Mahabharata — Volume II (Dutt edition) — Chapter 200
MBh 2 200.1
वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वा स राजा राजर्षेरिन्द्रद्युम्नस्य तत् तदा। मार्कण्डेयान्महाभागात् स्वर्गस्य प्रतिपादनम्॥ युधिष्ठिरो महाराज पुनः पप्रच्छ तं मुनिम्।
vaiśampāyana uvāca śrutvā sa rājā rājarṣerindradyumnasya tat tadā| mārkaṇḍeyānmahābhāgāt svargasya pratipādanam|| yudhiṣṭhiro mahārāja punaḥ papraccha taṃ munim|
Vaishampayana said : Having heard from the highly exalted Markandeya the story of the royal sage Indradyumna's regaining heaven, the king Yudhishthira, the great monarch, again asked the Rishi,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.2
कीदृशीषु ह्यवस्थासु दत्त्वा दानं महामुने॥ इन्द्रलोकं त्वनुभवेत् पुरुषस्तद् द्रवीहि मे।
kīdṛśīṣu hyavasthāsu dattvā dānaṃ mahāmune|| indralokaṃ tvanubhavet puruṣastad dravīhi me|
“O great Rishi, tell me how a man should practice charity to go to the regions of Indra.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.3
गार्हस्थ्येऽप्यथवा बाल्ये यौवने स्थविरेऽपि वा। यथा फलं समश्याति तथा त्वं कथयस्व मे॥
gārhasthye'pyathavā bālye yauvane sthavire'pi vā| yathā phalaṃ samaśyāti tathā tvaṃ kathayasva me||
Is it by practicing charity when leading the domestic life or in boyhood or in youth or in the old age (that one goes to Indra's abode)? Tell me the respective merits of charity in different stages of life.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.4
मार्कण्डेय उवाच वृथा जन्मानि चत्वारि वृथा दानानि षोडश। वृथा जन्म ह्यपुत्रस्य ये च धर्मबहिष्कृताः॥ परपाकेषु येऽश्नन्ति आत्मार्थं च पचेत् तु यः। पर्यश्नन्ति वृथा ये च तदसत्यं प्रकीर्त्यते।५॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca vṛthā janmāni catvāri vṛthā dānāni ṣoḍaśa| vṛthā janma hyaputrasya ye ca dharmabahiṣkṛtāḥ|| parapākeṣu ye'śnanti ātmārthaṃ ca pacet tu yaḥ| paryaśnanti vṛthā ye ca tadasatyaṃ prakīrtyate|5||
Markandeya said : The life, that is useless, is of four kinds and the charity which is useless is of sixteen kinds. That life is useless in which there is no son born, in which one has no virtue. In which one lives on food given by another and in which one cook (food) for himself only, without giving to the Pitris, the celestials and the guests and one who eats before all these.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.5
आरूढपतिते दत्तमन्यायोपहृतं च यत्। व्यर्थंतु पतिते दानं ब्राह्मणे तस्करे तथा॥
ārūḍhapatite dattamanyāyopahṛtaṃ ca yat| vyarthaṃtu patite dānaṃ brāhmaṇe taskare tathā||
The gift to one who has fallen away from the path of virtue and the gift of wealth which has been earned wrongly and dishonestly are both useless. The gifts to a fallen Brahmana, to a thief to a false preceptor, are also useless.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.6
गुरौ चानृतिके पापे कृतघ्ने ग्रामयाजके। वेदविक्रयिणे दत्तं तथा वृषलयाजके॥ ब्रह्मबन्धुषु यद् दत्तं यद् दत्तं वृषलीपतौ। स्त्रीजनेषु च यद् दत्तं व्यालग्राहे तथैव च॥ परिचारकेषु यद् दत्तं वृथा दानानि षोडश।
gurau cānṛtike pāpe kṛtaghne grāmayājake| vedavikrayiṇe dattaṃ tathā vṛṣalayājake|| brahmabandhuṣu yad dattaṃ yad dattaṃ vṛṣalīpatau| strījaneṣu ca yad dattaṃ vyālagrāhe tathaiva ca|| paricārakeṣu yad dattaṃ vṛthā dānāni ṣoḍaśa|
The gift to an untruthful man, to one who officiates at sacrifices performed by all classes of people residing in a village, to one that sells the Vedas to a Brahmana who cooks for a Shudra, to one who is by birth a Brahmana, but who does not perform the duties of his order, is all in vain. The gift to one who has married a girl already in her puberty, to a woman, to one who sports with a snake and to one who is engaged in minimal services, is also in vain. These are the sixteen useless charities.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.7
तमोवृतस्तु यो दद्याद् भयात् क्रोधात् तथैव च।॥ भुङ्क्ते च दानं तत् सर्वं गर्भस्थस्तु नरः सदा। ददद् दानं द्विजातिभ्यो वृद्धभावेन मानवः॥
tamovṛtastu yo dadyād bhayāt krodhāt tathaiva ca||| bhuṅkte ca dānaṃ tat sarvaṃ garbhasthastu naraḥ sadā| dadad dānaṃ dvijātibhyo vṛddhabhāvena mānavaḥ||
He who gives away wealth out of fear or anger. Enjoys the fruits of that charity when he remains in the womb of his mother. The man who gives away (wealth) to the Brahmanas, enjoys its fruits while he is in old age.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.8
तस्मात् सर्वास्ववस्थासु सर्वदानानि पार्थिव दातव्यानि द्विजातिभ्यः स्वर्गमार्गजिगीषया॥
tasmāt sarvāsvavasthāsu sarvadānāni pārthiva dātavyāni dvijātibhyaḥ svargamārgajigīṣayā||
O king, therefore, the man who desires to get to the path of heaven should under all conditions give away (wealth) to the Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.9
युधिष्ठिर उवाच चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य सर्वस्य वर्तमानाः प्रतिग्रहे। केन विप्रा विशेषेण तारयन्ति तरन्ति च॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca cāturvarṇyasya sarvasya vartamānāḥ pratigrahe| kena viprā viśeṣeṇa tārayanti taranti ca||
Yudhishthira said : By what means do the Brahmanas, who receive gifts from all the four orders, save others as well as themselves?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.10
मार्कण्डेय उवाच जपैर्मन्त्रैश्च होमैश्च स्वाध्यायाध्ययनेन च। नावं वेदमयीं कृत्वा तारयन्ति तरन्ति च॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca japairmantraiśca homaiśca svādhyāyādhyayanena ca| nāvaṃ vedamayīṃ kṛtvā tārayanti taranti ca||
Markandeya said: By Japa, by Mantras by Homa and by the study of the Vedas, they (Brahmanas) build a Veda boat and with it they save others as well as themselves.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.11
ब्राह्मणांस्तोषयेद् यस्तु तुष्यन्ते तस्य देवताः। वचनाच्चापि विप्राणां स्वर्गलोकमवाप्नुयात्॥
brāhmaṇāṃstoṣayed yastu tuṣyante tasya devatāḥ| vacanāccāpi viprāṇāṃ svargalokamavāpnuyāt||
The celestials themselves are gratified with that man who gratifies the Brahmanas. At the command of a Brahmana a man obtains heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.12
पितृदैवतपूजाभिर्ब्राह्मणाभ्यर्चनेन च। अनन्तं पुण्यलोकं तु गन्तासि त्वं न संशयः॥
pitṛdaivatapūjābhirbrāhmaṇābhyarcanena ca| anantaṃ puṇyalokaṃ tu gantāsi tvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ||
O king, you will certainly go to heaven for your worshipping the Pitris and the celestials and for your showing great reverence to the Brahmanas,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.13
श्लेष्मादिभिर्व्याप्ततनुम्रियमाणो विचेतनः। ब्राह्मणा एव सम्पूज्याः पुण्यं स्वर्गमभीप्सता।१६।।
śleṣmādibhirvyāptatanumriyamāṇo vicetanaḥ| brāhmaṇā eva sampūjyāḥ puṇyaṃ svargamabhīpsatā|16||
Even if your body be dull and weak and full of phlegm. He who desires to obtain virtue and heaven should worship the Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.14
