12.172
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
केन वृत्तेन वृत्तज्ञ वीतशोकश्चरेन्महीम्। किं च कुर्वन्नरो लोके प्राप्नोति परमां गतिम् ॥१२-१७२-१॥
By what conduct should a wise and sorrowless person live in the world? And by doing what does a man attain the highest goal?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। प्रह्रादस्य च संवादं मुनेराजगरस्य च ॥१२-१७२-२॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story, the dialogue between Prahlāda, the sage, and the python.
चरन्तं ब्राह्मणं कञ्चित्कल्यचित्तमनामयम्। पप्रच्छ राजन्प्रह्रादो बुद्धिमान्प्राज्ञसंमतः ॥१२-१७२-३॥
O king, Prahlāda, wise and esteemed by the learned, asked a certain brāhmaṇa who was wandering, of auspicious mind and free from illness.
स्वस्थः शक्तो मृदुर्दान्तो निर्विवित्सोऽनसूयकः। सुवाग्बहुमतो लोके प्राज्ञश्चरसि बालवत् ॥१२-१७२-४॥
You are self-possessed, capable, gentle, self-restrained, free from desire to harm or envy, well-spoken, highly esteemed in the world, and wise, yet you conduct yourself with the innocence of a child.
नैव प्रार्थयसे लाभं नालाभेष्वनुशोचसि। नित्यतृप्त इव ब्रह्मन्न किञ्चिदवमन्यसे ॥१२-१७२-५॥
O Brāhmaṇa, you neither seek gain nor grieve over loss; always content, you seem not to despise anything.
स्रोतसा ह्रियमाणासु प्रजास्वविमना इव। धर्मकामार्थकार्येषु कूटस्थ इव लक्ष्यसे ॥१२-१७२-६॥
Though people are being swept away by the current, you appear as if undisturbed; in matters of righteousness, desire, wealth, and action, you seem steadfast and unshaken.
नानुतिष्ठसि धर्मार्थौ न कामे चापि वर्तसे। इन्द्रियार्थाननादृत्य मुक्तश्चरसि साक्षिवत् ॥१२-१७२-७॥
You neither follow dharma and artha nor pursue desires; disregarding sense-objects, you move about liberated, like a witness.
का नु प्रज्ञा श्रुतं वा किं वृत्तिर्वा का नु ते मुने। क्षिप्रमाचक्ष्व मे ब्रह्मञ्श्रेयो यदिह मन्यसे ॥१२-१७२-८॥
O sage, what truly is wisdom, what is learning, or what is conduct, and what do you consider to be yours? O Brāhmaṇa, quickly tell me what you consider here to be the highest good.
अनुयुक्तः स मेधावी लोकधर्मविधानवित्। उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा प्रह्रादमनपार्थया ॥१२-१७२-९॥
Thus addressed, the wise one, knower of the ordinances of worldly conduct, spoke to Prahlāda with gentle and unharsh words.
पश्यन्प्रह्राद भूतानामुत्पत्तिमनिमित्ततः। ह्रासं वृद्धिं विनाशं च न प्रहृष्ये न च व्यथे ॥१२-१७२-१०॥
O Prahrada, seeing the origin, decline, growth, and destruction of beings as causeless, I neither rejoice nor am I disturbed.
स्वभावादेव संदृश्य वर्तमानाः प्रवृत्तयः। स्वभावनिरताः सर्वाः परितप्ये न केनचित् ॥१२-१७२-११॥
Indeed, seeing that all activities arise from inherent nature and everyone acts according to their own nature, I am not troubled by anyone.
पश्यन्प्रह्राद संयोगान्विप्रयोगपरायणान्। सञ्चयांश्च विनाशान्तान्न क्वचिद्विदधे मनः ॥१२-१७२-१२॥
O Prahlada, seeing that all unions end in separation and all accumulations end in destruction, I never set my mind on any of them.
अन्तवन्ति च भूतानि गुणयुक्तानि पश्यतः। उत्पत्तिनिधनज्ञस्य किं कार्यमवशिष्यते ॥१२-१७२-१३॥
All beings that are seen to be endowed with qualities are perishable; for one who knows the origin and destruction, what duty remains to be done?
