13.057
The results of restraint and observance;
Yudhishthira said.
Hearing today and reflecting again and again, I feel as if bewildered by this earth now deprived of her prosperous gatherings of kings. (13-57-1)
O Bhārata, though I have obtained hundreds of kingdoms, conquered the earth, and slain millions of men, I grieve, O grandsire. (13-57-2)
What indeed will become of those noble women today, who are now bereft of husbands, sons, maternal uncles, and brothers? (13-57-3)
Indeed, if we kill those elders, kinsmen, and also friends, we shall fall headlong into hell; there is no doubt about this. (13-57-4)
O Bhārata, I desire to unite the body by severe austerity. Here, I desire to be instructed in reality, O lord of men. (13-57-5)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Hearing Yudhiṣṭhira's speech, Bhīṣma, the great-minded, carefully considered Yudhiṣṭhira's words with skill and then spoke. (13-57-6)
O Bhārata, hear the secret and wondrous teaching I shall now reveal to you—what that state is which is attained after death, and by which (means one attains it). (13-57-7)
Heaven is attained by austerity; fame is likewise attained by austerity. Increase of lifespan and enjoyments are also obtained by austerity, O mighty one. (13-57-8)
O best of the Bharatas, knowledge, discernment, health, beauty, prosperity, and even good fortune are obtained through austerity. (13-57-9)
Wealth is attained through austerity, silence gives knowledge. Enjoyments come through charity, and life through celibacy. (13-57-10)
The fruit of non-violence is beauty of form; the result of initiation is birth in a noble family. Those who subsist on fruits and roots attain kingdom, but those who subsist on leaves attain heaven. (13-57-11)
He who partakes of milk attains heaven; through bathing comes wealth; through service to the teacher comes knowledge; through daily śrāddha comes progeny. (13-57-12)
They say that one who possesses cattle attains heaven by undertaking vows that involve eating vegetables, rather than by eating grass; women, by bathing at the three sacred times of the day and subsisting on air, may attain the merit of a sacrifice. (13-57-13)
One who bathes daily should be skilful; but a twice-born reciting at the two twilights attains, while successfully accomplishing Maru, both kingship and the highest heaven which is imperishable. (13-57-14)
For those who lie on the bare ground, their dwellings and beds are with bark and skin garments, their clothes and ornaments likewise. (13-57-15)
Beds, seats, vehicles, for the ascetic endowed with yoga and austerity, at the entering into fire, surely the Brahma-world is ordained. (13-57-16)
By refraining from enjoyable objects, one obtains good fortune here. By refraining from meat, his offspring may become long-lived. (13-57-17)
He who dwells as a temporary resident truly becomes a king; the one who speaks the truth, O best among men, rejoices along with the gods. (13-57-18)
Fame comes by generosity, and health through non-violence; by serving the twice-born, one may gain a kingdom or abundant twice-born status. (13-57-19)
By giving water, one attains eternal fame; by giving food and drink, one is satisfied through enjoyment of desires. (13-57-20)
He who consoles all beings is freed from every sorrow; by serving the gods, he attains a divine kingdom and form. (13-57-21)
When a man donates the light of a lamp, he gains eyesight; by offering objects worthy of seeing, he attains both memory and intelligence. (13-57-22)
But by abstaining from perfumes and garlands, abundant fame is obtained; for those who let their hair and beard grow, excellent progeny is produced. (13-57-23)
O king, one who has undertaken fasting, consecration, and anointing for twelve years becomes distinguished from the class of heroes. (13-57-24)
O best of men, one who gives maid-servants, servants, ornaments, fields, and houses, and having given a daughter as a brahmadeya, obtains (the stated reward). (13-57-25)
O Bhārata, by sacrifices and by fastings one goes to heaven. And the man who gives offerings and flowers also attains a long-lasting abode. (13-57-26)
The man who gives a thousand cows adorned with golden horns obtains merit in heaven, the world of the gods; thus, so say the assemblies of sages and gods. (13-57-27)
That cow, which is tawny, covered with cloth, has a bronze milking vessel and golden-tipped horns, possessing all these qualities, becomes a wish-fulfiller and comes to the man who gives her. (13-57-28)
The giver of a cow receives as much merit as there are hairs on the cow, and delivers his sons, grandsons, and entire family in the hereafter for seven months. (13-57-29)
To one who gives a cow, equipped with due dakṣiṇā, beautiful golden horns, a bronze milking vessel, and an upper garment of wealth, along with sesame seeds, to a twice-born, the worlds of the Vasus become easily attainable. (13-57-30)
Bound by his own actions, the man who is falling into hell's intense darkness is saved in the next world by the gift of cows, just as a boat endowed with wind is saved in the great ocean. (13-57-31)
He who gives brahmadeya land, gives a maiden in marriage, gifts land to a brāhmaṇa, and gives food according to prescribed rules, attains the world of Purandara (Indra). (13-57-32)
Whoever gives ritual food possessed of all virtues to a twice-born person endowed with the virtues of self-study and good conduct, even he attains the highest worlds among the Kurus. (13-57-33)
By giving beasts of burden, cows, and horses, a man attains the worlds of riches. For attaining heaven, they say the gift of gold is prescribed; but superior to that is the gift of precious gold. (13-57-34)
By giving an umbrella, one attains an excellent dwelling; by giving shoes, a vehicle likewise; by giving cloth, one attains beautiful rewards; by giving fragrance, a person becomes fragrant. (13-57-35)
Whoever touches a tree bearing flowers or fruits for a Brāhmaṇa, he truly obtains a house filled with many gems and women, which comes effortlessly. (13-57-36)
One who gives food, cooked rice, water, and juices attains all kinds of tastes as desired. The one who provides shelter and clothing likewise receives such benefits; there is no doubt about this. (13-57-37)
Whoever gives garlands, incense, scents, ointments, baths, and wreaths to the twice-born, that person becomes free from disease and also handsome in the world of kings. (13-57-38)
O king, a man who gives to a brāhmaṇa a house furnished with beds and seeds, delightful and filled with many gems, attains an excellent abode. (13-57-39)
He who gives to a Brahmin a bed furnished with fragrant and beautiful bedding will obtain a delightful, beautiful, splendid wife, effortlessly gained. (13-57-40)
A man who serves as attendant to the Grandfather and dies a hero's death in battle can attain that state; nothing is greater than that, say the supreme sages. (13-57-41)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having heard those words of his, the delighted son of the Kurus no longer found dwelling in the hermitage pleasing, desiring instead the warrior's path. (13-57-42)
Then Yudhiṣṭhira said to the Pāṇḍavas, O best of the Bharatas: "Let that statement of the grandsire be agreeable to you," said the lord. (13-57-43)
Then, all the Pāṇḍavas along with the illustrious Draupadī honored Yudhiṣṭhira's words, saying "certainly". (13-57-44)