श्राद्धकाले तु यत्नेन भोक्तव्या ह्यजुगुप्सिताः। दुर्वर्णः कुनखी कुष्ठी मायावी कुण्डगोलकौ॥ वर्जनीयाः प्रयलेन काण्डपृष्ठाश्च देहिनः। जुगुप्सितं हि यच्छ्राद्धं दहत्यग्निरिवेन्धनम्॥
śrāddhakāle tu yatnena bhoktavyā hyajugupsitāḥ| durvarṇaḥ kunakhī kuṣṭhī māyāvī kuṇḍagolakau|| varjanīyāḥ prayalena kāṇḍapṛṣṭhāśca dehinaḥ| jugupsitaṃ hi yacchrāddhaṃ dahatyagnirivendhanam||
One should with great care feed them at the time of Shraddha ceremonies, but those among them (Brahmana) that are cursed or fallen, that are either exceeding handsome or excessively black, that have diseased nails, that are lepers, that are deceitful, that are bastards, born of widows or of women with their husbands in exile and that support themselves by the profession of arms, all these should be excluded. A censurable Shraddha consumes the performer as fire consumes the wood.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.15
ये ये श्राद्धे न युज्यन्ते मूकान्धबधिरादयः। तेऽपि सर्वे नियोक्तव्या मिश्रिता वेदपारगैः॥
ye ye śrāddhe na yujyante mūkāndhabadhirādayaḥ| te'pi sarve niyoktavyā miśritā vedapāragaiḥ||
If those that are to be employed in a Shraddha happen to be dumb, blind or deaf, care should be taken to employ them with the Brahmanas who are learned in the Vedas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.16
प्रतिग्रहश्च वै देयः शृणु यस्य युधिष्ठिर। प्रदातारं तथाऽऽत्मानं यस्तारयति शक्तिमान्॥ तस्मिन् देयं द्विजे दानं सर्वागमविजानता। प्रदातारं यथाऽऽत्मानं तारयेद् यः स शक्तिमान्॥
pratigrahaśca vai deyaḥ śṛṇu yasya yudhiṣṭhira| pradātāraṃ tathā''tmānaṃ yastārayati śaktimān|| tasmin deyaṃ dvije dānaṃ sarvāgamavijānatā| pradātāraṃ yathā''tmānaṃ tārayed yaḥ sa śaktimān||
O Yudhishthira, hear now what you should give away. He who knows the Vedas should give away to only those Brahmanas who are able to save both the giver and himself, for he only is to be considered a competent (Brahmana) who can save the giver and himself.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.17
न तथा हविषो होमैन पुष्पैर्नानुलेपनैः। अग्नयः पार्थ तुष्यन्ति यथा ह्यतिथिभोजने॥
na tathā haviṣo homaina puṣpairnānulepanaiḥ| agnayaḥ pārtha tuṣyanti yathā hyatithibhojane||
O son of Pritha, the sacred fire does not become so much gratified in receiving the libations of Ghee, the offering of flowers and sandal paste and other perfumes as by the entertainment of guests.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.18
तस्मात् त्वं सर्वयत्नेन यतस्वातिथिभोजने। पादोदकं पादघृतं दीपमन्नं प्रतिश्रयम्॥ प्रयच्छन्ति तु ये राजन् नोपसर्पन्ति ते यमम्।
tasmāt tvaṃ sarvayatnena yatasvātithibhojane| pādodakaṃ pādaghṛtaṃ dīpamannaṃ pratiśrayam|| prayacchanti tu ye rājan nopasarpanti te yamam|
Therefore with all care entertain guests. O king, those that give to his guests water to wash his feet, butter to rub over his tired legs, light in darkness and food and shelter, do not (at all) go before Yama.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.19
देवमाल्यापनयनं द्विजोच्छिष्टावमार्जनम्॥ आकल्प: परिचर्या च गात्रसंवाहनानि च। अत्रैकैकं नृपश्रेष्ठ गोदानाद्ध्यतिरिच्यते॥
devamālyāpanayanaṃ dvijocchiṣṭāvamārjanam|| ākalpa: paricaryā ca gātrasaṃvāhanāni ca| atraikaikaṃ nṛpaśreṣṭha godānāddhyatiricyate||
The removal of garlands of flowers offered to the gods, the removal of the remnant of a Brahmana's food, serving with prepared pastes, the shampooing of a Brahmana's legs, O foremost of kings, each of these gives better fruits than the giving away of kine.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.20
कपिलायाः प्रदानात् तु मुच्यते नात्र संशयः। तस्मादलंकृतां दद्यात् कपिलां तु द्विजातये॥
kapilāyāḥ pradānāt tu mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ| tasmādalaṃkṛtāṃ dadyāt kapilāṃ tu dvijātaye||
A man certainly rescues himself (from hell) by giving away Kapila cow, therefore a Kapila cow, decked with ornaments, should be given to a Brahmana.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.21
श्रोत्रियाय दरिद्राय गृहस्थायाग्निहोत्रिणे। पुत्रदाराभिभूताय तथा ह्यनुपकारिणे॥
śrotriyāya daridrāya gṛhasthāyāgnihotriṇe| putradārābhibhūtāya tathā hyanupakāriṇe||
One should make gifts to a person nobly born, one who is learned in the Vedas, one that is fair, one who leads a domestic life, but who is burdened with wife and children, one who duly worships the sacred fire and one who has done you no service.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.22
एवंविधेषु दातव्या न समृद्धेषु भारत। को गुणो भरतश्रेष्ठ समृद्धेष्वभिवर्जितम्॥
evaṃvidheṣu dātavyā na samṛddheṣu bhārata| ko guṇo bharataśreṣṭha samṛddheṣvabhivarjitam||
O best of the Bharata race, O descendant of Bharata, you should always give away to such men and not to those who are wealthy. What merit is there to give (wealth) to one who is wealthy?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.23
एकस्यैका प्रदातव्या न बहूनां कदाचन। सा गौर्विक्रयमापन्ना हन्यात् त्रिपुरुषं कुलम्॥ न तारयति दातारं ब्राह्मणं नैव नैव तु।
ekasyaikā pradātavyā na bahūnāṃ kadācana| sā gaurvikrayamāpannā hanyāt tripuruṣaṃ kulam|| na tārayati dātāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ naiva naiva tu|
One cow must be given to one Brahmana. One single cow must not be given to many Brahmanas. If that cow is sold, three generations of the giver's family would be lost. Such a gift will neither rescue the giver nor the Brahmana who takes it.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.24
सुवर्णस्य विशुद्धस्य सुवर्णं यः प्रयच्छति॥ सुवर्णानां शतं तेन दत्तं भवति शाश्वतम्।
suvarṇasya viśuddhasya suvarṇaṃ yaḥ prayacchati|| suvarṇānāṃ śataṃ tena dattaṃ bhavati śāśvatam|
He who gives away eighty Ratis of pure gold, obtains the everlasting fruit of giving away one hundred pieces of gold.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.25
अनड्वाहं तु यो दद्याद् बलवन्तं धुरंधरम्॥ स लिस्तरति दुर्गाणि स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति।
anaḍvāhaṃ tu yo dadyād balavantaṃ dhuraṃdharam|| sa listarati durgāṇi svargalokaṃ ca gacchati|
He who gives away a strong bull capable of drawing the plough, does not certainly meet with any calamity; he finally goes to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.26
वसुन्धरां तु यो दद्याद् द्विजाय विदुरात्मने।॥ दातारं ह्यनुगच्छन्ति सर्वे कामाभिवाञ्छिताः।
vasundharāṃ tu yo dadyād dvijāya vidurātmane||| dātāraṃ hyanugacchanti sarve kāmābhivāñchitāḥ|
He who gives away land to a learned Brahmana, has all his desires fulfilled.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.27
पृच्छन्ति चात्र दातारं वदन्ति पुरुषा भुवि॥ अध्वनि क्षीणगात्राश्च पांसुपादावगुण्ठिताः। तेषामेव श्रमार्तानां यो ह्यन्नं कथयेद् बुधः॥ अन्नदातृसमः सोऽपि कीयंते नात्र संशयः।
