12.282
पराशर उवाच॥
parāśara uvāca॥
[पराशर (parāśara) - Parāśara; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Parāśara said;)
Parāśara said.
वृत्तिः सकाशाद्वर्णेभ्यस्त्रिभ्यो हीनस्य शोभना। प्रीत्योपनीता निर्दिष्टा धर्मिष्ठान्कुरुते सदा ॥१२-२८२-१॥
vṛttiḥ sakāśād varṇebhyas tribhyo hīnasya śobhanā। prītyopanītā nirdiṣṭā dharmiṣṭhān kurute sadā ॥12-282-1॥
[वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - conduct; सकाशात् (sakāśāt) - from the presence; वर्णेभ्यः (varṇebhyaḥ) - from the classes; त्रिभ्यः (tribhyaḥ) - from the three; हीनस्य (hīnasya) - of the inferior; शोभना (śobhanā) - excellent; प्रीत्या (prītyā) - with affection; उपनीता (upanītā) - brought near; निर्दिष्टा (nirdiṣṭā) - assigned; धर्मिष्ठान् (dharmiṣṭhān) - the righteous; कुरुते (kurute) - makes; सदा (sadā) - always;]
(Conduct, from the presence of the three classes, for the inferior, excellent, with affection brought near, assigned, makes the righteous always.)
Excellent conduct, when brought near with affection from the three higher classes and assigned to the inferior, always makes them righteous.
वृत्तिश्चेन्नास्ति शूद्रस्य पितृपैतामही ध्रुवा। न वृत्तिं परतो मार्गेच्छुश्रूषां तु प्रयोजयेत् ॥१२-२८२-२॥
vṛttiś cen nāsti śūdrasya pitṛpaitāmahī dhruvā। na vṛttiṃ parato mārgec chuśrūṣāṃ tu prayojayet ॥12-282-2॥
[वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - livelihood; चेत् (cet) - if; न (na) - not; अस्ति (asti) - exists; शूद्रस्य (śūdrasya) - of the Śūdra; पितृपैतामही (pitṛpaitāmahī) - ancestral (from father and grandfather); ध्रुवा (dhruvā) - established; न (na) - not; वृत्तिम् (vṛttim) - livelihood; परतः (parataḥ) - from another; मार्गेत् (mārget) - should seek; शुश्रूषाम् (śuśrūṣām) - service; तु (tu) - but; प्रयोजयेत् (prayojayet) - should employ;]
(If the livelihood of the Śūdra, established from father and grandfather, does not exist, he should not seek livelihood from another, but should employ himself in service.)
If a Śūdra does not have an established ancestral livelihood, he should not seek another means of livelihood, but should engage in service.
सद्भिस्तु सह संसर्गः शोभते धर्मदर्शिभिः। नित्यं सर्वास्ववस्थासु नासद्भिरिति मे मतिः ॥१२-२८२-३॥
sadbhistu saha saṁsargaḥ śobhate dharmadarśibhiḥ। nityaṁ sarvāsvavasthāsu nāsadbhiriti me matiḥ ॥12-282-3॥
[सद्भिः (sadbhiḥ) - by the good; by virtuous people; तु (tu) - but; indeed; सह (saha) - with; together with; संसर्गः (saṁsargaḥ) - association; contact; शोभते (śobhate) - shines; becomes splendid; धर्मदर्शिभिः (dharmadarśibhiḥ) - by those who see dharma; by the righteous; नित्यं (nityaṁ) - always; constantly; सर्वासु (sarvāsu) - in all; अवस्थासु (avasthāsu) - conditions; states; न (na) - not; असद्भिः (asadbhiḥ) - with the wicked; with the unvirtuous; इति (iti) - thus; so; मे (me) - my; to me; मतिः (matiḥ) - opinion; thought;]
(But association with the good shines with the righteous; always, in all conditions, not with the wicked—thus is my opinion.)
Association with the virtuous always brings splendor among the righteous, in every situation; association with the unvirtuous never does—this is my conviction.
