13.035
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
janmanaiva mahābhāgo brāhmaṇo nāma jāyate। namasyaḥ sarvabhūtānāmatithiḥ prasṛtāgrabhuk ॥13-35-1॥
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)
sarvānnaḥ suhṛdastāta brāhmaṇāḥ sumanomukhāḥ। gīrbhirmaṅgalayuktābhiranudhyāyanti pūjitāḥ ॥13-35-2॥
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)
sarvānno dviṣatastāta brāhmaṇā jātamanyavaḥ। gīrbhir dāruṇayuktābhir abhihanyur apūjitāḥ ॥13-35-3॥
Dear one, all our enemies, the brāhmaṇas whose anger has arisen, if not honored, might attack us with harsh words. (13-35-3)
atra gāthā brahmagītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ। sṛṣṭvā dvijātīndhātā hi yathāpūrvaṃ samādadhat ॥13-35-4॥
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)
na vo'nyadiha kartavyaṃ kiñcidūrdhvaṃ yathāvidhi। guptā gopāyata brahma śreyo vastena śobhanam ॥13-35-5॥
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)
svam eva kurvatāṃ karma śrīr vo brāhmī bhaviṣyati। pramāṇaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ pragrahaṃ ca gamiṣyatha ॥13-35-6॥
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)
na śaudraṃ karma kartavyaṃ brāhmaṇena vipaścitā। śaudraṃ hi kurvataḥ karma dharmaḥ samuparudhyate ॥13-35-7॥
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)
śrīś ca buddhiś ca tejaś ca vibhūtiś ca pratāpinī। svādhyāyenaiva māhātmyaṃ vimalaṃ pratipatsyatha ॥13-35-8॥
You will attain pure greatness—prosperity, intellect, splendor, power, and radiance—indeed, by self-study. (13-35-8)
hutvā cāhavanīyasthaṃ mahābhāgye pratiṣṭhitāḥ। agrabhojyāḥ prasūtīnāṃ śriyā brāhmyānukalpitāḥ ॥13-35-9॥
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)
śraddhayā parayā yuktā hy anabhidrohalabdhayā। damasvādhyāyaniratāḥ sarvān kāmān avāpsyatha ॥13-35-10॥
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)
yac caiva mānuṣe loke yac ca deveṣu kiñcana। sarvaṃ tat tapasā sādhyam jñānena vinayena ca ॥13-35-11॥
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)
ity etā brahmagītās te samākhyātā mayānagha। viprānukampārtham idaṃ tena proktaṃ hi dhīmatā ॥13-35-12॥
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)
bhūyasteṣāṃ balaṃ manye yathā rājñastapasvinaḥ। durāsadāś ca caṇḍāś ca rabhasāḥ kṣiprakāriṇaḥ ॥13-35-13॥
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)
santyeṣāṃ siṃhasattvāś ca vyāghrasattvās tathāpare। varāhamṛgasattvāś ca gajasattvās tathāpare ॥13-35-14॥
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)
karpāsamṛdavaḥ kecittathānye makaraspṛśaḥ। vibhāṣyaghātinaḥ kecittathā cakṣurhaṇo'pare ॥13-35-15॥
Some are as soft as cotton, others touch like crocodiles; some kill with words, others are destroyers of sight. (13-35-15)
santi ca āśīviṣanibhāḥ santi mandās tathāpare। vividhāni iha vṛttāni brāhmaṇānām yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-35-16॥
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)
mekalā dramiḍāḥ kāśāḥ pauṇḍrāḥ kollagirās tathā। śauṇḍikā daradā darvāś caurāḥ śabarabarbarāḥ ॥13-35-17॥
The Mekalas, Dravidians, Kāśas, Pauṇḍras, Kollagiris, as well as the Śauṇḍikas, Daradas, Darvas, thieves, Śabaras, and Barbaras. (13-35-17)
kirātā yavanāścaiva tāstāḥ kṣatriyajātayaḥ। vṛṣalatvamanuprāptā brāhmaṇānāmadarśanāt ॥13-35-18॥
The Kirātas, Yavanas, and all those Kṣatriya lineages have become outcastes because of the absence of Brāhmaṇas. (13-35-18)
brāhmaṇānāṃ paribhavādasurāḥ salileśayāḥ। brāhmaṇānāṃ prasādācca devāḥ svarganivāsinaḥ ॥13-35-19॥
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)
aśakyaṃ spraṣṭum ākāśam acālyo himavān giriḥ। avāryā setunā gaṅgā durjayā brāhmaṇā bhuvi ॥13-35-20॥
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)
na brāhmaṇavirodhena śakyā śāstuṃ vasundharā। brāhmaṇā hi mahātmāno devānām api devatāḥ ॥13-35-21॥
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)
tānpūjayasva satataṃ dānena paricaryayā। yadīcchasi mahīṃ bhoktumimāṃ sāgaramekhalām ॥13-35-22॥
Always honour them with gifts and service, if you wish to enjoy this earth girdled by the ocean. (13-35-22)
pratigraheṇa tejo hi viprāṇāṃ śāmyate'nagha। pratigrahaṃ ye neccheyuste'pi rakṣyāstvayānagha ॥13-35-23॥
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)
