12.288
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
satyaṃ kṣamāṃ damaṃ prajñāṃ praśaṃsanti pitāmaha। vidvāṃso manujā loke katham etan mataṃ tava ॥12-288-1॥
O grandsire, the learned men in the world praise truth, forbearance, self-restraint, and wisdom; how did this become your opinion?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atra te vartayiṣye'hamitihāsaṃ purātanam। sādhyānāmiha saṃvādaṃ haṃsasya ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-288-2॥
Here, O Yudhiṣṭhira, I will tell you the ancient story—the conversation that took place here between the Sādhyas and Haṃsa.
haṃso bhūtvātha sauvarṇastvajo nityaḥ prajāpatiḥ। sa vai paryeti lokāṃstrīnatha sādhyānupāgamat ॥12-288-3॥
Having become a swan, then the golden, self-born, eternal Prajapati indeed went around the three worlds and then approached the Sādhya deities.
sādhyā ūcuḥ॥
The Sādhyas spoke.
śakune vayaṃ sma devā vai sādhyāstvām anuyujmahe। pṛcchāmas tvāṃ mokṣadharmaṃ bhavāṃś ca kila mokṣavit ॥12-288-4॥
O Śakuni, we, the Sādhyas among the gods, approach you. We ask you about the dharma of liberation, for you are indeed known as the knower of liberation.
śruto'si naḥ paṇḍito dhīravādī; sādhuśabdaḥ patate te patatrin। kiṃ manyase śreṣṭhatamaṃ dvija tvaṃ; kasmin manaste ramate mahātman ॥12-288-5॥
We have heard of you as a wise and steadfast speaker; your good words fall, O bird. What do you consider the best, O twice-born? In what does your mind find delight, O great-souled one?
tan naḥ kāryaṃ pakṣivara praśādhi; yat kāryāṇāṃ manyase śreṣṭham ekam। yat kṛtvā vai puruṣaḥ sarvabandhair vimucyate vihagendra iha śīghram ॥12-288-6॥
O best of birds, decide for us that action which you consider the best among all actions. That, by doing which, a person is quickly released from all bonds here, O king of birds.
haṁsa uvāca॥
The Swan said.
idaṃ kāryam amṛtāśāḥ śṛṇomi; tapo damaḥ satyam ātmābhiguptiḥ. granthīn vimucya hṛdayasya sarvāḥ; na priyāpriye svaṃ vaśam ānayīta ॥12-288-7॥
"This is what I have heard should be done by those who desire immortality: austerity, self-restraint, truth, and self-protection. Having loosened all the knots of the heart, one should not let oneself be controlled by pleasure or pain."
nāruntudaḥ syānna nṛśaṁsavādī; na hīnataḥ paramabhyādadīta. yayāsya vācā para udvijeta; na tāṁ vaded ruśatīṁ pāpalokyām ॥12-288-8॥
One should neither speak harshly nor utter cruel words; one should not accept gifts from those inferior or superior. Speech that causes distress to others should not be spoken, for such painful words lead to sinful realms.
vāksāyakā vadanānniṣpatanti; yairāhataḥ śocati rātryahāni. parasya nāmarmasu te patanti; tānpaṇḍito nāvasṛjetpareṣu ॥12-288-9॥
Words are like arrows that emerge from the mouth; when someone is struck by them, they grieve day and night. These do not strike the vital parts of another, so a wise person should not direct such words towards others.
paraś cedenam ativāda-bāṇair bhṛśaṃ vidhyec chama eveha kāryaḥ। saṃroṣyamāṇaḥ pratimṛṣyate yaḥ; sa ādatte sukṛtaṃ vai parasya ॥12-288-10॥
If another person wounds you intensely with harsh words, you should practice only forbearance here. Whoever, when provoked to anger, endures it, he indeed acquires the merit of the other person.
kṣepābhimānādabhiṣaṅgavyalīkaṃ; nigṛhṇāti jvalitaṃ yaśca manyum. aduṣṭacetā mudito'nasūyuḥ; sa ādatte sukṛtaṃ vai pareṣām ॥12-288-11॥
He who restrains anger arising from insult, pride, attachment, or falsehood, whose mind is pure, joyful, and free from envy, truly acquires the merit of others.
