12.269
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
किंशीलः किंसमाचारः किंविद्यः किम्परायणः। प्राप्नोति ब्रह्मणः स्थानं यत्परं प्रकृतेर्ध्रुवम् ॥१२-२६९-१॥
What kind of character, conduct, knowledge, and ultimate aim must one possess to attain the supreme, eternal state of Brahman beyond nature?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
मोक्षधर्मेषु निरतो लघ्वाहारो जितेन्द्रियः। प्राप्नोति परमं स्थानं यत्परं प्रकृतेर्ध्रुवम् ॥१२-२६९-२॥
One who is engaged in the duties of liberation, eats lightly, and has mastered the senses attains the highest, eternal state that transcends nature.
स्वगृहादभिनिःसृत्य लाभालाभे समो मुनिः। समुपोढेषु कामेषु निरपेक्षः परिव्रजेत् ॥१२-२६९-३॥
Having left his own home, the sage, remaining equal in gain and loss and indifferent to desires already experienced, should wander as a renunciant.
न चक्षुषा न मनसा न वाचा दूषयेदपि। न प्रत्यक्षं परोक्षं वा दूषणं व्याहरेत्क्वचित् ॥१२-२६९-४॥
One should not defame others by sight, thought, or speech, nor should one ever speak ill of anyone, whether directly or indirectly.
न हिंस्यात्सर्वभूतानि मैत्रायणगतिश्चरेत्। नेदं जीवितमासाद्य वैरं कुर्वीत केनचित् ॥१२-२६९-५॥
One should not harm any living being and should act with friendliness. Having attained this life, one should not create enmity with anyone.
अतिवादांस्तितिक्षेत नाभिमन्येत्कथञ्चन। क्रोध्यमानः प्रियं ब्रूयादाक्रुष्टः कुशलं वदेत् ॥१२-२६९-६॥
One should patiently endure harsh words and never become proud in any situation; when provoked, speak kindly, and when insulted, wish for the welfare of others.
प्रदक्षिणं प्रसव्यं च ग्राममध्ये न चाचरेत्। भैक्षचर्यामनापन्नो न गच्छेत्पूर्वकेतितः ॥१२-२६९-७॥
One should not perform rightwise or leftwise circumambulation in the middle of the village; unless engaged in the mendicant's way of life, one should not proceed by the previously marked route.
अवकीर्णः सुगुप्तश्च न वाचा ह्यप्रियं वदेत्। मृदुः स्यादप्रतिक्रूरो विस्रब्धः स्यादरोषणः ॥१२-२६९-८॥
One should remain composed and self-controlled, never uttering unpleasant words. One should be gentle, never retaliate with cruelty, be confident, and free from anger.
विधूमे न्यस्तमुसले व्यङ्गारे भुक्तवज्जने। अतीते पात्रसञ्चारे भिक्षां लिप्सेत वै मुनिः ॥१२-२६९-९॥
A sage should seek alms only after the smoke has cleared, the pestle has been set aside, the fire is out, and food has already been distributed in the house.
अनुयात्रिकमर्थस्य मात्रालाभेष्वनादृतः। अलाभे न विहन्येत लाभश्चैनं न हर्षयेत् ॥१२-२६९-१०॥
A companion of wealth should remain indifferent to the measures of gain, not be distressed by loss, and not be elated by gain.
लाभं साधारणं नेच्छेन्न भुञ्जीताभिपूजितः। अभिपूजितलाभं हि जुगुप्सेतैव तादृशः ॥१२-२६९-११॥
One should not seek ordinary gains, nor should a respected person partake in them. Truly, a person of such character should always reject gains acquired through honor.
न चान्नदोषान्निन्देत न गुणानभिपूजयेत्। शय्यासने विविक्ते च नित्यमेवाभिपूजयेत् ॥१२-२६९-१२॥
One should neither criticize the faults of food nor overly praise its qualities. In a secluded place, whether on a bed or seat, one should always show due respect.
शून्यागारं वृक्षमूलमरण्यमथ वा गुहाम्। अज्ञातचर्यां गत्वान्यां ततोऽन्यत्रैव संविशेत् ॥१२-२६९-१३॥
He should go to an empty house, the root of a tree, a forest, or a cave; after practicing in secrecy, he should then lie down elsewhere.
अनुरोधविरोधाभ्यां समः स्यादचलो ध्रुवः। सुकृतं दुष्कृतं चोभे नानुरुध्येत कर्मणि ॥१२-२६९-१४॥
One should remain steady and impartial in both agreement and opposition; one should not be attached to actions, whether they are good or bad.
वाचो वेगं मनसः क्रोधवेगं; विवित्सावेगमुदरोपस्थवेगम्। एतान्वेगान्विनयेद्वै तपस्वी; निन्दा चास्य हृदयं नोपहन्यात् ॥१२-२६९-१५॥
An ascetic should restrain the impulses of speech, mind, anger, desire for knowledge, belly, and genitals; and criticism should not wound his heart.
मध्यस्थ एव तिष्ठेत प्रशंसानिन्दयोः समः। एतत्पवित्रं परमं परिव्राजक आश्रमे ॥१२-२६९-१६॥
One should always remain impartial, treating praise and blame alike. This is the highest purity in the hermitage of a wandering ascetic.
महात्मा सुव्रतो दान्तः सर्वत्रैवानपाश्रितः। अपूर्वचारकः सौम्यो अनिकेतः समाहितः ॥१२-२६९-१७॥
He is great-souled, steadfast in good vows, self-restrained, independent everywhere; of unprecedented conduct, gentle, homeless, and collected in mind.
वानप्रस्थगृहस्थाभ्यां न संसृज्येत कर्हिचित्। अज्ञातलिप्सां लिप्सेत न चैनं हर्ष आविशेत् ॥१२-२६९-१८॥
One should never associate with forest-dwellers or householders; one should not desire the unknown, nor should delight enter him.
विजानतां मोक्ष एष श्रमः स्यादविजानताम्। मोक्षयानमिदं कृत्स्नं विदुषां हारितोऽब्रवीत् ॥१२-२६९-१९॥
Hārita said: For the wise, liberation is attained through effort; for the ignorant, the entire vehicle of liberation is for the wise.
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो दत्त्वा यः प्रव्रजेद्गृहात्। लोकास्तेजोमयास्तस्य तथानन्त्याय कल्पते ॥१२-२६९-२०॥
He who renounces home after granting fearlessness to all beings becomes fit for worlds of endless brilliance.
