13.142
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
tūṣṇīm āsīd arjunaḥ tu pavanaḥ tu abravīt punaḥ। śṛṇu me brāhmaṇeṣu eva mukhyaṃ karma janādhipa॥13-142-1॥
Arjuna remained silent, but the Wind (Vāyu) then spoke again: "Hear from me, O ruler of men, about the principal duty among Brāhmaṇas." (13-142-1)
madasyāsyam anuprāptā yadā sendrā divaukasaḥ। tadeyaṃ cyavaneneha hṛtā teṣāṃ vasundharā ॥13-142-2॥
When the dwellers of heaven along with Indra had attained this Soma wine, then this earth was taken away from them here by Cyavana. (13-142-2)
ubhau lokau hṛtau matvā te devā duḥkhitābhavan। śokārtāś ca mahātmānaṃ brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ ॥13-142-3॥
When they realized both worlds had been seized, those gods became distressed. Afflicted by grief, they went to the great-souled Brahmā for refuge. (13-142-3)
devā ūcuḥ॥
The gods said;
madāsya-vyatiṣiktānām asmākaṁ loka-pūjita। cyavanena hṛtā bhūmiḥ kapaiś cāpi divaṁ prabho ॥13-142-4॥
O lord, Cyavana took away the earth from us, who were drenched with the liquor of pride—known and respected in the world—and even the monkeys have taken away heaven from us.
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
gacchadhvaṃ śaraṇaṃ viprān āśu sendrā divaukasah। prasādya tān ubhau lokau avāpsyatha yathā purā ॥13-142-5॥
Go quickly with Indra, O dwellers of heaven, to take refuge with the Brāhmaṇas. Having propitiated them, you will regain both worlds as before. (13-142-5)
te yayuḥ śaraṇaṃ viprāṃs ta ūcuḥ kāñ jayāmahe. ity uktās te dvijān prāhur jayateha kapān iti ॥ bhūgatān hi vijetāro vayam ity eva pārthiva ॥13-142-6॥
They went for refuge to the brāhmaṇas and said, 'Whom may we conquer?' Thus addressed, those twice-born replied, 'Here, the monkeys are conquered.' Indeed, O king, we are certainly the conquerors of those who have entered the earth.' (13-142-6)
tataḥ karma samārabdhaṃ brāhmaṇaiḥ kapanāśanam। tacchrutvā preṣito dūto brāhmaṇebhyo dhanī kapaiḥ ॥13-142-7॥
Then the action initiated by the brāhmaṇas was the destruction of the poor. Hearing this, the wealthy man sent a messenger along with the poor to the brāhmaṇas. (13-142-7)
sa ca tān brāhmaṇān āha dhanī kapavaco yathā। bhavadbhiḥ sadṛśāḥ sarve kapāḥ kim iha vartate ॥13-142-8॥
And the wealthy one said to those brāhmaṇas, speaking like a monkey: 'All these monkeys are just like you; what is this here?' (13-142-8)
sarve vedavidaḥ prājñāḥ sarve ca kratuyājinaḥ। sarve satyavratāścaiva sarve tulyā maharṣibhiḥ॥13-142-9॥
All are knowers of the Veda, wise, all are performers of sacrifices. All are of true vows indeed, all are equal to the great sages. (13-142-9)
śrīś caiva ramate teṣu dhārayanti śriyaṃ ca te. vṛthā dārān na gacchanti vṛthā māṃsaṃ na bhuñjate ॥13-142-10॥
Prosperity indeed abides in them, and they also possess wealth. They do not approach wives uselessly, nor do they eat meat without purpose. (13-142-10)
dīptam agniṃ juhvati ca gurūṇāṃ vacane sthitāḥ। sarve ca niyatātmānaḥ bālānāṃ saṃvibhāginaḥ॥13-142-11॥
They offer oblations to the blazing fire and stand by the command of the elders; all of them are self-controlled and share equally with the children. (13-142-11)
upetya śakaṭair yānti na sevanti rajasvalām | abhuktavatsu na aśnanti divā caiva na śerate ॥13-142-12॥
Having approached, they proceed with carts; they do not associate with a menstruating woman. When food has not been eaten, they do not eat; during the day also, they do not lie down. (13-142-12)
etaiś cānyaiś ca bahubhir guṇair yuktān kathaṃ kapān। vijeṣyatha nivartadhvaṃ nivṛttānāṃ śubhaṃ hi vaḥ॥13-142-13॥
How can you conquer the monkeys endowed with these and many other qualities? Turn back; for those who have turned away, there will certainly be well-being for you. (13-142-13)
brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ॥
The Brāhmaṇas said.
