12.283
parāśara uvāca॥
Parāśara said.
pratigrahāgatā vipre kṣatriye śastranirjitāḥ। vaiśye nyāyārjitāścaiva śūdre śuśrūṣayārjitāḥ ॥ svalpāpyarthāḥ praśasyante dharmasyārthe mahāphalāḥ ॥12-283-1॥
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.
nityaṃ trayāṇāṃ varṇānāṃ śūdraḥ śuśrūṣur ucyate। kṣatradharmā vaiśyadharmā nāvṛttiḥ patati dvijaḥ ॥ śūdrakarmā yadā tu syāt tadā patati vai dvijaḥ ॥12-283-2॥
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.
vāṇijyaṃ pāśupālyaṃ ca tathā śilpopajīvanam। śūdrasyāpi vidhīyante yadā vṛttir na jāyate॥12-283-3॥
When a means of livelihood does not arise, trade, animal husbandry, and living by crafts are also prescribed even for the Śūdra.
raṅgāvataraṇaṃ caiva tathā rūpopajīvanam। madyamāṃsopajīvyam ca vikrayo lohacarmaṇoḥ ॥12-283-4॥
Dyeing, living by appearance, dealing in liquor and meat, and the sale of iron and leather.
apūrviṇā na kartavyaṃ karma loke vigarhitam। kṛtapūrviṇastu tyajato mahāndharma iti śrutiḥ ॥12-283-5॥
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.
saṃsiddhaḥ puruṣo loke yadācarati pāpakam। madenābhiplutamanāstacca nagrāhyamucyate ॥12-283-6॥
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.
śrūyante hi purāṇe vai prajā dhigdaṇḍaśāsanāḥ। dāntā dharmapradhānāśca nyāyadharmānuvartakāḥ ॥12-283-7॥
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.'
dharma eva sadā nṝṇām iha rājan praśasyate। dharmavṛddhā guṇān eva sevante hi narā bhuvi ॥12-283-8॥
O king, righteousness is always praised among men here. Men who are advanced in righteousness indeed associate only with virtues on earth.
taṃ dharmam asurās tāta nāmṛśyanta janādhipa। vivardhamānāḥ kramaśas tatra te'nvāviśan prajāḥ ॥12-283-9॥
O father, the asuras could not tolerate that dharma, O lord of people. As those beings gradually increased there, they entered after.
teṣāṃ darpaḥ samabhavat prajānāṃ dharmanāśanaḥ। darpātmanāṃ tataḥ krodhaḥ punas teṣām ajāyata ॥12-283-10॥
Among them, arrogance arose, which destroyed the dharma of the people. Then, in those whose nature was arrogance, anger again arose among them.
tataḥ krodhābhibhūtānāṃ vṛttaṃ lajjāsamanvitam। hrīścaivāpyanaśadrājaṃstato moho vyajāyata ॥12-283-11॥
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.
tato mohaparītāste nāpaśyanta yathā purā। parasparāvamardena vartayanti yathāsukham ॥12-283-12॥
Then, overcome by delusion, they no longer saw as before; through mutual oppression, they acted as they pleased.
tānprāpya tu sa dhigdaṇḍo nakāraṇamato'bhavat। tato'bhyagacchandevāṃśca brāhmaṇāṃścāvamanya ha ॥12-283-13॥
But having attained them, he received punishment without cause. Then, disregarding them, he approached the gods and the brāhmaṇas.
etasminneva kāle tu devā devavaraṃ śivam। agacchanśaraṇaṃ vīraṃ bahurūpaṃ gaṇādhipam ॥12-283-14॥
At that very moment, the gods went to Śiva, the best among gods, seeking refuge in the heroic, many-formed lord of the gaṇas.
tena sma te gaganagāḥ sapurāḥ pātitāḥ kṣitau। tisro'pyekena bāṇena devāpyāyitatejasā ॥12-283-15॥
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.
teṣām-adhipatis-tvāsīd-bhīmo bhīma-parākramaḥ। devatānāṃ bhayakaraḥ sa hataḥ śūla-pāṇinā ॥12-283-16॥
Their lord was Bhīma, of terrible prowess. He, who was a terror to the gods, was slain by the wielder of the spear.
tasmin hate'tha svaṃ bhāvaṃ pratyapadyanta mānavāḥ। prāvartanta ca vedā vai śāstrāṇi ca yathā purā ॥12-283-17॥
After he was slain, the humans regained their own nature; the Vedas and the scriptures began again, just as before.
tato'bhyaṣiñcan rājyena devānāṃ divi vāsavam। saptarṣayaś cānvayuñjan narāṇāṃ daṇḍadhāraṇe ॥12-283-18॥
Then Indra was anointed as the king of the gods in heaven, and the seven sages appointed a ruler among men to uphold justice.
saptarṣīṇām atha ūrdhvaṃ ca vipṛthur nāma pārthivaḥ। rājānaḥ kṣatriyāś caiva maṇḍaleṣu pṛthakpṛthak ॥12-283-19॥
After the seven sages, there was a king named Viprithu; and the kings and Kshatriyas were separately established in the various regions.
mahākuleṣu ye jātā vṛttāḥ pūrvatarāś ca ye। teṣām athāsuro bhāvo hṛdayān nāpasarpati॥12-283-20॥
Among those born in great families, both those who lived before and those who live now, the demonic nature does not leave their hearts.
tasmāttenaiva bhāvena sānuṣaṅgena pārthivāḥ। āsurāṇyeva karmāṇi nyaṣevaṇbhīmavikramāḥ ॥12-283-21॥
Therefore, with that very disposition and attachment, the kings of terrible prowess engaged only in demonic actions.
pratyatiṣṭhaṃś ca teṣv eva tān eva sthāpayanti ca। bhajante tāni cādyāpi ye bāliśatamā narāḥ ॥12-283-22॥
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.
tasmād ahaṃ bravīmi tvāṃ rājan sañcintya śāstrataḥ। saṃsiddhādhigamaṃ kuryāt karma hiṃsātmakaṃ tyajet ॥12-283-23॥
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.
na saṅkareṇa draviṇaṃ vicinvīta vicakṣaṇaḥ। dharmārthaṃ nyāyam utsṛjya na tat kalyāṇam ucyate ॥12-283-24॥
A wise person should not seek wealth through improper means; abandoning justice for the sake of dharma is not considered auspicious.
sa tvam evaṃ-vidho dāntaḥ kṣatriyaḥ priya-bāndhavaḥ। prajā bhṛtyāṃś ca putrāṃś ca svadharmeṇa anupālaya ॥12-283-25॥
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.
iṣṭāniṣṭasamāyogo vairaṃ sauhārdameva ca। atha jātisahasrāṇi bahūni parivartate ॥12-283-26॥
Association with what is desired and undesired, enmity and friendship—thus, through many thousands of births, all these change.
tasmād guṇeṣu rajyethā mā doṣeṣu kadācana। nirguṇo yo hi durbuddhir ātmanaḥ so'rir ucyate ॥12-283-27॥
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.
mānuṣeṣu mahārāja dharmādharmau pravartataḥ। na tathānyeṣu bhūteṣu manuṣyarahiteṣv iha ॥12-283-28॥
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.
dharmaśīlo naro vidvān īhako'níhako'pi vā। ātmabhūtaḥ sadā loke cared bhūtāny ahiṃsayan ॥12-283-29॥
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.
yadā vyapetahṛllekhaṃ mano bhavati tasya vai। nānṛtaṃ caiva bhavati tadā kalyāṇamṛcchati ॥12-283-30॥
When a person's mind is free from mental impressions, and falsehood does not arise in him, then he attains auspiciousness.
