12.213
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
किं कुर्वन्सुखमाप्नोति किं कुर्वन्दुःखमाप्नुते। किं कुर्वन्निर्भयो लोके सिद्धश्चरति भारत ॥१२-२१३-१॥
O Bhārata, by doing what does one attain happiness, and by doing what does one obtain sorrow? By doing what does the perfected, fearless one move about in the world?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
दममेव प्रशंसन्ति वृद्धाः श्रुतिसमाधयः। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः ॥१२-२१३-२॥
Elders and those established in the Vedas praise self-restraint above all, especially in the Brāhmaṇa among all classes.
नादान्तस्य क्रियासिद्धिर्यथावदुपलभ्यते। क्रिया तपश्च वेदाश्च दमे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१२-२१३-३॥
For the one whose culmination is in sound, the accomplishment of action is truly attained. Action, austerity, and the Vedas—all are founded upon self-restraint.
दमस्तेजो वर्धयति पवित्रं दम उच्यते। विपाप्मा निर्भयो दान्तः पुरुषो विन्दते महत् ॥१२-२१३-४॥
Self-restraint enhances brilliance; purity is defined as self-restraint. A person who is free from sin, fearless, and self-controlled attains greatness.
सुखं दान्तः प्रस्वपिति सुखं च प्रतिबुध्यते। सुखं लोके विपर्येति मनश्चास्य प्रसीदति ॥१२-२१३-५॥
The self-controlled person sleeps happily, awakens happily, moves about the world happily, and his mind becomes tranquil.
तेजो दमेन ध्रियते न तत्तीक्ष्णोऽधिगच्छति। अमित्रांश्च बहून्नित्यं पृथगात्मनि पश्यति ॥१२-२१३-६॥
Energy is maintained by self-control; the harsh person does not achieve this. He always perceives many enemies as separate within himself.
क्रव्याद्भ्य इव भूतानामदान्तेभ्यः सदा भयम्। तेषां विप्रतिषेधार्थं राजा सृष्टः स्वयम्भुवा ॥१२-२१३-७॥
Just as there is always fear of flesh-eaters among beings from the undisciplined, so for their restraint, the king was created by the Self-existent.
आश्रमेषु च सर्वेषु दम एव विशिष्यते। यच्च तेषु फलं धर्मे भूयो दान्ते तदुच्यते ॥१२-२१३-८॥
Among all the āśramas, self-restraint is especially praised. And whatever greater fruit of dharma exists among them, it is said to be found in the self-restrained.
तेषां लिङ्गानि वक्ष्यामि येषां समुदयो दमः। अकार्पण्यमसंरम्भः सन्तोषः श्रद्दधानता ॥१२-२१३-९॥
I will now describe the characteristics of those whose nature is self-restraint: absence of miserliness, calmness, contentment, and faithfulness.
अक्रोध आर्जवं नित्यं नातिवादो न मानिता। गुरुपूजानसूया च दया भूतेष्वपैशुनम् ॥१२-२१३-१०॥
Absence of anger, straightforwardness, constancy, refraining from excessive speech, humility, reverence for the teacher, freedom from envy, compassion towards all beings, and abstaining from slander.
जनवादमृषावादस्तुतिनिन्दाविवर्जनम्। साधुकामश्चास्पृहयन्नायाति प्रत्ययं नृषु ॥१२-२१३-११॥
One who abandons public opinion, falsehood, praise, and blame, and who is good and free from desire, does not gain the trust of people.
अवैरकृत्सूपचारः समो निन्दाप्रशंसयोः। सुवृत्तः शीलसम्पन्नः प्रसन्नात्मात्मवान्बुधः ॥ प्राप्य लोके च सत्कारं स्वर्गं वै प्रेत्य गच्छति ॥१२-२१३-१२॥
A wise person who is free from enmity, conducts himself well, remains equal in blame and praise, is well-behaved, endowed with good character, clear-minded, and self-controlled, attains honor in this world and, after death, truly reaches heaven.
सर्वभूतहिते युक्तो न स्मयाद्द्वेष्टि वै जनम्। महाह्रद इवाक्षोभ्य प्रज्ञातृप्तः प्रसीदति ॥१२-२१३-१३॥
One who is engaged in the welfare of all beings, who does not hate anyone out of pride, is like a great, unshakable lake; satisfied in wisdom, he becomes serene.
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यः सर्वेषामभयं यतः। नमस्यः सर्वभूतानां दान्तो भवति ज्ञानवान् ॥१२-२१३-१४॥
He from whom all beings have no fear, and who gives fearlessness to all, who is worthy of reverence by all beings, who is self-restrained and possessed of knowledge.
न हृष्यति महत्यर्थे व्यसने च न शोचति। स वै परिमितप्रज्ञः स दान्तो द्विज उच्यते ॥१२-२१३-१५॥
He who neither rejoices in great gain nor grieves in adversity, who is of controlled intellect and self-restrained, is indeed called a twice-born (dvija).
कर्मभिः श्रुतसम्पन्नः सद्भिराचरितैः शुभैः। सदैव दमसंयुक्तस्तस्य भुङ्क्ते महत्फलम् ॥१२-२१३-१६॥
He who is always endowed with self-restraint, whose actions are auspicious and practiced by the virtuous, and who is endowed with learning, enjoys great rewards.
अनसूया क्षमा शान्तिः सन्तोषः प्रियवादिता। सत्यं दानमनायासो नैष मार्गो दुरात्मनाम् ॥१२-२१३-१७॥
Absence of envy, forbearance, peace, contentment, pleasant speech, truthfulness, charity, and effortlessness — this is not the path of the wicked.
कामक्रोधौ वशे कृत्वा ब्रह्मचारी जितेन्द्रियः। विक्रम्य घोरे तपसि ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः ॥ कालाकाङ्क्षी चरेल्लोकान्निरपाय इवात्मवान् ॥१२-२१३-१८॥
The brāhmaṇa, firm in his vows, having subdued desire and anger, and having conquered his senses, should, after undertaking severe austerities, live among people without causing harm, waiting for the right time, like one who is self-controlled.