यथोदयगिरौ द्रव्यं संनिकर्षेण दीप्यते। तथा सत्संनिकर्षेण हीनवर्णोऽपि दीप्यते ॥१२-२८२-४॥
yathodayagirau dravyaṃ saṃnikarṣeṇa dīpyate। tathā satsamnikarṣeṇa hīnavarṇo'pi dīpyate ॥12-282-4॥
[यथा (yathā) - just as; उदयगिरौ (udayagirau) - on the eastern mountain; द्रव्यं (dravyaṃ) - substance; सन्निकर्षेण (saṃnikarṣeṇa) - by contact; दीप्यते (dīpyate) - is ignited; तथा (tathā) - so; सत्सन्निकर्षेण (satsamnikarṣeṇa) - by association with the good; हीनवर्णः (hīnavarṇaḥ) - one of low character; अपि (api) - even; दीप्यते (dīpyate) - is illuminated;]
(Just as substance is ignited by contact on the eastern mountain, so even one of low character is illuminated by association with the good.)
Just as a substance is set alight by contact with the rising mountain, so too, even a person of low character shines by association with the virtuous.
यादृशेन हि वर्णेन भाव्यते शुक्लमम्बरम्। तादृशं कुरुते रूपमेतदेवमवैहि मे ॥१२-२८२-५॥
yādṛśena hi varṇena bhāvyate śuklamambaram। tādṛśaṃ kurute rūpam etad evam avaihi me ॥12-282-5॥
[यादृशेन (yādṛśena) - by what kind; by which sort; by what manner; हि (hi) - indeed; surely; वर्णेन (varṇena) - by color; by hue; by appearance; भाव्यते (bhāvyate) - is imagined; is conceived; is considered; शुक्लम् (śuklam) - white; bright; pure; अम्बरम् (ambaram) - cloth; garment; robe; तादृशं (tādṛśaṃ) - such; of that kind; कुरुते (kurute) - makes; forms; creates; रूपम् (rūpam) - form; appearance; shape; एतत् (etat) - this; एवम् (evam) - thus; in this way; अवैहि (avaihi) - know; understand; मे (me) - from me; (as told) by me;]
(By what kind of color the white garment is conceived, such is the form made—thus know this from me.)
The form of the white garment is determined by its color; in the same way, understand this principle from me.
तस्माद्गुणेषु रज्येथा मा दोषेषु कदाचन। अनित्यमिह मर्त्यानां जीवितं हि चलाचलम् ॥१२-२८२-६॥
tasmād guṇeṣu rajyethā mā doṣeṣu kadācana। anityam iha martyānāṃ jīvitaṃ hi calācalam ॥12-282-6॥
[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; गुणेषु (guṇeṣu) - in virtues; रज्येथाः (rajyethāḥ) - should be attached; मा (mā) - not; दोषेषु (doṣeṣu) - in faults; कदाचन (kadācana) - ever; अनित्यम् (anityam) - impermanent; इह (iha) - here; मर्त्यानाम् (martyānām) - of mortals; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; हि (hi) - indeed; चलाचलम् (calācalam) - unstable and stable;]
(Therefore, in virtues should be attached, not in faults ever. Impermanent here of mortals life indeed is unstable and stable.)
Therefore, one should be attached to virtues, never to faults. The life of mortals here is indeed impermanent and unstable.
सुखे वा यदि वा दुःखे वर्तमानो विचक्षणः। यश्चिनोति शुभान्येव स भद्राणीह पश्यति ॥१२-२८२-७॥
sukhe vā yadi vā duḥkhe vartamāno vicakṣaṇaḥ। yaścinoti śubhānyeva sa bhadrāṇīha paśyati ॥12-282-7॥
[सुखे (sukhe) - in happiness; वा (vā) - or; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; दुःखे (duḥkhe) - in sorrow; वर्तमानः (vartamānaḥ) - existing; विचक्षणः (vicakṣaṇaḥ) - wise; यः (yaḥ) - who; चिनोति (cinoti) - gathers; शुभानि (śubhāni) - auspicious things; एव (eva) - only; सः (saḥ) - he; भद्राणि (bhadrāṇi) - good things; इह (iha) - here; पश्यति (paśyati) - sees;]
(In happiness or if in sorrow, the wise one existing, who gathers only auspicious things, he sees good things here.)
