13.094
प्रतिग्रहदोषाः
Faults arising from the acceptance (of gifts)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयच्छन्ति दानानि विविधानि च। दातृप्रतिग्रहीत्रोर्वा को विशेषः पितामह ॥१३-९४-१॥
They give various gifts to Brāhmaṇas; O grandsire, what distinction exists between the giver and the receiver? (13-94-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said;
साधोर्यः प्रतिगृह्णीयात्तथैवासाधुतो द्विजः। गुणवत्यल्पदोषः स्यान्निर्गुणे तु निमज्जति ॥१३-९४-२॥
A twice-born should accept gifts from the virtuous, but likewise from the unvirtuous; for one with good qualities, a little defect may be tolerated, but in one without a quality, he sinks. (13-94-2)
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। वृषादर्भेश्च संवादं सप्तर्षीणां च भारत ॥१३-९४-३॥
O Bhārata, here too they relate this ancient legend, the conversation between Vṛṣādarbha and the seven sages. (13-94-3)
कश्यपोऽत्रिर्वसिष्ठश्च भरद्वाजोऽथ गौतमः। विश्वामित्रो जमदग्निः साध्वी चैवाप्यरुन्धती ॥१३-९४-४॥
Kaśyapa, Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Bharadvāja, Gautama, Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, and also the virtuous woman Arundhatī. (13-94-4)
सर्वेषामथ तेषां तु गण्डाभूत्कर्मकारिका। शूद्रः पशुसखश्चैव भर्ता चास्या बभूव ह ॥१३-९४-५॥
Then, among all of them, it was the female artisan who had taken the form of a tumor; the Śūdra, friend of the beast and her husband, was indeed who he became. (13-94-5)
ते वै सर्वे तपस्यन्तः पुरा चेरुर्महीमिमाम्। समाधिनोपशिक्षन्तो ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम् ॥१३-९४-६॥
They, indeed, all, practicing austerities, once wandered this earth; by means of concentration, studying, they attained the eternal world of Brahman. (13-94-6)
अथाभवदनावृष्टिर्महती कुरुनन्दन। कृच्छ्रप्राणोऽभवद्यत्र लोकोऽयं वै क्षुधान्वितः ॥१३-९४-७॥
Then a great drought occurred, O descendant of Kuru. The people there struggled to survive, all afflicted by hunger. (13-94-7)
कस्मिंश्चिच्च पुरा यज्ञे याज्येन शिबिसूनुना। दक्षिणार्थेऽथ ऋत्विग्भ्यो दत्तः पुत्रो निजः किल ॥१३-९४-८॥
Once long ago, in a sacrifice, the son of Śibi, acting as the sacrificer, indeed gave his own son to the priests as the sacrificial fee. (13-94-8)
तस्मिन्कालेऽथ सोऽल्पायुर्दिष्टान्तमगमत्प्रभो। ते तं क्षुधाभिसन्तप्ताः परिवार्योपतस्थिरे ॥१३-९४-९॥
At that time, O lord, the short-lived man reached his destined end. They, afflicted by hunger, surrounded him and approached. (13-94-9)
याज्यात्मजमथो दृष्ट्वा गतासुमृषिसत्तमाः। अपचन्त तदा स्थाल्यां क्षुधार्ताः किल भारत ॥१३-९४-१०॥
O Bhārata, then, the excellent sages, afflicted by hunger, indeed cooked the son of the chief priest—having seen him lifeless—in a pot. (13-94-10)
निराद्ये मर्त्यलोकेऽस्मिन्नात्मानं ते परीप्सवः। कृच्छ्रामापेदिरे वृत्तिमन्नहेतोस्तपस्विनः ॥१३-९४-११॥
In this enjoymentless mortal world, those ascetics, wishing to preserve their own lives, undertook a severe livelihood just for the sake of food. (13-94-11)
अटमानोऽथ तान्मार्गे पचमानान्महीपतिः। राजा शैब्यो वृषादर्भिः क्लिश्यमानान्ददर्श ह ॥१३-९४-१२॥
Then, as King Śaibya Vṛṣādarbhi was wandering on the path, he indeed saw them being tormented and suffering. (13-94-12)
वृषादर्भिरुवाच॥
Vṛṣādarbhir said.
