12.270
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
धन्या धन्या इति जनाः सर्वेऽस्मान्प्रवदन्त्युत। न दुःखिततरः कश्चित्पुमानस्माभिरस्ति ह ॥१२-२७०-१॥
dhanyā dhanyā iti janāḥ sarve'smānpravadantyuta। na duḥkhitatarah kaścit pumānasmābhirasti ha ॥12-270-1॥
[धन्या (dhanyā) - fortunate (feminine); धन्या (dhanyā) - fortunate (feminine); इति (iti) - thus; जनाः (janāḥ) - people; सर्वे (sarve) - all; अस्मान् (asmān) - us; प्रवदन्ति (pravadanti) - say; उत (uta) - indeed; न (na) - not; दुःखिततरः (duḥkhitatarah) - more sorrowful; कश्चित् (kaścit) - any; पुमान् (pumān) - man; अस्माभिः (asmābhiḥ) - than us; अस्ति (asti) - is; ह (ha) - indeed;]
(Fortunate, fortunate, thus all people indeed say of us. Not more sorrowful any man than us is indeed.)
All people say, "Fortunate, fortunate are they," about us, but truly, there is no man more sorrowful than us.
लोकसम्भावितैर्दुःखं यत्प्राप्तं कुरुसत्तम। प्राप्य जातिं मनुष्येषु देवैरपि पितामह ॥१२-२७०-२॥
lokasambhāvitair duḥkhaṃ yat prāptaṃ kurusattama। prāpya jātiṃ manuṣyeṣu devair api pitāmaha ॥12-270-2॥
[लोकसम्भावितैः (lokasambhāvitaiḥ) - by those honored in the world; दुःखं (duḥkham) - suffering; यत् (yat) - which; प्राप्तं (prāptam) - attained; कुरुसत्तम (kurusattama) - O best of the Kurus; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having obtained; जातिं (jātiṃ) - birth; मनुष्येषु (manuṣyeṣu) - among men; देवैः (devaiḥ) - by the gods; अपि (api) - even; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire;]
(O best of the Kurus, the suffering which is attained by those honored in the world, having obtained birth among men, even by the gods, O grandsire.)
O best of the Kurus, O grandsire, even the gods, having obtained birth among men, experience the suffering which is encountered by those honored in the world.
कदा वयं करिष्यामः संन्यासं दुःखसञ्ज्ञकम्। दुःखमेतच्छरीराणां धारणं कुरुसत्तम ॥१२-२७०-३॥
kadā vayaṃ kariṣyāmaḥ saṃnyāsaṃ duḥkhasaṃjñakam। duḥkham etac charīrāṇāṃ dhāraṇaṃ kurusattama ॥12-270-3॥
[कदा (kadā) - when; वयम् (vayam) - we; करिष्यामः (kariṣyāmaḥ) - shall do; संन्यासम् (saṃnyāsam) - renunciation; दुःखसञ्ज्ञकम् (duḥkhasaṃjñakam) - known as suffering; दुःखम् (duḥkham) - suffering; एतत् (etat) - this; शरीराणाम् (śarīrāṇām) - of bodies; धारणम् (dhāraṇam) - bearing; कुरुसत्तम (kurusattama) - O best of Kurus;]
(When shall we perform renunciation, known as suffering? This bearing of bodies is suffering, O best of Kurus.)
O best of Kurus, when shall we renounce? Bearing these bodies is suffering.
विमुक्ताः सप्तदशभिर्हेतुभूतैश्च पञ्चभिः। इन्द्रियार्थैर्गुणैश्चैव अष्टाभिः प्रपितामह ॥१२-२७०-४॥
vimuktāḥ saptadaśabhir hetubhūtaiś ca pañcabhiḥ। indriyārthair guṇaiś caiva aṣṭābhiḥ prapitāmaha ॥12-270-4॥
[विमुक्ताः (vimuktāḥ) - liberated; सप्तदशभिः (saptadaśabhiḥ) - by seventeen; हेतुभूतैः (hetubhūtaiḥ) - which are causes; च (ca) - and; पञ्चभिः (pañcabhiḥ) - by five; इन्द्रियार्थैः (indriyārthaiḥ) - by the objects of the senses; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - by qualities; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; अष्टाभिः (aṣṭābhiḥ) - by eight; प्रपितामह (prapitāmaha) - O great-grandfather;]
(Liberated by seventeen which are causes and by five, by the objects of the senses, by qualities and indeed by eight, O great-grandfather.)
O great-grandfather, one is liberated by seventeen causes, five (senses), the objects of the senses, qualities, and eight (other factors).
