12.254
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
ityuktaḥ sa tadā tena tulādhāreṇa dhīmatā। provāca vacanaṃ dhīmāñjājalirjapatāṃ varaḥ ॥12-254-1॥
Thus, when he was addressed by the wise Tulādhāra, the wise Jājali, best among those who recite, spoke these words.
vikrīṇānaḥ sarvarasān sarvagandhāṁś ca vāṇija। vanaspatīṁ oṣadhīś ca teṣāṁ mūlaphalāni ca ॥12-254-2॥
Merchants who sell all kinds of juices, fragrances, trees, herbs, and their roots and fruits.
adhyagā naiṣṭhikīṃ buddhiṃ kutastvāmidamāgatam। etadācakṣva me sarvaṃ nikhilena mahāmate ॥12-254-3॥
O great-minded one, how did you come to possess this steadfast understanding? Please tell me everything about this in full.
evam-uktas tulādhāro brāhmaṇena yaśasvinā। uvāca dharmasūkṣmāṇi vaiśyo dharmārthatattvavit ॥ jājaliṃ kaṣṭatapasaṃ jñānatṛptas tadā nṛpa ॥12-254-4॥
O king, thus addressed by the illustrious Brāhmaṇa, Tuladhara, the Vaiśya who knew the essence of dharma and artha, spoke of the subtleties of dharma to Jājali, who was engaged in severe austerities and satisfied with knowledge.
vedāhaṃ jājale dharmaṃ sarahasyaṃ sanātanam। sarvabhūtahitaṃ maitraṃ purāṇaṃ yaṃ janā viduḥ ॥12-254-5॥
I, Jājali, know the eternal dharma with its secrets, which is ancient, friendly, and for the welfare of all beings, and which people know.
adroheṇaiva bhūtānāmalpadroheṇa vā punaḥ। yā vṛttiḥ sa paro dharmastena jīvāmi jājale ॥12-254-6॥
O Jājali, I live by that supreme dharma which consists in non-injury to beings, or at least by causing as little harm as possible.
paricchinnaiḥ kāṣṭhatṛṇair mayedaṃ śaraṇaṃ kṛtam। alaktaṃ padmakaṃ tuṅgaṃ gandhāṃś coccāvacāṃs tathā ॥12-254-7॥
I have made this shelter with separated pieces of wood and grass. It is unpainted, made of padmaka wood, tall, and contains fragrant substances of various kinds.
rasāṃś ca tāṃs tān viprarṣe madyavarjān ahaṃ bahūn। krītvā vai prativikrīṇe parahastād amāyayā ॥12-254-8॥
O best of Brāhmaṇas, I buy and barter many kinds of essences, excluding intoxicants, from others, and do so without deceit.
sarveṣāṃ yaḥ suhṛnnityaṃ sarveṣāṃ ca hite rataḥ। karmaṇā manasā vācā sa dharmaṃ veda jājale ॥12-254-9॥
O Jājali, he who is always a well-wisher of all and engaged in the welfare of all, by action, mind, and speech, truly knows dharma.
nāhaṃ pareṣāṃ karmāṇi praśaṃsāmi śapāmi vā। ākāśasyeva viprarṣe paśyaṃllokasya citratām ॥12-254-10॥
I neither praise nor condemn the actions of others; O sage among Brāhmaṇas, I observe the diversity of the world like the sky.
nānurudhye virudhye vā na dveṣmi na ca kāmaye। samo'smi sarvabhūteṣu paśya me jājale vratam ॥12-254-11॥
I neither cling nor oppose, nor do I hate or desire. I am impartial to all beings. Behold my steadfast vow.
iṣṭāniṣṭavimuktasya prītirāgabahiṣkṛtaḥ। tulā me sarvabhūteṣu samā tiṣṭhati jājale ॥12-254-12॥
For one who is free from desire and aversion, whose affection and attachment have been expelled, my sense of balance remains equal towards all beings in Jājala.
iti māṃ tvaṃ vijānīhi sarvalokasya jājale। samaṃ matimatāṃ śreṣṭha samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanam ॥12-254-13॥
Therefore, O descendant of Jājali, know me to be equal towards clod, stone, and gold, O best among the wise, in all the worlds.
