12.156
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
सत्यं धर्मे प्रशंसन्ति विप्रर्षिपितृदेवताः। सत्यमिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-१५६-१॥
satyaṃ dharme praśaṃsanti viprarṣipitṛdevatāḥ। satyamicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ tanme brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-156-1॥
[सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; धर्मे (dharme) - in righteousness; प्रशंसन्ति (praśaṃsanti) - praise; विप्रर्षिपितृदेवताः (viprarṣipitṛdevatāḥ) - Brāhmaṇas, sages, ancestors, and deities; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I desire; अहं (ahaṃ) - I; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire;]
(Truth in righteousness praise Brāhmaṇas, sages, ancestors, and deities; truth I desire to hear, that to me tell, O grandsire.)
Brāhmaṇas, sages, ancestors, and deities praise truth in righteousness. I wish to hear about truth; tell that to me, O grandsire.
सत्यं किंलक्षणं राजन्कथं वा तदवाप्यते। सत्यं प्राप्य भवेत्किं च कथं चैव तदुच्यते ॥१२-१५६-२॥
satyaṃ kiṃlakṣaṇaṃ rājan kathaṃ vā tad avāpyate। satyaṃ prāpya bhavet kiṃ ca kathaṃ caiva tad ucyate ॥12-156-2॥
[सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; किं-लक्षणं (kiṃ-lakṣaṇam) - what-characteristic; राजन् (rājan) - O king; कथं (katham) - how; वा (vā) - or; तत् (tat) - that; अवाप्यते (avāpyate) - is attained; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having attained; भवेत् (bhavet) - becomes; किं (kiṃ) - what; च (ca) - and; कथं (katham) - how; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; तत् (tat) - that; उच्यते (ucyate) - is said;]
(Truth what-characteristic O king how or that is attained. Truth having attained becomes what and how and indeed that is said.)
O king, what is the characteristic of truth, how is it attained, and what happens when truth is attained? How, indeed, is that described?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य धर्माणां सङ्करो न प्रशस्यते। अविकारितमं सत्यं सर्ववर्णेषु भारत ॥१२-१५६-३॥
cāturvarṇyasya dharmāṇāṃ saṅkaro na praśasyate। avikāritamaṃ satyaṃ sarvavarṇeṣu bhārata ॥12-156-3॥
[चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य (cāturvarṇyasya) - of the four varṇas; धर्माणां (dharmāṇāṃ) - of the duties; सङ्करः (saṅkaraḥ) - mixture; न (na) - not; प्रशस्यते (praśasyate) - is praised; अविकारितमम् (avikāritamam) - unchanged; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; सर्ववर्णेषु (sarvavarṇeṣu) - among all varṇas; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]
(The mixture of the duties of the four varṇas is not praised. The unchanged truth is (to be maintained) among all varṇas, O Bhārata.)
O Bhārata, the intermingling of the duties of the four varṇas is not approved. The unaltered truth should be upheld among all varṇas.
सत्यं सत्सु सदा धर्मः सत्यं धर्मः सनातनः। सत्यमेव नमस्येत सत्यं हि परमा गतिः ॥१२-१५६-४॥
satyaṃ satsu sadā dharmaḥ satyaṃ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ। satyameva namasyeta satyaṃ hi paramā gatiḥ ॥12-156-4॥
[सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; सत्सु (satsu) - among the good; सदा (sadā) - always; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; सनातनः (sanātanaḥ) - eternal; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; एव (eva) - indeed; नमस्येत् (namasyet) - should be revered; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; हि (hi) - indeed; परमा (paramā) - supreme; गतिः (gatiḥ) - goal;]
(Truth among the good always is righteousness; truth is the eternal righteousness. Indeed, one should revere only truth; for truth is indeed the supreme goal.)
Truth is always righteousness among the virtuous; truth is the eternal righteousness. One should indeed worship only truth, for truth is truly the highest goal.
