13.121
maitreya-bhikṣā
The alms given to Maitreya.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
vidyā tapaś ca dānaṁ ca kim eteṣāṁ viśiṣyate। pṛcchāmi tvā satāṁ śreṣṭha tan me brūhi pitāmaha॥13-121-1॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said;
atrāpy udāharantīm am itihāsaṃ purātanam। maitreyasya ca saṃvādaṃ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanasya ca ॥13-121-2॥
Here too, they narrate this ancient history and the conversation between Maitreya and Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana. (13-121-2)
kṛṣṇadvaipāyano rājann ajñāta-caritaṃ caran। vārāṇasyām upātiṣṭhan maitreyaṃ svairiṇī-kule ॥13-121-3॥
O King, Kr̥ṣṇa Dvaipāyana, while traveling incognito, came to Vārāṇasī and attended upon Maitreya in the household of an independent woman. (13-121-3)
tam-upasthita-m-āsīnaṃ jñātvā sa munisattamam। arcitvā bhojayām āsa maitreyo'śanam uttamam॥ 13-121-4॥
Having perceived that the best of sages had arrived and was seated, Maitreya worshipped him and then offered him excellent food. (13-121-4)
tadannam uttamaṃ bhuktvā guṇavat sārvakāmikam। pratiṣṭhamānaḥ asmayata prītaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ mahāmanāḥ ॥13-121-5॥
Having eaten that excellent and virtuous food which fulfills all desires, Kṛṣṇa, greatly pleased and honored, smiled with a great mind. (13-121-5)
tam utsmayantaṃ samprekṣya maitreyaḥ kṛṣṇam abravīt। kāraṇaṃ brūhi dharmātman yo'smayiṣṭhāḥ kutaś ca te॥ tapasvino dhṛtimataḥ pramodaḥ samupāgataḥ॥13-121-6॥
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)
etat pṛcchāmi te vidvan nibhivādya praṇamya ca। ātmanaś ca tapo-bhāgyaṃ mahā-bhāgyaṃ tathaiva ca॥13-121-7॥
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)
pṛthagācaratastāta pṛthagātmani cātmanoḥ। alpāntaramahaṃ manye viśiṣṭamapi vā tvayā ॥13-121-8॥
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)
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
aticchedātivādābhyāṃ smayo'yaṃ samupāgataḥ। asatyaṃ vedavacanaṃ kasmād vedo'nṛtaṃ vadet ॥13-121-9॥
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)
trīṇyeva tu padānyāhuḥ puruṣasyottamaṃ vratam। na druhyec caiva dadyāc ca satyaṃ caiva paraṃ vadet॥ idānīṃ caiva naḥ kṛtyaṃ purastācca paraṃ smṛtam॥13-121-10॥
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)
alpo'pi tādṛśo dāyo bhavatyuta mahāphalaḥ। tṛṣitāya ca yaddattaṃ hṛdayenānasūyatā ॥13-121-11॥
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)
tṛṣitastṛṣitāya tvaṃ dattvaitadaśanaṃ mama। ajaiṣīrmahato lokānmahāyajñairivābhibho ॥ ato dānapavitreṇa prīto'smi tapasaiva ca ॥13-121-12॥
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)
puṇyasyaiva hi te gandhaḥ puṇyasyaiva ca darśanam। puṇyaś ca vāti gandhas te manye karma-vidhānataḥ॥13-121-13॥
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)
adhikaṁ mārjanāttāta tathaivāpyanulepanāt। śubhaṁ sarvapavitrebhyo dānameva paraṁ bhavet॥13-121-14॥
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)
yānīmānyuttamānīha vedoktāni praśaṃsasi. teṣāṃ śreṣṭhatamaṃ dānamiti me nāsti saṃśayaḥ ॥13-121-15॥
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)
dānakṛdbhiḥ kṛtaḥ panthā yena yānti manīṣiṇaḥ। te hi prāṇasya dātārasteṣu dharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ ॥13-121-16॥
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)
yathā vedāḥ svadhītāś ca yathā ca indriya-saṃyamaḥ. sarva-tyāgaḥ yathā ca iha tathā dānam anuttamam ॥13-121-17॥
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)
tvaṁ hi tāta sukhādeva sukham eṣyasi śobhanam। sukhāt sukhatara-prāptim āpnute matimān naraḥ॥13-121-18॥
Indeed, dear one, you will attain the best happiness from happiness alone. An intelligent man obtains even greater happiness from happiness. (13-121-18)
tan naḥ pratyakṣam eva idam upalabhdham asaṁśayam। śrīmantam āpnuvanti arthā dānam yajñaḥ tathā sukham ॥13-121-19॥
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)
sukhādeva paraṃ duḥkhaṃ duḥkhādanyatparaṃ sukham। dṛśyate hi mahāprājña niyataṃ vai svabhāvataḥ॥13-121-20॥
From pleasure, indeed, comes greater pain; from pain, in turn, greater pleasure. This is always seen by nature, O wise one. (13-121-20)
trividhāniha vṛttāni narasyāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ। puṇyamanyat pāpamanyan na puṇyaṃ na ca pāpakam ॥13-121-21॥
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)
na vṛttaṃ manyate'nyaasya manyate'nyaasya pāpakam। tathā svakarmanirvṛttaṃ na puṇyaṃ na ca pāpakam ॥13-121-22॥
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)
ramasva idhasva modasva dehi caiva yajasva ca। na tvām abhibhaviṣyanti vaidyā na ca tapasvinaḥ॥13-121-23॥
Rejoice, be happy, take delight, give, and also perform sacrifices. Neither the learned nor the ascetics shall overpower you. (13-121-23)
