Mahabharata — Volume VII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 18
MBh 7 18.1
वैशम्पायन उवाच तूष्णीम्भूतं तु राजानं पुनरेवार्जुनोऽब्रवीत्। संतप्तः शोकदुःखाभ्यां राजवाक्छल्यपीडितः॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca tūṣṇīmbhūtaṃ tu rājānaṃ punarevārjuno'bravīt| saṃtaptaḥ śokaduḥkhābhyāṃ rājavākchalyapīḍitaḥ||
Vaishampayana said When after saying these words, Yudhishthira became silent, Arjuna, pained by that speech of the king, and burning with sorrow and grief, once more said to his eldest brother,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.2
अर्जुन उवाच कथयन्ति पुरावृत्तमितिहासमिमं जनाः। विदेहराज्ञः संवादं भार्यया सह भारत॥
arjuna uvāca kathayanti purāvṛttamitihāsamimaṃ janāḥ| videharājñaḥ saṃvādaṃ bhāryayā saha bhārata||
Arjuna said People recite this old history, O Bharata, about the discourse between the king of the Videhas and his queen.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.3
उत्सृज्य राज्यं भिक्षार्थं कृतबुद्धिं नरेश्वरम्। विदेहराजमहिषी दुःखिता यदभाषत॥
utsṛjya rājyaṃ bhikṣārthaṃ kṛtabuddhiṃ nareśvaram| videharājamahiṣī duḥkhitā yadabhāṣata||
It is the account of the words which the grief-stricken wife of the king of the Videhas had said to her lord when the latter, leaving his kingdom, had resolved to live like a mendicant.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.4
धनान्यपत्यं दाराश्च रत्नानि विविधानि च। पन्थानं पावकं हित्वा जनको मौढ्यमास्थितः॥
dhanānyapatyaṃ dārāśca ratnāni vividhāni ca| panthānaṃ pāvakaṃ hitvā janako mauḍhyamāsthitaḥ||
Leaving off wealth and children and wives and valuable possessions of all sorts and the established path for acquiring religious merit and fire itself, king Janaka shaved his head.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.5
तं ददर्श प्रिया भार्या भक्ष्यवृत्तिमकिंचनम्। धानामुष्टिमुपासीनं निरीहं गतमत्सरम्॥
taṃ dadarśa priyā bhāryā bhakṣyavṛttimakiṃcanam| dhānāmuṣṭimupāsīnaṃ nirīhaṃ gatamatsaram||
His dear wife saw him deprived of wealth, practising the vow of mendicancy resolved to abstain from inflicting any kind of injury on others, shorn of vanity and prepared to subsist upon a handful of barley fallen off from the stalk.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.6
तमुवाच समागत्य भर्तारमकुतोभयम्। क्रुद्धा मनस्विनी भार्या विविक्ते हेतुमद् वचः॥
tamuvāca samāgatya bhartāramakutobhayam| kruddhā manasvinī bhāryā vivikte hetumad vacaḥ||
Approaching her husband when he was alone, the queen possessing great strength of mind, fearlessly and in anger, told him these reasonable words:-
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.7
कथमुत्सृज्य राज्यं स्वं धनधान्यसमन्वितम्। कापाली वृत्तिमास्थाय धानामुष्टिर्न ते वरः॥
kathamutsṛjya rājyaṃ svaṃ dhanadhānyasamanvitam| kāpālī vṛttimāsthāya dhānāmuṣṭirna te varaḥ||
'Why have you adopted a life of mendicancy, leaving your prosperous kingdom : full of corn? A handful of fallen off barley is not your becoming diet.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.8
प्रतिज्ञा तेऽन्यथा राजन् विचेष्टा चान्यथा तव। यद् राज्यं महदुत्सृज्य स्वल्पे तुष्यसि पार्थिव॥
pratijñā te'nyathā rājan viceṣṭā cānyathā tava| yad rājyaṃ mahadutsṛjya svalpe tuṣyasi pārthiva||
Your resolution does not agree with your acts, since leaving your large kingdom you, O king, seek a handful of grain.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.9