Whether in happiness or sorrow, the wise person who collects only auspicious things sees good things in this world.
धर्मादपेतं यत्कर्म यद्यपि स्यान्महाफलम्। न तत्सेवेत मेधावी न तद्धितमिहोच्यते ॥१२-२८२-८॥
dharmādapetaṃ yatkarma yadyapi syānmahāphalam। na tatseveta medhāvī na taddhitamihocyate ॥12-282-8॥
[धर्मात् (dharmāt) - from dharma; अपेतं (apetam) - departed; यत् (yat) - which; कर्म (karma) - action; यद्यपि (yadyapi) - even if; स्यात् (syāt) - it may be; महाफलम् (mahāphalam) - great fruit; न (na) - not; तत् (tat) - that; सेवेत (seveta) - should pursue; मेधावी (medhāvī) - the wise one; न (na) - not; तत् (tat) - that; हितम् (hitam) - beneficial; इह (iha) - here; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called;]
(The action which is departed from dharma, even if it may have great fruit, the wise one should not pursue that; that is not called beneficial here.)
A wise person should not engage in any action that is contrary to dharma, even if it yields great results; such an act is not considered truly beneficial in this world.
यो हृत्वा गोसहस्राणि नृपो दद्यादरक्षिता। स शब्दमात्रफलभाग्राजा भवति तस्करः ॥१२-२८२-९॥
yo hṛtvā gosahasrāṇi nṛpo dadyādarakṣitā। sa śabdamātraphalabhāgrājā bhavati taskaraḥ ॥12-282-9॥
[यो (yaḥ) - who; हृत्वा (hṛtvā) - having taken away; गोसहस्राणि (gosahasrāṇi) - thousands of cows; नृपः (nṛpaḥ) - king; दद्यात् (dadyāt) - should give; अरक्षिता (arakṣitā) - without protection; सः (saḥ) - he; शब्दमात्रफलभाग् (śabdamātraphalabhāk) - one who receives only the result of the word (name only); राजा (rājā) - king; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; तस्करः (taskaraḥ) - thief;]
(Who, having taken away thousands of cows, a king should give without protection; he becomes a king who receives only the result of the word, a thief.)
If a king, having seized thousands of cows, gives them away without ensuring their protection, he becomes a king in name only and is actually a thief.
स्वयम्भूरसृजच्चाग्रे धातारं लोकपूजितम्। धातासृजत्पुत्रमेकं प्रजानां धारणे रतम् ॥१२-२८२-१०॥
svayambhūrasṛjaccāgre dhātāraṃ lokapūjitam। dhātāsṛjatputramekaṃ prajānāṃ dhāraṇe ratam ॥12-282-10॥
[स्वयम्भूः (svayambhūḥ) - self-born; असृजत् (asṛjat) - created; च (ca) - and; आग्रे (āgre) - at first; धातारम् (dhātāram) - Dhātā (the supporter); लोक (loka) - world; पूजितम् (pūjitam) - honored; धाता (dhātā) - Dhātā; असृजत् (asṛjat) - created; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; एकम् (ekam) - one; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of beings; धारणे (dhāraṇe) - in sustaining; रतम् (ratam) - engaged;]
(The self-born (Brahmā) created at first Dhātā, honored by the world; Dhātā created one son, engaged in sustaining beings.)
The self-born Brahmā first created Dhātā, who is honored by the world; Dhātā then created a son who was devoted to sustaining all beings.
