13.036
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। śakraśambara-saṃvādaṃ tan nibodha yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-36-1॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story—the dialogue between Śakra and Śambara; listen to that, Yudhiṣṭhira. (13-36-1)
śakro hy ajñātarūpeṇa jaṭī bhūtvā rajorūṇaḥ। virūpaṃ rūpam āsthāya praśnaṃ papraccha śambaram ॥13-36-2॥
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)
kena śambara vṛttena svajātyān adhitiṣṭhasi। śreṣṭhaṃ tvāṃ kena manyante tan me prabrūhi pṛcchataḥ ॥13-36-3॥
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)
śambara uvāca॥
Śambara said.
nāsūyāmi sadā viprān brahmāṇaṃ ca pitāmaham। śāstrāṇi vadato viprān saṃmanyāmi yathāsukham ॥13-36-4॥
I never envy brāhmaṇas, Brahmā, or the Grandfather. I honor brāhmaṇas who speak the scriptures with pleasure. (13-36-4)
śrutvā ca nāvajānāmi nāparādhyāmi karhicit। abhyarcyānanupṛcchāmi pādau gṛhṇāmi dhīmatām ॥13-36-5॥
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)
te viśrabdhāḥ prabhāṣante saṁyacchanti ca māṁ sadā| pramatteṣvapramatto'smi sadā supteṣu jāgṛmi ॥13-36-6॥
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)
te mā śāstrapathe yuktaṃ brahmaṇyamanasūyakam। samāsiñcanti śāstāraḥ kṣaudraṃ madhviva makṣikāḥ ॥13-36-7॥
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)
yacca bhāṣanti te tuṣṭās tattad gṛhṇāmi medhayā। samādhim ātmano nityam anulomam acintayan ॥13-36-8॥
Whatever the satisfied ones say, I accept all that with intelligence, always contemplating the self's concentration in accordance. (13-36-8)
so'ham vāg-agrasṛṣṭānāṃ rasānām avalehakaḥ। svajātī-anadhitiṣṭhāmi nakṣatrāṇīva candramāḥ ॥13-36-9॥
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)
etat pṛthivyām amṛtam etac cakṣur anuttamam। yad brāhmaṇa-mukhāt śāstram iha śrutvā pravartate ॥13-36-10॥
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)
etat-kāraṇam-ājñāya dṛṣṭvā deva-asuram purā। yuddham pitā me hṛṣṭātmā vismitaḥ pratyapadyata ॥13-36-11॥
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)
dṛṣṭvā ca brāhmaṇānāṃ tu mahimānaṃ mahātmanām। paryapṛcchat katham ime siddhā iti niśākaram ॥13-36-12॥
Having seen the greatness of the brāhmaṇas, the great-souled ones, he asked the moon, "How did these become perfected?" (13-36-12)
soma uvāca॥
Soma said.
brāhmaṇās tapasā sarve sidhyante vāgbalāḥ sadā। bhujavīryā hi rājāno vāgastrāś ca dvijātayaḥ ॥13-36-13॥
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)
pravāsan vā api adhīyīta bahvīḥ durvasatīḥ vasan। nirmanyuḥ api nirmānaḥ yatiḥ syāt samadarśanaḥ ॥13-36-14॥
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)
api cej-jātisampannaḥ sarvān vedān pitur-gṛhe। ślāghamāna iva adhīyet grāmya iti eva taṃ viduḥ ॥13-36-15॥
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)
bhūmir etau nigirati sarpo bilaśayān iva। rājānaṃ cāpy ayoddhāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cāpravāsinam ॥13-36-16॥
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)
atimānaḥ śriyaṃ hanti puruṣasyālpamedhasaḥ। garbheṇa duṣyate kanyā gṛhavāsena ca dvijaḥ ॥13-36-17॥
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)
ity etan me pitā śrutvā somād adbhuta-darśanāt। brāhmaṇān pūjayām āsa tathaiva ahaṃ mahāvratān ॥13-36-18॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
śrutvaitadvacanaṃ śakro dānavendramukhāccyutam। dvijān sampūjayāmāsa mahendratvam avāpa ca ॥13-36-19॥
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)