सत्यं धर्मस्तपो योगः सत्यं ब्रह्म सनातनम्। सत्यं यज्ञः परः प्रोक्तः सत्ये सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१२-१५६-५॥
satyaṃ dharmastapo yogaḥ satyaṃ brahma sanātanam। satyaṃ yajñaḥ paraḥ proktaḥ satye sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam ॥12-156-5॥
[सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; योगः (yogaḥ) - union; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; ब्रह्म (brahma) - absolute reality; सनातनम् (sanātanam) - eternal; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; परः (paraḥ) - supreme; प्रोक्तः (proktaḥ) - declared; सत्ये (satye) - in truth; सर्वं (sarvaṃ) - all; प्रतिष्ठितम् (pratiṣṭhitam) - established;]
(Truth, righteousness, austerity, union, truth is the eternal absolute reality; truth is the supreme sacrifice declared; in truth all is established.)
Truth is righteousness, austerity, and union; truth is the eternal Brahman. Truth is declared as the supreme sacrifice; upon truth all is established.
आचारानिह सत्यस्य यथावदनुपूर्वशः। लक्षणं च प्रवक्ष्यामि सत्यस्येह यथाक्रमम् ॥१२-१५६-६॥
ācārāniha satyasya yathāvad-anupūrvaśaḥ। lakṣaṇaṃ ca pravakṣyāmi satyasy-eha yathākramam ॥12-156-6॥
[आचारान् (ācārān) - conducts; इह (iha) - here; सत्यस्य (satyasya) - of truth; यथावत् (yathāvat) - as it is; अनुपूर्वशः (anupūrvaśaḥ) - in proper sequence; लक्षणम् (lakṣaṇam) - characteristic; च (ca) - and; प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi) - I shall explain; सत्यस्य (satyasya) - of truth; इह (iha) - here; यथाक्रमम् (yathākramam) - in due order;]
(Here, I shall explain the conducts of truth as they are, in proper sequence, and also the characteristic of truth here in due order.)
Here, I will explain the conducts of truth as they are, in proper sequence, and also the characteristics of truth in due order.
प्राप्यते हि यथा सत्यं तच्च श्रोतुं त्वमर्हसि। सत्यं त्रयोदशविधं सर्वलोकेषु भारत ॥१२-१५६-७॥
prāpyate hi yathā satyaṃ tacca śrotuṃ tvamarhasi। satyaṃ trayodaśavidhaṃ sarvalokeṣu bhārata ॥12-156-7॥
[प्राप्यते (prāpyate) - is attained; हि (hi) - indeed; यथा (yathā) - as; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; तत् (tat) - that; च (ca) - and; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; त्वम् (tvam) - you; अर्हसि (arhasi) - are worthy; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; त्रयोदशविधं (trayodaśavidhaṃ) - of thirteen kinds; सर्वलोकेषु (sarvalokeṣu) - in all worlds; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]
(Indeed, as truth is attained, that you are worthy to hear. Truth, of thirteen kinds, in all worlds, O Bhārata.)
O Bhārata, as truth is attained, you are indeed worthy to hear about it. Truth is of thirteen kinds in all worlds.
सत्यं च समता चैव दमश्चैव न संशयः। अमात्सर्यं क्षमा चैव ह्रीस्तितिक्षानसूयता ॥१२-१५६-८॥
satyaṃ ca samatā caiva damaścaiva na saṃśayaḥ। amātsaryaṃ kṣamā caiva hrīstiti kṣānasūyatā ॥12-156-8॥
[सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; च (ca) - and; समता (samatā) - equanimity; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; दमः (damaḥ) - self-restraint; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; न (na) - not; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt; अमात्सर्यं (amātsaryaṃ) - absence of envy; क्षमा (kṣamā) - forgiveness; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; ह्रीः (hrīḥ) - modesty; तितिक्षा (titikṣā) - forbearance; अनसूयता (anasūyatā) - absence of fault-finding;]
(Truth and equanimity indeed, self-restraint indeed, not doubt. Absence of envy, forgiveness indeed, modesty, forbearance, absence of fault-finding.)
Truth, equanimity, self-restraint, absence of doubt, absence of envy, forgiveness, modesty, forbearance, and absence of fault-finding are virtues.
