12.256
तुलाधार उवाच॥
tulādhāra uvāca॥
[तुलाधार (tulādhāra) - name Tulādhāra; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Tulādhāra said;)
Tulādhāra said.
सद्भिर्वा यदि वासद्भिरयं पन्थाः समाश्रितः। प्रत्यक्षं क्रियतां साधु ततो ज्ञास्यसि तद्यथा ॥१२-२५६-१॥
sadbhirvā yadi vā sadbhir ayaṃ panthāḥ samāśritaḥ। pratyakṣaṃ kriyatāṃ sādhu tato jñāsyasi tadyathā॥12-256-1॥
[सद्भिः (sadbhiḥ) - by the virtuous; वा (vā) - or; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; सद्भिः (sadbhiḥ) - by the virtuous; अयम् (ayam) - this; पन्थाः (panthāḥ) - path; समाश्रितः (samāśritaḥ) - adopted; प्रत्यक्षम् (pratyakṣam) - directly; क्रियताम् (kriyatām) - let it be done; साधु (sādhu) - well; ततः (tataḥ) - then; ज्ञास्यसि (jñāsyasi) - you will know; तत् (tat) - that; यथा (yathā) - how;]
(By the virtuous or if by the virtuous this path is adopted, let it be done directly and well; then you will know that how.)
If this path is adopted by the virtuous, or even if it is, let it be performed directly and properly; then you will know how it is.
एते शकुन्ता बहवः समन्ताद्विचरन्ति हि। तवोत्तमाङ्गे सम्भूताः श्येनाश्चान्याश्च जातयः ॥१२-२५६-२॥
ete śakuntā bahavaḥ samantād vicaranti hi। tavo 'ttamāṅge sambhūtāḥ śyenāś cānyāś ca jātayaḥ ॥12-256-2॥
[एते (ete) - these; शकुन्ताः (śakuntāḥ) - birds; बहवः (bahavaḥ) - many; समन्तात् (samantāt) - from all sides; विचरन्ति (vicaranti) - move about; हि (hi) - indeed; तव (tava) - your; उत्तमाङ्गे (uttamāṅge) - on the head; सम्भूताः (sambhūtāḥ) - born; श्येनाः (śyenāḥ) - hawks; च (ca) - and; अन्याः (anyāḥ) - other; च (ca) - and; जातयः (jātayaḥ) - species;]
(These birds, many, from all sides indeed move about. On your head born hawks and other species.)
Many of these birds move about all around; on your head are born hawks and other species.
आह्वयैनान्महाब्रह्मन्विशमानांस्ततस्ततः। पश्येमान्हस्तपादेषु श्लिष्टान्देहे च सर्वशः ॥१२-२५६-३॥
āhvayainān mahābrahman viśamānāṃ tataḥ tataḥ। paśyemān hastapādeṣu śliṣṭān dehe ca sarvaśaḥ॥12-256-3॥
[आह्वय (āhvaya) - call; invite; एनान् (enān) - these; them; महाब्रह्मन् (mahābrahman) - O great Brahman; विशमानाम् (viśamānām) - of those who are entering; of those who are coming in; ततः (tataḥ) - from there; then; ततः (tataḥ) - from there; then; पश्य (paśya) - see; behold; इमान् (imān) - these; हस्तपादेषु (hastapādeṣu) - in the hands and feet; श्लिष्टान् (śliṣṭān) - joined; attached; देहे (dehe) - in the body; च (ca) - and; सर्वशः (sarvaśaḥ) - in all ways; entirely;]
(Call these, O great Brahman, those who are entering from here and there; see these joined in the hands and feet, and in the body entirely.)
O great Brahman, call these who are entering from all sides; see how they are joined in the hands and feet, and entirely in the body.
सम्भावयन्ति पितरं त्वया सम्भाविताः खगाः। असंशयं पिता च त्वं पुत्रानाह्वय जाजले ॥१२-२५६-४॥
sambhāvayanti pitaraṃ tvayā sambhāvitāḥ khagāḥ। asaṃśayaṃ pitā ca tvaṃ putrānāhvaya jājale ॥12-256-4॥
[सम्भावयन्ति (sambhāvayanti) - honor; पितरं (pitaraṃ) - father; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; सम्भाविताः (sambhāvitāḥ) - honored; खगाः (khagāḥ) - birds; असंशयं (asaṃśayaṃ) - undoubtedly; पिता (pitā) - father; च (ca) - and; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; पुत्रान् (putrān) - sons; आह्वय (āhvaya) - call; जाजले (jājale) - O Jājala;]
(The birds honored by you honor the father. Undoubtedly, you are the father, O Jājala, call the sons.)
