14.094
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
यज्ञे सक्ता नृपतयस्तपःसक्ता महर्षयः। शान्तिव्यवसिता विप्राः शमो दम इति प्रभो ॥१४-९४-१॥
O lord, the kings are engaged in sacrifice, the great sages are devoted to austerity, the Brāhmaṇas are intent on peace—which is tranquility and self-control. (14-94-1)
तस्माद्यज्ञफलैस्तुल्यं न किञ्चिदिह विद्यते। इति मे वर्तते बुद्धिस्तथा चैतदसंशयम् ॥१४-९४-२॥
Therefore, nothing here is found equal to the fruits of sacrifice. "Thus" is my understanding, and this is without doubt. (14-94-2)
यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा हि बहवो राजानो द्विजसत्तम। इह कीर्तिं परां प्राप्य प्रेत्य स्वर्गमितो गताः ॥१४-९४-३॥
Indeed, O best of twice-born, many kings, having performed sacrifices, attained great fame here and, after death, departed from here to heaven. (14-94-3)
देवराजः सहस्राक्षः क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः। देवराज्यं महातेजाः प्राप्तवानखिलं विभुः ॥१४-९४-४॥
The king of the gods, the thousand-eyed Indra, by means of sacrifices with abundant gifts, has obtained the entire sovereignty of the gods in all his splendor. (14-94-4)
यथा युधिष्ठिरो राजा भीमार्जुनपुरःसरः। सदृशो देवराजेन समृद्ध्या विक्रमेण च ॥१४-९४-५॥
Just as King Yudhiṣṭhira, with Bhīma and Arjuna at his forefront, was equal to Devarāja (Indra) in both prosperity and valor. (14-94-5)
अथ कस्मात्स नकुलो गर्हयामास तं क्रतुम्। अश्वमेधं महायज्ञं राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥१४-९४-६॥
Then, why did Nakula reproach that Aśvamedha, the great sacrifice of that high-souled king? (14-94-6)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
यज्ञस्य विधिमग्र्यं वै फलं चैव नरर्षभ। गदतः शृणु मे राजन्यथावदिह भारत ॥१४-९४-७॥
O king, O descendant of Bharata, hear from me properly here the excellent method of the sacrifice and its fruit indeed, O best of men, as I am speaking. (14-94-7)
पुरा शक्रस्य यजतः सर्व ऊचुर्महर्षयः। ऋत्विक्षु कर्मव्यग्रेषु वितते यज्ञकर्मणि ॥१४-९४-८॥
Long ago, while Śakra was performing a sacrifice, all the great sages spoke as the priests were occupied in carrying out the extended ritual actions of the sacrifice. (14-94-8)
हूयमाने तथा वह्नौ होत्रे बहुगुणान्विते। देवेष्वाहूयमानेषु स्थितेषु परमर्षिषु ॥१४-९४-९॥
Offerings are made likewise in the fire to the priest endowed with many qualities, among the gods being invoked and present among the great sages. (14-94-9)
सुप्रतीतैस्तदा विप्रैः स्वागमैः सुस्वनैर्नृप। अश्रान्तैश्चापि लघुभिरध्वर्युवृषभैस्तथा ॥१४-९४-१०॥
Then, O king, very well-versed brāhmaṇas, following their own traditions and chanting with melodious voices, as well as untiring and swift adhvaryu priests, attended (the rite). (14-94-10)
आलम्भसमये तस्मिन्गृहीतेषु पशुष्वथ। महर्षयो महाराज सम्बभूवुः कृपान्विताः ॥१४-९४-११॥
O great king, at that very moment when the animals were being seized, the great sages, full of compassion, appeared. (14-94-11)
ततो दीनान्पशून्दृष्ट्वा ऋषयस्ते तपोधनाः। ऊचुः शक्रं समागम्य नायं यज्ञविधिः शुभः ॥१४-९४-१२॥
