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पराशर उवाच॥
Parāśara said.
प्रतिग्रहागता विप्रे क्षत्रिये शस्त्रनिर्जिताः। वैश्ये न्यायार्जिताश्चैव शूद्रे शुश्रूषयार्जिताः ॥ स्वल्पाप्यर्थाः प्रशस्यन्ते धर्मस्यार्थे महाफलाः ॥१२-२८३-१॥
For a brāhmaṇa, wealth obtained by receiving; for a kṣatriya, wealth won by weapons; for a vaiśya, wealth acquired by justice; for a śūdra, wealth acquired by service— even small amounts of wealth, when used for dharma, are highly praised and yield great results.
नित्यं त्रयाणां वर्णानां शूद्रः शुश्रूषुरुच्यते। क्षत्रधर्मा वैश्यधर्मा नावृत्तिः पतति द्विजः ॥ शूद्रकर्मा यदा तु स्यात्तदा पतति वै द्विजः ॥१२-२८३-२॥
A śūdra is always regarded as the servant of the three castes. If a twice-born does not follow the duties of a kṣatriya or vaiśya, he falls from his status. When a twice-born performs the work of a śūdra, then indeed he falls from his position.
वाणिज्यं पाशुपाल्यं च तथा शिल्पोपजीवनम्। शूद्रस्यापि विधीयन्ते यदा वृत्तिर्न जायते ॥१२-२८३-३॥
When a means of livelihood does not arise, trade, animal husbandry, and living by crafts are also prescribed even for the Śūdra.
रङ्गावतरणं चैव तथा रूपोपजीवनम्। मद्यमांसोपजीव्यं च विक्रयो लोहचर्मणोः ॥१२-२८३-४॥
Dyeing, living by appearance, dealing in liquor and meat, and the sale of iron and leather.
अपूर्विणा न कर्तव्यं कर्म लोके विगर्हितम्। कृतपूर्विणस्तु त्यजतो महान्धर्म इति श्रुतिः ॥१२-२८३-५॥
One who has not previously performed an act should not do actions condemned by the world; but for one who has done so before, it is great dharma to abandon them—so says the scripture.
संसिद्धः पुरुषो लोके यदाचरति पापकम्। मदेनाभिप्लुतमनास्तच्च नग्राह्यमुच्यते ॥१२-२८३-६॥
It is said that if a perfected person in the world, with a mind overwhelmed by pride, commits an evil act, that act should not be accepted.
श्रूयन्ते हि पुराणे वै प्रजा धिग्दण्डशासनाः। दान्ता धर्मप्रधानाश्च न्यायधर्मानुवर्तकाः ॥१२-२८३-७॥
It is said in the Purāṇa: 'Condemnation to those people who are governed by punishment; but those who are self-restrained, prioritize righteousness, and follow justice and dharma are praised.'
धर्म एव सदा नॄणामिह राजन्प्रशस्यते। धर्मवृद्धा गुणानेव सेवन्ते हि नरा भुवि ॥१२-२८३-८॥
O king, righteousness is always praised among men here. Men who are advanced in righteousness indeed associate only with virtues on earth.
तं धर्ममसुरास्तात नामृष्यन्त जनाधिप। विवर्धमानाः क्रमशस्तत्र तेऽन्वाविशन्प्रजाः ॥१२-२८३-९॥
O father, the asuras could not tolerate that dharma, O lord of people. As those beings gradually increased there, they entered after.
तेषां दर्पः समभवत्प्रजानां धर्मनाशनः। दर्पात्मनां ततः क्रोधः पुनस्तेषामजायत ॥१२-२८३-१०॥
Among them, arrogance arose, which destroyed the dharma of the people. Then, in those whose nature was arrogance, anger again arose among them.
ततः क्रोधाभिभूतानां वृत्तं लज्जासमन्वितम्। ह्रीश्चैवाप्यनशद्राजंस्ततो मोहो व्यजायत ॥१२-२८३-११॥
Then, O king, when those people were overpowered by anger, their conduct, which was endowed with shame and modesty, did not remain; then delusion arose.
ततो मोहपरीतास्ते नापश्यन्त यथा पुरा। परस्परावमर्देन वर्तयन्ति यथासुखम् ॥१२-२८३-१२॥
Then, overcome by delusion, they no longer saw as before; through mutual oppression, they acted as they pleased.
तान्प्राप्य तु स धिग्दण्डो नकारणमतोऽभवत्। ततोऽभ्यगच्छन्देवांश्च ब्राह्मणांश्चावमन्य ह ॥१२-२८३-१३॥
But having attained them, he received punishment without cause. Then, disregarding them, he approached the gods and the brāhmaṇas.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु देवा देववरं शिवम्। अगच्छञ्शरणं वीरं बहुरूपं गणाधिपम् ॥१२-२८३-१४॥
At that very moment, the gods went to Śiva, the best among gods, seeking refuge in the heroic, many-formed lord of the gaṇas.