न गच्छन्ति पुनर्भावं मुनयः संशितव्रताः। कदा वयं भविष्यामो राज्यं हित्वा परन्तप ॥१२-२७०-५॥
na gacchanti punarbhāvaṃ munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ। kadā vayaṃ bhaviṣyāmo rājyaṃ hitvā parantapa ॥12-270-5॥
[न (na) - not; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; पुनर्भावं (punarbhāvaṃ) - rebirth; मुनयः (munayaḥ) - sages; संशितव्रताः (saṃśitavratāḥ) - of firm vows; कदा (kadā) - when; वयम् (vayam) - we; भविष्यामः (bhaviṣyāmaḥ) - shall become; राज्यम् (rājyam) - kingdom; हित्वा (hitvā) - having abandoned; परन्तप (parantapa) - O scorcher of foes;]
(Not go to rebirth the sages of firm vows. When we shall become, kingdom having abandoned, O scorcher of foes.)
The sages of firm vows do not undergo rebirth. O scorcher of foes, when shall we, having abandoned the kingdom, become like them?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
नास्त्यनन्तं महाराज सर्वं सङ्ख्यानगोचरम्। पुनर्भावोऽपि सङ्ख्यातो नास्ति किञ्चिदिहाचलम् ॥१२-२७०-६॥
nāsty anantaṃ mahārāja sarvaṃ saṅkhyānagocaram। punarbhāvo'pi saṅkhyāto nāsti kiñcid ihācalam ॥12-270-6॥
[नास्ति (nāsti) - is not; अनन्तम् (anantam) - endless; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; सङ्ख्यानगोचरम् (saṅkhyānagocaram) - within the range of enumeration; पुनर्भावः (punarbhāvaḥ) - rebirth; अपि (api) - also; सङ्ख्यातः (saṅkhyātaḥ) - enumerated; नास्ति (nāsti) - is not; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; इह (iha) - here; अचलम् (acalam) - immovable;]
(There is nothing endless, O great king; all is within the range of enumeration. Rebirth also, being enumerated, does not exist as anything immovable here.)
O great king, nothing is endless; everything can be counted. Even rebirth, being enumerated, does not exist as anything permanent here.
न चापि गम्यते राजन्नैष दोषः प्रसङ्गतः। उद्योगादेव धर्मज्ञ कालेनैव गमिष्यथ ॥१२-२७०-७॥
na cāpi gamyate rājannaiṣa doṣaḥ prasaṅgataḥ। udyogādeva dharmajña kālenaiva gamiṣyatha ॥12-270-7॥
[न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; गम्यते (gamyate) - is reached; राजन् (rājan) - O king; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; दोषः (doṣaḥ) - fault; प्रसङ्गतः (prasaṅgataḥ) - by association; उद्योगात् (udyogāt) - from effort; एव (eva) - indeed; धर्मज्ञ (dharmajña) - knower of dharma; कालेन (kālena) - by time; एव (eva) - indeed; गमिष्यथ (gamiṣyatha) - you will reach;]
(Not and also is reached, O king, this fault by association. From effort indeed, O knower of dharma, by time indeed, you will reach.)
O king, this fault is not incurred by association. Through effort alone, O knower of dharma, in due time, you will attain your goal.
ईशोऽयं सततं देही नृपते पुण्यपापयोः। तत एव समुत्थेन तमसा रुध्यतेऽपि च ॥१२-२७०-८॥
īśo'yaṃ satataṃ dehī nṛpate puṇyapāpayoḥ। tata eva samutthena tamasā rudhyate'pi ca ॥12-270-8॥
[ईशः (īśaḥ) - lord; अयम् (ayam) - this; सततम् (satatam) - always; देही (dehī) - embodied soul; नृपते (nṛpate) - O king; पुण्यपापयोः (puṇyapāpayoḥ) - of merit and demerit; ततः (tataḥ) - from that; एव (eva) - indeed; समुत्थेन (samutthena) - arisen; तमसा (tamasā) - by darkness; रुध्यते (rudhyate) - is obstructed; अपि (api) - even; च (ca) - and;]
(The lord, this embodied soul, always, O king, by merit and demerit; from that indeed, by the darkness arisen, is obstructed even and.)
O king, this embodied soul is always the lord of merit and demerit; yet, indeed, he is also obstructed by the darkness that arises from them.
यथाञ्जनमयो वायुः पुनर्मानःशिलं रजः। अनुप्रविश्य तद्वर्णो दृश्यते रञ्जयन्दिशः ॥१२-२७०-९॥
yathāñjanamayo vāyuḥ punarmānaḥśilaṃ rajaḥ| anupraviśya tadvarṇo dṛśyate rañjayandiśaḥ ॥12-270-9॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; अञ्जनमयः (añjanamayaḥ) - made of collyrium; वायुः (vāyuḥ) - wind; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; मानःशिलं (mānaḥśilam) - realgar (a mineral); रजः (rajaḥ) - dust; अनुप्रविश्य (anupraviśya) - having entered; तत् (tat) - that; वर्णः (varṇaḥ) - color; दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen; रञ्जयन् (rañjayan) - coloring; दिशः (diśaḥ) - directions;]
(Just as wind made of collyrium or dust of realgar, having entered, that color is seen, coloring the directions.)
Just as wind carrying collyrium or dust of realgar, when it enters, its color is seen as it colors the directions.
