12.263
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
dharmam arthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca vedāḥ śaṃsanti bhārata। kasya lābho viśiṣṭo'tra tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-263-1॥
O Bhārata, the Vedas declare duty, wealth, and desire; tell me, O grandsire, whose gain among these is considered the highest.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atra te vartayiṣyāmi itihāsaṃ purātanam। kuṇḍadhāreṇa yatprītyā bhaktāyopakṛtaṃ purā ॥12-263-2॥
Here, I will tell you the ancient story of how Kuṇḍadhāra, out of affection, once bestowed a favor upon a devotee.
adhano brāhmaṇaḥ kaścit kāmād dharmam avaikṣata। yajñārthaṃ sa tato'rthārthī tapo'tapyata dāruṇam ॥12-263-3॥
A certain brāhmaṇa, lacking wealth, out of desire, sought dharma. For the sake of a sacrifice, he then, seeking wealth, undertook severe austerity.
sa niścayam atho kṛtvā pūjayām āsa devatāḥ। bhaktyā na caiva adhyagacchad dhanaṃ sampūjya devatāḥ॥12-263-4॥
He firmly resolved and began to worship the deities. Though he worshipped the deities with devotion, he did not obtain any wealth.
tataś cintāṃ punaḥ prāptaḥ katamaddaiivataṃ nu tat। yan me drutaṃ prasīdet mānuṣair jaḍīkṛtam ॥12-263-5॥
Then he again began to ponder: 'Which is that deity who, not rendered indifferent by men, would quickly be pleased with me?'
atha saumyena vapuṣā devānucaram-antike। pratyapaśyaj-jaladharaṃ kuṇḍadhāram-avasthitam ॥12-263-6॥
Then, with a gentle form, he saw near the divine attendant a cloud with streams, standing there.
dṛṣṭvaiva taṃ mahātmānaṃ tasya bhaktir ajāyata। ayaṃ me dhāsyati śreyo vapur etad dhi tādṛśam ॥12-263-7॥
Upon seeing that great-souled one, devotion to him arose in me. This very form will surely bring me the highest good.
sannikṛṣṭaś ca devasya na cānyair mānuṣair vṛtaḥ। eṣa me dāsyati dhanaṃ prabhūtaṃ śīghrameva ca ॥12-263-8॥
He is closely associated with the god and is not surrounded by other men; this one will give me abundant wealth very quickly.
tato dhūpaiś ca gandhaiś ca mālyair uccāvacair api| balibhir vividhaiś cāpi pūjayāmāsa taṃ dvijaḥ ॥12-263-9॥
Then the Brahmin worshipped him with various incenses, fragrances, garlands, and diverse offerings.
tataḥ svalpena kālena tuṣṭo jaladharastadā। tasyopakāre niyatāmimāṃ vācamuvāca ha ॥12-263-10॥
Then, after a short time, the cloud, being pleased by his help, spoke these fixed words.
brahma-ghne ca surāpe ca core bhagna-vrate tathā। niṣkṛtir vihitā sadbhiḥ kṛtaghne nāsti niṣkṛtiḥ ॥12-263-11॥
Atonement is prescribed by the virtuous for the slayer of a Brāhmaṇa, the drinker of liquor, the thief, and the breaker of a vow; but for the ungrateful one, there is no atonement.
āśāyās tanayo'dharmaḥ krodho'sūyāsutaḥ smṛtaḥ। putro lobho nikṛtyāstu kṛtaghno nārhati prajām ॥12-263-12॥
Unrighteousness is born of hope; anger is said to be the son of envy. Greed is the offspring of deceit; the ungrateful person does not deserve to have children.
tataḥ sa brāhmaṇaḥ svapne kuṇḍadhārasya tejasā। apaśyat sarvabhūtāni kuśeṣu śayitas tadā ॥12-263-13॥
Then, in his dream, the brāhmaṇa saw, by the brilliance of Kuṇḍadhāra, all beings lying on the kuśa grass.