ākruśyamāno na vadāmi kiṃ cit; kṣamāmyahaṃ tāḍyamānaśca nityam। śreṣṭhaṃ hyetat kṣamamapyāhurāryāḥ; satyaṃ tathaivārjavamānaṛśaṃsyam ॥12-288-12॥
When reviled, I do not utter a word; I always forgive, even when beaten. The noble ones declare that forgiveness is indeed the highest virtue, as are truth, straightforwardness, and compassion.
vedasyopaniṣatsatyaṃ satyasyopaniṣaddamaḥ। damasyopaniṣanmokṣa etatsarvānuśāsanam ॥12-288-13॥
The essence of the Veda is truth; the essence of truth is self-restraint; the essence of self-restraint is liberation. This is the teaching for all.
vāco vegaṃ manasaḥ krodhavegaṃ; vivitsāvegam udaropasthavegam। etān vegān yaḥ viṣahatya udīrṇān; taṃ manye ahaṃ brāhmaṇam vai muniṃ ca ॥12-288-14॥
He who has subdued the impulses of speech, mind, anger, curiosity, belly, and genitals—I consider him truly a brāhmaṇa and a sage.
akrodhanaḥ krudhyatāṃ vai viśiṣṭaḥ; stathā titikṣuratitikṣorviśiṣṭaḥ. amānuṣānmānuṣo vai viśiṣṭaḥ; stathājñānājjñānavānvai pradhānaḥ ॥12-288-15॥
He who is free from anger is superior among the angry; likewise, the patient is superior even to the extremely patient. The human is superior to non-humans; likewise, the wise is foremost among the ignorant.
ākruśyamāno nākrośen manyur eva titikṣataḥ। ākroṣṭāraṃ nirdahati sukṛtaṃ cāsya vindati॥12-288-16॥
When insulted, one should not retaliate; for anger burns the insulter, and the patient person gains merit.
yo nātyuktaḥ prāha rūkṣaṃ priyaṃ vā; yo vā hato na pratihanti dhairyāt. pāpaṃ ca yo neccchati tasya hantu; tasmai devāḥ spṛhayante sadaiva ॥12-288-17॥
The gods always favor the one who does not speak excessively, nor utter harsh or flattering words, who does not retaliate when harmed, and who never desires to commit sin.
pāpīyasaḥ kṣametaiva śreyasaḥ sadṛśasya ca। vimānito hato''kruṣṭa evaṃ siddhiṃ gamiṣyati ॥12-288-18॥
One should forgive those who are more sinful; if insulted, struck, or abused by those who are more virtuous or equals, by acting thus, one attains success.
sadāhamāryānnibhṛto'pyupāse; na me vivitsā na ca me'sti roṣaḥ. na cāpyahaṃ lipsamānaḥ paraimi; na caiva kiñcidviṣameṇa yāmi ॥12-288-19॥
I always serve the noble ones with restraint; I have no desire for knowledge, nor do I harbor anger. I do not seek to gain by approaching others, nor do I pursue anything by unfair means.
nāhaṃ śaptaḥ pratiśapāmi kiṃ cit; damam dvāraṃ hy amṛtasyeha vedmi. guhyaṃ brahma tad idaṃ vo bravīmi; na mānuṣāc chreṣṭhataraṃ hi kiñcit ॥12-288-20॥
I am not cursed, nor do I curse anyone in return; I know that self-restraint is truly the gateway to immortality here. I reveal to you this secret of Brahman: there is indeed nothing superior to a human being.
vimucyamānaḥ pāpebhyo dhanebhya iva candramāḥ। virajāḥ kālamākāṅkṣan dhīro dhairyeṇa sidhyati ॥12-288-21॥
Just as the moon becomes spotless when freed from sins and riches, so too does the wise man, awaiting the right time, achieve success through patience.
yaḥ sarveṣāṃ bhavati hy arcanīya; utsecane stambha ivābhijātaḥ। yasmai vācaṃ supraśastāṃ vadanti; sa vai devān gacchati saṃyatātmā ॥12-288-22॥
He who is revered by all, like a noble-born pillar in ritual, and to whom people speak words of high praise—such a self-restrained person indeed attains the gods.
