Mahabharata — Volume VI (Dutt edition) — Chapter 69
MBh 6 69.1
संजय उवाच युधिष्ठिरणैवमुक्तः कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः। असिं जग्राह संक्रुद्धो जिघांसुर्भरतर्षभम्॥
saṃjaya uvāca yudhiṣṭhiraṇaivamuktaḥ kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ| asiṃ jagrāha saṃkruddho jighāṃsurbharatarṣabham||
Sanjaya said Hearing the words of Yudhishthira, Kownteya-the owner of white steeds-in a tempestuous mood took hold of his sword to slay that mightiest of the Bharata's race.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.2
तस्य कोपं समुद्वीक्ष्य चित्तज्ञः केशवास्तदा। उवाच किमिदं पार्थ गृहीतः खङ्ग इत्युत॥
tasya kopaṃ samudvīkṣya cittajñaḥ keśavāstadā| uvāca kimidaṃ pārtha gṛhītaḥ khaṅga ityuta||
Kesava, the cogniser of human hearts, seeing his rage, inquired-"Why, O Partha, do you lay your hands on your sword?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.3
न हि पश्यामि योद्धव्यं त्वयां किञ्चिद् धनंजय। ते ग्रस्ता धार्तराष्ट्रा हि भीमसेनेन धीमता॥
na hi paśyāmi yoddhavyaṃ tvayāṃ kiñcid dhanaṃjaya| te grastā dhārtarāṣṭrā hi bhīmasenena dhīmatā||
Here, O Dhananjaya, I see no adversary to try the strength of your steel. Clever Bhimasena has already assailed the Dhartarashtras.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.4
अपयातोऽसि कौन्तेयः राजा द्रष्टव्य इत्यापि। स राजा भवता दृष्टः कुशली च युधिष्ठिरः॥
apayāto'si kaunteyaḥ rājā draṣṭavya ityāpi| sa rājā bhavatā dṛṣṭaḥ kuśalī ca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ||
O Kownteya, you have returned from the field, to seen king Yudhishthira and you have seen that he is keeping up well.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.5
स दृष्ट्वा नृपशार्दूलं शार्दूलसमविक्रमम्। हर्षकाले च सम्प्राप्त किमिदं मोहकारितम्॥
sa dṛṣṭvā nṛpaśārdūlaṃ śārdūlasamavikramam| harṣakāle ca samprāpta kimidaṃ mohakāritam||
This is the time of rejoicing, as you have seen that best of kings whose prowess is like that of a tiger. Why should you then betray yourself thus?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.6
न तं पश्यामि कौन्तेय यस्ते वध्यो भविष्यति। प्रहर्तुमिच्छसे कस्मात् किं वा ते चित्तविभ्रमः॥
na taṃ paśyāmi kaunteya yaste vadhyo bhaviṣyati| prahartumicchase kasmāt kiṃ vā te cittavibhramaḥ||
O son of Kunti, I do not find any one here whom you can slay. What makes you then to yearn for fight, or have you lost the balance of your mind?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.7
कस्माद् भवान् महाखङ्गं परिगृह्णाति सत्वरः। तत् त्वां पृच्छामि कौन्तेयं किमिदं ते चिकीर्षितम्॥ परामृशसि यत् क्रुद्धः खङ्गमद्भुतविक्रम।
kasmād bhavān mahākhaṅgaṃ parigṛhṇāti satvaraḥ| tat tvāṃ pṛcchāmi kaunteyaṃ kimidaṃ te cikīrṣitam|| parāmṛśasi yat kruddhaḥ khaṅgamadbhutavikrama|
Why do you seize your mighty sword so suddenly, I enquire this of you. O Kaunteya, whence is this desire of your heart, or why do you fly to sword in such a sullen mood and with such a vigour?"
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.8
एवमुक्तस्तु कृष्णेन प्रेक्षमाणो युधिष्ठिरम्॥ अर्जुन: प्राह गोविन्दं क्रुद्धः सर्प इव श्वसन।
evamuktastu kṛṣṇena prekṣamāṇo yudhiṣṭhiram|| arjuna: prāha govindaṃ kruddhaḥ sarpa iva śvasana|
Thus addressed by Krishna, Arjuna, looking towards Yudhishthira and whizzing like an angry snake, replied,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.9
अन्यस्मै देहि गाण्डीवमिति मां योऽभिचोदयेत्॥ भिन्द्यामहं तस्य शिर इत्युपांशुव्रत मम। तदुक्तं मम चानेन राज्ञामितपराक्रम॥ समक्षं तव गोविन्द न तत् क्षन्तुमिहोत्सहे। तस्मादेनं वधिष्यामि राजानं धर्मभीरुकम्॥
anyasmai dehi gāṇḍīvamiti māṃ yo'bhicodayet|| bhindyāmahaṃ tasya śira ityupāṃśuvrata mama| taduktaṃ mama cānena rājñāmitaparākrama|| samakṣaṃ tava govinda na tat kṣantumihotsahe| tasmādenaṃ vadhiṣyāmi rājānaṃ dharmabhīrukam||
He who tells me-'Give your Gandiva to another,' I would cut his head off, such is my secret vow. Now that this king of immeasurable prowess has told me those words in your presence, O Govinda, I won't forgive him. I will, therefore, put to the sword this pious king.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.10
प्रतिज्ञा पालयिष्यामि हत्वैनं नरसत्तमम्। एतदर्थं मया खड्गो गृहीतो यदुनन्दन॥
pratijñā pālayiṣyāmi hatvainaṃ narasattamam| etadarthaṃ mayā khaḍgo gṛhīto yadunandana||
I will redeem my vow by slaying this best of men. For this alone I have taken up the sword.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.11
सोऽहं युधिष्ठिरं हत्वा सत्यस्यानृण्यतां गतः। विशोका विज्वरश्चापि भविष्यामि जनार्दन॥
so'haṃ yudhiṣṭhiraṃ hatvā satyasyānṛṇyatāṃ gataḥ| viśokā vijvaraścāpi bhaviṣyāmi janārdana||
O delighter of the Yadus; by slaying Yudhishthira I will thus adhere to truth thereby be free from grief and fever.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.12
किं वा त्वं मन्यसे प्राप्तमस्मिन् काल उपस्थिते। त्वमस्य जगतस्तात वेत्थ सर्वं गतागतम्॥ तत् तथा प्रकरिष्यामि यथा मां वक्ष्यते भवान्।
kiṃ vā tvaṃ manyase prāptamasmin kāla upasthite| tvamasya jagatastāta vettha sarvaṃ gatāgatam|| tat tathā prakariṣyāmi yathā māṃ vakṣyate bhavān|
O Janaradana, what do you wish me to do under the present circumstances. O sire, you are well acquainted with all the past the future of this universe. I shall, therefore, do as you tell me.”
