12.314
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
etacchrutvā tu vacanaṃ kṛtātmā kṛtaniścayaḥ। ātmanātmānam āsthāya dṛṣṭvā cātmānam ātmanā ॥12-314-1॥
Having heard this speech, the self-controlled and resolute one, relying on his own self and perceiving the self by the self, acted accordingly. (12-314-1)
kṛtakāryaḥ sukhī śāntastūṣṇīṃ prāyādudaṅmukhaḥ। śaiśiraṃ girimuddiśya sadharmā mātariśvanaḥ ॥12-314-2॥
Having accomplished his task, happy and peaceful, he silently departed facing north, directing himself towards the Himālaya mountain, as a companion in dharma of Mātariśvan (the Wind-god). (12-314-2)
etasminn eva kāle tu devarṣir nāradas tadā। himavantam iyād draṣṭuṃ siddhacāraṇasevitam ॥12-314-3॥
At that very time, the divine sage Nārada went to the Himalaya, which was frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas, to see it. (12-314-3)
tam apsarogaṇākīrṇaṃ gītasvananināditam। kiṃnarāṇāṃ samūhaiś ca bhṛṅgarājais tathaiva ca ॥12-314-4॥
That place, filled with groups of apsarases, resounded with the sound of singing, and was likewise accompanied by groups of kinnaras and king bees. (12-314-4)
madgubhiḥ khañjarīṭaiś ca vicitrair jīvajīvakaiḥ। citravarṇair mayūraiś ca kekāśatavirājitaiḥ॥ rājahaṃsasamūhaiś ca hṛṣṭaiḥ parabhṛtais tathā॥12-314-5॥
There were dabchicks, wagtails, various jīvajīvaka birds, peacocks of many colors resounding with hundreds of cries, as well as flocks of royal swans and joyful songbirds. (12-314-5)
pakṣirājo garutmāṁś ca yaṁ nityam adhigacchati। catvāro lokapālāś ca devāḥ saṛṣigaṇās tathā ॥ yatra nityaṁ samāyānti lokasya hitakāmyayā ॥12-314-6॥
The king of birds, Garuda, always approaches him; the four guardians of the worlds, the gods, and groups of sages also always assemble there with the desire for the welfare of the world. (12-314-6)
viṣṇunā yatra putrārthe tapastaptaṃ mahātmanā। yatraiva ca kumāreṇa bālye kṣiptā divaukasaḥ ॥12-314-7॥
Where Viṣṇu, for the sake of a son, performed austerities as a great soul; and in that very place, the boy in his childhood cast out the dwellers of heaven. (12-314-7)
śaktir-nyastā kṣititale trailokyam-avamanya vai। yatrovāca jagat-skandaḥ kṣipan-vākyam-idaṃ tadā ॥12-314-8॥
When the power was laid down on the surface of the earth, disregarding the three worlds indeed, there Skanda, the lord of the world, spoke these words at that time. (12-314-8)
yo'anyo'sti matto'bhyadhiko viprā yasya'dhikaṃ priyāḥ। yo brahmaṇyo dvitīyo'sti triṣu lokeṣu vīryavān ॥12-314-9॥
O Brāhmaṇas, if there is any other who is superior to me, whose dear ones are more; who is the second devoted to Brahman, powerful in the three worlds. (12-314-9)
so'bhyuddharatvimāṃ śaktimatha vā kampayatviti। tacchrutvā vyathitā lokāḥ ka imāmuddharediti ॥12-314-10॥
He may lift up this power, or may he shake it, thus. Hearing that, the distressed worlds said, "Who can lift this?" (12-314-10)
atha devagaṇaṃ sarvaṃ sambhrāntendriyamānasam। apaśyad bhagavān viṣṇuḥ kṣiptaṃ sāsurarākṣasam ॥ kiṃ nv atra sukṛtaṃ kāryaṃ bhaved iti vicintayan ॥12-314-11॥
Then the blessed Viṣṇu saw that the entire host of gods, along with the asuras and rākṣasas, were disturbed and their senses and minds were agitated. Pondering, he thought, "What good deed should be done here?" (12-314-11)
sa nāmṛṣyata taṃ kṣepamavaikṣata ca pāvakim। sa prahasya viśuddhātmā śaktiṃ prajvalitāṃ tadā ॥ kampayāmāsa savyena pāṇinā puruṣottamaḥ ॥12-314-12॥
