13.123
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said;
एवमुक्तः स भगवान्मैत्रेयं प्रत्यभाषत। दिष्ट्यैवं त्वं विजानासि दिष्ट्या ते बुद्धिरीदृशी ॥ लोको ह्ययं गुणानेव भूयिष्ठं स्म प्रशंसति ॥१३-१२३-१॥
When thus spoken to, the Blessed One addressed Maitreya: "It is fortunate you understand thus; it is fortunate your intelligence is like this. For it is generally only qualities that this world mostly praises." (13-123-1)
रूपमानवयोमानश्रीमानाश्चाप्यसंशयम्। दिष्ट्या नाभिभवन्ति त्वां दैवस्तेऽयमनुग्रहः ॥ यत्ते भृशतरं दानाद्वर्तयिष्यामि तच्छृणु ॥१३-१२३-२॥
Your form, your youth, and your prosperity—all these, O one, undoubtedly; fortunately fate does not overcome you—this is your blessing. That which is much greater for you than charity, I will narrate to you—listen. (13-123-2)
यानीहागमशास्त्राणि याश्च काश्चित्प्रवृत्तयः। तानि वेदं पुरस्कृत्य प्रवृत्तानि यथाक्रमम् ॥१३-१२३-३॥
All those āgama-śāstra scriptures found here, and any particular practices, all these have originated by placing the Veda at the forefront, according to proper order. (13-123-3)
अहं दानं प्रशंसामि भवानपि तपःश्रुते। तपः पवित्रं वेदस्य तपः स्वर्गस्य साधनम् ॥१३-१२३-४॥
I praise generosity; you too, O knower of austerity. Austerity is the purity of the Veda; austerity is the means to heaven. (13-123-4)
तपसा महदाप्नोति विद्यया चेति नः श्रुतम्। तपसैव चापनुदेद्यच्चान्यदपि दुष्कृतम् ॥१३-१२३-५॥
It is heard by us that one obtains greatness through austerity and knowledge. Indeed, by austerity alone, one should remove whatever other evil deed (there may be). (13-123-5)
यद्यद्धि किञ्चित्सन्धाय पुरुषस्तप्यते तपः। सर्वमेतदवाप्नोति ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः ॥१३-१२३-६॥
Whatever penance any man performs with some intent, all of that is attained by a Brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Veda. (13-123-6)
दुरन्वयं दुष्प्रधृष्यं दुरापं दुरतिक्रमम्। सर्वं वै तपसाभ्येति तपो हि बलवत्तरम् ॥१३-१२३-७॥
Whatever is difficult to comprehend, hard to assault, difficult to obtain, or hard to surpass—one attains all that through austerity; for austerity is indeed the strongest. (13-123-7)
सुरापोऽसंमतादायी भ्रूणहा गुरुतल्पगः। तपसा तरते सर्वमेनसश्च प्रमुच्यते ॥१३-१२३-८॥
A drinker of liquor, one who gives what is not sanctioned, a slayer of a fetus, and one who lies with his teacher's wife—all these are freed from every sin by performing austerity. (13-123-8)
सर्वविद्यस्तु चक्षुष्मानपि यादृशतादृशः। तपस्विनौ च तावाहुस्ताभ्यां कार्यं सदा नमः ॥१३-१२३-९॥
But he who is all-knowing and also possesses vision, such as they are—those two ascetics—they have been called so; to those two, reverence should always be offered. (13-123-9)
सर्वे पूज्याः श्रुतधनास्तथैव च तपस्विनः। दानप्रदाः सुखं प्रेत्य प्राप्नुवन्तीह च श्रियम् ॥१३-१२३-१०॥
All who are worthy of honor, rich in learning, ascetics, and givers of gifts attain happiness after death and prosperity here. (13-123-10)
इमं च ब्रह्मलोकं च लोकं च बलवत्तरम्। अन्नदानैः सुकृतिनः प्रतिपद्यन्ति लौकिकाः ॥१३-१२३-११॥
Worldly people who perform meritorious acts attain this world, the Brahma-world, and worlds even greater in strength through gifts of food. (13-123-11)
पूजिताः पूजयन्त्येतान्मानिता मानयन्ति च। अदाता यत्र यत्रैति सर्वतः सम्प्रणुद्यते ॥१३-१२३-१२॥
Those who are honored honor these; those who are respected respect them, but wherever the non-giver goes, he is driven away from everywhere. (13-123-12)
अकर्ता चैव कर्ता च लभते यस्य यादृशम्। यद्येवोर्ध्वं यद्यवाक्च त्वं लोकमभियास्यसि ॥१३-१२३-१३॥
Both the non-doer and doer each obtain as is due to them. Whichever world—higher or lower—you shall approach, to that very world you will go. (13-123-13)
प्राप्स्यसे त्वन्नपानानि यानि दास्यसि कानिचित्। मेधाव्यसि कुले जातः श्रुतवाननृशंसवान् ॥१३-१२३-१४॥
You will attain certain drinks as you give them; you are intelligent, born in a noble family, learned, and compassionate. (13-123-14)
कौमारदारव्रतवान्मैत्रेय निरतो भव। एतद्गृहाण प्रथमं प्रशस्तं गृहमेधिनाम् ॥१३-१२३-१५॥
O Maitreya, having embraced both the vow of student (brahmachārin) and married householder, remain engaged in this. Accept this as the foremost and praiseworthy among householders. (13-123-15)
यो भर्ता वासितातुष्टो भर्तुस्तुष्टा च वासिता। यस्मिन्नेवं कुले सर्वं कल्याणं तत्र वर्तते ॥१३-१२३-१६॥
In that family where the husband is pleased with the wife and the wife is pleased with her husband, there all prosperity exists. (13-123-16)
अद्भिर्गात्रान्मलमिव तमोऽग्निप्रभया यथा। दानेन तपसा चैव सर्वपापमपोह्यते ॥१३-१२३-१७॥
Just as water washes away dirt from the body and the radiance of fire removes darkness, in the same way, all sin is removed by charity and austerity. (13-123-17)
स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि मैत्रेय गृहान्साधु व्रजाम्यहम्। एतन्मनसि कर्तव्यं श्रेय एवं भविष्यति ॥१३-१२३-१८॥
May you attain welfare, O Maitreya; I go to your house. Let this be kept in mind, for thus the best will happen. (13-123-18)
तं प्रणम्याथ मैत्रेयः कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम्। स्वस्ति प्राप्नोतु भगवानित्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः ॥१३-१२३-१९॥
Then, having bowed to him and walked around him, Maitreya, with joined palms, said, "May the Lord be well." (13-123-19)
