12.257
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। प्रजानामनुकम्पार्थं गीतं राज्ञा विचख्नुना ॥१२-२५७-१॥
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। prajānām anukampārthaṃ gītaṃ rājñā vicakṣṇunā ॥12-257-1॥
[अत्र (atra) - here; अपि (api) - also; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite; इमम् (imam) - this; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the people; अनुकम्पार्थम् (anukampārtham) - for the sake of compassion; गीतम् (gītam) - spoken; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; विचख्नुना (vicakṣṇunā) - by the wise;]
(Here also they cite this ancient history, spoken by the wise king for the sake of compassion for the people.)
Here too, an ancient story is cited, which was spoken by a wise king out of compassion for the people.
छिन्नस्थूणं वृषं दृष्ट्वा विरावं च गवां भृशम्। गोग्रहे यज्ञवाटस्य प्रेक्षमाणः स पार्थिवः ॥१२-२५७-२॥
chinnasthūṇaṃ vṛṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā virāvaṃ ca gavāṃ bhṛśam। gograhe yajñavāṭasya prekṣamāṇaḥ sa pārthivaḥ ॥12-257-2॥
[छिन्नस्थूणम् (chinnasthūṇam) - broken-post; वृषम् (vṛṣam) - bull; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; विरावम् (virāvam) - loud-bellowing; च (ca) - and; गवाम् (gavām) - of cows; भृशम् (bhṛśam) - intensely; गोग्रहे (gograhe) - in the enclosure for cows; यज्ञवाटस्य (yajñavāṭasya) - of the sacrificial ground; प्रेक्षमाणः (prekṣamāṇaḥ) - observing; सः (saḥ) - he; पार्थिवः (pārthivaḥ) - the king;]
(Having seen the broken post, the bull, the loud bellowing of the cows intensely, in the enclosure for cows of the sacrificial ground, observing, he, the king.)
The king, observing the enclosure for cows at the sacrificial ground, saw the broken post, the bull, and heard the intense bellowing of the cows.
स्वस्ति गोभ्योऽस्तु लोकेषु ततो निर्वचनं कृतम्। हिंसायां हि प्रवृत्तायामाशीरेषानुकल्पिता ॥१२-२५७-३॥
svasti gobhyo'stu lokeṣu tato nirvacanaṃ kṛtam। hiṃsāyāṃ hi pravṛttāyām āśīreṣānu kalpitā ॥12-257-3॥
[स्वस्ति (svasti) - well-being; गोभ्यः (gobhyaḥ) - to the cows; अस्तु (astu) - let it be; लोकेषु (lokeṣu) - in the worlds; ततः (tataḥ) - thereafter; निर्वचनम् (nirvacanam) - explanation; कृतम् (kṛtam) - has been made; हिंसायाम् (hiṃsāyām) - in violence; हि (hi) - indeed; प्रवृत्तायाम् (pravṛttāyām) - when engaged; आशीरेषु (āśīreṣu) - in benedictions; अनुकल्पिता (anukalpitā) - have been adapted;]
(Well-being to the cows, let it be in the worlds; thereafter, explanation has been made. Indeed, when violence is engaged, benedictions have been adapted.)
May there be well-being to the cows in all the worlds; thereafter, an explanation has been given. Indeed, when violence occurs, benedictions have been adapted accordingly.
अव्यवस्थितमर्यादैर्विमूढैर्नास्तिकैर्नरैः। संशयात्मभिरव्यक्तैर्हिंसा समनुकीर्तिता ॥१२-२५७-४॥
avyavasthitamaryādair vimūḍhair nāstikair naraiḥ| saṃśayātmabhir avyaktair hiṃsā samanukīrtitā ॥12-257-4॥
[अव्यवस्थित (avyavasthita) - unsteady; not established; मर्यादैः (maryādaiḥ) - by boundaries; by limits; विमूढैः (vimūḍhaiḥ) - by deluded; by confused; नास्तिकैः (nāstikaiḥ) - by atheists; by non-believers; नरैः (naraiḥ) - by men; by people; संशयात्मभिः (saṃśayātmabhiḥ) - by those of doubtful mind; by the skeptical; अव्यक्तैः (avyaktaiḥ) - by the indistinct; by the unclear; हिंसा (hiṃsā) - violence; injury; समनुकीर्तिता (samanukīrtitā) - is described; is proclaimed;]
(Violence is described by unsteady, boundary-less, deluded, atheistic men, by those of doubtful mind and indistinct ones.)
