12.256
tulādhāra uvāca॥
Tulādhāra said.
sadbhirvā yadi vā sadbhir ayaṃ panthāḥ samāśritaḥ। pratyakṣaṃ kriyatāṃ sādhu tato jñāsyasi tadyathā॥12-256-1॥
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.
ete śakuntā bahavaḥ samantād vicaranti hi। tavo 'ttamāṅge sambhūtāḥ śyenāś cānyāś ca jātayaḥ ॥12-256-2॥
Many of these birds move about all around; on your head are born hawks and other species.
āhvayainān mahābrahman viśamānāṃ tataḥ tataḥ। paśyemān hastapādeṣu śliṣṭān dehe ca sarvaśaḥ॥12-256-3॥
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.
sambhāvayanti pitaraṃ tvayā sambhāvitāḥ khagāḥ। asaṃśayaṃ pitā ca tvaṃ putrānāhvaya jājale ॥12-256-4॥
The birds that you have honored honor their father. Without a doubt, you are the father, O Jājala; call your sons.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tato jājalinā tena samāhūtāḥ patatriṇaḥ। vācam uccārayan divyāṃ dharmasya vacanāt kila ॥12-256-5॥
Then, Jājali summoned the birds, and they uttered a divine speech, indeed, from the statement of dharma.
ahiṁsādikṛtaṁ karma iha caiva paratra ca। spardhā nihanti vai brahman sāhatā hanti taṁ naram ॥12-256-6॥
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.
śraddhāvṛddhaṃ vāṅmanasī na yajñastrātumarhati। atra gāthā brahmagītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ ॥12-256-7॥
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'.
śuceraśraddadhānasya śraddadhānasya cāśuceḥ। devāścittamamanyanta sadṛśaṃ yajñakarmaṇi ॥12-256-8॥
The gods regarded the mind of the pure without faith, the faithful, and the impure as alike in the performance of sacrifice.
śrotriyasya kadaryasya vadānyasya ca vārdhuṣeḥ। mīmāṁsitvobhayaṁ devāḥ samam annam akalpayan ॥12-256-9॥
The gods equally prepared food for both the learned Brāhmaṇa who was a miser and the generous old man after examining them.
prajāpatistānuvāca viṣamaṃ kṛtamityuta। śraddhāpūtaṃ vadānyasya hatamaśraddhayetarat ॥ bhojyamannaṃ vadānyasya kadaryasya na vārdhuṣeḥ ॥12-256-10॥
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.
aśraddadhāna evaiko devānāṃ nārhate haviḥ। tasyaivānnaṃ na bhoktavyamiti dharmavido viduḥ ॥12-256-11॥
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.
aśraddhā paramaṃ pāpaṃ śraddhā pāpapramocanī। jahāti pāpaṃ śraddhāvān sarpo jīrṇām iva tvacam ॥12-256-12॥
Lack of faith is the greatest sin, while faith removes sin. A faithful person casts off sin as a snake sheds its old skin.
jyāyasī yā pavitrāṇāṃ nivṛttiḥ śraddhayā saha। nivṛttiśīladoṣo yaḥ śraddhāvānpūta eva saḥ ॥12-256-13॥
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.
kiṁ tasya tapasā kāryaṁ kiṁ vṛttena kim ātmanā। śraddhāmayo'yaṁ puruṣo yo yacchraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ ॥12-256-14॥
What is achieved by austerity, conduct, or self alone? This person is made of faith; as is his faith, so is he.
iti dharmaḥ samākhyātaḥ sadbhirdharmārthadarśibhiḥ। vayaṃ jijñāsamānāstvā samprāptā dharmadarśanāt ॥12-256-15॥
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.
spardhāṃ jahi mahāprājña tataḥ prāpsyasi yatparam। śraddhāvāñchraddadhānaśca dharmāṃścaiveha vāṇijaḥ ॥ svavartmani sthitaścaiva garīyāneṣa jājale ॥12-256-16॥
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.
evaṃ bahumatārthaṃ ca tulādhāreṇa bhāṣitam। samyakcaivamupālabdho dharmaścoktaḥ sanātanaḥ ॥12-256-17॥
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.
tasya vikhyātavīryasya śrutvā vākyāni sa dvijaḥ। tulādhārasya kaunteya śāntimevānvapadyata ॥12-256-18॥
O son of Kuntī, having heard the words of Tulādhāra, that brāhmaṇa of renowned valor truly attained peace.
tato'cireṇa kālena tulādhāraḥ sa eva ca। divaṃ gatvā mahāprājñau viharetāṃ yathāsukham॥ svaṃ svaṃ sthānamupāgamya svakarmaphalanirjitam॥12-256-19॥
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.
samānāṃ śraddadhānānāṃ saṃyatānāṃ sucetasām। kurvatāṃ yajña ityeva na yajño jātu neṣyate ॥12-256-20॥
Among those who are equal, faithful, self-restrained, and wise, only what is performed as 'sacrifice' is truly sacrifice; sacrifice is never otherwise.
śraddhā vai sāttvikī devī sūryasya duhitā nṛpa। sāvitri prasavitri ca jīvaviśvāsinī tathā ॥12-256-21॥
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.
vāg-vṛddhaṃ trāyate śraddhā mano-vṛddhaṃ ca bhārata। yathaupamyopadeśena kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi ॥12-256-22॥
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?
