13.121
मैत्रेयभिक्षा
The alms given to Maitreya.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
विद्या तपश्च दानं च किमेतेषां विशिष्यते। पृच्छामि त्वा सतां श्रेष्ठ तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१३-१२१-१॥
Knowledge, austerity, and charity—which among these is the best? I ask you, O best of the virtuous; tell that to me, O Grandfather. (13-121-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said;
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। मैत्रेयस्य च संवादं कृष्णद्वैपायनस्य च ॥१३-१२१-२॥
Here too, they narrate this ancient history and the conversation between Maitreya and Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana. (13-121-2)
कृष्णद्वैपायनो राजन्नज्ञातचरितं चरन्। वाराणस्यामुपातिष्ठन्मैत्रेयं स्वैरिणीकुले ॥१३-१२१-३॥
O King, Kr̥ṣṇa Dvaipāyana, while traveling incognito, came to Vārāṇasī and attended upon Maitreya in the household of an independent woman. (13-121-3)
तमुपस्थितमासीनं ज्ञात्वा स मुनिसत्तमम्। अर्चित्वा भोजयामास मैत्रेयोऽशनमुत्तमम् ॥१३-१२१-४॥
Having perceived that the best of sages had arrived and was seated, Maitreya worshipped him and then offered him excellent food. (13-121-4)
तदन्नमुत्तमं भुक्त्वा गुणवत्सार्वकामिकम्। प्रतिष्ठमानोऽस्मयत प्रीतः कृष्णो महामनाः ॥१३-१२१-५॥
Having eaten that excellent and virtuous food which fulfills all desires, Kṛṣṇa, greatly pleased and honored, smiled with a great mind. (13-121-5)
तमुत्स्मयन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य मैत्रेयः कृष्णमब्रवीत्। कारणं ब्रूहि धर्मात्मन्योऽस्मयिष्ठाः कुतश्च ते ॥ तपस्विनो धृतिमतः प्रमोदः समुपागतः ॥१३-१२१-६॥
Seeing him smiling, Maitreya said to Kṛṣṇa: "Tell the reason, O virtuous one—why have you smiled, and from where has this joy come to you, ascetic and steadfast?" (13-121-6)
एतत्पृच्छामि ते विद्वन्नभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च। आत्मनश्च तपोभाग्यं महाभाग्यं तथैव च ॥१३-१२१-७॥
After saluting and bowing to you, O wise one, I ask you this: about your own merits of austerity and your great fortune as well. (13-121-7)
पृथगाचरतस्तात पृथगात्मनि चात्मनोः। अल्पान्तरमहं मन्ये विशिष्टमपि वा त्वया ॥१३-१२१-८॥
O dear, between the one who acts separately and the separate self, I think there is little difference, or even any distinction, according to you. (13-121-8)
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
अतिच्छेदातिवादाभ्यां स्मयोऽयं समुपागतः। असत्यं वेदवचनं कस्माद्वेदोऽनृतं वदेत् ॥१३-१२१-९॥
Because of excessive rebuttal and argument, this pride has arisen. Why would the Veda speak falsehood—how can the Vedic statement be untrue? (13-121-9)
त्रीण्येव तु पदान्याहुः पुरुषस्योत्तमं व्रतम्। न द्रुह्येच्चैव दद्याच्च सत्यं चैव परं वदेत् ॥ इदानीं चैव नः कृत्यं पुरस्ताच्च परं स्मृतम् ॥१३-१२१-१०॥
There are three principles, regarded as the highest vow of a man: he should not harm, he should give, and he should always speak the supreme truth. Now, our duty—both present and forthcoming—is understood thus. (13-121-10)
अल्पोऽपि तादृशो दायो भवत्युत महाफलः। तृषिताय च यद्दत्तं हृदयेनानसूयता ॥१३-१२१-११॥
Even a small gift of such kind indeed brings great results; and whatever is given to the thirsty with heartfelt sincerity and without envy yields great benefit. (13-121-11)