जलजानामपि ह्यन्तं पर्यायेणोपलक्षये। महतामपि कायानां सूक्ष्माणां च महोदधौ ॥१२-१७२-१४॥
I observe, in turn, the end of even the water-born beings. In the great ocean, I see the end of even the bodies of the great and the subtle ones.
जङ्गमस्थावराणां च भूतानामसुराधिप। पार्थिवानामपि व्यक्तं मृत्युं पश्यामि सर्वशः ॥१२-१७२-१५॥
O lord of the Asuras, I see manifest death everywhere among moving and unmoving beings, and also among kings.
अन्तरिक्षचराणां च दानवोत्तम पक्षिणाम्। उत्तिष्ठति यथाकालं मृत्युर्बलवतामपि ॥१२-१७२-१६॥
O best of Dānavas, even among birds and those who move in the sky, death arises for the strong at the proper time.
दिवि सञ्चरमाणानि ह्रस्वानि च महान्ति च। ज्योतींषि च यथाकालं पतमानानि लक्षये ॥१२-१७२-१७॥
I observe in the sky both small and great lights moving about, and also lights falling according to time.
इति भूतानि सम्पश्यन्ननुषक्तानि मृत्युना। सर्वसामान्यतो विद्वान्कृतकृत्यः सुखं स्वपे ॥१२-१७२-१८॥
Thus, seeing all beings bound by death, the wise person who has fulfilled his duties sleeps happily.
सुमहान्तमपि ग्रासं ग्रसे लब्धं यदृच्छया। शये पुनरभुञ्जानो दिवसानि बहून्यपि ॥१२-१७२-१९॥
Even if I obtain a very large morsel by chance and swallow it, I may lie down again for many days without eating.
आस्रवत्यपि मामन्नं पुनर्बहुगुणं बहु। पुनरल्पगुणं स्तोकं पुनर्नैवोपपद्यते ॥१२-१७२-२०॥
Even if my food is abundant and of many qualities, or little and of few qualities, again, none of these are suitable for me.
कणान्कदाचित्खादामि पिण्याकमपि च ग्रसे। भक्षये शालिमांसानि भक्षांश्चोच्चावचान्पुनः ॥१२-१७२-२१॥
Sometimes I eat grains, and I also swallow oil-cake; I consume rice, meat, and various other foods again.
शये कदाचित्पर्यङ्के भूमावपि पुनः शये। प्रासादेऽपि च मे शय्या कदाचिदुपपद्यते ॥१२-१७२-२२॥
Sometimes I sleep on a couch, sometimes again on the ground. Occasionally, my bed is found even in a palace.
धारयामि च चीराणि शाणीं क्षौमाजिनानि च। महार्हाणि च वासांसि धारयाम्यहमेकदा ॥१२-१७२-२३॥
At one time, I wear bark garments, hemp cloth, linen and deer skins, and also very costly garments.
न संनिपतितं धर्म्यमुपभोगं यदृच्छया। प्रत्याचक्षे न चाप्येनमनुरुध्ये सुदुर्लभम् ॥१२-१७२-२४॥
I do not refuse righteous enjoyment that has not been accumulated by chance, nor do I desire this, which is very difficult to obtain.
अचलमनिधनं शिवं विशोकं; शुचिमतुलं विदुषां मते निविष्टम्। अनभिमतमसेवितं च मूढै; र्व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-२५॥
I practice this pure, python-like vow, which is immovable, imperishable, auspicious, and free from sorrow; it is pure, incomparable, and established in the opinion of the wise. It is not desired or practiced by the deluded.
अचलितमतिरच्युतः स्वधर्मा; त्परिमितसंसरणः परावरज्ञः। विगतभयकषायलोभमोहो; व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-२६॥
With a steady mind, unwavering and firm in my own duty, moving little, knowing the higher and lower, free from fear, impurity, greed, and delusion, I practice this pure vow of the python.