pṛcchanti cātra dātāraṃ vadanti puruṣā bhuvi|| adhvani kṣīṇagātrāśca pāṃsupādāvaguṇṭhitāḥ| teṣāmeva śramārtānāṃ yo hyannaṃ kathayed budhaḥ|| annadātṛsamaḥ so'pi kīyaṃte nātra saṃśayaḥ|
The tired traveller, with weakened limbs and with feet besmeared with dust, asks for the name of him who gives him food. There are men who answer him by telling him the name. That wise man who informs the toil-worn travellers the name of the persons who give them food is certainly considered equal in virtue as the giver of food himself.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.28
तस्मात् त्वं सर्वदानानि हित्वान्नं सम्प्रयच्छ हा॥ न हीदृशं पुण्यफलं विचित्रमिह विद्यते। यथाशक्ति च यो दद्यादन्नं विप्रेषु संस्कृतम्॥ स तेन कर्मणाऽऽमोति प्रजापतिसलोकताम्।
tasmāt tvaṃ sarvadānāni hitvānnaṃ samprayaccha hā|| na hīdṛśaṃ puṇyaphalaṃ vicitramiha vidyate| yathāśakti ca yo dadyādannaṃ vipreṣu saṃskṛtam|| sa tena karmaṇā''moti prajāpatisalokatām|
O Yudhishthira, Therefore (even) abstaining from other kinds of gifts, give away food. There is no virtue so great as that of giving well-cooked and pure food to the Brahmanas according to one's ability. That man by his this act obtains the companionship of Prajapati.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.29
अन्नमेव विशिष्टं हि तस्मात् परतरं न च॥ अन्नं प्रजापतिश्चोक्तः स च संवत्सरो मतः। संवत्सरस्तु यज्ञोऽसौ सर्वं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
annameva viśiṣṭaṃ hi tasmāt parataraṃ na ca|| annaṃ prajāpatiścoktaḥ sa ca saṃvatsaro mataḥ| saṃvatsarastu yajño'sau sarvaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam||
There is no gift superior to that of food. The food is the foremost and the first of all things. It is said that food is Prajapati. Prajapati (again) is considered as year and the year is sacrifice.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.30
तस्मात् सर्वाणि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च। तस्मादन्नं विशिष्टं हि सर्वेभ्य इति विश्रुतम्॥
tasmāt sarvāṇi bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca| tasmādannaṃ viśiṣṭaṃ hi sarvebhya iti viśrutam||
From sacrifice all mobile and immobile creatures take their birth. For this reason it has been heard by us that food is the foremost of all things.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.31
येषां तटाकानि महोदकानि वाप्यश्च कूपाश्च प्रतिश्रयाश्च। अन्नस्य दानं मधुरा च वाणी यमस्य ते निर्वचना भवन्ति॥
yeṣāṃ taṭākāni mahodakāni vāpyaśca kūpāśca pratiśrayāśca| annasya dānaṃ madhurā ca vāṇī yamasya te nirvacanā bhavanti||
Those, that give away lakes and large tanks, wells and ponds, shelter and food with sweet words, have not to bear the up-braiding of Yama.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.32
धान्यं श्रमेणार्जितवित्तसंचितं विप्रे सुशीले च प्रयच्छते यः। वसुन्धरा तस्य भवेत् सुतुष्टा धारां वसूनां प्रतिमुञ्चतीव॥
dhānyaṃ śrameṇārjitavittasaṃcitaṃ vipre suśīle ca prayacchate yaḥ| vasundharā tasya bhavet sutuṣṭā dhārāṃ vasūnāṃ pratimuñcatīva||
Earth is always satisfied with that man who gives rice and wealth earned by his own labour to the Brahmanas whose behaviour is good. She pours upon such a man showers of wealth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.33
अन्नदाः प्रथमं यान्ति सत्यवाक् तदनन्तरम्। अयाचितप्रदाता च समं यान्ति त्रयो जनाः॥
annadāḥ prathamaṃ yānti satyavāk tadanantaram| ayācitapradātā ca samaṃ yānti trayo janāḥ||
The giver of food walks first, then follows the speaker of truth; and then the man who gives away to a person who does not ask. But all these three go to the same place.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.34
वैशम्पायन उवाच कौतूहलसमुत्पन्नः पर्यपृच्छद् युधिष्ठिरः। मार्कण्डेयं महात्मानं पुनरेव सहानुजः॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca kautūhalasamutpannaḥ paryapṛcchad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ| mārkaṇḍeyaṃ mahātmānaṃ punareva sahānujaḥ||
Vaishampayana said : Being filled with curiosity, Yudhishthira, with his brothers, again asked the illustrious Markandeya.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.35
यमलोकस्य चाध्वानमन्तरं मानुषस्य च। कीदृशं किम्प्रमाणं वा कथं वा तन्महामुने। तरन्ति पुरुषाश्चैव केनोपायेन शंस मे॥
yamalokasya cādhvānamantaraṃ mānuṣasya ca| kīdṛśaṃ kimpramāṇaṃ vā kathaṃ vā tanmahāmune| taranti puruṣāścaiva kenopāyena śaṃsa me||
Yudhishthira said: O great Rishi, what is the distance of the region of Yama from that of men? What is its measurement? How does a man pass over it and by what meant? Tell me all this.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.36
मार्कण्डेय उवाच सर्वगुह्यतमं प्रश्न पवित्रमृषिसंस्तुतम्। कथयिष्यामि ते राजन् धर्म्य धर्मभृतां वर॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca sarvaguhyatamaṃ praśna pavitramṛṣisaṃstutam| kathayiṣyāmi te rājan dharmya dharmabhṛtāṃ vara||
Markandeya said : O king, O foremost of all virtuous men, your this question relates to a great mystery. It is sacred and it is much praised by the Rishis. I shall speak to you about this Dharma.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.37
षडशीतिसहस्राणि योजनानां नराधिप। यमलोकस्य चाध्वानमन्तरं मानुषस्य च॥
ṣaḍaśītisahasrāṇi yojanānāṃ narādhipa| yamalokasya cādhvānamantaraṃ mānuṣasya ca||
O ruler of men, the distance of the region of Yama from the abode of men is eighty-six thousand yojanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.38
आकाशं तदपानीयं घोरं कान्तारदर्शनम्। न तत्र वृक्षच्छाया वा पानीयं केतनानि च॥ विश्रमेद् यत्र वै श्रान्तः पुरुषोऽध्वनि कर्शितः।
ākāśaṃ tadapānīyaṃ ghoraṃ kāntāradarśanam| na tatra vṛkṣacchāyā vā pānīyaṃ ketanāni ca|| viśramed yatra vai śrāntaḥ puruṣo'dhvani karśitaḥ|
The way is over space. There is no water there and it is terrible to look at. There is nowhere in that region any shade of any tree, any water and any resting place, in which the traveller when fatigued, may take rest for some time.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.39
नीयते यमदूतैस्तु यमस्याज्ञाकरैर्बलात्॥ नराः स्त्रियस्तथैवान्ये पृथिव्यां जीवसंज्ञिताः।
nīyate yamadūtaistu yamasyājñākarairbalāt|| narāḥ striyastathaivānye pṛthivyāṃ jīvasaṃjñitāḥ|
Along this path are forcibly taken by messenger of Yama, obedient to his command, all men and women and all creatures that have life.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.40
ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदानानि नानारूपाणि पार्थिव॥ हयादीनां प्रकृष्टानि तेऽध्वानं यान्ति वै नराः। संनिवार्यातपं यान्ति छत्रेणैव हि छत्रदाः॥
brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradānāni nānārūpāṇi pārthiva|| hayādīnāṃ prakṛṣṭāni te'dhvānaṃ yānti vai narāḥ| saṃnivāryātapaṃ yānti chatreṇaiva hi chatradāḥ||