The birds that you have honored honor their father. Without a doubt, you are the father, O Jājala; call your sons.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
ततो जाजलिना तेन समाहूताः पतत्रिणः। वाचमुच्चारयन्दिव्यां धर्मस्य वचनात्किल ॥१२-२५६-५॥
tato jājalinā tena samāhūtāḥ patatriṇaḥ। vācam uccārayan divyāṃ dharmasya vacanāt kila ॥12-256-5॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; जाजलिना (jājalinā) - by Jājali; तेन (tena) - by him; समाहूताः (samāhūtāḥ) - summoned; पतत्रिणः (patatriṇaḥ) - birds; वाचम् (vācam) - speech; उच्चारयन् (uccārayan) - uttering; दिव्याम् (divyām) - divine; धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma; वचनात् (vacanāt) - from the statement; किल (kila) - indeed;]
(Then, by Jājali, by him, summoned, the birds, uttering speech, divine, of dharma, from the statement, indeed.)
Then, Jājali summoned the birds, and they uttered a divine speech, indeed, from the statement of dharma.
अहिंसादिकृतं कर्म इह चैव परत्र च। स्पर्धा निहन्ति वै ब्रह्मन्साहता हन्ति तं नरम् ॥१२-२५६-६॥
ahiṁsādikṛtaṁ karma iha caiva paratra ca। spardhā nihanti vai brahman sāhatā hanti taṁ naram ॥12-256-6॥
[अहिंसा (ahiṁsā) - non-violence; आदि (ādi) - and the like; कृतं (kṛtaṁ) - performed; कर्म (karma) - action; इह (iha) - here; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; परत्र (paratra) - in the next world; च (ca) - and; स्पर्धा (spardhā) - jealousy; निहन्ति (nihanti) - destroys; वै (vai) - indeed; ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O Brāhmaṇa; साहता (sāhatā) - being overcome; हन्ति (hanti) - kills; तं (taṁ) - that; नरम् (naram) - man;]
(The action performed such as non-violence and the like, here and indeed in the next world; jealousy indeed destroys, O Brāhmaṇa, being overcome kills that man.)
O Brāhmaṇa, actions such as non-violence and similar deeds bear fruit both here and in the next world; but jealousy destroys, and being overcome by it kills that man.
श्रद्धावृद्धं वाङ्मनसी न यज्ञस्त्रातुमर्हति। अत्र गाथा ब्रह्मगीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः ॥१२-२५६-७॥
śraddhāvṛddhaṃ vāṅmanasī na yajñastrātumarhati। atra gāthā brahmagītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ ॥12-256-7॥
[श्रद्धा (śraddhā) - faith; वृद्धं (vṛddham) - grown; वाक् (vāk) - speech; मनसी (manasī) - in the mind; न (na) - not; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; त्रातुम् (trātum) - to protect; अर्हति (arhati) - is able; अत्र (atra) - here; गाथाः (gāthāḥ) - verses; ब्रह्मगीताः (brahmagītāḥ) - songs of Brahman; कीर्तयन्ति (kīrtayanti) - recite; पुराविदः (purāvidaḥ) - knowers of old;]
(Faith grown in speech and mind, not even a sacrifice is able to protect. Here, the knowers of old recite the verses called 'Brahmagītāḥ'.)
Even a sacrifice cannot protect one whose faith has grown only in speech and mind. Here, the knowers of old recite the verses called 'Brahmagītāḥ'.
शुचेरश्रद्दधानस्य श्रद्दधानस्य चाशुचेः। देवाश्चित्तममन्यन्त सदृशं यज्ञकर्मणि ॥१२-२५६-८॥
śuceraśraddadhānasya śraddadhānasya cāśuceḥ। devāścittamamanyanta sadṛśaṃ yajñakarmaṇi ॥12-256-8॥
[शुचः (śucaḥ) - of the pure; अश्रद्दधानस्य (aśraddadhānasya) - of one without faith; श्रद्दधानस्य (śraddadhānasya) - of one with faith; च (ca) - and; अशुचेः (aśuceḥ) - of the impure; देवाः (devāḥ) - the gods; चित्तम् (cittam) - mind; अमन्यन्त (amanyanta) - considered; सदृशम् (sadṛśam) - similar; यज्ञकर्मणि (yajñakarmaṇi) - in the sacrificial act;]
(Of the pure without faith, of the faithful and of the impure; the gods considered the mind as similar in the sacrificial act.)
