13.093
vrataviśeṣāḥ
the distinctions of vows
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
dvijātayo vratopetā haviste yadi bhuñjate। annaṃ brāhmaṇakāmāya kathametatpitāmaha ॥13-93-1॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
avedokta-vratāś caiva bhuñjānāḥ kāryakāriṇaḥ। vedokteṣu tu bhuñjānā vrataluptā yudhiṣṭhira॥13-93-2॥
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)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
yad idaṃ tapa ity āhur upavāsaṃ pṛthag-janāḥ। tapaḥ syād etad iha vai tapo 'nyad vāpi kiṃ bhavet॥13-93-3॥
Ordinary people say that this fasting is 'austerity'; this may be austerity, but is there indeed any other austerity as well? (13-93-3)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
māsārdhamāsau nopavasedyat tapo manyate janaḥ। ātmatantropaghātī yo na tapasvī na dharmavit॥13-93-4॥
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)
tyāgasyāpi ca sampattiḥ śiṣyate tapa uttamam। sadopavāsī ca bhaved brahmacārī tathaiva ca ॥13-93-5॥
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)
muniś ca syāt sadā vipro devāṁś caiva sadā yajet। kuṭumbiko dharmakāmaḥ sadā svapnaś ca bhārata ॥13-93-6॥
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)
amṛtāśī sadā ca syāt pavitrī ca sadā bhavet। ṛtavādī sadā ca syān niyataś ca sadā bhavet॥13-93-7॥
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)
vighasāśī sadā ca syātsadā caivātithipriyaḥ। amāṃsāśī sadā ca syātpavitrī̄ ca sadā bhavet॥13-93-8॥
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)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
kathaṁ sadopavāsī syād brahmacārī ca pārthiva। vighasāśī kathaṁ ca syāt kathaṁ caivātithipriyaḥ ॥13-93-9॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said;
antarā sāyam-āśam ca prātar-āśam tathaiva ca। sadopavāsī bhavati yaḥ na bhuṅkte 'ntarā punaḥ॥13-93-10॥
One who does not eat anything between the morning meal and the evening meal is always called one who fasts. (13-93-10)
bhāryāṃ gacchan brahmacārī sadā bhavati caiva ha। ṛtavādī sadā ca syād dānaśīlaś ca mānavaḥ ॥13-93-11॥
A man who goes to his wife becomes like a celibate, always a speaker of truth, always inclined to giving. (13-93-11)
abhakṣayan-vṛthā māṁsam-amāṁsāśī bhavatyu-ta. dānaṁ dadata-pavitri syād-asvapnaś-ca divāsvapan ॥13-93-12॥
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)
bhṛtyātithiṣu yo bhuṅkte bhuktavatsu naraḥ sadā। amṛtaṃ kevalaṃ bhuṅkte iti viddhi yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-93-13॥
Know, O Yudhishthira, that the man who always eats only after his servants and guests have eaten, eats nectar alone. (13-93-13)
abhuktavatsu nāśnāti brāhmaṇeṣu tu yo naraḥ। abhojanena tenāsya jitaḥ svargo bhavatyuta ॥13-93-14॥
He who does not eat among Brāhmaṇas who have not eaten—with this abstention, for him, heaven is indeed won. (13-93-14)
devebhyaś ca pitṛbhyaś ca bhṛtyebhyo'tithibhiḥ saha। avaśiṣṭāni yo bhuṅkte tam āhur vighasāśinam ॥13-93-15॥
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)
teṣāṃ lokā hyaparyantāḥ sadane brahmaṇaḥ smṛtāḥ। upasthitā hyapsarobhirgandharvaiśca janādhipa ॥13-93-16॥
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)
devatātithibhiḥ sārdhaṁ pitṛbhiś copabhuñjate. ramante putrapautraiś ca teṣāṁ gatir anuttamā ॥13-93-17॥
They enjoy together with gods, guests, and ancestors, and delight as well with their sons and grandsons. Their abode is unsurpassed. (13-93-17)