He could not tolerate that attack and looked at the fiery weapon. Smiling, the pure-hearted hero then shook the blazing spear with his left hand, the best among men. (12-314-12)
śaktyāṃ tu kampamānāyāṃ viṣṇunā balinā tadā। medinī kampitā sarvā saśailavanakānanā ॥12-314-13॥
But when the energy trembled, the powerful Viṣṇu shook the entire earth along with her mountains, forests, and groves. (12-314-13)
śaktenāpi samuddhartuṃ kampitā sā na tūddhṛtā। rakṣatā skandarājasya dharṣaṇāṃ prabhaviṣṇunā ॥12-314-14॥
Even though she was shaken by the powerful one in an attempt to completely lift her, she was not lifted. The mighty Viṣṇu, protector of Skanda king, repelled the attack. (12-314-14)
tāṃ kampayitvā bhagavān prahrādam idam abravīt। paśya vīryaṃ kumārasya na etad anyaḥ kariṣyati ॥12-314-15॥
After shaking her, the Lord said to Prahlāda, "See the strength of this boy; no one else will do this." (12-314-15)
so' mṛṣyamāṇas tad vākyaṃ samuddharaṇa-niścitaḥ। jagrāha tāṃ tasya śaktiṃ na ca enām api akampayat ॥12-314-16॥
He, unable to tolerate those words and resolved to remove her, seized his spear, but even then did not shake her. (12-314-16)
nādaṃ mahāntaṃ muktvā sa mūrcchito girimūrdhani। vihvalaḥ prāpatadbhūmau hiraṇyakaśipoḥ sutaḥ ॥12-314-17॥
After letting out a great cry, he fainted atop the mountain; overcome with distress, the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu collapsed to the ground. (12-314-17)
yatrāttarāṃ diśaṃ gatvā śailarājasya pārśvataḥ। tapo'tapyata durdharṣastāta nityaṃ vṛṣadhvajaḥ ॥12-314-18॥
O dear one, in the northern direction, beside the king of mountains, the unassailable Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva) always practiced austerity. (12-314-18)
pāvakena parikṣipto dīpyatā tasya cāśramaḥ। ādityabandhanaṃ nāma durdharṣam akṛtātmabhiḥ ॥12-314-19॥
His hermitage, named the 'Āditya-bond', was surrounded by blazing fire and was unassailable by those who had not mastered themselves. (12-314-19)
na tatra śakyate gantuṃ yakṣa-rākṣasa-dānavaiḥ। daśa-yojana-vistāram agni-jvālā-samāvṛtam ॥12-314-20॥
It is not possible for yakṣas, rākṣasas, or dānavas to go there; it is an expanse of ten yojanas enveloped by flames of fire. (12-314-20)
bhagavān pāvakas tatra svayaṃ tiṣṭhati vīryavān। sarva-vighnān praśamayan mahādevasya dhīmataḥ ॥12-314-21॥
There, the illustrious Agni himself stands, powerful, removing all obstacles for the wise Mahadeva. (12-314-21)
divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ hi pādenaikena tiṣṭhataḥ। devānsantāpayaṃstatra mahādevo dhṛtavrataḥ ॥12-314-22॥
Mahadeva, firm in his vow, stood there on one foot for a thousand divine years, tormenting the gods. (12-314-22)
aindrīṃ tu diśam āsthāya śailarājasya dhīmataḥ। vivikte parvatataṭe pārāśaryo mahātapāḥ ॥ vedān adhyāpayām āsa vyāsaḥ śiṣyān mahātapāḥ ॥12-314-23॥
Vyāsa, the great ascetic and son of Parāśara, having taken up residence in the direction of Indra on a solitary slope of the wise king of mountains, taught the Vedas to his disciples. (12-314-23)
sumantuṃ ca mahābhāgaṃ vaiśampāyanam-eva ca। jaiminiṃ ca mahāprājñaṃ pailaṃ ca-api tapasvinam ॥12-314-24॥
Sumantu, the greatly fortunate; Vaiśampāyana; Jaimini, the greatly wise; and Paila, the ascetic, (12-314-24)
