13.123

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (proper noun) उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Bhīṣma said;)

Bhīṣma said;

एवमुक्तः स भगवान्मैत्रेयं प्रत्यभाषत। दिष्ट्यैवं त्वं विजानासि दिष्ट्या ते बुद्धिरीदृशी ॥ लोको ह्ययं गुणानेव भूयिष्ठं स्म प्रशंसति ॥१३-१२३-१॥

evam-uktaḥ sa bhagavān maitreyaṁ pratyabhāṣata। diṣṭyai vaṁ tvaṁ vijānāsi diṣṭyā te buddhir īdṛśī॥ loko hy ayaṁ guṇān eva bhūyiṣṭhaṁ sma praśaṁsati॥13-123-1॥

[एवमुक्तः (evam-uktaḥ) - thus spoken; स (sa) - he; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the blessed one; मैत्रेयं (maitreyaṁ) - to Maitreya; प्रत्यभाषत (pratyabhāṣata) - addressed; दिष्ट्या (diṣṭyā) - fortunately; एवम् (evam) - so; त्वं (tvaṁ) - you; विजानासि (vijānāsi) - understand; दिष्ट्या (diṣṭyā) - fortunately; ते (te) - your; बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ) - understanding; ईदृशी (īdṛśī) - such; लोकः (lokaḥ) - the world; हि (hi) - indeed; अयम् (ayam) - this; गुणान् (guṇān) - qualities; एव (eva) - only; भूयिष्ठम् (bhūyiṣṭham) - for the most part; स्म (sma) - was; प्रशंसति (praśaṁsati) - praises;]

(Thus spoken, he, the Blessed One, addressed Maitreya. Fortunately, so you understand; fortunately, your understanding is such. The world indeed, this, qualities only, for the most part was praising.)

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॥

rūpam ānavaḥ yauvam ān śrīmān āś ca api asaṃśayam। diṣṭyā na abhibhavanti tvām daivah te ayam anugrahaḥ॥ yat te bhṛśataraṃ dānāt vartayiṣyāmi tat śṛṇu॥13-123-2॥

[रूपम् (rūpam) - form; आनवः (ānavaḥ) - youth; यौवम् (yauvam) - youth; आन् (ān) - and; श्रीमन् (śrīman) - prosperous; fortunate; endowed with grace; आः (āḥ) - O (vocative particle); च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; असंशयम् (asaṃśayam) - undoubtedly; without doubt; दिष्ट्या (diṣṭyā) - by fortune; by good luck; fortunately; न (na) - not; अभिभवन्ति (abhibhavanti) - overcome; defeat; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; दैवः (daivaḥ) - fate; destiny; ते (te) - your; अयम् (ayam) - this; अनुग्रहः (anugrahaḥ) - blessing; favor; यत् (yat) - that which; ते (te) - to you; भृशतरम् (bhṛśataram) - much more; exceedingly; दानात् (dānāt) - than giving; than charity; वर्तयिष्यामि (vartayiṣyāmi) - I shall inform; I shall narrate; तत् (tat) - that; शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear; listen;]

(Form, youth, prosperous one, O, and also undoubtedly; fortunately not overcome you, fate, your, this blessing. That which to you, much more than giving, I shall narrate, that, hear.)

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॥

yāni ihāgamaśāstrāṇi yāś ca kāścit pravṛttayaḥ. tāni vedaṃ puraskṛtya pravṛttāni yathā kramam ॥13-123-3॥

[यानि (yāni) - which (neuter plural); इह (iha) - here; आगमशास्त्राणि (āgamaśāstrāṇi) - āgama-śāstras (doctrinal scriptures); याः (yāḥ) - which (feminine plural); च (ca) - and; काश्चित् (kāścit) - certain; some; प्रवृत्तयः (pravṛttayaḥ) - practices; activities; तानि (tāni) - those (neuter plural); वेदम् (vedam) - the Veda; पुरस्कृत्य (puraskṛtya) - having placed at the forefront; considering first; प्रवृत्तानि (pravṛttāni) - originated; arisen; यथा (yathā) - according as; as; क्रमम् (kramam) - order; ॥१३-१२३-३॥ (॥13-123-3॥) - ;]

(Which here āgama-śāstras and which certain practices; those, having placed the Veda at the forefront, originated according to order.)