O ruler of earth, O king, those that have given horses and other good conveyances to the Brahmanas, go along (this path) on those animals and conveyances. Those that have given. umbrellas thus (to the Brahmanas) go along this path with umbrellas, warding off the sun's rays.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.41
तृप्ताश्चैवान्नदातारो ह्यतृप्ताश्चाप्यनन्नदाः। वस्त्रिणो वस्त्रदा यान्ति अवस्त्रा यान्त्यवस्त्रदाः॥
tṛptāścaivānnadātāro hyatṛptāścāpyanannadāḥ| vastriṇo vastradā yānti avastrā yāntyavastradāḥ||
Those that have given food go along without any hunger and those that have not given food go along afflicted with (great) hunger. Those that have given cloths go along attired in cloths and those that have not given cloths go along naked,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.42
हिरण्यदाः सुखं यान्ति पुरुषास्त्वभ्यलंकृताः। भूमिदास्तु सुखं यान्ति सर्वैः कामैः सुतर्पिताः॥
hiraṇyadāḥ sukhaṃ yānti puruṣāstvabhyalaṃkṛtāḥ| bhūmidāstu sukhaṃ yānti sarvaiḥ kāmaiḥ sutarpitāḥ||
Those that have given gold go along in happiness, well adorned in ornaments. And those that have given land go along with their every desire completely gratified.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.43
यान्ति चैवापरिक्लिष्टा नराः सस्यप्रदायकाः। नराः सुखतरं यान्ति विमानेषु गृहप्रदाः॥
yānti caivāparikliṣṭā narāḥ sasyapradāyakāḥ| narāḥ sukhataraṃ yānti vimāneṣu gṛhapradāḥ||
Those that have given grains go along without being afflicted with any want; and those that have given houses go along on cars.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.44
पानीयदा ह्यतृषिताः प्रहृष्टमनसो नराः। पन्थानं द्योतयन्तश्च यान्ति दीपप्रदाः सुखम्॥
pānīyadā hyatṛṣitāḥ prahṛṣṭamanaso narāḥ| panthānaṃ dyotayantaśca yānti dīpapradāḥ sukham||
Those that have given king go along with cheerful hearts without ever being afflicted by thirst. Those that have given lights go along in great happiness lighting the way before them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.45
गोप्रदास्तु सुखं यान्ति निर्मुक्ताः सर्वपातकैः। विमानैर्हससंयुक्तैर्यान्ति मासोपवासिनः॥
gopradāstu sukhaṃ yānti nirmuktāḥ sarvapātakaiḥ| vimānairhasasaṃyuktairyānti māsopavāsinaḥ||
Those that have given kine go along in happiness, their sins being all destroyed. Those that have fasted for a month, go along on cars drawn by swans.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.46
तथा बर्हिप्रयुक्तैश्च षष्ठरात्रोपवासिनः। त्रिरात्रं क्षपते यस्तु एकभक्तेन पाण्डव॥ अन्तरा चैव नाश्नाति तस्य लोका ह्यनामयाः। पानीयस्य गुणा दिव्याः प्रेतलोकसुखावहाः॥
tathā barhiprayuktaiśca ṣaṣṭharātropavāsinaḥ| trirātraṃ kṣapate yastu ekabhaktena pāṇḍava|| antarā caiva nāśnāti tasya lokā hyanāmayāḥ| pānīyasya guṇā divyāḥ pretalokasukhāvahāḥ||
O son of Pandu, those that have fasted for six nights, go on cars drawn by peacocks. O son of Pandu, he who fasts for three nights taking only one meal without a second goes to a region free from disease and anxiety. The water has this excellent property that it produces happiness in the region of the dead.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.47
तत्र पुष्पोदका नाम नदी तेषां विधीयते। शीतलं सलिलं तत्र पिबन्ति ह्यमृतोपमम्॥
tatra puṣpodakā nāma nadī teṣāṃ vidhīyate| śītalaṃ salilaṃ tatra pibanti hyamṛtopamam||
There they see a river named Pushpodaka. They there drink cool water which is like the very ambrosia.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.48
ये च दुष्कृतकर्माणः पूयं तेषां विधीयते। एवं नदी महाराज सर्वकामप्रदा हि सा॥
ye ca duṣkṛtakarmāṇaḥ pūyaṃ teṣāṃ vidhīyate| evaṃ nadī mahārāja sarvakāmapradā hi sā||
He who is of evil deed drinks there puss which is the thing that has been ordained for him. O great king, that river fulfills one's all desires.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.49
तस्मात् त्वमपि राजेन्द्र पूजयनान् यथाविधि। अध्वनि क्षीणगात्रश्च पथि पांसुसमन्वितः॥ पृच्छते ह्यन्नदातारं गृहमायाति चाशया। तं पूजयाथ यत्नेन सोऽतिथिर्ब्राह्मणश्च सः॥
tasmāt tvamapi rājendra pūjayanān yathāvidhi| adhvani kṣīṇagātraśca pathi pāṃsusamanvitaḥ|| pṛcchate hyannadātāraṃ gṛhamāyāti cāśayā| taṃ pūjayātha yatnena so'tithirbrāhmaṇaśca saḥ||
O king of kings, worship there these (Brahmanas) in all due form. Weakened with travelling and besmeared with the dust on this way, the traveller asks for the name of him who gives food and comes in hope to his house to worship him with all care, for he is a great Brahmana.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.50
तं यान्तमनुगच्छन्ति देवाः सर्वे सवासवाः। तस्मिन् सम्पूजिते प्रीता निराशा यान्त्यपूजिते॥
taṃ yāntamanugacchanti devāḥ sarve savāsavāḥ| tasmin sampūjite prītā nirāśā yāntyapūjite||
As he proceeds all the celestials with Vasava (Indra) follow him. If he is worshipped, they are gratified; and if he is not worshipped they become cheerless.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.51
तस्मात् त्वमपि राजेन्द्र पूजयैनं यथाविधि। एतत् ते शतशः प्रोक्तं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि॥
tasmāt tvamapi rājendra pūjayainaṃ yathāvidhi| etat te śataśaḥ proktaṃ kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi||
O king of kings, therefore duly worship these (Brahmanas). I have thus spoken to you on one hundred subjects. What do you desire to hear from me more?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.52
युधिष्ठिर उवाच पुनः पुनरहं श्रोतुं कथां धर्मसमाश्रयाम्। पुण्यामिच्छामि धर्मज्ञ कथ्यमानां त्वया विभो॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca punaḥ punarahaṃ śrotuṃ kathāṃ dharmasamāśrayām| puṇyāmicchāmi dharmajña kathyamānāṃ tvayā vibho||
Yudhishthira said : O lord, O virtuous man, I desire to hear you again and again on sacred subjects relating to virtue and morals.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.53
मार्कण्डेय उवाच धर्मान्तरं प्रति कथां कथ्यमानां मया नृप। सर्वपापहरां नित्यं शृणुष्वावहितो मम॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca dharmāntaraṃ prati kathāṃ kathyamānāṃ mayā nṛpa| sarvapāpaharāṃ nityaṃ śṛṇuṣvāvahito mama||
Markandeya said: O king, I shall now speak on another sacred subject relating to eternity which destroys all sins. Listen to me with all others.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.54
कपिलायां तु दत्तायां यत् फलं ज्येष्ठपुष्करे। तत् फलं भरतश्रेष्ठ विप्राणां पादधावने॥
kapilāyāṃ tu dattāyāṃ yat phalaṃ jyeṣṭhapuṣkare| tat phalaṃ bharataśreṣṭha viprāṇāṃ pādadhāvane||
O best of the Bharata race, the merit equal to that of giving away a Kapila cow in Pushkara (Tirtha) is obtained by washing the feet of the Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.55
द्विजपादोदकक्लिन्ना यावत् तिष्ठति मेदिनी। तावत् पुष्करपर्णेन पिबन्ति पितरो जलम्॥
dvijapādodakaklinnā yāvat tiṣṭhati medinī| tāvat puṣkaraparṇena pibanti pitaro jalam||
