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yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
kathaṁ nu muktaḥ pṛthivīṁ cared asmad-vidho nṛpaḥ। nityaṁ kaiś ca guṇair yuktaḥ saṅga-pāśād vimucyate॥12-277-1॥
How should a liberated king like us conduct himself in the world? By being always endowed with what qualities is one freed from the bonds of attachment?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atra te vartayiṣyāmi itihāsaṃ purātanam। ariṣṭaneminā proktaṃ sagarāyānupṛcchate ॥12-277-2॥
Here, I will tell you the ancient story that Ariṣṭanemi told to Sagara when he asked.
sagara uvāca॥
Sagara said.
kiṃ śreyaḥ paramaṃ brahman kṛtveha sukham aśnute. kathaṃ na śocen na kṣubhyed etad icchāmi veditum ॥12-277-3॥
O Brāhmaṇa, what is the supreme good, by doing which one attains happiness here? How can one neither grieve nor be disturbed? I wish to know this.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
evam-uktas-tadā tārkṣyaḥ sarva-śāstra-viśāradaḥ। vibudhya sampadaṃ cāgryāṃ sad-vākyam-idam-abravīt ॥12-277-4॥
After these words were spoken, Tārkṣya, the expert in all śāstras, having realized the excellent prosperity and the good words, spoke as follows.
sukhaṃ mokṣasukhaṃ loke na ca loko'vagacchati। prasaktaḥ putrapaśuṣu dhanadhānyasamākulaḥ ॥12-277-5॥
People in this world do not understand the happiness of liberation; being attached to sons, cattle, and overwhelmed by wealth and grain.
saktabuddhiraśāntātmā na sa śakyaścikitsitum। snehapāśasito mūḍho na sa mokṣāya kalpate ॥12-277-6॥
A person whose intellect is attached and whose mind is restless cannot be cured; one who is bound by the ties of affection and is deluded is not fit for liberation.
snehajāniha te pāśānvakṣyāmi śṛṇu tānmama। sakarṇakena śirasā śakyāśchettuṃ vijānatā ॥12-277-7॥
Listen as I explain to you the bonds born of affection; those of mine can be cut by the wise with a head adorned with ear-ornaments.
sambhāvya putrān kālena yauvanasthān niveśya ca। samarthān jīvane jñātvā muktaś cara yathā-sukham ॥12-277-8॥
After considering your sons, and in due time establishing those who are in their youth, and knowing them to be capable in their livelihood, you may live freely and comfortably.
bhāryāṃ putravatīṃ vṛddhāṃ lālitāṃ putravatsalām। jñātvā prajahi kāle tvaṃ parārtham anudṛśya ca ॥12-277-9॥
Having recognized a wife who is aged, cherished, and affectionate towards her son, and who has a son, you should abandon her at the proper time, considering the interests of another.
sāpatyo nirapatyo vā muktaścara yathāsukham। indriyairindriyārthāṃstvamanubhūya yathāvidhi ॥12-277-10॥
Whether you have offspring, are without offspring, or are liberated, act as is comfortable. Experience the sense-objects with your senses according to the prescribed rule.
kṛtakautūhalasteṣu muktaścara yathāsukham। upapattyopalabdheṣu lābheṣu ca samo bhava ॥12-277-11॥
Having satisfied your curiosity among them, move about freely as you please; by reasoning, be equanimous in what is attained and in gains.
eṣa tāvatsamāsena tava saṅkīrtito mayā। mokṣārtho vistareṇāpi bhūyo vakṣyāmi tacchṛṇu ॥12-277-12॥
Thus far, I have described to you in summary. Now, I shall again explain in detail the purpose of liberation; listen to that.
muktā vītabhayā loke caranti sukhino narāḥ। saktabhāvā vinaśyanti narāstatra na saṃśayaḥ॥12-277-13॥
Liberated and fearless men move happily in the world; men with attachment perish—there is no doubt about this.
āhārasañcayāścaiva tathā kīṭapipīlikāḥ। asaktāḥ sukhino loke saktāścaiva vināśinaḥ ॥12-277-14॥
Those who accumulate food, as well as insects and ants, those who are unattached are happy in the world, but those who are attached are indeed perishable.
svajane na ca te cintā kartavyā mokṣabuddhinā। ime mayā vinābhūtā bhaviṣyanti kathaṃ tviti ॥12-277-15॥
One intent on liberation should not worry about their own people. These people, without me, will manage; do not think, 'How will they be without you?'
svayam utpadyate jantuḥ svayam eva vivardhate। sukha-duḥkhe tathā mṛtyuṃ svayam eva adhigacchati ॥12-277-16॥
A being is born by its own actions, grows by itself; likewise, it experiences happiness, sorrow, and ultimately attains death by itself.