त्यागो ध्यानमथार्यत्वं धृतिश्च सततं स्थिरा। अहिंसा चैव राजेन्द्र सत्याकारास्त्रयोदश ॥१२-१५६-९॥
tyāgo dhyānam athāryatvaṃ dhṛtiś ca satataṃ sthirā | ahiṃsā caiva rājendra satyākārās trayodaśa ||12-156-9||
[त्यागः (tyāgaḥ) - renunciation; ध्यानम् (dhyānam) - meditation; अथ (atha) - and; आर्ज्यत्वम् (āryatvam) - nobility; धृतिः (dhṛtiḥ) - steadfastness; च (ca) - and; सततम् (satatam) - always; स्थिरा (sthirā) - firm; अहिंसा (ahiṃsā) - non-violence; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; सत्याकाराः (satyākārāḥ) - truth-formed; त्रयोदश (trayodaśa) - thirteen;]
(Renunciation, meditation, and nobility, steadfastness and always firm, non-violence and indeed, O king, thirteen forms of truth.)
O King, renunciation, meditation, nobility, steadfastness, constant firmness, non-violence, and so on—these are the thirteen forms of truth.
सत्यं नामाव्ययं नित्यमविकारि तथैव च। सर्वधर्माविरुद्धं च योगेनैतदवाप्यते ॥१२-१५६-१०॥
satyaṃ nāmāvyayaṃ nityam avikāri tathaiva ca। sarvadharmāviruddhaṃ ca yogenaitad avāpyate ॥12-156-10॥
[सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; नाम (nāmā) - indeed; अव्ययम् (avyayam) - imperishable; नित्यम् (nityam) - eternal; अविकारि (avikāri) - unchanging; तथैव (tathaiva) - just so; च (ca) - and; सर्वधर्म (sarvadharma) - all dharmas; अविरुद्धम् (aviruddham) - not opposed; च (ca) - and; योगेन (yogena) - by yoga; एतत् (etat) - this; अवाप्यते (avāpyate) - is attained;]
(Truth indeed is imperishable, eternal, unchanging, just so and; not opposed to all dharmas and; by yoga this is attained.)
Truth is indeed imperishable, eternal, and unchanging; it is not opposed to all dharmas, and this is attained by yoga.
आत्मनीष्टे तथानिष्टे रिपौ च समता तथा। इच्छाद्वेषक्षयं प्राप्य कामक्रोधक्षयं तथा ॥१२-१५६-११॥
ātmaniṣṭe tathāniṣṭe ripau ca samatā tathā। icchādveṣakṣayaṃ prāpya kāmakrodhakṣayaṃ tathā ॥12-156-11॥
[आत्मनि (ātmani) - in oneself; इष्टे (iṣṭe) - in what is desired; तथा (tathā) - likewise; अनिष्टे (aniṣṭe) - in what is undesired; रिपौ (ripau) - in the enemy; च (ca) - and; समता (samatā) - equanimity; तथा (tathā) - likewise; इच्छा (icchā) - desire; द्वेष (dveṣa) - aversion; क्षयम् (kṣayam) - destruction; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having attained; काम (kāma) - desire; क्रोध (krodha) - anger; क्षयम् (kṣayam) - destruction; तथा (tathā) - likewise;]
(In oneself, in what is desired, likewise in what is undesired, in the enemy and equanimity likewise; having attained the destruction of desire and aversion, and likewise the destruction of desire and anger.)
One should maintain equanimity towards oneself, towards what is desired and undesired, and even towards an enemy; having achieved the destruction of desire and aversion, and likewise the destruction of desire and anger.
दमो नान्यस्पृहा नित्यं धैर्यं गाम्भीर्यमेव च। अभयं क्रोधशमनं ज्ञानेनैतदवाप्यते ॥१२-१५६-१२॥
damo nānyaspṛhā nityaṃ dhairyaṃ gāmbhīryameva ca। abhayaṃ krodhaśamanaṃ jñānenaitadavāpyate ॥12-156-12॥
[दमः (damaḥ) - self-restraint; न (na) - not; अन्यस्पृहा (anyaspṛhā) - desire for others; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; धैर्यम् (dhairyam) - fortitude; गाम्भीर्यम् (gāmbhīryam) - gravity; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; अभयम् (abhayam) - fearlessness; क्रोधशमनम् (krodhaśamanam) - pacification of anger; ज्ञानेन (jñānena) - by knowledge; एतत् (etat) - this; अवाप्यते (avāpyate) - is attained;]
(Self-restraint, not desiring others' possessions, always fortitude, gravity indeed and; fearlessness, pacification of anger, by knowledge this is attained.)