As long as the earth remains moist with the water touched by the feet of a Brahmana, so long do the Pitris drink water from the lotus leaves.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.56
स्वागतेनाग्नयस्तृप्ता आसनेन शतक्रतुः। पितरः पादशौचेन अन्नाद्येन प्रजापतिः॥
svāgatenāgnayastṛptā āsanena śatakratuḥ| pitaraḥ pādaśaucena annādyena prajāpatiḥ||
If a guest is welcomed, Agni is gratified. If he is offered a seat, Indra is gratified. If his feet are washed, it is the Pitris who are delighted. If he is fed, it is Prajapati (Brahma) himself who is gratified.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.57
यावद् वत्सस्य वै पादौ शिरश्चैव प्रदृश्यते। तस्मिन् काले प्रदातव्या प्रयत्नेनान्तरात्मना॥ अन्तरिक्षगतो वत्सो यावद् योन्यां प्रदृश्यते। तावद् गौ पृथिवी ज्ञेया यावद् गर्भं न मुञ्चति॥
yāvad vatsasya vai pādau śiraścaiva pradṛśyate| tasmin kāle pradātavyā prayatnenāntarātmanā|| antarikṣagato vatso yāvad yonyāṃ pradṛśyate| tāvad gau pṛthivī jñeyā yāvad garbhaṃ na muñcati||
One should with subdued soul give away a cow when the feet and the head of her calf are visible. Before her delivery is complete, a cow with her calf in the air in the course of falling from the uterus to the earth is to be considered as equal to the earth herself.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.58
यावन्ति तस्या रोमाणि वत्सस्य च युधिष्ठिर। तावद् युगसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते॥
yāvanti tasyā romāṇi vatsasya ca yudhiṣṭhira| tāvad yugasahasrāṇi svargaloke mahīyate||
O Yudhishthira, he is adored in the celestials region as many thousand Yugas as there are hairs on the bodies of that cow and the calf.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.59
सुवर्णनासां यः कृत्वा सुखुरां कृष्णधेनुकाम्। तिलैः प्रच्छादितां दद्यात् सर्वरत्नैरलंकृताम्॥
suvarṇanāsāṃ yaḥ kṛtvā sukhurāṃ kṛṣṇadhenukām| tilaiḥ pracchāditāṃ dadyāt sarvaratnairalaṃkṛtām||
The person who donets a black cow duly ornamented with jwels including nose-ring made of gold and the hoof made of silver.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.60
प्रतिग्रहं गृहीत्वा यः पुनर्ददति साधवे। फलानां फलमश्नाति तदा दत्त्वा च भारत॥ ससमुद्रगुहा तेन सशैलवनकानना। चतुरन्ता भवेद् दत्त पृथिवी नात्र संशयः॥
pratigrahaṃ gṛhītvā yaḥ punardadati sādhave| phalānāṃ phalamaśnāti tadā dattvā ca bhārata|| sasamudraguhā tena saśailavanakānanā| caturantā bhaved datta pṛthivī nātra saṃśayaḥ||
O descendant of Bharata, he who, having accepted a gift, gives it away immediately to a person who is virtuous and honest, obtains great merit. He certainly obtains the fruit of giving away the whole earth to her utmost limits with her oceans, seas and caves, her mountains and forests and woods.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.61
अन्तर्जानुशयो यस्तु भुङ्क्ते संसक्तभाजनः। यो द्विजः शब्दरहितं स क्षमस्तारणाय वै॥
antarjānuśayo yastu bhuṅkte saṃsaktabhājanaḥ| yo dvijaḥ śabdarahitaṃ sa kṣamastāraṇāya vai||
The Brahmana, who eats in silence from a plate, keeping his hands between his knees, succeeds in saving others.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.62
अपानपा न गदितास्तथान्ये ये द्विजातयः। जपन्ति संहितां सम्यक् ते नित्यं तारणक्षमाः॥
apānapā na gaditāstathānye ye dvijātayaḥ| japanti saṃhitāṃ samyak te nityaṃ tāraṇakṣamāḥ||
Those Brahmanas who abstain from drink and who are never spoken by others as having any fault and who daily read the Samhitas are capable of saving others,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.63
हव्यं कव्यं च यत् किंचित् सर्वं तच्छ्रोत्रियोऽर्हति। दत्तं हि श्रोत्रिये साधौ ज्वलितेऽग्नौ यथा हुतम्॥
havyaṃ kavyaṃ ca yat kiṃcit sarvaṃ tacchrotriyo'rhati| dattaṃ hi śrotriye sādhau jvalite'gnau yathā hutam||
Havya (libation of ghee) and Kavya (edible offerings) should all be presented to a Brahmana who is learned in the Vedas. As an offering of ghee to Agnis is never in vain, so a gift to the Brahmanas learned in the Vedas is never in vain.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.64
मन्युप्रहरणा विप्रा न विप्राः शस्त्रयोधिनः। निहन्युर्मन्युना विप्रा वज्रपाणिरिवासुरान्॥
manyupraharaṇā viprā na viprāḥ śastrayodhinaḥ| nihanyurmanyunā viprā vajrapāṇirivāsurān||
The Brahinanas have anger as their weapon; they never fight with weapons made of iron or steel. The Brahmanas kill their enemies with anger, as the wielder of thunder killed the Asuras.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.65
धर्माश्रितेयं त कथा कथितेयं तवानघ। यां श्रुत्वा मुनयः प्रीता नैमिषारण्यवासिनः॥
dharmāśriteyaṃ ta kathā kathiteyaṃ tavānagha| yāṃ śrutvā munayaḥ prītā naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ||
O sinless one, the theme relating to virtue and morality is now over. Having heard them, the Rishis, in the Naimisha forest, greatly delighted.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.66
वीतशोकभयक्रोधा विपाप्मानस्तथैव च। श्रुत्वेमां तु कथां राजन् न भवन्तीह मानवाः॥
vītaśokabhayakrodhā vipāpmānastathaiva ca| śrutvemāṃ tu kathāṃ rājan na bhavantīha mānavāḥ||
O king, (hearing them) they were freed from grief, fear and anger and they were cleansed of their sins. Those men who hear them are freed from the bondage of rebirth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.67
युधिष्ठिर उवाच किं तच्छौचं भवेद् येन विप्रः शुद्धः सदा भवेत्। तदिच्छामि महाप्राज्ञ श्रोतुं धर्मभृतां वर॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca kiṃ tacchaucaṃ bhaved yena vipraḥ śuddhaḥ sadā bhavet| tadicchāmi mahāprājña śrotuṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ vara||
Yudhishthira said : O greatly wise one, O foremost of virtuous men, what purification is there by which a Brahmana might always be pure. I desire to hear it.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.68
मार्कण्डेय उवाच वाक् शौचं कर्मशौचं च यच्च शौचं जलात्मकम्। त्रिभिः शौचैरुपेतो यः स स्वर्गी नात्र संशयः॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca vāk śaucaṃ karmaśaucaṃ ca yacca śaucaṃ jalātmakam| tribhiḥ śaucairupeto yaḥ sa svargī nātra saṃśayaḥ||
Markandeya continued There are three kinds of purity, namely purity in speech, purity in deed and purity by water. He who takes to these certainly obtains heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.69
सायं प्रातश्च संध्यां यो ब्राह्मणोऽभ्युपसेवते। प्रजपन् पावनी देवीं गायत्री वेदमातरम्॥ स तया पावितो देव्या ब्राह्मणो नष्टकिल्बिषः। न सीदेत् प्रतिगृहणनो महीमपि ससागराम्॥
sāyaṃ prātaśca saṃdhyāṃ yo brāhmaṇo'bhyupasevate| prajapan pāvanī devīṃ gāyatrī vedamātaram|| sa tayā pāvito devyā brāhmaṇo naṣṭakilbiṣaḥ| na sīdet pratigṛhaṇano mahīmapi sasāgarām||
