12.285
जनक उवाच॥
Janaka said.
वर्णो विशेषवर्णानां महर्षे केन जायते। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तद्ब्रूहि वदतां वर ॥१२-२८५-१॥
O great sage, by what is the category of special categories born? I wish to hear this; please tell me that, O best of speakers.
यदेतज्जायतेऽपत्यं स एवायमिति श्रुतिः। कथं ब्राह्मणतो जातो विशेषग्रहणं गतः ॥१२-२८५-२॥
The scripture says, "That which is born as offspring, he is indeed this one." How has one born from a Brāhmaṇa obtained a special distinction?
पराशर उवाच॥
Parāśara said.
एवमेतन्महाराज येन जातः स एव सः। तपसस्त्वपकर्षेण जातिग्रहणतां गतः ॥१२-२८५-३॥
O great king, it is as you say: the one who was born is indeed the same person; but due to the decline of austerity, he has come to accept the distinctions of caste.
सुक्षेत्राच्च सुबीजाच्च पुण्यो भवति सम्भवः। अतोऽन्यतरतो हीनादवरो नाम जायते ॥१२-२८५-४॥
Auspicious origin arises from both a good field and a good seed. Therefore, if either is inferior, one known as lower is born.
वक्त्राद्भुजाभ्यामूरुभ्यां पद्भ्यां चैवाथ जज्ञिरे। सृजतः प्रजापतेर्लोकानिति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥१२-२८५-५॥
The knowers of dharma say that the worlds were born from the mouth, the two arms, the two thighs, and the two feet of Prajāpati, the creator.
मुखजा ब्राह्मणास्तात बाहुजाः क्षत्रबन्धवः। ऊरुजा धनिनो राजन्पादजाः परिचारकाः ॥१२-२८५-६॥
O dear one, Brāhmaṇas are born from the mouth, Kṣatriyas from the arms, Vaiśyas (the wealthy) from the thighs, and servants from the feet, O king.
चतुर्णामेव वर्णानामागमः पुरुषर्षभ। अतोऽन्ये त्वतिरिक्ता ये ते वै सङ्करजाः स्मृताः ॥१२-२८५-७॥
O best of men, the origin is only of the four varṇas; all others, who are additional, are indeed considered to be born of mixture.
क्षत्रजातिरथाम्बष्ठा उग्रा वैदेहकास्तथा। श्वपाकाः पुल्कसाः स्तेना निषादाः सूतमागधाः ॥१२-२८५-८॥
Kṣatriya-born, āmbaṣṭhas, ugras, vaidehakas, as well as dog-cookers, pulkasas, thieves, niṣādas, sūtas, and māgadhas are mentioned here.
आयोगाः करणा व्रात्याश्चण्डालाश्च नराधिप। एते चतुर्भ्यो वर्णेभ्यो जायन्ते वै परस्परम् ॥१२-२८५-९॥
O king, outcastes, mixed-caste offspring, those fallen from their caste, and caṇḍālas are all mutually born from the four castes.
जनक उवाच॥
Janaka said.
ब्रह्मणैकेन जातानां नानात्वं गोत्रतः कथम्। बहूनीह हि लोके वै गोत्राणि मुनिसत्तम ॥१२-२८५-१०॥
O best of sages, how is there diversity of lineages among those born from the one Brahman? Indeed, there are many lineages in this world.
यत्र तत्र कथं जाताः स्वयोनिं मुनयो गताः। शूद्रयोनौ समुत्पन्ना वियोनौ च तथापरे ॥१२-२८५-११॥
Wherever and however born, sages who have gone to their own womb, some have arisen in the womb of a śūdra, and others likewise in another womb.
पराशर उवाच॥
Parāśara said.
राजन्नैतद्भवेद्ग्राह्यमपकृष्टेन जन्मना। महात्मनां समुत्पत्तिस्तपसा भावितात्मनाम् ॥१२-२८५-१२॥
O king, this is not to be accepted as possible for one of low birth; the birth of great souls is through austerity, of those whose selves are purified.
उत्पाद्य पुत्रान्मुनयो नृपते यत्र तत्र ह। स्वेनैव तपसा तेषामृषित्वं विदधुः पुनः ॥१२-२८५-१३॥
O king, after begetting sons, the sages, wherever they were, again attained sagehood for themselves by their own austerity.