तथा कर्मफलैर्देही रञ्जितस्तमसावृतः। विवर्णो वर्णमाश्रित्य देहेषु परिवर्तते ॥१२-२७०-१०॥
tathā karmaphalair dehī rañjitas tamasāvṛtaḥ। vivarṇo varṇam āśritya deheṣu parivartate ॥12-270-10॥
[तथा (tathā) - thus; कर्मफलैः (karmaphalaiḥ) - by the fruits of actions; देही (dehī) - the embodied one; रञ्जितः (rañjitaḥ) - colored; तमसा (tamasā) - by darkness; आवृतः (āvṛtaḥ) - covered; विवर्णः (vivarṇaḥ) - discolored; वर्णम् (varṇam) - color; आश्रित्य (āśritya) - having resorted to; देहेषु (deheṣu) - in bodies; परिवर्तते (parivartate) - moves about;]
(Thus, the embodied one, colored by the fruits of actions, covered by darkness, being discolored, having resorted to color, moves about in bodies.)
Thus, the embodied soul, influenced by the results of actions and enveloped in darkness, assumes different colors and takes on various bodies.
ज्ञानेन हि यदा जन्तुरज्ञानप्रभवं तमः। व्यपोहति तदा ब्रह्म प्रकाशेत सनातनम् ॥१२-२७०-११॥
jñānena hi yadā jantur ajñāna-prabhavaṃ tamaḥ। vyapohati tadā brahma prakāśeta sanātanam ॥12-270-11॥
[ज्ञानेन (jñānena) - by knowledge; हि (hi) - indeed; यदा (yadā) - when; जन्तुः (jantuḥ) - the living being; अज्ञानप्रभवम् (ajñāna-prabhavam) - originated from ignorance; तमः (tamaḥ) - darkness; व्यपोहति (vyapohati) - removes; तदा (tadā) - then; ब्रह्म (brahma) - Brahman; प्रकाशेत (prakāśeta) - shines forth; सनातनम् (sanātanam) - eternal;]
(By knowledge indeed, when the living being removes the darkness originated from ignorance, then the eternal Brahman shines forth.)
When, by knowledge, a living being dispels the darkness born of ignorance, then the eternal Brahman shines forth.
अयत्नसाध्यं मुनयो वदन्ति; ये चापि मुक्तास्त उपासितव्याः। त्वया च लोकेन च सामरेण; तस्मान्न शाम्यन्ति महर्षिसङ्घाः ॥१२-२७०-१२॥
ayatnasādhyaṃ munayo vadanti; ye cāpi muktāsta upāsitavyāḥ। tvayā ca lokena ca sāmareṇa; tasmānna śāmyanti maharṣisaṅghāḥ ॥12-270-12॥
[अयत्नसाध्यं (ayatnasādhyaṃ) - attainable without effort; मुनयः (munayaḥ) - sages; वदन्ति (vadanti) - say; ये (ye) - who; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; मुक्ताः (muktāḥ) - liberated ones; ते (te) - they; उपासितव्याः (upāsitavyāḥ) - are to be worshipped; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; च (ca) - and; लोकेन (lokena) - by the world; च (ca) - and; सामरेण (sāmareṇa) - with effort; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; न (na) - not; शाम्यन्ति (śāmyanti) - cease; महर्षिसङ्घाः (maharṣisaṅghāḥ) - assemblies of great sages;]
(That which is attainable without effort, the sages say; those who are liberated, they are also to be worshipped. By you and by the world with effort; therefore, the assemblies of great sages do not cease.)
Sages declare that which is attainable without effort; and those who are liberated are also to be worshipped. By you and by the world with effort; therefore, the assemblies of great sages never cease.
अस्मिन्नर्थे पुरा गीतं शृणुष्वैकमना नृप। यथा दैत्येन वृत्रेण भ्रष्टैश्वर्येण चेष्टितम् ॥१२-२७०-१३॥
asminnarthe purā gītaṃ śṛṇuṣvaikamanā nṛpa। yathā daityena vṛtreṇa bhraṣṭaiśvaryeṇa ceṣṭitam ॥12-270-13॥
[अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; अर्थे (arthe) - matter; पुरा (purā) - formerly; गीतं (gītam) - sung; शृणुष्व (śṛṇuṣva) - listen; एकमना (ekamanā) - with one mind; नृप (nṛpa) - O king; यथा (yathā) - as; दैत्येन (daityena) - by the Daitya (demon); वृत्रेण (vṛtreṇa) - by Vṛtra; भ्रष्टैश्वर्येण (bhraṣṭaiśvaryeṇa) - by one deprived of sovereignty; चेष्टितम् (ceṣṭitam) - acted;]
(In this matter, formerly a song was sung; listen with one mind, O king, as it was acted by the Daitya Vṛtra, deprived of sovereignty.)
O king, in this matter, listen attentively to the song that was sung long ago, describing how the Daitya Vṛtra acted after losing his sovereignty.
