12.264
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhishthira said;)
Yudhishthira said.
बहूनां यज्ञतपसामेकार्थानां पितामह। धर्मार्थं न सुखार्थार्थं कथं यज्ञः समाहितः ॥१२-२६४-१॥
bahūnāṃ yajña-tapasām ekārthānāṃ pitāmaha। dharmārthaṃ na sukhārthārthaṃ kathaṃ yajñaḥ samāhitaḥ ॥12-264-1॥
[बहूनाम् (bahūnām) - of many; यज्ञतपसाम् (yajña-tapasām) - of sacrifices and austerities; एकार्थानाम् (ekārthānām) - having one purpose; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire; धर्मार्थम् (dharmārtham) - for the sake of dharma; न (na) - not; सुखार्थार्थम् (sukhārthārtham) - for the sake of pleasure; कथम् (katham) - how; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; समाहितः (samāhitaḥ) - is established;]
(O grandsire, of many sacrifices and austerities having one purpose, how is the sacrifice established for the sake of dharma, not for the sake of pleasure?)
O grandsire, among the many sacrifices and austerities performed with a single purpose, how is the sacrifice established for the sake of dharma and not for the sake of pleasure?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि नारदेनानुकीर्तितम्। उञ्छवृत्तेः पुरावृत्तं यज्ञार्थे ब्राह्मणस्य ह ॥१२-२६४-२॥
atra te vartayiṣyāmi nāradenānukīrtitam। uñchavṛtteḥ purāvṛttaṃ yajñārthe brāhmaṇasya ha ॥12-264-2॥
[अत्र (atra) - here; ते (te) - to you; वर्तयिष्यामि (vartayiṣyāmi) - I shall narrate; नारदेन (nāradena) - by Nārada; अनुकीर्तितम् (anukīrtitam) - recounted; उञ्छवृत्तेः (uñchavṛtteḥ) - of the uñcha mode of life; पुरा (purā) - formerly; वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - event; यज्ञार्थे (yajñārthe) - for the sake of sacrifice; ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - of the Brāhmaṇa; ह (ha) - indeed;]
(Here to you I shall narrate what was recounted by Nārada: the former event of the uñcha mode of life, indeed, of the Brāhmaṇa for the sake of sacrifice.)
Here, I will tell you what Nārada recounted: the ancient story of the Brāhmaṇa who lived by the uñcha mode of life for the sake of sacrifice.
राष्ट्रे धर्मोत्तरे श्रेष्ठे विदर्भेष्वभवद्द्विजः। उञ्छवृत्तिरृषिः कश्चिद्यज्ञे यज्ञं समादधे ॥१२-२६४-३॥
rāṣṭre dharmottare śreṣṭhe vidarbheṣv abhavad dvijaḥ। uñchavṛttir ṛṣiḥ kaścid yajñe yajñaṃ samādadhe॥12-264-3॥
[राष्ट्रे (rāṣṭre) - in the kingdom; धर्मोत्तरे (dharmottare) - in Dharmottara (name of place); श्रेष्ठे (śreṣṭhe) - excellent; विदर्भेषु (vidarbheṣu) - in Vidarbha (region); अभवत् (abhavat) - there was; द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - a twice-born (brāhmaṇa); उञ्छवृत्तिः (uñchavṛttiḥ) - subsisting by gleaning; ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ) - sage; कश्चित् (kaścit) - some; यज्ञे (yajñe) - in the sacrifice; यज्ञम् (yajñam) - sacrifice; समादधे (samādadhe) - undertook;]
(In the kingdom, in Dharmottara, excellent, in Vidarbha, there was a twice-born; a sage subsisting by gleaning, some, in the sacrifice, sacrifice, undertook.)
In the excellent kingdom of Dharmottara in Vidarbha, there was a twice-born sage who lived by gleaning; at a sacrifice, he undertook the performance of a sacrifice.
