12.148
शौनक उवाच॥
śaunaka uvāca॥
[शौनक (śaunaka) - Śaunaka; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he) spoke;]
(Śaunaka said;)
Śaunaka said.
तस्मात्तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि धर्ममावृत्तचेतसे। श्रीमान्महाबलस्तुष्टो यस्त्वं धर्ममवेक्षसे ॥ पुरस्ताद्दारुणो भूत्वा सुचित्रतरमेव तत् ॥१२-१४८-१॥
tasmātte'haṃ pravakṣyāmi dharmamāvṛttacetase। śrīmānmahābalastuṣṭo yastvaṃ dharmamavekṣase॥ purastāddāruṇo bhūtvā sucitratarameva tat॥12-148-1॥
[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; ते (te) - to you; अहम् (aham) - I; प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi) - shall declare; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; आवृत्तचेतसे (āvṛttacetase) - to one whose mind is turned inward; श्रीमान् (śrīmān) - prosperous; महाबलः (mahābalaḥ) - mighty; तुष्टः (tuṣṭaḥ) - pleased; यः (yaḥ) - who; त्वम् (tvam) - you; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; अवेक्षसे (avekṣase) - observe; पुरस्तात् (purastāt) - formerly; दारुणः (dāruṇaḥ) - fierce; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; सुचित्रतरम् (sucitrataram) - more excellent; एव (eva) - indeed; तत् (tat) - that;]
(Therefore, to you I shall declare dharma, to one whose mind is turned inward. Prosperous, mighty, pleased, who you observe dharma. Formerly, having become fierce, that indeed (has become) more excellent.)
Therefore, I shall declare dharma to you, whose mind is turned inward. You, who are prosperous, mighty, and pleased, observe dharma. Formerly, having been fierce, that has now become even more excellent.
अनुगृह्णन्ति भूतानि स्वेन वृत्तेन पार्थिव। कृत्स्ने नूनं सदसती इति लोको व्यवस्यति ॥ यत्र त्वं तादृशो भूत्वा धर्ममद्यानुपश्यसि ॥१२-१४८-२॥
anugṛhṇanti bhūtāni svena vṛttena pārthiva। kṛtsne nūnaṃ sadasatī iti loko vyavasyati ॥ yatra tvaṃ tādṛśo bhūtvā dharmam adyānupaśyasi ॥12-148-2॥
[अनुगृह्णन्ति (anugṛhṇanti) - favor; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; स्वेन (svena) - by one's own; वृत्तेन (vṛttena) - conduct; पार्थिव (pārthiva) - O king; कृत्स्ने (kṛtsne) - in entirety; नूनं (nūnaṃ) - indeed; सदसती (sadasatī) - existence and non-existence; इति (iti) - thus; लोकः (lokaḥ) - the world; व्यवस्यति (vyavasyati) - determines; यत्र (yatra) - where; त्वम् (tvam) - you; तादृशः (tādṛśaḥ) - such; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; अद्य (adya) - today; अनुपश्यसि (anupaśyasi) - you do not see;]
(Beings favor by their own conduct, O king. Indeed, the world determines all as existence and non-existence thus. Where you, having become such, do not see dharma today.)
O king, beings are supported by their own conduct. Indeed, the world judges everything as either existence or non-existence. Where you, having become such, do not see dharma today.
हित्वा सुरुचिरं भक्ष्यं भोगांश्च तप आस्थितः। इत्येतदपि भूतानामद्भुतं जनमेजय ॥१२-१४८-३॥
hitvā suruciraṃ bhakṣyaṃ bhogāṃśca tapa āsthitaḥ। ityetadapi bhūtānāmadbhutaṃ janamejaya ॥12-148-3॥
[हित्वा (hitvā) - having abandoned; सुरुचिरं (suruciram) - very pleasing; भक्ष्यं (bhakṣyam) - food; भोगान् (bhogān) - enjoyments; च (ca) - and; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; आस्थितः (āsthitaḥ) - undertook; इति (iti) - thus; एतत् (etat) - this; अपि (api) - also; भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of beings; अद्भुतम् (adbhutam) - wonder; जनमेजय (janamejaya) - O Janamejaya;]
(Having abandoned very pleasing food and enjoyments, he undertook austerity. Thus, O Janamejaya, this also is a wonder among beings.)
O Janamejaya, it is indeed a marvel among beings that he gave up delightful food and pleasures to undertake austerity.
यो दुर्बलो भवेद्दाता कृपणो वा तपोधनः। अनाश्चर्यं तदित्याहुर्नातिदूरे हि वर्तते ॥१२-१४८-४॥
yo durbalo bhaved-dātā kṛpaṇo vā tapodhanaḥ। anāścaryaṃ tad-ity āhur nātidūre hi vartate ॥12-148-4॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; दुर्बलः (durbalaḥ) - weak; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be; दाता (dātā) - giver; कृपणः (kṛpaṇaḥ) - miser; वा (vā) - or; तपोधनः (tapodhanaḥ) - one whose wealth is austerity; अनाश्चर्यम् (anāścaryam) - not surprising; तत् (tat) - that; इति (iti) - thus; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; न (na) - not; अतिदूरे (atidūre) - very far; हि (hi) - indeed; वर्तते (vartate) - exists;]
(Who is weak may be a giver, or a miser, or one whose wealth is austerity; that is not surprising, thus they say; it does not exist very far indeed.)
It is said that if a weak person is a giver, a miser, or an ascetic, it is not surprising; such things are not uncommon.