Self-restraint, absence of desire for others' possessions, constant fortitude, and true gravity; fearlessness and pacification of anger—these are attained through knowledge.
अमात्सर्यं बुधाः प्राहुर्दानं धर्मे च संयमम्। अवस्थितेन नित्यं च सत्येनामत्सरी भवेत् ॥१२-१५६-१३॥
amātsaryaṃ budhāḥ prāhur dānaṃ dharme ca saṃyamam। avasthitena nityaṃ ca satyenāmatsarī bhavet ॥12-156-13॥
[अमात्सर्यं (amātsaryam) - absence of envy; बुधाः (budhāḥ) - the wise ones; प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - have said; दानम् (dānam) - generosity; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; च (ca) - and; संयमम् (saṃyamam) - self-restraint; अवस्थितेन (avasthitena) - by one who is steadfast; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; च (ca) - and; सत्येन (satyena) - by truth; अमत्सरी (amatsarī) - one who is free from envy; भवेत् (bhavet) - should become;]
(Absence of envy, the wise have said, is generosity; in dharma and self-restraint, by one who is steadfast, always and by truth, one should become free from envy.)
The wise declare that absence of envy is true generosity; in the practice of dharma and self-restraint, one who is steadfast and always truthful should remain free from envy.
अक्षमायाः क्षमायाश्च प्रियाणीहाप्रियाणि च। क्षमते सर्वतः साधुः साध्वाप्नोति च सत्यवान् ॥१२-१५६-१४॥
akṣamāyāḥ kṣamāyāś ca priyāṇīhāpriyāṇi ca। kṣamate sarvataḥ sādhuḥ sādhvāpnōti ca satyavān ॥12-156-14॥
[अक्षमायाः (akṣamāyāḥ) - of the unforgiving; क्षमायाः (kṣamāyāḥ) - of the forgiving; च (ca) - and; प्रियाणि (priyāṇi) - pleasant things; इह (iha) - here; अप्रियाणि (apriyāṇi) - unpleasant things; च (ca) - and; क्षमते (kṣamate) - forgives; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - from all; साधुः (sādhuḥ) - the virtuous; साधु (sādhu) - good; आप्नोति (āpnōti) - attains; च (ca) - and; सत्यवान् (satyavān) - the truthful;]
(Of the unforgiving and of the forgiving, here are pleasant and unpleasant things; the virtuous forgives all; the good attains, and the truthful.)
Both the unforgiving and the forgiving encounter pleasant and unpleasant things here; the virtuous person forgives everything, the good attains, and the truthful prevails.
कल्याणं कुरुते गाढं ह्रीमान्न श्लाघते क्वचित्। प्रशान्तवाङ्मना नित्यं ह्रीस्तु धर्मादवाप्यते ॥१२-१५६-१५॥
kalyāṇaṃ kurute gāḍhaṃ hrīmān na ślāghate kvacit। praśāntavāṅmanā nityaṃ hrīs tu dharmād avāpyate ॥12-156-15॥
[कल्याणम् (kalyāṇam) - auspiciousness; कुरुते (kurute) - does; गाढम् (gāḍham) - firmly; ह्रीमान् (hrīmān) - modest; न (na) - not; श्लाघते (ślāghate) - boasts; क्वचित् (kvacit) - ever; प्रशान्तवाङ्मना (praśāntavāṅmanā) - of calm speech and mind; नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; ह्रीः (hrīḥ) - modesty; तु (tu) - but; धर्मात् (dharmāt) - from dharma; अवाप्यते (avāpyate) - is obtained;]
(A modest person, who does auspicious acts firmly, never boasts at any time. One whose speech and mind are always calm—modesty, indeed, is obtained from dharma.)
A truly modest person does good deeds steadfastly and never boasts. One whose words and mind are always calm—such modesty is attained only through dharma.