निर्जितेनासहायेन हृतराज्येन भारत। अशोचता शत्रुमध्ये बुद्धिमास्थाय केवलाम् ॥१२-२७०-१४॥
nirjitenāsahāyena hṛtarājyena bhārata। aśocatā śatrumadhye buddhimāsthāya kevalām ॥12-270-14॥
[निर्जितेन (nirjitena) - by one who is conquered; असहायेन (asahāyena) - without ally; हृतराज्येन (hṛtarājyena) - whose kingdom is taken; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; अशोचता (aśocatā) - not grieving; शत्रुमध्ये (śatrumadhye) - in the midst of enemies; बुद्धिम् (buddhim) - intellect; आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having resorted to; केवलाम् (kevalām) - only;]
(O Bhārata, by one who is conquered, without ally, whose kingdom is taken, not grieving, in the midst of enemies, having resorted only to intellect.)
O Bhārata, though conquered, without allies, and deprived of his kingdom, he did not grieve; in the midst of enemies, he relied solely on his intellect.
भ्रष्टैश्वर्यं पुरा वृत्रमुशना वाक्यमब्रवीत्। कच्चित्पराजितस्याद्य न व्यथा तेऽस्ति दानव ॥१२-२७०-१५॥
bhraṣṭaiśvaryaṃ purā vṛtram uśanā vākyam abravīt। kaccit parājitasya adya na vyathā te 'sti dānava ॥12-270-15॥
[भ्रष्टैश्वर्यं (bhraṣṭaiśvaryam) - deprived of sovereignty; पुरा (purā) - formerly; वृत्रम् (vṛtram) - Vṛtra (the demon); उशना (uśanā) - Uśanā (Śukra, the preceptor of demons); वाक्यम् (vākyam) - speech; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke; कच्चित् (kaccit) - whether; पराजितस्य (parājitasya) - of the defeated; आद्य (adya) - today; न (na) - not; व्यथा (vyathā) - pain; ते (te) - to you; अस्ति (asti) - is; दानव (dānava) - O Dānava (demon);]
(Deprived of sovereignty, formerly Uśanā spoke this speech to Vṛtra: "O Dānava, is there not pain to you today, being defeated?")
Once, when Vṛtra had lost his sovereignty, Uśanā addressed him: "O Dānava, now that you are defeated, do you not feel any pain today?"
वृत्र उवाच॥
vṛtra uvāca॥
[वृत्र (vṛtra) - Vṛtra; (name of the asura); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Vṛtra said;)
Vṛtra said.
सत्येन तपसा चैव विदित्वा सङ्क्षयं ह्यहम्। न शोचामि न हृष्यामि भूतानामागतिं गतिम् ॥१२-२७०-१६॥
satyena tapasā caiva viditvā saṅkṣayaṃ hy aham। na śocāmi na hṛṣyāmi bhūtānām āgatiṃ gatim ॥12-270-16॥
[सत्येन (satyena) - by truth; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; विदित्वा (viditvā) - having known; सङ्क्षयम् (saṅkṣayam) - destruction; हि (hi) - indeed; अहम् (aham) - I; न (na) - not; शोचामि (śocāmi) - grieve; न (na) - not; हृष्यामि (hṛṣyāmi) - rejoice; भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of beings; आगतिम् (āgatim) - arrival; गतिम् (gatim) - departure;]
(By truth, by austerity, and indeed having known destruction, indeed I do not grieve, I do not rejoice at the arrival or departure of beings.)
By truth and austerity, having realized the destruction, I neither grieve nor rejoice at the coming or going of beings.
कालसञ्चोदिता जीवा मज्जन्ति नरकेऽवशाः। परिदृष्टानि सर्वाणि दिव्यान्याहुर्मनीषिणः ॥१२-२७०-१७॥
kālasañcoditā jīvā majjanti narake'vaśāḥ। paridṛṣṭāni sarvāṇi divyānyāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ ॥12-270-17॥
[काल (kāla) - time; सञ्चोदिता (sañcoditāḥ) - impelled; जीवाः (jīvāḥ) - living beings; मज्जन्ति (majjanti) - sink; नरके (narake) - in hell; अवशाः (avaśāḥ) - powerless; परिदृष्टानि (paridṛṣṭāni) - seen; सर्वाणि (sarvāṇi) - all; दिव्यानि (divyāni) - divine; आहुः (āhuḥ) - say; मनीषिणः (manīṣiṇaḥ) - the wise;]
(Impelled by time, living beings sink in hell powerless. All the divine things have been seen, say the wise.)
Driven by time, living beings helplessly sink into hell. The wise say that all the divine things have been seen.