Violence is proclaimed by unsteady, boundary-less, deluded, atheistic men, by those who are skeptical and unclear in mind.
सर्वकर्मस्वहिंसा हि धर्मात्मा मनुरब्रवीत्। कामरागाद्विहिंसन्ति बहिर्वेद्यां पशून्नराः ॥१२-२५७-५॥
sarvakarmasvahiṁsā hi dharmātmā manurabravīt। kāmarāgād vihiṁsanti bahirvedyāṁ paśūn narāḥ ॥12-257-5॥
[सर्वकर्मसु (sarvakarmasu) - in all actions; अहिंसा (ahiṁsā) - non-violence; हि (hi) - indeed; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - one whose nature is dharma; मनुः (manuḥ) - Manu; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; कामरागात् (kāmarāgāt) - from desire and passion; विहिंसन्ति (vihiṁsanti) - they harm; बहि: (bahiḥ) - outside; वेद्यां (vedyām) - on the altar; पशून् (paśūn) - animals; नराः (narāḥ) - men;]
(In all actions, non-violence indeed—one whose nature is dharma, Manu said. From desire and passion, men harm animals outside on the altar.)
Manu, whose nature is dharma, declared that non-violence is to be observed in all actions. However, driven by desire and passion, men harm animals outside on the altar.
तस्मात्प्रमाणतः कार्यो धर्मः सूक्ष्मो विजानता। अहिंसैव हि सर्वेभ्यो धर्मेभ्यो ज्यायसी मता ॥१२-२५७-६॥
tasmāt-pramāṇataḥ kāryo dharmaḥ sūkṣmo vijānatā। ahiṁsā eva hi sarvebhyo dharmebhyo jyāyasī matā ॥12-257-6॥
[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; प्रमाणतः (pramāṇataḥ) - according to authority; कार्यः (kāryaḥ) - to be performed; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; सूक्ष्मः (sūkṣmaḥ) - subtle; विजानता (vijānatā) - by one who knows; अहिंसा (ahiṁsā) - non-violence; एव (eva) - indeed; हि (hi) - for; सर्वेभ्यः (sarvebhyaḥ) - than all; धर्मेभ्यः (dharmebhyaḥ) - duties; ज्यायसी (jyāyasī) - greater; मता (matā) - is considered;]
(Therefore, according to authority, the duty to be performed is subtle for one who knows. Non-violence indeed is considered greater than all duties.)
Therefore, for one who understands, the duty to be performed according to authority is subtle. Among all duties, non-violence alone is regarded as the highest.
उपोष्य संशितो भूत्वा हित्वा वेदकृताः श्रुतीः। आचार इत्यनाचाराः कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥१२-२५७-७॥
upoṣya saṃśito bhūtvā hitvā vedakṛtāḥ śrutīḥ। ācāra ity anācārāḥ kṛpaṇāḥ phalahetavaḥ ॥12-257-7॥
[उपोष्य (upoṣya) - having fasted; संशितः (saṃśitaḥ) - having become resolute; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; हित्वा (hitvā) - having abandoned; वेदकृताः (vedakṛtāḥ) - those made by the Veda; श्रुतीः (śrutīḥ) - the scriptures; आचार (ācāra) - conduct; इति (iti) - thus; अनाचाराः (anācārāḥ) - those of improper conduct; कृपणाः (kṛpaṇāḥ) - miserable; फलहेतवः (phalahetavaḥ) - those who are motivated by results;]
(Having fasted, having become resolute, having become, having abandoned the scriptures made by the Veda, those of improper conduct are called 'conduct'; miserable are those who are motivated by results.)
After fasting and becoming resolute, abandoning the Vedic scriptures, those who act improperly are called 'conduct'; those who are motivated by results are miserable.
