12.158
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
आनृशंस्यं विजानामि दर्शनेन सतां सदा। नृशंसान्न विजानामि तेषां कर्म च भारत ॥१२-१५८-१॥
O Bhārata, I always recognize compassion by seeing the virtuous; I do not recognize the cruel or their actions.
कण्टकान्कूपमग्निं च वर्जयन्ति यथा नराः। तथा नृशंसकर्माणं वर्जयन्ति नरा नरम् ॥१२-१५८-२॥
Just as men avoid thorns, a well, and fire, so too do men avoid a man who performs cruel deeds.
नृशंसो ह्यधमो नित्यं प्रेत्य चेह च भारत। तस्माद्ब्रवीहि कौरव्य तस्य धर्मविनिश्चयम् ॥१२-१५८-३॥
O Bhārata, a cruel person is always the lowest, both here and after death. Therefore, O descendant of Kuru, declare his decision regarding dharma.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
स्पृहास्यान्तर्हिता चैव विदितार्था च कर्मणा। आक्रोष्टा क्रुश्यते चैव बन्धिता बध्यते च यः ॥१२-१५८-४॥
He whose desire is hidden and whose purpose is known by his actions; the one who abuses is tormented, and the one who binds is himself bound.
दत्तानुकीर्तिर्विषमः क्षुद्रो नैकृतिकः शठः। असम्भोगी च मानी च तथा सङ्गी विकत्थनः ॥१२-१५८-५॥
One who boasts of what he has given, is partial, petty, deceitful, crafty, does not enjoy, is proud, and is also companionable and boastful.
सर्वातिशङ्की परुषो बालिशः कृपणस्तथा। वर्गप्रशंसी सततमाश्रमद्वेषसङ्करी ॥१२-१५८-६॥
One who is ever suspicious, harsh, childish, miserly, always praises his own group, and constantly causes discord among the āśramas.
हिंसाविहारी सततमविशेषगुणागुणः। बह्वलीको मनस्वी च लुब्धोऽत्यर्थं नृशंसकृत् ॥१२-१५८-७॥
He who always delights in violence, makes no distinction between virtue and vice, is very deceitful, proud, excessively greedy, and acts cruelly.
धर्मशीलं गुणोपेतं पाप इत्यवगच्छति। आत्मशीलानुमानेन न विश्वसिति कस्यचित् ॥१२-१५८-८॥
He considers someone who is righteous and virtuous to be wicked; judging by his own character, he does not trust anyone.
परेषां यत्र दोषः स्यात्तद्गुह्यं सम्प्रकाशयेत्। समानेष्वेव दोषेषु वृत्त्यर्थमुपघातयेत् ॥१२-१५८-९॥
One should reveal the secrets of others where there is a fault. But if the same faults are present in oneself, one should harm (others) for the sake of livelihood.
तथोपकारिणं चैव मन्यते वञ्चितं परम्। दत्त्वापि च धनं काले सन्तपत्युपकारिणे ॥१२-१५८-१०॥
He regards even a true benefactor as a deceiver; even after giving wealth at the right time, he regrets having helped the benefactor.
भक्ष्यं भोज्यमथो लेह्यं यच्चान्यत्साधु भोजनम्। प्रेक्षमाणेषु योऽश्नीयान्नृशंस इति तं विदुः ॥१२-१५८-११॥
One who eats food—whether it is to be eaten, enjoyed, or licked, or any other proper food—in the presence of those who are watching, is known as cruel.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदायाग्रं यः सुहृद्भिः सहाश्नुते। स प्रेत्य लभते स्वर्गमिह चानन्त्यमश्नुते ॥१२-१५८-१२॥
He who gives the best to the Brāhmaṇas and enjoys it together with friends attains heaven after death and endless prosperity even here.
एष ते भरतश्रेष्ठ नृशंसः परिकीर्तितः। सदा विवर्जनीयो वै पुरुषेण बुभूषता ॥१२-१५८-१३॥
O best of the Bharatas, this cruel (trait) is described to you. It should always be avoided by a man who desires his own welfare.