प्रतिग्रहस्तारयति पुष्टिर्वै प्रतिगृह्णताम्। मयि यद्विद्यते वित्तं तच्छृणुध्वं तपोधनाः ॥१३-९४-१३॥
The acceptance of a gift indeed sustains the nourishment of the receivers. Hear from me what wealth exists; O ascetics. (13-94-13)
प्रियो हि मे ब्राह्मणो याचमानो; दद्यामहं वोऽश्वतरीसहस्रम्। एकैकशः सवृषाः सम्प्रसूताः; सर्वेषां वै शीघ्रगाः श्वेतलोमाः ॥१३-९४-१४॥
Indeed, the begging brahmin is dear to me; may I grant you a thousand mules. Each one, well bred, with males, quick-moving and white-haired for every one of you. (13-94-14)
कुलम्भराननडुहः शतंशता; न्धुर्याञ्शुभान्सर्वशोऽहं ददानि। पृथ्वीवाहान्पीवरांश्चैव ताव; दग्र्या गृष्ट्यो धेनवः सुव्रताश्च ॥१३-९४-१५॥
I give away hundreds and hundreds of high-backed bullocks that do not give milk, all the excellent yoke-fit ones. Likewise, I give fat oxen used for carrying loads, and an equal number of excellent, productive, well-disciplined milch-cows. (13-94-15)
वरान्ग्रामान्व्रीहियवं रसांश्च; रत्नं चान्यद्दुर्लभं किं ददानि। मा स्माभक्ष्ये भावमेवं कुरुध्वं; पुष्ट्यर्थं वै किं प्रयच्छाम्यहं वः ॥१३-९४-१६॥
What else shall I give—choose villages, rice and barley, juices, gems, or any other rare thing? Do not entertain such a feeling towards that which is inedible; for the sake of your nourishment, tell me, what shall I offer you? (13-94-16)
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
The sages said.
राजन्प्रतिग्रहो राज्ञो मध्वास्वादो विषोपमः। तज्जानमानः कस्मात्त्वं कुरुषे नः प्रलोभनम् ॥१३-९४-१७॥
O king, acceptance of gifts is for a king as sweet as honey, but like poison. Knowing that, why do you tempt us? (13-94-17)
क्षत्रं हि दैवतमिव ब्राह्मणं समुपाश्रितम्। अमलो ह्येष तपसा प्रीतः प्रीणाति देवताः ॥१३-९४-१८॥
The kṣatriya, like a divinity, is entirely depended upon by the brāhmaṇa. Indeed, this brāhmaṇa, pure and pleased through austerity, pleases the deities. (13-94-18)
अह्नापीह तपो जातु ब्राह्मणस्योपजायते। तद्दाव इव निर्दह्यात्प्राप्तो राजप्रतिग्रहः ॥१३-९४-१९॥
Even by day, here, the austerity of a brāhmaṇa always arises; that may, like a wild fire, consume a royal gift that has been received. (13-94-19)
कुशलं सह दानेन राजन्नस्तु सदा तव। अर्थिभ्यो दीयतां सर्वमित्युक्त्वा ते ततो ययुः ॥१३-९४-२०॥
"May well-being with charity always be yours, O king. Let everything be given to those who request it"—having said this, they then departed. (13-94-20)
अपक्वमेव तन्मांसमभूत्तेषां च धीमताम्। अथ हित्वा ययुः सर्वे वनमाहारकाङ्क्षिणः ॥१३-९४-२१॥
The meat indeed remained uncooked for those wise ones; then, having left it, they all went into the forest longing for food. (13-94-21)
ततः प्रचोदिता राज्ञा वनं गत्वास्य मन्त्रिणः। प्रचीयोदुम्बराणि स्म दानं दातुं प्रचक्रमुः ॥१३-९४-२२॥
Then, at the king's urging, his ministers went to the forest and undertook to give the eastern udumbara trees as gifts. (13-94-22)
