13.058
brāhmaṇapraśaṁsā
Praise of brāhmaṇas
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
yānīmāni bahirvedyāṃ dānāni paricakṣate। tebhyo viśiṣṭaṃ kiṃ dānaṃ mataṃ te kurupuṅgava॥13-58-1॥
O best of Kurus, which are these gifts given outside the altar that they declare? Among them, which gift do you consider as superior? (13-58-1)
kautūhalaṁ hi paramaṁ tatra me vartate prabho। dātāraṁ dattam anv eti yat dānaṁ tat pracakṣva me ॥13-58-2॥
O lord, I indeed have supreme curiosity there. Please explain to me that gift by which the gift follows the giver. (13-58-2)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo vyasane cāpyanugraham। yaccābhilaṣitaṃ dadyāt tṛṣitāyābhiyācate ॥13-58-3॥
He should grant fearlessness to all beings, offer favor even in adversity, and give whatever is desired to the thirsty one who asks. (13-58-3)
dattaṃ manyeta yaddattvā taddānaṃ śreṣṭhamucyate। dattaṃ dātāramanveti yaddānaṃ bharatarṣabha ॥13-58-4॥
That is said to be the best gift, O best of the Bharatas, which, having given, one feels it was given; such a gift follows the giver. (13-58-4)
hiraṇyadānaṃ godānaṃ pṛthivīdānameva ca। etāni vai pavitrāṇi tārayantyapi duṣkṛtam॥13-58-5॥
The gifts of gold, cows, and even of earth—these purify and liberate one even from evil deeds. (13-58-5)
etāni puruṣavyāghra sādhubhyo dehi nityadā। dānāni hi naraṃ pāpān mokṣayanti na saṃśayaḥ ॥13-58-6॥
O tiger among men, always give these gifts to the virtuous. Indeed, gifts free a person from sin; there is no doubt about this. (13-58-6)
yady adiṣṭatamaṁ loke yac cāsya dayitaṁ gṛhe. tattad guṇavate deyaṁ tadevā kṣayam icchatā ॥13-58-7॥
Whatever one treasures most in the world and whatever is most dear to him at home, such things should be given to a worthy person by one wishing for the imperishable; only that gift is undiminishing. (13-58-7)
priyāṇi labhate loke priyadaḥ priyakṛttathā। priyo bhavati bhūtānāmiha caiva paratra ca ॥13-58-8॥
One who gives affection and does what is pleasing obtains dear things in this world; he becomes dear to beings both here and hereafter. (13-58-8)
yācamānam abhīmānād āśāvantam akiñcanam। yaḥ na arcati yathāśakti sa nṛśaṁso yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-58-9॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, whoever, out of pride, does not honor to the best of his ability one who is begging, who is full of hope, and who possesses nothing—he is cruel. (13-58-9)
amitra-m api ced dīnaṃ śaraṇa-iṣiṇam āgatam। vyasane yo' anugṛhṇāti sa vai puruṣa-sattamaḥ॥13-58-10॥
He who shows favor to even an enemy who, afflicted, comes seeking refuge in distress, he indeed is the best of men. (13-58-10)
kṛśāya hrīmate tāta vṛttikṣīṇāya sīdate| apahanyāt kṣudhaṃ yas tu na tena puruṣaḥ samaḥ ॥13-58-11॥
O dear one, one who removes the hunger of an emaciated, modest person whose livelihood is exhausted and who is sinking—there is no man equal to him. (13-58-11)
hriyā tu niyatānsādhūnputradāraiś ca karśitān | ayācamānān kaunteya sarvopāyair nimantraya ॥13-58-12॥
O son of Kunti, invite, by all means, those virtuous and self-controlled people, who are afflicted with their sons and wives, who do not beg, but with modesty. (13-58-12)
āśiṣaṃ ye na deveṣu na martyeṣu ca kurvate। arhanto nityasattvasthā yathālabdhopajīvinaḥ ॥13-58-13॥
Those who do not offer benedictions either to gods or mortals, who are worthy, steadfast in eternal essence, and subsist upon what is obtained as it comes. (13-58-13)
āśīviṣasamebhyaś ca tebhyo rakṣasva bhārata. tān yuktair upajijñāsya tathā dvijavarottamān ॥13-58-14॥