तमर्चयित्वा वैश्यस्तु कुर्यादत्यर्थमृद्धिमत्। रक्षितव्यं तु राजन्यैरुपयोज्यं द्विजातिभिः ॥१२-२८२-११॥
tam arcayitvā vaiśyas tu kuryād atyartham ṛddhimat। rakṣitavyaṃ tu rājanyair upayojyaṃ dvijātibhiḥ ॥12-282-11॥
[तम् (tam) - him; (object pronoun) अर्चयित्वा (arcayitvā) - having worshipped; वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - the Vaiśya; (merchant class) तु (tu) - but; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - should do; अत्यर्थम् (atyartham) - excessively; greatly; ऋद्धिमत् (ṛddhimat) - prosperous; wealthy; रक्षितव्यम् (rakṣitavyam) - should be protected; तु (tu) - but; राजन्यैः (rājanyaiḥ) - by the Kṣatriyas; (warrior class) उपयोज्यम् (upayojyam) - should be employed; should be used; द्विजातिभिः (dvijātibhiḥ) - by the twice-born; (Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas);]
(Him having worshipped, the Vaiśya but should do greatly prosperous (acts); should be protected but by the Kṣatriyas, should be employed by the twice-born.)
After worshipping him, the Vaiśya should perform acts of great prosperity; it should be protected by the Kṣatriyas and utilized by the twice-born.
अजिह्मैरशठक्रोधैर्हव्यकव्यप्रयोक्तृभिः। शूद्रैर्निर्मार्जनं कार्यमेवं धर्मो न नश्यति ॥१२-२८२-१२॥
ajihmairaśaṭhakrodhair havyakavyaprayoktṛbhiḥ। śūdrair nirmārjanaṃ kāryam evaṃ dharmo na naśyati॥12-282-12॥
[अजिह्मैः (ajihmaiḥ) - by those who are not crooked; अशठक्रोधैः (aśaṭhakrodhaiḥ) - by those without deceit or anger; हव्यकव्यप्रयोक्तृभिः (havyakavyaprayoktṛbhiḥ) - by those who offer oblations to gods and ancestors; शूद्रैः (śūdrair) - by Śūdras; निर्मार्जनम् (nirmārjanam) - cleaning; कार्यं (kāryam) - should be done; एवम् (evam) - thus; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; न (na) - not; नश्यति (naśyati) - perishes;]
(By those who are not crooked, without deceit or anger, who offer oblations to gods and ancestors, by Śūdras, cleaning should be done thus; dharma does not perish.)
When Śūdras, who are honest, free from deceit and anger, and who perform offerings to gods and ancestors, carry out cleaning in this way, dharma does not perish.
अप्रनष्टे ततो धर्मे भवन्ति सुखिताः प्रजाः। सुखेन तासां राजेन्द्र मोदन्ते दिवि देवताः ॥१२-२८२-१३॥
apranaṣṭe tato dharme bhavanti sukhitāḥ prajāḥ। sukhena tāsāṃ rājendra modante divi devatāḥ ॥12-282-13॥
[अप्रनष्टे (apranaṣṭe) - not destroyed; ततः (tataḥ) - then; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; सुखिताः (sukhitāḥ) - happy; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; सुखेन (sukhena) - with happiness; तासां (tāsāṃ) - of them; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; मोदन्ते (modante) - rejoice; दिवि (divi) - in heaven; देवताः (devatāḥ) - the gods;]
(When dharma is not destroyed, then the subjects become happy; with their happiness, O king, the gods rejoice in heaven.)
O King, when dharma is preserved, the people are happy; and because of their happiness, the gods in heaven rejoice.
तस्माद्यो रक्षति नृपः स धर्मेणाभिपूज्यते। अधीते चापि यो विप्रो वैश्यो यश्चार्जने रतः ॥१२-२८२-१४॥
tasmādyo rakṣati nṛpaḥ sa dharmeṇābhipūjyate। adhīte cāpi yo vipro vaiśyo yaścārjane rataḥ ॥12-282-14॥
[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; यः (yaḥ) - who; रक्षति (rakṣati) - protects; नृपः (nṛpaḥ) - king; सः (saḥ) - he; धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - by righteousness; अभिपूज्यते (abhipūjyate) - is especially honored; अधीते (adhīte) - studies; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; यः (yaḥ) - who; विप्रः (vipraḥ) - brāhmaṇa; वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - vaiśya; यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; अर्जने (arjane) - in acquisition; रतः (rataḥ) - engaged;]
(Therefore, the king who protects is especially honored by righteousness. And also, the brāhmaṇa who studies, and the vaiśya who is engaged in acquisition.)