na tathā vaktum icchanti kalyāṇān puruṣe guṇān। yatha eṣām vaktum icchanti nairguṇyam anuyuñjakāḥ ॥12-288-23॥
Those who pursue fault-finding do not wish to speak of a person's good qualities as much as they wish to speak of their lack of virtue.
yasya vāṅmanasī gupte samyakpraṇihite sadā। vedāstapaśca tyāgaśca sa idaṃ sarvamāpnuyāt ॥12-288-24॥
He whose speech and mind are always properly guarded and directed, attains all—Vedas, austerity, and renunciation.
ākrośanāvamānābhyām abudhād vardhate budhaḥ। tasmān na vardhayed anyaṃ na cātmānaṃ vihiṃsayet ॥12-288-25॥
The wise person grows through abuse and insult from the ignorant; therefore, one should neither cause another to grow (by such means), nor harm oneself.
amṛtasy-eva santṛpyed avamānasya vai dvijaḥ। sukhaṃ hy avamataḥ śete yo'vamantā sa naśyati ॥12-288-26॥
Just as a twice-born is satisfied with nectar, so too with insult; the insulted sleeps peacefully, but the one who insults perishes.
yatkrodhano yajate yaddadāti; yadvā tapastapyati yaj juhoti। vaivasvatastaddharate'sya sarvaṃ; moghaḥ śramo bhavati krodhanasya ॥12-288-27॥
Whatever an angry person may sacrifice, give, perform as austerity, or offer, Yama takes all of it away; the effort of the angry person is in vain.
catvāri yasya dvārāṇi sugupṭāny amarottamāḥ। upastham udaraṃ hastau vāk caturthī sa dharmavit ॥12-288-28॥
He who keeps well-guarded the four doors—genitals, belly, two hands, and speech—is a knower of dharma.
satyaṃ damaṃ hy ārjavamanṛśaṃsyaṃ; dhṛtiṃ titikṣām abhisevamānaḥ। svādhyāyanityo'spṛhayan pareṣā; ekāntaśīly ūrdhvagatir bhavet saḥ॥12-288-29॥
He should be one who is truthful, self-restrained, straightforward, non-cruel, steadfast, forbearing, devoted to self-study, not coveting what belongs to others, solitary in conduct, and aspiring for higher progress.
sarvānetānanucaran vatsavac caturaḥ stanān। na pāvanatamaṃ kiñcit satyād adhyagamaṃ kvacit॥12-288-30॥
Though I followed all these breasts like a clever calf, I did not attain anything purer than truth anywhere.
ācakṣe'haṃ manuṣyebhyo devebhyaḥ pratisañcaran। satyaṃ svargasya sopānaṃ pārāvārasya nauriva ॥12-288-31॥
I declare to men and gods, moving among them: truth is the stairway to heaven, like a boat is to the ocean.
yādṛśaiḥ saṃnivasati yādṛśāṃścopasevate। yādṛgiccheccha bhavituṃ tādṛgbhavati pūruṣaḥ ॥12-288-32॥
A person becomes like those with whom he lives and associates; as is his desire to become, so he becomes.
yadi santaṃ sevate yady asantaṃ; tapasvinaṃ yadi vā stenam eva। vāso yathā raṅgavaśaṃ prayāti; tathā sa teṣāṃ vaśam abhyupaiti ॥12-288-33॥
If a person associates with the virtuous or the unvirtuous, with ascetics or even thieves, just as cloth takes on the color chosen by the dyer, so too does he come under the influence of those he associates with.
sadā devāḥ sādhubhiḥ saṃvadante; na mānuṣaṃ viṣayaṃ yānti draṣṭum. nenduḥ samaḥ syādasamo hi vāyu; ruccāvacaṃ viṣayaṃ yaḥ sa veda ॥12-288-34॥
The gods always converse with the virtuous; they do not go to see human objects. The moon may be equal, but the wind is indeed unequal; he who knows the object of brightness and lowness understands.
aduṣṭaṃ vartamāne tu hṛdayāntarapūruṣe। tenaiva devāḥ prīyante satāṃ mārgasthitena vai ॥12-288-35॥
When a person is not wicked in their present inner heart, it is by such a one alone that the gods are truly pleased—by one who is established in the path of the virtuous.
