two are regarded as principal in the treatises on dharma, artha, and mokṣa, and are declared so by the sages as being desirable for men who seek pleasure.
परीक्ष्यकारी युक्तस्तु सम्यक्समुपपादयेत्। देशकालावभिप्रेतौ ताभ्यां फलमवाप्नुयात् ॥१२-१३५-२३॥
But a person who acts after careful examination, being properly engaged, should accomplish the task correctly. When the place and time are appropriate, he will obtain the desired result from them.