That Brahmana who adores (the goddess) Sandhya in the morning and in the evening and who recites the sacred Gayatri, who is the mother of the Vedas, is cleansed from all his sins after being sanctified by the latter. Even if he accepts in gift the entire earth with her oceans, he does not suffer the least unhappiness.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.70
ये चास्य दारुणाः केचिद् ग्रहाः सूर्यादयो दिवि। ते चास्य सौम्या जायन्ते शिवाः शिवतराः सदा॥
ye cāsya dāruṇāḥ kecid grahāḥ sūryādayo divi| te cāsya saumyā jāyante śivāḥ śivatarāḥ sadā||
Those planets in the sky including the sun that may be inauspicious and hostile towards him soon become favourable and auspicious towards him for his these acts. And those that are auspicious and favourable become more auspicious and favourable.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.71
चैनं दारुणाः पिशिताशनाः। घोररूपा महाकाया धर्षयन्ति द्विजोत्तमम्॥
cainaṃ dāruṇāḥ piśitāśanāḥ| ghorarūpā mahākāyā dharṣayanti dvijottamam||
The terrible Rakshasas who feed on animal food and who have gigantic and fearful appearances, all become incapable of doing any injury to a Brahmana who practises these purifications.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.72
नाध्यापनाद् याजनाद् वा अन्यस्माद् वा प्रतिग्रहात्। दोषो भवति विप्राणां ज्वलिताग्निसमा द्विजाः॥
nādhyāpanād yājanād vā anyasmād vā pratigrahāt| doṣo bhavati viprāṇāṃ jvalitāgnisamā dvijāḥ||
They incur no fault in consequence of teaching, of officiating at sacrifice and of accepting gifts from others. The Brahmanas are like the blazing fire.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.73
सर्वे नानुगतं दुर्वेदा वा सुवेदा वा प्राकृताः संस्कृतास्तथा। ब्राह्मणा नावमन्तव्या भस्मच्छन्ना इवाग्नयः॥
sarve nānugataṃ durvedā vā suvedā vā prākṛtāḥ saṃskṛtāstathā| brāhmaṇā nāvamantavyā bhasmacchannā ivāgnayaḥ||
Whether learned in the Vedas or not, whether pure or impure, they should never be insulted, for Brahmanas are like fires, 'covered with ashes.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.74
यथा श्मशाने दीप्तौजाः पावको नैव दुष्यति। एवं विद्वानविद्वान् वा ब्राह्मणो दैवतं महत्॥
yathā śmaśāne dīptaujāḥ pāvako naiva duṣyati| evaṃ vidvānavidvān vā brāhmaṇo daivataṃ mahat||
A fire that blazes forth in a place of cremation is never impure, so is a Brahmana either learned or ignorant is always pure. He is superior to a celestials.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.75
प्राकारैश्च पुरद्वारैः प्रासादैश्च पृथग्विधैः। नगराणि न शोभन्ते हीनानि ब्राह्मणोत्तमैः॥
prākāraiśca puradvāraiḥ prāsādaiśca pṛthagvidhaiḥ| nagarāṇi na śobhante hīnāni brāhmaṇottamaiḥ||
Cities adorned with walls and gates and palaces lose their beauty if they are not inhabited by Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.76
वेदाढ्या वृत्तसम्पन्ना ज्ञानवन्तस्तपस्विनः। यत्र तिष्ठति वै विप्रास्तन्नाम नगरं नृप॥
vedāḍhyā vṛttasampannā jñānavantastapasvinaḥ| yatra tiṣṭhati vai viprāstannāma nagaraṃ nṛpa||
O king, that is really a city in which live Brahmanas learned in the Vedas, who duly observe the duties of their order and who possess learning and ascetic merit.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.77
व्रजे वाप्यथवारण्ये यत्र सन्ति बहुश्रुताः। तत् तन्नगरमित्याहुः पार्थ तीर्थं च तद् भवेत्॥
vraje vāpyathavāraṇye yatra santi bahuśrutāḥ| tat tannagaramityāhuḥ pārtha tīrthaṃ ca tad bhavet||
O son of Pritha, whether it be a forest or a pasture ground where learned Brahmanas live is called a city. It is also a Tirtha.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.78
रक्षितारं च राजानं ब्राह्मणं च तपस्विनम्। अभिगम्याभिपूज्याथ सद्यः पापात् प्रमुच्यते॥
rakṣitāraṃ ca rājānaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ ca tapasvinam| abhigamyābhipūjyātha sadyaḥ pāpāt pramucyate||
By going to a king who protects (his subjects) and to a Brahmana who possesses ascetic merits and also by worshipping them both, one may be immediately cleansed off all his sins.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.79
पुण्यतीर्थाभिषेकं च पवित्राणां च कीर्तनम्। सद्भिः सम्भाषणं चैव प्रशस्तं कीर्त्यते बुधैः॥
puṇyatīrthābhiṣekaṃ ca pavitrāṇāṃ ca kīrtanam| sadbhiḥ sambhāṣaṇaṃ caiva praśastaṃ kīrtyate budhaiḥ||
The learned men have said that ablutions in the sacred Tirthas, recitations of the names of holy ones and conversations with the good and the virtuous are all praiseworthy acts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.80
साधुसङ्गमपूतेन वाक्सुभाषितवारिणा। पवित्रीकृतमात्मानं सन्तो मन्यन्ति नित्यशः॥
sādhusaṅgamapūtena vāksubhāṣitavāriṇā| pavitrīkṛtamātmānaṃ santo manyanti nityaśaḥ||
Those that are virtuous and honest always consider themselves sanctified by the holy companionship of persons like themselves and also by the water of pure and sacred conversation.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.81
त्रिदण्डधारणं मौनं जटाभारोऽथ मुण्डनम्। वल्कलाजिन संवेष्टं व्रतचर्याभिषेचनम्॥ अग्निहोत्रं वने वासः शरीरपरिशोषणम्। सर्वाण्येतानि मिथ्या स्युर्यदि भावो न निर्मलः॥
tridaṇḍadhāraṇaṃ maunaṃ jaṭābhāro'tha muṇḍanam| valkalājina saṃveṣṭaṃ vratacaryābhiṣecanam|| agnihotraṃ vane vāsaḥ śarīrapariśoṣaṇam| sarvāṇyetāni mithyā syuryadi bhāvo na nirmalaḥ||
Carrying of the three stays, the vow of silence, matted locks (on head), shaving of the head, wearing barks and deer skins, observing vows, practicing ablutions, worshipping of fire and living in the forest emaciating the body, all these are useless to one if his heart be not pure.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.82
न दुष्करमनाशित्वं सुकर ह्यशनं विना। विशुद्धिं चक्षुरादीनां षण्णामिन्द्रियगामिनाम्॥
na duṣkaramanāśitvaṃ sukara hyaśanaṃ vinā| viśuddhiṃ cakṣurādīnāṃ ṣaṇṇāmindriyagāminām||
O king of kings, the indulgence of the six senses is (very) easy if purity be not its aim. Abstinence is itself difficult to acquire and it is more so if purity be not its aim. Among all the senses mind is the most dangerous.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.83
विकारि तेषां राजेन्द्र सुदुष्करकरं मनः। ये पापानि न कुर्वन्ति मनोवाक्कर्मबुद्धिभिः। ते तपन्ति महात्मानो न शरीरस्य शोषणम्॥
vikāri teṣāṃ rājendra suduṣkarakaraṃ manaḥ| ye pāpāni na kurvanti manovākkarmabuddhibhiḥ| te tapanti mahātmāno na śarīrasya śoṣaṇam||
These high-souled, men who do not commit sin in word, in deed, in heart or in soul, are said (really) to perform asceticism; but not those who make their bodies emaciated by fasts and penances.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.84
न ज्ञातिभ्यो दया यस्य शुक्लदेहोऽविकल्मषः। हिंसा सा तपसस्तस्य नानाशित्वं तपः स्मृतम्॥
na jñātibhyo dayā yasya śukladeho'vikalmaṣaḥ| hiṃsā sā tapasastasya nānāśitvaṃ tapaḥ smṛtam||
He who has no feeling of kindness for his relatives even if his body be pure cannot be free from sin. That hard-heartedness of his mind is his great enemy to asceticism.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.85
