13.094
pratigrahadoṣāḥ
Faults arising from the acceptance (of gifts)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
brāhmaṇebhyaḥ prayacchanti dānāni vividhāni ca. dātṛpratigrahītrorvā ko viśeṣaḥ pitāmaha ॥13-94-1॥
They give various gifts to Brāhmaṇas; O grandsire, what distinction exists between the giver and the receiver? (13-94-1)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said;
sādhor yaḥ pratigṛhṇīyāt tathāiva asādhuto dvijaḥ । guṇavatyalpadoṣaḥ syān nirguṇe tu nimajjati ॥13-94-2॥
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)
atrāpy udāharantīm am itihāsaṃ purātanam। vṛṣādarbheś ca saṃvādaṃ saptarṣīṇāṃ ca bhārata॥13-94-3॥
O Bhārata, here too they relate this ancient legend, the conversation between Vṛṣādarbha and the seven sages. (13-94-3)
kaśyapo'trirvasiṣṭhaśca bharadvājo'tha gautamaḥ। viśvāmitro jamadagniḥ sādhvī caivāpyarundhatī॥13-94-4॥
Kaśyapa, Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Bharadvāja, Gautama, Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, and also the virtuous woman Arundhatī. (13-94-4)
sarveṣām atha teṣāṃ tu gaṇḍābhūt-karmakārikā| śūdraḥ paśu-sakhaś caiva bhartā ca asyā babhūva ha ॥13-94-5॥
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)
te vai sarve tapasyantaḥ purā cerur mahīm imām। samādhinopaśikṣanto brahmalokaṃ sanātanam॥13-94-6॥
They, indeed, all, practicing austerities, once wandered this earth; by means of concentration, studying, they attained the eternal world of Brahman. (13-94-6)
athābhavad anāvṛṣṭir mahatī kurunandana। kṛcchraprāṇo 'bhavad yatra loko 'yaṃ vai kṣudhānvitaḥ ॥13-94-7॥
Then a great drought occurred, O descendant of Kuru. The people there struggled to survive, all afflicted by hunger. (13-94-7)
kasmiṃścicca purā yajñe yāj yena śibisūnunā। dakṣiṇārthe'tha ṛtvigbhyo dattaḥ putro nijaḥ kila ॥13-94-8॥
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)
tasmin kāle 'tha saḥ alpāyuḥ diṣṭāntam agamat prabho। te taṃ kṣudhābhi-santaptāḥ parivārya upatasthire ॥13-94-9॥
At that time, O lord, the short-lived man reached his destined end. They, afflicted by hunger, surrounded him and approached. (13-94-9)
yājyātmajam atho dṛṣṭvā gatāsu ṛṣi-sattamāḥ। apacanta tadā sthālyāṃ kṣudhārtāḥ kila bhārata ॥13-94-10॥
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)
nirādye martyaloke'sminn ātmānaṃ te parīpsavaḥ. kṛcchrām āpedire vṛttim annahetos tapasvinaḥ ॥13-94-11॥
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)
aṭamāno’tha tānmārge pacamānānmahīpatiḥ. rājā śaibyo vṛṣādarbhiḥ kliśyamānāndadarśa ha ॥13-94-12॥
Then, as King Śaibya Vṛṣādarbhi was wandering on the path, he indeed saw them being tormented and suffering. (13-94-12)
vṛṣādarbhir uvāca॥
Vṛṣādarbhir said.
pratigrahas tārayati puṣṭir vai pratigṛhṇatām। mayi yad vidyate vittaṃ tac chṛṇudhvaṃ tapodhanāḥ॥13-94-13॥
The acceptance of a gift indeed sustains the nourishment of the receivers. Hear from me what wealth exists; O ascetics. (13-94-13)
priyo hi me brāhmaṇo yācamāno; dadyāmahaṃ vo'śvatarīsahasram। ekaikaśaḥ savṛṣāḥ samprasūtāḥ; sarveṣāṃ vai śīghragāḥ śvetalomāḥ ॥13-94-14॥
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)
kulambharānaḍuhaḥ śataṃśatā; ndhuryāñśubhānsarvaśo'haṃ dadāni. pṛthvīvāhānpīvarāṃścaiva tāva; dagryā gṛṣṭyo dhenavaḥ suvratāśca ॥13-94-15॥
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)
varān grāmān vrīhi-yavaṃ rasāṃś ca; ratnaṃ ca anyat durlabhaṃ kiṃ dadāni. mā sma abhakṣye bhāvam evaṃ kurudhvaṃ; puṣṭy-artham vai kiṃ prayacchāmi ahaṃ vaḥ ॥13-94-16॥
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)
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ॥
The sages said.
