13.059
अतिथियज्ञः
Sacrifice offered to a guest.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
यौ तु स्यातां चरणेनोपपन्नौ; यौ विद्यया सदृशौ जन्मना च। ताभ्यां दानं कतरस्मै विशिष्ट; मयाचमानाय च याचते च ॥१३-५९-१॥
Of two persons: one who is endowed with proper conduct, and one who is equal in knowledge and by birth—which of these two deserves a superior gift from me: the one who has performed ācamana, or the one who requests? (13-59-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
श्रेयो वै याचतः पार्थ दत्तमाहुरयाचते। अर्हत्तमो वै धृतिमान्कृपणादधृतात्मनः ॥१३-५९-२॥
O Pārtha, they say that a gift given to a supplicant is truly better than to one who does not ask. The steadfast person is considered most worthy, more than a miser or one lacking firmness. (13-59-2)
क्षत्रियो रक्षणधृतिर्ब्राह्मणोऽनर्थनाधृतिः। ब्राह्मणो धृतिमान्विद्वान्देवान्प्रीणाति तुष्टिमान् ॥१३-५९-३॥
A kṣatriya is steadfast in protection, while a brāhmaṇa is steadfast without seeking gain. The brāhmaṇa, firm and wise, pleases the gods and is content. (13-59-3)
याच्ञामाहुरनीशस्य अभिहारं च भारत। उद्वेजयति याचन्हि सदा भूतानि दस्युवत् ॥१३-५९-४॥
O Bhārata, they say begging is the resort of the powerless; for a beggar always disturbs living beings, just like a thief. (13-59-4)
म्रियते याचमानो वै तमनु म्रियते ददत्। ददत्सञ्जीवयत्येनमात्मानं च युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-५९-५॥
The beggar dies indeed; after him, the giver dies. The giver, O Yudhiṣṭhira, revives both the beggar and himself. (13-59-5)
आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मो याचते यत्प्रदीयते। अयाचतः सीदमानान्सर्वोपायैर्निमन्त्रय ॥१३-५९-६॥
Compassion is the supreme duty that requests what is given; invite by all means those who are not asking and are in distress. (13-59-6)
यदि वै तादृशा राष्ट्रे वसेयुस्ते द्विजोत्तमाः। भस्मच्छन्नानिवाग्नींस्तान्बुध्येथास्त्वं प्रयत्नतः ॥१३-५९-७॥
If indeed such excellent brāhmaṇas dwell in the kingdom, you should recognize them, like fires covered with ashes, with effort. (13-59-7)
तपसा दीप्यमानास्ते दहेयुः पृथिवीमपि। पूज्या हि ज्ञानविज्ञानतपोयोगसमन्विताः ॥१३-५९-८॥
They shine with austerity and could burn even the earth; indeed, those endowed with knowledge, wisdom, asceticism, and spiritual discipline are worthy of worship. (13-59-8)
तेभ्यः पूजां प्रयुञ्जीथा ब्राह्मणेभ्यः परन्तप। ददद्बहुविधान्दायानुपच्छन्दानयाचताम् ॥१३-५९-९॥
O scorcher of foes, to those Brāhmaṇas you should offer worship, giving many kinds of gifts and supplementary gifts to those who ask. (13-59-9)
यदग्निहोत्रे सुहुते सायम्प्रातर्भवेत्फलम्। विद्यावेदव्रतवति तद्दानफलमुच्यते ॥१३-५९-१०॥
Whatever fruit arises from the well-offered Agnihotra in the evening and morning, in one who possesses knowledge, the Veda, and a vow, that is declared to be the fruit of giving. (13-59-10)
विद्यावेदव्रतस्नातानव्यपाश्रयजीविनः। गूढस्वाध्यायतपसो ब्राह्मणान्संशितव्रतान् ॥१३-५९-११॥
Brāhmaṇas endowed with knowledge, Veda, vows, who have been initiated, who live independently, whose austerities and self-study are concealed, steadfast in their vows. (13-59-11)
कृतैरावसथैर्हृद्यैः सप्रेष्यैः सपरिच्छदैः। निमन्त्रयेथाः कौन्तेय कामैश्चान्यैर्द्विजोत्तमान् ॥१३-५९-१२॥
O son of Kuntī, you should invite the foremost Brāhmaṇas together with others, providing delightful prepared residences attended by servants and furnished with equipment for their satisfaction. (13-59-12)
अपि ते प्रतिगृह्णीयुः श्रद्धापूतं युधिष्ठिर। कार्यमित्येव मन्वाना धर्मज्ञाः सूक्ष्मदर्शिनः ॥१३-५९-१३॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the knowers of dharma endowed with subtle insight would indeed accept your gift purified by faith, thinking it alone as something that must be done. (13-59-13)
अपि ते ब्राह्मणा भुक्त्वा गताः सोद्धरणान्गृहान्। येषां दाराः प्रतीक्षन्ते पर्जन्यमिव कर्षकाः ॥१३-५९-१४॥
Have those Brāhmaṇas, after eating and taking their shares, gone home—those whose wives wait for them as farmers wait for the rain-cloud? (13-59-14)
अन्नानि प्रातःसवने नियता ब्रह्मचारिणः। ब्राह्मणास्तात भुञ्जानास्त्रेताग्नीन्प्रीणयन्तु ते ॥१३-५९-१५॥
O dear, let the self-restrained celibate Brāhmaṇas, eating the foods at the morning soma-pressing, please the three sacred fires. (13-59-15)
माध्यंदिनं ते सवनं ददतस्तात वर्तताम्। गा हिरण्यानि वासांसि तेनेन्द्रः प्रीयतां तव ॥१३-५९-१६॥
O dear, may your midday Soma offering be performed; may cows, gold, and garments be given, and by this may Indra be pleased with you. (13-59-16)
तृतीयं सवनं तत्ते वैश्वदेवं युधिष्ठिर। यद्देवेभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च विप्रेभ्यश्च प्रयच्छसि ॥१३-५९-१७॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the third oblation, that Vaiśvadeva, you offer to the gods, ancestors, and brāhmaṇas. (13-59-17)
अहिंसा सर्वभूतेभ्यः संविभागश्च सर्वशः। दमस्त्यागो धृतिः सत्यं भवत्ववभृथाय ते ॥१३-५९-१८॥
Let non-injury towards all beings, sharing in every way, self-restraint, renunciation, steadfastness, and truth be present for you at the avabhṛtha ceremony. (13-59-18)
एष ते विततो यज्ञः श्रद्धापूतः सदक्षिणः। विशिष्टः सर्वयज्ञेभ्यो नित्यं तात प्रवर्तताम् ॥१३-५९-१९॥
May this sacrifice, which is spread for you, purified by faith, with appropriate gifts, and distinguished above all other sacrifices, always proceed, dear one. (13-59-19)
