13.035
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
जन्मनैव महाभागो ब्राह्मणो नाम जायते। नमस्यः सर्वभूतानामतिथिः प्रसृताग्रभुक् ॥१३-३५-१॥
A brāhmaṇa, greatly fortunate, is by birth called such; he is worthy of reverence, the guest of all beings, and the one who partakes of what is first offered. (13-35-1)
सर्वान्नः सुहृदस्तात ब्राह्मणाः सुमनोमुखाः। गीर्भिर्मङ्गलयुक्ताभिरनुध्यायन्ति पूजिताः ॥१३-३५-२॥
Dear one, the brāhmaṇas, who are well-wishers to all and partake of all food, with pleasant faces and auspicious words, being honored, meditate upon you. (13-35-2)
सर्वान्नो द्विषतस्तात ब्राह्मणा जातमन्यवः। गीर्भिर्दारुणयुक्ताभिरभिहन्युरपूजिताः ॥१३-३५-३॥
Dear one, all our enemies, the brāhmaṇas whose anger has arisen, if not honored, might attack us with harsh words. (13-35-3)
अत्र गाथा ब्रह्मगीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः। सृष्ट्वा द्विजातीन्धाता हि यथापूर्वं समादधत् ॥१३-३५-४॥
Here, the knowers of old recite verses called the songs of Brahman; having created the twice-born, the creator indeed established them as before. (13-35-4)
न वोऽन्यदिह कर्तव्यं किञ्चिदूर्ध्वं यथाविधि। गुप्ता गोपायत ब्रह्म श्रेयो वस्तेन शोभनम् ॥१३-३५-५॥
You have nothing else to do here beyond what is prescribed by rule. Protect the Veda, and by means of wealth, protect the highest good, which is excellent. (13-35-5)
स्वमेव कुर्वतां कर्म श्रीर्वो ब्राह्मी भविष्यति। प्रमाणं सर्वभूतानां प्रग्रहं च गमिष्यथ ॥१३-३५-६॥
For those who perform their own actions, brahmanic prosperity will be yours; you will become the standard for all beings and attain acceptance. (13-35-6)
न शौद्रं कर्म कर्तव्यं ब्राह्मणेन विपश्चिता। शौद्रं हि कुर्वतः कर्म धर्मः समुपरुध्यते ॥१३-३५-७॥
A wise brāhmaṇa should not perform the work of a śūdra. For one who does the work of a śūdra, righteousness is indeed hindered. (13-35-7)
श्रीश्च बुद्धिश्च तेजश्च विभूतिश्च प्रतापिनी। स्वाध्यायेनैव माहात्म्यं विमलं प्रतिपत्स्यथ ॥१३-३५-८॥
You will attain pure greatness—prosperity, intellect, splendor, power, and radiance—indeed, by self-study. (13-35-8)
हुत्वा चाहवनीयस्थं महाभाग्ये प्रतिष्ठिताः। अग्रभोज्याः प्रसूतीनां श्रिया ब्राह्म्यानुकल्पिताः ॥१३-३५-९॥
Having offered and placed on the Ahavanīya fire, established in great fortune, the foremost portions to be eaten of the offspring, endowed with prosperity, are arranged according to the Brahmanical order. (13-35-9)
श्रद्धया परया युक्ता ह्यनभिद्रोहलब्धया। दमस्वाध्यायनिरताः सर्वान्कामानवाप्स्यथ ॥१३-३५-१०॥
Endowed with supreme faith and engaged in what is obtained without hostility, devoted to self-restraint and self-study, you will attain all desires. (13-35-10)
यच्चैव मानुषे लोके यच्च देवेषु किञ्चन। सर्वं तत्तपसा साध्यं ज्ञानेन विनयेन च ॥१३-३५-११॥
Whatever exists in the human world and whatever among the gods, all of that can be accomplished by austerity, by knowledge, and by humility. (13-35-11)
इत्येता ब्रह्मगीतास्ते समाख्याता मयानघ। विप्रानुकम्पार्थमिदं तेन प्रोक्तं हि धीमता ॥१३-३५-१२॥
