14.094
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
yajñe saktā nṛpatayas tapaḥ-saktā maharṣayaḥ। śānti-vyavasitā viprāḥ śamaḥ dama iti prabho॥14-94-1॥
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)
tasmādyajñaphalaistulyaṃ na kiñcidiha vidyate। iti me vartate buddhistathā caitadasaṃśayam ॥14-94-2॥
Therefore, nothing here is found equal to the fruits of sacrifice. "Thus" is my understanding, and this is without doubt. (14-94-2)
yajñair iṣṭvā hi bahavo rājāno dvija-sattama। iha kīrtiṃ parāṃ prāpya pretya svargam ito gatāḥ ॥14-94-3॥
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)
devarājaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ kratubhir bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ। devarājyaṃ mahātejāḥ prāptavānakhilaṃ vibhuḥ ॥14-94-4॥
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)
yathā yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bhīmārjunapuraḥsaraḥ। sadṛśo devarājena samṛddhyā vikrameṇa ca ॥14-94-5॥
Just as King Yudhiṣṭhira, with Bhīma and Arjuna at his forefront, was equal to Devarāja (Indra) in both prosperity and valor. (14-94-5)
atha kasmāts nakulo garhayāmāsa taṃ kratum। aśvamedhaṃ mahāyajñaṃ rājñas tasya mahātmanaḥ ॥14-94-6॥
Then, why did Nakula reproach that Aśvamedha, the great sacrifice of that high-souled king? (14-94-6)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
yajñasya vidhim agryaṃ vai phalaṃ caiva nararṣabha। gadataḥ śṛṇu me rājann yathāvad iha bhārata ॥14-94-7॥
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)
purā śakrasya yajataḥ sarva ūcur maharṣayaḥ। ṛtvikṣu karmavyagreṣu vitate yajñakarmaṇi॥14-94-8॥
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)
hūyamāne tathā vahnau hotre bahuguṇānvite। deveṣvāhūyamāneṣu sthiteṣu paramarṣiṣu॥14-94-9॥
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)
supratītais tadā vipraiḥ svāgamaiḥ susvanair nṛpa। aśrāntaiś cāpi laghubhir adhvaryu-vṛṣabhaiḥ tathā ॥14-94-10॥
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)
ālambhasamaye tasmin gṛhīteṣu paśuṣv atha. maharṣayo mahārāja sambabhūvuḥ kṛpānvitāḥ ॥14-94-11॥
O great king, at that very moment when the animals were being seized, the great sages, full of compassion, appeared. (14-94-11)
tato dīnān paśūn dṛṣṭvā ṛṣayas te tapodhanāḥ। ūcuḥ śakraṃ samāgamya nāyaṃ yajñavidhiḥ śubhaḥ॥14-94-12॥
Then, having seen the miserable animals, those sages endowed with austerity approached Śakra and said, "This sacrificial procedure is not auspicious." (14-94-12)
apavijñānam etat te mahāntaṃ dharmam icchataḥ। na hi yajñe paśugaṇā vidhidṛṣṭāḥ puraṃdara ॥14-94-13॥
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)
dharmopaghātakas tveṣa samārambhas tava prabho। nāyaṃ dharmakṛto dharmo na hiṃsā dharma ucyate ॥14-94-14॥
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)
āgamenaiva te yajñaṃ kurvantu yadi hecchasi. vidhidṛṣṭena yajñena dharmaste sumahānbhavet ॥14-94-15॥
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)
yaja bījaiḥ sahasrākṣa trivarṣaparam-oṣitaiḥ। eṣa dharmo mahān śakra cintyamānaḥ adhigamyate ॥14-94-16॥
O Śakra, sacrifice with seeds that have been preserved for three years; when considered, this great dharma is attained. (14-94-16)
śatakratustu tadvākyam ṛṣibhis tattvadarśibhiḥ। uktaṃ na pratijagrāha māna-moha-vaśānugaḥ ॥14-94-17॥
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)
teṣāṃ vivādaḥ sumahāñ jajñe śakramaharṣiṇām। jaṅgamaiḥ sthāvarair vāpi yaṣṭavyam iti bhārata ॥14-94-18॥
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)
te tu khinnā vivādena ṛṣayas-tattvadarśinaḥ। tataḥ sandhāya śakreṇa papracchur-nṛpatiṃ vasum ॥14-94-19॥
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)
mahābhāga kathaṁ yajñeṣv-āgamo nṛpate smṛtaḥ। yaṣṭavyaṁ paśubhir-medhyair-atho bījair-ajair-api ॥14-94-20॥
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)
tac chrutvā tu vacas teṣām avicārya balābalam। yathopanītair yaṣṭavyam iti provāca pārthivaḥ ॥14-94-21॥
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)
evam-uktvā sa nṛpatiḥ praviveśa rasātalam। uktveha vitathaṃ rājaṃś-cedīnāmiśvaraḥ prabhuḥ॥14-94-22॥
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)
anyāyopagataṃ dravyamatītaṃ yo hyapaṇḍitaḥ. dharmābhikāṅkṣī yajate na dharmaphalamaśnute ॥14-94-23॥
The unwise person who performs sacrifice with wealth acquired unjustly, desiring virtue, does not enjoy the fruit of righteousness. (14-94-23)
dharmavaitaṃsiko yastu pāpātmā puruṣastathā। dadāti dānaṃ viprebhyo lokaviśvāsakārakam ॥14-94-24॥
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)
pāpena karmaṇā vipro dhanaṃ labdhvā niraṅkuśaḥ। rāgamohānvitaḥ so’nte kaluṣāṃ gatim āpnute॥14-94-25॥
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)
tena dattāni dānāni pāpena hatabuddhinā। tāni sattvam anāsādya naśyanti vipulāni api ॥14-94-26॥
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)
tasyādharmapravṛttasya hiṁsakasya durātmanaḥ. dāne na kīrtir bhavati pretya ceha ca durmateḥ ॥14-94-27॥
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)
api sañcayabuddhir hi lobhamohavaśaṅgataḥ। udvejayati bhūtāni hiṃsayā pāpacetanaḥ ॥14-94-28॥
Even an accumulation-minded person, indeed, under the sway of greed and delusion, being evil-minded, agitates living beings through violence. (14-94-28)
evaṁ labdhvā dhanaṁ lobhād yajate yo dadāti ca। sa kṛtvā karmaṇā tena na sidhyati durāgamāt ॥14-94-29॥
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)
uñchaṃ mūlaṃ phalaṃ śākam udapātraṃ tapodhanāḥ। dānaṃ vibhavato dattvā narāḥ svaryānti dharmiṇaḥ॥14-94-30॥
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)
eṣa dharmo mahāṃstyāgo dānaṃ bhūtadayā tathā। brahmacaryaṃ tathā satyamanukrośo dhṛtiḥ kṣamā॥ sanātanasya dharmasya mūlametatsanātanam॥14-94-31॥
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)
śrūyante hi purā viprā viśvāmitrādayo nṛpāḥ। viśvāmitro'sitaścaiva janakaśca mahīpatiḥ॥ kakṣasenārṣṭiṣeṇau ca sindhudvīpaśca pārthivaḥ॥14-94-32॥
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)
ete cānye ca bahavaḥ siddhiṃ paramikāṃ gatāḥ। nṛpāḥ satyaiś ca dānaiś ca nyāya-labdhaiḥ tapa-dhanāḥ॥14-94-33॥
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)
brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrā ye cāśritāstapaḥ। dānadharmāgninā śuddhāste svargaṃ yānti bhārata॥14-94-34॥
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)
