13.108
ज्येष्ठकनिष्ठवृत्तिः
The function or position of elder and younger.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
यथा ज्येष्ठः कनिष्ठेषु वर्तते भरतर्षभ। कनिष्ठाश्च यथा ज्येष्ठे वर्तेरंस्तद्ब्रवीहि मे ॥१३-१०८-१॥
O best of the Bharatas, tell me how the eldest behaves among the youngest, and how the youngest ought to behave towards the eldest. (13-108-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said;
ज्येष्ठवत्तात वर्तस्व ज्येष्ठो हि सततं भवान्। गुरोर्गरीयसी वृत्तिर्या चेच्छिष्यस्य भारत ॥१३-१०८-२॥
O dear, conduct yourself as you would like an elder; for you are always the elder. O Bharata, the student’s conduct, if it is greater than that of the teacher, is to be followed. (13-108-2)
न गुरावकृतप्रज्ञे शक्यं शिष्येण वर्तितुम्। गुरोर्हि दीर्घदर्शित्वं यत्तच्छिष्यस्य भारत ॥१३-१०८-३॥
It is not possible for a disciple to conduct himself under a teacher who lacks developed wisdom. For the far-sightedness that belongs to the teacher is (for) the disciple, O Bhārata. (13-108-3)
अन्धः स्यादन्धवेलायां जडः स्यादपि वा बुधः। परिहारेण तद्ब्रूयाद्यस्तेषां स्याद्व्यतिक्रमः ॥१३-१०८-४॥
Even a blind person at the time of blindness, a dull or even a wise person—if there is a transgression by any of them, it should be stated through circumvention. (13-108-4)
प्रत्यक्षं भिन्नहृदया भेदयेयुः कृतं नराः। श्रियाभितप्ताः कौन्तेय भेदकामास्तथारयः ॥१३-१०८-५॥
Men with divided hearts, O son of Kunti, would openly cause division in actions; enemies distressed by wealth, desiring dissension, also act so. (13-108-5)
ज्येष्ठः कुलं वर्धयति विनाशयति वा पुनः। हन्ति सर्वमपि ज्येष्ठः कुलं यत्रावजायते ॥१३-१०८-६॥
The eldest son either causes the family to prosper or destroys it; in fact, if such an eldest is born, he may even destroy the entire family. (13-108-6)
अथ यो विनिकुर्वीत ज्येष्ठो भ्राता यवीयसः। अज्येष्ठः स्यादभागश्च नियम्यो राजभिश्च सः ॥१३-१०८-७॥
If an elder brother should deprive the younger (of his share), he, being not the eldest, should be made shareless and restrained by the kings. (13-108-7)
निकृती हि नरो लोकान्पापान्गच्छत्यसंशयम्। विदुलस्येव तत्पुष्पं मोघं जनयितुः स्मृतम् ॥१३-१०८-८॥
Indeed, by wickedness, a man certainly goes to evil worlds without doubt. Just like the flower of the vidula tree is considered vain for the one who produced it. (13-108-8)
सर्वानर्थः कुले यत्र जायते पापपूरुषः। अकीर्तिं जनयत्येव कीर्तिमन्तर्दधाति च ॥१३-१०८-९॥
Where a sinful man is born in a family, all misfortunes follow; he causes disgrace, and indeed destroys any fame. (13-108-9)
सर्वे चापि विकर्मस्था भागं नार्हन्ति सोदराः। नाप्रदाय कनिष्ठेभ्यो ज्येष्ठः कुर्वीत यौतकम् ॥१३-१०८-१०॥
All brothers who are engaged in wrongful actions do not deserve a share. The elder should not perform the marriage ceremony without having given their shares to the younger brothers. (13-108-10)
अनुजं हि पितुर्दायो जङ्घाश्रमफलोऽध्वगः। स्वयमीहितलब्धं तु नाकामो दातुमर्हति ॥१३-१०८-११॥
Indeed, a younger brother rightfully inherits the father's estate; the fruit of travel comes to the one who journeys; but what a person has obtained by his own effort, he does not have to give if he is unwilling. (13-108-11)
भ्रातॄणामविभक्तानामुत्थानमपि चेत्सह। न पुत्रभागं विषमं पिता दद्यात्कथञ्चन ॥१३-१०८-१२॥
If the property acquired by undivided brothers is joint, the father should by no means give an unequal share to the sons. (13-108-12)
न ज्येष्ठानवमन्येत दुष्कृतः सुकृतोऽपि वा। यदि स्त्री यद्यवरजः श्रेयः पश्येत्तथाचरेत् ॥ धर्मं हि श्रेय इत्याहुरिति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥१३-१०८-१३॥
One should not disregard elders, whether one is wicked or even virtuous; even if a woman or a younger person perceives what is good, one should act accordingly; for they say righteousness is the highest good, thus knowers of dharma know. (13-108-13)
दशाचार्यानुपाध्याय उपाध्यायान्पिता दश। दश चैव पितॄन्माता सर्वां वा पृथिवीमपि ॥१३-१०८-१४॥
A sub-teacher is equal to ten teachers. The father is equal to ten sub-teachers. The mother is equal to ten fathers or even the whole earth. (13-108-14)
गौरवेणाभिभवति नास्ति मातृसमो गुरुः। माता गरीयसी यच्च तेनैतां मन्यते जनः ॥१३-१०८-१५॥
There is no teacher equal to the mother because she surpasses all in respect. Therefore, people consider the mother greater. (13-108-15)
ज्येष्ठो भ्राता पितृसमो मृते पितरि भारत। स ह्येषां वृत्तिदाता स्यात्स चैतान्परिपालयेत् ॥१३-१०८-१६॥
O Bhārata, when the father is dead, the eldest brother should be regarded as equal to the father; he should support and protect his brothers. (13-108-16)
कनिष्ठास्तं नमस्येरन्सर्वे छन्दानुवर्तिनः। तमेव चोपजीवेरन्यथैव पितरं तथा ॥१३-१०८-१७॥
All the younger ones, all who follow the will of elders, should bow to him; and they should subsist upon him alone, just as they do with the father. (13-108-17)
शरीरमेतौ सृजतः पिता माता च भारत। आचार्यशास्ता या जातिः सा सत्या साजरामरा ॥१३-१०८-१८॥
O Bhārata, the father and mother create the body, but the birth given by the teacher-instructor is the true one; that birth is undecaying and immortal. (13-108-18)
ज्येष्ठा मातृसमा चापि भगिनी भरतर्षभ। भ्रातुर्भार्या च तद्वत्स्याद्यस्या बाल्ये स्तनं पिबेत् ॥१३-१०८-१९॥
O best of the Bharatas, the elder sister is like a mother. Similarly, a sister and the wife of one's brother, as also any woman whose breast was suckled in childhood, should be regarded in the same way. (13-108-19)