यदि यज्ञांश्च वृक्षांश्च यूपांश्चोद्दिश्य मानवाः। वृथा मांसानि खादन्ति नैष धर्मः प्रशस्यते ॥१२-२५७-८॥
yadi yajñāṃś ca vṛkṣāṃś ca yūpāṃś ca uddiśya mānavāḥ। vṛthā māṃsāni khādanti naiṣa dharmaḥ praśasyate ॥12-257-8॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; यज्ञान् (yajñān) - sacrifices; च (ca) - and; वृक्षान् (vṛkṣān) - trees; च (ca) - and; यूपान् (yūpān) - sacrificial posts; च (ca) - and; उद्दिश्य (uddiśya) - having intended; मानवाः (mānavāḥ) - humans; वृथा (vṛthā) - in vain; मांसानि (māṃsāni) - meats; खादन्ति (khādanti) - eat; न (na) - not; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; प्रशस्यते (praśasyate) - is praised;]
(If humans, having intended sacrifices, trees, and sacrificial posts, eat meats in vain, this duty is not praised.)
If humans eat meat in vain, even after intending sacrifices, trees, and sacrificial posts, such a practice is not considered a praiseworthy duty.
मांसं मधु सुरा मत्स्या आसवं कृसरौदनम्। धूर्तैः प्रवर्तितं ह्येतन्नैतद्वेदेषु कल्पितम् ॥१२-२५७-९॥
māṁsaṁ madhu surā matsyā āsavaṁ kṛsarau danam। dhūrtaiḥ pravartitaṁ hyetanna itadvedeṣu kalpitam ॥12-257-9॥
[मांसं (māṁsaṁ) - meat; मधु (madhu) - honey; सुरा (surā) - liquor; मत्स्या (matsyā) - fish; आसवं (āsavaṁ) - spirituous liquor; कृसरौदनम् (kṛsaraudanam) - rice and porridge; धूर्तैः (dhūrtaiḥ) - by rogues; प्रवर्तितं (pravartitaṁ) - instituted; हि (hi) - indeed; एतत् (etat) - this; न (na) - not; एतत् (etat) - this; वेदेषु (vedeṣu) - in the Vedas; कल्पितम् (kalpitam) - prescribed;]
(Meat, honey, liquor, fish, spirituous liquor, rice and porridge—these were indeed instituted by rogues; this is not prescribed in the Vedas.)
Meat, honey, liquor, fish, spirituous liquor, and rice porridge were established by rogues; these are not prescribed in the Vedas.
कामान्मोहाच्च लोभाच्च लौल्यमेतत्प्रवर्तितम्। विष्णुमेवाभिजानन्ति सर्वयज्ञेषु ब्राह्मणाः ॥ पायसैः सुमनोभिश्च तस्यापि यजनं स्मृतम् ॥१२-२५७-१०॥
kāmān mohāc ca lobhāc ca laulyam etat pravartitam। viṣṇum eva abhijānanti sarva-yajñeṣu brāhmaṇāḥ॥ pāyasaiḥ sumanobhiś ca tasyāpi yajanaṃ smṛtam॥ 12-257-10॥
[कामात् (kāmāt) - from desire; मोहात् (mohāt) - from delusion; च (ca) - and; लोभात् (lobhāt) - from greed; च (ca) - and; लौल्यम् (laulyam) - fickleness; एतत् (etat) - this; प्रवर्तितम् (pravartitam) - has arisen; विष्णुम् (viṣṇum) - Viṣṇu; एव (eva) - only; अभिजानन्ति (abhijānanti) - recognize; सर्वयज्ञेषु (sarva-yajñeṣu) - in all sacrifices; ब्राह्मणाः (brāhmaṇāḥ) - Brāhmaṇas; पायसैः (pāyasaiḥ) - with milk preparations; सुमनःभिः (sumanobhiḥ) - with flowers; च (ca) - and; तस्य (tasya) - his; अपि (api) - also; यजनम् (yajanam) - worship; स्मृतम् (smṛtam) - is considered;]
(From desire, from delusion, and from greed, this fickleness has arisen. Brāhmaṇas recognize only Viṣṇu in all sacrifices. With milk preparations and with flowers, his worship is also considered (proper).)