एतदेव हि कार्पण्यं समग्रमसमीक्षितम्। तस्मात्समीक्षयैव स्याद्भवेत्तस्मिंस्ततो गुणः ॥१२-१४८-५॥
etadeva hi kārpaṇyaṃ samagramasamīkṣitam। tasmātsamīkṣayaiva syādbhavettasmiṃstato guṇaḥ ॥12-148-5॥
[एतदेव (etadeva) - this indeed; हि (hi) - for; कार्पण्यं (kārpaṇyam) - misery; समग्रम् (samagram) - entirely; असमीक्षितम् (asamīkṣitam) - not examined; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; समीक्षया (samīkṣayā) - by examination; एव (eva) - only; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; भवेत् (bhavet) - becomes; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; ततः (tataḥ) - then; गुणः (guṇaḥ) - virtue;]
(This indeed is misery, entirely unexamined. Therefore, only by examination should it be; in that, then, is virtue.)
This is truly misery, when left wholly unexamined. Therefore, only through examination should it be; in that, then, lies virtue.
यज्ञो दानं दया वेदाः सत्यं च पृथिवीपते। पञ्चैतानि पवित्राणि षष्ठं सुचरितं तपः ॥१२-१४८-६॥
yajño dānaṃ dayā vedāḥ satyaṃ ca pṛthivīpate। pañcaitāni pavitrāṇi ṣaṣṭhaṃ sucaritaṃ tapaḥ ॥12-148-6॥
[यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; दानम् (dānam) - charity; दया (dayā) - compassion; वेदाः (vedāḥ) - the Vedas; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; च (ca) - and; पृथिवीपते (pṛthivīpate) - O lord of the earth; पञ्च (pañca) - five; एतानि (etāni) - these; पवित्राणि (pavitrāṇi) - purifiers; षष्ठं (ṣaṣṭham) - the sixth; सुचरितं (sucaritaṃ) - good conduct; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity;]
(Sacrifice, charity, compassion, the Vedas, truth, and O lord of the earth, these five are purifiers; the sixth is good conduct, austerity.)
O lord of the earth, sacrifice, charity, compassion, the Vedas, and truth are five purifying things; the sixth purifier is good conduct and austerity.
तदेव राज्ञां परमं पवित्रं जनमेजय। तेन सम्यग्गृहीतेन श्रेयांसं धर्ममाप्स्यसि ॥१२-१४८-७॥
tadeva rājñāṃ paramaṃ pavitraṃ janamejaya। tena samyaggṛhītena śreyāṃsaṃ dharmamāpsyasi ॥12-148-7॥
[तत् (tat) - that; एव (eva) - indeed; राज्ञाम् (rājñām) - of kings; परमम् (paramam) - supreme; पवित्रम् (pavitram) - purifier; जनमेजय (janamejaya) - O Janamejaya; तेन (tena) - by that; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; गृहीतेन (gṛhītena) - having been accepted; श्रेयांसम् (śreyāṃsam) - better; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; आप्स्यसि (āpsyasi) - you will attain;]
(That indeed is the supreme purifier of kings, O Janamejaya. By properly accepting that, you will attain better dharma.)
O Janamejaya, that is truly the highest purifier for kings. By properly accepting it, you will attain superior dharma.
पुण्यदेशाभिगमनं पवित्रं परमं स्मृतम्। अपि ह्युदाहरन्तीमा गाथा गीता ययातिना ॥१२-१४८-८॥
puṇyadeśābhigamanaṃ pavitraṃ paramaṃ smṛtam। api hyudāharantīmā gāthā gītā yayātinā ॥12-148-8॥
[पुण्य (puṇya) - meritorious; virtuous; देश (deśa) - place; region; अभिगमनं (abhigamanaṃ) - approaching; going towards; पवित्रं (pavitraṃ) - pure; sacred; परमं (paramaṃ) - supreme; highest; स्मृतम् (smṛtam) - remembered; considered; अपि (api) - also; even; हि (hi) - indeed; surely; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - recite; quote; इमा (imā) - these (feminine plural); गाथा (gāthā) - verses; songs; गीता (gītā) - sung; recited; ययातिना (yayātinā) - by Yayāti;]
(Approaching a meritorious place is considered supremely pure. Indeed, these verses sung by Yayāti are also quoted.)
Going to a sacred place is regarded as supremely pure. Indeed, these verses, sung by Yayāti, are also cited as examples.
यो मर्त्यः प्रतिपद्येत आयुर्जीवेत वा पुनः। यज्ञमेकान्ततः कृत्वा तत्संन्यस्य तपश्चरेत् ॥१२-१४८-९॥
yo martyaḥ pratipadyeta āyurjīvet vā punaḥ। yajñam-ekāntataḥ kṛtvā tat-saṃnyasya tapaś caret ॥12-148-9॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; मर्त्यः (martyaḥ) - mortal; प्रतिपद्येत (pratipadyeta) - would attain; आयुः (āyuḥ) - life; जीवेत् (jīvet) - would live; वा (vā) - or; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; यज्ञम् (yajñam) - sacrifice; एकान्ततः (ekāntataḥ) - exclusively; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having performed; तत् (tat) - that; संन्यस्य (saṃnyasya) - having renounced; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; चरेत् (caret) - should practice;]
(Whoever mortal would attain life or would live again, having performed the sacrifice exclusively, having renounced that, should practice austerity.)
Any mortal who attains life or is reborn, having performed the sacrifice exclusively and then renounced it, should undertake austerity.
