12.162
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
पितामह महाप्राज्ञ कुरूणां कीर्तिवर्धन। प्रश्नं कञ्चित्प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥१२-१६२-१॥
O grandfather, greatly wise and enhancer of the Kurus' fame, I wish to ask you a certain question; please explain that to me.
कीदृशा मानवाः सौम्याः कैः प्रीतिः परमा भवेत्। आयत्यां च तदात्वे च के क्षमास्तान्वदस्व मे ॥१२-१६२-२॥
O gentle one, what kind of humans are there by whom supreme affection may arise? In the future and at that time, who are the forgiving ones? Please tell me about them.
न हि तत्र धनं स्फीतं न च सम्बन्धिबान्धवाः। तिष्ठन्ति यत्र सुहृदस्तिष्ठन्तीति मतिर्मम ॥१२-१६२-३॥
It is my belief that neither abundant wealth nor relatives and kinsmen remain there, but only friends remain.
दुर्लभो हि सुहृच्छ्रोता दुर्लभश्च हितः सुहृत्। एतद्धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ सर्वं व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥१२-१६२-४॥
Indeed, it is rare to find a friend who listens, and equally rare to find a friend who gives beneficial advice. O best among the upholders of dharma, you are worthy to explain all this.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
सन्धेयान्पुरुषान्राजन्नसन्धेयांश्च तत्त्वतः। वदतो मे निबोध त्वं निखिलेन युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-१६२-५॥
O king Yudhishthira, listen as I tell you fully and truly about the men who should be conciliated and those who should not.
लुब्धः क्रूरस्त्यक्तधर्मा निकृतः शठ एव च। क्षुद्रः पापसमाचारः सर्वशङ्की तथालसः ॥१२-१६२-६॥
He is greedy, cruel, has abandoned righteousness, deceitful, truly wicked and; petty, of evil conduct, suspicious of everyone, and also lazy.
दीर्घसूत्रोऽनृजुः कष्टो गुरुदारप्रधर्षकः। व्यसने यः परित्यागी दुरात्मा निरपत्रपः ॥१२-१६२-७॥
A person who procrastinates, is dishonest, troublesome, violates the teacher's wife, deserts others in adversity, is wicked-minded and shameless.
सर्वतः पापदर्शी च नास्तिको वेदनिन्दकः। सम्प्रकीर्णेन्द्रियो लोके यः कामनिरतश्चरेत् ॥१२-१६२-८॥
One who always sees evil everywhere, is an atheist, reviles the Vedas, whose senses are scattered in the world, and who acts only to fulfill desires.
असत्यो लोकविद्विष्टः समये चानवस्थितः। पिशुनोऽथाकृतप्रज्ञो मत्सरी पापनिश्चयः ॥१२-१६२-९॥
One who is untruthful, hated by people, unstable in timely matters, slanderous, lacking discernment, envious, and intent on evil.
दुःशीलोऽथाकृतात्मा च नृशंसः कितवस्तथा। मित्रैरर्थकृती नित्यमिच्छत्यर्थपरश्च यः ॥१२-१६२-१०॥
He who is of bad character, undisciplined, cruel, deceitful, who always seeks gain from friends and is ever intent on wealth.
वहतश्च यथाशक्ति यो न तुष्यति मन्दधीः। अमित्रमिव यो भुङ्क्ते सदा मित्रं नरर्षभ ॥१२-१६२-११॥
O best of men, one who, though bearing according to his ability, is never content and always treats a friend as if he were an enemy, is dull-witted.
अस्थानक्रोधनो यश्च अकस्माच्च विरज्यते। सुहृदश्चैव कल्याणानाशु त्यजति किल्बिषी ॥१२-१६२-१२॥
He who becomes angry without cause, suddenly withdraws, and quickly abandons friends and good things, is indeed sinful.
अल्पेऽप्यपकृते मूढस्तथाज्ञानात्कृतेऽपि च। कार्योपसेवी मित्रेषु मित्रद्वेषी नराधिप ॥१२-१६२-१३॥
A king who, even for a small wrong, out of ignorance, acts against friends, serves only his own interests, and hates his friends, is a fool.