Then, having seen the miserable animals, those sages endowed with austerity approached Śakra and said, "This sacrificial procedure is not auspicious." (14-94-12)
अपविज्ञानमेतत्ते महान्तं धर्ममिच्छतः। न हि यज्ञे पशुगणा विधिदृष्टाः पुरंदर ॥१४-९४-१३॥
This is to be disregarded by you, who desire great dharma; indeed, animals are not prescribed by rule in the sacrifice, O Purandara. (14-94-13)
धर्मोपघातकस्त्वेष समारम्भस्तव प्रभो। नायं धर्मकृतो धर्मो न हिंसा धर्म उच्यते ॥१४-९४-१४॥
O lord, this action of yours is a destroyer of dharma; this is not true dharma, for violence is not called dharma. (14-94-14)
आगमेनैव ते यज्ञं कुर्वन्तु यदि हेच्छसि। विधिदृष्टेन यज्ञेन धर्मस्ते सुमहान्भवेत् ॥१४-९४-१५॥
If you desire, let them perform your sacrifice only according to tradition. By a sacrifice prescribed by the rules, your merit will become very great. (14-94-15)
यज बीजैः सहस्राक्ष त्रिवर्षपरमोषितैः। एष धर्मो महाञ्शक्र चिन्त्यमानोऽधिगम्यते ॥१४-९४-१६॥
O Śakra, sacrifice with seeds that have been preserved for three years; when considered, this great dharma is attained. (14-94-16)
शतक्रतुस्तु तद्वाक्यमृषिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः। उक्तं न प्रतिजग्राह मानमोहवशानुगः ॥१४-९४-१७॥
But Indra, being under the influence of pride and delusion, did not accept that statement spoken by the sages who see the truth. (14-94-17)
तेषां विवादः सुमहाञ्जज्ञे शक्रमहर्षिणाम्। जङ्गमैः स्थावरैर्वापि यष्टव्यमिति भारत ॥१४-९४-१८॥
A very great dispute arose among Indra and the great sages as to whether sacrifices should be offered with offerings from moving beings or immovable beings, O Bhārata. (14-94-18)
ते तु खिन्ना विवादेन ऋषयस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः। ततः सन्धाय शक्रेण पप्रच्छुर्नृपतिं वसुम् ॥१४-९४-१९॥
But the sages, knowers of reality, being distressed by the dispute, then, having made peace by means of Śakra, asked King Vasu. (14-94-19)
महाभाग कथं यज्ञेष्वागमो नृपते स्मृतः। यष्टव्यं पशुभिर्मेध्यैरथो बीजैरजैरपि ॥१४-९४-२०॥
O greatly fortunate one, O king, how is it that in sacrifices the tradition is maintained, that offerings should be made with pure animals, or with seeds, or even with goats? (14-94-20)
तच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचस्तेषामविचार्य बलाबलम्। यथोपनीतैर्यष्टव्यमिति प्रोवाच पार्थिवः ॥१४-९४-२१॥
Having heard their words, the king, without considering strength or weakness, said: "The sacrifice should be performed with whatever has been brought." (14-94-21)
एवमुक्त्वा स नृपतिः प्रविवेश रसातलम्। उक्त्वेह वितथं राजंश्चेदीनामीश्वरः प्रभुः ॥१४-९४-२२॥
Having said this, the king entered the netherworld. Here, having told a falsehood, O king, the lord and ruler of the Cedis. (14-94-22)
अन्यायोपगतं द्रव्यमतीतं यो ह्यपण्डितः। धर्माभिकाङ्क्षी यजते न धर्मफलमश्नुते ॥१४-९४-२३॥
The unwise person who performs sacrifice with wealth acquired unjustly, desiring virtue, does not enjoy the fruit of righteousness. (14-94-23)