उदुम्बराण्यथान्यानि हेमगर्भाण्युपाहरन्। भृत्यास्तेषां ततस्तानि प्रग्राहितुमुपाद्रवन् ॥१३-९४-२३॥
They brought udumbara fruits and other objects containing gold; then their servants approached to receive those. (13-94-23)
गुरूणीति विदित्वाथ न ग्राह्याण्यत्रिरब्रवीत्। न स्म हे मूढविज्ञाना न स्म हे मन्दबुद्धयः ॥ हैमानीमानि जानीमः प्रतिबुद्धाः स्म जागृमः ॥१३-९४-२४॥
Having understood the teachers' words, Atri then said, “These are not to be accepted. Not so, O deluded ones! Not so, O dull-minded ones! We know these golden matters; having awakened, we are indeed alert.” (13-94-24)
इह ह्येतदुपादत्तं प्रेत्य स्यात्कटुकोदयम्। अप्रतिग्राह्यमेवैतत्प्रेत्य चेह सुखेप्सुना ॥१३-९४-२५॥
Here, indeed, that which is received may result in bitterness after death. This should certainly not be accepted, either after death or here, by one seeking happiness. (13-94-25)
वसिष्ठ उवाच॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
शतेन निष्कं गणितं सहस्रेण च संमितम्। यथा बहु प्रतीच्छन्हि पापिष्ठां लभते गतिम् ॥१३-९४-२६॥
A golden coin is reckoned with a hundred, and measured with a thousand; just as one who desires much indeed attains the most sinful path. (13-94-26)
कश्यप उवाच॥
Kaśyapa said.
यत्पृथिव्यां व्रीहियवं हिरण्यं पशवः स्त्रियः। सर्वं तन्नालमेकस्य तस्माद्विद्वाञ्शमं व्रजेत् ॥१३-९४-२७॥
All the rice and barley, gold, cattle, and women on earth—none of it is enough for one person; therefore, a wise man should seek tranquillity. (13-94-27)
भरद्वाज उवाच॥
Bharadvāja said.
उत्पन्नस्य रुरोः शृङ्गं वर्धमानस्य वर्धते। प्रार्थना पुरुषस्येव तस्य मात्रा न विद्यते ॥१३-९४-२८॥
The horn of a beast, once born, keeps growing as the animal grows. In the same way, a person's desire has no limit. (13-94-28)
गौतम उवाच॥
Gautama said.
न तल्लोके द्रव्यमस्ति यल्लोकं प्रतिपूरयेत्। समुद्रकल्पः पुरुषो न कदाचन पूर्यते ॥१३-९४-२९॥
There is no such substance in that world capable of filling the world. A man like the ocean is never satisfied. (13-94-29)
विश्वामित्र उवाच॥
Viśvāmitra said.
कामं कामयमानस्य यदा कामः समृध्यते। अथैनमपरः कामस्तृष्णा विध्यति बाणवत् ॥१३-९४-३०॥
When the desire of a desiring person is fulfilled, then another desire, thirst, pierces him like an arrow. (13-94-30)
जमदग्निरुवाच॥
Jamadagni said.
प्रतिग्रहे संयमो वै तपो धारयते ध्रुवम्। तद्धनं ब्राह्मणस्येह लुभ्यमानस्य विस्रवेत् ॥१३-९४-३१॥
When receiving gifts, restraint is indeed supported certainly by austerity. Here, the wealth of the Brāhmaṇa who is being tempted flows away. (13-94-31)
अरुन्धत्युवाच॥
Arundhati said.
धर्मार्थं सञ्चयो यो वै द्रव्याणां पक्षसंमतः। तपःसञ्चय एवेह विशिष्टो द्रव्यसञ्चयात् ॥१३-९४-३२॥
The accumulation of wealth for the sake of dharma, though approved by men, is surpassed here by the accumulation of austerity; the accumulation of austerity is superior to the accumulation of substances. (13-94-32)
गण्डोवाच॥
Gaṇḍa said.
