12.154
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
स्वाध्यायकृतयत्नस्य ब्राह्मणस्य पितामह। धर्मकामस्य धर्मात्मन्किं नु श्रेय इहोच्यते ॥१२-१५४-१॥
O grandsire, what is considered the highest good here for a Brāhmaṇa who has made effort in self-study, O righteous one desiring dharma?
बहुधादर्शने लोके श्रेयो यदिह मन्यसे। अस्मिँल्लोके परे चैव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-१५४-२॥
O grandsire, in this world of many viewpoints, if you consider anything to be the highest good here or in the next world, please tell me that.
महानयं धर्मपथो बहुशाखश्च भारत। किं स्विदेवेह धर्माणामनुष्ठेयतमं मतम् ॥१२-१५४-३॥
O Bhārata, this path of dharma is great and has many branches. Which among the dharmas here is truly considered the most worthy of practice?
धर्मस्य महतो राजन्बहुशाखस्य तत्त्वतः। यन्मूलं परमं तात तत्सर्वं ब्रूह्यतन्द्रितः ॥१२-१५४-४॥
O king, dharma is great and has many branches; please tell me, dear one, without fatigue, the supreme root and essence of all of them.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि येन श्रेयः प्रपत्स्यसे। पीत्वामृतमिव प्राज्ञो ज्ञानतृप्तो भविष्यसि ॥१२-१५४-५॥
Indeed, I will tell you that by which you will attain the highest good. Having drunk nectar, you will become a wise person satisfied with knowledge.
धर्मस्य विधयो नैके ते ते प्रोक्ता महर्षिभिः। स्वं स्वं विज्ञानमाश्रित्य दमस्तेषां परायणम् ॥१२-१५४-६॥
There are many methods of dharma, each of which has been stated by great sages. Each sage, relying on his own knowledge, regards self-restraint as the highest goal.
दमं निःश्रेयसं प्राहुर्वृद्धा निश्चयदर्शिनः। ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण दमो धर्मः सनातनः ॥१२-१५४-७॥
The elders who are discerning have declared that self-restraint is the highest good. Especially for a brāhmaṇa, self-restraint is the eternal duty.
नादान्तस्य क्रियासिद्धिर्यथावदुपलभ्यते। दमो दानं तथा यज्ञानधीतं चातिवर्तते ॥१२-१५४-८॥
When a person's speech is controlled, actions succeed as they should. Self-restraint, charity, as well as sacrifices and study of the scriptures, surpass all else.
दमस्तेजो वर्धयति पवित्रं च दमः परम्। विपाप्मा तेजसा युक्तः पुरुषो विन्दते महत् ॥१२-१५४-९॥
Self-restraint enhances energy and is the highest purity; a sinless person endowed with energy attains greatness.
दमेन सदृशं धर्मं नान्यं लोकेषु शुश्रुम। दमो हि परमो लोके प्रशस्तः सर्वधर्मिणाम् ॥१२-१५४-१०॥
We have heard of no duty in all the worlds equal to self-restraint; for self-restraint is indeed the highest, praised among all the virtuous in the world.
प्रेत्य चापि मनुष्येन्द्र परमं विन्दते सुखम्। दमेन हि समायुक्तो महान्तं धर्ममश्नुते ॥१२-१५४-११॥
O best of men, after death, one who is endowed with self-restraint indeed attains supreme happiness and obtains great dharma.
सुखं दान्तः प्रस्वपिति सुखं च प्रतिबुध्यते। सुखं पर्येति लोकांश्च मनश्चास्य प्रसीदति ॥१२-१५४-१२॥
The self-controlled person sleeps happily, awakens happily, moves happily among people, and his mind becomes tranquil.
अदान्तः पुरुषः क्लेशमभीक्ष्णं प्रतिपद्यते। अनर्थांश्च बहूनन्यान्प्रसृजत्यात्मदोषजान् ॥१२-१५४-१३॥
A man lacking self-restraint constantly suffers pain and brings about many other misfortunes caused by his own faults.
