13.122
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
evam-uktaḥ pratyuvāca maitreyaḥ karma-pūjakaḥ। atyantaṃ śrīmati kule jātaḥ prājñaḥ bahuśrutaḥ॥13-122-1॥
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)
asaṁśayaṁ mahāprājña yathaivāttha tathaiva tat। anujñātastu bhavatā kiñcidbrūyāmahaṁ vibho॥13-122-2॥
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)
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
yadyadicchasi maitreya yāvadyāvadyathā tathā। brūhi tāvanmahāprājña śuśrūṣe vacanaṃ tava॥13-122-3॥
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)
maitreya uvāca॥
Maitreya said.
nirdoṣaṁ nirmalaṁ caiva vacanaṁ dānasaṁhitam। vidyātapobhyāṁ hi bhavānbhāvitātmā na saṁśayaḥ ॥13-122-4॥
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)
bhavato bhāvitātmatvād dāyo'yaṁ sumahān mama। bhūyo buddhyā anupaśyāmi susamṛddhatapā iva ॥13-122-5॥
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)
api me darśanādeva bhavato'bhyudayo mahān। manye bhavatprasādo'yaṁ taddhi karma svabhāvataḥ॥13-122-6॥
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)
tapaḥ śrutaṃ ca yoniś cāpy etad brāhmaṇyakāraṇam। tribhir guṇaiḥ samuditas tato bhavati vai dvijaḥ ॥13-122-7॥
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)
tasmiṁstṛpte ca tṛpyante pitaro daivatāni ca। na hi śrutavatāṁ kiñcidadhikaṁ brāhmaṇādṛte॥13-122-8॥
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)
yathā hi sukṛte kṣetre phalaṃ vindati mānavaḥ। evaṃ dattvā śrutavati phalaṃ dātā samaśnute॥13-122-9॥
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)
brāhmaṇaś cen na vidyeta śrutavṛttopasaṃhitaḥ। pratigrahītā dānasya moghaṃ syād dhanināṃ dhanam ॥13-122-10॥
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)
adan hy avidvān hanty annam adyamānaṁ ca hanti tam। taṁ ca hanyati yasyānnaṁ sa hatvā hanyate'budhaḥ॥13-122-11॥
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)
prabhur hy annam adan vidvān punar janayatīśvaraḥ. sa cānnāj jāyate tasmāt sūkṣma eva vyatikramaḥ ॥13-122-12॥
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)
yadeva dadataḥ puṇyaṃ tadeva pratigṛhṇataḥ। na hyekacakraṃ varteta ityevamṛṣayo viduḥ॥13-122-13॥
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)
yatra vai brāhmaṇāḥ santi śrutavṛttopasaṃhitāḥ। tatra dānaphalaṃ puṇyam iha cāmutra cāśnute॥13-122-14॥
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)
ye yoniśuddhāḥ satataṃ tapasyabhiratā bhṛśam। dānādhyayanasampannāste vai pūjyatamāḥ sadā ॥13-122-15॥
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)
tair hi sadbhiḥ kṛtaḥ panthāś cetayāno na muhyate. te hi svargasya netāro yajñavāhāḥ sanātanāḥ ॥13-122-16॥
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)