पुण्यमाहुः कुरुक्षेत्रं सरस्वत्यां पृथूदकम्। यत्रावगाह्य पीत्वा वा नैवं श्वोमरणं तपेत् ॥१२-१४८-१०॥
puṇyam āhuḥ kurukṣetraṃ sarasvatyāṃ pṛthūdakam। yatrāvagāhya pītvā vā naivaṃ śvomaraṇaṃ tapet ॥12-148-10॥
[पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - meritorious; sacred; holy; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; declare; कुरुक्षेत्रम् (kurukṣetram) - Kurukshetra; (a sacred place); सरस्वत्याम् (sarasvatyām) - in Sarasvati (river); पृथु-उदकम् (pṛthu-udakam) - broad water; abundant water; यत्र (yatra) - where; अवगाह्य (avagāhya) - having bathed; having immersed; पीत्वा (pītvā) - having drunk; वा (vā) - or; न (na) - not; एवम् (evam) - thus; in this way; श्वः-मरणम् (śvaḥ-maraṇam) - tomorrow's death; death on the next day; तपेत् (tapet) - suffers; endures;]
(They say Kurukshetra is meritorious, in Sarasvati (river) with abundant water; where, having bathed or having drunk (the water), one does not thus suffer death on the next day.)
They declare Kurukshetra, where the Sarasvati flows with abundant water, to be holy; whoever bathes or drinks there will not suffer death the next day.
महासरः पुष्कराणि प्रभासोत्तरमानसे। कालोदं त्वेव गन्तासि लब्धायुर्जीविते पुनः ॥१२-१४८-११॥
mahāsaraḥ puṣkarāṇi prabhāsottaramānase। kālodaṃ tveva gantāsi labdhāyurjīvite punaḥ ॥12-148-11॥
[महासरः (mahāsaraḥ) - great lake; पुष्कराणि (puṣkarāṇi) - lotuses; प्रभासोत्तरमानसे (prabhāsottaramānase) - to Prabhāsa, Uttara, Mānasā (names of sacred places); कालोदं (kālodaṃ) - Kāloda (name of a place); त्व (tv) - you; एव (eva) - indeed; गन्तासि (gantāsi) - you will go; लब्धायु (labdhāyu) - having regained life; र्जीविते (jīvite) - in life; पुनः (punaḥ) - again;]
(Great lake, lotuses, to Prabhāsa, Uttara, Mānasā, Kāloda, you indeed will go, having regained life, in life, again.)
You will again go to the great lake, the lotuses, to Prabhāsa, Uttara, Mānasā, and Kāloda, having regained your life.
सरस्वतीदृषद्वत्यौ सेवमानोऽनुसञ्चरेः। स्वाध्यायशीलः स्थानेषु सर्वेषु समुपस्पृशेः ॥१२-१४८-१२॥
sarasvatī-dṛṣadvatyau sevamāno'nusañcareḥ। svādhyāyaśīlaḥ sthāneṣu sarveṣu samupaspṛśeḥ॥12-148-12॥
[सरस्वती (sarasvatī) - Sarasvatī (name of a river); दृषद्वत्यौ (dṛṣadvatyau) - and Dṛṣadvatī (name of a river); सेवमानः (sevamānaḥ) - serving; अनुसञ्चरेः (anusañcareḥ) - moving along; स्वाध्यायशीलः (svādhyāyaśīlaḥ) - devoted to self-study; स्थानेषु (sthāneṣu) - in places; सर्वेषु (sarveṣu) - in all; समुपस्पृशेः (samupaspṛśeḥ) - you should touch (with water, etc.);]
(Serving (the rivers) Sarasvatī and Dṛṣadvatī, moving along, devoted to self-study, in all places you should touch (with water, etc.).)
While serving the Sarasvatī and Dṛṣadvatī rivers and moving along, being devoted to self-study, you should perform the prescribed touch (purification) in all places.
त्यागधर्मं पवित्राणां संन्यासं परमब्रवीत्। अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीमा गाथाः सत्यवता कृताः ॥१२-१४८-१३॥
tyāgadharmaṃ pavitrāṇāṃ saṃnyāsaṃ paramabravīt। atrāpyudāharantīmā gāthāḥ satyavatā kṛtāḥ ॥12-148-13॥
[त्यागधर्मं (tyāgadharmaṃ) - the dharma of renunciation; पवित्राणां (pavitrāṇām) - of the pure ones; संन्यासं (saṃnyāsaṃ) - renunciation; परमब्रवीत् (paramabravīt) - supremely declared; अत्र (atra) - here; अपि (api) - also; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite; इमाः (imāḥ) - these; गाथाः (gāthāḥ) - verses; सत्यवता (satyavatā) - by the truthful; कृताः (kṛtāḥ) - composed;]
(The dharma of renunciation of the pure ones, renunciation, was supremely declared. Here also, they cite these verses composed by the truthful.)
The supreme dharma of renunciation for the pure was declared. Here too, these verses composed by the truthful are cited.
यथा कुमारः सत्यो वै न पुण्यो न च पापकृत्। न ह्यस्ति सर्वभूतेषु दुःखमस्मिन्कुतः सुखम् ॥१२-१४८-१४॥
yathā kumāraḥ satyo vai na puṇyo na ca pāpakṛt। na hyasti sarvabhūteṣu duḥkham asmin kutaḥ sukham ॥12-148-14॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; कुमारः (kumāraḥ) - boy; सत्यः (satyaḥ) - truthful; वै (vai) - indeed; न (na) - not; पुण्यः (puṇyaḥ) - virtuous; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; पापकृत् (pāpakṛt) - doer of evil; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; अस्ति (asti) - there is; सर्वभूतेषु (sarvabhūteṣu) - among all beings; दुःखम् (duḥkham) - suffering; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness;]
(Just as a boy is indeed truthful, not virtuous, and not a doer of evil; indeed, there is no suffering among all beings in this, from where (could there be) happiness?)