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.13
संजय उवाच घिग् धिगित्येव गोविन्दः पार्थमुक्तराब्रवीतः पुनः॥१५
saṃjaya uvāca ghig dhigityeva govindaḥ pārthamuktarābravītaḥ punaḥ||15
Sanjaya said Saying "Fie, fie unto you, Partha,"
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.14
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच इदानीं पार्थ जानामि न वृद्धाः सेवितास्त्वया। काले न पुरुषव्याघ्र संरम्भं यद् भवानगात्॥
śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca idānīṃ pārtha jānāmi na vṛddhāḥ sevitāstvayā| kāle na puruṣavyāghra saṃrambhaṃ yad bhavānagāt||
“Now I understand, O Partha, that you have never attended upon the old, since you, O mightiest of men, have been overcome with anger at a time quite out of season.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.15
न हि धर्मविभागज्ञः कुर्यादेवं धनंजय। यथा त्वं पाण्डवाद्येह धर्मभीरुरपण्डितः॥
na hi dharmavibhāgajñaḥ kuryādevaṃ dhanaṃjaya| yathā tvaṃ pāṇḍavādyeha dharmabhīrurapaṇḍitaḥ||
O Dhananjaya, those who are versed in the niceties of religion would never act in the way as you are doing today, O pious son of Pandu, on not being acquainted with them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.16
अकार्याणं क्रियाणां च संयोगं यः करोति वै। कार्याणामक्रियाणां च स पार्थ पुरुषाधमः॥
akāryāṇaṃ kriyāṇāṃ ca saṃyogaṃ yaḥ karoti vai| kāryāṇāmakriyāṇāṃ ca sa pārtha puruṣādhamaḥ||
O Partha, he who does an act improper and heinous is the vilest of men.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.17
अनुसृत्य तु ये धर्मं कथयेयुरुपस्थिताः। समासाविस्तरविदां न तेषां वेत्सि निश्चयम्॥
anusṛtya tu ye dharmaṃ kathayeyurupasthitāḥ| samāsāvistaravidāṃ na teṣāṃ vetsi niścayam||
You know not the words of wisdom the learned men preach, after the rules of morality, to the pupils waiting up on them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.18
अनिश्चयज्ञो हि नरः कार्याकार्यविनिश्चये। अवशो मुह्यते पार्थ यथा त्वं मूढ एव तु॥
aniścayajño hi naraḥ kāryākāryaviniścaye| avaśo muhyate pārtha yathā tvaṃ mūḍha eva tu||
Persons ignorant of them become benumbed and befooled in discriminating between what ought to be done and what ought not, even as you, O Partha, have been nonplussed.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.19
न हि कार्यमकार्यं वा सुखं ज्ञातु कथंचन। श्रुतेन ज्ञायते सर्व तच त्वं नावबुध्यसे॥
na hi kāryamakāryaṃ vā sukhaṃ jñātu kathaṃcana| śrutena jñāyate sarva taca tvaṃ nāvabudhyase||
'It is not easy to learn what ought to be done and what ought not. Of course everything can be learnt with the help of the scriptures. You are, however, a stranger to them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.20
अविज्ञानाद् भवान् यच्च धर्म रक्षति धर्मवित्। प्राणिनां त्वं वधं पार्थ धार्मिको नावबुध्यसे॥
avijñānād bhavān yacca dharma rakṣati dharmavit| prāṇināṃ tvaṃ vadhaṃ pārtha dhārmiko nāvabudhyase||
Believing yourself to be conversant with morality, you are observing it in a way which but indicates your ignorance of it. You believe yourself to be virtuous but you know not, O Partha, that it is a sin to slay living beings.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.21
प्राणिनामवधस्तात सर्वज्यायान् मतो मम। अनृतां वा वदेद् वाचं न तु हिंस्यात् कथञ्चन॥
prāṇināmavadhastāta sarvajyāyān mato mama| anṛtāṃ vā vaded vācaṃ na tu hiṃsyāt kathañcana||
Methinks, keeping from doing any injury to any animal is a cardinal virtue. Even an untruth might behold but never an animal ought be slain.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.22
स कथं भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठं राजान् धर्मकोविदम्। हन्याद् भवान् नरश्रेष्ठ प्राकृतोऽन्यः पुमानिव॥
sa kathaṃ bhrātaraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ rājān dharmakovidam| hanyād bhavān naraśreṣṭha prākṛto'nyaḥ pumāniva||
O best of men, how could you then like an ordinary man wish to slay your eldest brother the king, who is well versed in morality.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.23
अयुध्यमानस्य वधस्तथाशत्रोश्च मानदा। पराङ्मुखास्य द्रवतःशरणं चापि गच्छतः॥ कृताञ्जलेः प्रपन्नस्य प्रमत्तस्य तथैव च। न वधः पूज्यते सद्भिस्तच सर्व गुरौ तव॥
ayudhyamānasya vadhastathāśatrośca mānadā| parāṅmukhāsya dravataḥśaraṇaṃ cāpi gacchataḥ|| kṛtāñjaleḥ prapannasya pramattasya tathaiva ca| na vadhaḥ pūjyate sadbhistaca sarva gurau tava||
O Bharata, the slaying of a man who is not engaged in a fight, or is unwilling to fight, or takes to flight, or seeks your shelter, or joins his hands, or gives himself up to you, or is insane, be he even a foe, is never upheld by the righteous. And your superior is even all this.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.24
