13.093
व्रतविशेषाः
the distinctions of vows
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
द्विजातयो व्रतोपेता हविस्ते यदि भुञ्जते। अन्नं ब्राह्मणकामाय कथमेतत्पितामह ॥१३-९३-१॥
O grandsire, how is it that the twice-born, endowed with vows, eat sacrificial food for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa's desire? (13-93-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अवेदोक्तव्रताश्चैव भुञ्जानाः कार्यकारिणः। वेदोक्तेषु तु भुञ्जाना व्रतलुप्ता युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-९३-२॥
O Yudhishthira, those who perform actions and enjoy without following vows prescribed in the Veda are just doers of acts; but even those who enjoy as prescribed in the Veda, having lost their vow, are not true observers of it. (13-93-2)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
यदिदं तप इत्याहुरुपवासं पृथग्जनाः। तपः स्यादेतदिह वै तपोऽन्यद्वापि किं भवेत् ॥१३-९३-३॥
Ordinary people say that this fasting is 'austerity'; this may be austerity, but is there indeed any other austerity as well? (13-93-3)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
मासार्धमासौ नोपवसेद्यत्तपो मन्यते जनः। आत्मतन्त्रोपघाती यो न तपस्वी न धर्मवित् ॥१३-९३-४॥
If a person considers as penance the act of not eating for a month or a month and a half, that self-willed destroyer is neither an ascetic nor a knower of dharma. (13-93-4)
त्यागस्यापि च सम्पत्तिः शिष्यते तप उत्तमम्। सदोपवासी च भवेद्ब्रह्मचारी तथैव च ॥१३-९३-५॥
The attainment of renunciation is preserved; the highest austerity is to always observe fasting, and one should likewise be a brahmacārī (celibate student). (13-93-5)
मुनिश्च स्यात्सदा विप्रो देवांश्चैव सदा यजेत्। कुटुम्बिको धर्मकामः सदास्वप्नश्च भारत ॥१३-९३-६॥
A sage should always be so; a Brāhmaṇa should always worship the gods indeed. The householder who desires righteousness should always sleep, O Bhārata. (13-93-6)
अमृताशी सदा च स्यात्पवित्री च सदा भवेत्। ऋतवादी सदा च स्यान्नियतश्च सदा भवेत् ॥१३-९३-७॥
He should always partake of pure (immortal) food, should always remain pure, should always speak the truth, and should always be self-controlled. (13-93-7)
विघसाशी सदा च स्यात्सदा चैवातिथिप्रियः। अमांसाशी सदा च स्यात्पवित्री च सदा भवेत् ॥१३-९३-८॥
He should always eat leftovers, always and indeed be fond of guests; he should always abstain from meat and always remain pure. (13-93-8)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
कथं सदोपवासी स्याद्ब्रह्मचारी च पार्थिव। विघसाशी कथं च स्यात्कथं चैवातिथिप्रियः ॥१३-९३-९॥
O king, how can one always observing fasts be at the same time a celibate student, how can one be an eater of leavings, and how can one also be hospitable? (13-93-9)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said;
अन्तरा सायमाशं च प्रातराशं तथैव च। सदोपवासी भवति यो न भुङ्क्तेऽन्तरा पुनः ॥१३-९३-१०॥
One who does not eat anything between the morning meal and the evening meal is always called one who fasts. (13-93-10)
भार्यां गच्छन्ब्रह्मचारी सदा भवति चैव ह। ऋतवादी सदा च स्याद्दानशीलश्च मानवः ॥१३-९३-११॥
A man who goes to his wife becomes like a celibate, always a speaker of truth, always inclined to giving. (13-93-11)
अभक्षयन्वृथा मांसममांसाशी भवत्युत। दानं ददत्पवित्री स्यादस्वप्नश्च दिवास्वपन् ॥१३-९३-१२॥
One who abstains from eating meat in vain is indeed a non-meat-eater. One who gives charity may become purified; one who does not sleep during the day is not a day sleeper. (13-93-12)
भृत्यातिथिषु यो भुङ्क्ते भुक्तवत्सु नरः सदा। अमृतं केवलं भुङ्क्ते इति विद्धि युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-९३-१३॥
Know, O Yudhishthira, that the man who always eats only after his servants and guests have eaten, eats nectar alone. (13-93-13)
अभुक्तवत्सु नाश्नाति ब्राह्मणेषु तु यो नरः। अभोजनेन तेनास्य जितः स्वर्गो भवत्युत ॥१३-९३-१४॥
He who does not eat among Brāhmaṇas who have not eaten—with this abstention, for him, heaven is indeed won. (13-93-14)
देवेभ्यश्च पितृभ्यश्च भृत्येभ्योऽतिथिभिः सह। अवशिष्टानि यो भुङ्क्ते तमाहुर्विघसाशिनम् ॥१३-९३-१५॥
He who eats the food remaining after what is given to the gods, ancestors, servants, and guests together—they call him a consumer of remnants. (13-93-15)
तेषां लोका ह्यपर्यन्ताः सदने ब्रह्मणः स्मृताः। उपस्थिता ह्यप्सरोभिर्गन्धर्वैश्च जनाधिप ॥१३-९३-१६॥
These worlds are regarded as endless in the abode of Brahman, O lord of people, and are attended by Apsarases and Gandharvas. (13-93-16)
देवतातिथिभिः सार्धं पितृभिश्चोपभुञ्जते। रमन्ते पुत्रपौत्रैश्च तेषां गतिरनुत्तमा ॥१३-९३-१७॥
They enjoy together with gods, guests, and ancestors, and delight as well with their sons and grandsons. Their abode is unsurpassed. (13-93-17)
