13.074
व्रतनियमफलम्
the fruit of vow and discipline
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
विस्रम्भितोऽहं भवता धर्मान्प्रवदता विभो। प्रवक्ष्यामि तु संदेहं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१३-७४-१॥
O lord, having become confident by your explaining the dharmas, I will state a doubt; please tell me that, O grandfather. (13-74-1)
व्रतानां किं फलं प्रोक्तं कीदृशं वा महाद्युते। नियमानां फलं किं च स्वधीतस्य च किं फलम् ॥१३-७४-२॥
O greatly radiant one, what is said to be the fruit of vows, and of what kind is it? And what is the fruit of restraints, and what is the fruit of self-study? (13-74-2)
दमस्येह फलं किं च वेदानां धारणे च किम्। अध्यापने फलं किं च सर्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥१३-७४-३॥
I wish to know all: what is the fruit of self-restraint here, what is the fruit of the retention of the Vedas, and what is the fruit of teaching. (13-74-3)
अप्रतिग्राहके किं च फलं लोके पितामह। तस्य किं च फलं दृष्टं श्रुतं यः सम्प्रयच्छति ॥१३-७४-४॥
O grandsire, in the case of one who does not accept gifts, what fruit (result) is there in this world? And what fruit is seen or heard for the one who gives to such a person? (13-74-4)
स्वकर्मनिरतानां च शूराणां चापि किं फलम्। सत्ये च किं फलं प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मचर्ये च किं फलम् ॥१३-७४-५॥
What is the fruit of those devoted to their own duties and of heroes? What fruit is said to result from truth and from celibacy? (13-74-5)
पितृशुश्रूषणे किं च मातृशुश्रूषणे तथा। आचार्यगुरुशुश्रूषास्वनुक्रोशानुकम्पने ॥१३-७४-६॥
What (is) in service to father, likewise also in service to mother, in service to teachers and preceptors, in compassion, in pity. (13-74-6)
एतत्सर्वमशेषेण पितामह यथातथम्। वेत्तुमिच्छामि धर्मज्ञ परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥१३-७४-७॥
Grandfather, I wish to know all this completely, just as it is. Knower of dharma, for I indeed have great curiosity. (13-74-7)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
यो व्रतं वै यथोद्दिष्टं तथा सम्प्रतिपद्यते। अखण्डं सम्यगारब्धं तस्य लोकाः सनातनाः ॥१३-७४-८॥
Whoever undertakes this vow exactly as prescribed, in an unbroken and proper manner, attains eternal worlds. (13-74-8)
नियमानां फलं राजन्प्रत्यक्षमिह दृश्यते। नियमानां क्रतूनां च त्वयावाप्तमिदं फलम् ॥१३-७४-९॥
O king, the fruit of observances is visibly seen here. And this fruit of observances and sacrifices has been obtained by you. (13-74-9)
स्वधीतस्यापि च फलं दृश्यतेऽमुत्र चेह च। इहलोकेऽर्थवान्नित्यं ब्रह्मलोके च मोदते ॥१३-७४-१०॥
The results of diligent study appear both in this world and the next; here, one is always prosperous, and in Brahmaloka, one delights. (13-74-10)
दमस्य तु फलं राजञ्शृणु त्वं विस्तरेण मे। दान्ताः सर्वत्र सुखिनो दान्ताः सर्वत्र निर्वृताः ॥१३-७४-११॥
But, O king, listen from me in detail to the fruit of self-restraint: the self-restrained are happy everywhere, the self-restrained are content everywhere. (13-74-11)
यत्रेच्छागामिनो दान्ताः सर्वशत्रुनिषूदनाः। प्रार्थयन्ति च यद्दान्ता लभन्ते तन्न संशयः ॥१३-७४-१२॥
Where self-controlled persons, who are destroyers of all enemies and act according to their desires, pray, whatever those self-controlled attain, that is surely without doubt. (13-74-12)
युज्यन्ते सर्वकामैर्हि दान्ताः सर्वत्र पाण्डव। स्वर्गे तथा प्रमोदन्ते तपसा विक्रमेण च ॥१३-७४-१३॥
O son of Pandu, those who are self-controlled indeed obtain all desired objects everywhere. Likewise, in heaven they rejoice through austerity and heroic effort. (13-74-13)
दानैर्यज्ञैश्च विविधैर्यथा दान्ताः क्षमान्विताः। दाता कुप्यति नो दान्तस्तस्माद्दानात्परो दमः ॥१३-७४-१४॥