श्यामाकमशनं तत्र सूर्यपत्नी सुवर्चला। तिक्तं च विरसं शाकं तपसा स्वादुतां गतम् ॥१२-२६४-४॥
śyāmākamaśanaṃ tatra sūryapatnī suvarcalā| tiktaṃ ca virasaṃ śākaṃ tapasā svāduitāṃ gatam ॥12-264-4॥
[श्यामाक (śyāmāka) - a type of millet; अशनम् (aśanam) - eating; तत्र (tatra) - there; सूर्यपत्नी (sūryapatnī) - wife of the Sun; सुवर्चला (suvarcalā) - Suvarcalā (proper name); तिक्तम् (tiktam) - bitter; च (ca) - and; विरसम् (virasam) - tasteless; शाकम् (śākam) - vegetable; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; स्वादुतां (svāduitām) - sweetness; गतम् (gatam) - attained;]
(There, eating of śyāmāka (millet); Suvarcalā, wife of the Sun. The bitter and tasteless vegetable, by austerity, attained sweetness.)
There, Suvarcalā, the wife of the Sun, ate śyāmāka (millet). Through her austerity, the bitter and tasteless vegetable became sweet.
उपगम्य वने पृथ्वीं सर्वभूतविहिंसया। अपि मूलफलैरिज्यो यज्ञः स्वर्ग्यः परन्तप ॥१२-२६४-५॥
upagamya vane pṛthvīṃ sarvabhūtavihiṃsayā। api mūlaphalairijyo yajñaḥ svargyaḥ parantapa ॥12-264-5॥
[उपगम्य (upagamya) - having approached; वने (vane) - in the forest; पृथ्वीं (pṛthvīṃ) - the earth; सर्वभूतविहिंसया (sarvabhūtavihiṃsayā) - by non-injury to all beings; अपि (api) - even; मूलफलैः (mūlaphalaiḥ) - with roots and fruits; इज्यः (ijyaḥ) - worshipped; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; स्वर्ग्यः (svargyaḥ) - leading to heaven; परन्तप (parantapa) - O scorcher of foes;]
(Having approached the earth in the forest by non-injury to all beings, even with roots and fruits, the sacrifice worshipped is heavenly, O scorcher of foes.)
O scorcher of foes, even a sacrifice performed in the forest, worshipping the earth by non-injury to all beings and using only roots and fruits, leads to heaven.
तस्य भार्या व्रतकृशा शुचिः पुष्करचारिणी। यज्ञपत्नीत्वमानीता सत्येनानुविधीयते ॥ सा तु शापपरित्रस्ता न स्वभावानुवर्तिनी ॥१२-२६४-६॥
tasya bhāryā vratakṛśā śuciḥ puṣkaracāriṇī। yajñapatnītvamānītā satyenānuvidhīyate ॥ sā tu śāpaparitrastā na svabhāvānuvartinī ॥12-264-6॥
[तस्य (tasya) - of him; भार्या (bhāryā) - wife; व्रतकृशा (vratakṛśā) - emaciated by vows; शुचिः (śuciḥ) - pure; पुष्करचारिणी (puṣkaracāriṇī) - moving about in lotus (ponds); यज्ञपत्नीत्वम् (yajñapatnītvam) - the state of being a sacrificial wife; आनीता (ānītā) - brought; सत्येन (satyena) - by truth; अनुविधीयते (anuvidhīyate) - is followed; सा (sā) - she; तु (tu) - but; शापपरित्रस्ता (śāpaparitrastā) - afflicted by curse; न (na) - not; स्वभावानुवर्तिनी (svabhāvānuvartinī) - following her own nature;]
(His wife, emaciated by vows, pure, moving about in lotus ponds, brought to the state of being a sacrificial wife, is followed by truth. But she, afflicted by a curse, does not follow her own nature.)
His wife, thin from austerities, pure, and wandering among lotus ponds, was brought to the role of a sacrificial wife and lived in accordance with truth. However, afflicted by a curse, she no longer acted according to her own nature.