Just as a boy is simply truthful, neither virtuous nor sinful; in this world, since there is no suffering among all beings, how can there be happiness?
एवं प्रकृतिभूतानां सर्वसंसर्गयायिनाम्। त्यजतां जीवितं प्रायो विवृते पुण्यपातके ॥१२-१४८-१५॥
evaṃ prakṛtibhūtānāṃ sarvasaṃsargayāyinām। tyajatāṃ jīvitaṃ prāyo vivṛte puṇyapātake ॥12-148-15॥
[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; प्रकृति-भूतानाम् (prakṛti-bhūtānām) - of those who have become (their) own nature; सर्व-संसर्ग-यायिनाम् (sarva-saṃsarga-yāyinām) - of all who go towards association (with others); त्यजताम् (tyajatām) - of those abandoning; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; प्रायः (prāyaḥ) - mostly; विवृते (vivṛte) - when opened (manifested); पुण्य-पातके (puṇya-pātake) - in the fall of merit (loss of virtue);]
(Thus, for those who have become their own nature, for all who go towards association, for those abandoning, life is mostly (lost) when the fall of merit is manifested.)
Thus, when the fall of merit is manifest, life is generally lost for all beings who act according to their nature, seek all associations, and abandon restraint.
यत्त्वेव राज्ञो ज्यायो वै कार्याणां तद्वदामि ते। बलेन संविभागैश्च जय स्वर्गं पुनीष्व च ॥१२-१४८-१६॥
yattveva rājño jyāyo vai kāryāṇāṃ tadvadāmi te। balena saṃvibhāgaiśca jaya svargaṃ punīṣva ca ॥12-148-16॥
[यत् (yat) - which; तु (tu) - indeed; एव (eva) - certainly; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; ज्यायः (jyāyaḥ) - greater; वै (vai) - indeed; कार्याणाम् (kāryāṇām) - of actions; तत् (tat) - that; वदामि (vadāmi) - I say; ते (te) - to you; बलेन (balena) - by strength; संविभागैः (saṃvibhāgaiḥ) - by distributions; च (ca) - and; जय (jaya) - conquer; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; पुनीष्व (punīṣva) - purify; च (ca) - and;]
(Which indeed is certainly the greater of the king's actions, that I say to you. By strength and by distributions, conquer heaven and purify (yourself).)
I will tell you what is truly the greatest of a king's deeds. By strength and by fair distribution, win heaven and purify yourself.
यस्यैवं बलमोजश्च स धर्मस्य प्रभुर्नरः। ब्राह्मणानां सुखार्थं त्वं पर्येहि पृथिवीमिमाम् ॥१२-१४८-१७॥
yasyai vaṃ balam ojaś ca sa dharmasya prabhur naraḥ। brāhmaṇānāṃ sukhārthaṃ tvaṃ paryehi pṛthivīm imām ॥12-148-17॥
[यस्य (yasya) - of whom; एवं (evaṃ) - thus; बलम् (balam) - strength; ओजः (ojaḥ) - vitality; च (ca) - and; सः (saḥ) - he; धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - lord; नरः (naraḥ) - man; ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of the Brāhmaṇas; सुखार्थम् (sukhārtham) - for the sake of happiness; त्वम् (tvam) - you; परीहि (paryehi) - go around; पृथिवीम् (pṛthivīm) - the earth; इमाम् (imām) - this;]
(Of whom thus strength and vitality (are), he, the lord of dharma, (is) a man. For the sake of the Brāhmaṇas' happiness, you go around this earth.)
He whose strength and vitality are thus, he is the lord of dharma, a true man. For the happiness of the Brāhmaṇas, you should go around this earth.
यथैवैनान्पुराक्षैप्सीस्तथैवैनान्प्रसादय। अपि धिक्क्रियमाणोऽपि त्यज्यमानोऽप्यनेकधा ॥१२-१४८-१८॥
yathaivainān purākṣaipsīs tathaivainān prasādaya। api dhikkriyamāṇo'pi tyajyamāno'pyanekadhā ॥12-148-18॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; एव (eva) - indeed; एतान् (etān) - these (persons); पुरा (purā) - formerly; अक्षैप्सीः (akṣaipsīḥ) - you reproached; तथा (tathā) - so; एव (eva) - indeed; एतान् (etān) - these (persons); प्रसादय (prasādaya) - make (them) pleased; अपि (api) - even; धिक्क्रियमाणः (dhikkriyamāṇaḥ) - being reproached; अपि (api) - even; त्यज्यमानः (tyajyamāṇaḥ) - being abandoned; अपि (api) - even; अनेकधा (anekadhā) - in many ways;]
(Just as you formerly reproached these, so indeed please these (persons). Even if being reproached, even if being abandoned in many ways.)
Just as you once reproached these people, now please them in the same way. Even if you are reproached or abandoned in many ways.
आत्मनो दर्शनं विद्वन्नाहन्तास्मीति मा क्रुधः। घटमानः स्वकार्येषु कुरु नैःश्रेयसं परम् ॥१२-१४८-१९॥
ātmano darśanaṃ vidvannāhantāsmīti mā krudhaḥ। ghaṭamānaḥ svakāryeṣu kuru naiḥśreyasaṃ param ॥12-148-19॥
[आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of the self; दर्शनम् (darśanam) - perception; विद्वन् (vidvan) - O wise one; न (na) - not; अहन्ता (ahantā) - ego; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; इति (iti) - thus; मा (mā) - do not; क्रुधः (krudhaḥ) - be angry; घटमानः (ghaṭamānaḥ) - striving; स्वकार्येषु (svakāryeṣu) - in your own duties; कुरु (kuru) - perform; नैःश्रेयसं (naiḥśreyasam) - supreme good; परम् (param) - highest;]
(Of the self perception, O wise one, not (with) ego 'I am' thus, do not be angry. Striving in your own duties, perform the supreme good, the highest.)