yathāndhabadhirunmattā ucchvāsaparamāḥ sadā। devairapihitadvārāḥ sopamā paśyato mama ॥12-254-14॥
Just as the blind, the deaf, the mad, and those always overwhelmed by breath, whose doors are closed by the gods—such is the simile for me who sees.
yathā vṛddhāturakṛśā niḥspṛhā viṣayānprati। tathārthakāmabhogeṣu mamāpi vigatā spṛhā ॥12-254-15॥
Just as the old, sick, and emaciated have no desire for sense-objects, so too my desire for enjoyments of wealth and pleasure has departed.
yadā cāyaṃ na bibheti yadā cāsmānna bibhyati। yadā neccchati na dveṣṭi tadā sidhyati vai dvijaḥ ॥12-254-16॥
When this person does not fear, when he does not cause us to fear, when he neither desires nor hates, then indeed the twice-born attains success.
yadā na kurute bhāvaṃ sarvabhūteṣu pāpakam। karmaṇā manasā vācā brahma sampadyate tadā ॥12-254-17॥
When a person does not commit any sinful act towards all beings—whether by action, mind, or speech—then that person attains Brahman.
na bhūto na bhaviṣyaś ca na ca dharmo 'sti kaścana। yo 'bhayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ sa prāpnoty abhayaṃ padam ॥12-254-18॥
There never was, nor will there be, nor is there any righteousness; whoever is fearless towards all beings, he attains the state of fearlessness.
yasmād udvijate lokaḥ sarvo mṛtyumukhād iva। vāk-kṛūrād daṇḍapāruṣyāt sa prāpnoti mahad-bhayam ॥12-254-19॥
He from whom all people are frightened, as if from the mouth of death, due to cruelty in speech and harshness in punishment, attains great fear.
yathāvad vartamānānāṃ vṛddhānāṃ putrapautriṇām। anuvartāmahe vṛttamahiṃsrāṇāṃ mahātmanām॥12-254-20॥
We properly follow the conduct of the present elders, those with sons and grandsons, whose behavior is non-injurious, and who are great-souled.
pranaṣṭaḥ śāśvato dharmaḥ sadācāreṇa mohitaḥ। tena vaidyastapasvī vā balavānvā vimohyate ॥12-254-21॥
The eternal dharma has been destroyed, being deluded by good conduct. Because of this, even a physician, ascetic, or strong person becomes deluded.
ācārājjājale prājñaḥ kṣipraṃ dharmam avāpnuyāt। evaṃ yaḥ sādhubhir dāntaś cared adroha-cetasā ॥12-254-22॥
By following the conduct exemplified by Jājali, a wise person quickly attains dharma. In this way, one who acts with the virtuous, with self-restraint and a mind free from malice, attains righteousness.
nadyāṃ yathā ceha kāṣṭham uhyamānaṃ yadṛcchayā। yadṛcchayaiva kāṣṭhena sandhiṃ gacchet kenacit ॥12-254-23॥
Just as in a river, here a log of wood drifting by chance may, by chance, come into contact with another log by some means.
tatrāparāṇi dāruṇi saṃsṛjyante tatastataḥ। tṛṇakāṣṭhakarīṣāṇi kadā cin nasamīkṣayā॥ evamevāyam ācāraḥ prādurbhūto yatastataḥ॥12-254-24॥
There, other pieces of wood are thrown together from here and there. Grass, wood, and dung, sometimes even without attention, are added. In this way, this practice has arisen from wherever it could.
yasmān nodvijate bhūtaṃ jātu kiñcit kathaṃcana। abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyaḥ sa prāpnoti sadā mune ॥12-254-25॥
O sage, he from whom no being is ever disturbed in any way, always attains fearlessness from all beings.
yasmādudvijate vidvansarvaloko vṛkādiva। krośatastīramāsādya yathā sarve jalecharāḥ ॥12-254-26॥
O wise one, all people are afraid of one as they are of a wolf; just as all aquatic creatures, when there is shouting, reach the shore.
sahāyavān dravyavān yaḥ subhago'anyo'paras tathā। tataḥ tān eva kavayaḥ śāstreṣu pravadanti uta ॥ kīrtyartham alpahṛllekhāḥ paṭavaḥ kṛtsnanirṇayāḥ ॥12-254-27॥
Those who have helpers, wealth, or are fortunate, and others likewise—therefore, such people are described by poets in the scriptures. For the sake of fame, those of little depth of heart are clever in partial judgments, while the wise determine the entirety.
