12.307
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
aiśvaryaṃ vā mahatprāpya dhanaṃ vā bharatarṣabha। dīrghamāyuravāpyātha kathaṃ mṛtyumatikramet ॥12-307-1॥
O best of the Bharatas, even if one attains sovereignty, great wealth, or a long life, how could one overcome death? (12-307-1)
tapasā vā sumahatā karmaṇā vā śrutena vā। rasāyanaprayogairvā kairnopaiti jarāntakau ॥12-307-2॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। bhikṣoḥ pañcaśikhasya iha saṃvādaṃ janakasya ca ॥12-307-3॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story: the conversation between the mendicant Pañcaśikha and Janaka that took place here. (12-307-3)
vaideho janako rājā maharṣiṃ vedavittamam। paryapṛcchat pañcaśikhaṃ chinnadharmārthasaṃśayam ॥12-307-4॥
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)
kena vṛttena bhagavann atikrāmej jarāntakau। tapasā vātha buddhyā vā karmaṇā vā śrutena vā ॥12-307-5॥
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)
evam-uktaḥ sa vaidehaṃ pratyuvāca parokṣavit। nivṛttir naitayor asti nānivṛttiḥ kathaṃcana ॥12-307-6॥
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)
na hy ahāni nivartante na māsā na punaḥ kṣapāḥ। so'yaṃ prapadyate'dhvānaṃ cirāya dhruvam adhruvaḥ ॥12-307-7॥
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)
sarvabhūtasamucchedaḥ srotasevohyate sadā। uhyamānaṃ nimajjantamaplave kālasāgare ॥ jarāmṛtyumahāgrāhe na kaścidabhipadyate ॥12-307-8॥
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)
naivāsya bhavitā kaścin nāsau bhavati kasyacit। pathi saṅgatam evedaṃ dārair anyaiś ca bandhubhiḥ ॥ nāyam atyantasaṃvāso labdhapūrvo hi kenacit ॥12-307-9॥
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)
kṣipyante tena tenaiva niṣṭanantaḥ punaḥ punaḥ। kālena jātā jātā hi vāyunevābhrasañcayāḥ ॥12-307-10॥
Cloud-masses, indeed, born again and again by time, are thrown about by that very (wind), groaning repeatedly, just like (this). (12-307-10)
jarāmṛtyū hi bhūtānāṃ khāditārau vṛkāviva। balināṃ durbalānāṃ ca hrasvānāṃ mahatāmapi ॥12-307-11॥
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)
evambhūteṣu bhūteṣu nityabhūtādhruveṣu ca। kathaṃ hṛṣyeta jāteṣu mṛteṣu ca kathaṃ jvaret ॥12-307-12॥
In beings who are by nature impermanent, how can one rejoice at births or grieve at deaths? (12-307-12)
kuto'ham āgataḥ ko'smi kva gamiṣyāmi kasya vā। kasmin sthitaḥ kva bhavitā kasmāt kim anuśocasi ॥12-307-13॥
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)
draṣṭā svargasya na hyasti tathaiva narakasya ca। āgamāṃstvanatikramya dadyāccaiva yajeta ca ॥12-307-14॥
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)