शत्रुर्मित्रमुखो यश्च जिह्मप्रेक्षी विलोभनः। न रज्यति च कल्याणे यस्त्यजेत्तादृशं नरम् ॥१२-१६२-१४॥
One should abandon a man who is an enemy in the guise of a friend, who looks askance, is deceitful, and does not take delight in good things.
पानपो द्वेषणः क्रूरो निर्घृणः परुषस्तथा। परोपतापी मित्रध्रुक्तथा प्राणिवधे रतः ॥१२-१६२-१५॥
A person who drinks, is hateful, cruel, merciless, harsh, harms others, betrays friends, and delights in killing living beings.
कृतघ्नश्चाधमो लोके न सन्धेयः कथञ्चन। छिद्रान्वेषी न सन्धेयः सन्धेयानपि मे शृणु ॥१२-१६२-१६॥
An ungrateful person and the lowest person in the world should never be trusted. A fault-finder should not be trusted. Listen to me about even those who are considered trustworthy.
कुलीना वाक्यसम्पन्ना ज्ञानविज्ञानकोविदाः। मित्रज्ञाश्च कृतज्ञाश्च सर्वज्ञाः शोकवर्जिताः ॥१२-१६२-१७॥
They are of noble birth, eloquent, skilled in knowledge and wisdom, understanding friendship, grateful, all-knowing, and free from sorrow.
माधुर्यगुणसम्पन्नाः सत्यसन्धा जितेन्द्रियाः। व्यायामशीलाः सततं भृतपुत्राः कुलोद्गताः ॥१२-१६२-१८॥
They are endowed with the quality of sweetness, truthful, self-controlled, habitually exercising, always caring for their sons, and born in a noble family.
रूपवन्तो गुणोपेतास्तथालुब्धा जितश्रमाः। दोषैर्वियुक्ताः प्रथितैस्ते ग्राह्याः पार्थिवेन ह ॥१२-१६२-१९॥
The king should accept those who are beautiful, virtuous, not greedy, have conquered fatigue, are free from faults, and are well-known.
यथाशक्तिसमाचाराः सन्तस्तुष्यन्ति हि प्रभो। नास्थाने क्रोधवन्तश्च न चाकस्माद्विरागिणः ॥१२-१६२-२०॥
O lord, good men are satisfied with conduct according to their capacity; they are not angry without cause, nor do they become dispassionate suddenly.
विरक्ताश्च न रुष्यन्ति मनसाप्यर्थकोविदाः। आत्मानं पीडयित्वापि सुहृत्कार्यपरायणाः ॥ न विरज्यन्ति मित्रेभ्यो वासो रक्तमिवाविकम् ॥१२-१६२-२१॥
Dispassionate and wise people do not get angry even in their minds; even if they have to trouble themselves, they remain devoted to the welfare of friends. They do not abandon their friends, just as a garment dyed in wool does not lose its color.
दोषांश्च लोभमोहादीनर्थेषु युवतिष्वथ। न दर्शयन्ति सुहृदां विश्वस्ता बन्धुवत्सलाः ॥१२-१६२-२२॥
Those who are trusted and affectionate to relatives among friends do not reveal the faults, greed, or delusions in matters concerning young women.
लोष्टकाञ्चनतुल्यार्थाः सुहृत्स्वशठबुद्धयः। ये चरन्त्यनभीमाना निसृष्टार्थविभूषणाः ॥ सङ्गृह्णन्तः परिजनं स्वाम्यर्थपरमाः सदा ॥१२-१६२-२३॥
Those who consider a lump of earth and gold as equal, whose minds are friendly or cunning, who act without pride, who have given up the ornaments of wealth, and who always gather followers for the sake of their master, are the highest.
ईदृशैः पुरुषश्रेष्ठैः सन्धिं यः कुरुते नृपः। तस्य विस्तीर्यते राष्ट्रं ज्योत्स्ना ग्रहपतेरिव ॥१२-१६२-२४॥
When a king forms alliances with such excellent men, his kingdom expands like the moonlight of the lord of planets (the moon).
शास्त्रनित्या जितक्रोधा बलवन्तो रणप्रियाः। क्षान्ताः शीलगुणोपेताः सन्धेयाः पुरुषोत्तमाः ॥१२-१६२-२५॥
They are always devoted to the śāstra, have conquered anger, are strong and fond of battle, forbearing, endowed with virtues of character, fit to be allied with, and are excellent men.