The gods regarded the mind of the pure without faith, the faithful, and the impure as alike in the performance of sacrifice.
श्रोत्रियस्य कदर्यस्य वदान्यस्य च वार्धुषेः। मीमांसित्वोभयं देवाः सममन्नमकल्पयन् ॥१२-२५६-९॥
śrotriyasya kadaryasya vadānyasya ca vārdhuṣeḥ। mīmāṁsitvobhayaṁ devāḥ samam annam akalpayan ॥12-256-9॥
[श्रोत्रियस्य (śrotriyasya) - of a learned Brāhmaṇa; कदर्यस्य (kadaryasya) - of a miser; वदान्यस्य (vadānyasya) - of a generous one; च (ca) - and; वार्धुषेः (vārdhuṣeḥ) - of an old man; मीमांसित्वोभयं (mīmāṁsitvobhayaṁ) - both were examined; देवाः (devāḥ) - the gods; समम् (samam) - equally; अन्नम् (annam) - food; अकल्पयन् (akalpayan) - prepared;]
(Of a learned Brāhmaṇa, of a miser, of a generous one, and of an old man, both were examined; the gods equally prepared food.)
The gods equally prepared food for both the learned Brāhmaṇa who was a miser and the generous old man after examining them.
प्रजापतिस्तानुवाच विषमं कृतमित्युत। श्रद्धापूतं वदान्यस्य हतमश्रद्धयेतरत् ॥ भोज्यमन्नं वदान्यस्य कदर्यस्य न वार्धुषेः ॥१२-२५६-१०॥
prajāpatistānuvāca viṣamaṃ kṛtamityuta। śraddhāpūtaṃ vadānyasya hatamaśraddhayetarat ॥ bhojyamannaṃ vadānyasya kadaryasya na vārdhuṣeḥ ॥12-256-10॥
[प्रजापतिः (prajāpatiḥ) - lord of creatures; तान् (tān) - them; उवाच (uvāca) - said; विषमम् (viṣamam) - unequal; कृतम् (kṛtam) - done; इति (iti) - thus; उत (uta) - indeed; श्रद्धा (śraddhā) - faith; पूतम् (pūtam) - purified; वदान्यस्य (vadānyasya) - of the generous; हतम् (hatam) - destroyed; अश्रद्धया (aśraddhayā) - by lack of faith; इतरत् (itarat) - the other; भोज्यम् (bhojyam) - to be eaten; अन्नम् (annam) - food; वदान्यस्य (vadānyasya) - of the generous; कदर्यस्य (kadaryasya) - of the miser; न (na) - not; वार्धुषेः (vārdhuṣeḥ) - of the old man;]
(The lord of creatures said to them: "It has been done unequally indeed." The food of the generous is purified by faith; the other, destroyed by lack of faith. The food to be eaten is of the generous, not of the miser, nor of the old man.)
Prajapati said to them: "This has been done with inequality." The food of the generous is sanctified by faith, while that of others is ruined by lack of faith. The food to be eaten belongs to the generous, not to the miser, nor to the old man.
अश्रद्दधान एवैको देवानां नार्हते हविः। तस्यैवान्नं न भोक्तव्यमिति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥१२-२५६-११॥
aśraddadhāna evaiko devānāṃ nārhate haviḥ। tasyaivānnaṃ na bhoktavyamiti dharmavido viduḥ ॥12-256-11॥
[अश्रद्दधान (aśraddadhāna) - not having faith; एव (eva) - indeed; एकः (ekaḥ) - alone; देवानाम् (devānām) - of the gods; न (na) - not; अर्हते (arhate) - is worthy; हविः (haviḥ) - offering; तस्य (tasya) - his; एव (eva) - indeed; अन्नम् (annam) - food; न (na) - not; भोक्तव्यम् (bhoktavyam) - should be eaten; इति (iti) - thus; धर्मविदः (dharmavidaḥ) - knowers of dharma; विदुः (viduḥ) - know;]
(Not having faith, indeed, alone, of the gods, not, is worthy, offering; his, indeed, food, not, should be eaten, thus, knowers of dharma, know.)
Those who lack faith alone are not worthy of offering to the gods; the food of such a person indeed should not be eaten—thus knowers of dharma know.
