12.342
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
समुत्पन्नाभिधानोऽस्मि वाङ्माधुर्येण तेऽनघ। मित्रतामभिपन्नस्त्वां किञ्चिद्वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु ॥१२-३४२-१॥
O sinless one, I am called 'Arisen' because of the sweetness of your speech; having attained your friendship, I will say something to you—listen to that. (12-342-1)
गृहस्थधर्मं विप्रेन्द्र कृत्वा पुत्रगतं त्वहम्। धर्मं परमकं कुर्यां को हि मार्गो भवेद्द्विज ॥१२-३४२-२॥
O best of Brāhmaṇas, having fulfilled the duties of a householder and passed them on to my son, what supreme duty should I now perform? O twice-born, which indeed is the path I should follow? (12-342-2)
अहमात्मानमात्मस्थमेक एवात्मनि स्थितः। कर्तुं काङ्क्षामि नेच्छामि बद्धः साधारणैर्गुणैः ॥१२-३४२-३॥
I, being one, established in the self and situated in the self, desire to act but do not wish, being bound by common qualities. (12-342-3)
यावदेवानतीतं मे वयः पुत्रफलाश्रितम्। तावदिच्छामि पाथेयमादातुं पारलौकिकम् ॥१२-३४२-४॥
As long as my life, which is still dependent on the results of having a son, continues, I wish to acquire provisions for the journey to the next world. (12-342-4)
अस्मिन्हि लोकसन्ताने परं पारमभीप्सतः। उत्पन्ना मे मतिरियं कुतो धर्ममयः प्लवः ॥१२-३४२-५॥
Indeed, in this succession of worlds, as I desire to reach the highest shore, this thought has arisen in me: from where is the raft made of dharma? (12-342-5)
समुह्यमानानि निशम्य लोके; निर्यात्यमानानि च सात्त्विकानि। दृष्ट्वा च धर्मध्वजकेतुमालां; प्रकीर्यमाणामुपरि प्रजानाम् ॥१२-३४२-६॥
Having heard in the world of those being gathered together and the pure ones being sent out, and having seen the garland of dharma banners being scattered above the people. (12-342-6)
न मे मनो रज्यति भोगकाले; दृष्ट्वा यतीन्प्रार्थयतः परत्र। तेनातिथे बुद्धिबलाश्रयेण; धर्मार्थतत्त्वे विनियुङ्क्ष्व मां त्वम् ॥१२-३४२-७॥
My mind does not delight in times of enjoyment, having seen ascetics praying for the hereafter. Therefore, O guest, with the support of intellectual strength, engage me in the essence of dharma and artha. (12-342-7)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
सोऽतिथिर्वचनं तस्य श्रुत्वा धर्माभिलाषिणः। प्रोवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं प्राज्ञो मधुरया गिरा ॥१२-३४२-८॥
The guest, upon hearing the words of the one who desired righteousness, the wise man spoke gentle words in a sweet voice. (12-342-8)
अहमप्यत्र मुह्यामि ममाप्येष मनोरथः। न च संनिश्चयं यामि बहुद्वारे त्रिविष्टपे ॥१२-३४२-९॥
Even I am confused here; this desire is also mine; I do not attain certainty in the heaven with many doors. (12-342-9)
केचिन्मोक्षं प्रशंसन्ति केचिद्यज्ञफलं द्विजाः। वानप्रस्थाश्रमं केचिद्गार्हस्थ्यं केचिदाश्रिताः ॥१२-३४२-१०॥
Some praise liberation, some of the twice-born praise the fruit of sacrifice; some have adopted the hermitage stage, while others have taken to the life of a householder. (12-342-10)
राजधर्माश्रयं केचित्केचिदात्मफलाश्रयम्। गुरुचर्याश्रयं केचित्केचिद्वाक्यं यमाश्रयम् ॥१२-३४२-११॥
Some rely on royal duties, some on the fruits of the self; some follow the conduct of the teacher, and some rely on words based on restraint. (12-342-11)
मातरं पितरं केचिच्छुश्रूषन्तो दिवं गताः। अहिंसया परे स्वर्गं सत्येन च तथा परे ॥१२-३४२-१२॥
Some, by serving their mother and father, have attained heaven; others, by non-violence; others, by truth, and likewise others. (12-342-12)
आहवेऽभिमुखाः केचिन्निहताः स्विद्दिवं गताः। केचिदुञ्छव्रतैः सिद्धाः स्वर्गमार्गसमाश्रिताः ॥१२-३४२-१३॥
Some, facing the enemy in battle, were slain and perhaps have gone to heaven; others, perfected by the vow of gleaning, have resorted to the path to heaven. (12-342-13)
केचिदध्ययने युक्ता वेदव्रतपराः शुभाः। बुद्धिमन्तो गताः स्वर्गं तुष्टात्मानो जितेन्द्रियाः ॥१२-३४२-१४॥
Some, engaged in study and devoted to Vedic vows, being auspicious and wise, have attained heaven, being content in themselves and having conquered their senses. (12-342-14)
आर्जवेनापरे युक्ता निहतानार्जवैर्जनैः। ऋजवो नाकपृष्ठे वै शुद्धात्मानः प्रतिष्ठिताः ॥१२-३४२-१५॥
Others, through honesty, are overcome by honest people. The truly honest, with pure souls, are established in the highest heaven. (12-342-15)
एवं बहुविधैर्लोके धर्मद्वारैरनावृतैः। ममापि मतिराविग्ना मेघलेखेव वायुना ॥१२-३४२-१६॥
In this way, though there are many unobstructed doors of dharma in the world, even my mind is disturbed, like a streak of cloud by the wind. (12-342-16)