ebhiḥ śiṣyaiḥ parivṛto vyāsa āste mahātapāḥ। tatra āśrama-padaṃ puṇyaṃ dadarśa pitur uttamam ॥ āraṇeyo viśuddhātmā nabhasīva divākaraḥ ॥12-314-25॥
Surrounded by these disciples, the great ascetic Vyāsa sat. There he saw the holy hermitage of his excellent father. The son of Araṇi, pure in soul, shone like the sun in the sky. (12-314-25)
atha vyāsaḥ parikṣiptaṃ jvalantam iva pāvakam। dadarśa sutam āyāntam divākara-sama-prabham ॥12-314-26॥
Then Vyāsa, encircled and blazing like fire, saw his son approaching, whose brilliance was equal to that of the sun. (12-314-26)
asajjamānaṃ vṛkṣeṣu śaileṣu viṣameṣu ca। yogayuktaṃ mahātmānaṃ yathā bāṇaṃ guṇacyutam ॥12-314-27॥
Just as an arrow released from the bowstring does not cling to trees, mountains, or uneven places, so too the great-souled one engaged in yoga remains unattached. (12-314-27)
so'bhigamya pituḥ pādāv agṛhṇād araṇīsutaḥ। yathopajoṣaṃ taiś cāpi samāgacchan mahāmuniḥ ॥12-314-28॥
The son of Araṇi, having approached, grasped his father's feet; then, with affection, the great sage joined with them as well. (12-314-28)
tato nivedayāmāsa pitre sarvamaśeṣataḥ। śuko janakarājena saṃvādaṃ prītamānasaḥ ॥12-314-29॥
Then Śuka, his mind delighted, informed his father of the entire conversation he had with King Janaka, leaving nothing out. (12-314-29)
evam adhyāpayañ śiṣyān vyāsaḥ putraṃ ca vīryavān। uvāsa himavatpṛṣṭhe pārāśaryo mahāmuniḥ ॥12-314-30॥
Thus, the powerful Vyāsa, son of Parāśara and great sage, taught his disciples and his son while residing on the slopes of the Himalayas. (12-314-30)
tataḥ kadācicchiṣyās taṃ parivāryāvatasthire। vedādhyayana-sampannāḥ śāntātmāno jitendriyāḥ ॥12-314-31॥
Then, once, the disciples, accomplished in Vedic study, peaceful in mind and self-controlled, gathered around him and stood. (12-314-31)
vedeṣu niṣṭhāṃ samprāpya sāṅgeṣv atitapasvinaḥ। athocus te tadā vyāsaṃ śiṣyāḥ prāñjalayo gurum ॥12-314-32॥
Having attained steadfastness in the Vedas and their auxiliaries, those disciples of great austerity then, with folded hands, spoke to their teacher Vyāsa. (12-314-32)
mahatā śreyasā yuktā yaśasā ca sma vardhitāḥ। ekaṃ tvidānīmicchāmo guruṇānugrahaṃ kṛtam ॥12-314-33॥
Endowed with great excellence and fame, we have indeed grown. But now, we desire one thing: the favor bestowed by the teacher. (12-314-33)
iti teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā brahmarṣīs tān uvāca ha। ucyatām iti tad vatsā yad vaḥ kāryaṃ priyaṃ mayā ॥12-314-34॥
Having heard their words, he addressed those Brahmarṣis and said: "O dear ones, let it be told what task of yours is dear to me." (12-314-34)
etadvākyaṃ guroḥ śrutvā śiṣyāste hṛṣṭamānasāḥ। punaḥ prāñjalayo bhūtvā praṇamya śirasā gurum ॥12-314-35॥
Having heard this speech of the teacher, the disciples, their minds gladdened, again became reverent with folded hands and bowed their heads to the teacher. (12-314-35)
ūcus te sahitā rājan idaṃ vacanam uttamam। yadi prīta upādhyāyo dhanyāḥ smo munisattama ॥12-314-36॥
They all said together to the king this excellent statement: "If the preceptor is pleased, we are blessed, O best of sages." (12-314-36)
kāṅkṣāmas tu vayaṃ sarve varaṃ dattaṃ maharṣiṇā। ṣaṣṭhaḥ śiṣyo na te khyātiṃ gacched atra prasīda naḥ ॥12-314-37॥
We all desire the boon given by the great sage; let the sixth disciple not attain your fame here; please be gracious to us. (12-314-37)