tapobhir yajña-dānaiś ca vākyaiḥ prajñā-āśritaiḥ tathā। prāpnoti abhayadānasya yat yat phalam iha aśnute॥12-254-28॥
By austerities, sacrifices, gifts, and wise words, one attains all the rewards that are gained here by giving fearlessness.
loke yaḥ sarvabhūtebhyo dadātyabhayadakṣiṇām। sa sarvayajñairijānaḥ prāpnotyabhayadakṣiṇām॥ na bhūtānāmahiṃsāyā jyāyāndharmo'sti kaścana॥12-254-29॥
In this world, whoever grants the gift of fearlessness to all beings, he, though performing all sacrifices, attains the gift of fearlessness. There is no duty greater than non-injury to living beings. 12-254-29.
yasmān nodvijate bhūtaṃ jātu kiñcit kathaṃcana। so'bhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyaḥ samprāpnoti mahāmune ॥12-254-30॥
O great sage, he from whom no being is ever disturbed in any way attains fearlessness from all beings.
yasmādudvijate lokaḥ sarpādveśmagatādiva। na sa dharmamavāpnoti iha loke paratra ca ॥12-254-31॥
He from whom people are afraid, as they would be of a serpent that has entered the house, does not attain righteousness either in this world or the next.
sarvabhūtātmabhūtasya samyagbhūtāni paśyataḥ। devāpi mārge muhyanti apadasya padaiṣiṇaḥ ॥12-254-32॥
Even the gods are bewildered on the path of one who has truly realized the self of all beings and sees all beings as himself; those who seek the path are confounded by the one who is beyond all paths.
dānaṃ bhūtābhayasya āhuḥ sarvadānebhya uttamam। bravīmi te satyam idaṃ śraddadhā sva ca jājale ॥12-254-33॥
The gift of fearlessness to all beings is considered the greatest of all gifts. I tell you this truth; have faith in it, O Jājala.
sa eva subhago bhūtvā punarbhavati durbhagaḥ। vyāpattiṃ karmaṇāṃ dṛṣṭvā jugupsanti janāḥ sadā ॥12-254-34॥
He who was once fortunate may again become unfortunate. Observing the misfortune brought by actions, people always feel aversion.
akāraṇo hi ne hāsti dharmaḥ sūkṣmo'pi jājale. bhūtabhavyārthameveha dharmapravacanaṃ kṛtam ॥12-254-35॥
Indeed, in this world, not even the subtlest dharma exists without cause, O Jājala. The teaching of dharma here has been given only for the sake of the past and the future.
sūkṣmatvānna sa vijñātuṃ śakyate bahunihnavaḥ। upalabhyāntarā cānyānācārānavabudhyate ॥12-254-36॥
Because of its subtlety, he cannot know it, as it is much concealed; and, due to internal obstacles, he does not recognize other behaviors.
ye ca chindanti vṛṣaṇān ye ca bhindanti nastakān। vahanti mahato bhārān badhnanti damayanti ca ॥12-254-37॥
Those who cut testicles, break noses, carry heavy loads, bind, and subdue others.
hatvā sattvāni khādanti tān kathaṃ na vigarhase। mānuṣā mānuṣān eva dāsabhogena buñjate ॥12-254-38॥
After killing living beings, they eat them; why do you not condemn this? Humans consume other humans, using servants as intermediaries.
vadha-bandha-virodhena kārayanti divā-niśam। ātmanā ca api jānāsi yat duḥkham vadha-tāḍane ॥12-254-39॥
They cause pain day and night by opposing killing and binding. You yourself also know the pain that comes from killing and beating.
pañcendriyeṣu bhūteṣu sarvaṃ vasati daivatam। ādityaścandramā vāyurbrahmā prāṇaḥ kraturyamaḥ ॥12-254-40॥
Divinity resides in all things: in the five senses and the elements. The Sun, the Moon, Wind, Brahmā, vital breath, sacrifice, and Yama are all manifestations of the divine.