O Bhārata, protect yourself from those who are like poisonous serpents. Have the skilled ones investigate them, as well as the foremost among the excellent brāhmaṇas. (13-58-14)
kṛtair āvasathair nityaṃ sapreṣyaiḥ saparicchadaiḥ। nimantrayeythāḥ kauravya sarvakāmasukhāvahaiḥ॥13-58-15॥
O Kaurava, you should always invite (them) with well-prepared dwellings, attendants, and equipment, all of which confer every kind of happiness. (13-58-15)
yadi te pratigṛhṇīyuḥ śraddhāpūtaṃ yudhiṣṭhira. kāryamityeva manvānā dhārmikāḥ puṇyakarmiṇaḥ ॥13-58-16॥
If the righteous and those of meritorious deeds, O Yudhishthira, might accept what is purified by faith, thinking indeed that it should be done. (13-58-16)
vidyā-snātā vrata-snātā ye vyapāśritya-jīvinaḥ। gūḍha-svādhyāya-tapaso brāhmaṇāḥ saṁśita-vratāḥ ॥13-58-17॥
Brāhmaṇas who are purified by knowledge and by vows, who subsist on support from others, whose self-study and austerity are concealed, and who are firm in their vows. (13-58-17)
teṣu śuddheṣu dānteṣu svadāranirateṣu ca। yat kariṣyasi kalyāṇaṃ tattvā lokeṣu dhāsyati॥13-58-18॥
Among those who are pure, self-controlled, and devoted to their own wives, whatever good you perform, that will spread your reputation throughout the worlds. (13-58-18)
yathāgnihotraṃ suhutaṃ sāyaṃ prātar dvijātinā। tathā bhavati dattaṃ vai dvijebhyo'tha kṛtātmanā ॥13-58-19॥
Just as the Agnihotra sacrifice that is properly offered by a twice-born in the evening and morning, so too is a gift made to the twice-born by one whose self is purified. (13-58-19)
eṣa te vitato yajñaḥ śraddhā-pūtaḥ sadakṣiṇaḥ। viśiṣṭaḥ sarva-yajñebhyo dadatas tāta vartatām ॥13-58-20॥
May this sacrifice, offered to you, purified by faith and accompanied by gifts, O dear, be distinguished above all other sacrifices of the giver. (13-58-20)
nivāpo dānasadṛśastādṛśeṣu yudhiṣṭhira। nivapanpūjayaṃścaiva teṣvānṛṇyaṃ nigacchati ॥13-58-21॥
O Yudhishthira, offering food to such beings is equal to giving a gift; by making offerings and honoring them, one indeed attains freedom from debt. (13-58-21)
ya eva no na kupyanti na lubhyanti tṛṇeṣv api। ta eva naḥ pūjyatamā ye ca anye priyavādinaḥ॥13-58-22॥
Those who do not get angry at us and do not become greedy even for trivial things like grass, they alone are most worthy of our honor, not merely those others who speak pleasant words. (13-58-22)
ye no na bahu manyante na pravartanti cāpare. putravat-paripālyās te namas tebhyas tathābhayam ॥13-58-23॥
Those who do not value us highly, nor do other people associate with us, are also to be protected like sons; to them, salutation and safety also. (13-58-23)
ṛtvik-purohita-ācāryā mṛdu-brahma-dharā hi te। kṣatreṇa api hi saṃsṛṣṭaṃ tejaḥ śāmyati vai dvije ॥13-58-24॥
Priests, household priests, and teachers, being gentle bearers of Brahman, indeed have their lustre diminished by association with kṣatriya power, truly, in the case of a brāhmaṇa. (13-58-24)
asti me balavānasmi rājāsmīti yudhiṣṭhira। brāhmaṇān mā sma paryaśnīr vāsobhir aśanena ca ॥13-58-25॥
O Yudhishthira, though you may think, 'I am strong, I am king,' never afflict the Brāhmaṇas with (lack of) clothing, food, or the like. (13-58-25)
yac chobhārthaṃ balārthaṃ vā vittam asti tavānagha। tena te brāhmaṇāḥ pūjyāḥ svadharmam anutiṣṭhatā ॥13-58-26॥
O sinless one, whatever wealth that is yours for splendour or strength, with that you should worship Brāhmaṇas who observe their own dharma. (13-58-26)
namaskāryās tvayā viprā vartamānā yathā tatham। yathā-sukhaṃ yathotsāhaṃ lalantu tvayi putravat॥13-58-27॥
The present Brāhmaṇas, who are to be revered by you, should interact with you as they wish, with comfort and enthusiasm, just as with their own son. (13-58-27)