bhojanācchādane caiva mātrā pitrā ca saṅgraham। svakṛtenādhigacchanti loke nāstyakṛtaṃ purā ॥12-277-17॥
In this world, food, clothing, and support from mother and father are obtained only by one's own actions; nothing is ever gained without effort, even in the past.
dhātrā vihitabhakṣyāṇi sarvabhūtāni medinīm। loke viparidhāvanti rakṣitāni svakarmabhiḥ ॥12-277-18॥
All beings whose food is ordained by the Creator move about the earth in this world, protected by their own actions.
svayaṃ mṛtpiṇḍabhūtasya paratantrasya sarvadā। ko hetuḥ svajanaṃ poṣṭuṃ rakṣituṃ vā dṛḍhātmanaḥ ॥12-277-19॥
For one who is always dependent, who himself has become like a lump of clay, what reason is there for a steadfast person to nourish or protect his own people?
svajanaṃ hi yadā mṛtyur hantyeva tava paśyataḥ। kṛte'pi yatne mahati tatra boddhavyam ātmanā ॥12-277-20॥
When death takes away your own people before your eyes, even after making great effort, one must understand this by oneself.
jīvantam api ca eva enam bharaṇe rakṣaṇe tathā। asamāpte parityajya paścāt api mariṣyasi ॥12-277-21॥
If you abandon him while he is still alive, without completing his maintenance and protection, you will die afterwards as well.
yadā mṛtaś ca svajanaṃ na jñāsyasi kathaṃcana। sukhitaṃ duḥkhitaṃ vāpi nanu boddhavyam ātmanā ॥12-277-22॥
When you are dead and can no longer recognize your own people in any way, whether they are happy or unhappy, this is something you must truly understand for yourself.
mṛte vā tvayi jīve vā yadi bhokṣyati vai janaḥ। svakṛtaṃ nanu buddhvaivaṃ kartavyaṃ hitamātmanaḥ ॥12-277-23॥
Whether you are dead or alive, if a person indeed enjoys the results of their own actions, then, having understood this, one should do what is beneficial for oneself.
evaṃ vijānaṃlloke'sminkaḥ kasyetyabhinischitaḥ। mokṣe niveśaya mano bhūyaścāpyupadhāraya ॥12-277-24॥
Thus, having understood in this world who belongs to whom, and being firmly resolved, direct your mind towards liberation and again reflect upon this.
kṣutpipāsādayo bhāvā jitā yasyaiha dehinaḥ। krodho lobhastathā mohaḥ sattvavān mukta eva saḥ ॥12-277-25॥
He whose states such as hunger and thirst are conquered here, whose anger, greed, and delusion are also subdued—he, being steadfast, is indeed liberated.
dyūte pāne tathā strīṣu mṛgayāyāṃ ca yo naraḥ। na pramādyati saṃmohāt satataṃ mukta eva saḥ॥12-277-26॥
He who does not become careless out of delusion in gambling, drinking, with women, or hunting is always truly liberated.
divase divase nāma rātrau rātrau sadā sadā। bhoktavyamiti yaḥ khinno doṣabuddhiḥ sa ucyate ॥12-277-27॥
He who is always anxious, thinking day after day, night after night, "It must be eaten," and is distressed with a fault-finding mind, is called one with a critical disposition.
ātmabhāvaṃ tathā strīṣu muktameva punaḥ punaḥ। yaḥ paśyati sadā yukto yathāvanmukta eva saḥ ॥12-277-28॥
He who always sees the essence of self and liberation in women, again and again, and remains properly united, is indeed liberated.
sambhavaṃ ca vināśaṃ ca bhūtānāṃ ceṣṭitaṃ tathā। yas tattvato vijānāti loke 'smin mukta eva saḥ ॥12-277-29॥
He who truly knows the origin, destruction, and activities of beings in this world is indeed liberated.
prasthaṃ vāhasahasreṣu yātrārthaṃ caiva koṭiṣu| prāsāde mañcakastānaṃ yaḥ paśyati sa mucyate ॥12-277-30॥
Whoever sees the place of the couch in the palace, even among thousands of vehicles and crores for the purpose of journey, is liberated.
mṛtyunābhyāhataṃ lokaṃ vyādhibhiścopapīḍitam। avṛttikarśitaṃ caiva yaḥ paśyati sa mucyate ॥12-277-31॥
He who perceives the world as struck by death, afflicted by diseases, and emaciated by lack of livelihood is liberated.
