13.036
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। शक्रशम्बरसंवादं तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-३६-१॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story—the dialogue between Śakra and Śambara; listen to that, Yudhiṣṭhira. (13-36-1)
शक्रो ह्यज्ञातरूपेण जटी भूत्वा रजोरुणः। विरूपं रूपमास्थाय प्रश्नं पप्रच्छ शम्बरम् ॥१३-३६-२॥
Indra, indeed, disguising himself in an unknown form, became a matted-haired ascetic, his body reddened with dust, and, assuming a deformed appearance, asked Śambara a question. (13-36-2)
केन शम्बर वृत्तेन स्वजात्यानधितिष्ठसि। श्रेष्ठं त्वां केन मन्यन्ते तन्मे प्रब्रूहि पृच्छतः ॥१३-३६-३॥
By what conduct of Śambara do you surpass your own kindred? By what do they consider you the best? Tell me that, as I am asking. (13-36-3)
शम्बर उवाच॥
Śambara said.
नासूयामि सदा विप्रान्ब्रह्माणं च पितामहम्। शास्त्राणि वदतो विप्रान्संमन्यामि यथासुखम् ॥१३-३६-४॥
I never envy brāhmaṇas, Brahmā, or the Grandfather. I honor brāhmaṇas who speak the scriptures with pleasure. (13-36-4)
श्रुत्वा च नावजानामि नापराध्यामि कर्हिचित्। अभ्यर्च्याननुपृच्छामि पादौ गृह्णामि धीमताम् ॥१३-३६-५॥
Having listened, I never despise nor transgress at any time; after worshipping, I respectfully inquire and grasp the feet of the wise. (13-36-5)
ते विश्रब्धाः प्रभाषन्ते संयच्छन्ति च मां सदा। प्रमत्तेष्वप्रमत्तोऽस्मि सदा सुप्तेषु जागृमि ॥१३-३६-६॥
They, being confident, speak and restrain me always; among the negligent, I am not negligent always; among the sleeping, I am awake. (13-36-6)
ते मा शास्त्रपथे युक्तं ब्रह्मण्यमनसूयकम्। समासिञ्चन्ति शास्तारः क्षौद्रं मध्विव मक्षिकाः ॥१३-३६-७॥
Just as bees sprinkle honey, so do the teachers sprinkle me, who am joined to the path of śāstra, devoted to Brahman and without envy. (13-36-7)
यच्च भाषन्ति ते तुष्टास्तत्तद्गृह्णामि मेधया। समाधिमात्मनो नित्यमनुलोममचिन्तयन् ॥१३-३६-८॥
Whatever the satisfied ones say, I accept all that with intelligence, always contemplating the self's concentration in accordance. (13-36-8)
सोऽहं वागग्रसृष्टानां रसानामवलेहकः। स्वजात्यानधितिष्ठामि नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमाः ॥१३-३६-९॥
I am the taster of the essences created at the forefront of speech; I do not preside over my own kind, just as the moon does not preside over the stars. (13-36-9)
एतत्पृथिव्याममृतमेतच्चक्षुरनुत्तमम्। यद्ब्राह्मणमुखाच्छास्त्रमिह श्रुत्वा प्रवर्तते ॥१३-३६-१०॥
This, on earth, is immortal; this is the highest vision; whoever, having heard the teaching from the mouth of a brāhmaṇa here, acts accordingly. (13-36-10)
एतत्कारणमाज्ञाय दृष्ट्वा देवासुरं पुरा। युद्धं पिता मे हृष्टात्मा विस्मितः प्रत्यपद्यत ॥१३-३६-११॥
Having understood this cause and having seen the gods and asuras in former times, my father, delighted and astonished, engaged in battle. (13-36-11)
दृष्ट्वा च ब्राह्मणानां तु महिमानं महात्मनाम्। पर्यपृच्छत्कथमिमे सिद्धा इति निशाकरम् ॥१३-३६-१२॥
Having seen the greatness of the brāhmaṇas, the great-souled ones, he asked the moon, "How did these become perfected?" (13-36-12)
सोम उवाच॥
Soma said.
ब्राह्मणास्तपसा सर्वे सिध्यन्ते वाग्बलाः सदा। भुजवीर्या हि राजानो वागस्त्राश्च द्विजातयः ॥१३-३६-१३॥
All Brāhmaṇas achieve success through austerity and always possess the power of speech; kings, on the other hand, possess the strength of the arm, while the twice-born wield speech as their weapon. (13-36-13)
प्रवसन्वाप्यधीयीत बह्वीर्दुर्वसतीर्वसन्। निर्मन्युरपि निर्मानो यतिः स्यात्समदर्शनः ॥१३-३६-१४॥
Whether living abroad or even in many difficult places, one should study; living in such places, the ascetic should be free from anger and pride, and should maintain equanimity of vision. (13-36-14)
अपि चेज्जातिसम्पन्नः सर्वान्वेदान्पितुर्गृहे। श्लाघमान इवाधीयेद्ग्राम्य इत्येव तं विदुः ॥१३-३६-१५॥
Even if a person of high birth studies all the Vedas in his father's house, boasting as if he is accomplished, they know him only as a worldly person. (13-36-15)
भूमिरेतौ निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव। राजानं चाप्ययोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम् ॥१३-३६-१६॥
The earth swallows these two, just as a serpent dwelling in holes does: a king who does not protect and a brāhmaṇa who does not wander. (13-36-16)
अतिमानः श्रियं हन्ति पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसः। गर्भेण दुष्यते कन्या गृहवासेन च द्विजः ॥१३-३६-१७॥
Excessive pride destroys the prosperity of a man with little intelligence; a maiden is corrupted by pregnancy, and a twice-born is corrupted by household life. (13-36-17)
इत्येतन्मे पिता श्रुत्वा सोमादद्भुतदर्शनात्। ब्राह्मणान्पूजयामास तथैवाहं महाव्रतान् ॥१३-३६-१८॥
Thus, when my father heard this from Soma, having witnessed the wonderful sight, he worshipped the Brāhmaṇas; in the same way, I too worshipped the great vow-holders. (13-36-18)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
श्रुत्वैतद्वचनं शक्रो दानवेन्द्रमुखाच्च्युतम्। द्विजान्सम्पूजयामास महेन्द्रत्वमवाप च ॥१३-३६-१९॥
When Śakra heard these words, which had fallen from the mouth of the lord of the Dānavas, he honored the Brāhmaṇas and regained the position of Mahendra (Indra). (13-36-19)