मयूरजीर्णपर्णानां वस्त्रं तस्याश्च पर्णिनाम्। अकामायाः कृतं तत्र यज्ञे होत्रानुमार्गतः ॥१२-२६४-७॥
mayūra-jīrṇa-parṇānāṃ vastraṃ tasyāś ca parṇinām। akāmayāḥ kṛtaṃ tatra yajñe hotrānumārgataḥ ॥12-264-7॥
[मयूर (mayūra) - peacock; जीर्ण (jīrṇa) - worn-out; पर्णानां (parṇānāṃ) - of leaves; वस्त्रं (vastraṃ) - garment; तस्याः (tasyāḥ) - of her; च (ca) - and; पर्णिनाम् (parṇinām) - of those with leaves; अकामायाः (akāmayāḥ) - of the one without desire; कृतं (kṛtaṃ) - made; तत्र (tatra) - there; यज्ञे (yajñe) - in the sacrifice; होत्रानुमार्गतः (hotrānumārgataḥ) - according to the ritual of the Hotṛ priest;]
(A garment of worn-out peacock leaves, and of her and of those with leaves, was made for the desireless one there in the sacrifice according to the ritual of the Hotṛ priest.)
A garment made of worn-out peacock leaves, belonging to her and to those with leaves, was prepared there for the desireless one during the sacrifice, according to the ritual of the Hotṛ priest.
शुक्रस्य पुनराजातिरपध्यानादधर्मवित्। तस्मिन्वने समीपस्थो मृगोऽभूत्सहचारिकः ॥ वचोभिरब्रवीत्सत्यं त्वया दुष्कृतकं कृतम् ॥१२-२६४-८॥
śukrasya punar-ājātir-apadhyānād adharma-vit। tasmin vane samīpastho mṛgo'bhūt-sahacārikaḥ॥ vacobhir abravīt satyaṃ tvayā duṣkṛtakaṃ kṛtam॥12-264-8॥
[शुक्रस्य (śukrasya) - of Śukra; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; आजातिः (ājātiḥ) - rebirth; अपध्यानात् (apadhyānāt) - from wrong contemplation; अधर्मवित् (adharmavit) - knower of unrighteousness; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; वने (vane) - forest; समीपस्थः (samīpasthaḥ) - being nearby; मृगः (mṛgaḥ) - deer; अभूत् (abhūt) - became; सहचारिकः (sahacārikaḥ) - companion; वचोभिः (vacobhiḥ) - with words; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; दुष्कृतकं (duṣkṛtakaṃ) - evil deed; कृतम् (kṛtam) - done;]
(Of Śukra, again, rebirth from wrong contemplation, knower of unrighteousness. In that forest, being nearby, a deer became a companion. With words, spoke: "Truly, by you, an evil deed was done.")
Śukra, due to wrong contemplation and knowledge of unrighteousness, was reborn. In that forest, a deer who was nearby became his companion. The deer spoke with words: "Truly, you have committed a wrongful act."
यदि मन्त्राङ्गहीनोऽयं यज्ञो भवति वैकृतः। मां भोः प्रक्षिप होत्रे त्वं गच्छ स्वर्गमतन्द्रितः ॥१२-२६४-९॥
yadi mantrāṅgahīno'yaṃ yajño bhavati vaikṛtaḥ। māṃ bhoḥ prakṣipa hotre tvaṃ gaccha svargamatandritaḥ ॥12-264-9॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; मन्त्राङ्गहीनः (mantrāṅgahīnaḥ) - lacking mantra components; अयम् (ayam) - this; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; वैकृतः (vaikṛtaḥ) - defective; माम् (mām) - me; भोः (bhoḥ) - O (vocative particle); प्रक्षिप (prakṣipa) - throw; होत्रे (hotre) - to the Hotṛ (priest); त्वम् (tvam) - you; गच्छ (gaccha) - go; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; अतन्द्रितः (atandritaḥ) - without sloth;]
(If this sacrifice is lacking mantra components, it becomes defective. O, throw me to the Hotṛ. You, go to heaven without sloth.)