catvāras te vayaṃ śiṣyā guruputraś ca pañcamaḥ। iha vedāḥ pratiṣṭheran eṣa naḥ kāṅkṣito varaḥ ॥12-314-38॥
We are your four disciples, and the teacher's son is the fifth; may the Vedas be established here—this is the boon we desire. (12-314-38)
śiṣyāṇāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā vyāso vedārthatattvavit। parāśarātmajo dhīmān paralokārthacintakaḥ ॥ uvāca śiṣyān dharmātmā dharmyaṃ naiḥśreyasaṃ vacaḥ ॥12-314-39॥
Having listened to the words of his disciples, Vyāsa, the wise son of Parāśara, knower of the essence of the Vedas and one who contemplates the purpose of the next world, spoke to his disciples a righteous and supremely beneficial discourse. (12-314-39)
brāhmaṇāya sadā deyaṃ brahma śuśrūṣave bhavet. brahmaloke nivāsaṃ yo dhruvaṃ samabhikāṅkṣati ॥12-314-40॥
The Veda should always be given to the brāhmaṇa who desires to serve it; for whoever earnestly desires a permanent residence in the world of Brahma. (12-314-40)
bhavanto bahulāḥ santu vedo vistāryatāmayam। nāśiṣye sampradātavyo nāvrate nākṛtātmani ॥12-314-41॥
Let you all be numerous, let this Veda be expanded; but it should not be imparted to one who is not a student, nor to one without vows, nor to one who is undisciplined in self. (12-314-41)
ete śiṣyaguṇāḥ sarve vijñātavyā yathārthataḥ। nāparīkṣitacāritre vidyā deyā kathaṃcana ॥12-314-42॥
All these qualities of a student should be truly understood. Knowledge should never be imparted in any way to one whose character has not been examined. (12-314-42)
yathā hi kanakaṃ śuddhaṃ tāpacchedanigharṣaṇaiḥ। parīkṣeta tathā śiṣyānīkṣetkulaguṇādibhiḥ ॥12-314-43॥
Just as pure gold is tested by heating, cutting, and rubbing, so too should disciples be examined by their family, qualities, and other such factors. (12-314-43)
na niyojyāś ca vaḥ śiṣyā aniyoge mahābhaye। yathāmati yathāpāṭhaṃ tathā vidyā phaliṣyati ॥12-314-44॥
Your disciples should not be engaged when there is no engagement or in great danger. Knowledge will bear fruit according to one's intellect and recitation. (12-314-44)
sarvastaratu durgāṇi sarvo bhadrāṇi paśyatu। śrāvayeccaturo varṇānkṛtvā brāhmaṇamagrataḥ ॥12-314-45॥
May everyone overcome difficulties, may everyone see auspicious things. Let the four castes be made to hear, with the brāhmaṇa placed at the front. (12-314-45)
vedasyādhyayanaṃ hīdaṃ tacca kāryaṃ mahatsmṛtam। stutyarthamiha devānāṃ vedāḥ sṛṣṭāḥ svayambhuvā ॥12-314-46॥
The study of the Veda, indeed, this and that also, is considered a great duty; for the purpose of praising the gods here, the Vedas were created by the self-born. (12-314-46)
yo nirvadeta saṁmohād brāhmaṇaṁ vedapāragam। so'padhyānād brāhmaṇasya parābhūyād asaṁśayam ॥12-314-47॥
Whoever, out of delusion, blames a brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Vedas, he will certainly be defeated due to the brāhmaṇa's wrong meditation, without doubt. (12-314-47)
yaś cā-dharmeṇa vibrūyād yaś cā-dharmeṇa pṛcchati। tayor anyataraḥ praīti vidveṣaṃ vā adhigacchati ॥12-314-48॥
Whoever declares by unrighteousness, and whoever asks by unrighteousness—of those two, either one goes to or attains enmity. (12-314-48)
etad vaḥ sarvam ākhyātaṃ svādhyāyasya vidhiṃ prati। upakuryāc ca śiṣyāṇām etac ca hṛdi vo bhavet ॥12-314-49॥
All this has been explained to you regarding the procedure of self-study; it should benefit the students, and this should remain in your hearts. (12-314-49)