त्वया चैवं व्रतं पार्थ बालेनेव कृतं पुरा। तस्मादधर्मसंयुक्तं मौात् कर्म व्यवस्यसि॥
tvayā caivaṃ vrataṃ pārtha bāleneva kṛtaṃ purā| tasmādadharmasaṃyuktaṃ mauāt karma vyavasyasi||
You had formerly taken the vow through childishness. And now through folly you are inclined to do an unrighteous act.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.25
स गुरुं पार्थ कस्मात् त्वं हन्तुकामोऽभिधावसि। असम्प्रघार्य धर्माणां गति सूक्ष्मा दुरत्ययाम्॥
sa guruṃ pārtha kasmāt tvaṃ hantukāmo'bhidhāvasi| asampraghārya dharmāṇāṃ gati sūkṣmā duratyayām||
Why, O Partha, do you rush upon your superior, intending to slay him, without determining (before-hand) the exceedingly fine course of virtue which is, certainly, not easily intelligible.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.26
इदं धर्मरहस्यं च तव वक्ष्यामि पाण्डव। यद् ब्रूयात् तव भीष्मो हि पाण्डवो वा युधिष्ठिरः॥२ विदुरो वा यथा क्षत्ता कुन्ती वापि यशस्विनी। तत् ते वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वेन निबोधैतद् धनंजय॥
idaṃ dharmarahasyaṃ ca tava vakṣyāmi pāṇḍava| yad brūyāt tava bhīṣmo hi pāṇḍavo vā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ||2 viduro vā yathā kṣattā kuntī vāpi yaśasvinī| tat te vakṣyāmi tattvena nibodhaitad dhanaṃjaya||
O son of Pandu, this mystery of virtue I will now explain to you as it was explained by Bhishma, by the pious Yudhishthira, by Vidura or the so-called Kshatri and by Kunti of great renown. I will tell it you in all its detail; listen to it, O Dhananjaya.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.27
सत्यस्य वचनं साधु न सत्याद् विद्यते परम्। तत्त्वेनैव सुदुर्जेयं पश्य सत्यमनुष्ठितम्॥
satyasya vacanaṃ sādhu na satyād vidyate param| tattvenaiva sudurjeyaṃ paśya satyamanuṣṭhitam||
One who tells the truth is a pious person. Nothing is there higher than truth. It is, therefore, very difficult to understand the details of truth as observed in action.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.28
भवेत सत्यमवक्तव्यं वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत्। यत्रानृतं भवेत् सत्यं चाप्यनृतं भवेत्॥
bhaveta satyamavaktavyaṃ vaktavyamanṛtaṃ bhavet| yatrānṛtaṃ bhavet satyaṃ cāpyanṛtaṃ bhavet||
Truth becomes unutterable and untruth utterable, where untruth would pose as truth and truth as untruth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.29
विवाहकाले रतिसम्प्रयोगे प्राणात्यये सर्वधनापहारे। विप्रस्य चार्थे ह्यनृतं वदेत पञ्चानृतान्याहुरपातकानि॥
vivāhakāle ratisamprayoge prāṇātyaye sarvadhanāpahāre| viprasya cārthe hyanṛtaṃ vadeta pañcānṛtānyāhurapātakāni||
At a marriage or in the enjoyment of lust, or when one's life is at stake, or when one's entire fortunes are about to be lost, or in the cause of a Brahmin untruth may be uttered. It is said that there is no sin in uttering these five sorts of falsehood.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.30
सर्वस्वस्यापहारे तु वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत्। तत्रानृतं भवेत् सत्यं चाप्यनृतं भवेत्॥ तादृशं पश्यते बालो यस्य सत्यमनुष्ठितम्।
sarvasvasyāpahāre tu vaktavyamanṛtaṃ bhavet| tatrānṛtaṃ bhavet satyaṃ cāpyanṛtaṃ bhavet|| tādṛśaṃ paśyate bālo yasya satyamanuṣṭhitam|
Where one's entire fortunes are at stake untruth becomes utterable. On these occasions untruth becomes truth and truth untruth. He who is bent upon always practising truth alone is a fool and takes truth to be as it is.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.31
भवेत् सत्यमवक्तव्यं न वक्तव्यमनुष्ठितम्। सत्यानृते विनिश्चित्य ततो भवति धर्मवित्॥
bhavet satyamavaktavyaṃ na vaktavyamanuṣṭhitam| satyānṛte viniścitya tato bhavati dharmavit||
Indeed it is not a very easy thing to become righteous. He who can distinguish between the niceties of truth and untruth can alone become conversant with morality.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.32
किमाश्चर्यं कृतप्रज्ञः पुरुषोऽपि सुदारुणः। सुमहत् प्राप्नुयात् पुण्यं बलाकोऽन्धवधादिव॥
kimāścaryaṃ kṛtaprajñaḥ puruṣo'pi sudāruṇaḥ| sumahat prāpnuyāt puṇyaṃ balāko'ndhavadhādiva||
What wonder is there then that a wise man by doing something awfully cruel may even acquire virtue, as Balaka did by killing a blind beast.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.33
किमाश्चर्यं पुनमूर्दो धर्मकामो ह्यपण्डितः। सुमहत् प्राप्नुयात् पापमापगास्विव कौशिकः॥
kimāścaryaṃ punamūrdo dharmakāmo hyapaṇḍitaḥ| sumahat prāpnuyāt pāpamāpagāsviva kauśikaḥ||
What wonder then that an ignorant and inexperienced person, intending to practise virtue, would commit grave vice like Kaushika on the river-bank."