If this sacrifice is lacking mantra components, it becomes defective. O, throw me to the Hotṛ. You, go to heaven without sloth.
ततस्तु यज्ञे सावित्री साक्षात्तं संन्यमन्त्रयत्। निमन्त्रयन्ती प्रत्युक्ता न हन्यां सहवासिनम् ॥१२-२६४-१०॥
tatastu yajñe sāvitri sākṣāttaṃ saṃnyamantrayat। nimantrayantī pratyuktā na hanyāṃ sahavāsinam ॥12-264-10॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; तु (tu) - but; यज्ञे (yajñe) - in the sacrifice; सावित्री (sāvitri) - Savitri; साक्षात् (sākṣāt) - directly; तं (taṃ) - him; संन्यमन्त्रयत् (saṃnyamantrayat) - addressed; निमन्त्रयन्ती (nimantrayantī) - inviting; प्रत्युक्ता (pratyuktā) - having been replied; न (na) - not; हन्यां (hanyāṃ) - would I harm; सहवासिनम् (sahavāsinam) - the co-dweller;]
(Then but in the sacrifice Savitri directly addressed him. Inviting, having been replied, not would I harm the co-dweller.)
Then, during the sacrifice, Savitri directly addressed him. When inviting and having been replied to, she said, "I would not harm the co-dweller."
एवमुक्ता निवृत्ता सा प्रविष्टा यज्ञपावकम्। किं नु दुश्चरितं यज्ञे दिदृक्षुः सा रसातलम् ॥१२-२६४-११॥
evamuktā nivṛttā sā praviṣṭā yajñapāvakam। kiṃ nu duścaritaṃ yajñe didṛkṣuḥ sā rasātalam ॥12-264-11॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्ता (uktā) - having been spoken; निवृत्ता (nivṛttā) - having withdrawn; सा (sā) - she; प्रविष्टा (praviṣṭā) - having entered; यज्ञपावकम् (yajñapāvakam) - the sacrificial fire; किं (kiṃ) - what; नु (nu) - indeed; दुश्चरितम् (duścaritam) - evil deed; यज्ञे (yajñe) - in the sacrifice; दिदृक्षुः (didṛkṣuḥ) - desiring to see; सा (sā) - she; रसातलम् (rasātalam) - the netherworld;]
(Thus having been spoken, having withdrawn, she entered the sacrificial fire. What indeed is the evil deed in the sacrifice, desiring to see, she (went to) the netherworld.)
Thus addressed, she withdrew and entered the sacrificial fire. Wondering what evil deed had occurred in the sacrifice, she desired to see and (therefore) went to the netherworld.
सा तु बद्धाञ्जलिं सत्यमयाचद्धरिणं पुनः। सत्येन सम्परिष्वज्य संदिष्टो गम्यतामिति ॥१२-२६४-१२॥
sā tu baddhāñjaliṃ satyam ayācad dhariṇaṃ punaḥ। satyena sampariṣvajya saṃdiṣṭo gamyatām iti ॥12-264-12॥
[सा (sā) - she; तु (tu) - but; बद्धाञ्जलिं (baddhāñjalim) - with joined palms; सत्यं (satyam) - truth; अयाचत् (ayācat) - requested; धरिणं (dhariṇam) - the earth; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; सत्येन (satyena) - by truth; सम्परिष्वज्य (sampariṣvajya) - having embraced; संदिष्टः (saṃdiṣṭaḥ) - being instructed; गम्यताम् (gamyatām) - let (her) go; इति (iti) - thus;]
(She, but, with joined palms, truth, requested, the earth, again; by truth, having embraced, being instructed, let (her) go, thus.)
But she, with joined palms, again requested the earth for truth; having embraced her with truth, being instructed, (she was told) "Let her go."
