12.307
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
ऐश्वर्यं वा महत्प्राप्य धनं वा भरतर्षभ। दीर्घमायुरवाप्याथ कथं मृत्युमतिक्रमेत् ॥१२-३०७-१॥
O best of the Bharatas, even if one attains sovereignty, great wealth, or a long life, how could one overcome death? (12-307-1)
तपसा वा सुमहता कर्मणा वा श्रुतेन वा। रसायनप्रयोगैर्वा कैर्नोपैति जरान्तकौ ॥१२-३०७-२॥
Neither by austerity, nor by great deeds, nor by learning, nor by the use of elixirs, can one avoid old age and death. (12-307-2)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। भिक्षोः पञ्चशिखस्येह संवादं जनकस्य च ॥१२-३०७-३॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story: the conversation between the mendicant Pañcaśikha and Janaka that took place here. (12-307-3)
वैदेहो जनको राजा महर्षिं वेदवित्तमम्। पर्यपृच्छत्पञ्चशिखं छिन्नधर्मार्थसंशयम् ॥१२-३०७-४॥
King Janaka of Videha questioned the great sage Pañcaśikha, who was most learned in the Vedas and whose doubts regarding dharma and artha had been dispelled. (12-307-4)
केन वृत्तेन भगवन्नतिक्रामेज्जरान्तकौ। तपसा वाथ बुद्ध्या वा कर्मणा वा श्रुतेन वा ॥१२-३०७-५॥
O revered one, by what conduct may one transcend old age and death—by austerity, or by intellect, or by action, or by learning? (12-307-5)
एवमुक्तः स वैदेहं प्रत्युवाच परोक्षवित्। निवृत्तिर्नैतयोरस्ति नानिवृत्तिः कथञ्चन ॥१२-३०७-६॥
Thus addressed, he, the knower of the unseen, replied to Vaideha: 'For these two, there is neither cessation nor non-cessation in any way.' (12-307-6)
न ह्यहानि निवर्तन्ते न मासा न पुनः क्षपाः। सोऽयं प्रपद्यतेऽध्वानं चिराय ध्रुवमध्रुवः ॥१२-३०७-७॥
Indeed, the days, months, and nights do not return. This uncertain being inevitably sets out on the path for a long time. (12-307-7)
सर्वभूतसमुच्छेदः स्रोतसेवोह्यते सदा। उह्यमानं निमज्जन्तमप्लवे कालसागरे ॥ जरामृत्युमहाग्राहे न कश्चिदभिपद्यते ॥१२-३०७-८॥
The complete destruction of all beings is always carried along by the current, like something being swept away, sinking without a raft in the ocean of time; with the great alligator of old age and death, no one reaches the other shore. (12-307-8)
नैवास्य भविता कश्चिन्नासौ भवति कस्यचित्। पथि सङ्गतमेवेदं दारैरन्यैश्च बन्धुभिः ॥ नायमत्यन्तसंवासो लब्धपूर्वो हि केनचित् ॥१२-३०७-९॥
No one will belong to him, nor does he belong to anyone. On the path, this association with wives, others, and relatives is only a temporary coming together. This is not an eternal association that has ever been obtained by anyone. (12-307-9)
क्षिप्यन्ते तेन तेनैव निष्टनन्तः पुनः पुनः। कालेन जाता जाता हि वायुनेवाभ्रसञ्चयाः ॥१२-३०७-१०॥
Cloud-masses, indeed, born again and again by time, are thrown about by that very (wind), groaning repeatedly, just like (this). (12-307-10)
जरामृत्यू हि भूतानां खादितारौ वृकाविव। बलिनां दुर्बलानां च ह्रस्वानां महतामपि ॥१२-३०७-११॥
Old age and death are indeed the two devourers of beings, like wolves, devouring both the strong and the weak, the small and even the great. (12-307-11)
एवम्भूतेषु भूतेषु नित्यभूताध्रुवेषु च। कथं हृष्येत जातेषु मृतेषु च कथं ज्वरेत् ॥१२-३०७-१२॥
In beings who are by nature impermanent, how can one rejoice at births or grieve at deaths? (12-307-12)
कुतोऽहमागतः कोऽस्मि क्व गमिष्यामि कस्य वा। कस्मिन्स्थितः क्व भविता कस्मात्किमनुशोचसि ॥१२-३०७-१३॥
From where have I come? Who am I? Where will I go? Whose am I? In what am I established? Where will I be? Why do you grieve for what? (12-307-13)
द्रष्टा स्वर्गस्य न ह्यस्ति तथैव नरकस्य च। आगमांस्त्वनतिक्रम्य दद्याच्चैव यजेत च ॥१२-३०७-१४॥
There is no observer of heaven, nor likewise of hell; but, without transgressing the scriptures, one should give and indeed should perform sacrifices. (12-307-14)