śamena tapasā caiva bhaktyā ca nirupaskṛtaḥ। śuddhātmā brāhmaṇo rātrau nidarśanam apaśyat ॥12-263-14॥
The Brāhmaṇa, who was pure in soul, unadorned, and endowed with tranquility, austerity, and devotion, saw a vision at night.
maṇibhadraṃ sa tatrasthaṃ devatānāṃ mahādyutim। apaśyata mahātmānaṃ vyādiśantaṃ yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-263-15॥
Yudhiṣṭhira saw Maṇibhadra, the great-souled and resplendent being among the deities, present there and giving directions.
tatra devāḥ prayacchanti rājyāni ca dhanāni ca। śubhaiḥ karmabhir ārabdhāḥ pracchidanty aśubheṣu ca ॥12-263-16॥
There, the gods grant kingdoms and wealth. Those attained by auspicious actions are destroyed among inauspicious ones as well.
paśyatām atha yakṣāṇāṃ kuṇḍadhāro mahādyutiḥ। niṣpatya patito bhūmau devānāṃ bharatarṣabha ॥12-263-17॥
Then, O Bharata, as the Yakṣas looked on, the greatly radiant Kuṇḍadhāra, belonging to the gods, came out and fell to the ground.
tatastu devavacanānmaṇibhadro mahāyaśāḥ। uvāca patitaṃ bhūmau kuṇḍadhāra kimiṣyate ॥12-263-18॥
Then, Maṇibhadra, greatly renowned, having heard the words of the gods, said: "Kuṇḍadhāra, what do you desire, having fallen on the ground?"
kuṇḍadhāra uvāca॥
Kuṇḍadhāra said.
yadi prasannā devā me bhakto'yaṃ brāhmaṇo mama। asyānugraham icchāmi kṛtaṃ kiñcit sukhodayam ॥12-263-19॥
If the gods are pleased with me, this brāhmaṇa is my devotee. I wish to grant him a favor, to bring about some happiness for him.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tatastaṃ maṇibhradrastu punarvacanamabravīt। devānāmeva vacanātkuṇḍadhāraṃ mahādyutim ॥12-263-20॥
Then Maṇibhadra again spoke to him: "By the command of the gods, Kuṇḍadhāra, the one of great splendor."
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhadraṃ te kṛtakāryaḥ sukhī bhava। yāvad dhanaṃ prārthayate brāhmaṇo'yaṃ sakhā tava ॥ devānāṃ śāsanāttāvada-saṅkhye'yaṃ dadāmyaham ॥12-263-21॥
Arise, arise! May auspiciousness be yours. You have accomplished your task, be happy. As long as this brāhmaṇa, your friend, requests wealth, by the command of the gods, I will give this innumerable (wealth).
vicārya kuṇḍadhārastu mānuṣyaṃ calamadhruvam। tapase matimādhatta brāhmaṇasya yaśasvinaḥ ॥12-263-22॥
After reflecting, Kuṇḍadhāra realized that human life is unstable and impermanent. Therefore, the illustrious Brāhmaṇa set his mind on austerity.
kuṇḍadhāra uvāca॥
Kuṇḍadhāra said.
nāhaṃ dhanāni yācāmi brāhmaṇāya dhanaprada। anyamevāhamicchāmi bhaktāyānugrahaṃ kṛtam ॥12-263-23॥
I do not ask for wealth from the brāhmaṇa, giver of wealth. I desire something else: favor done to the devotee.
pṛthivīṃ ratnapūrṇāṃ vā mahadvā dhanasañcayam। bhaktāya nāhamicchāmi bhavedeṣa tu dhārmikaḥ ॥12-263-24॥
I do not wish to give the earth filled with jewels or even a great accumulation of wealth to a devotee; but let this person be righteous.
dharme'sya ramatāṃ buddhirdharmaṃ caivopajīvatu। dharmapradhāno bhavatu mamaiṣo'nugraho mataḥ ॥12-263-25॥
May his mind find joy in dharma, and may he live by dharma. Let him be one for whom dharma is paramount. This is the favor I consider as mine.
maṇibhadra uvāca॥
Maṇibhadra said.
yadā dharmaphalaṃ rājyaṃ sukhāni vividhāni ca। phalānyevāyamaśnātu kāyakleśavivarjitaḥ ॥12-263-26॥
When the kingdom and various pleasures are the fruit of dharma, let him enjoy these fruits, free from bodily suffering.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tatas tadeva bahuśaḥ kuṇḍadhāro mahāyaśāḥ। abhyāsam akarod dharme tatas tuṣṭāsya devatāḥ ॥12-263-27॥
Then the greatly renowned Kuṇḍadhāra repeatedly practiced dharma, and as a result, the deities became pleased with him.