This fickleness arises from desire, delusion, and greed. In all sacrifices, Brāhmaṇas recognize only Viṣṇu. His worship with milk preparations and flowers is also considered proper.
यज्ञियाश्चैव ये वृक्षा वेदेषु परिकल्पिताः। यच्चापि किञ्चित्कर्तव्यमन्यच्चोक्षैः सुसंस्कृतम् ॥ महासत्त्वैः शुद्धभावैः सर्वं देवार्हमेव तत् ॥१२-२५७-११॥
yajñiyāścaiva ye vṛkṣā vedeṣu parikalpitāḥ। yaccāpi kiñcitkartavyamanyaccokṣaiḥ susaṃskṛtam ॥ mahāsattvaiḥ śuddhabhāvaiḥ sarvaṃ devārhameva tat ॥12-257-11॥
[यज्ञियाः (yajñiyāḥ) - fit for sacrifice; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; ये (ye) - which; वृक्षाः (vṛkṣāḥ) - trees; वेदेषु (vedeṣu) - in the Vedas; परिकल्पिताः (parikalpitāḥ) - prescribed; यत् (yat) - whatever; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; कर्तव्यम् (kartavyam) - to be done; अन्यत् (anyat) - other; च (ca) - and; उक्षैः (ukṣaiḥ) - by bulls; सुसंस्कृतम् (susaṃskṛtam) - well-prepared; महासत्त्वैः (mahāsattvaiḥ) - by great beings; शुद्धभावैः (śuddhabhāvaiḥ) - with pure intentions; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; देवार्हम् (devārham) - worthy of the gods; एव (eva) - indeed; तत् (tat) - that;]
(The trees fit for sacrifice and indeed those which are prescribed in the Vedas, and whatever else is to be done, and other things well-prepared by bulls—by great beings with pure intentions, all that is indeed worthy of the gods.)
The trees suitable for sacrifice, as prescribed in the Vedas, and any other acts or things well-prepared by bulls—when performed by great souls with pure intentions—all of that is truly worthy of the gods.
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.
शरीरमापदश्चापि विवदन्त्यविहिंसतः। कथं यात्रा शरीरस्य निरारम्भस्य सेत्स्यति ॥१२-२५७-१२॥
śarīram āpadaś ca api vivadanti avihiṃsataḥ। kathaṃ yātrā śarīrasya nirārambhasya setsyati ॥12-257-12॥
[शरीरम् (śarīram) - body; आपदः (āpadaḥ) - difficulties; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; विवदन्ति (vivadanti) - attack; अविहिंसतः (avihiṃsataḥ) - of one who does not harm; कथम् (katham) - how; यात्रा (yātrā) - journey; शरीरस्य (śarīrasya) - of the body; निरारम्भस्य (nirārambhasya) - of one without effort; सेत्स्यति (setsyati) - will succeed;]
(Body, difficulties and also attack one who does not harm; how will the journey of the body of one without effort succeed?)
Even the body and difficulties attack one who does not harm others; how will the journey of the body of one who makes no effort succeed?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
यथा शरीरं न ग्लायेन्नेयान्मृत्युवशं यथा। तथा कर्मसु वर्तेत समर्थो धर्ममाचरेत् ॥१२-२५७-१३॥
yathā śarīraṃ na glāyenneyān mṛtyuvaśaṃ yathā। tathā karmasu varteta samartho dharmam ācaret ॥12-257-13॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; शरीरं (śarīram) - body; न (na) - not; ग्लायेत् (glāyet) - should decay; न (na) - not; एयान् (eyān) - should go; मृत्यु-वशं (mṛtyu-vaśam) - to the power of death; यथा (yathā) - just as; तथा (tathā) - so; कर्मसु (karmasu) - in actions; वर्तेत (varteta) - should conduct oneself; समर्थः (samarthaḥ) - capable; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; आचरेत् (ācaret) - should practice;]
(Just as the body should not decay, nor should it go under the power of death, so should a capable person conduct himself in actions and practice dharma.)
Just as one should strive to keep the body from decay and not let it fall under the sway of death, so too should a capable person act in the world and uphold dharma.
