12.158
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
ānṛśaṁsyaṁ vijānāmi darśanena satāṁ sadā। nṛśaṁsānna vijānāmi teṣāṁ karma ca bhārata॥12-158-1॥
O Bhārata, I always recognize compassion by seeing the virtuous; I do not recognize the cruel or their actions.
kaṇṭakān kūpam agniṃ ca varjayanti yathā narāḥ। tathā nṛśaṃsakarmāṇaṃ varjayanti narā naram॥12-158-2॥
Just as men avoid thorns, a well, and fire, so too do men avoid a man who performs cruel deeds.
nṛśaṁso hy adhamaḥ nityaṁ pretya ceha ca bhārata। tasmād bravīhi kauravya tasya dharmaviniścayam ॥12-158-3॥
O Bhārata, a cruel person is always the lowest, both here and after death. Therefore, O descendant of Kuru, declare his decision regarding dharma.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
spṛhāsyāntarhitā caiva viditārthā ca karmaṇā। ākroṣṭā kruśyate caiva bandhita bādhyate ca yaḥ॥12-158-4॥
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.
dattānukīrtirviṣamaḥ kṣudro naikr̥tikaḥ śaṭhaḥ। asambhogī ca mānī ca tathā saṅgī vikatthanaḥ ॥12-158-5॥
One who boasts of what he has given, is partial, petty, deceitful, crafty, does not enjoy, is proud, and is also companionable and boastful.
sarvātiśaṅkī paruṣo bāliśaḥ kṛpaṇastathā। vargapraśaṃsī satatamāśramadveṣasaṅkarī ॥12-158-6॥
One who is ever suspicious, harsh, childish, miserly, always praises his own group, and constantly causes discord among the āśramas.
hiṁsā-vihārī satatam aviśeṣa-guṇa-aguṇaḥ। bahv-alīkaḥ manasvī ca lubdhaḥ atyarthaṁ nṛśaṁsa-kṛt ॥12-158-7॥
He who always delights in violence, makes no distinction between virtue and vice, is very deceitful, proud, excessively greedy, and acts cruelly.
dharmaśīlaṃ guṇopetaṃ pāpa ityavagacchati। ātmaśīlānumānena na viśvasiti kasyacit ॥12-158-8॥
He considers someone who is righteous and virtuous to be wicked; judging by his own character, he does not trust anyone.
pareṣāṃ yatra doṣaḥ syāttadguhyaṃ samprakāśayet. samāneṣveva doṣeṣu vṛttyarthamupaghātayet ॥12-158-9॥
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.
tathopakāriṇaṃ caiva manyate vañcitaṃ param। dattvāpi ca dhanaṃ kāle santapatyupakāriṇe ॥12-158-10॥
He regards even a true benefactor as a deceiver; even after giving wealth at the right time, he regrets having helped the benefactor.
bhakṣyaṃ bhojyam atho lehyam yac cānyat sādhu bhojanam। prekṣamāṇeṣu yo'śnīyān nṛśaṃsa iti taṃ viduḥ॥12-158-11॥
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.
brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradāyāgraṃ yaḥ suhṛdbhiḥ sahāśnute। sa pretya labhate svargamiha cānantyamaśnute ॥12-158-12॥
He who gives the best to the Brāhmaṇas and enjoys it together with friends attains heaven after death and endless prosperity even here.
eṣa te bharataśreṣṭha nṛśaṁsaḥ parikīrtitaḥ। sadā vivarjanīyo vai puruṣeṇa bubhūṣatā ॥12-158-13॥
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.