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॥

ahaṃ dānaṃ praśaṃsāmi bhavān api tapaḥ-śrute। tapaḥ pavitraṃ vedasya tapaḥ svargasya sādhanam ॥13-123-4॥

[अहं (ahaṃ) - I; दानं (dānaṃ) - gift; प्रशंसामि (praśaṃsāmi) - I praise; भवान् (bhavān) - you (respectful); अपि (api) - also; तपःश्रुते (tapaḥ-śrute) - O knower of penance; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; पवित्रं (pavitraṃ) - pure; वेदस्य (vedasya) - of the Veda; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; स्वर्गस्य (svargasya) - of heaven; साधनम् (sādhanam) - means;]

(I gift praise; you also, O knower of penance. Austerity (is) pure of the Veda, austerity (is) means of heaven.)

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॥

tapasā mahad āpnoti vidyayā ca iti naḥ śrutam। tapasā eva ca apanudet yat ca anyat api duṣkṛtam ॥13-123-5॥

[तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; महत् (mahat) - great (thing); आप्नोति (āpnoti) - obtains; विद्यया (vidyayā) - by knowledge; च (ca) - and; इति (iti) - "thus"; नः (naḥ) - by us; श्रुतम् (śrutam) - heard; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; अपनुदेत् (apanudet) - should remove; यत् (yat) - what; च (ca) - and; अन्यत् (anyat) - other; अपि (api) - also; दुष्कृतम् (duṣkṛtam) - evil deed;]

(By austerity, great (thing) one obtains, by knowledge and "thus" by us heard. By austerity indeed and should remove what and other also evil deed.)

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॥

yadyaddhi kiñcit sandhāya puruṣas tapyate tapaḥ। sarvam etad avāpnoti brāhmaṇo vedapāragaḥ ॥13-123-6॥

[यत्-यत्-हि (yat-yat-hi) - whatever indeed; किञ्चित्-सन्धाय (kiñcit-sandhāya) - having resolved (to do) something; पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - man; तप्यते (tapyate) - performs austerity; तपः (tapaḥ) - penance; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; एतत् (etat) - this; अवाप्नोति (avāpnoti) - attains; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - the Brāhmaṇa; वेदपारगः (vedapāragaḥ) - one who has crossed (mastered) the Veda;]

(Whatever indeed a man, having resolved (to do) something, performs as penance, all this the Brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Veda attains.)

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॥

duranvayaṃ duṣpradhṛṣyaṃ durāpaṃ duratikramam। sarvaṃ vai tapasābhyeti tapo hi balavattaram॥13-123-7॥

[दुरन्वयम् (duranvayam) - difficult to comprehend; दुष्प्रधृष्यम् (duṣpradhṛṣyam) - hard to assault; दुरापम् (durāpam) - difficult to obtain; दुरतिक्रमम् (duratikramam) - hard to surpass; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; वै (vai) - indeed; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; अभ्येति (abhyeti) - attains; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; हि (hi) - indeed; बलवत्तरम् (balavattaram) - stronger;]

(Difficult to comprehend, hard to assault, difficult to obtain, hard to surpass—all indeed by austerity one attains; austerity indeed is stronger.)

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॥

surāpo'asaṃmatādāyī bhrūṇahā gurutalpagaḥ। tapasā tarate sarvam enasaś ca pramucyate ॥13-123-8॥

[सुरापः (surāpaḥ) - drinker of liquor; असंमतादायी (asaṃmatādāyī) - giver of things not sanctioned (by law); भ्रूणहा (bhrūṇahā) - killer of a fetus; गुरुतल्पगः (gurutalpagaḥ) - one who goes to the teacher's bed (violates guru’s wife); तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; तरते (tarate) - crosses; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; एनसः (enasaḥ) - sins; च (ca) - and; प्रमुच्यते (pramucyate) - is liberated;]

(A drinker of liquor, giver of things not sanctioned, killer of a fetus, and one who approaches the teacher's bed—by austerity crosses all sins and is liberated.)

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॥

sarvavidyastu cakṣuṣmān api yādṛśatādṛśaḥ. tapasvinau ca tāvāhus tābhyāṃ kāryaṃ sadā namaḥ ॥13-123-9॥

[सर्वविद्यः (sarvavidyaḥ) - all-knowing one; तु (tu) - but; चक्षुष्मान् (cakṣuṣmān) - one possessing sight; अपि (api) - also; यादृशत् (yādṛśat) - such as; आदृशः (ādṛśaḥ) - such is; तपस्विनौ (tapasvinau) - two ascetics; च (ca) - and; तौ (tau) - those two; आहुः (āhuḥ) - (they) have called; ताभ्याम् (tābhyām) - to those two; कार्यं (kāryaṃ) - should be done; सदा (sadā) - always; नमः (namaḥ) - reverence;]

(All-knowing but also one possessing sight, such as such is. The two ascetics, and those two (they) have called; to those two, should be done always reverence.)

