13.125
sāntvapraśaṃsā
soothing praise;
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
sāmnā vāpi pradāne vā jyāyaḥ kiṃ bhavato matam। prabrūhi bharataśreṣṭha yadatra vyatiricyate ॥13-125-1॥
O best of the Bhāratas, tell me—which do you think is superior here, conciliation or generosity—what is your view about which excels in this matter? (13-125-1)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
sāmnā prasādyate kaścid dānena ca tathā paraḥ. puruṣaḥ prakṛtiṃ jñātvā tayor ekataraṃ bhajet ॥13-125-2॥
Some are appeased by gentle words, others by giving; knowing their nature, a person should choose either of these two ways. (13-125-2)
guṇāṃs tu śṛṇu me rājan sāntvasya bharatarṣabha। dāruṇāni api bhūtāni sāntvena ārādhayet yathā ॥13-125-3॥
But hear from me, O king and bull among the Bharatas, the qualities of conciliation; even harsh beings can be conciliated by conciliation, as follows. (13-125-3)
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। gṛhītvā rakṣasā mukto dvijātiḥ kānane yathā ॥13-125-4॥
Here too, they cite an ancient story: how, after being seized by a rakṣasa, a twice-born was released in the forest. (13-125-4)
kaści ttu buddhi-sampanno brāhmaṇo vijane vane। gṛhītaḥ kṛcchram āpanno rakṣasā bhakṣayiṣyatā ॥13-125-5॥
But a certain intelligent Brāhmaṇa, in a lonely forest, was seized by a Rākṣasa and, having encountered danger, was about to be devoured. (13-125-5)
sa buddhi-śruta-sampannaḥ taṃ dṛṣṭvā atīva bhīṣaṇam। sāma eva asmin prayuyuje na mumoha na vivyathe ॥13-125-6॥
He, endowed with intelligence and learning, upon seeing that utterly frightful being, employed conciliation in this situation and was neither bewildered nor disturbed. (13-125-6)
rakṣas tu vācā sampūjya praśnaṃ papraccha taṃ dvijam। mokṣyase brūhi me praśnaṃ kenāsmi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-7॥
But the demon, after respectfully addressing the Brāhmaṇa, asked him this question: "You will be released. Answer my question: by what am I a thin deer?" (13-125-7)
muhūrtam atha sañcintya brāhmaṇaḥ tasya rakṣasaḥ। ābhiḥ gāthābhiḥ avyagraḥ praśnam pratijagāda ha ॥13-125-8॥
Then, after considering for a moment, the brāhmaṇa calmly replied to the rakṣasa's question with these verses. (13-125-8)
videśastho vilokastho vinā nūnaṃ suhṛjjanaiḥ। viṣayānatulānbhuṅkṣe tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-9॥
You reside far from home, alone and without friends, and though you experience unmatched enjoyments, therefore you are as thin as a deer. (13-125-9)
nūnaṁ mitrāṇi te rakṣaḥ sādhūpacaritāny api। svadoṣād aparajyante tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-10॥
Certainly, your friends and protectors, though well-treated, have become alienated from you because of your own fault; therefore you, O deer, are emaciated. (13-125-10)
dhanaishvaryādhikāḥ stabdhāstvadguṇaiḥ paramāvarāḥ। avajānanti nūnaṁ tvāṁ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-11॥
Those who are exceedingly wealthy and powerful become arrogant and, being extremely base through your qualities, they certainly despise you; and because of that you, O Hari, are emaciated. (13-125-11)
guṇavān viguṇān anyān nūnaṃ paśyasi satkṛtān। prājñaḥ aprajñān vinītātmā tena asi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-12॥
Because you, O deer, possessing virtues, certainly see even those without virtues and others as worthy of honor—being wise, of humble mind—you are therefore thin. (13-125-12)
avṛttyā kliśyamāno'pi vṛttyupāyān vigarhayan। māhātmyād vyathase nūnaṃ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-13॥
O deer, even though you are tormented by lack of livelihood, by criticising the means of sustenance and suffering out of your greatness, for this reason you have become emaciated. (13-125-13)
sampīḍyātmānam āryatvāt tvayā kaścid upaskṛtaḥ। jitaṃ tvāṃ manyate sādho tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-14॥
O noble one, because you serve others and oppress yourself through your nobility, someone you have helped thinks he has conquered you; thus you have become as emaciated as a deer. (13-125-14)
kliśyamānān vimārgeṣu kāmakrodhāvṛtātmanaḥ। manye nu dhyāyasi janāṃs tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-15॥
Whose minds are afflicted by desire and anger and who follow wrong paths, I believe you keep thinking of such people; because of this you have become thin like a deer. (13-125-15)
prājñaiḥ sambhāvito nūnaṁ naprājñairupasaṁhitaḥ। hrīmānamarṣī durvṛttaistenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-16॥
You are certainly respected by the wise, but not associated with the unwise; being modest and intolerant (of vice), therefore, you are a deer emaciated by the wicked. (13-125-16)
nūnaṁ mitramukhaḥ śatruḥ kaścid āryavad ācaran। vañcayitvā gatastvāṁ vai tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-17॥
Indeed, some enemy with the face of a friend, behaving like a noble person, has deceived you and gone away; because of him, you have become an emaciated deer. (13-125-17)
prakāśārthagatir nūnaṃ rahasyakuśalaḥ kṛtī। tajjñair na pūjyase nūnaṃ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-18॥
You are intent on obvious meanings, yet you are skilled and accomplished in secrets; the true experts do not honor you, therefore you remain thin like a deer. (13-125-18)
asatsv abhiniviṣṭeṣu bruvato muktasaṃśayam। guṇās te na virājante tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-19॥
Your qualities do not shine forth when you speak without doubt among those absorbed in the unworthy; therefore, among the deer, you are emaciated. (13-125-19)
