13.047
रिक्थविभागः
Division of inheritance
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
सर्वशास्त्रविधानज्ञ राजधर्मार्थवित्तम। अतीव संशयच्छेत्ता भवान्वै प्रथितः क्षितौ ॥१३-४७-१॥
You are renowned on earth as the knower of all scriptural ordinances, the one who knows the king's duty and purpose, and as one who exceedingly removes doubts. (13-47-1)
कश्चित्तु संशयो मेऽस्ति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह। अस्यामापदि कष्टायामन्यं पृच्छाम कं वयम् ॥१३-४७-२॥
But I have a certain doubt; please tell me that, O grandsire. In this difficult calamity, whom else shall we ask? (13-47-2)
यथा नरेण कर्तव्यं यश्च धर्मः सनातनः। एतत्सर्वं महाबाहो भवान्व्याख्यातुमर्हति ॥१३-४७-३॥
O mighty-armed one, you ought to explain all this: what should be done by a man, and which righteousness is eternal. (13-47-3)
चतस्रो विहिता भार्या ब्राह्मणस्य पितामह। ब्राह्मणी क्षत्रिया वैश्या शूद्रा च रतिमिच्छतः ॥१३-४७-४॥
O grandfather, four wives are prescribed for a brāhmaṇa: a brāhmaṇa woman, a kṣatriya woman, a vaiśya woman, and a śūdra woman, for one who desires pleasure. (13-47-4)
तत्र जातेषु पुत्रेषु सर्वासां कुरुसत्तम। आनुपूर्व्येण कस्तेषां पित्र्यं दायाद्यमर्हति ॥१३-४७-५॥
O best of the Kurus, among all the sons born there, who, according to the order of succession, deserves the paternal inheritance? (13-47-5)
केन वा किं ततो हार्यं पितृवित्तात्पितामह। एतदिच्छामि कथितं विभागस्तेषु यः स्मृतः ॥१३-४७-६॥
O grandfather, by whom and what may be taken from the father's wealth? I wish to hear this: what division among them is prescribed. (13-47-6)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यस्त्रयो वर्णा द्विजातयः। एतेषु विहितो धर्मो ब्राह्मणस्य युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-४७-७॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, and vaiśya are the three twice-born classes; among these, the prescribed duty is that of the brāhmaṇa. (13-47-7)
वैषम्यादथ वा लोभात्कामाद्वापि परन्तप। ब्राह्मणस्य भवेच्छूद्रा न तु दृष्टान्ततः स्मृता ॥१३-४७-८॥
O Parantapa, due to inequality, or greed, or desire, or even otherwise, a Brāhmaṇa's daughter may become a Śūdrā; but she is not considered so according to precedent. (13-47-8)
शूद्रां शयनमारोप्य ब्राह्मणः पीडितो भवेत्। प्रायश्चित्तीयते चापि विधिदृष्टेन हेतुना ॥१३-४७-९॥
If a Brāhmaṇa places a Śūdra woman on his bed, he becomes afflicted; atonement must be performed according to the prescribed rule for this reason. (13-47-9)
तत्र जातेष्वपत्येषु द्विगुणं स्याद्युधिष्ठिर। अतस्ते नियमं वित्ते सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि भारत ॥१३-४७-१०॥
In that case, among children who are born, the share should be double, O Yudhiṣṭhira. Therefore, O descendant of Bharata, I will now explain to you the rule regarding wealth. (13-47-10)
लक्षण्यो गोवृषो यानं यत्प्रधानतमं भवेत्। ब्राह्मण्यास्तद्धरेत्पुत्र एकांशं वै पितुर्धनात् ॥१३-४७-११॥
The son born of the Brāhmaṇa wife should take as his share from the father's wealth a distinguished bull as a vehicle, which is the most excellent, and one portion. (13-47-11)
शेषं तु दशधा कार्यं ब्राह्मणस्वं युधिष्ठिर। तत्र तेनैव हर्तव्याश्चत्वारोंऽशाः पितुर्धनात् ॥१३-४७-१२॥
O Yudhishthira, the remainder should be divided into ten parts as the Brahmin's share. Of these, four parts should be taken by him alone from the father's wealth. (13-47-12)
क्षत्रियायास्तु यः पुत्रो ब्राह्मणः सोऽप्यसंशयः। स तु मातृविशेषेण त्रीनंशान्हर्तुमर्हति ॥१३-४७-१३॥