अश्रद्धा परमं पापं श्रद्धा पापप्रमोचनी। जहाति पापं श्रद्धावान्सर्पो जीर्णामिव त्वचम् ॥१२-२५६-१२॥
aśraddhā paramaṃ pāpaṃ śraddhā pāpapramocanī। jahāti pāpaṃ śraddhāvān sarpo jīrṇām iva tvacam ॥12-256-12॥
[अश्रद्धा (aśraddhā) - lack of faith; परमं (paramaṃ) - supreme; पापं (pāpaṃ) - sin; श्रद्धा (śraddhā) - faith; पापप्रमोचनी (pāpapramocanī) - remover of sin; जहाति (jahāti) - abandons; पापं (pāpaṃ) - sin; श्रद्धावान् (śraddhāvān) - one who has faith; सर्पः (sarpaḥ) - serpent; जीर्णाम् (jīrṇām) - worn out; इव (iva) - like; त्वचम् (tvacam) - skin;]
(Lack of faith is the supreme sin; faith is the remover of sin. The one who has faith abandons sin like a serpent (abandons) worn out skin.)
Lack of faith is the greatest sin, while faith removes sin. A faithful person casts off sin as a snake sheds its old skin.
ज्यायसी या पवित्राणां निवृत्तिः श्रद्धया सह। निवृत्तशीलदोषो यः श्रद्धावान्पूत एव सः ॥१२-२५६-१३॥
jyāyasī yā pavitrāṇāṃ nivṛttiḥ śraddhayā saha। nivṛttiśīladoṣo yaḥ śraddhāvānpūta eva saḥ ॥12-256-13॥
[ज्यायसी (jyāyasī) - greater; या (yā) - which; पवित्राणां (pavitrāṇām) - of purifications; निवृत्तिः (nivṛttiḥ) - cessation; श्रद्धया (śraddhayā) - with faith; सह (saha) - together; निवृत्तशीलदोषः (nivṛttiśīladoṣaḥ) - one whose conduct is free from faults; यः (yaḥ) - who; श्रद्धावान् (śraddhāvān) - having faith; पूतः (pūtaḥ) - purified; एव (eva) - indeed; सः (saḥ) - he;]
(Greater is that cessation of purifications which is together with faith. He who is free from faults of conduct, who is faithful, he indeed is purified.)
The cessation from ritual purifications, when accompanied by faith, is superior. One whose conduct is free from faults and who is faithful is truly purified.
किं तस्य तपसा कार्यं किं वृत्तेन किमात्मना। श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः ॥१२-२५६-१४॥
kiṁ tasya tapasā kāryaṁ kiṁ vṛttena kim ātmanā। śraddhāmayo'yaṁ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ ॥12-256-14॥
[किं (kiṁ) - what; तस्य (tasya) - of him; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; कार्यं (kāryaṁ) - to be accomplished; किं (kiṁ) - what; वृत्तेन (vṛttena) - by conduct; किम् (kim) - what; आत्मना (ātmanā) - by self; श्रद्धामयः (śraddhāmayaḥ) - consisting of faith; अयम् (ayam) - this; पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - person; यः (yaḥ) - who; यत् (yat) - whatever; श्रद्धः (śraddhaḥ) - faith; सः (saḥ) - he; एव (eva) - indeed; सः (saḥ) - he;]
(What is to be accomplished by his austerity? What by conduct, what by self? This person is made of faith; whatever faith he has, that indeed he is.)
What is achieved by austerity, conduct, or self alone? This person is made of faith; as is his faith, so is he.
इति धर्मः समाख्यातः सद्भिर्धर्मार्थदर्शिभिः। वयं जिज्ञासमानास्त्वा सम्प्राप्ता धर्मदर्शनात् ॥१२-२५६-१५॥
iti dharmaḥ samākhyātaḥ sadbhirdharmārthadarśibhiḥ। vayaṃ jijñāsamānāstvā samprāptā dharmadarśanāt ॥12-256-15॥
[इति (iti) - thus; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; समाख्यातः (samākhyātaḥ) - has been explained; सद्भिः (sadbhiḥ) - by the virtuous; धर्मार्थदर्शिभिः (dharmārthadarśibhiḥ) - by those who see the purpose of dharma; वयम् (vayam) - we; जिज्ञासमानाः (jijñāsamānāḥ) - inquiring; त्वा (tvā) - you; सम्प्राप्ताः (samprāptāḥ) - have approached; धर्मदर्शनात् (dharmadarśanāt) - from the vision of dharma;]
(Thus, dharma has been explained by the virtuous who see the purpose of dharma. We, inquiring, have approached you from the vision of dharma.)