आश्रमेषु चतुर्ष्वाहुर्दममेवोत्तमं व्रतम्। तस्य लिङ्गानि वक्ष्यामि येषां समुदयो दमः ॥१२-१५४-१४॥
Among the four āśramas, self-restraint is regarded as the highest vow. I will now describe its characteristics, whose aggregate is self-restraint.
क्षमा धृतिरहिंसा च समता सत्यमार्जवम्। इन्द्रियावजयो दाक्ष्यं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ॥१२-१५४-१५॥
Forbearance, steadfastness, non-injury, equanimity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, control of the senses, skill, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness.
अकार्पण्यमसंरम्भः सन्तोषः प्रियवादिता। अविवित्सानसूया चाप्येषां समुदयो दमः ॥१२-१५४-१६॥
Self-restraint consists of the absence of miserliness, agitation, covetousness, and envy, contentment, pleasant speech, and the collection of these qualities.
गुरुपूजा च कौरव्य दया भूतेष्वपैशुनम्। जनवादोऽमृषावादः स्तुतिनिन्दाविवर्जनम् ॥१२-१५४-१७॥
O descendant of Kuru, worship of the teacher, compassion for all beings, refraining from slander, respecting public opinion, avoiding falsehood, and abstaining from both praise and blame—these are to be practiced.
कामः क्रोधश्च लोभश्च दर्पः स्तम्भो विकत्थनम्। मोह ईर्ष्यावमानश्चेत्येतद्दान्तो न सेवते ॥१२-१५४-१८॥
A self-restrained person does not engage in desire, anger, greed, arrogance, pride, boasting, delusion, envy, or insult.
अनिन्दितो ह्यकामात्माथाल्पेच्छोऽथानसूयकः। समुद्रकल्पः स नरो न कदाचन पूर्यते ॥१२-१५४-१९॥
A blameless man, who is free from desires, has little desire, and is without envy, is like the ocean—he is never satisfied at any time.
अहं त्वयि मम त्वं च मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम्। पूर्वसम्बन्धिसंयोगान्नैतद्दान्तो निषेवते ॥१२-१५४-२०॥
Because of previous associations, the self-controlled person does not engage in thoughts such as 'I am in you, you are in me, this is mine, that is yours, I am also in them.'
सर्वा ग्राम्यास्तथारण्या याश्च लोके प्रवृत्तयः। निन्दां चैव प्रशंसां च यो नाश्रयति मुच्यते ॥१२-१५४-२१॥
Whoever does not depend on either blame or praise, or on any worldly activity, whether of the village or the forest, is liberated.
मैत्रोऽथ शीलसम्पन्नः सुसहायपरश्च यः। मुक्तश्च विविधैः सङ्गैस्तस्य प्रेत्य महत्फलम् ॥१२-१५४-२२॥
A person who is friendly, of good conduct, devoted to good companions, and free from various attachments attains great rewards after death.
सुवृत्तः शीलसम्पन्नः प्रसन्नात्मात्मविद्बुधः। प्राप्येह लोके सत्कारं सुगतिं प्रतिपद्यते ॥१२-१५४-२३॥
A person who is well-conducted, virtuous, clear-minded, self-knowing, and wise, upon attaining honor in this world, achieves a good state.
कर्म यच्छुभमेवेह सद्भिराचरितं च यत्। तदेव ज्ञानयुक्तस्य मुनेर्धर्मो न हीयते ॥१२-१५४-२४॥
The action here that is auspicious and performed by the virtuous, that indeed is the dharma of a sage endowed with knowledge, and it does not diminish.
निष्क्रम्य वनमास्थाय ज्ञानयुक्तो जितेन्द्रियः। कालाकाङ्क्षी चरन्नेवं ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥१२-१५४-२५॥
One who, having left for the forest, lives there endowed with knowledge and self-control, awaiting the proper time, and thus wanders, becomes fit for attaining Brahman.
