Mahabharata — Volume VI (Dutt edition) — Chapter 181

MBh 6 181.1

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततोऽमृतसमैर्वाक्यै दयन् पुरुषर्षभम्। वैचित्रवीर्यं विदुरो यदुवाच निबोध तत्॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca tato'mṛtasamairvākyai dayan puruṣarṣabham| vaicitravīryaṃ viduro yaduvāca nibodha tat||

Vaishampayana said Listen, O Janamejaya, to the nectar like words that Vidura said to the son of Vichitravirya and by which be pleased that foremost of men.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.2

विदुर उवाच उत्तिष्ठ राजन् किं शेषे धारयात्मानमात्मना। एषा वै सर्वसत्त्वानां लोकेश्वर परा गतिः॥

vidura uvāca uttiṣṭha rājan kiṃ śeṣe dhārayātmānamātmanā| eṣā vai sarvasattvānāṃ lokeśvara parā gatiḥ||

Vidura said Rise, O king! Why are you lying on the Earth. Cheer yourself up. O king, this is the final end of all living creatures.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.3

सर्वे क्षयान्ता निचयाः पतनान्ताः समुच्छ्रयाः। संयोगा विप्रयोगान्ता मरणान्तं च जीवितम्॥

sarve kṣayāntā nicayāḥ patanāntāḥ samucchrayāḥ| saṃyogā viprayogāntā maraṇāntaṃ ca jīvitam||

Everything is liable to destruction; everything that is high is sure to fall down. Union is sure to end in separation; life is sure to end in death.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.4

यदा शूरं च भीरुं च यमः कर्षति भारत। तत् किं न योत्स्यन्ति हि ते क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभ॥

yadā śūraṃ ca bhīruṃ ca yamaḥ karṣati bhārata| tat kiṃ na yotsyanti hi te kṣatriyāḥ kṣatriyarṣabha||

The Destroyer, O Bharata, takes both the hero and the coward. Why then, O foremost of Kshatriyas, should not Kshatriyas engage themselves in battle.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.5

अयुध्यमानो म्रियते युध्यमानश्च जीवति। कालं प्राप्य महाराज न कश्चिदतिवर्तते॥

ayudhyamāno mriyate yudhyamānaśca jīvati| kālaṃ prāpya mahārāja na kaścidativartate||

He, who never fights has been seen to die, while he who engaged himself in battle has been seen to escape alive.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.6

अभावादीनि भूतानि भावमध्यानि भारत। अभावनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना॥

abhāvādīni bhūtāni bhāvamadhyāni bhārata| abhāvanidhanānyeva tatra kā paridevanā||

As regards living creatures, they did not exist at first. They exist in the intervening period. In the end they once more become nonexistent. Why should then one grieve for the same?

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.7

न शोचन् मृतमन्वेति न शोचन् म्रियते नरः। एवं सांसिद्धिके लोके किमर्थमनुशोचसि।।७

na śocan mṛtamanveti na śocan mriyate naraḥ| evaṃ sāṃsiddhike loke kimarthamanuśocasi||7

The man who grieves does not succeed in meeting with the dead. By grieving one does not himself die. While such is the course of the world, why do you indulge in grief.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.8

कालः कर्षति भूतानि सर्वाणि विविधान्युत। न कालस्य प्रियः कश्चिन्न द्वेष्यः कुरुसत्तम॥

kālaḥ karṣati bhūtāni sarvāṇi vividhānyuta| na kālasya priyaḥ kaścinna dveṣyaḥ kurusattama||

Death drags all creatures, even the gods. There is none dear or hateful to death, O Kuru chief.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.9

यथा वायुस्तृणाग्राणि संवर्तयति सर्वशः। तथा कालवशं यान्ति भूतानि भरतर्षभ॥

yathā vāyustṛṇāgrāṇi saṃvartayati sarvaśaḥ| tathā kālavaśaṃ yānti bhūtāni bharatarṣabha||

As the wind tears off all the blades of grass, even so, O foremost of Bharata's race, Death rules over all creatures.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.10

एकसार्थप्रयातानां सर्वेषां तत्र गामिनाम्। यस्य कालः प्रयात्यग्रे तत्र का परिदेवना॥

ekasārthaprayātānāṃ sarveṣāṃ tatra gāminām| yasya kālaḥ prayātyagre tatra kā paridevanā||