But the son who is a brāhmaṇa born of a kṣatriya woman, he too, without doubt, is entitled to take three shares by virtue of his mother's status. (13-47-13)
वर्णे तृतीये जातस्तु वैश्यायां ब्राह्मणादपि। द्विरंशस्तेन हर्तव्यो ब्राह्मणस्वाद्युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-४७-१४॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, one born in the third caste, that is, from a Brāhmaṇa father and a Vaiśyā mother, should take two shares from the Brāhmaṇa's wealth. (13-47-14)
शूद्रायां ब्राह्मणाज्जातो नित्यादेयधनः स्मृतः। अल्पं वापि प्रदातव्यं शूद्रापुत्राय भारत ॥१३-४७-१५॥
O Bhārata, the son born from a Brāhmaṇa and a Śūdra woman is always considered as one to whom wealth should not be given. Even a little should be given to the son of a Śūdra woman. (13-47-15)
दशधा प्रविभक्तस्य धनस्यैष भवेत्क्रमः। सवर्णासु तु जातानां समान्भागान्प्रकल्पयेत् ॥१३-४७-१६॥
This is the order for wealth divided in ten ways. Among those born of the same caste, equal shares should be allotted. (13-47-16)
अब्राह्मणं तु मन्यन्ते शूद्रापुत्रमनैपुणात्। त्रिषु वर्णेषु जातो हि ब्राह्मणाद्ब्राह्मणो भवेत् ॥१३-४७-१७॥
But they consider the son of a śūdra, due to lack of skill, as not a brāhmaṇa. Indeed, among the three castes, one born from a brāhmaṇa may become a brāhmaṇa. (13-47-17)
स्मृता वर्णाश्च चत्वारः पञ्चमो नाधिगम्यते। हरेत्तु दशमं भागं शूद्रापुत्रः पितुर्धनात् ॥१३-४७-१८॥
It is remembered that there are four classes; a fifth is not recognized. But the son of a śūdra should take a tenth portion from the father's wealth. (13-47-18)
तत्तु दत्तं हरेत्पित्रा नादत्तं हर्तुमर्हति। अवश्यं हि धनं देयं शूद्रापुत्राय भारत ॥१३-४७-१९॥
But what has been given, the father may reclaim; what has not been given, he is not entitled to take. Certainly, wealth must be given to the son of a śūdra woman, O Bhārata. (13-47-19)
आनृशंस्यं परो धर्म इति तस्मै प्रदीयते। यत्र तत्र समुत्पन्नो गुणायैवोपकल्पते ॥१३-४७-२०॥
Non-cruelty is said to be the highest duty; to him it is given. Wherever it arises, it is indeed suited for virtue. (13-47-20)
यदि वाप्येकपुत्रः स्यादपुत्रो यदि वा भवेत्। नाधिकं दशमाद्दद्याच्छूद्रापुत्राय भारत ॥१३-४७-२१॥
If there is only one son, or if there is no son, then, O Bhārata, not more than a tenth should be given to the son of a śūdra woman. (13-47-21)
त्रैवार्षिकाद्यदा भक्तादधिकं स्याद्द्विजस्य तु। यजेत तेन द्रव्येण न वृथा साधयेद्धनम् ॥१३-४७-२२॥
When a twice-born has more than the share from the triennial sacrifice, he should use that wealth for sacrifice; he should not accumulate wealth in vain. (13-47-22)
त्रिसाहस्रपरो दायः स्त्रियो देयो धनस्य वै। तच्च भर्त्रा धनं दत्तं नादत्तं भोक्तुमर्हति ॥१३-४७-२३॥
A share of wealth exceeding three thousand should indeed be given to women; and the wealth given by the husband is not to be taken back for enjoyment. (13-47-23)
स्त्रीणां तु पतिदायाद्यमुपभोगफलं स्मृतम्। नापहारं स्त्रियः कुर्युः पतिवित्तात्कथञ्चन ॥१३-४७-२४॥
But for women, the husband's inheritance is considered as the fruit of enjoyment; women should not in any way take away from the husband's wealth. (13-47-24)
स्त्रियास्तु यद्भवेद्वित्तं पित्रा दत्तं युधिष्ठिर। ब्राह्मण्यास्तद्धरेत्कन्या यथा पुत्रस्तथा हि सा ॥ सा हि पुत्रसमा राजन्विहिता कुरुनन्दन ॥१३-४७-२५॥
O Yudhishthira, whatever wealth is given by the father to women, the daughter of a Brahmin woman should take that, just as a son would, for she is indeed like a son. O king, she is established as equal to a son, O delight of the Kurus. (13-47-25)