Those who become self-restrained and endowed with forbearance by various gifts and sacrifices, yet the giver may still become angry, but the self-restrained does not. Therefore, self-restraint is superior to giving. (13-74-14)
यस्तु दद्यादकुप्यन्हि तस्य लोकाः सनातनाः। क्रोधो हन्ति हि यद्दानं तस्माद्दानात्परो दमः ॥१३-७४-१५॥
But he who gives without anger—his worlds are eternal. Anger indeed destroys the merit of gifts; therefore, self-control is superior to giving. (13-74-15)
अदृश्यानि महाराज स्थानान्ययुतशो दिवि। ऋषीणां सर्वलोकेषु यानीतो यान्ति देवताः ॥१३-७४-१६॥
O great king, there are unseen places by tens of thousands in the sky—those to which the gods depart from here in all the worlds of the seers. (13-74-16)
दमेन यानि नृपते गच्छन्ति परमर्षयः। कामयाना महत्स्थानं तस्माद्दानात्परो दमः ॥१३-७४-१७॥
O king, by self-restraint, the supreme sages attain that great state which they desire; therefore, self-restraint is greater than charity. (13-74-17)
अध्यापकः परिक्लेशादक्षयं फलमश्नुते। विधिवत्पावकं हुत्वा ब्रह्मलोके नराधिप ॥१३-७४-१८॥
The teacher obtains imperishable fruit from effort. Having properly offered fire, he, O king, attains the world of Brahma. (13-74-18)
अधीत्यापि हि यो वेदान्न्यायविद्भ्यः प्रयच्छति। गुरुकर्मप्रशंसी च सोऽपि स्वर्गे महीयते ॥१३-७४-१९॥
Even one who, having studied, gives the Vedas to those versed in the law, and who praises the acts of the teacher, he too is honored in heaven. (13-74-19)
क्षत्रियोऽध्ययने युक्तो यजने दानकर्मणि। युद्धे यश्च परित्राता सोऽपि स्वर्गे महीयते ॥१३-७४-२०॥
A Kṣatriya who is devoted to study, sacrifice, charity, and acts as a protector in battle is also honored in heaven. (13-74-20)
वैश्यः स्वकर्मनिरतः प्रदानाल्लभते महत्। शूद्रः स्वकर्मनिरतः स्वर्गं शुश्रूषयार्च्छति ॥१३-७४-२१॥
The Vaiśya, devoted to his own duty, obtains great (reward) through giving. The Śūdra, devoted to his own duty, attains heaven through service. (13-74-21)
शूरा बहुविधाः प्रोक्तास्तेषामर्थांश्च मे शृणु। शूरान्वयानां निर्दिष्टं फलं शूरस्य चैव ह ॥१३-७४-२२॥
Heroes are of many kinds as said; hear from me their meanings. The prescribed result for the kinds of heroes and also for the hero himself. (13-74-22)
यज्ञशूरा दमे शूराः सत्यशूरास्तथापरे। युद्धशूरास्तथैवोक्ता दानशूराश्च मानवाः ॥१३-७४-२३॥
There are men who are heroes in sacrifice, heroes in self-control, heroes in truth, and others; in the same way, men are said to be heroes in battle and heroes in generosity. (13-74-23)
बुद्धिशूरास्तथैवान्ये क्षमाशूरास्तथापरे। आर्जवे च तथा शूराः शमे वर्तन्ति मानवाः ॥१३-७४-२४॥
Some humans are brave in intellect, others are brave in forbearance; still others are brave in straightforwardness; and there are brave ones who abide in tranquility. (13-74-24)
तैस्तैस्तु नियमैः शूरा बहवः सन्ति चापरे। वेदाध्ययनशूराश्च शूराश्चाध्यापने रताः ॥१३-७४-२५॥
But by those various rules, there are many heroes, and others too; some are heroes in the study of the Vedas, and some are heroes devoted to teaching. (13-74-25)
गुरुशुश्रूषया शूराः पितृशुश्रूषयापरे। मातृशुश्रूषया शूरा भैक्ष्यशूरास्तथापरे ॥१३-७४-२६॥
Some are heroes by serving the teacher, others by serving the father; some are heroes by serving the mother, and others likewise are heroes in accepting alms. (13-74-26)
साङ्ख्यशूराश्च बहवो योगशूरास्तथापरे। अरण्ये गृहवासे च शूराश्चातिथिपूजने ॥ सर्वे यान्ति पराँल्लोकान्स्वकर्मफलनिर्जितान् ॥१३-७४-२७॥
Many are heroes in Sāṅkhya, and also others are heroes in Yoga; others are heroes residing in the forest or in the home, and some are heroes in honoring guests. All of them go to the highest worlds attained by the fruit of their own actions. (13-74-27)