Therefore, the king who protects is especially honored by righteousness. Likewise, the brāhmaṇa who studies and the vaiśya who is devoted to acquisition are also honored.
यश्च शुश्रूषते शूद्रः सततं नियतेन्द्रियः। अतोऽन्यथा मनुष्येन्द्र स्वधर्मात्परिहीयते ॥१२-२८२-१५॥
yaś ca śuśrūṣate śūdraḥ satataṃ niyatendriyaḥ। ato'nyathā manuṣyendra svadharmāt parihīyate ॥12-282-15॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; शुश्रूषते (śuśrūṣate) - serves; शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - Śūdra; सततम् (satatam) - always; नियत-इन्द्रियः (niyata-indriyaḥ) - with controlled senses; अतः (ataḥ) - therefore; अन्यथा (anyathā) - otherwise; मनुष्येन्द्र (manuṣyendra) - O best of men; स्वधर्मात् (svadharmāt) - from one's own duty; परिहीयते (parihīyate) - falls away;]
(Who and serves Śūdra always with controlled senses; therefore otherwise O best of men from one's own duty falls away.)
O best of men, a Śūdra who always serves with controlled senses—otherwise, one falls away from one's own duty.
प्राणसन्तापनिर्दिष्टाः काकिण्योऽपि महाफलाः। न्यायेनोपार्जिता दत्ताः किमुतान्याः सहस्रशः ॥१२-२८२-१६॥
prāṇasantāpanirdiṣṭāḥ kākiṇyo'pi mahāphalāḥ। nyāyenopārjitā dattāḥ kimutānyāḥ sahasraśaḥ ॥12-282-16॥
[प्राण (prāṇa) - life; सन्ताप (santāpa) - torment; निर्दिष्टाः (nirdiṣṭāḥ) - specified; काकिण्यः (kākiṇyaḥ) - cowries; अपि (api) - even; महाफलाः (mahāphalāḥ) - great fruit; न्यायेन (nyāyena) - by justice; उपार्जिता (upārjitā) - acquired; दत्ताः (dattāḥ) - given; किम् (kim) - what; उत (uta) - indeed; अन्याः (anyāḥ) - other; सहस्रशः (sahasraśaḥ) - by thousands;]
(Cowries specified as tormenting life, even (they) are of great fruit; given, acquired by justice, what indeed of others by thousands?)
Even cowries, which are specified as causing torment to life, if acquired justly and given, yield great fruit; what then of other gifts given by the thousands?
सत्कृत्य तु द्विजातिभ्यो यो ददाति नराधिप। यादृशं तादृशं नित्यमश्नाति फलमूर्जितम् ॥१२-२८२-१७॥
satkṛtya tu dvijātibhyo yo dadāti narādhipa। yādṛśaṃ tādṛśaṃ nityamaśnāti phalamūrjitam ॥12-282-17॥
[सत्कृत्य (satkṛtya) - having honored; तु (tu) - but; द्विजातिभ्यः (dvijātibhyaḥ) - to the twice-born; यः (yaḥ) - who; ददाति (dadāti) - gives; नराधिपः (narādhipaḥ) - king; यादृशम् (yādṛśam) - of what kind; तादृशम् (tādṛśam) - such; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; अश्नाति (aśnāti) - enjoys; फलम् (phalam) - fruit; ऊर्जितम् (ūrjitam) - abundant;]
(Having honored, but, to the twice-born, who gives, the king, of what kind, such, always, enjoys, fruit, abundant.)
But the king who, having honored, gives to the twice-born, always enjoys abundant fruit of the same kind as that which he gives.