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.34
अर्जुन उवाच आचक्ष्व भगवन्नेतद् यथा विन्दाम्यहं तथा। बलाकस्यानुसम्बन्धं नदीनां कौशिकस्य च॥
arjuna uvāca ācakṣva bhagavannetad yathā vindāmyahaṃ tathā| balākasyānusambandhaṃ nadīnāṃ kauśikasya ca||
Arjuna said Tell me of it, O holy one, in a way that I may learn it these stories about Balaka and Kaushika on the river-bank.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.35
वासुदेव उवाच पुराव्याधोऽभवत् कश्चिद् बलाको नाम भारत। यात्रार्थ पुत्रदारस्य मृगान् हन्ति न कामतः॥
vāsudeva uvāca purāvyādho'bhavat kaścid balāko nāma bhārata| yātrārtha putradārasya mṛgān hanti na kāmataḥ||
Vasudeva said There was once a hunter, O Bharata, Balaka by name. He used to kill animals, not willfully but, in order to support his children and wife.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.36
वृद्धौ च मातापितरौ बिभर्त्यन्यांश्च संश्रितान्। स्वधर्मनिरतो नित्यं सत्यवागनसूयकः॥
vṛddhau ca mātāpitarau bibhartyanyāṃśca saṃśritān| svadharmanirato nityaṃ satyavāganasūyakaḥ||
Devoted to his tribal pursuits, always speaking the truth and devoid of malice, he used to maintain his aged mother and father and other dependents.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.37
स कदाचिन्सृगं लिप्सु भ्यविन्दन्मृगं क्वचित्। अपः पिबन्त ददृशे श्वपादं घ्राणचक्षुषम्॥
sa kadācinsṛgaṃ lipsu bhyavindanmṛgaṃ kvacit| apaḥ pibanta dadṛśe śvapādaṃ ghrāṇacakṣuṣam||
Once on a day, thought diligently searching for an animal, he could find none. At last he found a beast of prey, drinking water, which had lost its eyes but the loss was supplied by its keen sense of smell.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.38
अदृष्टपूर्वमपि तत् सत्त्व तेन हतं तदा। अन्धे हते ततो व्योग्नः पुष्पवर्षं पपात च॥
adṛṣṭapūrvamapi tat sattva tena hataṃ tadā| andhe hate tato vyognaḥ puṣpavarṣaṃ papāta ca||
Though he had not before seen a like of it, yet he killed it then and there. No sooner the blind beast had been killed, that there fell from the skies a shower of flowers.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.39
अप्सरोगीतवादित्रैर्नादितं च मनोरमम्। विमानमगमत् स्वर्गन्मृगव्यधनिनीषया॥
apsarogītavāditrairnāditaṃ ca manoramam| vimānamagamat svarganmṛgavyadhaninīṣayā||
A celestial car, filled with the songs and music of Apsaras, came down from heaven to fetch that hunter of animals.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.40
तद् भूतं सर्वभूतानामभावाय किलार्जुन। तपस्तप्तवा वरं प्राप्तं कृतमन्धं स्वयम्भुवा॥
tad bhūtaṃ sarvabhūtānāmabhāvāya kilārjuna| tapastaptavā varaṃ prāptaṃ kṛtamandhaṃ svayambhuvā||
That beast having, successfully performed all the austerities of asceticism with a view to kill all the animals, had received that boon but was made blind instead by the Self-born.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.41
तद्धत्वा सर्वभूतानामभावकृतनिश्चयम्। ततो बालकः स्वरगादेवं धर्मः सुदुर्विदः॥
taddhatvā sarvabhūtānāmabhāvakṛtaniścayam| tato bālakaḥ svaragādevaṃ dharmaḥ sudurvidaḥ||
Therefore Valaka, having killed the beast that was bent upon killing all the animals, went to heaven. Morality is, therefore, very difficult to be understood.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.42
कौशिकोऽप्यभवद् विप्रस्तपस्वी नो नदीनां संगमे ग्रामाददूरात स किलावसत्॥
kauśiko'pyabhavad viprastapasvī no nadīnāṃ saṃgame grāmādadūrāta sa kilāvasat||
There was an ascetic Brahmin named Kaushika not much read in the Scriptures. He used to reside at a confluence of rivers, not far away from a village.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.43
सत्यं मया सदा वाच्यमिति तस्याभवद् व्रतम्। सत्यवादिति विख्यातः स तदाऽऽसीद् धनंजय॥
satyaṃ mayā sadā vācyamiti tasyābhavad vratam| satyavāditi vikhyātaḥ sa tadā''sīd dhanaṃjaya||
He had taken the vow that the would ever speak the truth.' Therefore, O Dhananjaya, he become famous as a truthful man.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.44
अथ दस्युभयात् केचित् तदा तद् वनमाविशन। तत्रापि दस्यवः क्रुद्धास्तानमार्गन्त यत्नतः॥ बहुश्रुतः।
atha dasyubhayāt kecit tadā tad vanamāviśana| tatrāpi dasyavaḥ kruddhāstānamārganta yatnataḥ|| bahuśrutaḥ|
At a time certain persons, being afraid of robbers, entered the woods. Even there the robbers, filled with anger, doggedly haunted after them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.45