तृषितस्तृषिताय त्वं दत्त्वैतदशनं मम। अजैषीर्महतो लोकान्महायज्ञैरिवाभिभो ॥ अतो दानपवित्रेण प्रीतोऽस्मि तपसैव च ॥१३-१२१-१२॥
Being thirsty, you gave this food to me, who was thirsty; by this (act), O master, you have conquered great worlds just as by great sacrifices. Therefore, I am pleased by the purity of your gift, and indeed also by your austerity. (13-121-12)
पुण्यस्यैव हि ते गन्धः पुण्यस्यैव च दर्शनम्। पुण्यश्च वाति गन्धस्ते मन्ये कर्मविधानतः ॥१३-१२१-१३॥
Truly, your fragrance is only due to merit; your appearance also is only due to merit. I think even the fragrance that comes from you is because of deeds arranged by destiny. (13-121-13)
अधिकं मार्जनात्तात तथैवाप्यनुलेपनात्। शुभं सर्वपवित्रेभ्यो दानमेव परं भवेत् ॥१३-१२१-१४॥
O dear, giving a gift is indeed greater than cleansing, greater even than smearing with unguents; among all purifications, giving alone is the highest and most auspicious. (13-121-14)
यानीमान्युत्तमानीह वेदोक्तानि प्रशंससि। तेषां श्रेष्ठतमं दानमिति मे नास्ति संशयः ॥१३-१२१-१५॥
Of these excellent acts here, which you praise as declared in the Vedas, among them the gift (charity) is the highest—about this I have no doubt. (13-121-15)
दानकृद्भिः कृतः पन्था येन यान्ति मनीषिणः। ते हि प्राणस्य दातारस्तेषु धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः ॥१३-१२१-१६॥
The path made by those who give is followed by the wise. They are truly the givers of life; in them, righteousness is firmly established. (13-121-16)
यथा वेदाः स्वधीताश्च यथा चेन्द्रियसंयमः। सर्वत्यागो यथा चेह तथा दानमनुत्तमम् ॥१३-१२१-१७॥
Just as the Vedas being well-studied, restraint of the senses, and complete renunciation here are considered supreme, so also is unsurpassed the act of giving. (13-121-17)
त्वं हि तात सुखादेव सुखमेष्यसि शोभनम्। सुखात्सुखतरप्राप्तिमाप्नुते मतिमान्नरः ॥१३-१२१-१८॥
Indeed, dear one, you will attain the best happiness from happiness alone. An intelligent man obtains even greater happiness from happiness. (13-121-18)
तन्नः प्रत्यक्षमेवेदमुपलब्धमसंशयम्। श्रीमन्तमाप्नुवन्त्यर्था दानं यज्ञस्तथा सुखम् ॥१३-१२१-१९॥
This is directly evident to us and ascertained without doubt: gifts, sacrifice, and happiness, as well as wealth, are attained by the prosperous. (13-121-19)
सुखादेव परं दुःखं दुःखादन्यत्परं सुखम्। दृश्यते हि महाप्राज्ञ नियतं वै स्वभावतः ॥१३-१२१-२०॥
From pleasure, indeed, comes greater pain; from pain, in turn, greater pleasure. This is always seen by nature, O wise one. (13-121-20)
त्रिविधानीह वृत्तानि नरस्याहुर्मनीषिणः। पुण्यमन्यत्पापमन्यन्न पुण्यं न च पापकम् ॥१३-१२१-२१॥
The wise say that the conduct of a man here is threefold: one is meritorious, another is sinful, and the third is neither meritorious nor sinful. (13-121-21)
न वृत्तं मन्यतेऽन्यस्य मन्यतेऽन्यस्य पापकम्। तथा स्वकर्मनिर्वृत्तं न पुण्यं न च पापकम् ॥१३-१२१-२२॥
He does not consider the conduct of another, nor does he think another’s actions are sinful. Likewise, having accomplished his own deed, he regards it as neither meritorious nor sinful. (13-121-22)
रमस्वैधस्व मोदस्व देहि चैव यजस्व च। न त्वामभिभविष्यन्ति वैद्या न च तपस्विनः ॥१३-१२१-२३॥
Rejoice, be happy, take delight, give, and also perform sacrifices. Neither the learned nor the ascetics shall overpower you. (13-121-23)
