13.122
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच मैत्रेयः कर्मपूजकः। अत्यन्तं श्रीमति कुले जातः प्राज्ञो बहुश्रुतः ॥१३-१२२-१॥
Thus addressed, Maitreya, devoted to duty and worship, who was born in a very prosperous family and was wise and well-learned, replied. (13-122-1)
असंशयं महाप्राज्ञ यथैवात्थ तथैव तत्। अनुज्ञातस्तु भवता किञ्चिद्ब्रूयामहं विभो ॥१३-१२२-२॥
O greatly wise one, what you say is indeed so, without any doubt. With your permission, O master, may I also say something? (13-122-2)
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
यद्यदिच्छसि मैत्रेय यावद्यावद्यथा तथा। ब्रूहि तावन्महाप्राज्ञ शुश्रूषे वचनं तव ॥१३-१२२-३॥
Maitreya, whatever you wish, in whatever manner and as much as you wish, speak thus. O great wise one, I will listen attentively to your words. (13-122-3)
मैत्रेय उवाच॥
Maitreya said.
निर्दोषं निर्मलं चैव वचनं दानसंहितम्। विद्यातपोभ्यां हि भवान्भावितात्मा न संशयः ॥१३-१२२-४॥
Your words are faultless, pure, and indeed accompanied by charity; through knowledge and austerity, you have become a purified soul—there is no doubt about it. (13-122-4)
भवतो भावितात्मत्वाद्दायोऽयं सुमहान्मम। भूयो बुद्ध्यानुपश्यामि सुसमृद्धतपा इव ॥१३-१२२-५॥
Owing to your state of purified self, this very great share is mine; again, I see (it) with my intellect, as if it were the share of one whose austerity is perfected. (13-122-5)
अपि मे दर्शनादेव भवतोऽभ्युदयो महान्। मन्ये भवत्प्रसादोऽयं तद्धि कर्म स्वभावतः ॥१३-१२२-६॥
Indeed, by seeing you alone, I have gained great prosperity. I think this is your favor, for that is action by nature. (13-122-6)
तपः श्रुतं च योनिश्चाप्येतद्ब्राह्मण्यकारणम्। त्रिभिर्गुणैः समुदितस्ततो भवति वै द्विजः ॥१३-१२२-७॥
Austerity, Vedic learning, and birth are the causes of becoming a Brāhmaṇa. When one is endowed with these three qualities, then indeed he becomes a twice-born. (13-122-7)
तस्मिंस्तृप्ते च तृप्यन्ते पितरो दैवतानि च। न हि श्रुतवतां किञ्चिदधिकं ब्राह्मणादृते ॥१३-१२२-८॥
When he is satisfied, the ancestors and the gods are also satisfied; indeed, for those who have mastered the Vedas, nothing is greater than a brāhmaṇa. (13-122-8)
यथा हि सुकृते क्षेत्रे फलं विन्दति मानवः। एवं दत्त्वा श्रुतवति फलं दाता समश्नुते ॥१३-१२२-९॥
Just as a person obtains fruit in a well-prepared field, so too the giver, having given to one who is learned, attains reward. (13-122-9)
ब्राह्मणश्चेन्न विद्येत श्रुतवृत्तोपसंहितः। प्रतिग्रहीता दानस्य मोघं स्याद्धनिनां धनम् ॥१३-१२२-१०॥
If a Brāhmaṇa endowed with scriptural knowledge and proper conduct cannot be found, the receiver of the gift is rendered useless and the wealth of the donors is wasted. (13-122-10)
अदन्ह्यविद्वान्हन्त्यन्नमद्यमानं च हन्ति तम्। तं च हन्यति यस्यान्नं स हत्वा हन्यतेऽबुधः ॥१३-१२२-११॥
Indeed, the ignorant person, by eating food, kills the food being eaten and also kills its owner; and he, having killed, is in turn killed—such is the fate of the foolish. (13-122-11)
प्रभुर्ह्यन्नमदन्विद्वान्पुनर्जनयतीश्वरः। स चान्नाज्जायते तस्मात्सूक्ष्म एव व्यतिक्रमः ॥१३-१२२-१२॥
Indeed, the lord, who is wise and partakes of food, generates (the world) again; the supreme lord. Yet he is not born from food; therefore the deviation is only subtle. (13-122-12)
यदेव ददतः पुण्यं तदेव प्रतिगृह्णतः। न ह्येकचक्रं वर्तेत इत्येवमृषयो विदुः ॥१३-१२२-१३॥
The merit that belongs to the giver is indeed the same for the receiver. For a single wheel cannot turn—thus the sages have taught. (13-122-13)
यत्र वै ब्राह्मणाः सन्ति श्रुतवृत्तोपसंहिताः। तत्र दानफलं पुण्यमिह चामुत्र चाश्नुते ॥१३-१२२-१४॥
Wherever there are Brāhmaṇas possessed of Vedic conduct and recitation, there the merit and fruit of giving is enjoyed, both here and in the hereafter. (13-122-14)
ये योनिशुद्धाः सततं तपस्यभिरता भृशम्। दानाध्ययनसम्पन्नास्ते वै पूज्यतमाः सदा ॥१३-१२२-१५॥
Those who are pure in birth, consistently devoted to austerities, and endowed with charity and learning, such people are always most worthy of honor. (13-122-15)
तैर्हि सद्भिः कृतः पन्थाश्चेतयानो न मुह्यते। ते हि स्वर्गस्य नेतारो यज्ञवाहाः सनातनाः ॥१३-१२२-१६॥
The good indeed have made the path; one who follows it does not go astray. They are the eternal leaders of heaven, the bearers of sacrifice. (13-122-16)