अथ कौशिकमभ्येत्य प्राहुस्ते सत्यवादिनम्। कतमेन पथा भगवन् बहवो जनाः॥ सत्येन पृष्टः प्रबूहि यदि तान् वेत्थ शंस नः।
atha kauśikamabhyetya prāhuste satyavādinam| katamena pathā bhagavan bahavo janāḥ|| satyena pṛṣṭaḥ prabūhi yadi tān vettha śaṃsa naḥ|
They then approaching Kaushika the truthful, said-'O holy one, which way have a number of men passed a little while ago? Asked in the name of truth tell us if you have seen them.'
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.46
श पृष्टः कौशिकः सत्यं तानुवाच ह॥ बहुवृक्षलतागुल्ममेतद् वनमुपाश्रिताः। इति तान् ख्यापयामास तेभ्यस्तत्त्वं स कौशिकः॥५१
śa pṛṣṭaḥ kauśikaḥ satyaṃ tānuvāca ha|| bahuvṛkṣalatāgulmametad vanamupāśritāḥ| iti tān khyāpayāmāsa tebhyastattvaṃ sa kauśikaḥ||51
Being thus asked Kaushika told them the truth, that they had entered the wood thickly covered with trees, creepers and shrubs. O Partha, thus did Kaushika inform them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.47
ततस्ते तान् समासाद्य क्रूरा जघ्नुरिति श्रुतिः। तेनाधर्मेण महता वाग्दुरुक्तेन कौशिकः॥ गतः स कष्टं नरकं सूक्ष्मधर्मेष्वकोविदः।
tataste tān samāsādya krūrā jaghnuriti śrutiḥ| tenādharmeṇa mahatā vāgduruktena kauśikaḥ|| gataḥ sa kaṣṭaṃ narakaṃ sūkṣmadharmeṣvakovidaḥ|
And the report goes that on this those wanton men got hold of those persons and put them to death. For the gave sin of uttering that truth, which should not have been uttered, Kaushika, unversed in the subtleties of religion, fell into a fearful hell.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.48
यथा चाल्पश्रुतो मूढो धर्माणामविभागवित्॥ वृद्धानपृष्ट्वा संदेह महच्छवभ्रमिवार्हति।
yathā cālpaśruto mūḍho dharmāṇāmavibhāgavit|| vṛddhānapṛṣṭvā saṃdeha mahacchavabhramivārhati|
As a foolish man, ill-read in the scriptures, unacquainted with the details of morality, is fit to fall into an awful hell for not asking aged men to set his doubts at rest.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.49
तत्र ते लक्षणोद्देशः कश्चिदेवं भविष्यति॥ दुष्करं परमं ज्ञानं तर्केणानुव्यवस्यति। श्रुतेधर्म इति वदन्ति बहवो जनाः॥
tatra te lakṣaṇoddeśaḥ kaścidevaṃ bhaviṣyati|| duṣkaraṃ paramaṃ jñānaṃ tarkeṇānuvyavasyati| śrutedharma iti vadanti bahavo janāḥ||
Your definition of morality must be then something like that. Some people attempt at attaining that high and difficult knowledge by the exercise of reasoning. Many persons maintain, on the other hand, that morality can be learned from the scriptures alone.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.50
तत् ते न प्रत्यसूयामि चन स सर्व विधीयते। प्रभवार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचन कृतम्॥
tat te na pratyasūyāmi cana sa sarva vidhīyate| prabhavārthāya bhūtānāṃ dharmapravacana kṛtam||
I do not find fault with the latter, but then everything is not provided for there. The moral precepts have been made for the well-being of the creatures.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.51
यत् स्यादहिंसासंयुक्तं च धर्म इति निश्चयः। अहिंसाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम्॥
yat syādahiṃsāsaṃyuktaṃ ca dharma iti niścayaḥ| ahiṃsāya bhūtānāṃ dharmapravacanaṃ kṛtam||
All that is free from any motive of injury to any being is surely morality. For, indeed, the moral precepts have been made to free the creatures from all injuries.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.52
धारणाद् धर्ममित्याहुर्धर्मो धारयते प्रजाः। यत् स्याद् धारणसंयुक्तंस धर्म इति निश्चयः॥
dhāraṇād dharmamityāhurdharmo dhārayate prajāḥ| yat syād dhāraṇasaṃyuktaṃsa dharma iti niścayaḥ||
Dharma (morality) is so-called because it protects all. Indeed, morality saves all creatures. Surely then that is morality which is capable of keeping off a creature from all injuries.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.53
येऽन्यायेन निहीर्षन्तो धर्ममिच्छन्ति कर्हिचित्। अकूजनेन मोक्षं वा नानुकूजेत् कथंचन॥
ye'nyāyena nihīrṣanto dharmamicchanti karhicit| akūjanena mokṣaṃ vā nānukūjet kathaṃcana||
Those who try to stick to them logically, have scarcely a mind to acquire morality. If you can get rid of them without a word do no account have any intercourse with them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.54
