12.342
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
samutpannābhidhāno'smi vāṅmādhuryeṇa te'nagha। mitratām abhipannas tvāṃ kiñcid vakṣyāmi tac chṛṇu ॥12-342-1॥
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)
gṛhasthadharmaṃ viprendra kṛtvā putragataṃ tv aham। dharmaṃ paramakaṃ kuryāṃ ko hi mārgo bhaved dvija ॥12-342-2॥
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)
aham ātmānam ātmastham eka eva ātmani sthitaḥ। kartuṃ kāṅkṣāmi necchāmi baddhaḥ sādhāraṇair guṇaiḥ ॥12-342-3॥
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)
yāvad-evānatītaṃ me vayaḥ putraphalāśritam। tāvad-icchāmi pātheyam-ādātuṃ pāralaukikam ॥12-342-4॥
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)
asmin hi lokasantāne paraṃ pāram abhīpsataḥ। utpannā me matir iyaṃ kuto dharmamayaḥ plavaḥ ॥12-342-5॥
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)
samuhyamānāni niśamya loke; niryātyamānāni ca sāttvikāni। dṛṣṭvā ca dharmadhvajaketumālāṃ; prakīryamāṇām upari prajānām ॥12-342-6॥
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)
na me mano rajyati bhogakāle; dṛṣṭvā yatīnprārthayataḥ paratra. tenātithe buddhibalāśrayeṇa; dharmārthatattve viniyuṅkṣva māṃ tvam ॥12-342-7॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
so'tithir vacanaṃ tasya śrutvā dharmābhilāṣiṇaḥ। provāca vacanaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ prājño madhurayā girā ॥12-342-8॥
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)
aham apy atra muhyāmi mamāpy eṣa manorathaḥ। na ca saṃniścayaṃ yāmi bahudvāre triviṣṭape ॥12-342-9॥
Even I am confused here; this desire is also mine; I do not attain certainty in the heaven with many doors. (12-342-9)
kecinmokṣaṃ praśaṃsanti kecidyajñaphalaṃ dvijāḥ। vānaprasthāśramaṃ kecidgārhasthyaṃ kecidāśritāḥ ॥12-342-10॥
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)
rājadharmāśrayaṃ kecit kecid ātmaphalāśrayam। gurucaryāśrayaṃ kecit kecid vākyaṃ yamāśrayam ॥12-342-11॥
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)
mātaraṃ pitaraṃ kecicchuśrūṣanto divaṃ gatāḥ। ahiṃsayā pare svargaṃ satyena ca tathā pare ॥12-342-12॥
Some, by serving their mother and father, have attained heaven; others, by non-violence; others, by truth, and likewise others. (12-342-12)
āhave'bhimukhāḥ kecinnihatāḥ sviddivaṃ gatāḥ। keciduñchavrataiḥ siddhāḥ svargamārgasamāśritāḥ ॥12-342-13॥
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)
kecidadhyayane yuktā vedavrataparāḥ śubhāḥ। buddhimanto gatāḥ svargaṃ tuṣṭātmāno jitendriyāḥ ॥12-342-14॥
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)
ārjavenāpare yuktā nihatānārjavair janaiḥ। ṛjavo nākapṛṣṭhe vai śuddhātmānaḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ ॥12-342-15॥
Others, through honesty, are overcome by honest people. The truly honest, with pure souls, are established in the highest heaven. (12-342-15)
evaṃ bahuvidhairloke dharmadvārairanāvṛtaiḥ। mamāpi matirāvignā meghalekheva vāyunā ॥12-342-16॥
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)
