12.214
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
द्विजातयो व्रतोपेता यदिदं भुञ्जते हविः। अन्नं ब्राह्मणकामाय कथमेतत्पितामह ॥१२-२१४-१॥
O grandsire, how is it that the twice-born, endowed with vows, eat this offering—food meant for the desire of a Brāhmaṇa?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अवेदोक्तव्रतोपेता भुञ्जानाः कार्यकारिणः। वेदोक्तेषु च भुञ्जाना व्रतलुप्ता युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-२१४-२॥
O Yudhishthira, those who are endowed with vows not prescribed in the Veda, who enjoy and perform duties, and those who enjoy what is prescribed in the Veda but have lost their vows.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
यदिदं तप इत्याहुरुपवासं पृथग्जनाः। एतत्तपो महाराज उताहो किं तपो भवेत् ॥१२-२१४-३॥
Ordinary people say that this fasting is austerity, O great king, but is this austerity, or what truly is austerity?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
मासपक्षोपवासेन मन्यन्ते यत्तपो जनाः। आत्मतन्त्रोपघातः स न तपस्तत्सतां मतम् ॥ त्यागश्च सन्नतिश्चैव शिष्यते तप उत्तमम् ॥१२-२१४-४॥
People think that fasting for a month or a fortnight is austerity, but self-inflicted harm is not considered austerity by the wise. Renunciation and humility are indeed regarded as the highest form of austerity.
सदोपवासी च भवेद्ब्रह्मचारी सदैव च। मुनिश्च स्यात्सदा विप्रो दैवतं च सदा भजेत् ॥१२-२१४-५॥
He should always reside in a holy place, be ever celibate, always a sage, always a Brāhmaṇa, and should always worship the divine.
कुटुम्बिको धर्मकामः सदास्वप्नश्च भारत। अमांसाशी सदा च स्यात्पवित्रं च सदा जपेत् ॥१२-२१४-६॥
O Bhārata, a householder who desires dharma should always be wakeful, abstain from meat, remain pure, and constantly engage in recitation.
अमृताशी सदा च स्यान्न च स्याद्विषभोजनः। विघसाशी सदा च स्यात्सदा चैवातिथिप्रियः ॥१२-२१४-७॥
One should always eat pure food, never partake of harmful food, should always accept leftovers, and always be hospitable to guests.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
कथं सदोपवासी स्याद्ब्रह्मचारी कथं भवेत्। विघसाशी कथं च स्यात्सदा चैवातिथिप्रियः ॥१२-२१४-८॥
How can a person always be a faster, how can he be a celibate? How can he be one who eats leftovers, and always be fond of guests?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अन्तरा प्रातराशं च सायमाशं तथैव च। सदोपवासी च भवेद्यो न भुङ्क्ते कथञ्चन ॥१२-२१४-९॥
One who does not eat at all between the morning and evening meals should always be considered as one who is constantly fasting.
भार्यां गच्छन्ब्रह्मचारी ऋतौ भवति ब्राह्मणः। ऋतवादी सदा च स्याज्ज्ञाननित्यश्च यो नरः ॥१२-२१४-१०॥
A celibate student who approaches his wife at the proper time becomes a true brāhmaṇa; he should always speak the truth and be ever devoted to knowledge.
अभक्षयन्वृथामांसममांसाशी भवत्युत। दाननित्यः पवित्रश्च अस्वप्नश्च दिवास्वपन् ॥१२-२१४-११॥
One who refrains from eating useless meat and does not eat meat indeed becomes always charitable, pure, and is one who does not sleep at night but sleeps during the day.
भृत्यातिथिषु यो भुङ्क्ते भुक्तवत्सु सदा स ह। अमृतं सकलं भुङ्क्त इति विद्धि युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-२१४-१२॥
O Yudhishthira, know that he who always eats among servants and guests, after everyone else has eaten, truly partakes of all nectar.
अभुक्तवत्सु नाश्नानः सततं यस्तु वै द्विजः। अभोजनेन तेनास्य जितः स्वर्गो भवत्युत ॥१२-२१४-१३॥
If a twice-born always refrains from eating when food has not been eaten, by such abstention he indeed conquers heaven.
देवताभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च भृत्येभ्योऽतिथिभिः सह। अवशिष्टं तु योऽश्नाति तमाहुर्विघसाशिनम् ॥१२-२१४-१४॥
Whoever eats the remaining food without first offering it to the deities, ancestors, servants, and guests together, is called one who eats remnants.
तेषां लोका ह्यपर्यन्ताः सदने ब्रह्मणा सह। उपस्थिताश्चाप्सरोभिः परियान्ति दिवौकसः ॥१२-२१४-१५॥
Their worlds are truly endless; in the abode with Brahmā, the heavenly beings, together with the Apsarases, move about freely.
देवताभिश्च ये सार्धं पितृभिश्चोपभुञ्जते। रमन्ते पुत्रपौत्रैश्च तेषां गतिरनुत्तमा ॥१२-२१४-१६॥
Those who, together with the gods and ancestors, enjoy and rejoice with their sons and grandsons—their destiny is the highest.