ko hyanyaḥ suprasādānāṃ suhṛdāmalpatoṣiṇām। vṛttimarhatyupakṣeptuṃ tvadanyaḥ kurusattama ॥13-58-28॥
O best of the Kurus, who other than you is truly worthy to provide for friends who are easily pleased and satisfied with little? (13-58-28)
yathā patyāśrayo dharmaḥ strīṇāṃ loke sanātanaḥ। sa devaḥ sā gatirnānyā tathāsmākaṃ dvijātayaḥ॥13-58-29॥
Just as reliance on the husband is the eternal duty of women in the world, with the husband being their god and only goal, so too is it for us of the twice-born classes. (13-58-29)
yadi no brāhmaṇās tāta santyajeyur apūjitāḥ. paśyanto dāruṇaṃ karma satataṃ kṣatriye sthitam ॥13-58-30॥
O dear one, if the brāhmaṇas, not being honored by us, were to abandon us, seeing the terrible actions that are always present among kṣatriyas. (13-58-30)
avedānāmakīrtīnāmlokānāmayajvanām। ko'smākaṃ jīvitenārthastaddhi no brāhmaṇāśrayam ॥13-58-31॥
For us, what is the purpose of life among those who are without the Veda, without fame, who have no worlds, and do not perform sacrifices? Indeed, that is not dependence upon the Brāhmaṇas for us. (13-58-31)
atra te vartayiṣyāmi yathā dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ। rājanyo brāhmaṇaṃ rājan purā paricacāra ha ॥ vaiśyo rājanyam ityeva śūdro vaiśyam iti śrutiḥ ॥13-58-32॥
Here I will explain to you how the eternal duty is: Once, O King, the kṣatriya served the brāhmaṇa. The scripture declares that the vaiśya served the kṣatriya, and the śūdra served the vaiśya. (13-58-32)
dūrāc chūdreṇopacaryo brāhmaṇo'gniriva jvalan। saṁsparśaparicaryas tu vaiśyena kṣatriyeṇa ca ॥13-58-33॥
A Brāhmaṇa, like blazing fire, should be served by a Śūdra from a distance; but by a Vaiśya and a Kṣatriya, he may be served by touching and personal attendance. (13-58-33)
mṛdubhāvān satyaśīlān satyadharmānupālakān। āśīviṣān iva kruddhāṃs tān upācarata dvijān ॥13-58-34॥
He served those twice-born who were gentle by nature, truthful in character, upholders of true dharma, and (yet) when angered were like venomous serpents. (13-58-34)
apareṣām pareṣāṃ ca parebhyaścaiva ye pare। kṣatriyāṇāṃ pratapatāṃ tejasā ca balena ca॥ brāhmaṇeṣveva śāmyanti tejāṃsi ca tapāṃsi ca॥13-58-35॥
The powers and austerities of all others, including those superior and high among the kṣatriyas, with their energy and strength, are ultimately pacified in the brāhmaṇas. (13-58-35)
na me pitā priyataro na tvaṃ tāta tathā priyaḥ। na me pituḥ pitā rājann ca ātmā na ca jīvitam॥13-58-36॥
To me, no one is dearer than my father, O father, not even you; nor is my father's father, O king, nor my own self, nor even my life. (13-58-36)
tvattaś ca me priyataraḥ pṛthivyāṃ nāsti kaścana। tvatto'pi me priyatarā brāhmaṇā bharatarṣabha ॥13-58-37॥
There is no one on earth dearer to me than you; yet even than you, the Brāhmaṇas are dearer to me, O best of the Bharatas. (13-58-37)
bravīmi satyam etac ca yathā ahaṃ pāṇḍunandana। tena satyena gaccheyaṃ lokān yatra sa śantanuḥ॥13-58-38॥
I truly speak this, O descendant of Paṇḍu. By that truth, may I reach those worlds where Śantanu is. (13-58-38)
paśyeyaṃ ca satāṃ lokāñ chucīn brahmapuraskṛtān। tatra me tāta gantavyam ahnāya ca cirāya ca ॥13-58-39॥
May I see the pure worlds of the virtuous, presided over by Brahman. There, O father, I must go, both for a day and for a long time. (13-58-39)
so'ham etādṛśāṁl lokān dṛṣṭvā bharatasattama। yan me kṛtaṁ brāhmaṇeṣu na tapye tena pārthiva ॥13-58-40॥
O best of the Bharatas, seeing such worlds as these, I do not regret what I have done to the brāhmaṇas, O king. (13-58-40)