एवमेतत्समुद्दिष्टं धर्मेषु भरतर्षभ। एतद्धर्ममनुस्मृत्य न वृथा साधयेद्धनम् ॥१३-४७-२६॥
Thus, O best of the Bharatas, this has been fully explained among the dharmas. Remembering this dharma, one should not pursue wealth in vain. (13-47-26)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
शूद्रायां ब्राह्मणाज्जातो यद्यदेयधनः स्मृतः। केन प्रतिविशेषेण दशमोऽप्यस्य दीयते ॥१३-४७-२७॥
If one born from a Brāhmaṇa and a Śūdra woman is considered not eligible to receive wealth, by what particular distinction is even the tenth part given to him? (13-47-27)
ब्राह्मण्यां ब्राह्मणाज्जातो ब्राह्मणः स्यान्न संशयः। क्षत्रियायां तथैव स्याद्वैश्यायामपि चैव हि ॥१३-४७-२८॥
A son born from a brāhmaṇa father and a brāhmaṇa mother is certainly a brāhmaṇa, without doubt. Likewise, if born from a kṣatriya or vaiśya woman, it is also so. (13-47-28)
कस्मात्ते विषमं भागं भजेरन्नृपसत्तम। यदा सर्वे त्रयो वर्णास्त्वयोक्ता ब्राह्मणा इति ॥१३-४७-२९॥
O best of kings, for what reason would they give you an unequal share, when all three classes have been declared by you as Brāhmaṇas in this way? (13-47-29)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
दारा इत्युच्यते लोके नाम्नैकेन परन्तप। प्रोक्तेन चैकनाम्नायं विशेषः सुमहान्भवेत् ॥१३-४७-३०॥
O Parantapa, in the world, the wife is called by a single name; by what is stated and by a single name, this distinction becomes very great. (13-47-30)
तिस्रः कृत्वा पुरो भार्याः पश्चाद्विन्देत ब्राह्मणीम्। सा ज्येष्ठा सा च पूज्या स्यात्सा च ताभ्यो गरीयसी ॥१३-४७-३१॥
After marrying three wives first, one should then marry a Brāhmaṇa wife. She is the eldest, worthy of honor, and greater than the others. (13-47-31)
स्नानं प्रसाधनं भर्तुर्दन्तधावनमञ्जनम्। हव्यं कव्यं च यच्चान्यद्धर्मयुक्तं भवेद्गृहे ॥१३-४७-३२॥
Bathing, adornment, the husband's teeth-cleaning, collyrium, offerings to gods and ancestors, and any other acts that are in accordance with dharma should be present in the house. (13-47-32)
न तस्यां जातु तिष्ठन्त्यामन्या तत्कर्तुमर्हति। ब्राह्मणी त्वेव तत्कुर्याद्ब्राह्मणस्य युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-४७-३३॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, as long as she exists, no other woman is ever worthy to perform that act; only the wife of the brāhmaṇa herself should do that for the brāhmaṇa. (13-47-33)
अन्नं पानं च माल्यं च वासांस्याभरणानि च। ब्राह्मण्यै तानि देयानि भर्तुः सा हि गरीयसी ॥१३-४७-३४॥
Food, drink, garlands, garments, and ornaments should be given to the brāhmaṇa wife; for she is indeed more venerable than the husband. (13-47-34)
मनुनाभिहितं शास्त्रं यच्चापि कुरुनन्दन। तत्राप्येष महाराज दृष्टो धर्मः सनातनः ॥१३-४७-३५॥
O delight of the Kurus, the treatise declared by Manu and whatever else (is declared), there too, O great king, this eternal dharma is found. (13-47-35)
अथ चेदन्यथा कुर्याद्यदि कामाद्युधिष्ठिर। यथा ब्राह्मणचण्डालः पूर्वदृष्टस्तथैव सः ॥१३-४७-३६॥
Now, if he acts otherwise out of desire, O Yudhiṣṭhira, then he will be just like the brāhmaṇa-caṇḍāla seen before, in the same way. (13-47-36)
ब्राह्मण्याः सदृशः पुत्रः क्षत्रियायाश्च यो भवेत्। राजन्विशेषो नास्त्यत्र वर्णयोरुभयोरपि ॥१३-४७-३७॥
O king, a son who is similar, whether born of a brāhmaṇa woman or a kṣatriya woman, there is no distinction here between the two castes, even for both. (13-47-37)