उग्रादितो भयाद्यस्माद्बिभ्यतीमे ममेश्वराः। बलीयांसो दुर्बलवद्बिभेम्यहमतः परम् ॥१३-९४-३३॥
Because of the fear arising from this fierce one, these lords of mine are afraid; even those more powerful than I am, like the weak, I too am afraid of that which is beyond this. (13-94-33)
पशुसख उवाच॥
The friend of the animals said.
यद्वै धर्मे परं नास्ति ब्राह्मणास्तद्धनं विदुः। विनयार्थं सुविद्वांसमुपासेयं यथातथम् ॥१३-९४-३४॥
Which indeed is unsurpassed in dharma, that the Brāhmaṇas know as true wealth. For the sake of humility, one should serve the truly learned, in any way. (13-94-34)
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
The sages said.
कुशलं सह दानाय तस्मै यस्य प्रजा इमाः। फलान्युपधियुक्तानि य एवं नः प्रयच्छसि ॥१३-९४-३५॥
To that person for whom these subjects, along with welfare and means of giving, are granted by you, who thus gives us these fruits. (13-94-35)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
इत्युक्त्वा हेमगर्भाणि हित्वा तानि फलानि ते। ऋषयो जग्मुरन्यत्र सर्व एव धृतव्रताः ॥१३-९४-३६॥
After thus having spoken, the sages, all steadfast in their vows, abandoned those golden-inside fruits and went elsewhere. (13-94-36)
मन्त्रिणः ऊचुः॥
The ministers said.
उपधिं शङ्कमानास्ते हित्वेमानि फलानि वै। ततोऽन्येनैव गच्छन्ति विदितं तेऽस्तु पार्थिव ॥१३-९४-३७॥
Those, suspecting the intention, abandon these fruits and as a result move on by another path; let this be known to you, O king. (13-94-37)
इत्युक्तः स तु भृत्यैस्तैर्वृषादर्भिश्चुकोप ह। तेषां सम्प्रतिकर्तुं च सर्वेषामगमद्गृहम् ॥१३-९४-३८॥
Thus, when spoken to in this way by those attendants, Vṛṣādarbhi became angry. To retaliate against all of them, he went to his house. (13-94-38)
स गत्वाहवनीयेऽग्नौ तीव्रं नियममास्थितः। जुहाव संस्कृतां मन्त्रैरेकैकामाहुतिं नृपः ॥१३-९४-३९॥
The king, having gone to the āhavanīya fire and undertaken an intense vow, offered each purified oblation with mantras. (13-94-39)
तस्मादग्नेः समुत्तस्थौ कृत्या लोकभयङ्करी। तस्या नाम वृषादर्भिर्यातुधानीत्यथाकरोत् ॥१३-९४-४०॥
From Agni there arose a kṛtyā, a being who brought terror to the world. Vṛṣādarbhi then gave her the name 'yātudhānī'. (13-94-40)
सा कृत्या कालरात्रीव कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थिता। वृषादर्भिं नरपतिं किं करोमीति चाब्रवीत् ॥१३-९४-४१॥
Kṛtyā, appearing like the night of destruction Kālarātrī with folded hands, stood before the king Vṛṣādarbhī and said, "What shall I do?" (13-94-41)
वृषादर्भिरुवाच॥
Vṛṣādarbhih said.
ऋषीणां गच्छ सप्तानामरुन्धत्यास्तथैव च। दासीभर्तुश्च दास्याश्च मनसा नाम धारय ॥१३-९४-४२॥
Mentally hold the names of the group of seven seers, of Arundhati, as well as those of the husband and the female servant. (13-94-42)
ज्ञात्वा नामानि चैतेषां सर्वानेतान्विनाशय। विनष्टेषु यथा स्वैरं गच्छ यत्रेप्सितं तव ॥१३-९४-४३॥
After learning the names and all of these, destroy every one of them. Once they are destroyed, you may freely go wherever you wish. (13-94-43)
सा तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य यातुधानी स्वरूपिणी। जगाम तद्वनं यत्र विचेरुस्ते महर्षयः ॥१३-९४-४४॥
She, saying "so be it" and having promised, the demoness in her own form went to that forest where the great sages wandered. (13-94-44)
