13.008
Description of the worthy of worship.
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Who are worthy of worship, who are worthy of salutation, whom do you bow to, O Bhārata? Tell me all this, O king, about those whom you desire. (13-8-1)
Even for one who has fallen into the greatest misfortune, wherever your mind abides, in the world of men, in all places, that which is there, here, and even so. (13-8-2)
Bhishma said.
I long for those twice-born whose highest wealth is the Veda, whose own conviction is their heaven, and whose means are austerity and study of the Veda. (13-8-3)
I truly desire those whose elders and children bear the ancestral burden and do not falter. (13-8-4)
Among the virtuous, those who are well-disciplined in knowledge, self-controlled, gentle in speech, endowed with conduct according to the śruti, and who know the good syllables, are praised. (13-8-5)
In assemblies, the voices of those whose speech, like the collective sounds of swans, are auspicious in form, charming, and have the divine resonance of clouds. (13-8-6)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, words that are properly spoken are truly heard when the king is attentive; both in this world and after death, they bring happiness. (13-8-7)
And I also desire those among them who are listeners, always respected in the assembly, endowed with the quality of knowledge. (13-8-8)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, those who give well-prepared, purified, clean, and virtuous foods to the Brāhmaṇas for their satisfaction—O king, I always desire such people. (13-8-9)
It is certainly possible to find many who can fight bravely in battle, O Yudhishthira, and there are hundreds of heroes and valiant men in the world. But among all those, the one who is heroic in giving without envy stands out above the rest. (13-8-10)
O gentle one, may I be fortunate if I am born again, even as a Brāhmaṇa or otherwise, in a family whose path is righteousness and who is devoted to austerity and knowledge. (13-8-11)
O son of Pāṇḍu, in this world, there is no one dearer to me than you. But, O bull among the Bharatas, the Brāhmaṇas are even dearer to me than you. (13-8-12)
O best of Kurus, just as the Brāhmaṇas are dearer to me than you, by that truth may I reach the worlds where Śantanu resides. (13-8-13)
Neither my father was dearer to me than the Brāhmaṇas, nor was my father's father or any other well-wishing people. (13-8-14)
Indeed, I have not found even the slightest sin among the Brāhmaṇas here; whether minute or gross, all is known by those of good deeds. (13-8-15)
O scorcher of foes, whatever I have done towards Brāhmaṇas, whether by action, mind, or speech, for that today I do not atone. (13-8-16)
They call me 'devoted to Brahman'; by that speech I am pleased. This indeed is considered the supreme among all purifiers. (13-8-17)
O father, I see worlds that are pure and spotless, leading to Brahman; among them, I must go, both for a day and for a long time. (13-8-18)
O Yudhishthira, just as for women in this world, dependence on the husband is their duty and he is regarded as god and their only refuge, so too for a Kshatriya and for the twice-born, there is no other refuge. (13-8-19)
Even if a kṣatriya is a hundred years old and a brāhmaṇa only ten, they should be considered as father and son; among them, the brāhmaṇa is to be regarded as the father. (13-8-20)
But when her husband is absent, a woman indeed takes the husband's younger brother as her husband. When a Brāhmaṇa is not available, the earth accepts a Kṣatriya as her husband. (13-8-21)
O best of the Kurus, Brāhmaṇas are to be protected like a son, served like a teacher, and honored like fire. (13-8-22)
One should always serve those who are straightforward, virtuous, truthful in conduct, and devoted to the welfare of all beings; and should serve angry Brāhmaṇas as one would handle venomous snakes. (13-8-23)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, one should always be wary of both brilliance and austerity; both of these are to be abandoned—brilliance and austerity alike. (13-8-24)
O great king, determination quickly arises in both of them. If angry, the brāhmaṇas who are ascetics may kill. (13-8-25)
Furthermore, both offerings should be made to the brāhmaṇa who is not angry. One should take the remainder from both sides, and should not leave any of the given remainder. (13-8-26)
Just as a staff-bearing herdsman should always be firm among cows, so too should the Kṣatriya protect the Brahmins and the Veda in the same way. (13-8-27)
You should protect Brāhmaṇas of spiritual brilliance like a father protects his sons, and in your house you should look after their well-being, ensuring that they have a livelihood here. (13-8-28)