All creatures are like members of a caravan bound for the same country. When death will overtake all, it is immaterial whom he meets first.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.11

न चाप्येतान् हतान् युद्धे राजशोचितुमर्हसि। प्रमाणं यदि शास्त्राणि गतास्ते परमां गतिम्॥

na cāpyetān hatān yuddhe rājaśocitumarhasi| pramāṇaṃ yadi śāstrāṇi gatāste paramāṃ gatim||

O king, you should not grieve for those who have been killed in battle. If the scriptures are authoritative all of them must have obtained the highest end.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.12

सर्वे स्वाध्यायवन्तो हि सर्वे च चरितव्रताः। सर्वे चाभिमुखाः क्षीणास्तत्र का परिदेवना॥

sarve svādhyāyavanto hi sarve ca caritavratāḥ| sarve cābhimukhāḥ kṣīṇāstatra kā paridevanā||

All of them were well read in the Vedas; all of them had practised vows. All of them have met with death after fighting with the enemy. What is there to be sorry in this.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.13

अदर्शनादापतिताः पुनश्चादर्शनं गताः। नैते तव न तेषां त्वं तत्र का परिदेवना॥

adarśanādāpatitāḥ punaścādarśanaṃ gatāḥ| naite tava na teṣāṃ tvaṃ tatra kā paridevanā||

They had been invisible before birth. Having come from that unknown region, they have again become invisible. They are not yours, nor are you theirs. Why should you grieve then for such disappearance?

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.14

हतोऽपि लभते स्वर्ग हत्वा च लभते यशः। उभयं नो बहुगुणं नास्ति निष्फलता रणे॥

hato'pi labhate svarga hatvā ca labhate yaśaḥ| ubhayaṃ no bahuguṇaṃ nāsti niṣphalatā raṇe||

If killed, one acquires heaven. By killing, fame is acquired. Both of these, produce great merit. Battle, therefore, is not unproductive of good.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.15

तेषां कामदुधालँ लोकानिन्द्रः संकल्पयिष्यति। इन्द्रस्यातिथयो ोते भवन्ति भरतर्षभ।१५।।

teṣāṃ kāmadudhāla~ lokānindraḥ saṃkalpayiṣyati| indrasyātithayo ote bhavanti bharatarṣabha|15||

forsooth, Indra will give them regions capable of granting every wish. These, O foremost of men, become the guests of Indra.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.16

न यज्ञैर्दक्षिणावद्भिर्न तपोभिर्न विद्यया। स्वर्ग यान्ति तथा मा यथा शूरा रणे हताः॥

na yajñairdakṣiṇāvadbhirna tapobhirna vidyayā| svarga yānti tathā mā yathā śūrā raṇe hatāḥ||

By celebrating sacrifice with profuse gifts, by ascetic penances and by learning, men cannot, go so quickly to heaven as heroes killed in battle.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.17

शरीरग्निषु शूराणां जुहुवुस्ते शराहुतीः। हूयमानाशरांश्चैव सेहुस्तेजस्विनो मिथः॥

śarīragniṣu śūrāṇāṃ juhuvuste śarāhutīḥ| hūyamānāśarāṃścaiva sehustejasvino mithaḥ||

On the bodies of hostile heroes who were like the sacrificial fire, they poured libations of arrows. Highly energetic, they had in return to bear the arrowy libations poured upon them by their foes.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.18

एवं राजंस्तवाचक्षे स्वयं पन्थानमुत्तमम्। न युद्धादधिकं किंचित् क्षत्रियस्येह विद्यते॥

evaṃ rājaṃstavācakṣe svayaṃ panthānamuttamam| na yuddhādadhikaṃ kiṃcit kṣatriyasyeha vidyate||

I tell you, O king, that for a Kshatriya in this world there is not a better way to heaven then battle.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.19

क्षत्रियास्ते महात्मानः शूराः समितिशोभनाः। आशिषः परमाः प्राप्त न शोर्ध्या सर्व एव हि॥

kṣatriyāste mahātmānaḥ śūrāḥ samitiśobhanāḥ| āśiṣaḥ paramāḥ prāpta na śordhyā sarva eva hi||