rājanpratigraho rājño madhvāsvādo viṣopamaḥ। tajjānamānaḥ kasmāttvaṁ kuruṣe naḥ pralobhanam ॥13-94-17॥
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)
kṣatraṃ hi daivatam iva brāhmaṇaṃ samupāśritam। amalo hy eṣa tapasā prītaḥ prīṇāti devatāḥ॥13-94-18॥
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)
ahnāpīha tapo jātu brāhmaṇasyopajāyate। taddāva iva nirdahyātprāpto rājapratigrahaḥ ॥13-94-19॥
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)
kuśalaṃ saha dānena rājann astu sadā tava। arthibhyo dīyatāṃ sarvam ity uktvā te tato yayuḥ॥13-94-20॥
"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)
apakvameva tanmāṁsam abhūt teṣāṁ ca dhīmatām. atha hitvā yayuḥ sarve vanam āhārakāṅkṣiṇaḥ ॥13-94-21॥
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)
tataḥ pracoditā rājñā vanaṃ gatvā asya mantriṇaḥ। prācī-udumbarāṇi sma dānaṃ dātuṃ pracakramuḥ॥13-94-22॥
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)
udumbarāṇy athānyāni hemagarbhāṇy upāharan। bhṛtyās teṣāṃ tataḥ tāni pragrāhitum upādravan ॥13-94-23॥
They brought udumbara fruits and other objects containing gold; then their servants approached to receive those. (13-94-23)
gurūṇīti viditvātha na grāhyāṇy atrir abravīt। na sma he mūḍhavijñānā na sma he mandabuddhayaḥ ॥ haimān imāni jānīmaḥ pratibuddhāḥ sma jāgṛmaḥ॥13-94-24॥
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)
iha hy etad upādattam pretya syāt kaṭukodayam । apratigrahyaṃ evaitat pretya ceha sukhepsunā ॥13-94-25॥
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)
vasiṣṭha uvāca॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
śatena niṣkaṃ gaṇitaṃ sahasreṇa ca saṃmitam। yathā bahu pratīcchan hi pāpiṣṭhāṃ labhate gatim ॥13-94-26॥
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)
kaśyapa uvāca॥
Kaśyapa said.
yat pṛthivyāṃ vrīhiyavaṃ hiraṇyaṃ paśavaḥ striyaḥ। sarvaṃ tan nālam ekasya tasmād vidvān śamaṃ vrajet ॥13-94-27॥
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)
bharadvāja uvāca॥
Bharadvāja said.
utpannasya ruroḥ śṛṅgaṃ vardhamānasya vardhate। prārthanā puruṣasyeva tasya mātrā na vidyate॥13-94-28॥
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)
gautama uvāca॥
Gautama said.
na talloke dravyam asti yallokaṃ pratipūrayet. samudrakalpaḥ puruṣo na kadācana pūryate ॥13-94-29॥
There is no such substance in that world capable of filling the world. A man like the ocean is never satisfied. (13-94-29)
viśvāmitra uvāca॥
Viśvāmitra said.
kāmaṃ kāmayamānasya yadā kāmaḥ samṛdhyate। athainamaparaḥ kāmas tṛṣṇā vidhyati bāṇavat॥13-94-30॥
When the desire of a desiring person is fulfilled, then another desire, thirst, pierces him like an arrow. (13-94-30)
jamadagniruvāca॥
Jamadagni said.
pratigrahe saṃyamo vai tapo dhārayate dhruvam। taddhanaṃ brāhmaṇasyeha lubhyamānasya visravet ॥13-94-31॥
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)
arundhaty uvāca॥
Arundhati said.
dharmārthaṃ sañcayo yo vai dravyāṇāṃ pakṣasaṃmataḥ। tapaḥsañcaya eveha viśiṣṭo dravyasañcayāt ॥13-94-32॥
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)
gaṇḍovāca॥
Gaṇḍa said.
ugrādito bhayādyasmādbibhyatīme mameśvarāḥ। balīyāṃso durbalavadbibhemyahamataḥ param ॥13-94-33॥
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)
paśusakha uvāca॥
The friend of the animals said.
yad vai dharme paraṃ nāsti brāhmaṇās tad dhanaṃ viduḥ। vinayārthaṃ suvidvāṃsam upāseyaṃ yathā tatham ॥13-94-34॥
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)
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ॥
The sages said.
kuśalaṃ saha dānāya tasmai yasya prajā imāḥ। phalānyupadhiyuktāni ya evaṃ naḥ prayacchasi॥13-94-35॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
ity-uktvā hemagarbhāṇi hitvā tāni phalāni te। ṛṣayaḥ jagmur anyatra sarva eva dhṛtavratāḥ॥13-94-36॥
After thus having spoken, the sages, all steadfast in their vows, abandoned those golden-inside fruits and went elsewhere. (13-94-36)
mantriṇaḥ ūcuḥ॥
The ministers said.
upadhiṁ śaṅkamānās te hitvā imāni phalāni vai। tato’nyenaiva gacchanti viditaṁ te’stu pārthiva॥13-94-37॥
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)
ityuktaḥ sa tu bhṛtyais tair vṛṣādarbhiś cukopa ha। teṣāṃ sampratikartuṃ ca sarveṣām agamad gṛham ॥13-94-38॥
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)
sa gatvāhavanīye'gnau tīvraṃ niyamamāsthitaḥ। juhāva saṃskṛtāṃ mantrairekaikāmāhutiṃ nṛpaḥ ॥13-94-39॥
The king, having gone to the āhavanīya fire and undertaken an intense vow, offered each purified oblation with mantras. (13-94-39)
tasmād agneḥ samuttasthau kṛtyā lokabhayaṅkarī। tasyā nāma vṛṣādarbhiḥ yātudhānīti atha akarot ॥13-94-40॥
From Agni there arose a kṛtyā, a being who brought terror to the world. Vṛṣādarbhi then gave her the name 'yātudhānī'. (13-94-40)
sā kṛtyā kālarātrīva kṛtāñjalir-upasthitā। vṛṣādarbhim narapatiṃ kiṃ karomīti cābravīt ॥13-94-41॥
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)
vṛṣādarbhir uvāca॥
Vṛṣādarbhih said.
ṛṣīṇāṃ gaccha saptānāmarundhatyāstathaiva ca. dāsībhartuśca dāsyāśca manasā nāma dhāraya ॥13-94-42॥
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)
jñātvā nāmāni caiteṣāṁ sarvānetānvināśaya। vinaṣṭeṣu yathā svairaṁ gaccha yatrepśitaṁ tava॥13-94-43॥
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)
sā tatheti pratiśrutya yātudhānī svarūpiṇī। jagāma tad vanaṃ yatra vicerus te maharṣayaḥ॥13-94-44॥
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)