धर्मार्थहेतोः क्षमते तितिक्षा क्षान्तिरुच्यते। लोकसङ्ग्रहणार्थं तु सा तु धैर्येण लभ्यते ॥१२-१५६-१६॥
dharmārthahetoḥ kṣamate titikṣā kṣāntir ucyate। lokasaṅgrahaṇārthaṃ tu sā tu dhairyeṇa labhyate ॥12-156-16॥
[धर्मार्थहेतोः (dharmārthahetoḥ) - for the sake of righteousness and purpose; क्षमते (kṣamate) - endures; तितिक्षा (titikṣā) - forbearance; क्षान्तिः (kṣāntiḥ) - forbearance; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called; लोकसङ्ग्रहणार्थं (lokasaṅgrahaṇārtham) - for the purpose of maintaining the world; तु (tu) - but; सा (sā) - she; तु (tu) - but; धैर्येण (dhairyeṇa) - by courage; लभ्यते (labhyate) - is obtained;]
(For the sake of righteousness and purpose, that which endures is called forbearance. But for the purpose of maintaining the world, that forbearance is obtained by courage.)
Forbearance is called that which endures for the sake of righteousness; but for the welfare of the world, such forbearance is attained through courage.
त्यागः स्नेहस्य यस्त्यागो विषयाणां तथैव च। रागद्वेषप्रहीणस्य त्यागो भवति नान्यथा ॥१२-१५६-१७॥
tyāgaḥ snehasya yastyāgo viṣayāṇāṃ tathaiva ca। rāgadveṣaprahīṇasya tyāgo bhavati nānyathā ॥12-156-17॥
[त्यागः (tyāgaḥ) - renunciation; स्नेहस्य (snehasya) - of attachment; यः (yaḥ) - which; त्यागः (tyāgaḥ) - renunciation; विषयाणां (viṣayāṇāṃ) - of sense-objects; तथैव (tathaiva) - just so; च (ca) - and; रागद्वेषप्रहीणस्य (rāgadveṣaprahīṇasya) - of one who is free from attachment and aversion; त्यागः (tyāgaḥ) - renunciation; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; न (na) - not; अन्यथा (anyathā) - otherwise;]
(Renunciation of attachment, that renunciation of sense-objects as well; of one who is free from attachment and aversion, renunciation becomes, not otherwise.)
Only the renunciation of sense-objects and attachments by one who is free from both attachment and aversion is true renunciation; otherwise, it is not so.
आर्यता नाम भूतानां यः करोति प्रयत्नतः। शुभं कर्म निराकारो वीतरागत्वमेव च ॥१२-१५६-१८॥
āryatā nāma bhūtānāṃ yaḥ karoti prayatnataḥ। śubhaṃ karma nirākāro vītarāgatvameva ca ॥12-156-18॥
[आर्यता (āryatā) - nobility; नाम (nāma) - by name; भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of beings; यः (yaḥ) - who; करोति (karoti) - does; प्रयत्नतः (prayatnataḥ) - with effort; शुभम् (śubham) - auspicious; कर्म (karma) - action; निराकारः (nirākāraḥ) - formless; वीतरागत्वम् (vītarāgatvam) - dispassion; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and;]
(Nobility by name is that which one does with effort; auspicious action, formlessness, and indeed dispassion also.)
Nobility is defined as that which one performs with effort: auspicious deeds, formlessness, and true dispassion.
धृतिर्नाम सुखे दुःखे यथा नाप्नोति विक्रियाम्। तां भजेत सदा प्राज्ञो य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः ॥१२-१५६-१९॥
dhṛtir nāma sukhe duḥkhe yathā nāpnoti vikriyām। tāṃ bhajeta sadā prājño ya icched bhūtim ātmanaḥ ॥12-156-19॥
[धृतिः (dhṛtiḥ) - steadfastness; नाम (nāma) - named; सुखे (sukhe) - in happiness; दुःखे (duḥkhe) - in sorrow; यथा (yathā) - as; न (na) - not; आप्नोति (āpnoti) - attains; विक्रियाम् (vikriyām) - change; ताम् (tām) - that; भजेत (bhajeta) - should resort to; सदा (sadā) - always; प्राज्ञः (prājñaḥ) - the wise; यः (yaḥ) - who; इच्छेत् (icchet) - desires; भूतिम् (bhūtim) - prosperity; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - for oneself;]
(Steadfastness, named as that which does not attain change in happiness and sorrow, that the wise should always resort to, who desires prosperity for oneself.)