śiśnodare ye'bhiratāḥ sadaiva; stenā narā vākparuṣāśca nityam। apetadoṣāniti tānviditvā; dūrāddevāḥ samparivarjayanti ॥12-288-36॥
Those who are always devoted to sensual pleasures and food, thieves, and men who are habitually harsh in speech—recognizing them as such and knowing them to be free from faults, the gods keep away from them from a distance.
na vai devā hīnasattvena toṣyāḥ; sarvāśinā duṣkṛtakarmaṇā vā. satyavratā ye tu narāḥ kṛtajñā; dharme ratāstaiḥ saha sambhajante ॥12-288-37॥
The gods are not pleased by those of inferior character, by gluttons, or by those who do evil deeds. Rather, they associate with men who are truthful in their vows, grateful, and devoted to righteousness.
avyāhṛtaṃ vyāhṛtāc chreya āhuḥ; satyaṃ vaded vyāhṛtaṃ tad dvitīyam. dharmaṃ vaded vyāhṛtaṃ tat tṛtīyaṃ; priyaṃ vaded vyāhṛtaṃ tac caturtham ॥12-288-38॥
They say that what is unspoken is superior to what is spoken; speaking the truth is the second best, speaking righteousness is the third, and speaking what is pleasing is the fourth.
sādhyā ūcuḥ॥
The Sādhyas spoke.
kenāyamāvṛto lokaḥ kena vā na prakāśate। kena tyajati mitrāṇi kena svargaṃ na gacchati ॥12-288-39॥
By what is this world enveloped, by what does it not shine forth? By what does a person abandon friends, and by what does one not attain heaven?
haṁsa uvāca॥
The swan said:
ajñānenāvṛto loko mātsaryān na prakāśate। lobhāttyajati mitrāṇi saṅgāt svargaṃ na gacchati ॥12-288-40॥
The world, enveloped in ignorance, does not shine because of envy; out of greed, one abandons friends; due to attachment, one does not attain heaven.
sādhyā ūcuḥ॥
The Sādhyas spoke.
kaḥ svideko ramate brāhmaṇānāṃ; kaḥ svideko bahubhirjoṣamāste। kaḥ svideko balavāndurbalo'pi; kaḥ svideṣāṃ kalahaṃ nānvavaiti ॥12-288-41॥
Who is that one who delights among the Brāhmaṇas? Who is that one who remains at peace among many? Who is that one who is strong even though weak? Who among these does not get involved in quarrels?
haṃsa uvāca॥
The Swan said.
prājña eko ramate brāhmaṇānāṃ; prājña eko bahubhirjoṣamāste। prājña eko balavāndurbalo'pi; prājña eṣāṃ kalahaṃ nānvavaitि ॥12-288-42॥
A wise person alone finds joy among Brāhmaṇas; a wise person alone remains calm even among many; a wise person alone is strong, even if weak; a wise person does not get involved in their quarrels.
sādhyā ūcuḥ॥
The Sādhyas spoke.
kiṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ devatvaṃ kiṃ ca sādhutvam ucyate। asādhutvaṃ ca kiṃ teṣāṃ kimeṣāṃ mānuṣaṃ matam ॥12-288-43॥
What is considered the divinity of Brāhmaṇas, and what is regarded as their virtue? What is their vice, and what is the human opinion about them?
haṁsa uvāca॥
The Swan said.
svādhyāya eṣāṃ devatvaṃ vrataṃ sādhutvam ucyate। asādhutvaṃ parīvādo mṛtyur mānuṣam ucyate ॥12-288-44॥
For these, self-study is considered divinity, vow, and virtue; non-virtue, slander, and death are considered human.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
saṃvāda ity ayaṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sādhyānāṃ parikīrtitaḥ। kṣetraṃ vai karmaṇāṃ yoniḥ sadbhāvaḥ satyam ucyate ॥12-288-45॥
It is declared that this dialogue is excellent among those to be accomplished. The field is indeed the source of actions; true being is said to be truth.