maṇibhadra uvāca॥
Maṇibhadra said.
prītās te devatāḥ sarvā dvijasyāsya tathaiva ca। bhaviṣyaty eṣa dharmātmā dharme cādhāsyate matiḥ ॥12-263-28॥
All your deities are pleased, and likewise those of this twice-born. He will become righteous-souled, and his mind will be set in dharma.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tataḥ prīto jaladharaḥ kṛtakāryo yudhiṣṭhira। īpsitaṃ manaso labdhvā varamanyaiḥ sudurlabham ॥12-263-29॥
Then the pleased cloud, having accomplished his task, O Yudhishthira, obtained the boon he desired in his mind, a boon very difficult for others to attain.
tato'paśyata cīrāṇi sūkṣmāṇi dvijasattamaḥ। pārśvato'bhyāgato nyastānyatha nirvedamāgataḥ ॥12-263-30॥
Then the best of the twice-born, having approached, saw fine bark garments placed at the side and thus became dispassionate.
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
ayaṃ na sukṛtaṃ vetti ko nvanyo vetsyate kṛtam। gacchāmi vanamevāhaṃ varaṃ dharmeṇa jīvitum ॥12-263-31॥
He does not recognize a good deed; who else will know what has been done? I will go to the forest; it is better for me to live righteously.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
nirvedāddevatānāṃ ca prasādāts sa dvijottamaḥ। vanaṃ praviśya sumahattapa ārabdhavāṃstadā ॥12-263-32॥
Then, due to detachment and the grace of the deities, that best of the twice-born entered the forest and began intense austerities.
devatātithiśeṣeṇa phalamūlāśano dvijaḥ। dharme cāpi mahārāja ratirasyābhyajāyata ॥12-263-33॥
O great king, the twice-born, subsisting on fruits and roots left after offerings to deities and guests, developed a delight in dharma.
tyaktvā mūlaphalaṃ sarvaṃ parṇāhāro'bhavaddvijaḥ। parṇaṃ tyaktvā jalāhārastadāsīddvijasattamaḥ ॥12-263-34॥
Having given up all roots and fruits, the Brahmin subsisted on leaves. Then, giving up leaves, the best among the Brahmins lived only on water.
vāyubhakṣas tataḥ paścād bahūn varṣagaṇān abhūt। na ca asya kṣīyate prāṇas tad adbhutam iva abhavat ॥12-263-35॥
He lived for many years subsisting on air; his life-breath was not diminished, and that seemed truly wonderful.
dharme ca śraddadhānasya tapasyugre ca vartataḥ। kālena mahatā tasya divyā dṛṣṭirajāyata ॥12-263-36॥
As he abided faithfully in dharma and severe austerity, over time, a divine vision arose in him.
tasya buddhiḥ prādurāsīdyadi dadyāṃ mahaddhanam। tuṣṭaḥ kasmaicidevāhaṃ na mithyā vāgbhavenmama ॥12-263-37॥
He thought, "If I, being pleased, give great wealth to someone, let my word not be false."
tataḥ prahṛṣṭavadano bhūya ārabdhavāṃstapaḥ। bhūyaścācintayatsiddho yatparaṃ so'bhyapadyata ॥12-263-38॥
Then, with a delighted face, he again undertook austerities; again, the accomplished one reflected upon that supreme state which he had attained.
yadi dadyāmahaṃ rājyaṃ tuṣṭo vai yasya kasyacit। sa bhavedacirādrājā na mithyā vāgbhavenmama ॥12-263-39॥
If I were to grant the kingdom to anyone with whom I am truly pleased, he would quickly become king; my word would not be false.
tasya sākṣāt-kuṇḍadhāro darśayāmāsa bhārata। brāhmaṇasya tapoyogāt-sauhṛdenābhicoditaḥ ॥12-263-40॥
O Bhārata, Kuṇḍadhāra directly showed him, being impelled by the Brāhmaṇa's ascetic practice and friendship.
samāgamya sa tenātha pūjāṃ cakre yathāvidhi। brāhmaṇaḥ kuṇḍadhārasya vismitaścābhavannṛpa ॥12-263-41॥
Having assembled, he performed the worship with him as prescribed; the brāhmaṇa of Kuṇḍadhāra was astonished, O king.