नैतेनातिथयो राजन् देवर्षिपितरस्तथा। अद्य शक्यास्त्वया भर्तुं मोघस्तेऽयं परिश्रमः॥
naitenātithayo rājan devarṣipitarastathā| adya śakyāstvayā bhartuṃ moghaste'yaṃ pariśramaḥ||
With this handful of barley, O king, you will not be able to gratify your guests, gods, Rishis, and Pitris? This your labour, therefore, is in vain.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.10
देवतातिथिभिश्चैव पितृभिश्चैव पार्थिव। सर्वरेतैः परित्यक्तः परिव्रजसि निष्क्रियः॥
devatātithibhiścaiva pitṛbhiścaiva pārthiva| sarvaretaiḥ parityaktaḥ parivrajasi niṣkriyaḥ||
Alas forsaken by gods, guests, and Pitris, you live like a wandering mendicant, o king, having cast off all action.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.11
यस्त्वं त्रैविद्यवृद्धानां ब्राह्मणानां सहस्रशः। भर्ता भूत्वा च लोकस्य सोऽद्य तै तिमिच्छसि॥
yastvaṃ traividyavṛddhānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ sahasraśaḥ| bhartā bhūtvā ca lokasya so'dya tai timicchasi||
You, before this, supported thousands of Brahmanas versed in the three Vedas and many more others. How can you desire to beg of them your own food today.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.12
श्रियं हित्वा प्रदीप्तां त्वं श्ववत् सम्प्रति वीक्ष्यसे। अपुत्रा जननी तेऽद्य कौसल्या चापतिस्त्वया॥
śriyaṃ hitvā pradīptāṃ tvaṃ śvavat samprati vīkṣyase| aputrā jananī te'dya kausalyā cāpatistvayā||
Forsaking your blazing prosperity, you look about like a dog for his food. Your mother has to-day been made sonless by you, and your wife, the princess of Koshala, a widow.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.13
अमी च धर्मकामास्त्वां क्षत्रियाः पर्युपासते। त्वदाशामभिकाङ्क्षन्तः कृपणाः फलहेतुका॥
amī ca dharmakāmāstvāṃ kṣatriyāḥ paryupāsate| tvadāśāmabhikāṅkṣantaḥ kṛpaṇāḥ phalahetukā||
These helpless Kshatriyas, expecting fruits of religious merit, wait upon you, placing all their hopes on you.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.14
तांश्च त्वं विफलान् कुर्वन् कं नु लोकं गमिष्यसि। राजन् संशयिते मोक्षे परतन्त्रेषु देहिषु॥
tāṃśca tvaṃ viphalān kurvan kaṃ nu lokaṃ gamiṣyasi| rājan saṃśayite mokṣe paratantreṣu dehiṣu||
By dissipating their hopes, to what regions will you go, O king, especially when salvation is doubtful and creatures are dependent on actions?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.15
नैव तेऽस्ति परो लोको नापरः पापकर्मणः! धान् दारान् परित्यज्य यस्त्वमिच्छसि जीवितुम्॥
naiva te'sti paro loko nāparaḥ pāpakarmaṇaḥ! dhān dārān parityajya yastvamicchasi jīvitum||
Sinful as you are, you will acquire neither this world nor the next, since you wish to live, having cast off your married wife?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.16
स्त्रजो गन्धानलंकारान् वासांसि विविधानि च। किमर्थमभिसंत्यज्य परिव्रजसि निष्क्रियः॥
strajo gandhānalaṃkārān vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca| kimarthamabhisaṃtyajya parivrajasi niṣkriyaḥ||
Why, indeed, do you lead a life of roving mendicancy, abstaining from all actions, after having forsaken garlands and perfumes and ornaments and robes of various sorts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.17
निपानं सर्वभूतानां भूत्वा त्वं पावनं महत्। आढ्यो वनस्पतिर्भूत्वा सोऽन्यांस्त्वं पर्युपाससे॥
nipānaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ bhūtvā tvaṃ pāvanaṃ mahat| āḍhyo vanaspatirbhūtvā so'nyāṃstvaṃ paryupāsase||