They were all great Kshatriyas; brave as they were, they were ornaments of assemblies. They have attained highest of blessed regions. They are not persons for whom we should be sorry.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.20

आत्मानमात्मनाऽऽश्वास्य मा शुचः पुरुषर्षभ। नाद्य शोकाभिभूतस्त्वं कायमुत्स्रष्टुमर्हसि॥

ātmānamātmanā''śvāsya mā śucaḥ puruṣarṣabha| nādya śokābhibhūtastvaṃ kāyamutsraṣṭumarhasi||

Solacing yourself, by you own self, cease to grieve, O best of men. You should not allow yourself to be overwhelmed with sorrow and to all action.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.21

मातापितृसहस्राणि पुत्रदारशतानि च। संसारेष्वनुभूतानि कस्य ते कस्य वा वयम्॥

mātāpitṛsahasrāṇi putradāraśatāni ca| saṃsāreṣvanubhūtāni kasya te kasya vā vayam||

There are thousands of mothers and fathers and sons and wives in this world. Whose are they and whose are we?

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.22

शोकस्थानसहस्राणि भयस्थानशतानि च। दिवसे दिवसे मूढमाविशन्ति च पण्डितम्॥

śokasthānasahasrāṇi bhayasthānaśatāni ca| divase divase mūḍhamāviśanti ca paṇḍitam||

Thousands of causes spring up daily for sorrow and thousands for fear. These, however, affect the ignorant and not the wise.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.23

न कालस्य प्रियः कश्चिन्न द्वेष्यः कुरुसत्तम। न मध्यस्थः क्वचित्कालः सर्वं कालः प्रकर्षति॥

na kālasya priyaḥ kaścinna dveṣyaḥ kurusattama| na madhyasthaḥ kvacitkālaḥ sarvaṃ kālaḥ prakarṣati||

There is none dear of hateful to Time, O Kuru chief. Time is indifferent to none. All are equally dragged by time. give up

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.24

काल: पचति भूतानि कालः संहरते प्रजाः। कालः सुप्तेषु जागर्ति कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः॥

kāla: pacati bhūtāni kālaḥ saṃharate prajāḥ| kālaḥ supteṣu jāgarti kālo hi duratikramaḥ||

Time makes all creatures grow, and it is Time that destroys all. When all else is asleep, Time is awake. Time is irresistible.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.25

अनित्यं यौवनं रूपं जीवितं द्रव्यसंचयः। आरोग्यं प्रियसंवासो गृद्ध्येदेषु न पण्डितः॥

anityaṃ yauvanaṃ rūpaṃ jīvitaṃ dravyasaṃcayaḥ| ārogyaṃ priyasaṃvāso gṛddhyedeṣu na paṇḍitaḥ||

Youth, beauty, life, wealth, health, and friends, are all unstable. The wise will never seek any of these.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.26

न जानपदिकं दुःखमेकः शोचितुमर्हसि। अप्यभावेन युज्यते तचास्य न निवर्तते॥

na jānapadikaṃ duḥkhamekaḥ śocitumarhasi| apyabhāvena yujyate tacāsya na nivartate||

You should not grieve for what is universal. By indulging in grief a person may himself die, but grief itself by being indulged in, never becomes light.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.27

अशोचन् प्रतिकुर्वीत यदि पश्येत् पराक्रमम्। भैषज्यमेतद् दुःखस्य यदेतन्नानुचिन्तयेत्॥

aśocan pratikurvīta yadi paśyet parākramam| bhaiṣajyametad duḥkhasya yadetannānucintayet||

If you feel any grief heavily, it should be overcome by not indulging in it. This is the only remedy for grief, viz., that one should not indulge in it.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.28

चिन्त्यमानं हि न व्येति भूयश्चापि प्रवर्धते। अनिष्टसम्प्रयोगाच विप्रयोगात् प्रियस्य च॥ मानुषा मानसैर्दुःखैर्दह्यन्ते चाल्पबुद्धयः।

cintyamānaṃ hi na vyeti bhūyaścāpi pravardhate| aniṣṭasamprayogāca viprayogāt priyasya ca|| mānuṣā mānasairduḥkhairdahyante cālpabuddhayaḥ|