पितामहश्च मे पूर्वमृश्यशृङ्गश्च काश्यपः। वटस्ताण्ड्यः कृपश्चैव कक्षीवान्कमठादयः ॥१२-२८५-१४॥
My paternal grandfather, and formerly Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, Kāśyapa, Vaṭa, Tāṇḍya, Kṛpa, as well as Kakṣīvān, Kamaṭha, and others.
यवक्रीतश्च नृपते द्रोणश्च वदतां वरः। आयुर्मतङ्गो दत्तश्च द्रुपदो मत्स्य एव च ॥१२-२८५-१५॥
Yavakrīta, O king, Droṇa, the best of speakers; Āyu, Mataṅga, Datta, Drupada, and Matsya as well.
एते स्वां प्रकृतिं प्राप्ता वैदेह तपसोऽऽश्रयात्। प्रतिष्ठिता वेदविदो दमे तपसि चैव हि ॥१२-२८५-१६॥
O Vaideha, these knowers of the Veda, having attained their own nature through the support of austerity, are firmly established in self-restraint and austerity.
मूलगोत्राणि चत्वारि समुत्पन्नानि पार्थिव। अङ्गिराः कश्यपश्चैव वसिष्ठो भृगुरेव च ॥१२-२८५-१७॥
O king, four original gotras arose: Aṅgiras, Kaśyapa, Vasiṣṭha, and Bhṛgu.
कर्मतोऽन्यानि गोत्राणि समुत्पन्नानि पार्थिव। नामधेयानि तपसा तानि च ग्रहणं सताम् ॥१२-२८५-१८॥
O king, other lineages have arisen from action. Those names are obtained by austerity and are accepted by the virtuous.
जनक उवाच॥
Janaka said.
विशेषधर्मान्वर्णानां प्रब्रूहि भगवन्मम। तथा सामान्यधर्मांश्च सर्वत्र कुशलो ह्यसि ॥१२-२८५-१९॥
O revered one, please tell me the specific duties of the classes and also the general duties applicable everywhere, for you are indeed knowledgeable.
पराशर उवाच॥
Parāśara said.
प्रतिग्रहो याजनं च तथैवाध्यापनं नृप। विशेषधर्मो विप्राणां रक्षा क्षत्रस्य शोभना ॥१२-२८५-२०॥
O king, acceptance of gifts, conducting sacrifices, and teaching are the special duties of Brāhmaṇas; protection is the noble duty of Kṣatriyas.
कृषिश्च पाशुपाल्यं च वाणिज्यं च विशामपि। द्विजानां परिचर्या च शूद्रकर्म नराधिप ॥१२-२८५-२१॥
O king, agriculture, animal husbandry, and trade are the duties of the Vaiśyas; service to the twice-born is the duty of the Śūdra.
विशेषधर्मा नृपते वर्णानां परिकीर्तिताः। धर्मान्साधारणांस्तात विस्तरेण शृणुष्व मे ॥१२-२८५-२२॥
O king, the special duties of the classes have been described. Now, dear one, listen as I explain the common duties in detail.
आनृशंस्यमहिंसा चाप्रमादः संविभागिता। श्राद्धकर्मातिथेयं च सत्यमक्रोध एव च ॥१२-२८५-२३॥
Compassion, non-violence, vigilance, sharing, performing ancestral rites, hospitality to guests, truthfulness, and absence of anger are indeed virtues.
स्वेषु दारेषु सन्तोषः शौचं नित्यानसूयता। आत्मज्ञानं तितिक्षा च धर्माः साधारणा नृप ॥१२-२८५-२४॥
Contentment with one's own wives, purity, constant absence of envy, self-knowledge, and forbearance are virtues common to all, O king.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्यास्त्रयो वर्णा द्विजातयः। अत्र तेषामधीकारो धर्मेषु द्विपदां वर ॥१२-२८५-२५॥
O best of bipeds, here the authority regarding dharmas belongs to the three twice-born classes: Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas.
विकर्मावस्थिता वर्णाः पतन्ति नृपते त्रयः। उन्नमन्ति यथासन्तमाश्रित्येह स्वकर्मसु ॥१२-२८५-२६॥
O king, the three castes engaged in improper actions fall; but here, as they resort to the existent, they rise through their own actions.