Having been, like a large and sacred lake to all creatures, having been a mighty tree worthy of adoration, alas, how can you wait upon and adore others?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.18
खादन्ति हस्तिनं न्यासैः क्रव्यादा बहवोऽप्युत। बहवः कृमयश्चैव किं पुनस्त्वामनर्थकम्॥
khādanti hastinaṃ nyāsaiḥ kravyādā bahavo'pyuta| bahavaḥ kṛmayaścaiva kiṃ punastvāmanarthakam||
If even an elephant gives up all work, carnivorous creatures and innumerable worms would eat it up. What need be said of yourself who are so powerless?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.19
य इमां कुण्डिका भिन्द्यात् त्रिविष्टब्धं च यो हरेत्। वासश्चापि हरेत् तस्मिन् कथं ते मानसं भवेत्॥ यस्त्वयं सर्वमुत्सृज्य धानामुष्टेरनुग्रहः। यदानेन समं सर्वं किमिदं ह्यवसीयसे॥
ya imāṃ kuṇḍikā bhindyāt triviṣṭabdhaṃ ca yo haret| vāsaścāpi haret tasmin kathaṃ te mānasaṃ bhavet|| yastvayaṃ sarvamutsṛjya dhānāmuṣṭeranugrahaḥ| yadānena samaṃ sarvaṃ kimidaṃ hyavasīyase||
How could your heart approve of that mode of life which recommends an earthen pot, and a triple-headed rod, and which compels one to give up his very clothes, and which sanctions the acceptance of only a handful of barley after leaving off everything? If, again, you hold that kingdom and a handful of barley are the same to you, then why do you abandon the foriner.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.20
धानामुष्टेरिहार्थश्चेत् प्रतिज्ञा ते विनश्यति। का वाहं तव को मे त्वं कश्च तेमय्यनुग्रहः॥
dhānāmuṣṭerihārthaścet pratijñā te vinaśyati| kā vāhaṃ tava ko me tvaṃ kaśca temayyanugrahaḥ||
If, again, a handful of barley becomes an object of attachment with you, then your original resolution of leaving off everything becomes futile! If, again, you carry out your resolution of leaving off everything, then who am I to you, who are you to me, and what can be your favour to me?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.21
प्रशाधि पृथिवीं राजन् यदि तेऽनुग्रहो भवेत्। प्रासादं शयनं यानं वासांस्याभरणानि च॥
praśādhi pṛthivīṃ rājan yadi te'nugraho bhavet| prāsādaṃ śayanaṃ yānaṃ vāsāṃsyābharaṇāni ca||
If you wish to show your favour, rule then this Earth! They who seeks happiness but are very poor and abandoned by friends may adopt Renunciation.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.22
श्रिया विहीनैरधनैस्त्यक्तमित्रैरकिंचनैः। सौखिकैः सम्भृतानर्थान् यः संत्यजति किं नु तत्॥
śriyā vihīnairadhanaistyaktamitrairakiṃcanaiḥ| saukhikaiḥ sambhṛtānarthān yaḥ saṃtyajati kiṃ nu tat||
But he who imitates those men by leaving off palatial edifices and beds and vehicles and dresses and ornaments, acts improperly, indeed.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.23
योऽत्यन्तं प्रतिगृह्णीयाद् यश्च दद्यात् सदैव हि। तयोस्त्वमन्तरं विद्धि श्रेयांस्ताभ्यां क उच्यते॥
yo'tyantaṃ pratigṛhṇīyād yaśca dadyāt sadaiva hi| tayostvamantaraṃ viddhi śreyāṃstābhyāṃ ka ucyate||
One always accepts gifts from others, while another always makes gifts. You know the difference between the two, Who, indeed, of these two should be considered superior?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.24
सदैव याचमानेषु तथा दम्भान्वितेषु च। एतेषु दक्षिणा दत्ता दावाग्नाविव दुर्हतम्॥
sadaiva yācamāneṣu tathā dambhānviteṣu ca| eteṣu dakṣiṇā dattā dāvāgnāviva durhatam||