अनियतफलभक्ष्यभोज्यपेयं; विधिपरिणामविभक्तदेशकालम्। हृदयसुखमसेवितं कदर्यै; र्व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-२७॥
I practice this pure python-like vow, in which the food and drink are not fixed, divided by rule, result, place, and time, and happiness of heart is not enjoyed by the miserly.
इदमिदमिति तृष्णयाभिभूतं; जनमनवाप्तधनं विषीदमानम्। निपुणमनुनिशाम्य तत्त्वबुद्ध्या; व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-२८॥
Seeing people overpowered by thirst, despairing for wealth they have not obtained, I, having observed this with true understanding, purely practice this python-like vow.
बहुविधमनुदृश्य चार्थहेतोः; कृपणमिहार्यमनार्यमाश्रयन्तम्। उपशमरुचिरात्मवान्प्रशान्तो; व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-२९॥
Having seen the many kinds of conduct here, both noble and ignoble, resorted to for the sake of gain and found to be miserable, I, being self-controlled, calm, and inclined to tranquility, purely practice this vow of the python.
सुखमसुखमनर्थमर्थलाभं; रतिमरतिं मरणं च जीवितं च। विधिनियतमवेक्ष्य तत्त्वतोऽहं; व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-३०॥
Recognizing happiness and unhappiness, misfortune and gain, pleasure and displeasure, death and life as truly ordained by fate, I, remaining pure, observe this python vow.
अपगतभयरागमोहदर्पो; धृतिमतिबुद्धिसमन्वितः प्रशान्तः। उपगतफलभोगिनो निशाम्य; व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-३१॥
Having given up fear, attachment, delusion, and pride, and being endowed with steadfastness, intellect, and wisdom, calm, having observed those who enjoy whatever comes to them, I, pure, practice this vow of the python.
अनियतशयनासनः प्रकृत्या; दमनियमव्रतसत्यशौचयुक्तः। अपगतफलसञ्चयः प्रहृष्टो; व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-३२॥
By nature, I do not have fixed places for sleeping or sitting; I am endowed with restraint, discipline, vows, truthfulness, and purity. I have abandoned the accumulation of fruits, and am delighted; I practice this pure, python-like vow.
अभिगतमसुखार्थमीहनार्थै; रुपगतबुद्धिरवेक्ष्य चात्मसंस्थः। तृषितमनियतं मनो नियन्तुं; व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-३३॥
Having come here not for pleasure or objects, with my mind fixed and established in the self, having observed, I undertake this pure vow of the python to restrain my thirsty and uncontrolled mind.
न हृदयमनुरुध्यते मनो वा; प्रियसुखदुर्लभतामनित्यतां च। तदुभयमुपलक्षयन्निवाहं; व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥१२-१७२-३४॥
Neither my heart nor my mind is attached; recognizing both the difficulty of attaining dear happiness and its impermanence, I, remaining pure, practice this vow of the python (i.e., a life of inactivity) as my way of life.
बहु कथितमिदं हि बुद्धिमद्भिः; कविभिरभिप्रथयद्भिरात्मकीर्तिम्। इदमिदमिति तत्र तत्र तत्त; त्स्वपरमतैर्गहनं प्रतर्कयद्भिः ॥१२-१७२-३५॥
Much of this has already been spoken by the wise, by poets proclaiming their own fame. "This, this," thus here and there, that, with their own and others' views, the profound subject is discussed.
तदहमनुनिशाम्य विप्रयातं; पृथगभिपन्नमिहाबुधैर्मनुष्यैः। अनवसितमनन्तदोषपारं; नृषु विहरामि विनीतरोषतृष्णः ॥१२-१७२-३६॥
Therefore, having carefully observed those who have departed and the various ways attained here by ignorant men, seeing that the end is not ascertained and that the limit is endless faults, I dwell among men with anger and desire subdued.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अजगरचरितं व्रतं महात्मा; य इह नरोऽनुचरेद्विनीतरागः। अपगतभयमन्युलोभमोहः; स खलु सुखी विहरेदिमं विहारम् ॥१२-१७२-३७॥
A great soul who, here, follows the vow of the python's conduct, with passions subdued and free from fear, anger, greed, and delusion, truly lives happily in this world.
