Mahabharata — Volume VII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 11

MBh 7 11.1

अर्जुन उवाच अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। तापसैः सह संवादं शक्रस्य भरतर्षभ॥

arjuna uvāca atraivodāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam| tāpasaiḥ saha saṃvādaṃ śakrasya bharatarṣabha||

Arjuna said The old history of the discourse between certain ascetics and Shakra, is cited in this connection, O foremost of Bharata's race!

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

MBh 7 11.2

केचिद् गृहान् परित्यज्य वनमभ्यागमन् द्विजाः। अजातश्मश्रवो मन्दाः कुले जाताः प्रवव्रजुः॥

kecid gṛhān parityajya vanamabhyāgaman dvijāḥ| ajātaśmaśravo mandāḥ kule jātāḥ pravavrajuḥ||

Certain little-witted well-born Brahmana youths, without attaining manhood, forsaking their homes, came to the woods for leading a forest life.

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

MBh 7 11.3

धर्मोऽयमिति मन्वानाः समृद्धा ब्रह्मचारिणः। त्यक्त्वा भ्रातृन् पिढेश्चैव तानिन्द्रोऽन्वकृपायत॥

dharmo'yamiti manvānāḥ samṛddhā brahmacāriṇaḥ| tyaktvā bhrātṛn piḍheścaiva tānindro'nvakṛpāyata||

Considering that to be virtue, those youths possessing sufficient resources desired to live as Brahmacharins, having abandoned their brothers and fathers. It so happened that Indra felt pity for them.

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

MBh 7 11.4

तानाबभाषे भगवान् पक्षी भूत्वा हिरण्मयः। सुदुष्करं मनुष्यैश्च यत् कृतं विघसाशिभिः॥

tānābabhāṣe bhagavān pakṣī bhūtvā hiraṇmayaḥ| suduṣkaraṃ manuṣyaiśca yat kṛtaṃ vighasāśibhiḥ||

Assuming the form of a golden bird, Indra addressed them, saying,-What is done by persons who eat the residue of a Sacrifice is the most difficult of acts that men can perform.

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

MBh 7 11.5

पुण्यं भवति कर्मेदं प्रशस्तं चैव जीवितम्। सिद्धार्थास्ते गतिं मुख्यां प्राप्ता धर्मपरायणाः॥

puṇyaṃ bhavati karmedaṃ praśastaṃ caiva jīvitam| siddhārthāste gatiṃ mukhyāṃ prāptā dharmaparāyaṇāḥ||

Such an act is productive of great merit. The lives of such men are worthy of every praise. Having attained the object of life, those virtuous men, obtained the highest end!

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

MBh 7 11.6

ऋषय ऊचुः अहो बतायं शकुनिर्विघसाशान् प्रशंसति। अस्मान् नूनमयं शास्ति वयं च विघसाशिनः॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ aho batāyaṃ śakunirvighasāśān praśaṃsati| asmān nūnamayaṃ śāsti vayaṃ ca vighasāśinaḥ||

Hearing these words, the Rishis said,-Lo, this bird praises those who live upon the remnants of Sacrifices! He mentions this to us, for we live upon such remnants!

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

MBh 7 11.7

शकुनिरुवाच नाहं युष्मान् प्रशंसामि पङ्कदिग्धान् रजस्वलान्। उच्छिष्टभोजिनो मन्दानन्ये वै विघसाशिनः॥

śakuniruvāca nāhaṃ yuṣmān praśaṃsāmi paṅkadigdhān rajasvalān| ucchiṣṭabhojino mandānanye vai vighasāśinaḥ||

The bird then said The bird then said.-I do not praise you! You are covered with mire and very impure! Living upon offals, you are wicked! Ye you not persons living upon the remnants of Sacrifice!-

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

MBh 7 11.8

ऋषय ऊचुः इदं श्रेयः परमिति वयमेवाभ्युपास्महे। शकुने ब्रूहि यच्छेरूयो भृशं ते श्रद्धामहे॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ idaṃ śreyaḥ paramiti vayamevābhyupāsmahe| śakune brūhi yaccherūyo bhṛśaṃ te śraddhāmahe||

The Rishis said We consider this course of life to be highly : blessed! Tell us, O bird, what is for our wellbeing! Your words fill us with great faith!

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

MBh 7 11.9

शकुनिरुवाच यदि मां नाभिशङ्कध्वं विभज्यात्मानमात्मना। ततोऽहं वः प्रवक्ष्यामि याथातथ्यं हितं वचः॥

śakuniruvāca yadi māṃ nābhiśaṅkadhvaṃ vibhajyātmānamātmanā| tato'haṃ vaḥ pravakṣyāmi yāthātathyaṃ hitaṃ vacaḥ||

The bird said If by acting against your better selves, you do not refuse me your faith, then I shall tell you true and beneficial words.

