12.147
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
evam-uktaḥ pratyuvāca taṃ muniṃ janamejayaḥ। garhyaṃ bhavān garhayati nindyaṃ nindati mā bhavān ॥12-147-1॥
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."
dhikkāryaṃ mā dhikkurute tasmāttvāhaṃ prasādaye। sarvaṃ hīdaṃ svakṛtaṃ me jvalāmyagnāvivāhitaḥ ॥12-147-2॥
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.
svakarmāṇyabhisandhāya nābhinandati me manaḥ। prāptaṃ nūnaṃ mayā ghoraṃ bhayaṃ vaivasvatādapi ॥12-147-3॥
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.
tattu śalyamanirhṛtya kathaṃ śakṣyāmi jīvitum। sarvamanyūnviniya tvamabhi mā vada śaunaka ॥12-147-4॥
But how can I live without removing that thorn? Set aside all lesser matters and do not speak to me of them, O Śaunaka.
mahānasaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ bhaviṣyāmyarthavān punaḥ। astu śeṣaṃ kulasyāsya mā parābhūdidam kulam ॥12-147-5॥
I will again become the great kitchen for the Brāhmaṇas, prosperous. Let the rest of this family remain; may this family not be defeated.
na hi no brahmaśaptānāṃ śeṣo bhavitumarhati। śrutīralabhamānānāṃ saṃvidaṃ vedaniścayāt ॥12-147-6॥
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.
nirvidyamānaḥ subhṛśaṃ bhūyo vakṣyāmi sāmpratam। bhūyaścaivābhinaṅkṣanti nirdharmā nirjapā iva ॥12-147-7॥
Now, being greatly disillusioned, I will speak again. Moreover, those who are without dharma and without japa are always blaming, just like such people.
arvākca pratitiṣṭhanti pulindaśabarā iva। na hyayajñā amuṃ lokaṃ prāpnuvanti kathaṃcana ॥12-147-8॥
Just as Pulindas and Śabaras remain here, those who do not perform sacrifices do not attain that world in any way.
avijñāyaiva me prajñāṃ bālasyeva supaṇḍitaḥ। brahmanpiteva putrebhyaḥ prati māṃ vāñcha śaunaka ॥12-147-9॥
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.
śaunaka uvāca॥
Śaunaka said.
kimāścaryaṃ yataḥ prājño bahu kuryāddhi sāmpratam। iti vai paṇḍito bhūtvā bhūtānāṃ nopatapyati ॥12-147-10॥
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.
prajñā-prāsāda-māruhya aśocyaḥ śocate janān। jagatī-sthān iva adri-sthaḥ prajñayā pratipaśyati ॥12-147-11॥
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.
na copalabhate tatra na ca kāryāṇi paśyati। nirviṇṇātmā parokṣo vā dhikkṛtaḥ sarvasādhuṣu ॥12-147-12॥
He neither perceives nor sees any actions there. With a disheartened spirit, whether indifferent or condemned, he is among all the virtuous.
viditvobhayato vīryaṃ māhātmyaṃ veda āgame। kuruṣveha mahāśāntiṃ brahmā śaraṇamastu te ॥12-147-13॥
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.
tad vai pāratrikaṃ cāru brāhmaṇānām akupyatām। atha cet tapyase pāpair dharmaṃ ced anupaśyasi ॥12-147-14॥
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).
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
anutapye ca pāpena na cādharmam carāmyaham। bubhūṣum bhajamānaṃ ca prativāñchāmi śaunaka ॥12-147-15॥
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).
śaunaka uvāca॥
Śaunaka said.
chittvā stambhaṃ ca mānaṃ ca prītim icchāmi te nṛpa। sarvabhūtahite tiṣṭha dharmaṃ caiva pratismara ॥12-147-16॥
O king, after abandoning pride and arrogance, I wish for your affection. Remain established in the welfare of all beings and always remember dharma.
na bhayānna ca kārpaṇyānna lobhāttvāmupāhvaye। tāṃ me devā giraṃ satyāṃ śṛṇvantu brāhmaṇaiḥ saha ॥12-147-17॥
I do not invoke you out of fear, misery, or greed. May the gods, together with the Brāhmaṇas, hear my true words.
so'ham na kenacic cārthī tvām ca dharmam upāhvaye। krośatāṃ sarvabhūtānām aho dhig iti kurvatām ॥12-147-18॥
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.
vakṣyanti mām adharmajñā vakṣyanty asuhṛdo janāḥ। vācas tāḥ suhṛdaḥ śrutvā sañjvariṣyanti me bhṛśam ॥12-147-19॥
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.
kecideva mahāprājñāḥ parijñāsyanti kāryatām। jānīhi me kṛtaṃ tāta brāhmaṇānprati bhārata ॥12-147-20॥
O Bhārata, know that only some truly wise ones will fully understand the import of my deed towards the Brāhmaṇas, dear one.
yathā te matkṛte kṣemaṃ labheraṃstattathā kuru। pratijānīhi cādrohaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ narādhipa ॥12-147-21॥
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.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
naiva vācā na manasā na punar jātu karmaṇā। drogdhāsmi brāhmaṇān vipra caraṇāveva te spṛśe ॥12-147-22॥
I will never again harm the Brāhmaṇas by speech, mind, or action; O sage, I truly touch your feet.