क्षपयित्वा तु तं कालं गणितं कालचोदिताः। सावशेषेण कालेन सम्भवन्ति पुनः पुनः ॥१२-२७०-१८॥
kṣapayitvā tu taṃ kālaṃ gaṇitaṃ kālacoditāḥ। sāvaśeṣeṇa kālena sambhavanti punaḥ punaḥ ॥12-270-18॥
[क्षपयित्वा (kṣapayitvā) - having spent; (from kṣap, to destroy, spend, + -itvā, absolutive); तु (tu) - but; तं (taṃ) - that; कालं (kālaṃ) - time; गणितं (gaṇitaṃ) - measured; (from gaṇ, to count, + -ita, past participle); कालचोदिताः (kālacoditāḥ) - impelled by time; (kāla, time + codita, impelled); सावशेषेण (sāvaśeṣeṇa) - with remainder; (sa, with + avaśeṣa, remainder + -eṇa, instrumental); कालेन (kālena) - by time; सम्भवन्ति (sambhavanti) - arise; (sam, together + bhū, to be, to arise, + anti, 3rd pl. pres.); पुनः (punaḥ) - again; पुनः (punaḥ) - again;]
(But having spent that measured time, impelled by time, with the remaining time, they arise again and again.)
But after spending that measured time, impelled by time, with the remaining time, they come into being again and again.
तिर्यग्योनिसहस्राणि गत्वा नरकमेव च। निर्गच्छन्त्यवशा जीवाः कालबन्धनबन्धनाः ॥१२-२७०-१९॥
tiryagyonisahasrāṇi gatvā narakameva ca। nirgacchantyavaśā jīvāḥ kālabandhanabandhanāḥ ॥12-270-19॥
[तिर्यग्-योनि-सहस्राणि (tiryag-yoni-sahasrāṇi) - thousands of animal wombs; गत्वा (gatvā) - having gone; नरकम्-एव (narakam-eva) - hell indeed; च (ca) - and; निर्गच्छन्ति (nirgacchanti) - they depart; अवशाः (avaśāḥ) - powerless; जीवाः (jīvāḥ) - living beings; काल-बन्धन-बन्धनाः (kāla-bandhana-bandhanāḥ) - bound by the bondage of time;]
(Having gone through thousands of animal wombs and hell indeed, powerless living beings bound by the bondage of time depart.)
Powerless living beings, bound by the bondage of time, depart after passing through thousands of animal wombs and hell.
एवं संसरमाणानि जीवान्यहमदृष्टवान्। यथा कर्म तथा लाभ इति शास्त्रनिदर्शनम् ॥१२-२७०-२०॥
evaṃ saṃsaramāṇāni jīvāny aham adṛṣṭavān। yathā karma tathā lābha iti śāstranidarśanam ॥12-270-20॥
[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; संसरमाणानि (saṃsaramāṇāni) - wandering; जीवानि (jīvāni) - living beings; अहम् (aham) - I; अदृष्टवान् (adṛṣṭavān) - have seen; यथा (yathā) - as; कर्म (karma) - action; तथा (tathā) - so; लाभः (lābhaḥ) - result; इति (iti) - thus; शास्त्रनिदर्शनम् (śāstranidarśanam) - scriptural illustration;]
(Thus, I have seen living beings wandering. As is the action, so is the result—thus is the scriptural illustration.)
In this way, I have observed living beings wandering according to their actions; as one acts, so one attains results—this is the teaching illustrated in the scriptures.
तिर्यग्गच्छन्ति नरकं मानुष्यं दैवमेव च। सुखदुःखे प्रियद्वेष्ये चरित्वा पूर्वमेव च ॥१२-२७०-२१॥
tir-yag-gacchanti narakaṃ mānuṣyaṃ daivam-eva ca। sukha-duḥkhe priya-dveṣye caritvā pūrvam-eva ca ॥12-270-21॥
[तिर्यक् (tir-yak) - across; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - they go; नरकम् (narakam) - hell; मानुष्यं (mānuṣyam) - human state; दैवम् (daivam) - divine state; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; सुख (sukha) - happiness; दुःखे (duḥkhe) - in sorrow; प्रिय (priya) - dear; द्वेष्ये (dveṣye) - hateful; चरित्वा (caritvā) - having acted; पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - previously; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and;]
(They go across (to) hell, human state, and indeed divine state; having previously acted in happiness and sorrow, in what is dear and hateful, indeed and also.)
They pass into hell, human, or divine states, according to their previous actions in happiness and sorrow, in what is dear and hateful.
कृतान्तविधिसंयुक्तं सर्वलोकः प्रपद्यते। गतं गच्छन्ति चाध्वानं सर्वभूतानि सर्वदा ॥१२-२७०-२२॥
kṛtāntavidhisaṃyuktaṃ sarvalokaḥ prapadyate। gataṃ gacchanti cādhvānaṃ sarvabhūtāni sarvadā ॥12-270-22॥
[कृतान्त (kṛtānta) - death; विधि (vidhi) - decree; संयुक्तं (saṃyuktaṃ) - joined with; सर्वलोकः (sarvalokaḥ) - all worlds; प्रपद्यते (prapadyate) - resort to; गतं (gataṃ) - gone; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; च (ca) - and; अध्वानं (adhvānaṃ) - path; सर्वभूतानि (sarvabhūtāni) - all beings; सर्वदा (sarvadā) - always;]
(All worlds, joined with the decree of death, resort. All beings always go the path that has gone.)