If a gift is made to one who always accepts gifts, or to one who is proud, that gift, becomes useless like the clarified butter that is poured upon a forest-fire.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.25
जातवेदा यथा राजन् नादग्ध्वैवोपशाम्यति। सदैव याचमानो हि तथा शाम्यति न द्विजः॥
jātavedā yathā rājan nādagdhvaivopaśāmyati| sadaiva yācamāno hi tathā śāmyati na dvijaḥ||
As a fire, o king, never dies till it has consumed all that has been thrown into it, even so a beggar is silenced till he receives something.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.26
सतां वै ददतोऽन्नं च लोकेऽस्मिन् प्रकृतिर्बुवा। न चेद् राजा भवेद् दाता कुतः स्युर्मोक्षकाक्षिणः।।२७
satāṃ vai dadato'nnaṃ ca loke'smin prakṛtirbuvā| na ced rājā bhaved dātā kutaḥ syurmokṣakākṣiṇaḥ||27
In this world, the food given by a charitable person, is the support of the pious. If, therefore, the king does not give (food), where will the pious go to, who aspire for salvation.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.27
अन्नाद् गृहस्था लोकेऽस्मिन् भिक्षवस्तत एव च। अन्नात् प्राणः प्रभवति अन्नदः प्राणदो भवेत्॥
annād gṛhasthā loke'smin bhikṣavastata eva ca| annāt prāṇaḥ prabhavati annadaḥ prāṇado bhavet||
They that have food (in their houses) are householders. Mendicants are supported by them. Life is kept up by food. Therefore, the giver of food is the giver of life.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.28
गृहस्थेभ्योऽपि निर्मुक्ता गृहस्थानेव संश्रिताः। प्रभवं च प्रतिष्ठां च दान्ता विन्दन्त आसते॥
gṛhasthebhyo'pi nirmuktā gṛhasthāneva saṃśritāḥ| prabhavaṃ ca pratiṣṭhāṃ ca dāntā vindanta āsate||
Coming out from among those who live as householders, mendicants depend upon those very persons from whom they come. By doing this, those self-controlled men acquire and enjoy fame and power.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.29
त्यागान भिक्षुकं विद्यान्न मौढ्यान्न च याचनात्। ऋजुस्तु योऽर्थं त्यजति नसुखं विद्धि भिक्षुकम्॥
tyāgāna bhikṣukaṃ vidyānna mauḍhyānna ca yācanāt| ṛjustu yo'rthaṃ tyajati nasukhaṃ viddhi bhikṣukam||
One cannot be called a mendicant for his having only renounced his worldly possessions, or for his having only led a life of dependence on charity. He who forsakes sincerely the possessions and pleasures of the world to be regarded a true mendicant.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.30
असक्तः सक्तवद् गच्छन् निःसङ्गो मुक्तवन्धनः। समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च स वै मुक्तो महीपते॥
asaktaḥ saktavad gacchan niḥsaṅgo muktavandhanaḥ| samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca sa vai mukto mahīpate||
Unattachment at heart though showing attachment outwardly, standing aloof from the world, having broken all his fetters, regarding friend and foe in the same light, such a man, O king, is regarded to be liberated.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.31
परिव्रजन्ति दानार्थं मुण्डाः काषायवाससः। सिता बहुविधै पाशैः संचिन्वन्तो वृथामिषम्॥
parivrajanti dānārthaṃ muṇḍāḥ kāṣāyavāsasaḥ| sitā bahuvidhai pāśaiḥ saṃcinvanto vṛthāmiṣam||
Having shaved their heads clean and put on the brown robe, people rove like mendicants, though fettered by various ties and though always seeking useless wealth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.32
त्रयीं च नाम वार्ता च त्यक्त्वा पुत्रान् व्रजन्ति ये। त्रिविष्टब्धं च वासश्च प्रतिगृह्णन्त्यबुद्धयः॥