अभयं यस्य भूतेभ्यो भूतानामभयं यतः। तस्य देहाद्विमुक्तस्य भयं नास्ति कुतश्चन ॥१२-१५४-२६॥
He from whom beings have no fear, and who has no fear from beings—such a one, liberated from the body, has no fear from anywhere.
अवाचिनोति कर्माणि न च सम्प्रचिनोति ह। समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु मैत्रायणगतिश्चरेत् ॥१२-१५४-२७॥
He neither gathers nor accumulates actions; remaining impartial towards all beings, one should act with a disposition of friendliness.
शकुनीनामिवाकाशे जले वारिचरस्य वा। यथा गतिर्न दृश्येत तथा तस्य न संशयः ॥१२-१५४-२८॥
Just as the movement of birds in the sky or of an aquatic animal in water is not seen, so is his—there is no doubt about it.
गृहानुत्सृज्य यो राजन्मोक्षमेवाभिपद्यते। लोकास्तेजोमयास्तस्य कल्पन्ते शाश्वतीः समाः ॥१२-१५४-२९॥
O king, whoever abandons home and seeks only liberation, for him, radiant worlds and eternal years are established.
संन्यस्य सर्वकर्माणि संन्यस्य विधिवत्तपः। संन्यस्य विविधा विद्याः सर्वं संन्यस्य चैव ह ॥१२-१५४-३०॥
Having renounced all actions, austerities performed according to rule, and various kinds of knowledge, having renounced everything, and indeed surely.
कामेषु चाप्यनावृत्तः प्रसन्नात्मात्मविच्छुचिः। प्राप्येह लोके सत्कारं स्वर्गं समभिपद्यते ॥१२-१५४-३१॥
One who is not turned back by desires, whose mind is clear, who knows the self and is pure, having attained honor in this world, fully attains heaven.
यच्च पैतामहं स्थानं ब्रह्मराशिसमुद्भवम्। गुहायां पिहितं नित्यं तद्दमेनाभिपद्यते ॥१२-१५४-३२॥
That ancestral abode, born from the aggregate of Brahman and eternally hidden in the cave, is attained only through self-restraint.
ज्ञानारामस्य बुद्धस्य सर्वभूताविरोधिनः। नावृत्तिभयमस्तीह परलोके भयं कुतः ॥१२-१५४-३३॥
For one who delights in knowledge, for the awakened one who is not opposed to any being, there is no fear of return (to rebirth) here; so how could there be fear in the other world?
एक एव दमे दोषो द्वितीयो नोपपद्यते। यदेनं क्षमया युक्तमशक्तं मन्यते जनः ॥१२-१५४-३४॥
There is only one fault in self-control; there is no second. It is that people consider a person endowed with forbearance to be incapable.
एतस्य तु महाप्राज्ञ दोषस्य सुमहान्गुणः। क्षमायां विपुला लोकाः सुलभा हि सहिष्णुना ॥१२-१५४-३५॥
But in the case of the very wise, even a fault has a great virtue. Through forbearance, abundant worlds are easily attained by the patient person.
दान्तस्य किमरण्येन तथादान्तस्य भारत। यत्रैव हि वसेद्दान्तस्तदरण्यं स आश्रमः ॥१२-१५४-३६॥
O Bhārata, what use is the forest to the self-controlled, or likewise to the uncontrolled? Wherever the self-controlled dwells, that place is a hermitage.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एतद्भीष्मस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा युधिष्ठिरः। अमृतेनेव सन्तृप्तः प्रहृष्टः समपद्यत ॥१२-१५४-३७॥
When King Yudhiṣhira heard these words of Bhīṣma, he felt as if he had been nourished by nectar and was filled with joy.
पुनश्च परिपप्रच्छ भीष्मं धर्मभृतां वरम्। तपः प्रति स चोवाच तस्मै सर्वं कुरूद्वह ॥१२-१५४-३८॥
Again, he questioned Bhishma, the foremost among the upholders of dharma, about austerity; and Bhishma explained everything to him, O best of the Kurus.