O wise one, perceive the self without the egoistic thought 'I am'; do not be angry. Strive in your own duties and perform the highest good.
हिमाग्निघोरसदृशो राजा भवति कश्चन। लाङ्गलाशनिकल्पो वा भवत्यन्यः परन्तप ॥१२-१४८-२०॥
himāgni-ghora-sadṛśo rājā bhavati kaścana। lāṅgalāśani-kalpo vā bhavatyan-yaḥ parantapa ॥12-148-20॥
[हिम (hima) - snow; अग्नि (agni) - fire; घोर (ghora) - terrible; सदृशः (sadṛśaḥ) - like; राजा (rājā) - king; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; कश्चन (kaścana) - someone; लाङ्गल (lāṅgala) - plough; आशनि (āśani) - thunderbolt; कल्पः (kalpaḥ) - like; वा (vā) - or; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; परन्तप (parantapa) - scorcher of foes;]
(Someone becomes like snow, fire, or terrible; the king. Or another becomes like a plough or thunderbolt, O scorcher of foes.)
O scorcher of foes, sometimes a king becomes like snow, fire, or something terrible; at other times, another becomes like a plough or a thunderbolt.
न निःशेषेण मन्तव्यमचिकित्स्येन वा पुनः। न जातु नाहमस्मीति प्रसक्तव्यमसाधुषु ॥१२-१४८-२१॥
na niḥśeṣeṇa mantavyamacikitsyena vā punaḥ। na jātu nāhamasmīti prasaktavyamasādhuṣu ॥12-148-21॥
[न (na) - not; निःशेषेण (niḥśeṣeṇa) - entirely; without remainder; मन्तव्यम् (mantavyam) - should be considered; अचिकित्स्येन (acikitsyena) - as incurable; वा (vā) - or; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; न (na) - not; जातु (jātu) - ever; न (na) - not; अहम् (aham) - I; अस्मि (asmi) - am; इति (iti) - thus; प्रसक्तव्यम् (prasaktavyam) - should be attached; असाधुषु (asādhuṣu) - to the wicked;]
(Not entirely should be considered as incurable or again; not ever 'I am not' thus should be attached to the wicked.)
One should never consider anyone as entirely incurable, nor should one ever say 'I am not' and become attached to the wicked.
विकर्मणा तप्यमानः पादात्पापस्य मुच्यते। नैतत्कार्यं पुनरिति द्वितीयात्परिमुच्यते ॥ चरिष्ये धर्ममेवेति तृतीयात्परिमुच्यते ॥१२-१४८-२२॥
vikarmaṇā tapyamānaḥ pādātpāpasya mucyate। naitatkāryaṃ punariti dvitīyātparimucyate ॥ cariṣye dharmameveti tṛtīyātparimucyate ॥12-148-22॥
[विकर्मणा (vikarmaṇā) - by wrong action; तप्यमानः (tapyamānaḥ) - being tormented; पादात् (pādāt) - from a foot (step); पापस्य (pāpasya) - of sin; मुच्यते (mucyate) - is released; न (na) - not; एतत् (etat) - this; कार्यं (kāryaṃ) - should be done; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; इति (iti) - thus; द्वितीयात् (dvitīyāt) - from the second (step); परिमुच्यते (parimucyate) - is completely released; चरिष्ये (cariṣye) - I shall practice; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; एव (eva) - only; इति (iti) - thus; तृतीयात् (tṛtīyāt) - from the third (step); परिमुच्यते (parimucyate) - is completely released;]
(By wrong action, being tormented, from a foot (step) of sin, is released. "This should not be done again"—from the second (step), is completely released. "I shall practice only dharma"—from the third (step), is completely released.)
One is released from a portion of sin by suffering for wrongful action. By resolving "This should not be done again," one is further freed. By resolving "I shall practice only dharma," one is completely freed.
कल्याणमनुमन्तव्यं पुरुषेण बुभूषता। ये सुगन्धीनि सेवन्ते तथागन्धा भवन्ति ते ॥ ये दुर्गन्धीनि सेवन्ते तथागन्धा भवन्ति ते ॥१२-१४८-२३॥
kalyāṇamanumantavyaṃ puruṣeṇa bubhūṣatā। ye sugandhīni sevante tathāgandhā bhavanti te ॥ ye durgandhīni sevante tathāgandhā bhavanti te ॥12-148-23॥
[कल्याणम् (kalyāṇam) - auspiciousness; अनुमन्तव्यं (anumantavyam) - to be approved; पुरुषेण (puruṣeṇa) - by a person; बुभूषता (bubhūṣatā) - desiring to prosper; ये (ye) - those who; सुगन्धीनि (sugandhīni) - fragrant things; सेवन्ते (sevante) - associate with; तथा (tathā) - in that way; गन्धाः (gandhāḥ) - qualities; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; ते (te) - they; ये (ye) - those who; दुर्गन्धीनि (durgandhīni) - foul-smelling things; सेवन्ते (sevante) - associate with; तथा (tathā) - in that way; गन्धाः (gandhāḥ) - qualities; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; ते (te) - they;]
(Auspiciousness is to be approved by a person desiring to prosper. Those who associate with fragrant things, in that way, they become fragrant; those who associate with foul-smelling things, in that way, they become foul-smelling.)