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

MBh 7 11.10

ऋषय ऊचुः शृणुमस्ते वचस्तात पन्थानो विदितास्तव। नियोगे चैव धर्मात्मन् स्थातुमिच्छाम शाधि नः॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ śṛṇumaste vacastāta panthāno viditāstava| niyoge caiva dharmātman sthātumicchāma śādhi naḥ||

The Rishis said We shall hear words, O sire, for you know the different paths! O you of righteous soul, we desire also to obey your behests. Instruct us now!

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

MBh 7 11.11

शकुनिरुवाच चतुष्पदां गौः प्रवरा लोहानां काञ्चनं वरम्। शब्दानां प्रवरो मन्त्रो ब्राह्मणो द्विपदां वरः॥

śakuniruvāca catuṣpadāṃ gauḥ pravarā lohānāṃ kāñcanaṃ varam| śabdānāṃ pravaro mantro brāhmaṇo dvipadāṃ varaḥ||

among quadrupeds the cow is the foremost. Of metals, goid is the foremost. Of words, Mantras, and of human beings, Brahmanas, are the foremost.

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

MBh 7 11.12

मन्त्रोऽयं जातकर्मादिाह्मणस्य विधीयते। जीवतोऽपि यथाकालं श्मशाननिधनादिभिः॥

mantro'yaṃ jātakarmādiāhmaṇasya vidhīyate| jīvato'pi yathākālaṃ śmaśānanidhanādibhiḥ||

These Mantras regulate all the rites of a Brahmana's life, beginning with those consequent upon birth and the period after it, and ending with those consequent on death and the obsequial rites.

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

MBh 7 11.13

कर्माणि वैदिकान्यस्य स्वर्यः पन्थास्त्वनुत्तमः। अथ सर्वाणि कर्माणि मन्त्रसिद्धानि चक्षते॥

karmāṇi vaidikānyasya svaryaḥ panthāstvanuttamaḥ| atha sarvāṇi karmāṇi mantrasiddhāni cakṣate||

These Vedic rites constitute his heaven, path, and best of sacrifices, If it were Otherwise, how could the acts of persons seeking of heaven become successful through Mantras?

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

MBh 7 11.14

आत्मानं दृढवादीति तथा सिद्धिरिहेष्यते। मासार्धमासा ऋतव आदित्यशशितारकम्॥

ātmānaṃ dṛḍhavādīti tathā siddhiriheṣyate| māsārdhamāsā ṛtava ādityaśaśitārakam||

He who, in this world, worships his self, knowing it to be a deity of a particular kind, attains to success consistent with a nature of that particular deity. Persons dying in two fortnights go to the Sun, the Moon, or the Stars.

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

MBh 7 11.15

ईहन्ते सर्वभूतानि तदिदं कर्मसंज्ञितम्। सिद्धिक्षेत्रमिदं पुण्यमयमेवाश्रमो महान्॥

īhante sarvabhūtāni tadidaṃ karmasaṃjñitam| siddhikṣetramidaṃ puṇyamayamevāśramo mahān||

These three kinds of success, dependent upon action, are sought by every creature. The life of a householder is very superior and sacred and is called the field of success.

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

MBh 7 11.16

अथ ये कर्म निन्दन्तो मनुष्याः कापथं गताः। मूढानामर्थहीनानां तेषामेनस्तु विद्यते॥

atha ye karma nindanto manuṣyāḥ kāpathaṃ gatāḥ| mūḍhānāmarthahīnānāṃ teṣāmenastu vidyate||

What path do those men follow that censure action? Foolish and poor as they are they incur sin.

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

MBh 7 11.17

देववंशान् पितृवंशान् ब्रह्मवंशांश्च शाश्वतान्। संत्यज्य मूढा वर्तन्ते ततो यान्त्यश्रुतीपथम्॥

devavaṃśān pitṛvaṃśān brahmavaṃśāṃśca śāśvatān| saṃtyajya mūḍhā vartante tato yāntyaśrutīpatham||

And since those little-witted men live by abandoning the eternal paths of the gods, of the Rishis, and of Brahma, therefore, they attain to paths disapproved of by the Shrutis.

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

MBh 7 11.18

एतद्वोऽस्तु तपोयुक्तं ददामीत्वृषिचोदितम्। तस्मात् तत्तद् व्यवस्थानं तपस्वि तप उच्यते॥

etadvo'stu tapoyuktaṃ dadāmītvṛṣicoditam| tasmāt tattad vyavasthānaṃ tapasvi tapa ucyate||

There is a verse in the Maniras which says,-(Ye sacrificer, perform the sacrifice with gifts of costly things. I will give you the happiness represented by sons, animals, and heaven.) To live, therefore, in accordance with the ordinance is said to be the highest form of asceticism. Therefore, you should perform sacrifice and penances in the shape of gifts.