Thus, dharma has been explained by the virtuous who understand its purpose. We, seeking knowledge, have come to you after seeing the vision of dharma.
स्पर्धां जहि महाप्राज्ञ ततः प्राप्स्यसि यत्परम्। श्रद्धावाञ्श्रद्दधानश्च धर्मांश्चैवेह वाणिजः ॥ स्ववर्त्मनि स्थितश्चैव गरीयानेष जाजले ॥१२-२५६-१६॥
spardhāṃ jahi mahāprājña tataḥ prāpsyasi yatparam। śraddhāvāñchraddadhānaśca dharmāṃścaiveha vāṇijaḥ ॥ svavartmani sthitaścaiva garīyāneṣa jājale ॥12-256-16॥
[स्पर्धाम् (spardhām) - rivalry; जहि (jahi) - abandon; महाप्राज्ञ (mahāprājña) - O greatly wise one; ततः (tataḥ) - then; प्राप्स्यसि (prāpsyasi) - you will attain; यत् (yat) - that which; परम् (param) - supreme; श्रद्धावान् (śraddhāvān) - having faith; श्रद्दधानः (śraddadhānaḥ) - trustful; च (ca) - and; धर्मान् (dharmān) - virtues; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; इह (iha) - here; वाणिजः (vāṇijaḥ) - merchant; स्ववर्त्मनि (svavartmani) - in one's own path; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - established; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; गरीयान् (garīyān) - greater; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; जाजले (jājale) - O Jājala;]
(Abandon rivalry, O greatly wise one; then you will attain that which is supreme. Having faith and being trustful, and indeed virtues here, O merchant; established in one's own path, and indeed, this is greater, O Jājala.)
O wise Jājala, abandon rivalry; then you will attain the highest. The merchant who is faithful, trusting, and virtuous here, established in his own path, is greater.
एवं बहुमतार्थं च तुलाधारेण भाषितम्। सम्यक्चैवमुपालब्धो धर्मश्चोक्तः सनातनः ॥१२-२५६-१७॥
evaṃ bahumatārthaṃ ca tulādhāreṇa bhāṣitam। samyakcaivamupālabdho dharmaścoktaḥ sanātanaḥ ॥12-256-17॥
[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; बहुमतार्थं (bahumatārtham) - the meaning of the majority opinion; च (ca) - and; तुलाधारेण (tulādhāreṇa) - by the balance-holder; भाषितम् (bhāṣitam) - spoken; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; च (ca) - and; एवम् (evam) - thus; उपालब्धः (upālabdhaḥ) - ascertained; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; च (ca) - and; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - declared; सनातनः (sanātanaḥ) - eternal;]
(Thus, the meaning of the majority opinion was spoken by the balance-holder; and thus, dharma was properly ascertained and the eternal dharma was declared.)
Thus, the meaning of the majority opinion was spoken by the balance-holder; in this way, dharma was properly ascertained and the eternal dharma was declared.
तस्य विख्यातवीर्यस्य श्रुत्वा वाक्यानि स द्विजः। तुलाधारस्य कौन्तेय शान्तिमेवान्वपद्यत ॥१२-२५६-१८॥
tasya vikhyātavīryasya śrutvā vākyāni sa dvijaḥ। tulādhārasya kaunteya śāntimevānvapadyata ॥12-256-18॥
[तस्य (tasya) - of him; विख्यातवीर्यस्य (vikhyātavīryasya) - of renowned valor; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; वाक्यानि (vākyāni) - words; सः (saḥ) - he; द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - the twice-born (brāhmaṇa); तुलाधारस्य (tulādhārasya) - of Tulādhāra; कौन्तेय (kaunteya) - O son of Kuntī; शान्तिम् (śāntim) - peace; एव (eva) - indeed; अन्वपद्यत (anvapadyata) - attained;]
(Of him of renowned valor, having heard the words, he, the twice-born, O son of Kuntī, of Tulādhāra, indeed attained peace.)
O son of Kuntī, having heard the words of Tulādhāra, that brāhmaṇa of renowned valor truly attained peace.