धारणं सर्ववेदानां सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम्। सत्यं च ब्रुवतो नित्यं समं वा स्यान्न वा समम् ॥१३-७४-२८॥
Bearing all the Vedas, bathing in all holy places—truth spoken always by one may be equal to this or may not be equal. (13-74-28)
अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्। अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेव विशिष्यते ॥१३-७४-२९॥
When a thousand horse sacrifices and truth are weighed in a balance, truth alone excels even a thousand horse sacrifices. (13-74-29)
सत्येन सूर्यस्तपति सत्येनाग्निः प्रदीप्यते। सत्येन मारुतो वाति सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१३-७४-३०॥
The sun shines by truth, the fire is kindled by truth, the wind blows by truth; everything is established in truth. (13-74-30)
सत्येन देवान्प्रीणाति पितॄन्वै ब्राह्मणांस्तथा। सत्यमाहुः परं धर्मं तस्मात्सत्यं न लङ्घयेत् ॥१३-७४-३१॥
By truth, one pleases the gods, ancestors, and Brāhmaṇas; truth is declared to be the highest duty, therefore, one should not violate the truth. (13-74-31)
मुनयः सत्यनिरता मुनयः सत्यविक्रमाः। मुनयः सत्यशपथास्तस्मात्सत्यं विशिष्यते ॥ सत्यवन्तः स्वर्गलोके मोदन्ते भरतर्षभ ॥१३-७४-३२॥
Sages devoted to truth, sages whose power is truth, and those who take truth as their vow—for this reason, truth is supreme. Men of truth rejoice in the heavenly realm, O foremost of the Bharatas. (13-74-32)
दमः सत्यफलावाप्तिरुक्ता सर्वात्मना मया। असंशयं विनीतात्मा सर्वः स्वर्गे महीयते ॥१३-७४-३३॥
I have declared by all means that self-restraint and the attainment of the fruit of truth are important; without doubt, every humble-minded person is honored in heaven. (13-74-33)
ब्रह्मचर्यस्य तु गुणाञ्शृणु मे वसुधाधिप। आ जन्ममरणाद्यस्तु ब्रह्मचारी भवेदिह ॥ न तस्य किञ्चिदप्राप्यमिति विद्धि जनाधिप ॥१३-७४-३४॥
O lord of the earth, hear from me the qualities of celibacy. Whoever practices celibacy here from birth to death, know, O lord of people, that for him nothing is unattainable. (13-74-34)
बह्व्यः कोट्यस्त्वृषीणां तु ब्रह्मलोके वसन्त्युत। सत्ये रतानां सततं दान्तानामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् ॥१३-७४-३५॥
Many crores of ṛṣis indeed dwell in Brahmaloka—those ever devoted to truth, self-controlled, and with their vital energy directed upward. (13-74-35)
ब्रह्मचर्यं दहेद्राजन्सर्वपापान्युपासितम्। ब्राह्मणेन विशेषेण ब्राह्मणो ह्यग्निरुच्यते ॥१३-७४-३६॥
O king, brahmacarya should burn all sins that have been committed; especially by the brāhmaṇa, for the brāhmaṇa is indeed said to be fire. (13-74-36)
प्रत्यक्षं च तवाप्येतद्ब्राह्मणेषु तपस्विषु। बिभेति हि यथा शक्रो ब्रह्मचारिप्रधर्षितः ॥ तद्ब्रह्मचर्यस्य फलमृषीणामिह दृश्यते ॥१३-७४-३७॥
This is directly evident to you also: among the ascetic brāhmaṇas, even Śakra is afraid after being overpowered by brahmacārins. Thus, the fruit of brahmacarya among the ṛṣis is seen here. (13-74-37)
मातापित्रोः पूजने यो धर्मस्तमपि मे शृणु। शुश्रूषते यः पितरं न चासूयेत्कथञ्चन ॥ मातरं वानहंवादी गुरुमाचार्यमेव च ॥१३-७४-३८॥
Now hear from me about the duty that lies in honoring mother and father. Whoever serves the father and does not envy in any way, likewise the mother, and speaks without pride to the teacher and to the preceptor—such is the way. (13-74-38)
तस्य राजन्फलं विद्धि स्वर्लोके स्थानमुत्तमम्। न च पश्येत नरकं गुरुशुश्रूषुरात्मवान् ॥१३-७४-३९॥
Know, O king, that the fruit for such a one is an excellent place in heaven; moreover, the self-controlled one who serves his guru does not see hell. (13-74-39)