trayīṃ ca nāma vārtā ca tyaktvā putrān vrajanti ye| triviṣṭabdhaṃ ca vāsaśca pratigṛhṇantyabuddhayaḥ||
They who, casting off the three Vedas, their usual avocations and children, live like mendicants by taking up the triple-headed rod and the brown robe, are really persons of weak understanding.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.33
अनिष्कषाये काषायमीहार्थमिति विद्धि तम्। धर्मध्वजानां मुण्डानां वृत्त्यर्थमिति मे मितिः॥
aniṣkaṣāye kāṣāyamīhārthamiti viddhi tam| dharmadhvajānāṃ muṇḍānāṃ vṛttyarthamiti me mitiḥ||
Without having cast off anger and other passions, wearing only the brown robe, O king, is due to the desire of earning the means of livelihood. Those persons of clean-shaved heads who hold up the banner of virtue, have the acquisition of sustenance for their only object in life.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.34
काषायैरजिनैश्चीरैर्नग्नान् मुण्डान् जटाधरान्। बिभ्रत् साधून महाराज जय लोकान् जितेन्द्रियः॥
kāṣāyairajinaiścīrairnagnān muṇḍān jaṭādharān| bibhrat sādhūna mahārāja jaya lokān jitendriyaḥ||
Therefore, O king, controlling your passions do you secure blissful regions for yourself hereafter by maintaining them that are truly pious amongst those having matted locks or clean-shaved heads, naked or clad in rags, or skins or brown clothes.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.35
अग्न्याधेयानि गुर्वर्थं क्रतूनपि सुदक्षिणान्। ददात्यहरहः पूर्वं को नु धर्मरतस्ततः॥
agnyādheyāni gurvarthaṃ kratūnapi sudakṣiṇān| dadātyaharahaḥ pūrvaṃ ko nu dharmaratastataḥ||
Who is there that is more virtuous then he who maintains his sacred fire, who celebrates sacrifices with presents of animals and money, and who administers charity day and night?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.36
अर्जुन उवाच तत्त्वज्ञो जनको राजा लोकेऽस्मिन्निति गीयते। सोऽप्यासीन्मोहसम्पन्नो मा मोहवशमन्वगाः॥
arjuna uvāca tattvajño janako rājā loke'sminniti gīyate| so'pyāsīnmohasampanno mā mohavaśamanvagāḥ||
Arjuna said King Janaka was known as a truth-knowing person in the world. Even he, was bewildered in the ascertainment of duty. Do not yield to stupefaction.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.37
एवं धर्ममनुक्रान्ताः सदा दानतपःपरा। आनृशंस्यगुणोपेताः कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः॥ प्रजानां पालने युक्ता दानमुत्तममास्थिताः। इष्टॉल्लोकानवाप्स्यामो गुरुवृद्धोपचायिनः॥
evaṃ dharmamanukrāntāḥ sadā dānatapaḥparā| ānṛśaṃsyaguṇopetāḥ kāmakrodhavivarjitāḥ|| prajānāṃ pālane yuktā dānamuttamamāsthitāḥ| iṣṭaॉllokānavāpsyāmo guruvṛddhopacāyinaḥ||
The duties of a householder are observed by person practising charity. By abstaining from all sorts of injuries, by casting off desire and anger, by being engaged in protecting all creatures, by making charities and lastly by making elders and aged persons, we shall succeed in attaining such blissful regions as are after our hearts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 18.38
देवतातिथिभूतानां निर्वपन्तो यथाविधि। स्थानमिष्टमवाप्स्यामो ब्रह्मण्याः सत्यवादिनः॥
devatātithibhūtānāṃ nirvapanto yathāvidhi| sthānamiṣṭamavāpsyāmo brahmaṇyāḥ satyavādinaḥ||
By duly satisfying gods, guests, and all creatures, by adoring Brahmanas, and by truthfulness of speech, we shall certainly attain to desirable regions of bliss.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)