By indulging in it, one cannot lesson it. On the other hand, it increases when being indulged in. When any evil or when bereavement of some dear one, comes on, only they that are of little intelligence allow their minds to be laden with grief.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.29

नार्थो न धर्मो न सुखं यदेतदनुशोचसि॥ न च नापैति कार्यार्थात्रिवर्गाचैव हीयते।

nārtho na dharmo na sukhaṃ yadetadanuśocasi|| na ca nāpaiti kāryārthātrivargācaiva hīyate|

This is neither Profit, nor Religion, nor Happiness, of which you are thinking.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.30

अन्यामन्यां धनावस्थां प्राप्य वैशेषिकी नराः॥ असंतुष्टाः प्रमुह्यनित संतोष यान्ति पण्डिताः। प्रज्ञया मानसं दुःखं हन्याच्छरीरमौषधैः। एतद् विज्ञानसामर्थ्यं न बालैः समतामियात्॥

anyāmanyāṃ dhanāvasthāṃ prāpya vaiśeṣikī narāḥ|| asaṃtuṣṭāḥ pramuhyanita saṃtoṣa yānti paṇḍitāḥ| prajñayā mānasaṃ duḥkhaṃ hanyāccharīramauṣadhaiḥ| etad vijñānasāmarthyaṃ na bālaiḥ samatāmiyāt||

The indulgence of grief in the sure means of one's losing one's objects. Through it, one deviates from the three great ends of life. They, who are not contented are stupefied by the vicissitudes of fortune. The wise, are, on the other hand, unaffected by such changes. One should destroy mental grief by wisdom, as physical grief should be destroyed by medicine. Wisdom has this power. They, however, that are foolish, can never acquire equanimity of mind.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.31

शयानं चानुशेते हि तिष्ठन्तं चानुतिष्ठति। अनुधावति धावन्तं कर्म पूर्वकृतं नरम्॥

śayānaṃ cānuśete hi tiṣṭhantaṃ cānutiṣṭhati| anudhāvati dhāvantaṃ karma pūrvakṛtaṃ naram||

Pristine actions closely follow a man, so much so that they lie by him when he lies down, stand by him when he stands, and run with him when he runs.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.32

यस्यां यस्यामवस्थायां यत् करोति शुभाशुभम्। तस्यां तस्यामवस्थायां तत्फलं समुपाश्नुते॥

yasyāṃ yasyāmavasthāyāṃ yat karoti śubhāśubham| tasyāṃ tasyāmavasthāyāṃ tatphalaṃ samupāśnute||

As a man acts well or ill, so he enjoys or suffers the fruit thereof.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.33

येन येन शरीरेण यद्यत् कर्म करोति यः। तेन तेन शरीरेण तत्फलं समुपाश्नुते॥

yena yena śarīreṇa yadyat karma karoti yaḥ| tena tena śarīreṇa tatphalaṃ samupāśnute||

In physical actions also one enjoys or suffers the fruits according to his acts.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.34

आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः। आत्मैव ह्यात्मनः साक्षी कृतस्यापकृतस्य च॥

ātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ| ātmaiva hyātmanaḥ sākṣī kṛtasyāpakṛtasya ca||

One's own self is one's own friend, again one's own self is one's own enemy. One's own self is the witness of one's good and evil acts.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.35

शुभेन कर्मणा सौख्यं दुःखं पापेन कर्मणा। कृतं भवति सर्वत्र नाकृतं विद्यते क्वचित्॥

śubhena karmaṇā saukhyaṃ duḥkhaṃ pāpena karmaṇā| kṛtaṃ bhavati sarvatra nākṛtaṃ vidyate kvacit||

Good acts beget a state of happiness, and sinful deeds bring on woe. One always reaps the fruit of one's acts. One never enjoys of suffers happiness or misery that is not the outcome of one's own acts.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 6 181.36

न हि ज्ञानविरुद्धेषु बह्वपायेषु कर्मसु। मूलघातिषु सज्जन्ते बुद्धिमन्तो भवद्विधाः॥

na hi jñānaviruddheṣu bahvapāyeṣu karmasu| mūlaghātiṣu sajjante buddhimanto bhavadvidhāḥ||

Intelligent persons like you, O king, never commit sinful deeds, that are disapproved by knowledge and that strike at the very root of virtue and happiness.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)