ततः स हरिणो गत्वा पदान्यष्टौ न्यवर्तत। साधु हिंसय मां सत्य हतो यास्यामि सद्गतिम् ॥१२-२६४-१३॥
tataḥ sa hariṇo gatvā padānyaṣṭau nyavartata. sādhu hiṃsaya māṃ satya hato yāsyāmi sadgatim ॥12-264-13॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; स (sa) - he; हरिणः (hariṇaḥ) - deer; गत्वा (gatvā) - having gone; पदानि (padāni) - steps; अष्टौ (aṣṭau) - eight; न्यवर्तत (nyavartata) - turned back; साधु (sādhu) - well; हिंसय (hiṃsaya) - kill; माम् (mām) - me; सत्य (satya) - truly; हतः (hataḥ) - killed; यास्यामि (yāsyāmi) - I shall go; सद्गतिम् (sadgatim) - to the good path; ॥१२-२६४-१३॥ (॥12-264-13॥) - ;]
(Then he, the deer, having gone eight steps, turned back. Well, kill me truly; killed, I shall go to the good path.)
Then the deer, after taking eight steps, turned back and said, "Well, kill me truly; if killed, I shall attain the good path."
पश्य ह्यप्सरसो दिव्या मया दत्तेन चक्षुषा। विमानानि विचित्राणि गन्धर्वाणां महात्मनाम् ॥१२-२६४-१४॥
paśya hy apsaraso divyā mayā dattena cakṣuṣā। vimānāni vicitrāṇi gandharvāṇāṃ mahātmanām॥12-264-14॥
[पश्य (paśya) - see; हि (hi) - indeed; अप्सरसः (apsarasaḥ) - celestial nymphs; दिव्याः (divyāḥ) - divine; मया (mayā) - by me; दत्तेन (dattena) - given; चक्षुषा (cakṣuṣā) - with the eye; विमानानि (vimānāni) - aerial cars; विचित्राणि (vicitrāṇi) - variegated; गन्धर्वाणाम् (gandharvāṇām) - of the Gandharvas; महात्मनाम् (mahātmanām) - of the great-souled;]
(See indeed the divine celestial nymphs with the eye given by me, the variegated aerial cars of the great-souled Gandharvas.)
Behold, with the vision I have granted you, the divine Apsarases and the wondrous aerial chariots of the noble Gandharvas.
ततः सुरुचिरं दृष्ट्वा स्पृहालग्नेन चक्षुषा। मृगमालोक्य हिंसायां स्वर्गवासं समर्थयत् ॥१२-२६४-१५॥
tataḥ suruciraṃ dṛṣṭvā spṛhālagnena cakṣuṣā। mṛgam ālokya hiṃsāyāṃ svargavāsaṃ samarthayat ॥12-264-15॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; सुरुचिरम् (suruciram) - very beautiful; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; स्पृहा-लग्नेन (spṛhā-lagnena) - with desire-attached; चक्षुषा (cakṣuṣā) - with the eye; मृगम् (mṛgam) - deer; आलोक्य (ālokya) - having observed; हिंसायाम् (hiṃsāyām) - in violence; स्वर्गवासम् (svargavāsam) - heavenly abode; समर्थयत् (samarthayat) - he justified;]
(Then, having seen the very beautiful (deer) with a desire-attached eye, having observed the deer in violence, he justified the heavenly abode.)
Then, seeing the very beautiful deer with longing in his eyes, and observing the deer being harmed, he justified attaining heaven.
स तु धर्मो मृगो भूत्वा बहुवर्षोषितो वने। तस्य निष्कृतिमाधत्त न ह्यसौ यज्ञसंविधिः ॥१२-२६४-१६॥
sa tu dharmo mṛgo bhūtvā bahuvarṣoṣito vane। tasya niṣkṛtim ādhatta na hy asau yajñasaṃvidhiḥ ॥12-264-16॥
[स (sa) - he; तु (tu) - but; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - Dharma (name); मृगः (mṛgaḥ) - deer; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; बहु (bahu) - many; वर्ष (varṣa) - years; उषितः (uṣitaḥ) - having dwelt; वने (vane) - in the forest; तस्य (tasya) - his; निष्कृतिम् (niṣkṛtim) - atonement; आधत्त (ādhatta) - undertook; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; असौ (asau) - he; यज्ञ (yajña) - sacrifice; संविधिः (saṃvidhiḥ) - ritual;]
(He but Dharma having become a deer, having dwelt many years in the forest, his atonement undertook; not indeed he sacrifice ritual.)