A person who wishes to prosper should approve of what is auspicious. Those who associate with the good become good, just as those who associate with the fragrant become fragrant, and those who associate with the foul become foul.
तपश्चर्यापरः सद्यः पापाद्धि परिमुच्यते। संवत्सरमुपास्याग्निमभिशस्तः प्रमुच्यते ॥ त्रीणि वर्षाण्युपास्याग्निं भ्रूणहा विप्रमुच्यते ॥१२-१४८-२४॥
tapaś-caryā-paraḥ sadyaḥ pāpād dhi parimucyate। saṃvatsaram upāsya agnim abhiśastaḥ pramucyate ॥ trīṇi varṣāṇi upāsya agniṃ bhrūṇahā vipramucyate ॥12-148-24॥
[तपश्चर्यापरः (tapaś-caryā-paraḥ) - one devoted to austerity; सद्यः (sadyaḥ) - immediately; पापात् (pāpāt) - from sin; हि (hi) - indeed; परिमुच्यते (parimucyate) - is completely released; संवत्सरम् (saṃvatsaram) - for a year; उपास्य (upāsya) - having worshipped; अग्निम् (agnim) - fire; अभिशस्तः (abhiśastaḥ) - one who is cursed; प्रमुच्यते (pramucyate) - is released; त्रीणि (trīṇi) - three; वर्षाणि (varṣāṇi) - years; उपास्य (upāsya) - having worshipped; अग्निं (agniṃ) - fire; भ्रूणहा (bhrūṇahā) - a slayer of the embryo; विप्रमुच्यते (vipramucyate) - is especially released;]
(One devoted to austerity is immediately indeed completely released from sin. Having worshipped fire for a year, one who is cursed is released. Having worshipped fire for three years, a slayer of the embryo is especially released.)
A person devoted to austerity is instantly freed from sin. One who is cursed is released after worshipping fire for a year. A slayer of the embryo is especially released after worshipping fire for three years.
यावतः प्राणिनो हन्यात्तज्जातीयान्स्वभावतः। प्रमीयमाणानुन्मोच्य भ्रूणहा विप्रमुच्यते ॥१२-१४८-२५॥
yāvataḥ prāṇino hanyāt tajjātīyān svabhāvataḥ। pramīyamāṇān unmocya bhrūṇahā vipramucyate ॥12-148-25॥
[यावतः (yāvataḥ) - as many as; प्राणिनः (prāṇinaḥ) - living beings; हन्यात् (hanyāt) - one kills; तज्जातीयान् (tajjātīyān) - of that kind; स्वभावतः (svabhāvataḥ) - by nature; प्रमीयमाणान् (pramīyamāṇān) - those being killed; उन्मोच्य (unmocya) - having released; भ्रूणहा (bhrūṇahā) - killer of an embryo; विप्रमुच्यते (vipramucyate) - is completely released;]
(As many living beings as one kills of that kind by nature, having released those being killed, the killer of an embryo is completely released.)
If a person kills as many living beings of that kind by nature, but releases those who are being killed, the killer of an embryo is completely absolved.
अपि वाप्सु निमज्जेत त्रिर्जपन्नघमर्षणम्। यथाश्वमेधावभृथस्तथा तन्मनुरब्रवीत् ॥१२-१४८-२६॥
api vāpsu nimajjeta trirjapannaghamarṣaṇam। yathāśvamedhāvabhṛthastathā tanmanurabravīt ॥12-148-26॥
[अपि (api) - even; वाप्सु (vāpsu) - in water; निमज्जेत् (nimajjet) - should immerse; त्रिः (trih) - three times; जपन् (japan) - reciting; अघमर्षणम् (aghamarṣaṇam) - Aghamarṣaṇa hymn; यथा (yathā) - just as; अश्वमेध (aśvamedha) - Aśvamedha (horse sacrifice); अवभृथ (avabhṛtha) - final bath; तथा (tathā) - so; तत् (tat) - that; मनुः (manuḥ) - Manu; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]
(Even in water, one should immerse (himself), reciting the Aghamarṣaṇa hymn three times; just as (is done) at the final bath of the Aśvamedha, so Manu said that.)
Manu said: "Even by immersing oneself in water and reciting the Aghamarṣaṇa hymn three times, it is as meritorious as the final bath of the Aśvamedha sacrifice."
क्षिप्रं प्रणुदते पापं सत्कारं लभते तथा। अपि चैनं प्रसीदन्ति भूतानि जडमूकवत् ॥१२-१४८-२७॥
kṣipraṃ praṇudate pāpaṃ satkāraṃ labhate tathā। api cainaṃ prasīdanti bhūtāni jaḍamūka-vat ॥12-148-27॥
[क्षिप्रं (kṣipram) - quickly; प्रणुदते (praṇudate) - drives away; पापं (pāpam) - sin; सत्कारं (satkāram) - respect; लभते (labhate) - obtains; तथा (tathā) - likewise; अपि (api) - also; च (ca) - and; एनं (enaṃ) - him; प्रसीदन्ति (prasīdanti) - are pleased; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - creatures; जडमूकवत् (jaḍamūka-vat) - like the dull and mute;]
(Quickly drives away sin, respect obtains likewise; also and him are pleased creatures like the dull and mute.)
He quickly drives away sin and likewise obtains respect; moreover, even creatures, like those who are dull and mute, become pleased with him.