अभिगम्य दत्तं तुष्ट्या यद्धन्यमाहुरभिष्टुतम्। याचितेन तु यद्दत्तं तदाहुर्मध्यमं बुधाः ॥१२-२८२-१८॥
abhigamya dattaṃ tuṣṭyā yaddhanyam āhur abhiṣṭutam। yācitena tu yaddattaṃ tad āhur madhyamaṃ budhāḥ॥12-282-18॥
[अभिगम्य (abhigamya) - having been approached; दत्तं (dattaṃ) - given; तुष्ट्या (tuṣṭyā) - with satisfaction; यत् (yat) - which; धन्यम् (dhanyam) - blessed; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; अभिष्टुतम् (abhiṣṭutam) - praised; याचितेन (yācitena) - by request; तु (tu) - but; यत् (yat) - which; दत्तं (dattaṃ) - given; तत् (tat) - that; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; मध्यमम् (madhyamam) - middle; बुधाः (budhāḥ) - the wise;]
(That which is given after being approached, with satisfaction, which is blessed and praised, they say; but that which is given by request, that the wise say is middling.)
That which is given willingly with satisfaction, after being approached, and is considered blessed and praised, is said to be the best; but that which is given only when asked for, the wise call middling.
अवज्ञया दीयते यत्तथैवाश्रद्धयापि च। तदाहुरधमं दानं मुनयः सत्यवादिनः ॥१२-२८२-१९॥
avajñayā dīyate yat tathaiva aśraddhayā api ca। tad āhuḥ adhamam dānam munayaḥ satyavādinaḥ॥12-282-19॥
[अवज्ञया (avajñayā) - with disrespect; दीयते (dīyate) - is given; यत् (yat) - which; तथैव (tathaiva) - in the same way; अश्रद्धया (aśraddhayā) - without faith; अपि (api) - also; च (ca) - and; तत् (tat) - that; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; अधमं (adhamam) - lowest; दानं (dānam) - gift; मुनयः (munayaḥ) - sages; सत्यवादिनः (satyavādinaḥ) - truth-speakers;]
(That which is given with disrespect, or likewise without faith, and also— that, the sages who speak the truth say, is the lowest gift.)
The sages who speak the truth declare that a gift given with disrespect or without faith is the lowest kind of charity.
अतिक्रमे मज्जमानो विविधेन नरः सदा। तथा प्रयत्नं कुर्वीत यथा मुच्येत संशयात् ॥१२-२८२-२०॥
atikrame majjamāno vividheṇa naraḥ sadā। tathā prayatnaṃ kurvīta yathā mucyeta saṃśayāt ॥12-282-20॥
[अतिक्रमे (atikrame) - in transgression; मज्जमानः (majjamānaḥ) - immersed; विविधेन (vividheṇa) - by various; नरः (naraḥ) - man; सदा (sadā) - always; तथा (tathā) - thus; प्रयत्नम् (prayatnam) - effort; कुर्वीत (kurvīta) - should make; यथा (yathā) - so that; मुच्येत (mucyeta) - may be freed; संशयात् (saṃśayāt) - from doubt;]
(In transgression immersed by various (means) man always; thus effort should make so that may be freed from doubt.)
A man, always immersed in various transgressions, should thus make effort so that he may be freed from doubt.
दमेन शोभते विप्रः क्षत्रियो विजयेन तु। धनेन वैश्यः शूद्रस्तु नित्यं दाक्ष्येण शोभते ॥१२-२८२-२१॥
damena śobhate vipraḥ kṣatriyo vijayena tu। dhanena vaiśyaḥ śūdrastu nityaṃ dākṣyeṇa śobhate ॥12-282-21॥
[दमेन (damena) - by self-restraint; शोभते (śobhate) - shines; विप्रः (vipraḥ) - brāhmaṇa; क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - kṣatriya; विजयेन (vijayena) - by victory; तु (tu) - but; धनेन (dhanena) - by wealth; वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - vaiśya; शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - śūdra; तु (tu) - but; नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; दाक्ष्येण (dākṣyeṇa) - by skill; शोभते (śobhate) - shines;]
(By self-restraint shines the brāhmaṇa, the kṣatriya by victory; by wealth the vaiśya, but the śūdra always shines by skill.)
A brāhmaṇa shines by self-restraint, a kṣatriya by victory; a vaiśya by wealth, and a śūdra always shines by skill.
