12.214
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
द्विजातयो व्रतोपेता यदिदं भुञ्जते हविः। अन्नं ब्राह्मणकामाय कथमेतत्पितामह ॥१२-२१४-१॥
dvijātayo vratopetā yadidaṃ bhuñjate haviḥ। annaṃ brāhmaṇakāmāya kathametatpitāmaha ॥12-214-1॥
[द्विजातयः (dvijātayaḥ) - twice-born ones; व्रत-उपेताः (vrata-upetāḥ) - endowed with vows; यत् (yat) - which; इदं (idaṃ) - this; भुञ्जते (bhuñjate) - eat; हविः (haviḥ) - offering; अन्नम् (annam) - food; ब्राह्मण-कामाय (brāhmaṇa-kāmāya) - for the desire of a Brāhmaṇa; कथम् (katham) - how; एतत् (etat) - this; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire;]
(Twice-born ones endowed with vows, which this offering eat; food for the desire of a Brāhmaṇa, how is this, O grandsire?)
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 uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
अवेदोक्तव्रतोपेता भुञ्जानाः कार्यकारिणः। वेदोक्तेषु च भुञ्जाना व्रतलुप्ता युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-२१४-२॥
avedoktavratopetā bhuñjānāḥ kāryakāriṇaḥ। vedokteṣu ca bhuñjānā vrataluptā yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-214-2॥
[अवेदोक्त (avedokta) - not-prescribed-in-the-Veda; व्रत (vrata) - vow; उपेता (upetā) - endowed-with; भुञ्जानाः (bhuñjānāḥ) - enjoying; कार्य (kārya) - duty; कारिणः (kāriṇaḥ) - performers; वेदोक्तेषु (vedokteṣu) - prescribed-in-the-Veda; च (ca) - and; भुञ्जाना (bhuñjānā) - enjoying; व्रत (vrata) - vow; लुप्ता (luptā) - lost; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhishthira;]
(Endowed with vows not prescribed in the Veda, enjoying, performers of duty; and enjoying those prescribed in the Veda, with vows lost, O Yudhishthira.)
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 uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
यदिदं तप इत्याहुरुपवासं पृथग्जनाः। एतत्तपो महाराज उताहो किं तपो भवेत् ॥१२-२१४-३॥
yad idaṃ tapa ity āhur upavāsaṃ pṛthag-janāḥ। etat tapo mahārāja utāho kiṃ tapo bhavet ॥12-214-3॥
[यत् (yat) - which; इदं (idaṃ) - this; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; इति (iti) - thus; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; उपवासम् (upavāsam) - fasting; पृथक्-जनाः (pṛthag-janāḥ) - ordinary people; एतत् (etat) - this; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; उत (uta) - or; आहो (āho) - or; किम् (kim) - what; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be;]
(Which this austerity thus they say fasting ordinary people; this austerity O great king or or what austerity may be;)
Ordinary people say that this fasting is austerity, O great king, but is this austerity, or what truly is austerity?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
मासपक्षोपवासेन मन्यन्ते यत्तपो जनाः। आत्मतन्त्रोपघातः स न तपस्तत्सतां मतम् ॥ त्यागश्च सन्नतिश्चैव शिष्यते तप उत्तमम् ॥१२-२१४-४॥
māsapakṣopavāsena manyante yattapo janāḥ। ātmatantropaghātaḥ sa na tapastatsatāṃ matam ॥ tyāgaśca sannatiścaiva śiṣyate tapa uttamam ॥12-214-4॥
[मास (māsa) - month; पक्ष (pakṣa) - fortnight; उपवासेन (upavāsena) - by fasting; मन्यन्ते (manyante) - they consider; यत् (yat) - which; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; जनाः (janāḥ) - people; आत्मतन्त्र (ātmatantra) - self-dependent; उपघातः (upaghātaḥ) - harm; सः (saḥ) - that; न (na) - not; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; तत् (tat) - that; सताम् (satām) - of the good; मतम् (matam) - opinion; त्यागः (tyāgaḥ) - renunciation; च (ca) - and; सन्नतिः (sannatiḥ) - humility; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; शिष्यते (śiṣyate) - is praised; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - supreme;]
(By fasting for a month or a fortnight, people consider that as austerity; that self-imposed harm is not austerity, that is the opinion of the good. Renunciation and humility indeed are praised as the supreme austerity.)
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॥
sadopavāsī ca bhaved brahmacārī sadaiva ca। muniś ca syāt sadā vipro daivataṃ ca sadā bhajet ॥12-214-5॥
[सदोपवासी (sadopavāsī) - one who always resides (in a holy place); च (ca) - and; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; ब्रह्मचारी (brahmacārī) - celibate; सदैव (sadaiva) - always; च (ca) - and; मुनिः (muniḥ) - sage; च (ca) - and; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; सदा (sadā) - always; विप्रः (vipraḥ) - Brāhmaṇa; दैवतम् (daivatam) - divinity; च (ca) - and; सदा (sadā) - always; भजेत् (bhajet) - should worship;]
(One who always resides (in a holy place) and should be celibate always and a sage and should be always a Brāhmaṇa; divinity and always should worship.)