ये च दोषसमायुक्ता नराः प्रोक्ता मयानघ। तेषामप्यधमो राजन्कृतघ्नो मित्रघातकः ॥ त्यक्तव्यः स दुराचारः सर्वेषामिति निश्चयः ॥१२-१६२-२६॥
O sinless one, among all the men with faults I have described, O king, the lowest is the ungrateful one who betrays friends. Such a person of bad conduct should be abandoned by everyone—this is the settled conclusion.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
विस्तरेणार्थसम्बन्धं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पार्थिव। मित्रद्रोही कृतघ्नश्च यः प्रोक्तस्तं च मे वद ॥१२-१६२-२७॥
O king, I wish to hear in detail the connection with the meaning. Tell me about the one who is called a betrayer of a friend and an ungrateful one. 12-162-27.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
हन्त ते वर्तयिष्येऽहमितिहासं पुरातनम्। उदीच्यां दिशि यद्वृत्तं म्लेच्छेषु मनुजाधिप ॥१२-१६२-२८॥
O king, I will now tell you the ancient story that took place in the northern region among the foreigners.
ब्राह्मणो मध्यदेशीयः कृष्णाङ्गो ब्रह्मवर्जितः। ग्रामं प्रेक्ष्य जनाकीर्णं प्राविशद्भैक्षकाङ्क्षया ॥१२-१६२-२९॥
A brāhmaṇa from the Madhyadeśa region, dark in complexion and lacking Brahmanical qualities, saw a village crowded with people and entered it seeking alms.
तत्र दस्युर्धनयुतः सर्ववर्णविशेषवित्। ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसन्धश्च दाने च निरतोऽभवत् ॥१२-१६२-३०॥
There, the bandit, who was wealthy, knowledgeable of all castes, devoted to Brahmins, truthful, and engaged in charity, became thus.
तस्य क्षयमुपागम्य ततो भिक्षामयाचत। प्रतिश्रयं च वासार्थं भिक्षां चैवाथ वार्षिकीम् ॥१२-१६२-३१॥
Having reached his abode, he then asked for alms. He also requested shelter for staying, and alms specifically for the rainy season.
प्रादात्तस्मै स विप्राय वस्त्रं च सदृशं नवम्। नारीं चापि वयोपेतां भर्त्रा विरहितां तदा ॥१२-१६२-३२॥
He gave the Brāhmaṇa a new garment of similar kind and also a woman of suitable age who had been bereft of her husband at that time.
एतत्सम्प्राप्य हृष्टात्मा दस्योः सर्वं द्विजस्तदा। तस्मिन्गृहवरे राजंस्तया रेमे स गौतमः ॥१२-१६२-३३॥
Having received all this from the robber, the joyful Gautama, O king, enjoyed himself with her in that excellent house.
कुटुम्बार्थेषु दस्योः स साहाय्यं चाप्यथाकरोत्। तत्रावसत्सोऽथ वर्षाः समृद्धे शबरालये ॥ बाणवेध्ये परं यत्नमकरोच्चैव गौतमः ॥१२-१६२-३४॥
He helped the robber for the sake of his family and lived for years in the prosperous abode of the Śabaras. Gautama also made supreme effort in archery.
वक्राङ्गांस्तु स नित्यं वै सर्वतो बाणगोचरे। जघान गौतमो राजन्यथा दस्युगणस्तथा ॥१२-१६२-३५॥
But Gautama always slew all the crooked-limbed ones within the range of his arrows on every side, O king, just as one would destroy a band of robbers.
हिंसापरो घृणाहीनः सदा प्राणिवधे रतः। गौतमः संनिकर्षेण दस्युभिः समतामियात् ॥१२-१६२-३६॥
One who is devoted to violence, devoid of compassion, and always engaged in killing living beings—Gautama, by association with robbers, may become like them.
तथा तु वसतस्तस्य दस्युग्रामे सुखं तदा। अगच्छन्बहवो मासा निघ्नतः पक्षिणो बहून् ॥१२-१६२-३७॥
Thus, while he was living happily in the robbers' village, many months passed as he killed many birds.