Steadfastness is that which does not undergo change in happiness or sorrow; the wise man who desires his own prosperity should always cultivate that.
सर्वथा क्षमिणा भाव्यं तथा सत्यपरेण च। वीतहर्षभयक्रोधो धृतिमाप्नोति पण्डितः ॥१२-१५६-२०॥
sarvathā kṣamiṇā bhāvyaṃ tathā satyapareṇa ca। vītaharṣabhayakrodho dhṛtimāpnoti paṇḍitaḥ ॥12-156-20॥
[सर्वथा (sarvathā) - in every way; क्षमिणा (kṣamiṇā) - by the forgiving one; भाव्यं (bhāvyaṃ) - should be; तथा (tathā) - likewise; सत्यपरेण (satyapareṇa) - by one devoted to truth; च (ca) - and; वीतहर्षभयक्रोधः (vītaharṣabhayakrodhaḥ) - one who is free from delight, fear, and anger; धृतिम् (dhṛtim) - steadfastness; आप्नोति (āpnoti) - attains; पण्डितः (paṇḍitaḥ) - the wise one;]
(In every way, one should be forgiving; likewise, by one devoted to truth and free from delight, fear, and anger, the wise one attains steadfastness.)
A wise person should always be forgiving and devoted to truth; being free from delight, fear, and anger, such a person attains steadfastness.
अद्रोहः सर्वभूतेषु कर्मणा मनसा गिरा। अनुग्रहश्च दानं च सतां धर्मः सनातनः ॥१२-१५६-२१॥
adrohaḥ sarvabhūteṣu karmaṇā manasā girā। anugrahaś ca dānaṃ ca satāṃ dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ ॥12-156-21॥
[अद्रोहः (adrohaḥ) - absence of hostility; सर्वभूतेषु (sarvabhūteṣu) - towards all beings; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action; मनसा (manasā) - by mind; गिरा (girā) - by speech; अनुग्रहः (anugrahaḥ) - kindness; च (ca) - and; दानं (dānaṃ) - charity; च (ca) - and; सतां (satāṃ) - of the good; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; सनातनः (sanātanaḥ) - eternal;]
(Absence of hostility towards all beings by action, by mind, by speech; kindness and charity, these are the eternal duty of the good.)
The eternal duty of the virtuous is to be free from hostility towards all beings in action, thought, and speech, and to practice kindness and charity.
एते त्रयोदशाकाराः पृथक्सत्यैकलक्षणाः। भजन्ते सत्यमेवेह बृंहयन्ति च भारत ॥१२-१५६-२२॥
ete trayodaśākārāḥ pṛthak satyaika lakṣaṇāḥ। bhajante satyam eva iha bṛṃhayanti ca bhārata॥12-156-22॥
[एते (ete) - these; त्रयोदश (trayodaśa) - thirteen; आकाराः (ākārāḥ) - forms; पृथक् (pṛthak) - separately; सत्य (satya) - truth; एक (eka) - one; लक्षणाः (lakṣaṇāḥ) - characteristics; भजन्ते (bhajante) - partake; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; एव (eva) - only; इह (iha) - here; बृंहयन्ति (bṛṃhayanti) - cause to grow; च (ca) - and; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]
(These thirteen forms, having the single characteristic of truth, separately partake of only truth here and cause it to grow, O Bhārata.)
O Bhārata, these thirteen forms, each with the single characteristic of truth, separately partake of truth alone here and also cause it to flourish.