धर्मवैतंसिको यस्तु पापात्मा पुरुषस्तथा। ददाति दानं विप्रेभ्यो लोकविश्वासकारकम् ॥१४-९४-२४॥
But that wicked-souled man who is deprived of dharma, yet gives a gift to the Brāhmaṇas that causes trust among people. (14-94-24)
पापेन कर्मणा विप्रो धनं लब्ध्वा निरङ्कुशः। रागमोहान्वितः सोऽन्ते कलुषां गतिमाप्नुते ॥१४-९४-२५॥
A Brāhmaṇa who acquires wealth through evil deeds, acts without restraint, and is possessed by passion and delusion, ultimately attains a degraded end. (14-94-25)
तेन दत्तानि दानानि पापेन हतबुद्धिना। तानि सत्त्वमनासाद्य नश्यन्ति विपुलान्यपि ॥१४-९४-२६॥
The gifts given by him, who is wicked and of ruined intelligence, if they do not reach a noble being, even the greatest of them perish. (14-94-26)
तस्याधर्मप्रवृत्तस्य हिंसकस्य दुरात्मनः। दाने न कीर्तिर्भवति प्रेत्य चेह च दुर्मतेः ॥१४-९४-२७॥
For one engaged in unrighteousness, violent, and evil-minded, there is no renown from giving, either after death or here, for the wicked-minded. (14-94-27)
अपि सञ्चयबुद्धिर्हि लोभमोहवशङ्गतः। उद्वेजयति भूतानि हिंसया पापचेतनः ॥१४-९४-२८॥
Even an accumulation-minded person, indeed, under the sway of greed and delusion, being evil-minded, agitates living beings through violence. (14-94-28)
एवं लब्ध्वा धनं लोभाद्यजते यो ददाति च। स कृत्वा कर्मणा तेन न सिध्यति दुरागमात् ॥१४-९४-२९॥
Thus, one who, having obtained wealth through greed, offers a sacrifice or gives (charity), he, having performed that action, does not succeed because of its impure acquisition. (14-94-29)
उञ्छं मूलं फलं शाकमुदपात्रं तपोधनाः। दानं विभवतो दत्त्वा नराः स्वर्यान्ति धर्मिणः ॥१४-९४-३०॥
Ascetics subsist on gleaned grain, roots, fruits, vegetables, and a water-pot; by giving gifts from their wealth, righteous men reach heaven. (14-94-30)
एष धर्मो महांस्त्यागो दानं भूतदया तथा। ब्रह्मचर्यं तथा सत्यमनुक्रोशो धृतिः क्षमा ॥ सनातनस्य धर्मस्य मूलमेतत्सनातनम् ॥१४-९४-३१॥
This is dharma: great renunciation, charity, compassion for all beings, celibacy, truth, kindness, steadfastness, and forgiveness; these are the eternal roots of eternal dharma. (14-94-31)
श्रूयन्ते हि पुरा विप्रा विश्वामित्रादयो नृपाः। विश्वामित्रोऽसितश्चैव जनकश्च महीपतिः ॥ कक्षसेनार्ष्टिषेणौ च सिन्धुद्वीपश्च पार्थिवः ॥१४-९४-३२॥
Formerly, brahmans such as Viśvāmitra and other kings are indeed recorded. Viśvāmitra, Asita, and also Janaka, the king, as well as Kakṣasena and Arṣṭiṣeṇa, and Sindhudvīpa, are kings. (14-94-32)
एते चान्ये च बहवः सिद्धिं परमिकां गताः। नृपाः सत्यैश्च दानैश्च न्यायलब्धैस्तपोधनाः ॥१४-९४-३३॥
These, as well as many others, have attained the highest perfection—kings through truthfulness, through gifts, and by means acquired righteously, and ascetics as their wealth. (14-94-33)
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा ये चाश्रितास्तपः। दानधर्माग्निना शुद्धास्ते स्वर्गं यान्ति भारत ॥१४-९४-३४॥
O Bhārata, Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras who have embraced austerity and are purified by the fire of charity and duty, they attain heaven. (14-94-34)