All worlds are subject to the decree of death. All beings always follow the path that has been traversed.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
कालसङ्ख्यानसङ्ख्यातं सृष्टिस्थितिपरायणम्। तं भाषमाणं भगवानुशना प्रत्यभाषत ॥ भीमान्दुष्टप्रलापांस्त्वं तात कस्मात्प्रभाषसे ॥१२-२७०-२३॥
kālasaṅkhyānasaṅkhyātaṃ sṛṣṭisthitiparāyaṇam। taṃ bhāṣamāṇaṃ bhagavān uśanā pratyabhāṣata ॥ bhīmānduṣṭapralāpāṃs tvaṃ tāta kasmāt prabhāṣase ॥12-270-23॥
[काल (kāla) - time; सङ्ख्यान (saṅkhyāna) - enumeration; सङ्ख्यातं (saṅkhyātaṃ) - counted; सृष्टि (sṛṣṭi) - creation; स्थिति (sthiti) - maintenance; परायणम् (parāyaṇam) - devoted to; तं (taṃ) - him; भाषमाणं (bhāṣamāṇaṃ) - speaking; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the revered; उशना (uśanā) - Uśanas (Śukra); प्रत्यभाषत (pratyabhāṣata) - replied; भीमान् (bhīmān) - terrible; दुष्ट (duṣṭa) - evil; प्रलापान् (pralāpān) - ravings; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; तात (tāta) - dear one; कस्मात् (kasmāt) - why; प्रभाषसे (prabhāṣase) - do you speak;]
(Time, enumeration, counted, creation, maintenance, devoted to; him speaking, the revered Uśanas replied. Terrible evil ravings you, dear one, why do you speak?)
The revered Uśanas (Śukra) replied to him, who was speaking of the enumeration of time, creation, and maintenance. "Dear one, why do you utter such terrible and evil ravings?"
वृत्र उवाच॥
vṛtra uvāca॥
[वृत्र (vṛtra) - Vṛtra; (name of the asura); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Vṛtra said;)
Vṛtra said.
प्रत्यक्षमेतद्भवतस्तथान्येषां मनीषिणाम्। मया यज्जयलुब्धेन पुरा तप्तं महत्तपः ॥१२-२७०-२४॥
pratyakṣam etad bhavataḥ tathā anyeṣām manīṣiṇām। mayā yat jaya-lubdhena purā taptaṃ mahat tapaḥ॥12-270-24॥
[प्रत्यक्षम् (pratyakṣam) - directly perceived; एतत् (etat) - this; भवतः (bhavataḥ) - by you; तथा (tathā) - also; अन्येषाम् (anyeṣām) - of others; मनीषिणाम् (manīṣiṇām) - of the wise; मया (mayā) - by me; यत् (yat) - which; जयलुब्धेन (jaya-lubdhena) - desirous of victory; पुरा (purā) - formerly; तप्तम् (taptam) - practiced (austerity); महत्तपः (mahat tapaḥ) - great austerity;]
(This is directly perceived by you and also by other wise men; the great austerity which was formerly practiced by me, desirous of victory.)
This is evident to you and to other wise men; formerly, I, desirous of victory, practiced great austerity.
गन्धानादाय भूतानां रसांश्च विविधानपि। अवर्धं त्रीन्समाक्रम्य लोकान्वै स्वेन तेजसा ॥१२-२७०-२५॥
gandhān ādāya bhūtānāṃ rasāṃś ca vividhān api। avardhaṃ trīn samākramya lokān vai svena tejasā॥12-270-25॥
[गन्धान् (gandhān) - scents; (accusative plural of gandha) आदाय (ādāya) - having taken; भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of beings; रसान् (rasān) - essences; (accusative plural of rasa) च (ca) - and; विविधान् (vividhān) - various; अपि (api) - also; अवर्धम् (avardham) - I increased; त्रीन् (trīn) - three; समाक्रम्य (samākramya) - having overcome; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; वै (vai) - indeed; स्वेन (svena) - by my own; तेजसा (tejasā) - splendor;]
(Having taken the scents of beings and also various essences, I increased, having overcome the three worlds indeed by my own splendor.)
Having seized the scents and various essences of beings, I grew, having conquered the three worlds by my own splendor.
ज्वालामालापरिक्षिप्तो वैहायसचरस्तथा। अजेयः सर्वभूतानामासं नित्यमपेतभीः ॥१२-२७०-२६॥
jvālāmālāparikṣipto vaihāyasacarastathā। ajeyaḥ sarvabhūtānāmāsaṃ nityamapetabhīḥ ॥12-270-26॥
[ज्वालामाला (jvālāmālā) - garland of flames; परिक्षिप्तः (parikṣiptaḥ) - enveloped; वैहायसचरः (vaihāyasacaraḥ) - moving in the sky; तथा (tathā) - thus; अजेयः (ajeyaḥ) - invincible; सर्वभूतानाम् (sarvabhūtānām) - of all beings; आसन् (āsan) - was; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; अपेतभीः (apetabhīḥ) - free from fear;]
(Enveloped by a garland of flames, moving in the sky thus, invincible, of all beings, was, always, free from fear.)