बृहस्पतिं देवगुरुं सुरासुराः; समेत्य सर्वे नृपतेऽन्वयुञ्जन्। धर्मे फलं वेत्थ कृते महर्षे; तथेतरस्मिन्नरके पापलोके ॥१२-१४८-२८॥
bṛhaspatiṃ devaguruṃ surāsurāḥ; sametya sarve nṛpate'nvayuñjan. dharme phalaṃ vettha kṛte maharṣe; tathetarasminnarake pāpaloke ॥12-148-28॥
[बृहस्पतिं (bṛhaspatiṃ) - Bṛhaspati; (the preceptor of the gods); देवगुरुं (devaguruṃ) - the teacher of the gods; (Bṛhaspati); सुरासुराः (surāsurāḥ) - gods and asuras; समेत्य (sametya) - having assembled; सर्वे (sarve) - all; नृपते (nṛpate) - O king; (vocative of nṛpati, king); अन्वयुञ्जन् (anvayuñjan) - engaged; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; (righteousness); फलं (phalaṃ) - fruit; (result); वेत्थ (vettha) - you know; कृते (kṛte) - when done; (performed); महर्षे (maharṣe) - O great sage; (vocative of maharṣi); तथेतरस्मिन् (tathetarasmin) - so also in the other; (in the opposite); नरके (narake) - in hell; पापलोके (pāpaloke) - in the world of the wicked;]
(Bṛhaspati, the teacher of the gods, gods and asuras; having assembled, all, O king, engaged. In dharma, the fruit, you know, when done, O great sage; so also in the other, in hell, in the world of the wicked.)
O king, all the gods and asuras, having assembled, engaged Bṛhaspati, the teacher of the gods. O great sage, you know the fruit of dharma when performed, and likewise, in the opposite case, in hell, in the world of the wicked.
उभे तु यस्य सुकृते भवेतां; किं स्वित्तयोस्तत्र जयोत्तरं स्यात्। आचक्ष्व नः कर्मफलं महर्षे; कथं पापं नुदते पुण्यशीलः ॥१२-१४८-२९॥
ubhe tu yasya sukṛte bhavetāṃ; kiṃ svittayostatra jayottaraṃ syāt. ācakṣva naḥ karmaphalaṃ maharṣe; kathaṃ pāpaṃ nudate puṇyaśīlaḥ ॥12-148-29॥
[उभे (ubhe) - both; तु (tu) - but; यस्य (yasya) - of whom; सुकृते (sukṛte) - good deeds; भवेतां (bhavetāṃ) - may be; किं (kiṃ) - what; स्वित् (svit) - indeed; तयोः (tayoḥ) - of those two; तत्र (tatra) - there; जयः (jayaḥ) - victory; उत्तरं (uttaraṃ) - superior; स्यात् (syāt) - may be; आचक्ष्व (ācakṣva) - tell; नः (naḥ) - to us; कर्मफलं (karmaphalaṃ) - fruit of action; महर्षे (maharṣe) - O great sage; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; पापं (pāpaṃ) - sin; नुदते (nudate) - drives away; पुण्यशीलः (puṇyaśīlaḥ) - one of virtuous conduct;]
(Both but of whom good deeds may be; what indeed of those two there victory superior may be. Tell to us fruit of action, O great sage; how sin drives away one of virtuous conduct.)
O great sage, tell us: If both good and bad deeds belong to a person, which of the two prevails? What is the fruit of action? How does a person of virtuous conduct drive away sin?
बृहस्पतिरुवाच॥
bṛhaspatiruvāca॥
[बृहस्पति (bṛhaspati) - Bṛhaspati; (the preceptor of the gods); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bṛhaspati said;)
Bṛhaspati said.
कृत्वा पापं पूर्वमबुद्धिपूर्वं; पुण्यानि यः कुरुते बुद्धिपूर्वम्। स तत्पापं नुदते पुण्यशीलो; वासो यथा मलिनं क्षारयुक्त्या ॥१२-१४८-३०॥
kṛtvā pāpaṃ pūrvam abuddhipūrvam; puṇyāni yaḥ kurute buddhipūrvam। sa tatpāpaṃ nudate puṇyaśīlo; vāso yathā malinaṃ kṣārayuktyā ॥12-148-30॥
[कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; पापं (pāpaṃ) - sin; पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - previously; अबुद्धिपूर्वं (abuddhipūrvam) - without prior understanding; पुण्यानि (puṇyāni) - meritorious deeds; यः (yaḥ) - who; कुरुते (kurute) - performs; बुद्धिपूर्वम् (buddhipūrvam) - with prior understanding; सः (saḥ) - he; तत् (tat) - that; पापं (pāpaṃ) - sin; नुदते (nudate) - drives away; पुण्यशीलः (puṇyaśīlaḥ) - one of virtuous character; वासः (vāsaḥ) - garment; यथा (yathā) - just as; मलिनं (malinaṃ) - soiled; क्षारयुक्त्या (kṣārayuktyā) - by means of alkali;]
(Having done sin previously without prior understanding, who performs meritorious deeds with prior understanding, he, one of virtuous character, drives away that sin, just as a garment, soiled, by means of alkali.)
If one has committed sin previously out of ignorance, but then performs virtuous deeds with understanding, he, being of virtuous character, dispels that sin, just as a soiled garment is cleansed by alkali.
