12.269
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
kiṃśīlaḥ kiṃsamācāraḥ kiṃvidyaḥ kimparāyaṇaḥ। prāpnoti brahmaṇaḥ sthānaṃ yatparaṃ prakṛterdhruvam ॥12-269-1॥
What kind of character, conduct, knowledge, and ultimate aim must one possess to attain the supreme, eternal state of Brahman beyond nature?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
mokṣadharmeṣu nirato laghvāhāro jitendriyaḥ। prāpnoti paramaṃ sthānaṃ yat paraṃ prakṛter dhruvam ॥12-269-2॥
One who is engaged in the duties of liberation, eats lightly, and has mastered the senses attains the highest, eternal state that transcends nature.
svagṛhād abhiniḥsṛtya lābhālābhe samo muniḥ। samupoḍheṣu kāmeṣu nirapekṣaḥ parivrajet ॥12-269-3॥
Having left his own home, the sage, remaining equal in gain and loss and indifferent to desires already experienced, should wander as a renunciant.
na cakṣuṣā na manasā na vācā dūṣayed api। na pratyakṣaṃ parokṣaṃ vā dūṣaṇaṃ vyāharet kvacit ॥12-269-4॥
One should not defame others by sight, thought, or speech, nor should one ever speak ill of anyone, whether directly or indirectly.
na hiṁsyātsarvabhūtāni maitryāyaṇagatiś caret। nedaṁ jīvitam āsādya vairaṁ kurvīta kenacit ॥12-269-5॥
One should not harm any living being and should act with friendliness. Having attained this life, one should not create enmity with anyone.
ativādāṃstitikṣeta nābhimanyetkathañcana। krodhyamānaḥ priyaṃ brūyādākruṣṭaḥ kuśalaṃ vadet ॥12-269-6॥
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.
pradakṣiṇaṃ prasavyaṃ ca grāmamadhye na cācaret। bhaikṣacaryāmanāpanno na gacchet pūrvaketitaḥ ॥12-269-7॥
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.
avakīrṇaḥ suguptaś ca na vācā hy apriyaṃ vadet | mṛduḥ syād apratikrūro visrabdhaḥ syād aroṣaṇaḥ ||12-269-8||
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.
vidhūme nyastamusale vyaṅgāre bhuktavajjane। atīte pātrasañcāre bhikṣāṃ lipseta vai muniḥ॥12-269-9॥
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.
anuyātrikam arthasya mātrā-lābheṣv anādṛtaḥ। alābhe na vihanyeta lābhaś cainaṃ na harṣayet ॥12-269-10॥
A companion of wealth should remain indifferent to the measures of gain, not be distressed by loss, and not be elated by gain.
lābhaṃ sādhāraṇaṃ necchenna bhuñjītābhipūjitaḥ। abhipūjitalābhaṃ hi jugupsetaiva tādṛśaḥ ॥12-269-11॥
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.
na cānna-doṣān nindeta na guṇān abhipūjayet। śayyāsane vivikte ca nityam eva abhipūjayet ॥12-269-12॥
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.
śūnyāgāraṃ vṛkṣamūlam araṇyam atha vā guhām। ajñātacaryāṃ gatvā anyāṃ tato'nyatraiva saṃviśet ॥12-269-13॥
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.
anurodhavirodhābhyāṃ samaḥ syādacalo dhruvaḥ। sukṛtaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ cobhe nānurudhyeta karmaṇi ॥12-269-14॥
One should remain steady and impartial in both agreement and opposition; one should not be attached to actions, whether they are good or bad.
vāco vegaṃ manasaḥ krodhavegaṃ; vivitsāvegam udaropasthavegam। etān vegān vinayed vai tapasvī; nindā cāsya hṛdayaṃ nopahanyāt ॥12-269-15॥
An ascetic should restrain the impulses of speech, mind, anger, desire for knowledge, belly, and genitals; and criticism should not wound his heart.
madhyastha eva tiṣṭhet praśaṁsānindayoḥ samaḥ। etat pavitraṁ paramaṁ parivrājaka āśrame ॥12-269-16॥
One should always remain impartial, treating praise and blame alike. This is the highest purity in the hermitage of a wandering ascetic.
mahātmā suvrato dāntaḥ sarvatraivānapāśritaḥ। apūrvacārakaḥ saumyo aniketaḥ samāhitaḥ ॥12-269-17॥
He is great-souled, steadfast in good vows, self-restrained, independent everywhere; of unprecedented conduct, gentle, homeless, and collected in mind.
vānaprasthagṛhasthābhyāṃ na saṃsṛjyeta karhicit। ajñātalipsāṃ lipseta na cainaṃ harṣa āviśet ॥12-269-18॥
One should never associate with forest-dwellers or householders; one should not desire the unknown, nor should delight enter him.
vijānatāṃ mokṣa eṣa śramaḥ syād avijānatām। mokṣayānam idaṃ kṛtsnaṃ viduṣāṃ hārito 'bravīt॥12-269-19॥
Hārita said: For the wise, liberation is attained through effort; for the ignorant, the entire vehicle of liberation is for the wise.
abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo dattvā yaḥ pravrajedgṛhāt। lokāstejomayāstasya tathānantyāya kalpate ॥12-269-20॥
He who renounces home after granting fearlessness to all beings becomes fit for worlds of endless brilliance.