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॥
kuṭumbiko dharmakāmaḥ sadāsvapnaś ca bhārata। amāṃsāśī sadā ca syāt pavitraṃ ca sadā japet ॥12-214-6॥
[कुटुम्बिकः (kuṭumbikaḥ) - householder; धर्मकामः (dharmakāmaḥ) - desirous of dharma; सदा (sadā) - always; अस्वप्नः (asvapnaḥ) - not sleeping; च (ca) - and; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; अमांसाशी (amāṃsāśī) - not eating meat; सदा (sadā) - always; च (ca) - and; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; पवित्रम् (pavitram) - pure; च (ca) - and; सदा (sadā) - always; जपेत् (japet) - should recite;]
(The householder, desirous of dharma, always not sleeping, and, O Bhārata, not eating meat, should always be pure and should always recite.)
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॥
amṛtāśī sadā ca syānna ca syādviṣabhojanaḥ। vighasāśī sadā ca syātsadā caivātithipriyaḥ ॥12-214-7॥
[अमृताशी (amṛtāśī) - one who eats nectar; सदा (sadā) - always; च (ca) - and; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; विषभोजनः (viṣabhojanaḥ) - one who eats poison; विघसाशी (vighasāśī) - one who eats remnants; सदा (sadā) - always; च (ca) - and; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; सदा (sadā) - always; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; अतिथिप्रियः (atithipriyaḥ) - one who is fond of guests;]
(One should always be an eater of nectar and should not be an eater of poison. One should always eat remnants, always indeed be fond of guests.)
One should always eat pure food, never partake of harmful food, should always accept leftovers, and always be hospitable to guests.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
कथं सदोपवासी स्याद्ब्रह्मचारी कथं भवेत्। विघसाशी कथं च स्यात्सदा चैवातिथिप्रियः ॥१२-२१४-८॥
kathaṁ sadopavāsī syādbrahmacārī kathaṁ bhavet। vighasāśī kathaṁ ca syātsadā caivātithipriyaḥ ॥12-214-8॥
[कथं (kathaṁ) - how; सदा (sadā) - always; उपवासी (upavāsī) - one who fasts; स्यात् (syāt) - might be; ब्रह्मचारी (brahmacārī) - celibate; कथं (kathaṁ) - how; भवेत् (bhavet) - might become; विघसाशी (vighasāśī) - eater of leftovers; कथं (kathaṁ) - how; च (ca) - and; स्यात् (syāt) - might be; सदा (sadā) - always; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; अतिथिप्रियः (atithipriyaḥ) - one fond of guests;]
(How might one always be a faster, how might one be a celibate? How might one be an eater of leftovers, and always indeed fond of guests?)
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 uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
अन्तरा प्रातराशं च सायमाशं तथैव च। सदोपवासी च भवेद्यो न भुङ्क्ते कथञ्चन ॥१२-२१४-९॥
antarā prātarāśaṃ ca sāyamāśaṃ tathaiva ca। sadopavāsī ca bhaved yo na bhuṅkte kathaṃcana॥12-214-9॥
[अन्तरा (antarā) - between; प्रातराशं (prātarāśam) - morning meal; च (ca) - and; सायमाशं (sāyamāśam) - evening meal; तथैव (tathaiva) - in the same way; च (ca) - and; सदा (sadā) - always; उपवासी (upavāsī) - one who fasts; च (ca) - and; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; यः (yaḥ) - who; न (na) - not; भुङ्क्ते (bhuṅkte) - eats; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - at all;]
(Between the morning meal and the evening meal, and in the same way, one should always be a faster, who does not eat at all.)
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॥
bhāryāṃ gacchanbrahmacārī ṛtau bhavati brāhmaṇaḥ। ṛtavādī sadā ca syājjñānanityaśca yo naraḥ ॥12-214-10॥
[भार्यां (bhāryām) - wife (accusative singular); गच्छन् (gacchan) - going; moving; approaching; ब्रह्मचारी (brahmacārī) - celibate student; ऋतौ (ṛtau) - in the proper season; during the right time; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; is; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; a Brahmin; ऋतवादी (ṛtavādī) - speaker of truth; one who speaks rightly; सदा (sadā) - always; च (ca) - and; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; may be; ज्ञाननित्यः (jñānanityaḥ) - always devoted to knowledge; च (ca) - and; यः (yaḥ) - who; नरः (naraḥ) - man; person;]
(Going to the wife, the celibate student becomes a brāhmaṇa in the proper season; a speaker of truth, always, and always devoted to knowledge, and who is the man.)