तिष्ठन् गृहे चैव मुनिर्नित्यं शुचिरलंकृतः। यावज्जीवं दयावांश्च सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते॥
tiṣṭhan gṛhe caiva munirnityaṃ śuciralaṃkṛtaḥ| yāvajjīvaṃ dayāvāṃśca sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate||
He who is always pure, who is endued with virtue and who practice virtue all his life, even if he leads a domestic life, is a (real) Rishi. He is freed from all sins.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.86
न हि पापानि कर्माणि शुद्ध्यन्त्यनशनादिभिः। सीदत्यनशनादेव मांसशोणितलेपनः॥
na hi pāpāni karmāṇi śuddhyantyanaśanādibhiḥ| sīdatyanaśanādeva māṃsaśoṇitalepanaḥ||
Fasts and other penances, however they may weaken and dry up the body which is made of flesh and blood, cannot destroy sins.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.87
अज्ञातं कर्म कृत्वा च क्लेशो नान्यत् प्रहीयते। नाग्निर्दहति कर्माणि भावशून्यस्य देहिनः॥
ajñātaṃ karma kṛtvā ca kleśo nānyat prahīyate| nāgnirdahati karmāṇi bhāvaśūnyasya dehinaḥ||
The man whose heart is without holiness suffers torture by undergoing penances only being ignorant of their meaning. He is never freed from sins of such acts. The fire he worships does not consume his sins.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.88
पुण्यादेव प्रव्रजन्ति शुद्ध्यन्त्यनशनानि च। न मूलफलभक्षित्वान्न मौनान्नानिलाशनात्॥ शिरसो मुण्डनाद् वापि न स्थानकुटिकासनात्। न जटाधारणाद् वापि न तु स्थण्डिलशय्यया॥ नित्यं ह्यनशनाद् वापि नाग्निशुश्रूषणादपि। न चोदकप्रवेशेन न च क्षमाशयनादपि॥
puṇyādeva pravrajanti śuddhyantyanaśanāni ca| na mūlaphalabhakṣitvānna maunānnānilāśanāt|| śiraso muṇḍanād vāpi na sthānakuṭikāsanāt| na jaṭādhāraṇād vāpi na tu sthaṇḍilaśayyayā|| nityaṃ hyanaśanād vāpi nāgniśuśrūṣaṇādapi| na codakapraveśena na ca kṣamāśayanādapi||
Through holiness and virtue alone men can go to the regions of bliss and their vows and fasts can become efficacious. Living on fruits and roots, observing the vow of silence, living on air, shaving one's head, abandoning a fixed home, having matted locks on head, lying under the sky, observing daily fasts, worshipping the fire, bathing in water and lying on the ground, these alone cannot lead one to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.89
ज्ञानेन कर्मणा वापि जरामरणमेव च। व्याधयश्च प्रहीयन्ते प्राप्यते चोत्तमं पदम्॥
jñānena karmaṇā vāpi jarāmaraṇameva ca| vyādhayaśca prahīyante prāpyate cottamaṃ padam||
Those only that are endued with holiness succeed by knowledge and by (virtuous) deeds to conquer disease, decrepitude and death and they alone obtain a very high state.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.90
बीजानि ह्यग्निदग्धानि न रोहन्ति पुनर्यथा। ज्ञानदग्धैस्तथा क्लेशैर्नात्मा संयुज्यते पुनः॥
bījāni hyagnidagdhāni na rohanti punaryathā| jñānadagdhaistathā kleśairnātmā saṃyujyate punaḥ||
As seeds that have been scorched by fire do not produce the plant, so the pains that have been burnt by knowledge cannot affect the soul.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.91
आत्मना विप्रहीणानि काष्ठकुड्योपमानि च। विनश्यन्ति न संदेहः फेनानीव महार्णवे॥
ātmanā viprahīṇāni kāṣṭhakuḍyopamāni ca| vinaśyanti na saṃdehaḥ phenānīva mahārṇave||
The inert body, which is like a block of wood when destitute of soul, is certainly very short-lived like the forth in the ocean.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.92
आत्मानं विन्दते येन सर्वभूतगुहाशयम्। श्लोकेन यदि वार्धेन क्षीणं तस्य प्रयोजनम्॥
ātmānaṃ vindate yena sarvabhūtaguhāśayam| ślokena yadi vārdhena kṣīṇaṃ tasya prayojanam||
He who obtains a view of his soul that dwells within every one's body by the help of one or the half of a rhythmic line (of the Vedas) has no need for anything else.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.93
व्यक्षरादभिसंधाय केचिच्छ्लोकपदाङ्कितैः। शतैरन्यैः सहस्रश्च प्रत्ययो मोक्षलक्षणम्॥
vyakṣarādabhisaṃdhāya kecicchlokapadāṅkitaiḥ| śatairanyaiḥ sahasraśca pratyayo mokṣalakṣaṇam||
Some, by obtaining a knowledge of the identity of the supreme soul from but two letters (of the Vedas) and some, from hundreds and thousands of slokas, acquire salvation; for the knowledge of one's identity with the supreme soul is the sure sign of salvation.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.94
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः। ऊचुर्ज्ञानविदो वृद्धाः प्रत्ययो मोक्षलक्षणम्॥
nāyaṃ loko'sti na paro na sukhaṃ saṃśayātmanaḥ| ūcurjñānavido vṛddhāḥ pratyayo mokṣalakṣaṇam||
The learned old men have said that neither this world, nor that hereafter, nor bliss can come to one who is full of doubts. Faith is the certain sign of salvation.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.95
विदितार्थस्तु वेदानां परिवेद प्रयोजनम्। उद्विजेत् स तु वेदेभ्यो दावाग्नेरिव मानवः॥
viditārthastu vedānāṃ pariveda prayojanam| udvijet sa tu vedebhyo dāvāgneriva mānavaḥ||
He who knows the true meaning of the Vedas also understands their true use. He is frightened at the Vedic rites as man at a conflagration.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.96
शुष्कं तर्कं परित्यज्य आश्रयस्व श्रुतिं स्मृतिम्। एकाक्षराभिसम्बद्धं तत्त्वं हेतुभिरिच्छसि। बुद्धिर्न तस्य सिद्ध्येत साधनस्य विपर्ययात्॥
śuṣkaṃ tarkaṃ parityajya āśrayasva śrutiṃ smṛtim| ekākṣarābhisambaddhaṃ tattvaṃ hetubhiricchasi| buddhirna tasya siddhyeta sādhanasya viparyayāt||
Abandoning dry discussion, take to Smriti and Shruti. Seek with the help of your reason the knowledge of the undying one who is without a second. One's search (for a thing) becomes in vain from the defect of means.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.97
वेदपूर्वं वेदितव्यं प्रयत्नात् तद् वै वेदस्तस्य वेदः शरीरम्। वेदस्तत्त्वं तत्समासोपलब्धौ क्लीबस्त्वात्मा तत् स वेद्यस्य वेद्यम्॥
vedapūrvaṃ veditavyaṃ prayatnāt tad vai vedastasya vedaḥ śarīram| vedastattvaṃ tatsamāsopalabdhau klībastvātmā tat sa vedyasya vedyam||
Therefore one should carefully try to obtain knowledge by means of the Vedas. The Vedas are the supreme soul, they are his body, they are the truth. The soul, that is bound by the animal organism belonging to a man in whom all the Vedas are manifest, can (only) know Him.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.98
वेदोक्तमायुर्देवानामाशिषश्चैव कर्मणाम्। फलत्यनुयुगं लोके प्रभावश्च शरीरिणाम्॥
vedoktamāyurdevānāmāśiṣaścaiva karmaṇām| phalatyanuyugaṃ loke prabhāvaśca śarīriṇām||
The existence of the celestials as stated in the Vedas, the efficacy of (religious) acts and the capacity for action of beings furnished with bodies are noticeable in every Yuga.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.99
इन्द्रियाणां प्रसादेन तदेतत् परिवर्जयेत्। तस्मादनशनं दिव्यं निरुद्धेन्द्रियगोचरम्॥
indriyāṇāṃ prasādena tadetat parivarjayet| tasmādanaśanaṃ divyaṃ niruddhendriyagocaram||