न तु जात्या समा लोके ब्राह्मण्याः क्षत्रिया भवेत्। ब्राह्मण्याः प्रथमः पुत्रो भूयान्स्याद्राजसत्तम॥ भूयोऽपि भूयसा हार्यं पितृवित्ताद्युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-४७-३८॥
But in this world, the sons born of a Brāhmaṇa woman and a Kṣatriya woman are not equal by birth. The first son of a Brāhmaṇa woman may be greater, O best of kings. Again, the greater one should take the father's wealth, O Yudhiṣṭhira. (13-47-38)
यथा न सदृशी जातु ब्राह्मण्याः क्षत्रिया भवेत्। क्षत्रियायास्तथा वैश्या न जातु सदृशी भवेत् ॥१३-४७-३९॥
Just as a kṣatriya woman can never be similar to a brāhmaṇa woman, so too a vaiśya woman can never be similar to a kṣatriya woman. (13-47-39)
श्रीश्च राज्यं च कोशश्च क्षत्रियाणां युधिष्ठिर। विहितं दृश्यते राजन्सागरान्ता च मेदिनी ॥१३-४७-४०॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, prosperity, kingdom, and treasury of the kṣatriyas are seen to be established, O king, and the earth bounded by the ocean. (13-47-40)
क्षत्रियो हि स्वधर्मेण श्रियं प्राप्नोति भूयसीम्। राजा दण्डधरो राजन्रक्षा नान्यत्र क्षत्रियात् ॥१३-४७-४१॥
A warrior, by following his own duty, truly attains greater prosperity. O king, the king who wields the rod, protection comes from nowhere else but the warrior. (13-47-41)
ब्राह्मणा हि महाभागा देवानामपि देवताः। तेषु राजा प्रवर्तेत पूजया विधिपूर्वकम् ॥१३-४७-४२॥
Brāhmaṇas are indeed greatly fortunate, and even among the gods they are considered divinities; the king should engage in their worship according to proper rules. (13-47-42)
प्रणीतमृषिभिर्ज्ञात्वा धर्मं शाश्वतमव्ययम्। लुप्यमानाः स्वधर्मेण क्षत्रियो रक्षति प्रजाः ॥१३-४७-४३॥
Having understood the eternal and imperishable dharma prescribed by the sages, the kṣatriya protects the people by his own dharma when they are being threatened. (13-47-43)
दस्युभिर्ह्रियमाणं च धनं दाराश्च सर्वशः। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां त्राता भवति पार्थिवः ॥१३-४७-४४॥
When wealth and wives are being taken away entirely by robbers, the king becomes the protector of all castes. (13-47-44)
भूयान्स्यात्क्षत्रियापुत्रो वैश्यापुत्रान्न संशयः। भूयस्तेनापि हर्तव्यं पितृवित्ताद्युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-४७-४५॥
O Yudhishthira, there is no doubt that the son of a kṣatriya is greater than the sons of a vaiśya; he too should take a greater share from the father's wealth. (13-47-45)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
उक्तं ते विधिवद्राजन्ब्राह्मणस्वे पितामह। इतरेषां तु वर्णानां कथं विनियमो भवेत् ॥१३-४७-४६॥
"O grandsire, O king, the rules regarding the Brāhmaṇas have been spoken to you according to proper procedure. But how is the regulation for the other castes?" (13-47-46)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
क्षत्रियस्यापि भार्ये द्वे विहिते कुरुनन्दन। तृतीया च भवेच्छूद्रा न तु दृष्टान्ततः स्मृता ॥१३-४७-४७॥
For a kṣatriya too, two wives are prescribed, O Kurunandana. A third may be a śūdra woman, but she is not considered according to precedent. (13-47-47)
एष एव क्रमो हि स्यात्क्षत्रियाणां युधिष्ठिर। अष्टधा तु भवेत्कार्यं क्षत्रियस्वं युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-४७-४८॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, this indeed should be the order for the kṣatriyas. The duty of kṣatriya-hood should be eightfold, O Yudhiṣṭhira. (13-47-48)
क्षत्रियाया हरेत्पुत्रश्चतुरोंऽशान्पितुर्धनात्। युद्धावहारिकं यच्च पितुः स्यात्स हरेच्च तत् ॥१३-४७-४९॥