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॥

sarve pūjyāḥ śrutadhanās tathaiva ca tapasvinaḥ। dānapradāḥ sukhaṃ pretya prāpnuvantīha ca śriyam ॥13-123-10॥

[सर्वे (sarve) - all; पूज्याः (pūjyāḥ) - worthy of honor; श्रुतधनाः (śrutadhanāḥ) - rich in learning; तथैव (tathaiva) - likewise; च (ca) - and; तपस्विनः (tapasvinaḥ) - ascetics; दानप्रदाः (dānapradāḥ) - givers of gifts; सुखं (sukham) - happiness; प्रेत्य (pretya) - having departed (after death); प्राप्नुवन्ति (prāpnuvanti) - attain; इह (iha) - here (in this world); च (ca) - and; श्रियम् (śriyam) - prosperity;]

(All worthy of honor, rich in learning, likewise and ascetics, givers of gifts, happiness after death attain, here and prosperity.)

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॥

imaṁ ca brahmalokaṁ ca lokaṁ ca balavattaram। annadānaiḥ sukṛtinaḥ pratipadyanti laukikāḥ ॥13-123-11॥

[इमं (imaṁ) - this; च (ca) - and; ब्रह्मलोकं (brahmalokaṁ) - Brahma-world; च (ca) - and; लोकं (lokaṁ) - world; च (ca) - and; बलवत्तरम् (balavattaram) - superior in strength; अन्नदानैः (annadānaiḥ) - by gift of food; सुकृतिनः (sukṛtinaḥ) - the meritorious; प्रतिपद्यन्ति (pratipadyanti) - attain; लौकिकाः (laukikāḥ) - worldly (people);]

(This and (the) Brahma-world and (the) world and greater by strength, by gifts of food the meritorious attain, (the) worldly ones.)

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॥

pūjitāḥ pūjayanty etān mānitā mānayanti ca। adātā yatra yatra eti sarvataḥ sampraṇudyate ॥13-123-12॥

[पूजिताः (pūjitāḥ) - honored ones; पूजयन्ति (pūjayanti) - they honor; एतान् (etān) - these; मानिताः (mānitāḥ) - respected ones; मानयन्ति (mānayanti) - they respect; च (ca) - and; अदाता (adātā) - the non-giver; यत्र यत्र (yatra yatra) - wherever, wherever; एति (eti) - he goes; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - on all sides; सम्प्रणुद्यते (sampraṇudyate) - is driven away;]

(Honored ones honor these; respected ones respect (them) and the non-giver, wherever he goes, on all sides is driven away.)

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॥

akartā caiva kartā ca labhate yasya yādṛśam। yadyevodhvaṃ yadyavāk ca tvaṃ lokam abhiyāsyasi॥13-123-13॥

[अकर्ता (akartā) - one who is not the doer; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; कर्ता (kartā) - doer; च (ca) - and; लभते (labhate) - obtains; यस्य (yasya) - whose; यादृशम् (yādṛśam) - of such kind; यद्येव (yadyeva) - just which; उर्ध्वं (urdhvaṃ) - above; यद्यवाक् (yadyavāk) - or which is below; च (ca) - and; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; लोकम् (lokam) - world; अभियास्यसि (abhiyāsyasi) - you will attain;]

(One who is not the doer and indeed the doer, obtains whose such kind. Just which above, or which is below, and you world you will attain.)

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॥

prāpsyase tvannapānāni yāni dāsyasi kānicit। medhāvyasi kule jātaḥ śrutavānanṛśaṁsavān॥13-123-14॥

[प्राप्स्यसे (prāpsyase) - you will attain; त्वन् (tvan) - your; अपानानि (apānāni) - drinks (liquids, beverages); यानि (yāni) - which; दास्यसि (dāsyasi) - you will give; कानि (kāni) - which; चित् (cit) - some; मेधाव्यसि (medhāvyasi) - being intelligent; कुले (kule) - in a family; जातः (jātaḥ) - born; श्रुतवान् (śrutavān) - learned (having heard); अनृशंसवान् (anṛśaṁsavān) - compassionate;]

(You will attain your drinks which you will give, some; being intelligent, born in a family, learned, compassionate.)