अवश्यं कूजितव्ये वा शङ्करन्नप्यकूजतः। श्रेयस्तत्रानृतं वक्तुं तत् सत्यमविचारितम्॥
avaśyaṃ kūjitavye vā śaṅkarannapyakūjataḥ| śreyastatrānṛtaṃ vaktuṃ tat satyamavicāritam||
If he must be spoken to or if he takes offence on not being talked with, in that case better speak a falsehood; verily that untruth is truth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.55
यः कार्येभ्यो व्रतं कृत्वा तस्य नानोपपादयेत। न तत्फलमवाप्नोति एवमाहुर्मनीषिणः॥
yaḥ kāryebhyo vrataṃ kṛtvā tasya nānopapādayeta| na tatphalamavāpnoti evamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ||
He who, having taken a vow on some set purpose, cannot redeem the same by acts, attains not the rewards of that vow.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.56
प्राणात्यये विवाहे वा सर्वज्ञातिवधात्यये। नर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्ते वा न च प्रोक्तं मृषा भवेत्॥ अधर्म नात्र पश्यन्ति धर्मतत्त्वार्थदर्शिनः।
prāṇātyaye vivāhe vā sarvajñātivadhātyaye| narmaṇyabhipravṛtte vā na ca proktaṃ mṛṣā bhavet|| adharma nātra paśyanti dharmatattvārthadarśinaḥ|
When one's life is endangered, at marriage, at the risk of destruction of one's kith and kin or in the course of business, all that is uttered will not be regarded as falsehood. To those who are well-versed in the real secrets of morality, there appear no immorality in all this.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.57
यः स्तेनैः सह सम्बन्धान्मुच्यते शपथैरपि॥ श्रेयस्तत्रानृतं वक्तुं तत् सत्यमविचारितम्।
yaḥ stenaiḥ saha sambandhānmucyate śapathairapi|| śreyastatrānṛtaṃ vaktuṃ tat satyamavicāritam|
There even, where one cuts off his connections with robbers after having taken an oath, it is better to swear falsely, for surely that falsehood would be truth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.58
न च तेभ्यो धनं देयं शक्ये सति कथंचन॥ पापेभ्यो हि धनं दत्तं दातारमपि पीडयेत्।
na ca tebhyo dhanaṃ deyaṃ śakye sati kathaṃcana|| pāpebhyo hi dhanaṃ dattaṃ dātāramapi pīḍayet|
On no account should one's wealth he give to the robbers, if that could be helped. Wealth when give to the sinful afflicts even the donor.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.59
तस्माद् धमार्थमनृत्तमुक्त्वा नानृतभाग् भवेत्॥ एष ते लक्षणोद्देशो मयोद्दिष्टो यथाविधि। यथाधर्मं यथाबुद्धि मयाद्य वै हितार्थिना॥ एतच्छ्रुत्वा ब्रूहि पार्थ यदि वध्यो युधिष्ठिरः।
tasmād dhamārthamanṛttamuktvā nānṛtabhāg bhavet|| eṣa te lakṣaṇoddeśo mayoddiṣṭo yathāvidhi| yathādharmaṃ yathābuddhi mayādya vai hitārthinā|| etacchrutvā brūhi pārtha yadi vadhyo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ|
Therefore, an untruth spoken in the cause of morality does not amount to a falsehood. I have now duly pointed out to you the distinctive feathers of morality. Having heard all these tell me, O Partha, if Yudhishthira deserves to be killed.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.60
अर्जुन उवाच यश्चा ब्रूयान्महाप्राज्ञो यथा ब्रूयान्महामतिः॥ हितं चैव यथास्माकं तथैतद् वचनं तव।
arjuna uvāca yaścā brūyānmahāprājño yathā brūyānmahāmatiḥ|| hitaṃ caiva yathāsmākaṃ tathaitad vacanaṃ tava|
Arjuna said "O Krishna! You have spoken as a man of great wisdom should say, as a man of great intelligence need say. Your words are even such as would do good to us.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.61
भवान् मातृसमोऽस्माकं तथा पितृसमोऽपि च॥ गतिश्च परमा कृष्ण त्वमेव च परायणम्।
bhavān mātṛsamo'smākaṃ tathā pitṛsamo'pi ca|| gatiśca paramā kṛṣṇa tvameva ca parāyaṇam|
You are like both a mother and a father to us. You, O Krishna, are our sanctuary; that is why your words are beneficial to us.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.62
न हि ते त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यतेऽविदितं क्वचिन्॥ तस्माद् भवान् परम धर्मं वेद सर्व यथातथम्।
na hi te triṣu lokeṣu vidyate'viditaṃ kvacin|| tasmād bhavān parama dharmaṃ veda sarva yathātatham|
Nothing is there in the three worlds that is unknown to you. Therefore, you know the sublime morality with all its niceties.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.63
अवध्यं पाण्डवं मन्ये धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरम्॥ अस्मिंस्तु मम संकल्पे ब्रूहि किंचिदनुग्रहम्। इदं वा परमत्रैव शृणु हृत्स्थं विविक्षितम्॥
avadhyaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ manye dharmarāja yudhiṣṭhiram|| asmiṃstu mama saṃkalpe brūhi kiṃcidanugraham| idaṃ vā paramatraiva śṛṇu hṛtsthaṃ vivikṣitam||
I admit that the righteous Yudhishthira, son of Pandu, is unslayable. In this connection kindly tell me something in my favour. Hear me tell you of something else that lies in my heart.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.64
जानासि दासार्ह मम व्रतं त्वं यो मां ब्रूयात् कश्चन मानुषेषु। अन्यस्मै त्वं गाण्डिव देहि पार्थ त्वत्तोऽस्त्रैर्वा वीर्यतो वा विशिष्टः॥ हन्यामहं केशव तं प्रसह्य भीमो हन्यात् तूबरकेति चोक्तः। तन्मे राजा प्रोक्तवास्ते समक्षं धनुर्देहीत्यसकृद् वृष्णिवीर॥
jānāsi dāsārha mama vrataṃ tvaṃ yo māṃ brūyāt kaścana mānuṣeṣu| anyasmai tvaṃ gāṇḍiva dehi pārtha tvatto'strairvā vīryato vā viśiṣṭaḥ|| hanyāmahaṃ keśava taṃ prasahya bhīmo hanyāt tūbaraketi coktaḥ| tanme rājā proktavāste samakṣaṃ dhanurdehītyasakṛd vṛṣṇivīra||
You know, O Keshava, the best scion of the Dasharha race, that my vow is that whoever among men tells me 'make over, O Partha, your Gandiva to him who is superior to you in point of chivalry or in wielding armours' I will, with all my mighty, slay him. So Bhima also has taken a vow to slay the man who addresses him as 'one without the hirsute indications of manhood!' Just now the king has repeatedly told me in your presence “make over your bow.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.65
तं हन्यां चेत् केशव जीवलोके स्थाता नाहं कालमप्यल्पमात्रम्। ध्यात्वा नूनं ह्येनसा चापि मुक्तो वधं राज्ञो भ्रष्टवीर्यो विचेताः॥
taṃ hanyāṃ cet keśava jīvaloke sthātā nāhaṃ kālamapyalpamātram| dhyātvā nūnaṃ hyenasā cāpi mukto vadhaṃ rājño bhraṣṭavīryo vicetāḥ||
O Keshava, if I slay him, surely then the thought of having slain the king will immerse me in sin and make me loose my valour and mental faculties and thus cut short my days in this world.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.66
यथा प्रतिज्ञा मम लोकबुद्धौ भवेत् सत्या धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठ। यथा जीवेत् पाण्डवोऽहं च कृष्ण तथा बुद्धि दातुमप्यर्हसि त्वम्॥
yathā pratijñā mama lokabuddhau bhavet satyā dharmabhṛtāṃ variṣṭha| yathā jīvet pāṇḍavo'haṃ ca kṛṣṇa tathā buddhi dātumapyarhasi tvam||
Therefore, O Krishna, the best of all the righteous inen, do give me such counsels as would uphold my well-known vow and leave both myself and the eldest son of Pandu alive."
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.67
वासुदेव उवाच राजा श्रान्तो विक्षतो दुःखितश्च कर्णेन संख्ये निशितैबार्णसंधैः। यश्चानिशं सूतपुत्रेण वीर शरैर्भृशं ताडितोऽयुध्यमानः॥
vāsudeva uvāca rājā śrānto vikṣato duḥkhitaśca karṇena saṃkhye niśitaibārṇasaṃdhaiḥ| yaścāniśaṃ sūtaputreṇa vīra śarairbhṛśaṃ tāḍito'yudhyamānaḥ||
Vasudeva said-"O valiant one, the King Yudhishthira feels weary and aggrieved on being afflicted with arrows shot at him by Karna during the campaign; the more so as he was harassed with shaft-shots by the son of Suta even when he was retiring form the field.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.68
अतस्त्वमेतेन सरोषमुक्तो दुःखाचितेनेदमयुक्तरूपम्। अकोपितो ह्येष यदि स्म संख्ये कर्णं न हन्यादिति चाब्रवीत् सः॥
atastvametena saroṣamukto duḥkhācitenedamayuktarūpam| akopito hyeṣa yadi sma saṃkhye karṇaṃ na hanyāditi cābravīt saḥ||
Heavy at heart as he was at all this, he used such angry and improper expressions to you. Moreover, he addressed you in that tenor thinking that if he could provoke you, you would forthwith slay Karna in battle.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.69
जानाति तं पाण्डव एष चापि पापं लोके कर्णमसामन्यैः। ततस्त्वमुक्तो भृशरोषितेन राज्ञा समक्षं परुषाणि पार्थ॥
jānāti taṃ pāṇḍava eṣa cāpi pāpaṃ loke karṇamasāmanyaiḥ| tatastvamukto bhṛśaroṣitena rājñā samakṣaṃ paruṣāṇi pārtha||
O Partha, the king believes that this immoral Karna is unbearable to everyone else on earth but you. It was this that enraged him so highly as to use such cruel words even in your face.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.70
नित्योद्युक्ते सततं चाप्रसह्ये कर्णे द्यूतं ह्यद्य रणे निबद्धम्। रेवं बुद्धिः पार्थिवे धर्मपुत्रे॥