The son of a kṣatriya woman should take four shares from his father's wealth, and he should also take whatever of his father's property was earned in battle. (13-47-49)
वैश्यापुत्रस्तु भागांस्त्रीन्शूद्रापुत्रस्तथाष्टमम्। सोऽपि दत्तं हरेत्पित्रा नादत्तं हर्तुमर्हति ॥१३-४७-५०॥
The son of a Vaiśya receives three shares, and the son of a Śūdra receives the eighth share. He too may take what is given by the father, but is not entitled to take what is not given. (13-47-50)
एकैव हि भवेद्भार्या वैश्यस्य कुरुनन्दन। द्वितीया वा भवेच्छूद्रा न तु दृष्टान्ततः स्मृता ॥१३-४७-५१॥
O Kurunandana, a Vaiśya should have only one wife. Alternatively, a second may be a Śūdra woman, but this is not considered according to precedent. (13-47-51)
वैश्यस्य वर्तमानस्य वैश्यायां भरतर्षभ। शूद्रायां चैव कौन्तेय तयोर्विनियमः स्मृतः ॥१३-४७-५२॥
O bull among the Bharatas, for a Vaiśya man with a Vaiśyā wife, and for a Vaiśya with a Śūdrā wife, O son of Kuntī, the regulation regarding the two is remembered. (13-47-52)
पञ्चधा तु भवेत्कार्यं वैश्यस्वं भरतर्षभ। तयोरपत्ये वक्ष्यामि विभागं च जनाधिप ॥१३-४७-५३॥
O bull among the Bharatas, the property of a Vaiśya should be divided in five ways. O lord of the people, I shall now state the division of that property in the case of their offspring. (13-47-53)
वैश्यापुत्रेण हर्तव्याश्चत्वारोंऽशाः पितुर्धनात्। पञ्चमस्तु भवेद्भागः शूद्रापुत्राय भारत ॥१३-४७-५४॥
O Bhārata, the son of a Vaiśya should take four parts from the father's wealth, but the fifth share should go to the son of a Śūdra. (13-47-54)
सोऽपि दत्तं हरेत्पित्रा नादत्तं हर्तुमर्हति। त्रिभिर्वर्णैस्तथा जातः शूद्रो देयधनो भवेत् ॥१३-४७-५५॥
He too may take what has been given by the father, but he is not entitled to take what has not been given. Thus, a śūdra born from the three castes should be one whose wealth is to be given. (13-47-55)
शूद्रस्य स्यात्सवर्णैव भार्या नान्या कथञ्चन। शूद्रस्य समभागः स्याद्यदि पुत्रशतं भवेत् ॥१३-४७-५६॥
A Śūdra should have only a wife of his own caste, never another under any circumstance. If a Śūdra has a hundred sons, they should all receive equal shares. (13-47-56)
जातानां समवर्णासु पुत्राणामविशेषतः। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां समभागो धने स्मृतः ॥१३-४७-५७॥
Among sons born of the same caste, without any distinction, all castes are considered to have an equal share in wealth. (13-47-57)
ज्येष्ठस्य भागो ज्येष्ठः स्यादेकांशो यः प्रधानतः। एष दायविधिः पार्थ पूर्वमुक्तः स्वयम्भुवा ॥१३-४७-५८॥
O Pārtha, the share of the eldest should be the principal one part; this rule of inheritance was previously stated by the Self-born. (13-47-58)
समवर्णासु जातानां विशेषोऽस्त्यपरो नृप। विवाहवैशेष्यकृतः पूर्वः पूर्वो विशिष्यते ॥१३-४७-५९॥
O king, among those born in the same varṇas, there is another distinction; due to the specialty of marriage, the earlier is considered superior to the later. (13-47-59)
हरेज्ज्येष्ठः प्रधानांशमेकं तुल्यासुतेष्वपि। मध्यमो मध्यमं चैव कनीयांस्तु कनीयसम् ॥१३-४७-६०॥
Even among sons who are equal, the eldest should take the principal share, the middle son the middle share, and the youngest the smallest share. (13-47-60)
एवं जातिषु सर्वासु सवर्णाः श्रेष्ठतां गताः। महर्षिरपि चैतद्वै मारीचः काश्यपोऽब्रवीत् ॥१३-४७-६१॥
Thus, among all births, those of the same class have attained excellence. The great sage Mārīca Kāśyapa also declared this. (13-47-61)
