12.147
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच तं मुनिं जनमेजयः। गर्ह्यं भवान्गर्हयति निन्द्यं निन्दति मा भवान् ॥१२-१४७-१॥
Thus addressed, Janamejaya replied to the sage: "You blame what is blameworthy and censure what is reproachable; please do not do so, O revered one."
धिक्कार्यं मा धिक्कुरुते तस्मात्त्वाहं प्रसादये। सर्वं हीदं स्वकृतं मे ज्वलाम्यग्नाविवाहितः ॥१२-१४७-२॥
I do not censure what is to be censured; therefore, I seek your appeasement. All this indeed is my own doing; I burn like something placed in fire.
स्वकर्माण्यभिसन्धाय नाभिनन्दति मे मनः। प्राप्तं नूनं मया घोरं भयं वैवस्वतादपि ॥१२-१४७-३॥
My mind, having resolved to perform my own actions, does not feel joy. Surely, I have encountered a terrible fear, even greater than that from Vaivasvata, the god of death.
तत्तु शल्यमनिर्हृत्य कथं शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम्। सर्वमन्यून्विनीय त्वमभि मा वद शौनक ॥१२-१४७-४॥
But how can I live without removing that thorn? Set aside all lesser matters and do not speak to me of them, O Śaunaka.
महानसं ब्राह्मणानां भविष्याम्यर्थवान्पुनः। अस्तु शेषं कुलस्यास्य मा पराभूदिदं कुलम् ॥१२-१४७-५॥
I will again become the great kitchen for the Brāhmaṇas, prosperous. Let the rest of this family remain; may this family not be defeated.
न हि नो ब्रह्मशप्तानां शेषो भवितुमर्हति। श्रुतीरलभमानानां संविदं वेदनिश्चयात् ॥१२-१४७-६॥
Indeed, for us who are cursed by Brahman, no remnant is fit to remain. For those who do not attain consciousness, revelation is determined by the certainty of the Veda.
निर्विद्यमानः सुभृशं भूयो वक्ष्यामि साम्प्रतम्। भूयश्चैवाभिनङ्क्षन्ति निर्धर्मा निर्जपा इव ॥१२-१४७-७॥
Now, being greatly disillusioned, I will speak again. Moreover, those who are without dharma and without japa are always blaming, just like such people.
अर्वाक्च प्रतितिष्ठन्ति पुलिन्दशबरा इव। न ह्ययज्ञा अमुं लोकं प्राप्नुवन्ति कथञ्चन ॥१२-१४७-८॥
Just as Pulindas and Śabaras remain here, those who do not perform sacrifices do not attain that world in any way.
अविज्ञायैव मे प्रज्ञां बालस्येव सुपण्डितः। ब्रह्मन्पितेव पुत्रेभ्यः प्रति मां वाञ्छ शौनक ॥१२-१४७-९॥
O Śaunaka, O Brāhmaṇa, without knowing my wisdom, even a learned man may wish towards me as a father does to his sons, like a child.
शौनक उवाच॥
Śaunaka said.
किमाश्चर्यं यतः प्राज्ञो बहु कुर्याद्धि साम्प्रतम्। इति वै पण्डितो भूत्वा भूतानां नोपतप्यति ॥१२-१४७-१०॥
What is surprising in this, since a wise person indeed does much at the present time? Thus, having become learned, he does not grieve for beings.
प्रज्ञाप्रासादमारुह्य अशोच्यः शोचते जनान्। जगतीस्थानिवाद्रिस्थः प्रज्ञया प्रतिपश्यति ॥१२-१४७-११॥
Having ascended the palace of wisdom, the wise man grieves for those who should not be grieved for. Just as one standing on a mountain observes those on the earth, so too does he observe with wisdom.
न चोपलभते तत्र न च कार्याणि पश्यति। निर्विण्णात्मा परोक्षो वा धिक्कृतः सर्वसाधुषु ॥१२-१४७-१२॥
He neither perceives nor sees any actions there. With a disheartened spirit, whether indifferent or condemned, he is among all the virtuous.
विदित्वोभयतो वीर्यं माहात्म्यं वेद आगमे। कुरुष्वेह महाशान्तिं ब्रह्मा शरणमस्तु ते ॥१२-१४७-१३॥
Having understood the strength and greatness from both the Veda and the scriptures, perform here the act of great peace; may Brahmā be your refuge.
तद्वै पारत्रिकं चारु ब्राह्मणानामकुप्यताम्। अथ चेत्तप्यसे पापैर्धर्मं चेदनुपश्यसि ॥१२-१४७-१४॥
That which is otherworldly and dear to the Brāhmaṇas should not be disturbed. But if you are afflicted by sins and perceive dharma, then (act accordingly).
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
अनुतप्ये च पापेन न चाधर्मं चराम्यहम्। बुभूषुं भजमानं च प्रतिवाञ्छामि शौनक ॥१२-१४७-१५॥
O Śaunaka, I do not repent for sin, nor do I act unrighteously. I wish for one who desires to live and seeks (the good life).
शौनक उवाच॥
Śaunaka said.
छित्त्वा स्तम्भं च मानं च प्रीतिमिच्छामि ते नृप। सर्वभूतहिते तिष्ठ धर्मं चैव प्रतिस्मर ॥१२-१४७-१६॥
O king, after abandoning pride and arrogance, I wish for your affection. Remain established in the welfare of all beings and always remember dharma.
न भयान्न च कार्पण्यान्न लोभात्त्वामुपाह्वये। तां मे देवा गिरं सत्यां शृण्वन्तु ब्राह्मणैः सह ॥१२-१४७-१७॥
I do not invoke you out of fear, misery, or greed. May the gods, together with the Brāhmaṇas, hear my true words.
सोऽहं न केनचिच्चार्थी त्वां च धर्ममुपाह्वये। क्रोशतां सर्वभूतानामहो धिगिति कुर्वताम् ॥१२-१४७-१८॥
I am not a seeker of benefit from anyone; I invoke you, Dharma. Of those who cry out among all beings, ah! shame on those who act thus.
वक्ष्यन्ति मामधर्मज्ञा वक्ष्यन्त्यसुहृदो जनाः। वाचस्ताः सुहृदः श्रुत्वा सञ्ज्वरिष्यन्ति मे भृशम् ॥१२-१४७-१९॥
Those who know unrighteousness and enemies among the people will speak of me. When my friends hear those words, they will be greatly agitated for my sake.
केचिदेव महाप्राज्ञाः परिज्ञास्यन्ति कार्यताम्। जानीहि मे कृतं तात ब्राह्मणान्प्रति भारत ॥१२-१४७-२०॥
O Bhārata, know that only some truly wise ones will fully understand the import of my deed towards the Brāhmaṇas, dear one.
यथा ते मत्कृते क्षेमं लभेरंस्तत्तथा कुरु। प्रतिजानीहि चाद्रोहं ब्राह्मणानां नराधिप ॥१२-१४७-२१॥
Act in such a way that, for my sake, they may obtain welfare as you desire. Also, O king, promise not to harm the Brāhmaṇas.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
नैव वाचा न मनसा न पुनर्जातु कर्मणा। द्रोग्धास्मि ब्राह्मणान्विप्र चरणावेव ते स्पृशे ॥१२-१४७-२२॥
I will never again harm the Brāhmaṇas by speech, mind, or action; O sage, I truly touch your feet.