nityodyukte satataṃ cāprasahye karṇe dyūtaṃ hyadya raṇe nibaddham| revaṃ buddhiḥ pārthive dharmaputre||
King Yudhishthira, the righteous, is of opinion that today's battle is a play at dice in which the life of the ever-deviceful and everover bearing Karna has been laid as an wager. If he is slain, the Kauravas would necessarily meet with defeat.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.71
स्त्वया प्रतिज्ञार्जुन पालनीया। जीवनयं येन मृतो भवेद्धि तन्मे निबोघेह तवानुरूपम्॥
stvayā pratijñārjuna pālanīyā| jīvanayaṃ yena mṛto bhaveddhi tanme nibogheha tavānurūpam||
Therefore, O Arjuna, the son of Dharma deserves not death at your hands. At the same time your vow also must be kept good. Under the circumstances listen to the means that will make him apparently dead without the real loss of life.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.72
स्तदा स वै जीवति जीवलोके। यदाऽवमानं लभते महान्तं तदा जीवन्मृत इत्युच्यते सः॥
stadā sa vai jīvati jīvaloke| yadā'vamānaṃ labhate mahāntaṃ tadā jīvanmṛta ityucyate saḥ||
A man of honour lives in this material world so long as he receives the homage due to him, but when he is woefully dishonored, he is spoken of as one more dead than alive.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.73
सम्मानितः पार्थिवोऽयं सदैव त्वयाच भीमेन तथा यमाभ्याम्। स्तस्यापमानं कलया प्रयुडक्ष्व॥
sammānitaḥ pārthivo'yaṃ sadaiva tvayāca bhīmena tathā yamābhyām| stasyāpamānaṃ kalayā prayuḍakṣva||
O Partha, this king has ever been honored by you, Bhima and the twins and by all the wise and chivalrous men to this world. You just offer some insult to that king.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.74
त्वमित्यत्रभवन्तं हि ब्रूहि पार्थ युधिष्ठिरम्। त्वमित्युक्तो हि निहतो गुरुर्भवति भारत॥
tvamityatrabhavantaṃ hi brūhi pārtha yudhiṣṭhiram| tvamityukto hi nihato gururbhavati bhārata||
O Bharata, a superior on being addressed as 'you' dies (at heart). Therefore, you do addressed the much-respected Yudhishthira as 'you.'
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.75
एवमाचर कौन्तेय धर्मराजे युधिष्ठिरे। अधर्मयुक्तं संयोग कुरुष्वैन कुरूद्वह॥
evamācara kaunteya dharmarāje yudhiṣṭhire| adharmayuktaṃ saṃyoga kuruṣvaina kurūdvaha||
O the best of Kurus, O son of Kunti, do behave thus towards Yudhishthira the righteous and insult that honorable man by this censurable behaviour.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.76
अथर्वाङ्गिरसी ह्येषा श्रुतीनामुत्तमा श्रुतिः। अविचार्यैव कार्येषा श्रेयस्कामैनरैः सदा॥
atharvāṅgirasī hyeṣā śrutīnāmuttamā śrutiḥ| avicāryaiva kāryeṣā śreyaskāmainaraiḥ sadā||
This is a Shruti given out by the Rishis Atharva and Angira, the best of all the Srutis; people who wish well should always follow this without any scruple.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.77
अवधेन वधः प्रोक्तो यद् गुरुस्त्वमिति प्रभुः। तद् ब्रूहि त्वं यन्मयोक्तं धर्मराजस्य धर्मवित्॥
avadhena vadhaḥ prokto yad gurustvamiti prabhuḥ| tad brūhi tvaṃ yanmayoktaṃ dharmarājasya dharmavit||
To address a venerable superior as 'You.' is to kill him without actually depriving him of his life. Therefore do you, who are versed in morality, address Yudhishthira the righteous, in the manner I have indicated.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.78
स्त्वत्तोऽयुक्तं वेत्स्यते चैवमेषः। ततोऽस्य पादावभिवाद्य पश्चात् समं ब्रूया: सान्त्वयित्वा च पार्थम्॥
stvatto'yuktaṃ vetsyate caivameṣaḥ| tato'sya pādāvabhivādya paścāt samaṃ brūyā: sāntvayitvā ca pārtham||
On your acting thus the righteous Yudhishthira will verily feel that you have offered him a death-blow. Later on you will worship his feet and speak to him in befitting terms and thus pacify him.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 6 69.79
भ्राता प्राज्ञास्तव कोपं न जातु कुर्याद् राजा धर्ममवेक्ष्य चापि। मुक्तोऽनृताद् भ्रातवधाच पार्थ हृष्टः कर्णं त्वं जहि सूतपुत्रम्॥
bhrātā prājñāstava kopaṃ na jātu kuryād rājā dharmamavekṣya cāpi| mukto'nṛtād bhrātavadhāca pārtha hṛṣṭaḥ karṇaṃ tvaṃ jahi sūtaputram||
O Partha, your intelligent brother Yudhishthira would never feel in the least angry with you. On being thus freed from impiety and fratricide you may cheerfully proceed against and slay Karna, the son of Suta.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)