He was always surrounded by a garland of flames, moving through the sky, invincible among all beings, and ever free from fear.
ऐश्वर्यं तपसा प्राप्तं भ्रष्टं तच्च स्वकर्मभिः। धृतिमास्थाय भगवन्न शोचामि ततस्त्वहम् ॥१२-२७०-२७॥
aiśvaryaṃ tapasā prāptaṃ bhraṣṭaṃ tac ca svakarmabhiḥ। dhṛtim āsthāya bhagavan na śocāmi tatas tv aham ॥12-270-27॥
[ऐश्वर्यं (aiśvaryam) - sovereignty; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; प्राप्तं (prāptam) - obtained; भ्रष्टं (bhraṣṭam) - lost; तत् (tat) - that; च (ca) - and; स्वकर्मभिः (svakarmabhiḥ) - by one's own actions; धृतिम् (dhṛtim) - steadfastness; आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having resorted to; भगवन् (bhagavan) - O Lord; न (na) - not; शोचामि (śocāmi) - I grieve; ततः (tataḥ) - therefore; त्वम् (tvam) - you; अहम् (aham) - I;]
(Sovereignty by austerity obtained, lost that and by one's own actions; steadfastness having resorted to, O Lord, not I grieve, therefore you I.)
O Lord, the sovereignty I obtained through austerity was lost due to my own actions; having resorted to steadfastness, therefore, I do not grieve, O Lord.
युयुत्सता महेन्द्रेण पुरा सार्धं महात्मना। ततो मे भगवान्दृष्टो हरिर्नारायणः प्रभुः ॥१२-२७०-२८॥
yuyutsatā mahendreṇa purā sārdhaṃ mahātmanā। tato me bhagavāndṛṣṭo harirnārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ ॥12-270-28॥
[युयुत्सता (yuyutsatā) - desire to fight; महेन्द्रेण (mahendreṇa) - with Mahendra (Indra); पुरा (purā) - formerly; सार्धं (sārdham) - together with; महात्मना (mahātmanā) - with the great-souled one; ततः (tataḥ) - then; मे (me) - to me; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the Lord; दृष्टः (dṛṣṭaḥ) - was seen; हरिः (hariḥ) - Hari; नारायणः (nārāyaṇaḥ) - Nārāyaṇa; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - the master;]
(With the desire to fight with Mahendra (Indra), formerly together with the great-souled one, then to me the Lord Hari Nārāyaṇa, the master, was seen.)
Long ago, when I wished to fight with Mahendra (Indra) together with the great-souled one, then the Lord Hari Nārāyaṇa, the master, appeared to me.
वैकुण्ठः पुरुषो विष्णुः शुक्लोऽनन्तः सनातनः। मुञ्जकेशो हरिश्मश्रुः सर्वभूतपितामहः ॥१२-२७०-२९॥
vaikuṇṭhaḥ puruṣo viṣṇuḥ śuklo'nantaḥ sanātanaḥ। muñjakeśo hariśmaśruḥ sarvabhūtapitāmahaḥ ॥12-270-29॥
[वैकुण्ठः (vaikuṇṭhaḥ) - Vaikuṇṭha; (the abode of Viṣṇu or Viṣṇu himself); पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - person; spirit; विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ) - Viṣṇu; (the all-pervading one); शुक्लः (śuklaḥ) - white; pure; अनन्तः (anantaḥ) - endless; infinite; सनातनः (sanātanaḥ) - eternal; मुञ्जकेशः (muñjakeśaḥ) - having muñja grass-like hair; हरिश्मश्रुः (hariśmaśruḥ) - having tawny beard; सर्वभूतपितामहः (sarvabhūtapitāmahaḥ) - grandfather of all beings;]
(Vaikuṇṭha, person, Viṣṇu, white, endless, eternal, having muñja grass-like hair, having tawny beard, grandfather of all beings.)
Vaikuṇṭha, the person Viṣṇu, who is white, infinite, eternal, with muñja grass-like hair and tawny beard, is the grandfather of all beings.
नूनं तु तस्य तपसः सावशेषं ममास्ति वै। यदहं प्रष्टुमिच्छामि भवन्तं कर्मणः फलम् ॥१२-२७०-३०॥
nūnaṃ tu tasya tapasaḥ sāvaśeṣaṃ mamāsti vai। yadahaṃ praṣṭumicchāmi bhavantaṃ karmaṇaḥ phalam ॥12-270-30॥
[नूनम् (nūnam) - certainly; तु (tu) - but; तस्य (tasya) - of him; तपसः (tapasaḥ) - of austerity; सावशेषम् (sāvaśeṣam) - with remainder; मम (mama) - to me; अस्ति (asti) - there is; वै (vai) - indeed; यत् (yat) - that which; अहम् (aham) - I; प्रष्टुम् (praṣṭum) - to ask; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - wish; भवन्तम् (bhavantam) - you (respected); कर्मणः (karmaṇaḥ) - of the action; फलम् (phalam) - fruit;]
(Certainly but of him of austerity with remainder to me there is indeed; that which I to ask wish you (respected) of the action fruit.)