tato'bravīt kuṇḍadhāro divyaṃ te cakṣur uttamam। paśya rājñāṃ gatiṃ vipra lokāṃś ca avekṣa cakṣuṣā॥12-263-42॥
Then Kuṇḍadhāra said, "I grant you the supreme divine vision. O brāhmaṇa, see the path of the kings and behold the worlds with your eye."
tato rājñāṃ sahasrāṇi magnāni niraye tadā। dūrād apaśyad vipraḥ sa divyayuktena cakṣuṣā ॥12-263-43॥
Then, at that time, the Brāhmaṇa saw from afar thousands of kings immersed in hell with his divinely-endowed sight.
kuṇḍadhāra uvāca॥
Kuṇḍadhāra said.
māṃ pūjayitvā bhāvena yadi tvaṃ duḥkham āpnuyāḥ। kṛtaṃ mayā bhavet kiṃ te kaś ca te'nugraho bhavet ॥12-263-44॥
If, after worshipping me with devotion, you still experience suffering, what benefit would my actions have for you? And what kind of favor would you receive from me?
paśya paśya ca bhūyas tvaṃ kāmān icchet kathaṃ naraḥ। svargadvāraṃ hi saṃruddhaṃ mānuṣeṣu viśeṣataḥ ॥12-263-45॥
Behold, behold again, how can a man desire pleasures? For the gate of heaven is indeed closed, especially among men.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tato'paśyat sa kāmaṃ ca krodhaṃ lobhaṃ bhayaṃ madam| nidrāṃ tandrīṃ tathālasyaṃ āvṛtya puruṣān sthitān ॥12-263-46॥
Then he saw that desire, anger, greed, fear, pride, sleep, sloth, and laziness had enveloped the men who stood there.
kuṇḍadhāra uvāca॥
Kuṇḍadhāra said.
etairlokāḥ susaṁruddhā devānāṁ mānuṣādbhayam। tathaiva devavacanādvighnaṁ kurvanti sarvaśaḥ ॥12-263-47॥
By these, the worlds are well-blocked and the gods fear humans. Likewise, as per the word of the gods, they create obstacles in every way. (12-263-47)
na devair ananujñātaḥ kaścid bhavati dhārmikaḥ। eṣa śakto'si tapasā rājyaṃ dātuṃ dhanāni ca ॥12-263-48॥
No one becomes righteous without the permission of the gods. You are capable, by your austerity, of granting both the kingdom and wealth.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tataḥ papāta śirasā brāhmaṇas toyadhāriṇe। uvāca ca enaṃ dharmātmā mahān me'nugrahaḥ kṛtaḥ ॥12-263-49॥
Then he bowed his head to the brāhmaṇa, the bearer of water. The righteous great one said to him, "A great favor has been done to me."
kāmalobhānubandhena purā te yadasūyitam। mayā snehamavijñāya tatra me kṣantumarhasi ॥12-263-50॥
In the past, due to desire and greed, I envied you, not understanding your affection; in that matter, you ought to forgive me.
kṣāntam eva mayety uktvā kuṇḍadhāro dvijarṣabham। sampariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata ॥12-263-51॥
Kuṇḍadhāra said, "I have indeed forgiven you," and, embracing the best of Brāhmaṇas with his arms, vanished on the spot.
tataḥ sarvānimāṃllokān brāhmaṇo'nucacāra ha। kuṇḍadhāraprasādena tapasā yojitaḥ purā ॥12-263-52॥
Then, by the grace of Kuṇḍadhāra and through his austerity, the Brāhmaṇa once wandered through all these worlds.
vihāyasā ca gamanaṃ tathā saṅkalpitārthatā। dharmācchaktyā tathā yogādyā caiva paramā gatiḥ ॥12-263-53॥
Travel by air, movement, and the realization of intended objects; through the power of dharma, as well as by yoga and similar means, one attains the highest goal.
devatā brāhmaṇāḥ santo yakṣā mānuṣacāraṇāḥ। dhārmikānpūjayantīha na dhanāḍhyānna kāminaḥ ॥12-263-54॥
Here, deities, Brāhmaṇas, the virtuous, Yakṣas, and human sages honor the righteous, not the wealthy or those driven by desire.
suprasannā hi te devā yatte dharme ratā matiḥ। dhane sukhakalā kācid dharme tu paramaṃ sukham ॥12-263-55॥
Your gods are truly pleased because your mind is devoted to dharma. There is some happiness in wealth, but the highest happiness is found in dharma.