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॥

kaumāra-dāra-vratavān maitreya nirataḥ bhava। etad gṛhāṇa prathamaṃ praśastam gṛhamedhinām ॥13-123-15॥

[कौमारदारव्रतवान् (kaumāra-dāra-vratavān) - having the vow of brahmachārin (student, bachelor) and married life; मैत्रेय (maitreya) - O Maitreya; निरतः (nirataḥ) - engaged (in); भव (bhava) - be; एतद् (etad) - this; गृहाण (gṛhāṇa) - accept; प्रथमम् (prathamaṃ) - first (among); प्रशस्तम् (praśastam) - praiseworthy; गृहमेधिनाम् (gṛhamedhinām) - of householders;]

(O Maitreya, having the vow of brahmachārin and married life, be engaged. This accept, first, praiseworthy, of householders.)

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॥

yo bhartā vāsitātuṣṭo bhartustuṣṭā ca vāsitā। yasminnevaṁ kule sarvaṁ kalyāṇaṁ tatra vartate ॥13-123-16॥

[यो (yaḥ) - he who; भर्ता (bhartā) - husband; वासिता (vāsitā) - wife; तुष्टः (tuṣṭaḥ) - pleased; भर्तुः (bhartuḥ) - of the husband; तुष्टा (tuṣṭā) - pleased (she); च (ca) - and; वासिता (vāsitā) - wife; यस्मिन् (yasmin) - in which; एवं (evaṁ) - thus; कुले (kule) - in family; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; कल्याणम् (kalyāṇam) - prosperity; तत्र (tatra) - there; वर्तते (vartate) - exists;]

(He who husband is pleased with the wife, of the husband pleased (she) and wife; in which thus in family all prosperity there exists.)

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॥

adbhir gātrān malam iva tamaḥ agniprabhayā yathā। dānena tapasā ca eva sarvapāpam apohyate ॥13-123-17॥

[अद्भिः (adbhih) - by waters; गात्रात् (gātrāt) - from bodies; मलम् (malam) - dirt; इव (iva) - just as; तमः (tamah) - darkness; अग्निप्रभया (agniprabhayā) - by the radiance of fire; यथा (yathā) - as; दानेन (dānena) - by giving; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; सर्वपापम् (sarvapāpam) - all sin; अपोह्यते (apohyate) - is washed away;]

(Just as dirt from bodies by waters, as darkness by the radiance of fire, so indeed all sin is washed away by giving and by austerity.)

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॥

svasti prāpnuhī maitreya gṛhān sādhu vrajāmy aham। etan manasi kartavyaṃ śreya evaṃ bhaviṣyati ॥13-123-18॥

[स्वस्ति (svasti) - welfare; प्राप्नुहि (prāpnuhī) - may you attain; मैत्रेय (maitreya) - O Maitreya; गृहान् (gṛhān) - (your) house; साधु (sādhu) - well; व्रजामि (vrajāmi) - I go; अहम् (aham) - I; एतत् (etat) - this; मनसि (manasi) - in (your) mind; कर्तव्यम् (kartavyam) - to be done; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - the better; एवम् (evam) - thus; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be;]

(Welfare may you attain, O Maitreya, to (your) house; well, I go. This in (your) mind to be done; the better thus will be. (13-123-18))

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॥

taṃ praṇamyātha maitreyah kṛtvā cābhipradakṣiṇam। svasti prāpnotu bhagavān ityuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ॥13-123-19॥

[तं (taṃ) - him; प्रणम्य (praṇamya) - having bowed down; अथ (atha) - then; मैत्रेयः (maitreyah) - Maitreya; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; च (ca) - and; अभिप्रदक्षिणम् (abhipradakṣiṇam) - circumambulation; स्वस्ति (svasti) - well-being; प्राप्नोतु (prāpnōtu) - may he obtain; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the Lord; इति (iti) - thus; ऊवाच (uvāca) - he said; कृताञ्जलिः (kṛtāñjaliḥ) - with joined palms;]

(Having bowed down to him, then Maitreya, having done also circumambulation, "May the Lord obtain well-being," thus said, with joined palms.)

Then, having bowed to him and walked around him, Maitreya, with joined palms, said, "May the Lord be well." (13-123-19)