dhanabuddhiśrutair hīnaḥ kevalaṃ tejasānvitaḥ। mahat prārthayase nūnaṃ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-20॥
Lacking wealth, intellect, and learning but possessing only vigor, you aspire for something great; therefore, you are thin like a deer. (13-125-20)
tapaḥ-praṇihitātmānaṃ manye tvāraṇyakāṅkṣiṇam। bandhuvargo na gṛhṇāti tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-21॥
I think you, whose self is devoted to asceticism, desire the forest. Your kin do not accept you; therefore, you are thin like the deer. (13-125-21)
nūnam arthavatām madhye tava vākyam anuttamam। na bhāti kāle'bhihitaṃ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-22॥
Indeed, among worthy words, your speech is unsurpassed; but words spoken at the wrong time do not shine—therefore, O deer, you are thin. (13-125-22)
dṛḍhapūrvaśrutaṃ mūrkhaṃ kupitaṃ hṛdayapriyam। anunetuṃ na śaknoṣi tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-23॥
Because you are unable to pacify the foolish and dearly loved one who is firmly fixed in prior views and has become angry, you are thin like a deer. (13-125-23)
nūnam āsañjayitvā te kṛtye kasmiṁścid īpsite। kaścid arthayate 'tyarthaṁ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-24॥
Certainly, after binding you to some desired action, someone persistently requests, and because of that, you have become emaciated like a deer. (13-125-24)
nūnaṁ tvā svaguṇāpekṣaṁ pūjayānaṁ suhṛddhruvam। mayārtha iti jānāti tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-25॥
Certainly, the deer, recognizing you as a true friend, worthy of reverence due to your own virtues and devoted to my cause, has become thin for that reason. (13-125-25)
antargatam abhiprāyaṁ na nūnaṁ lajjayecc hasi। vivaktuṁ prāptiśaithilyāt tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-26॥
You surely are not ashamed to express your inner thoughts; due to weakness in attaining (your desires), therefore, you are as thin as a deer. (13-125-26)
nānā-buddhi-rucīn loke manuṣyān nūnam icchasi। grahītuṃ svaguṇaiḥ sarvān tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-27॥
You wish to win over all people of different minds and tastes in this world by your own good qualities; therefore you have become a thin (frail) deer. (13-125-27)
avidvān bhīruḥ alpa-artho vidyā-vikrama-dāna-jam। yaśaḥ prārthayase nūnam tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-28॥
Being ignorant, timid, and of little means, you seek fame that comes from learning, valor, and generosity; therefore, you are like an emaciated deer. (13-125-28)
cirābhilaṣitaṃ kiñcit phalam aprāptam eva te। kṛtam anyair apahṛtaṃ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-29॥
Some long-desired fruit you have not obtained, has been taken away by others after your labor; therefore, O deer, you have become emaciated. (13-125-29)
nūnamātmakṛtaṃ doṣam apaśyan kiñcid ātmani। akāraṇe'bhishasto'si tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-30॥
Surely, without seeing any fault done by yourself in yourself, you have been accused without reason; therefore, you are a thin deer. (13-125-30)
suhṛdāmapramattānāmapramokṣyārthahānijam। duḥkhamarthaguṇairhīnaṃ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-31॥
O deer, you have become thin due to sorrow, which arises from loss, deprived of the qualities of wealth, for the purpose of not abandoning vigilant friends. (13-125-31)
sādhūn-gṛhasthān-dṛṣṭvā ca tathā-asādhūn-vana-carān। muktāṁś-ca avasathe saktān tena asi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-32॥
By seeing the good householders, the wicked forest dwellers, the liberated, and those attached to their abode, you have become emaciated, O deer. (13-125-32)
dharmyamar'thaṃ ca kāle ca deśe cābhihitaṃ vacaḥ। na pratiṣṭhati te nūnaṃ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-33॥
The word, conveying a righteous meaning, spoken at the proper time and place, surely does not abide with you; because of that you are an emaciated deer. (13-125-33)
dattānakushalair arthān manīṣī sañjijīviṣuḥ। prāpya vartayase nūnaṃ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-34॥
Being a wise one wishing to preserve your life, you seek means from those skilled in giving wealth; thus, indeed, you subsist, and because of that you are an emaciated deer. (13-125-34)
pāpān vivardhato dṛṣṭvā kalyāṇāṁś ca avasīdataḥ। dhruvaṁ mṛgayase yogyaṁ tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-35॥
Seeing the increase of sins and the decline of auspiciousness, you certainly seek what is proper; therefore, you are like a thin deer. (13-125-35)
parasparaviruddhānāṃ priyaṃ nūnaṃ cikīrṣasi। suhṛdām-avirodhena tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ॥13-125-36॥
You certainly wish to please those who are mutually opposed; therefore, because you do not oppose your friends, you have become like an emaciated deer. (13-125-36)
śrotriyāṁś ca vikarmasthān prājñāṁś cāpy ajitendriyān। manye'nudhyāyasi janāṁs tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ॥13-125-37॥
You constantly think about people—both learned in the Vedas and engaged in wrong deeds, wise men as well as those whose senses are uncontrolled; therefore, I think, you have become emaciated like a deer. (13-125-37)
evaṃ sampūjitaṃ rakṣo vipraṃ taṃ pratyapūjayat. sakhāyamakaroccainaṃ saṃyojyārthairmumoca ha ॥13-125-38॥
Thus, the demon, having been duly honoured, returned the honours to the Brāhmaṇa. He befriended him and then set him free for the purpose of their union. (13-125-38)