ततः कदाचिदपरो द्विजस्तं देशमागमत्। जटी चीराजिनधरः स्वाध्यायपरमः शुचिः ॥१२-१६२-३८॥
Then, at some point, another Brāhmaṇa arrived in that region; he had matted hair, wore bark and deer skin, was devoted to self-study, and was pure.
विनीतो नियताहारो ब्रह्मण्यो वेदपारगः। सब्रह्मचारी तद्देश्यः सखा तस्यैव सुप्रियम् ॥ तं दस्युग्राममगमद्यत्रासौ गौतमोऽभवत् ॥१२-१६२-३९॥
He was humble, regulated in food, devoted to Brahman, a master of the Vedas, accompanied by a brahmacārī, a native of that region, a friend, and very dear to him. He went to the village of bandits, where that Gautama was found.
स तु विप्रगृहान्वेषी शूद्रान्नपरिवर्जकः। ग्रामे दस्युजनाकीर्णे व्यचरत्सर्वतोदिशम् ॥१२-१६२-४०॥
But he, seeking out Brāhmaṇa households and not avoiding Śūdra food, moved about in all directions in a village filled with robbers.
ततः स गौतमगृहं प्रविवेश द्विजोत्तमः। गौतमश्चापि सम्प्राप्तस्तावन्योन्येन सङ्गतौ ॥१२-१६२-४१॥
Then he, the best of the twice-born, entered Gautama's house. Gautama also arrived, and the two met each other.
वक्राङ्गभारहस्तं तं धनुष्पाणिं कृतागसम्। रुधिरेणावसिक्ताङ्गं गृहद्वारमुपागतम् ॥१२-१६२-४२॥
He, crooked-limbed and bearing a burden in his hand, holding a bow, stained with blood and guilty of sin, approached the doorway of the house.
तं दृष्ट्वा पुरुषादाभमपध्वस्तं क्षयागतम्। अभिज्ञाय द्विजो व्रीडामगमद्वाक्यमाह च ॥१२-१६२-४३॥
Seeing him, who looked like a man-eater, ruined and brought to destruction, the Brahmin recognized him, felt ashamed, and spoke these words.
किमिदं कुरुषे मौढ्याद्विप्रस्त्वं हि कुलोद्गतः। मध्यदेशपरिज्ञातो दस्युभावं गतः कथम् ॥१२-१६२-४४॥
"What are you doing out of foolishness, O Brāhmaṇa? You are born in a noble family and are well-known in Madhyadeśa; how have you come to be in the state of a bandit?"
पूर्वान्स्मर द्विजाग्र्यांस्तान्प्रख्यातान्वेदपारगान्। येषां वंशेऽभिजातस्त्वमीदृशः कुलपांसनः ॥१२-१६२-४५॥
Recall your illustrious ancestors, the foremost among the twice-born, renowned and accomplished in the Vedas, in whose lineage you, an ornament of the family, have been born.
अवबुध्यात्मनात्मानं सत्यं शीलं श्रुतं दमम्। अनुक्रोशं च संस्मृत्य त्यज वासमिमं द्विज ॥१२-१६२-४६॥
O Brahmin, having realized your true self, truth, character, learning, self-restraint, and recalling compassion, renounce this dwelling.
एवमुक्तः स सुहृदा तदा तेन हितैषिणा। प्रत्युवाच ततो राजन्विनिश्चित्य तदार्तवत् ॥१२-१६२-४७॥
O king, when thus addressed by his well-wishing friend, he replied after careful consideration, with distress.
अधनोऽस्मि द्विजश्रेष्ठ न च वेदविदप्यहम्। वृत्त्यर्थमिह सम्प्राप्तं विद्धि मां द्विजसत्तम ॥१२-१६२-४८॥
O best of the twice-born, I am poor and not even a knower of the Veda. I have come here for the sake of livelihood; please know me as such, O excellent twice-born.
त्वद्दर्शनात्तु विप्रर्षे कृतार्थं वेद्म्यहं द्विज। आत्मानं सह यास्यावः श्वो वसाद्येह शर्वरीम् ॥१२-१६२-४९॥
But by seeing you, O best of Brāhmaṇas, I know my purpose is fulfilled, O twice-born. After spending the night here, tomorrow we shall depart together.