Independence from and the annihilation of these are to be sought by means of the purity of the senses. Therefore the suspension of the function of the senses is the true fasting.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.100
तपसा स्वर्गगमनं भोगो दानेन जायते। ज्ञानेन मोक्षो विज्ञेयस्तीर्थस्नानादधक्षयः॥
tapasā svargagamanaṃ bhogo dānena jāyate| jñānena mokṣo vijñeyastīrthasnānādadhakṣayaḥ||
One may obtain heaven by asceticism, one may obtain objects of enjoyments by the practice of charity, one may have his sins all destroyed by bathing in Tirthas, but complete emancipation cannot be obtained without knowledge.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.101
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु राजेन्द्र प्रत्युवाच महायशाः। भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छामि प्रधानविधिमुत्तमम्॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca evamuktastu rājendra pratyuvāca mahāyaśāḥ| bhagavan śrotumicchāmi pradhānavidhimuttamam||
Vaishampayana said : O king of kings, having been thus addressed, the greatly illustrious (Yudhishthira) replied, "O exalted one, I desire to hear about the rules of charity which is (really) meritorious.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.102
मार्कण्डेय उवाच यत् त्वमिच्छसि राजेन्द्र दानधर्मं युधिष्ठिर। इष्टं चेदं सदा मह्यं राजन् गौरवतस्तथा॥
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca yat tvamicchasi rājendra dānadharmaṃ yudhiṣṭhira| iṣṭaṃ cedaṃ sadā mahyaṃ rājan gauravatastathā||
Markandeya said : O king of kings, O Yudhishthira, O monarch, the rules of charity which you desire to hear from me are highly valued by him.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.103
शृणु दानरहस्यानि श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितानि च। छायायां करिणः श्राद्धं तत् कर्णपरिवीजिते। दश कल्पायुतानीह न क्षीयेत युधिष्ठिर॥
śṛṇu dānarahasyāni śrutismṛtyuditāni ca| chāyāyāṃ kariṇaḥ śrāddhaṃ tat karṇaparivījite| daśa kalpāyutānīha na kṣīyeta yudhiṣṭhira||
Hear about the mysteries of charity as they have been expounded in the Shrutis and Smritis. O Yudhishthira, he who performs a Shraddha in the conjunction of Gajachhaya at a place fanned by the leaves of an Ashvattha tree enjoys its fruits one hundred thousand Kalpas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.104
जीवनाय समाक्लिन्नं वसु दत्त्वा महीयते। वैश्यं तु वासयेद् यस्तु सर्वयज्ञैः स इष्टवान्॥
jīvanāya samāklinnaṃ vasu dattvā mahīyate| vaiśyaṃ tu vāsayed yastu sarvayajñaiḥ sa iṣṭavān||
O ruler of earth, he who gives food to one who is dying of hunger and he who founds a home of charity with a person to look after it both acquire the fruits of (performing) all sacrifices.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.105
प्रतिस्रोतश्चित्रवाहाः पर्जन्योऽन्नानुसंचरन्। महाधुरि यथा नावा महापापैः प्रमुच्यते॥
pratisrotaścitravāhāḥ parjanyo'nnānusaṃcaran| mahādhuri yathā nāvā mahāpāpaiḥ pramucyate||
He who gives away a horse at a Tirtha where the current of the water runs in an opposite direction obtains merits that are inexhaustible. A guest who comes for food is Indra himself. If he is entertained with food, Indra confers on the feeder merits that are inexhaustible. As men cross rivers and seas by boats, so is he saved from all his sins (by giving board to guests).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.106
विप्लवे विप्रदत्तानि दधिमस्त्वक्षयाणि च। पर्वसु द्विगुणं दानमृतौ दशगुणं भवेत्॥
viplave vipradattāni dadhimastvakṣayāṇi ca| parvasu dviguṇaṃ dānamṛtau daśaguṇaṃ bhavet||
Therefore what is given to the Brahmanas produces, like the gift of curds, inexhaustible merits. A gift on a particular festive day produces twice the merit and on a particular season produces ten times the merit.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.107
अयने विषुवे चैव षडशीतिमुखेषु च। चन्द्रसूर्योपरागे च दत्तमक्षयमुच्यते॥
ayane viṣuve caiva ṣaḍaśītimukheṣu ca| candrasūryoparāge ca dattamakṣayamucyate||
And in a particular year produces one hundred times the merit (than gifts made at any other time). A gift made on the last day of the month produces inexhaustible merit. A gift made when the sun is on the solicit points, a gift made on the last day of the sun's path through Ubra, Asris, Gemini, Vrigo and Pisces and a gift made during the eclipses of the sun and the moon produce merits that are inexhaustible.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.108
ऋतुषु दशगुणं वदन्ति दत्तं शतगुणमृत्वयनादिषु ध्रुवम्। र्विषुवति चाक्षयमश्नुते फलम्॥
ṛtuṣu daśaguṇaṃ vadanti dattaṃ śataguṇamṛtvayanādiṣu dhruvam| rviṣuvati cākṣayamaśnute phalam||
The learned men say that gifts made during the seasons produce merit that is ten times, those made during the change of seasons one hundred times and those made during the day when Rahu is visible one thousand times greater than what is produced at other times. A gift made on the last day of the sun's course though Libra and Aria produces merit that is everlasting.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.109
नाभूमिदो भूमिमश्नाति राजन् नायानदो यानमारुह्य याति। यान् यान् कामान् ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददाति तांस्तान् कामान् जायमानः स भुङ्क्ते॥
nābhūmido bhūmimaśnāti rājan nāyānado yānamāruhya yāti| yān yān kāmān brāhmaṇebhyo dadāti tāṃstān kāmān jāyamānaḥ sa bhuṅkte||
O king, no one can enjoy landed property who does not give away lands; no one can drive on cars and conveyances who does not give them away. With whatever, desire one gives away to the Brahmanas, one enjoys the fruition of that gift in the next birth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.110
अग्नेरपत्यं प्रथमं सुवर्ण भूवैष्णवी सूर्यसुताश्च गावः। लोकास्त्रयस्तेन भवन्ति दत्ता यः काञ्चनं गाश्च महीं च दद्यात्॥
agnerapatyaṃ prathamaṃ suvarṇa bhūvaiṣṇavī sūryasutāśca gāvaḥ| lokāstrayastena bhavanti dattā yaḥ kāñcanaṃ gāśca mahīṃ ca dadyāt||
Gold has been produced from fire, the earth from Vishnu and the kine from the sun. Therefore he who gives away gold, land and kine obtains all the regions of Agni, Vishnu and the Sun.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 2 200.111
परं हि दानान्न बभूव शाश्वत्तं भव्यं त्रिलोके भवते कुतः पुनः। तस्मात् प्रधानं परमं हि दानं वदन्ति लोकेषु विशिष्टबुद्धयः॥
paraṃ hi dānānna babhūva śāśvattaṃ bhavyaṃ triloke bhavate kutaḥ punaḥ| tasmāt pradhānaṃ paramaṃ hi dānaṃ vadanti lokeṣu viśiṣṭabuddhayaḥ||
There is nothing so everlasting as a gift. Is there any thing in the three worlds that is more auspicious? It is therefore that they who are greatly intelligent say that there is nothing higher in the three worlds than making gifts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)