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॥
abhakṣayan vṛthā māṃsam amāṃsāśī bhavatyu ta। dānanityaḥ pavitraś ca asvapnaś ca divāsvapan ॥12-214-11॥
[अभक्षयन् (abhakṣayan) - not eating; वृथामांसम् (vṛthā māṃsam) - useless meat; अमांसाशी (amāṃsāśī) - one who does not eat meat; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; उत (uta) - indeed; दाननित्यः (dānanityaḥ) - always engaged in giving; पवित्रः (pavitraḥ) - pure; च (ca) - and; अस्वप्नः (asvapnaḥ) - one who does not sleep; च (ca) - and; दिवास्वपन् (divāsvapan) - one who sleeps during the day;]
(Not eating useless meat, one who does not eat meat indeed becomes. Always engaged in giving, pure and one who does not sleep and one who sleeps during the day.)
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॥
bhṛtyātithiṣu yo bhuṅkte bhuktavatsu sadā sa ha। amṛtaṃ sakalaṃ bhuṅkta iti viddhi yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-214-12॥
[भृत्य (bhṛtya) - servant; अतिथिषु (atithiṣu) - among guests; यः (yaḥ) - who; भुङ्क्ते (bhuṅkte) - eats; भुक्तवत्सु (bhuktavatsu) - when (others) have eaten; सदा (sadā) - always; सः (saḥ) - he; ह (ha) - indeed; अमृतम् (amṛtam) - nectar; सकलम् (sakalām) - all; भुङ्क्ते (bhuṅkte) - eats; इति (iti) - thus; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira;]
(He who eats among servants and guests, always after others have eaten, he indeed eats all nectar—thus know, O Yudhishthira.)
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॥
abhuktavatsu nāśnānaḥ satataṃ yastu vai dvijaḥ। abhojanena tenāsya jitaḥ svargo bhavatyuta ॥12-214-13॥
[अभुक्तवत्सु (abhuktavatsu) - when food has not been eaten; न (na) - not; अश्नानः (aśnānaḥ) - one who eats; सततम् (satatam) - always; यः (yaḥ) - who; तु (tu) - but; वै (vai) - indeed; द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - a twice-born; अभोजनेन (abhojanena) - by not eating; तेन (tena) - by him; अस्य (asya) - his; जितः (jitaḥ) - conquered; स्वर्गः (svargaḥ) - heaven; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; उत (uta) - indeed;]
(When food has not been eaten, one who does not eat always, who indeed is a twice-born, by not eating, by him his heaven is conquered indeed.)
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॥
devatābhyaḥ pitṛbhyaś ca bhṛtyebhyo'tithibhiḥ saha। avaśiṣṭaṃ tu yo'śnāti tam āhur vighasāśinam ॥12-214-14॥
[देवताभ्यः (devatābhyaḥ) - to the deities; पितृभ्यः (pitṛbhyaḥ) - to the ancestors; च (ca) - and; भृत्येभ्यः (bhṛtyebhyaḥ) - to the servants; अतिथिभिः (atithibhiḥ) - with the guests; सह (saha) - together; अवशिष्टं (avaśiṣṭam) - remaining; तु (tu) - but; यः (yaḥ) - who; अश्नाति (aśnāti) - eats; तम् (tam) - him; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they call; विघसाशिनम् (vighasāśinam) - one who eats remnants;]
(To the deities, to the ancestors, and to the servants, together with the guests; but whoever eats the remaining (food), him they call one who eats remnants.)
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॥
teṣāṃ lokā hyaparyantāḥ sadane brahmaṇā saha। upasthitāś cāpsarobhiḥ pariyānti divaukasaḥ ॥12-214-15॥
[तेषां (teṣām) - of them; लोकाः (lokāḥ) - worlds; हि (hi) - indeed; अपर्यन्ताः (aparyantāḥ) - endless; सदने (sadane) - in the abode; ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā) - with Brahmā; सह (saha) - together; उपस्थिताः (upasthitāḥ) - present; च (ca) - and; अप्सरोभिः (apsarobhiḥ) - with Apsarases; परियान्ति (pariyānti) - move about; दिवौकसः (divaukasaḥ) - the dwellers of heaven;]
(Of them, the worlds indeed are endless, in the abode together with Brahmā; and the dwellers of heaven, present with Apsarases, move about.)
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॥
devatābhiś ca ye sārdhaṃ pitṛbhiś copabhuñjate। ramante putrapautraiś ca teṣāṃ gatir anuttamā ॥12-214-16॥
[देवताभिः (devatābhiḥ) - with the deities; च (ca) - and; ये (ye) - who; सार्धं (sārdham) - together with; पितृभिः (pitṛbhiḥ) - with the ancestors; च (ca) - and; उपभुञ्जते (upabhuñjate) - enjoy; रमन्ते (ramante) - delight; पुत्रपौत्रैः (putrapautraiḥ) - with sons and grandsons; च (ca) - and; तेषां (teṣām) - their; गतिः (gatiḥ) - destination; अनुत्तमा (anuttamā) - unsurpassed;]
(Who, together with the deities and with the ancestors, enjoy and delight with sons and grandsons; their destination is unsurpassed.)
Those who, together with the gods and ancestors, enjoy and rejoice with their sons and grandsons—their destiny is the highest.