Certainly, however, I believe some portion of his austerity remains for me; therefore, I wish to ask you about the fruit of the action.
ऐश्वर्यं वै महद्ब्रह्मन्कस्मिन्वर्णे प्रतिष्ठितम्। निवर्तते चापि पुनः कथमैश्वर्यमुत्तमम् ॥१२-२७०-३१॥
aiśvaryaṃ vai mahad brahman kasmin varṇe pratiṣṭhitam। nivartate cāpi punaḥ katham aiśvaryam uttamam ॥12-270-31॥
[ऐश्वर्यं (aiśvaryaṃ) - sovereignty; वै (vai) - indeed; महत् (mahat) - great; ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O Brāhmaṇa; कस्मिन् (kasmin) - in which; वर्णे (varṇe) - class; प्रतिष्ठितम् (pratiṣṭhitam) - established; निवर्तते (nivartate) - ceases; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; कथम् (katham) - how; ऐश्वर्यम् (aiśvaryam) - sovereignty; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - supreme;]
(Sovereignty indeed, O Brāhmaṇa, in which class is it established? And also, again, how does supreme sovereignty cease?)
O Brāhmaṇa, in which class is sovereignty established? And how does supreme sovereignty cease and arise again?
कस्माद्भूतानि जीवन्ति प्रवर्तन्तेऽथ वा पुनः। किं वा फलं परं प्राप्य जीवस्तिष्ठति शाश्वतः ॥१२-२७०-३२॥
kasmādbhūtāni jīvanti pravartante'tha vā punaḥ। kiṃ vā phalaṃ paraṃ prāpya jīvastiṣṭhati śāśvataḥ ॥12-270-32॥
[कस्मात् (kasmāt) - from what; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; जीवन्ति (jīvanti) - live; प्रवर्तन्ते (pravartante) - move; अथ (atha) - then; वा (vā) - or; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; किम् (kim) - what; वा (vā) - or; फलम् (phalam) - fruit; परम् (param) - supreme; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having attained; जीवः (jīvaḥ) - the living being; तिष्ठति (tiṣṭhati) - remains; शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ) - eternal;]
(From what do beings live, move, or again? What, having attained the supreme fruit, does the living being remain eternal?)
From what do beings live and move again? Or, having attained the supreme fruit, does the living being remain eternal?
केन वा कर्मणा शक्यमथ ज्ञानेन केन वा। ब्रह्मर्षे तत्फलं प्राप्तुं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥१२-२७०-३३॥
kena vā karmaṇā śakyamatha jñānena kena vā। brahmarṣe tatphalaṃ prāptuṃ tanme vyākhyātumarhasi ॥12-270-33॥
[केन (kena) - by what; वा (vā) - or; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action; शक्यम् (śakyam) - possible; अथ (atha) - or; ज्ञानेन (jñānena) - by knowledge; केन (kena) - by what; वा (vā) - or; ब्रह्मर्षे (brahmarṣe) - O sage; तत् (tat) - that; फलम् (phalam) - fruit; प्राप्तुम् (prāptum) - to obtain; तत् (tan) - that; मे (me) - to me; व्याख्यातुम् (vyākhyātum) - to explain; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you ought;]
(By what or by action is it possible, or by knowledge, or by what, O sage, to obtain that fruit? That, to me, you ought to explain.)
O Brahmarshi, by what or by what action, or by what knowledge, is it possible to obtain that fruit? Please explain that to me.
इतीदमुक्तः स मुनिस्तदानीं; प्रत्याह यत्तच्छृणु राजसिंह। मयोच्यमानं पुरुषर्षभ त्व; मनन्यचित्तः सह सोदरीयैः ॥१२-२७०-३४॥
itīdamuktaḥ sa munistadānīṃ; pratyāha yattacchṛṇu rājasiṃha. mayocyamānaṃ puruṣarṣabha tva; mananyacittaḥ saha sodarīyaiḥ ॥12-270-34॥
[इति (iti) - thus; इदम् (idam) - this; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - spoken; सः (saḥ) - he; मुनिः (muniḥ) - sage; तदानीं (tadānīṃ) - then; प्रत्याह (pratyāha) - replied; यत् (yat) - what; तत् (tat) - that; शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear; राजसिंह (rājasiṃha) - O lion among kings; मया (mayā) - by me; उच्यमानम् (ucyamānam) - being spoken; पुरुषर्षभ (puruṣarṣabha) - O bull among men; त्वम् (tvam) - you; अनन्यचित्तः (ananyacittaḥ) - with undistracted mind; सह (saha) - together; सौदरीयैः (saudarīyaiḥ) - with your brothers;]
(Thus this having been spoken, that sage then replied: "What that is, hear, O lion among kings. What is being spoken by me, O bull among men, you (listen) with undistracted mind together with your brothers.")
After this was said, the sage then replied: "Hear what it is, O king among lions. What I am about to say, O best of men, listen with an undistracted mind together with your brothers."