ततोऽचिरेण कालेन तुलाधारः स एव च। दिवं गत्वा महाप्राज्ञौ विहरेतां यथासुखम् ॥ स्वं स्वं स्थानमुपागम्य स्वकर्मफलनिर्जितम् ॥१२-२५६-१९॥
tato'cireṇa kālena tulādhāraḥ sa eva ca। divaṃ gatvā mahāprājñau viharetāṃ yathāsukham॥ svaṃ svaṃ sthānamupāgamya svakarmaphalanirjitam॥12-256-19॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; अचिरेण (acireṇa) - in a short time; कालेन (kālena) - by time; तुलाधारः (tulādhāraḥ) - Tuladhara (name); सः (saḥ) - he; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; दिवम् (divam) - heaven; गत्वा (gatvā) - having gone; महाप्राज्ञौ (mahāprājñau) - the two great wise ones; विहरेताम् (viharetām) - may dwell; यथासुखम् (yathāsukham) - as they please; स्वम् (svam) - own; स्वम् (svam) - own; स्थानम् (sthānam) - place; उपागम्य (upāgamya) - having reached; स्वकर्मफलनिर्जितम् (svakarmaphalanirjitam) - conquered by the fruit of one's own actions;]
(Then, in a short time, by time, Tuladhara, he indeed and (the other), having gone to heaven, the two great wise ones may dwell as they please, having reached their own respective places, conquered by the fruit of their own actions.)
Then, after a short time, Tuladhara and the other wise one, having gone to heaven, dwelt there happily, each attaining his own place as determined by the results of his own actions.
समानां श्रद्दधानानां संयतानां सुचेतसाम्। कुर्वतां यज्ञ इत्येव न यज्ञो जातु नेष्यते ॥१२-२५६-२०॥
samānāṃ śraddadhānānāṃ saṃyatānāṃ sucetasām। kurvatāṃ yajña ityeva na yajño jātu neṣyate ॥12-256-20॥
[समानाम् (samānām) - of those who are equal; श्रद्दधानानाम् (śraddadhānānām) - of those who have faith; संयतानाम् (saṃyatānām) - of those who are self-restrained; सुचेतसाम् (sucetasām) - of those who are wise; कुर्वताम् (kurvatām) - of those who perform; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; इति (iti) - thus; एव (eva) - only; न (na) - not; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; जातु (jātu) - ever; नेष्यते (neṣyate) - is led;]
(Of those who are equal, who have faith, who are self-restrained, who are wise, of those who perform, only that is called 'sacrifice'; not ever is sacrifice led otherwise.)
Among those who are equal, faithful, self-restrained, and wise, only what is performed as 'sacrifice' is truly sacrifice; sacrifice is never otherwise.
श्रद्धा वै सात्त्विकी देवी सूर्यस्य दुहिता नृप। सावित्री प्रसवित्री च जीवविश्वासिनी तथा ॥१२-२५६-२१॥
śraddhā vai sāttvikī devī sūryasya duhitā nṛpa। sāvitri prasavitri ca jīvaviśvāsinī tathā ॥12-256-21॥
[श्रद्धा (śraddhā) - faith; वै (vai) - indeed; सात्त्विकी (sāttvikī) - of sattva (purity); देवी (devī) - goddess; सूर्यस्य (sūryasya) - of the Sun; दुहिता (duhitā) - daughter; नृप (nṛpa) - O king; सावित्री (sāvitrī) - Savitri; प्रसवित्री (prasavitri) - the procreator; च (ca) - and; जीवविश्वासिनी (jīvaviśvāsinī) - the one who gives confidence to living beings; तथा (tathā) - also;]
(Faith indeed, O king, is the sāttvic goddess, the daughter of the Sun; Savitri, the procreator, and also the one who gives confidence to living beings.)
O king, faith is the sāttvic goddess, the daughter of the Sun—Savitri, the procreator, and the one who gives confidence to all living beings.
वाग्वृद्धं त्रायते श्रद्धा मनोवृद्धं च भारत। यथौपम्योपदेशेन किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥१२-२५६-२२॥
vāg-vṛddhaṃ trāyate śraddhā mano-vṛddhaṃ ca bhārata। yathaupamyopadeśena kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi ॥12-256-22॥
[वाक् (vāk) - speech; वृद्धम् (vṛddham) - aged; त्रायते (trāyate) - protects; श्रद्धा (śraddhā) - faith; मनः (manaḥ) - mind; वृद्धम् (vṛddham) - aged; च (ca) - and; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; यथा (yathā) - as; उपम्य (upamya) - by comparison; उपदेशेन (upadeśena) - by instruction; किम् (kim) - what; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - more; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; इच्छसि (icchasi) - do you wish;]
(Faith protects the one aged in speech, and the mind protects the one aged in mind, O Bhārata. By such comparative instruction, what more do you wish to hear?)
O Bhārata, faith protects the one advanced in speech, and the mind protects the one advanced in mind. Through such instruction by comparison, what more do you wish to hear?