नान्तः शक्यो गुणानां हि वक्तुं सत्यस्य भारत। अतः सत्यं प्रशंसन्ति विप्राः सपितृदेवताः ॥१२-१५६-२३॥
nāntaḥ śakyo guṇānāṃ hi vaktuṃ satyasya bhārata। ataḥ satyaṃ praśaṃsanti viprāḥ sapitṛdevatāḥ ॥12-156-23॥
[न (na) - not; अन्तः (antaḥ) - end; शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - possible; गुणानाम् (guṇānām) - of qualities; हि (hi) - indeed; वक्तुम् (vaktum) - to speak; सत्यस्य (satyasya) - of truth; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; अतः (ataḥ) - therefore; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; प्रशंसन्ति (praśaṃsanti) - praise; विप्राः (viprāḥ) - the sages; सपितृदेवताः (sa-pitṛ-devatāḥ) - together with ancestors and gods;]
(Not end possible of qualities indeed to speak of truth, O Bhārata; therefore truth praise the sages together with ancestors and gods.)
O Bhārata, the end of the qualities of truth cannot indeed be spoken; therefore, the sages, together with the ancestors and gods, praise truth.
नास्ति सत्यात्परो धर्मो नानृतात्पातकं परम्। स्थितिर्हि सत्यं धर्मस्य तस्मात्सत्यं न लोपयेत् ॥१२-१५६-२४॥
nāsti satyāt paro dharmo nānṛtāt pātakaṃ param। sthitir hi satyaṃ dharmasya tasmāt satyaṃ na lopayet ॥12-156-24॥
[नास्ति (nāsti) - is not; सत्यात् (satyāt) - than truth; परः (paraḥ) - higher; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; न (na) - not; अनृतात् (anṛtāt) - than falsehood; पातकम् (pātakam) - sin; परम् (param) - greater; स्थितिः (sthitiḥ) - foundation; हि (hi) - indeed; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; न (na) - not; लोपयेत् (lopayet) - should cause to be lost;]
(There is not a dharma higher than truth; there is not a sin greater than falsehood. Indeed, the foundation of dharma is truth; therefore, one should not cause truth to be lost.)
There is no dharma greater than truth, nor any sin greater than falsehood. Truth is indeed the foundation of dharma; therefore, one should never abandon the truth.
उपैति सत्याद्दानं हि तथा यज्ञाः सदक्षिणाः। व्रताग्निहोत्रं वेदाश्च ये चान्ये धर्मनिश्चयाः ॥१२-१५६-२५॥
upaiti satyāddānaṃ hi tathā yajñāḥ sadakṣiṇāḥ। vratāgnihotraṃ vedāśca ye cānye dharmaniścayāḥ ॥12-156-25॥
[उपैति (upaiti) - approaches; सत्यात् (satyāt) - from truth; दानम् (dānam) - gift; हि (hi) - indeed; तथा (tathā) - likewise; यज्ञाः (yajñāḥ) - sacrifices; सदक्षिणाः (sadakṣiṇāḥ) - with proper gifts; व्रत (vrata) - vows; अग्निहोत्रम् (agnihotram) - Agnihotra (fire ritual); वेदाः (vedāḥ) - Vedas; च (ca) - and; ये (ye) - those; च (ca) - and; अन्ये (anye) - others; धर्मनिश्चयाः (dharmaniścayāḥ) - determinations of dharma;]
(Approaches from truth, gift indeed, likewise sacrifices with proper gifts, vows, Agnihotra, Vedas and those and others determinations of dharma.)
Indeed, gifts that arise from truth, as well as sacrifices with proper gifts, vows, Agnihotra, the Vedas, and all other determinations of dharma, are attained.
अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्। अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेवातिरिच्यते ॥१२-१५६-२६॥
aśvamedhasahasraṃ ca satyaṃ ca tulayā dhṛtam। aśvamedhasahasrāddhi satyamevātiricyate ॥12-156-26॥
[अश्वमेधसहस्रं (aśvamedhasahasram) - a thousand horse sacrifices; च (ca) - and; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; च (ca) - and; तुलया (tulayā) - with a balance; धृतम् (dhṛtam) - held; अश्वमेधसहस्रात् (aśvamedhasahasrāt) - than a thousand horse sacrifices; हि (hi) - indeed; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; एव (eva) - alone; अतिरिच्यते (atiricyate) - surpasses;]
(A thousand horse sacrifices and truth, when placed in a balance, truth alone indeed surpasses a thousand horse sacrifices.)
When a thousand horse sacrifices and truth are weighed in a balance, truth alone is found to surpass even a thousand horse sacrifices.