tāni jīvāni vikrīya kā mṛteṣu vicāraṇā। kā taile kā ghṛte brahman madhuny apsv auṣadheṣu vā ॥12-254-41॥
After selling those living beings, what is the point of considering the dead? What is there in oil, in ghee, O Brahman, in honey, in water, or in medicines?
adaṃśamaśake deśe sukhaṃ saṃvardhitānpaśūn। tāṃśca mātuḥ priyāñjānannākramya bahudhā narāḥ॥ bahudaṃśakuśāndeśānnayanti bahukardamān॥12-254-42॥
Men, knowing those animals as dear to their mother and comfortably nourished in regions without biting mosquitoes, seize them in many ways and lead them to regions with many biting insects and much mud.
vāhasampīḍitā dhuryāḥ sīdantyavidhināpare। na manye bhrūṇahatyāpi viśiṣṭā tena karmaṇā ॥12-254-43॥
The draught animals, burdened by the vehicle, are collapsing due to improper treatment; others also suffer. I do not think even the sin of foeticide is greater than that act.
kṛṣiṃ sādhviti manyante sā ca vṛttiḥ sudāruṇā। bhūmiṃ bhūmiśayāṃścaiva hanti kāṣṭhamayomukham ॥ tathaivānaḍuho yuktānsamavekṣasva jājale ॥12-254-44॥
People regard agriculture as virtuous, but it is a very harsh way of life. It harms the earth, those who rest upon it, and the wooden plough with its iron tip. Likewise, look at the yoked bullocks, O Jājala.
aghn̄yā iti gavāṃ nāma ka enān hantum arhati। mahac cakāra akuśalaṃ pṛṣadhro gālabhann iva ॥12-254-45॥
Who should kill those called 'not-to-be-killed', the cows? Pṛṣadhra did a great wrong, as if breaking the cow's neck.
ṛṣayo yatayo hy etan nahuṣe pratyavedayan। gāṃ mātaraṃ cāpy avadhīr vṛṣabhaṃ ca prajāpatim॥ akāryaṃ nahuṣa akāṛṣīl lapsyāmas tvat kṛte bhayam॥12-254-46॥
The sages and ascetics reported this to Nahusha: "You have slain the cow, the mother, the bull, and Prajapati. Nahusha, you have committed a wrongful deed. Because of you, we shall suffer fear."
śataṃ caikaṃ ca rogāṇāṃ sarvabhūteṣvapātayan। ṛṣayaste mahābhāgāḥ prajāsveva hi jājale ॥ bhrūṇahaṃ nahuṣaṃ tvāhurna te hoṣyāmahe haviḥ ॥12-254-47॥
They caused a hundred and one diseases to fall upon all beings. Those greatly fortunate sages were indeed born among the progenies. They called Nahuṣa "killer of embryo"; for you, we shall not offer the oblation.
ity uktvā te mahātmānaḥ sarve tattvārthadarśinaḥ। ṛṣayo yatayaḥ śāntās tarasā pratyavedayan ॥12-254-48॥
Having thus spoken, all those great-souled sages and ascetics, who were knowers of the truth and peaceful, forcefully conveyed (the message).
īdṛśānaśivānghorānācārāniha jājale। kevalācaritatvāttu nipuṇānnāvabudhyase ॥12-254-49॥
O Jajali, you do not recognize the skilled ones here, because you have only practiced such inauspicious and terrible conducts.
kāraṇāddharmamanvicchenn lokacaritam caret। yo hanyādyashca māṃ stauti tatrāpi śṛṇu jājale ॥12-254-50॥
One should seek out dharma based on reason, not merely follow worldly customs. Whether someone harms or praises me, listen to this as well, O Jājali.
samau tāv api me syātāṃ na hi me staḥ priyāpriye. etad īdṛśakaṃ dharmaṃ praśaṃsanti manīṣiṇaḥ ॥12-254-51॥
Let both of them be to me, for to me there are neither dear nor not-dear. The wise praise this kind of dharma.
upapattyā hi sampanno yatibhiścaiva sevyate। satataṃ dharmaśīlaiśca naipuṇyenopalakṣitaḥ ॥12-254-52॥
That which is endowed by reasoning is indeed served by ascetics, and is always distinguished by those of righteous character and skill.