तेन स्म ते गगनगाः सपुराः पातिताः क्षितौ। तिस्रोऽप्येकेन बाणेन देवाप्यायिततेजसा ॥१२-२८३-१५॥
By him, those beings who moved in the sky along with their cities were indeed brought down to earth. Even three (cities) were felled by a single arrow, filled with divine brilliance.
तेषामधिपतिस्त्वासीद्भीमो भीमपराक्रमः। देवतानां भयकरः स हतः शूलपाणिना ॥१२-२८३-१६॥
Their lord was Bhīma, of terrible prowess. He, who was a terror to the gods, was slain by the wielder of the spear.
तस्मिन्हतेऽथ स्वं भावं प्रत्यपद्यन्त मानवाः। प्रावर्तन्त च वेदा वै शास्त्राणि च यथा पुरा ॥१२-२८३-१७॥
After he was slain, the humans regained their own nature; the Vedas and the scriptures began again, just as before.
ततोऽभ्यषिञ्चन्राज्येन देवानां दिवि वासवम्। सप्तर्षयश्चान्वयुञ्जन्नराणां दण्डधारणे ॥१२-२८३-१८॥
Then Indra was anointed as the king of the gods in heaven, and the seven sages appointed a ruler among men to uphold justice.
सप्तर्षीणामथोर्ध्वं च विपृथुर्नाम पार्थिवः। राजानः क्षत्रियाश्चैव मण्डलेषु पृथक्पृथक् ॥१२-२८३-१९॥
After the seven sages, there was a king named Viprithu; and the kings and Kshatriyas were separately established in the various regions.
महाकुलेषु ये जाता वृत्ताः पूर्वतराश्च ये। तेषामथासुरो भावो हृदयान्नापसर्पति ॥१२-२८३-२०॥
Among those born in great families, both those who lived before and those who live now, the demonic nature does not leave their hearts.
तस्मात्तेनैव भावेन सानुषङ्गेन पार्थिवाः। आसुराण्येव कर्माणि न्यषेवन्भीमविक्रमाः ॥१२-२८३-२१॥
Therefore, with that very disposition and attachment, the kings of terrible prowess engaged only in demonic actions.
प्रत्यतिष्ठंश्च तेष्वेव तान्येव स्थापयन्ति च। भजन्ते तानि चाद्यापि ये बालिशतमा नराः ॥१२-२८३-२२॥
Having re-established those (rites) in those very (places), they also establish and worship them; and even today, those men who are the most foolish continue to do so.
तस्मादहं ब्रवीमि त्वां राजन्सञ्चिन्त्य शास्त्रतः। संसिद्धाधिगमं कुर्यात्कर्म हिंसात्मकं त्यजेत् ॥१२-२८३-२३॥
Therefore, O king, I declare to you: having reflected according to the śāstra, one should pursue actions that lead to true accomplishment, and should abandon actions that are violent in nature.
न सङ्करेण द्रविणं विचिन्वीत विचक्षणः। धर्मार्थं न्यायमुत्सृज्य न तत्कल्याणमुच्यते ॥१२-२८३-२४॥
A wise person should not seek wealth through improper means; abandoning justice for the sake of dharma is not considered auspicious.
स त्वमेवंविधो दान्तः क्षत्रियः प्रियबान्धवः। प्रजा भृत्यांश्च पुत्रांश्च स्वधर्मेणानुपालय ॥१२-२८३-२५॥
Therefore, you, being self-controlled and of such a kind, a Kshatriya with dear relatives, should protect your subjects, servants, and sons according to your own duty.
इष्टानिष्टसमायोगो वैरं सौहार्दमेव च। अथ जातिसहस्राणि बहूनि परिवर्तते ॥१२-२८३-२६॥
Association with what is desired and undesired, enmity and friendship—thus, through many thousands of births, all these change.
तस्माद्गुणेषु रज्येथा मा दोषेषु कदाचन। निर्गुणो यो हि दुर्बुद्धिरात्मनः सोऽरिरुच्यते ॥१२-२८३-२७॥
Therefore, you should attach yourself to virtues, never to faults. One who is devoid of virtues and has a wicked intellect is called his own enemy.
मानुषेषु महाराज धर्माधर्मौ प्रवर्ततः। न तथान्येषु भूतेषु मनुष्यरहितेष्विह ॥१२-२८३-२८॥
O great king, it is among humans that dharma and adharma are active; it is not so among other beings here where there are no humans.
धर्मशीलो नरो विद्वानीहकोऽनीहकोऽपि वा। आत्मभूतः सदा लोके चरेद्भूतान्यहिंसयन् ॥१२-२८३-२९॥
A person of righteous nature and wisdom, whether active or inactive, should always live in the world regarding all beings as himself, and never harm any living creature.
यदा व्यपेतहृल्लेखं मनो भवति तस्य वै। नानृतं चैव भवति तदा कल्याणमृच्छति ॥१२-२८३-३०॥
When a person's mind is free from mental impressions, and falsehood does not arise in him, then he attains auspiciousness.