kapānvayaṁ vijeṣyāmo ye devās te vayaṁ smṛtāḥ. tasmād vadhyāḥ kapāsmākaṁ dhanin yāhi yathāgatam ॥13-142-14॥
We shall conquer the lineage of monkeys. We are counted as those gods. Therefore, these monkeys are worthy of being slain by us. O wealthy one, go back as you have come. (13-142-14)
dhanī gatvā kapānāha na vo viprāḥ priyaṅkarāḥ। gṛhītvāstrāṇyatho viprānkapāḥ sarve samādravan ॥13-142-15॥
The wealthy one, after going to the monkeys, said: 'The Brāhmaṇas are not your well-wishers.' Then, having seized their weapons, all the monkeys together rushed after the Brāhmaṇas. (13-142-15)
samudagradhvajān dṛṣṭvā kapān sarve dvijātayaḥ। vyasṛjañ jvalitān agnīn kapānāṃ prāṇanāśanān ॥13-142-16॥
Seeing the monkeys with upright banners, all the twice-born castes sent forth blazing fires to destroy the lives of the monkeys. (13-142-16)
brahmasṛṣṭā havyabhujaḥ kapānbhuktvā sanātanāḥ। nabhasīva yathābhrāṇi vyarājanta narādhipa ॥ praśaśaṃsurdvijāṃścaiva brahmāṇaṃ ca yaśasvinam ॥13-142-17॥
The beings created by Brahmā, eaters of the sacrificial oblations, having partaken of the remnants, being eternal, shone in the sky like clouds, O lord of men. They praised the twice-born and also illustrious Brahmā. (13-142-17)
teṣāṃ tejas tathā vīryaṃ devānāṃ vavṛdhe tataḥ। avāpnuvan cāmaratvaṃ triṣu lokeṣu pūjitam॥13-142-18॥
Then, the energy and strength of those gods grew; they attained immortality and were honored in the three worlds. (13-142-18)
ity-ukta-vacanaṃ vāyu-marjunaḥ pratyabhāṣata। pratipūjya mahā-bāho yat tac chṛṇu narādhipa ॥13-142-19॥
Hearing these words, Vāyu and Arjuna replied. After duly honoring (you), O mighty-armed one, listen, O king, to what (we) say. (13-142-19)
jīvāmyahaṁ brāhmaṇārthe sarvathā satataṁ prabho। brahmaṇe brāhmaṇebhyaśca praṇamāmi ca nityaśaḥ ॥13-142-20॥
O lord, I always and constantly live for the sake of the brāhmaṇa. I constantly bow to Brahman and to the brāhmaṇas. (13-142-20)
dattātreya-prasādāc ca mayā prāptam idaṃ yaśaḥ। loke ca paramā kīrtir dharmaś ca carito mahān ॥13-142-21॥
By Dattātreya's grace, I have obtained this fame; in the world, supreme renown and great dharma have also been practiced. (13-142-21)
aho brāhmaṇakarmāṇi yathā māruta tattvataḥ। tvayā proktāni kārtsnyena śrutāni prayatena ha॥13-142-22॥
Indeed, O son of the wind, the actions of a brāhmaṇa, just as you have truly and completely spoken them, have been attentively heard. (13-142-22)
vāyuruvāca॥
Vāyu said.
brāhmaṇān kṣatradharmeṇa pālayasva indriyāṇi ca। bhṛgubhyaḥ te bhayaṃ ghoraṃ tat tu kālāt bhaviṣyati॥13-142-23॥
Protect the Brāhmaṇas according to the duty of a kṣatriya, and also control your senses. The terrible fear from the Bhṛgus for you, however, will arise in due time. (13-142-23)