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

MBh 7 11.19

देववंशान् ब्रह्मवंशान् पितृवंशांश्च शाश्वतान्। संविभज्य गुरोश्चर्यां तद् वै दुष्करमुच्यते॥

devavaṃśān brahmavaṃśān pitṛvaṃśāṃśca śāśvatān| saṃvibhajya guroścaryāṃ tad vai duṣkaramucyate||

The proper performance of these eternal duties, viz., the worship of the gods, the study of the Vedas, and the gratification of the Pitris, as also respectful services to the preceptor,-is the austerest of penances.

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

MBh 7 11.20

देवा वै दुष्करं कृत्वा विभूतिं परमां गताः। तस्माद् गार्हस्थ्यमुद्वोढुं दुष्करं प्रब्रवीमि वः॥

devā vai duṣkaraṃ kṛtvā vibhūtiṃ paramāṃ gatāḥ| tasmād gārhasthyamudvoḍhuṃ duṣkaraṃ prabravīmi vaḥ||

By practising such highly difficult penances, the gods have obtained the highest glory and power. I, therefore, ask you to satisfy the heavy duties of a householder.

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

MBh 7 11.21

तपः श्रेष्ठं प्रजानां हि मूलमेतन्न संशयः। कुटुम्बविधिनानेन यस्मिन् सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्॥ एतद् विदुस्तपो विप्रा द्वन्द्वातीता विमत्सराः। तस्माद् व्रतं मध्यमं तु लोकेषु तप उच्यते॥

tapaḥ śreṣṭhaṃ prajānāṃ hi mūlametanna saṃśayaḥ| kuṭumbavidhinānena yasmin sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam|| etad vidustapo viprā dvandvātītā vimatsarāḥ| tasmād vrataṃ madhyamaṃ tu lokeṣu tapa ucyate||

Forsooth, penances are the foremost of all things and are the root of all creatures, Asceticism, is attainable by leading the life a householder, upon which depends everything. The learned Brahmins having chack on malice, beyond the sphere of duality know that penance. The penance so observed by them is addressed as penance on the earth.

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

MBh 7 11.22

दुराधर्षं पदं चैव गच्छन्ति विघसाशिनः। सायंप्रातर्विभज्यानं स्वकुटुम्बे यथाविधि॥

durādharṣaṃ padaṃ caiva gacchanti vighasāśinaḥ| sāyaṃprātarvibhajyānaṃ svakuṭumbe yathāvidhi||

After duly distributing the food morning and evening among kinsmen, they who eat the residuc attain to the ends that are highly difficult of attainment.

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

MBh 7 11.23

दत्त्वाऽतिथिभ्यो देवेभ्यः पितृभ्यः स्वजनाय च। अवशिष्टानि येऽश्नन्ति तानाहुर्विघसाशिनः॥

dattvā'tithibhyo devebhyaḥ pitṛbhyaḥ svajanāya ca| avaśiṣṭāni ye'śnanti tānāhurvighasāśinaḥ||

They are called eaters of the residue of feasts who cat after having fed guests and gods and Rishis and kinsmen.

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

MBh 7 11.24

तस्मात् स्वधर्ममास्थाय सुव्रताः सत्यवादिनः। लोकस्य गुरवो भूत्वा ते भवन्त्यनुपस्कृताः॥

tasmāt svadharmamāsthāya suvratāḥ satyavādinaḥ| lokasya guravo bhūtvā te bhavantyanupaskṛtāḥ||

Therefore, those persons who observe their own duties, who practise excellent vows and are truthful in speech, are greatly respected in the world, with their own faith greatly strengthened.

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

MBh 7 11.25

त्रिदिवं प्राप्य शक्रस्य स्वर्गलोके विमत्सराः। वसन्ति शाश्वतान् वर्षाञ्जना दुष्करकारिणः॥

tridivaṃ prāpya śakrasya svargaloke vimatsarāḥ| vasanti śāśvatān varṣāñjanā duṣkarakāriṇaḥ||

Shorn pride, those achievers of the most difficult feats attain to heaven and live for ever in the regions of Shakra!

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

MBh 7 11.26

अर्जुन उवाच ततस्ते तद् वचः श्रुत्वा धर्मार्थसहितं हितम्। उत्सृज्य नास्तीति गता गार्हस्थ्यं समुपाश्रिताः॥

arjuna uvāca tataste tad vacaḥ śrutvā dharmārthasahitaṃ hitam| utsṛjya nāstīti gatā gārhasthyaṃ samupāśritāḥ||

Arjuna continued Hearing these beneficial and righteous words, those ascetics abandoned the religion of Renunciation, saying, There is nothing in it,-and begin to live like householders.

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

MBh 7 11.27

तस्मात् त्वमपि सर्वज्ञ धैर्यमालम्ब्य शाश्वतम्। प्रशाधि पृथिवीं कृत्स्ना हतामित्रां नरोत्तम॥

tasmāt tvamapi sarvajña dhairyamālambya śāśvatam| praśādhi pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnā hatāmitrāṃ narottama||

Therefore, O you, who are conversant with righteousness, availing of that eternal wisdom, rule the wide world, O monarch, that is now shorn of foes."

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