Thus, O sinless one, these Brahma Gītās have been fully explained to you by me; this was spoken by the wise for the sake of compassion for the Brāhmaṇa. (13-35-12)
भूयस्तेषां बलं मन्ये यथा राज्ञस्तपस्विनः। दुरासदाश्च चण्डाश्च रभसाः क्षिप्रकारिणः ॥१३-३५-१३॥
I think their strength is even greater, like that of the king ascetic; they are difficult to approach, fierce, impetuous, and quick to act. (13-35-13)
सन्त्येषां सिंहसत्त्वाश्च व्याघ्रसत्त्वास्तथापरे। वराहमृगसत्त्वाश्च गजसत्त्वास्तथापरे ॥१३-३५-१४॥
Among these, there are beings with the nature of lions, and others with the nature of tigers; likewise, there are others with the nature of boars and deer, and others with the nature of elephants. (13-35-14)
कर्पासमृदवः केचित्तथान्ये मकरस्पृशः। विभाष्यघातिनः केचित्तथा चक्षुर्हणोऽपरे ॥१३-३५-१५॥
Some are as soft as cotton, others touch like crocodiles; some kill with words, others are destroyers of sight. (13-35-15)
सन्ति चाशीविषनिभाः सन्ति मन्दास्तथापरे। विविधानीह वृत्तानि ब्राह्मणानां युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-३५-१६॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, among the brāhmaṇas here, there are some whose conduct is like venomous snakes, there are others who are dull, and there are various other types of conduct as well. (13-35-16)
मेकला द्रमिडाः काशाः पौण्ड्राः कोल्लगिरास्तथा। शौण्डिका दरदा दर्वाश्चौराः शबरबर्बराः ॥१३-३५-१७॥
The Mekalas, Dravidians, Kāśas, Pauṇḍras, Kollagiris, as well as the Śauṇḍikas, Daradas, Darvas, thieves, Śabaras, and Barbaras. (13-35-17)
किराता यवनाश्चैव तास्ताः क्षत्रियजातयः। वृषलत्वमनुप्राप्ता ब्राह्मणानामदर्शनात् ॥१३-३५-१८॥
The Kirātas, Yavanas, and all those Kṣatriya lineages have become outcastes because of the absence of Brāhmaṇas. (13-35-18)
ब्राह्मणानां परिभवादसुराः सलिलेशयाः। ब्राह्मणानां प्रसादाच्च देवाः स्वर्गनिवासिनः ॥१३-३५-१९॥
Because of disrespect towards the Brāhmaṇas, the Asuras became dwellers in water; and by the favor of the Brāhmaṇas, the Devas became inhabitants of heaven. (13-35-19)
अशक्यं स्प्रष्टुमाकाशमचाल्यो हिमवान्गिरिः। अवार्या सेतुना गङ्गा दुर्जया ब्राह्मणा भुवि ॥१३-३५-२०॥
It is impossible to touch the sky; the Himalaya mountain cannot be moved; the Ganga cannot be obstructed by a bridge; and Brahmanas are invincible on earth. (13-35-20)
न ब्राह्मणविरोधेन शक्या शास्तुं वसुन्धरा। ब्राह्मणा हि महात्मानो देवानामपि देवताः ॥१३-३५-२१॥
The earth cannot be ruled by opposing a brāhmaṇa; for brāhmaṇas are truly great-souled, and are even regarded as the deities of the gods. (13-35-21)
तान्पूजयस्व सततं दानेन परिचर्यया। यदीच्छसि महीं भोक्तुमिमां सागरमेखलाम् ॥१३-३५-२२॥
Always honour them with gifts and service, if you wish to enjoy this earth girdled by the ocean. (13-35-22)
प्रतिग्रहेण तेजो हि विप्राणां शाम्यतेऽनघ। प्रतिग्रहं ये नेच्छेयुस्तेऽपि रक्ष्यास्त्वयानघ ॥१३-३५-२३॥
O sinless one, by accepting gifts, the splendor of Brāhmaṇas is indeed diminished. Those who do not desire to accept gifts are also to be protected by you, O sinless one. (13-35-23)