yaḥ paśyati sukhī tuṣṭo napaśyaṃś ca vihanyate। yaś cāpy alpena santuṣṭo loke'smin mukta eva saḥ ॥12-277-32॥
He who, whether seeing or not seeing, remains happy and content and is not disturbed; and he who is content with even a little in this world, he indeed is truly liberated.
agnīṣomāvidaṃ sarvamiti yaścānupaśyati। na ca saṃspṛśyate bhāvairadbhutairmukta eva saḥ ॥12-277-33॥
Whoever sees all this as Agni and Soma, is untouched by wondrous conditions and is truly liberated.
paryaṅkaśayyā bhūmiś ca samāne yasya dehinaḥ। śālayaś ca kadannaṃ ca yasya syān mukta eva saḥ॥12-277-34॥
He who regards couch, bed, and ground as equal, and to whom rice and bad food are the same, he indeed is liberated.
kṣaumaṃ ca kuśacīraṃ ca kauśeyaṃ valkalāni ca। āvikaṃ carma ca samaṃ yasya syān mukta eva saḥ॥12-277-35॥
He who regards linen, kuśa grass garments, silk, bark garments, woolen, and leather as equal is truly liberated.
pañcabhūtasamudbhūtaṃ lokaṃ yaścānupaśyati। tathā ca vartate dṛṣṭvā loke'sminmukta eva saḥ ॥12-277-36॥
He who perceives the world as arisen from the five elements and acts accordingly, having seen this in the world, is indeed liberated.
sukhaduḥkhe same yasya lābhālābhau jayājayau। icchādveṣau bhayodvegau sarvathā mukta eva saḥ ॥12-277-37॥
He who is equal in happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat, desire and aversion, fear and agitation, is indeed liberated in every way.
raktamūtrapurīṣāṇāṃ doṣāṇāṃ sañcayaṃ tathā। śarīraṃ doṣabahulaṃ dṛṣṭvā ca idaṃ vimucyate ॥12-277-38॥
When the accumulation of blood, urine, feces, and doṣas is seen, and the body is full of doṣas, then this is released (i.e., the body is let go or dies).
valīpalitasaṃyogaṃ kārśyaṃ vaivarṇyameva ca। kubjabhāvaṃ ca jarayā yaḥ paśyati sa mucyate ॥12-277-39॥
He who sees wrinkles, grey hair, emaciation, discoloration, and crookedness as effects of old age is liberated.
puṃstvopaghātaṃ kālena darśanoparamaṃ tathā। bādhiryaṃ prāṇamandatvaṃ yaḥ paśyati sa mucyate ॥12-277-40॥
Who perceives the injury to manhood by time, the cessation of sight, deafness, and the slowness of vitality—he is liberated.
gatānṛṣīṃs tathā devānasurāṃś ca tathā gatān। lokād asmāt paraṃ lokaṃ yaḥ paśyati sa mucyate ॥12-277-41॥
He who perceives the departed sages, gods, asuras, and all those who have passed on, and who sees the world beyond this one, is liberated.
prabhāvair anvitās tais taiḥ pārthivendrāḥ sahasraśaḥ। ye gatāḥ pṛthivīṃ tyaktvā iti jñātvā vimucyate॥12-277-42॥
Thousands of kings, endowed with various powers, who have departed after abandoning the earth, are liberated upon realizing this.
arthāṃś ca durlabhāṃl loke kleśāṃś ca sulabhāṃs tathā | duḥkhaṃ caiva kuṭumbārthe yaḥ paśyati sa mucyate ||12-277-43||
He who perceives both the rare gains and the easily found troubles in the world, and endures pain for the sake of his family, is freed (liberated).
apatyānāṃ ca vaiguṇyaṃ janaṃ viguṇam eva ca। paśyan bhūyiṣṭhaśo loke ko mokṣaṃ nābhipūjayet ॥12-277-44॥
Seeing that most people and their offspring are defective in this world, who would not highly honor liberation?
śāstrāllokācca yo buddhaḥ sarvaṃ paśyati mānavaḥ। asāramiva mānuṣyaṃ sarvathā mukta eva saḥ ॥12-277-45॥
He who, awakened by both scripture and worldly experience, perceives all of human existence as lacking true essence, is in every way already liberated.
etacchrutvā mama vaco bhavāṃścaratu muktavat। gārhasthye yadi te mokṣe kṛtā buddhiraviklavā ॥12-277-46॥
Having heard my words, act as one liberated. If your resolve for liberation is unwavering, then even in household life, you may proceed.
tattasya vacanaṃ śrutvā samyak sa pṛthivīpatiḥ। mokṣajaiś ca guṇair yuktaḥ pālayām āsa ca prajāḥ॥12-277-47॥
Having properly heard his words, the king, endowed with qualities arising from liberation, protected and governed his subjects.