न चापि शूद्रः पततीति निश्चयो; न चापि संस्कारमिहार्हतीति वा। श्रुतिप्रवृत्तं न च धर्ममाप्नुते; न चास्य धर्मे प्रतिषेधन कृतम् ॥१२-२८५-२७॥
There is no certainty that the Śūdra falls, nor that he is unfit for sacraments here. Nor does he, by what is prescribed in the Vedas, fail to attain dharma; nor is there any prohibition in his dharma.
वैदेहकं शूद्रमुदाहरन्ति; द्विजा महाराज श्रुतोपपन्नाः। अहं हि पश्यामि नरेन्द्र देवं; विश्वस्य विष्णुं जगतः प्रधानम् ॥१२-२८५-२८॥
The people of Videha are called Śūdra, O great king, by the twice-born who are learned in the scriptures. But I, O king, see the divine Viṣṇu as the chief of the universe and the world.
सतां वृत्तमनुष्ठाय निहीना उज्जिहीर्षवः। मन्त्रवर्जं न दुष्यन्ति कुर्वाणाः पौष्टिकीः क्रियाः ॥१२-२८५-२९॥
Those who, having followed the conduct of the virtuous, though lacking in virtue themselves and desiring to rise, perform nourishing acts without mantras, are not corrupted.
यथा यथा हि सद्वृत्तमालम्बन्तीतरे जनाः। तथा तथा सुखं प्राप्य प्रेत्य चेह च शेरते ॥१२-२८५-३०॥
As people adopt good conduct, so they attain happiness and rest both in this world and after death. 12-285-30.
जनक उवाच॥
Janaka said.
किं कर्म दूषयत्येनमथ जातिर्महामुने। संदेहो मे समुत्पन्नस्तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥१२-२८५-३१॥
O great sage, does action defile him, or is it birth? A doubt has arisen in me; please explain that to me.
पराशर उवाच॥
Parāśara said.
असंशयं महाराज उभयं दोषकारकम्। कर्म चैव हि जातिश्च विशेषं तु निशामय ॥१२-२८५-३२॥
O great king, without doubt, both action and birth are causes of fault; but observe the distinction between them.
जात्या च कर्मणा चैव दुष्टं कर्म निषेवते। जात्या दुष्टश्च यः पापं न करोति स पूरुषः ॥१२-२८५-३३॥
One who, though born in a wicked family and by action, engages in wicked deeds, but if one is wicked by birth and yet does not commit sin, he is truly a man.
जात्या प्रधानं पुरुषं कुर्वाणं कर्म धिक्कृतम्। कर्म तद्दूषयत्येनं तस्मात्कर्म नशोभनम् ॥१२-२८५-३४॥
A man of high birth who performs actions is condemned; such actions taint him, and therefore, action is not considered auspicious.
जनक उवाच॥
Janaka said.
कानि कर्माणि धर्म्याणि लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विजसत्तम। न हिंसन्तीह भूतानि क्रियमाणानि सर्वदा ॥१२-२८५-३५॥
O best of the twice-born, which actions in this world are righteous and, when performed, never harm any beings at any time?
पराशर उवाच॥
Parāśara said.
शृणु मेऽत्र महाराज यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। यानि कर्माण्यहिंस्राणि नरं त्रायन्ति सर्वदा ॥१२-२८५-३६॥
O great king, listen to me here as you ask; those non-violent actions which always protect a man.
संन्यस्याग्नीनुपासीनाः पश्यन्ति विगतज्वराः। नैःश्रेयसं धर्मपथं समारुह्य यथाक्रमम् ॥१२-२८५-३७॥
Having renounced ritual fires, and seated in contemplation, those who are free from distress perceive the highest good, having ascended the path of dharma step by step.
प्रश्रिता विनयोपेता दमनित्याः सुसंशिताः। प्रयान्ति स्थानमजरं सर्वकर्मविवर्जिताः ॥१२-२८५-३८॥
Those who are humble, endowed with modesty, always self-controlled, and well-disciplined reach the imperishable state, free from all actions.
सर्वे वर्णा धर्मकार्याणि सम्य; क्कृत्वा राजन्सत्यवाक्यानि चोक्त्वा। त्यक्त्वाधर्मं दारुणं जीवलोके; यान्ति स्वर्गं नात्र कार्यो विचारः ॥१२-२८५-३९॥
O king, all classes who properly perform righteous acts and speak truthful words, abandoning cruel unrighteousness in this world, go to heaven; there is no need for further deliberation here.