पापं कृत्वा न मन्येत नाहमस्मीति पूरुषः। चिकीर्षेदेव कल्याणं श्रद्दधानोऽनसूयकः ॥१२-१४८-३१॥
pāpaṃ kṛtvā na manyeta nāhamasmīti pūruṣaḥ। cikīrṣedeva kalyāṇaṃ śraddadhāno'nasūyakaḥ ॥12-148-31॥
[पापं (pāpaṃ) - sin; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; न (na) - not; मन्येत (manyeta) - should think; न (na) - not; अहम् (aham) - I; अस्मि (asmi) - am; इति (iti) - thus; पुरुषः (pūruṣaḥ) - a person; चिकीर्षेत् (cikīrṣet) - should wish to do; एव (eva) - indeed; कल्याणं (kalyāṇaṃ) - good; श्रद्दधानः (śraddadhānaḥ) - having faith; अनसूयकः (anasūyakaḥ) - without envy;]
(Having done sin, a person should not think, 'I am not (the doer)'; he should indeed wish to do good, having faith and being without envy.)
After committing a sin, a person should not think, 'I am not (the doer)'; rather, he should sincerely wish to do good, with faith and without envy.
छिद्राणि वसनस्येव साधुना विवृणोति यः। यः पापं पुरुषः कृत्वा कल्याणमभिपद्यते ॥१२-१४८-३२॥
chidrāṇi vasanasy-eva sādhuṇā vivṛṇoti yaḥ। yaḥ pāpaṃ puruṣaḥ kṛtvā kalyāṇam abhipadyate ॥12-148-32॥
[छिद्राणि (chidrāṇi) - holes; (plural of छिद्र, opening, hole;) वसनस्य (vasanasya) - of a garment; इव (iva) - like; साधुना (sādhuṇā) - by a good person; विवृणोति (vivṛṇoti) - covers; (from vi-√vṛ, to cover, conceal;) यः (yaḥ) - who; यः (yaḥ) - who; पापं (pāpaṃ) - sin; evil act; पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - man; person; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; कल्याणम् (kalyāṇam) - good; auspicious; अभिपद्यते (abhipadyate) - attains; approaches; (from abhi-√pad, to go towards, attain;);]
(Who covers the holes of a garment like a good person, who, having done sin, attains good.)
Just as a good person covers the holes in a garment, so too, a man who has committed a sin attains goodness.
यथादित्यः पुनरुद्यंस्तमः सर्वं व्यपोहति। कल्याणमाचरन्नेवं सर्वं पापं व्यपोहति ॥१२-१४८-३३॥
yathādityaḥ punarudyaṁstamaḥ sarvaṁ vyapohati। kalyāṇamācarannevaṁ sarvaṁ pāpaṁ vyapohati ॥12-148-33॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; आदित्यः (ādityaḥ) - the sun; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; उद्यंन् (udyaṁn) - rising; तमः (tamaḥ) - darkness; सर्वं (sarvaṁ) - all; व्यपोहति (vyapohati) - removes; कल्याणम् (kalyāṇam) - auspiciousness; आचरन् (ācaran) - practicing; एवम् (evam) - thus; सर्वं (sarvaṁ) - all; पापम् (pāpam) - sin; व्यपोहति (vyapohati) - removes;]
(Just as the sun, rising again, removes all darkness, thus one practicing auspiciousness removes all sin.)
Just as the sun, when it rises, dispels all darkness, so too, by practicing good deeds, one dispels all sin.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
एवमुक्त्वा स राजानमिन्द्रोतो जनमेजयम्। याजयामास विधिवद्वाजिमेधेन शौनकः ॥१२-१४८-३४॥
evam-uktvā sa rājānam indrotaḥ janamejayam। yājayām āsa vidhivad vājim edhena śaunakaḥ ॥12-148-34॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having spoken; सः (saḥ) - he; राजानम् (rājānam) - king (accusative); इन्द्रोतः (indrotaḥ) - Indrota (name); जनमेजयम् (janamejayam) - Janamejaya (accusative); याजयाम् (yājayām) - caused to perform sacrifice; आस (āsa) - did; विधिवत् (vidhivat) - according to the rule; वाजिमेधेन (vājimedhena) - with the horse-sacrifice; शौनकः (śaunakaḥ) - Śaunaka (sage);]
(Thus having spoken, he, Indrota, caused King Janamejaya to perform the horse-sacrifice according to the rule, Śaunaka did.)
After saying this, Indrota caused King Janamejaya to perform the horse-sacrifice according to the prescribed rites, as narrated by Śaunaka.
ततः स राजा व्यपनीतकल्मषः; श्रिया युतः प्रज्वलिताग्निरूपया। विवेश राज्यं स्वममित्रकर्शनो; दिवं यथा पूर्णवपुर्निशाकरः ॥१२-१४८-३५॥
tataḥ sa rājā vyapanītakalmaṣaḥ; śriyā yutaḥ prajvalitāgnirūpayā. viveśa rājyaṃ svam amitrakarśanaḥ; divaṃ yathā pūrṇavapur niśākaraḥ ॥12-148-35॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; स (sa) - he; राजा (rājā) - king; व्यपनीतकल्मषः (vyapanītakalmaṣaḥ) - one whose sin is removed; श्रिया (śriyā) - with splendour; युतः (yutaḥ) - endowed; प्रज्वलिताग्निरूपया (prajvalitāgnirūpayā) - with blazing fire-like form; विवेश (viveśa) - entered; राज्यं (rājyaṃ) - kingdom; स्वम् (svam) - his own; अमित्रकर्शनः (amitrakarśanaḥ) - destroyer of enemies; दिवं (divaṃ) - heaven; यथा (yathā) - as; पूर्णवपुः (pūrṇavapuḥ) - having a full form; निशाकरः (niśākaraḥ) - the moon;]
(Then he, the king whose sin was removed, endowed with splendour with blazing fire-like form, entered his own kingdom, destroyer of enemies, as the moon with full form enters heaven.)
Then that king, purified of sin and endowed with splendour like blazing fire, entered his own kingdom, subduing his enemies, just as the full moon ascends into the heavens.