But he, Dharma, having become a deer and having lived for many years in the forest, undertook his atonement, for he was not one for sacrificial rituals.
तस्य तेन तु भावेन मृगहिंसात्मनस्तदा। तपो महत्समुच्छिन्नं तस्माद्धिंसा न यज्ञिया ॥१२-२६४-१७॥
tasya tena tu bhāvena mṛgahinsātmanastadā। tapo mahatsamucchinnaṃ tasmāddhiṃsā na yajñiyā ॥12-264-17॥
[तस्य (tasya) - of him; तेन (tena) - by that; तु (tu) - but; भावेन (bhāvena) - by the disposition; मृगहिंसा-आत्मनः (mṛgahinsā-ātmanaḥ) - of one whose nature is to harm animals; तदा (tadā) - then; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; महत् (mahat) - great; समुच्छिन्नं (samucchinnaṃ) - completely destroyed; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; हिंसा (hiṃsā) - violence; न (na) - not; यज्ञिया (yajñiyā) - fit for sacrifice;]
(Of him, by that, but by the disposition of one whose nature is to harm animals, then, the great austerity was completely destroyed; therefore, violence is not fit for sacrifice.)
Because of his disposition as one who harms animals, his great austerity was completely destroyed; therefore, violence is not suitable for sacrifice.
ततस्तं भगवान्धर्मो यज्ञं याजयत स्वयम्। समाधानं च भार्याया लेभे स तपसा परम् ॥१२-२६४-१८॥
tatas taṃ bhagavān dharmo yajñaṃ yājayata svayam। samādhānaṃ ca bhāryāyā lebhe sa tapasā param ॥12-264-18॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; तम् (tam) - him; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the venerable; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - Dharma; यज्ञम् (yajñam) - sacrifice; याजयत् (yājayat) - caused to be performed; स्वयम् (svayam) - himself; समाधानम् (samādhānam) - reconciliation; च (ca) - and; भार्यायाः (bhāryāyāḥ) - of (his) wife; लेभे (lebhe) - obtained; सः (saḥ) - he; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; परम् (param) - supreme;]
(Then the venerable Dharma himself caused him to perform the sacrifice. And he obtained supreme reconciliation with his wife by austerity.)
Then the venerable Dharma himself conducted the sacrifice for him, and by his austerity, he attained supreme reconciliation with his wife.
अहिंसा सकलो धर्मो हिंसा यज्ञेऽसमाहिता। सत्यं तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि यो धर्मः सत्यवादिनाम् ॥१२-२६४-१९॥
ahiṁsā sakalo dharmo hiṁsā yajñe'samāhitā। satyaṁ te'haṁ pravakṣyāmi yo dharmaḥ satyavādinām ॥12-264-19॥
[अहिंसा (ahiṁsā) - non-injury; सकलः (sakalaḥ) - all; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; हिंसा (hiṁsā) - injury; यज्ञे (yajñe) - in sacrifice; असमाहिता (asamāhitā) - not established; सत्यं (satyaṁ) - truth; ते (te) - to you; अहम् (aham) - I; प्रवक्ष्यामि (pravakṣyāmi) - shall declare; यः (yaḥ) - which; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; सत्यवादिनाम् (satyavādinām) - of the truth-speakers;]
(Non-injury is all duty; injury in sacrifice is not established. Truth I shall declare to you, which is the duty of the truth-speakers.)
Non-violence is the highest duty; violence in sacrifice is not truly established. I will tell you the truth, which is the true duty of those who speak the truth.
