Mahabharata — Volume VII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 24

MBh 7 24.1

वैशम्पायन उवाच पुनरेव महर्षिस्तं कृष्णद्वैपायनो मुनिः। अजातशत्रु कौन्तेयमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca punareva maharṣistaṃ kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ| ajātaśatru kaunteyamidaṃ vacanamabravīt||

Vaishampayana said Once the great sage KrishnaDvaipayana said these words to the son of Kunti, who had no enemies.

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

MBh 7 24.2

अरण्ये वसतां तात भ्रातृणां ते मनस्विनाम्। मनोरथा महाराज ये तत्रासन् युधिष्ठिर॥ तानिमे भरतश्रेष्ठ प्राप्नुवन्तु महारथाः। प्रशाधि पृथिवीं पार्थ ययातिरिव नाहुषः॥

araṇye vasatāṃ tāta bhrātṛṇāṃ te manasvinām| manorathā mahārāja ye tatrāsan yudhiṣṭhira|| tānime bharataśreṣṭha prāpnuvantu mahārathāḥ| praśādhi pṛthivīṃ pārtha yayātiriva nāhuṣaḥ||

Let these great car-warriors, possessing sufficient mental strength, O king, let these your brothers, O Yudhishthira the chief of the Bharatas, satisfying those wishes of theirs which they entertained while living in the woods. Rule you the Earth, O son of Pritha, like (another) Yayati the son of Nahusha.

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

MBh 7 24.3

अरण्ये दुःखवसतिरनुभूता तपस्विभिः। दुःखस्यान्ते नरव्याघ्र सुखान्यनुभवन्तु वै॥

araṇye duḥkhavasatiranubhūtā tapasvibhiḥ| duḥkhasyānte naravyāghra sukhānyanubhavantu vai||

Before this you suffered misery while living in the woods in the observance of ascetic penances. That misery has ended, O foremost of men. Enjoy happiness, therefore, for some time.

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

MBh 7 24.4

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च भ्रातृभिः सह भारत। अनुभूय ततः पश्चात् प्रस्थातासि विशाम्पते॥

dharmamarthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca bhrātṛbhiḥ saha bhārata| anubhūya tataḥ paścāt prasthātāsi viśāmpate||

Having, O Bharata, acquired and enjoyed religious merit and wealth and pleasure for some time with your brothers, you may then, O king, retire into the forest.

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

MBh 7 24.5

अर्थनां च पितृणां च देवतानां च भारत। आनृण्यं गच्छ कौन्तेय तत् सर्वं च करिष्यसि॥

arthanāṃ ca pitṛṇāṃ ca devatānāṃ ca bhārata| ānṛṇyaṃ gaccha kaunteya tat sarvaṃ ca kariṣyasi||

Be freed first, О Bharata, from the debt you owe to persons who may beg of you to the Pitris, and to the gods. You may then, O son of Kunti, follow all the other modes of life.

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

MBh 7 24.6

सर्वमेधाश्वमेधाभ्यां यजस्व कुरुनन्दन। ततः पश्चान्महाराज गमिष्यसि परां गतिम्॥

sarvamedhāśvamedhābhyāṃ yajasva kurunandana| tataḥ paścānmahārāja gamiṣyasi parāṃ gatim||

Do you, O son of Kuru's race, celebrate the sacrifices of Sarvamedha and Ashvainedha. You will then attain, O king, to the highest end hereafter.

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

MBh 7 24.7

भ्रातृ॑श्च सर्वान् ऋतुभिः संयोज्य बहुदक्षिणैः। सम्प्राप्तः कीतिमतुलां पाण्डवेय भविष्यसि॥

bhrātṛ̭śca sarvān ṛtubhiḥ saṃyojya bahudakṣiṇaiḥ| samprāptaḥ kītimatulāṃ pāṇḍaveya bhaviṣyasi||

Making your brothers also perform great sacrifices with profuse presents, you will, O son of Pandu, acquire great fame.

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

MBh 7 24.8

विद्यस्ते पुरुषव्याघ्र वचनं कुरुसत्तम। शृणुष्वैवं यथा कुर्वन् न धर्माच्च्यवसे नृप॥

vidyaste puruṣavyāghra vacanaṃ kurusattama| śṛṇuṣvaivaṃ yathā kurvan na dharmāccyavase nṛpa||

There is a saying, O foremost of men and best of the Kurus! Listen to it, for by acting according to it, O king, you will not deviate from the path of virtue.

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

MBh 7 24.9

आददानस्य विजयं विग्रहं च युधिष्ठिर। समानधर्मकुशलाः स्थापयन्ति नरेश्वर॥

ādadānasya vijayaṃ vigrahaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhira| samānadharmakuśalāḥ sthāpayanti nareśvara||

Those men only O Yudhishthira, who behave like robbers, advise a king to undertake wars and acquire victory.

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

MBh 7 24.10

देशकालप्रतीक्षी यो दस्यून् मर्षयते नृपः। शास्त्रजां बुद्धिमास्थाय युज्यत्ते नैनसा हि सः॥

deśakālapratīkṣī yo dasyūn marṣayate nṛpaḥ| śāstrajāṃ buddhimāsthāya yujyatte nainasā hi saḥ||

That king who, knowing proper place and time and following the injunctions of the scriptures, pardons even a nuinber of robbers, incurs no sin.

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

MBh 7 24.11

आदाय बलिषड्भागं यो राष्ट्र नाभिरक्षति। प्रतिगृह्णाति तत् पापं चतुथाङ्खशेन भूमिपः॥

ādāya baliṣaḍbhāgaṃ yo rāṣṭra nābhirakṣati| pratigṛhṇāti tat pāpaṃ catuthāṅkhaśena bhūmipaḥ||

That king, who, realising his tribute of a sixth, does not protect his kingdom, shares a fourth part of the sins of his kingdom.

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

MBh 7 24.12

निबोध च यथाऽऽतिष्ठन् धर्मान्न च्यवते नृपः। निग्रहाद् धर्मशास्त्राणामनुरुद्ध्यन्नपेतभीः॥

nibodha ca yathā''tiṣṭhan dharmānna cyavate nṛpaḥ| nigrahād dharmaśāstrāṇāmanuruddhyannapetabhīḥ||

Listen also to that by which a king may not deviate from the path of virtue. By disregarding the scriptures one incurs sin, while by obeying them one may live fearlessly.

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

MBh 7 24.13

कामक्रोधावनादृत्य पितेव समदर्शनः। शास्त्रजां बुद्धिमास्थाय युज्यते नैनसा हि सः॥

kāmakrodhāvanādṛtya piteva samadarśanaḥ| śāstrajāṃ buddhimāsthāya yujyate nainasā hi saḥ||

That king who, following the scriptural injunctions and disregarding lust and anger, behaves impartially, like a father, towards all his subjects, never incurs sin.

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

MBh 7 24.14

दैवेनाभ्याहतो राजा कर्मकाले महाद्युते। न साधयति यत् कर्म न तत्राहुरतिक्रमम्॥

daivenābhyāhato rājā karmakāle mahādyute| na sādhayati yat karma na tatrāhuratikramam||

O you of great splendour, if a king, possessed by destiny, fails to accomplish an act in proper time, such failure would not be called a trespass.

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

MBh 7 24.15

तरसा बुद्धिपूर्वं वा निग्राह्या एव शत्रवः। पापैः सह न संदध्याद् राज्यं पण्यं न कारयेत्॥

tarasā buddhipūrvaṃ vā nigrāhyā eva śatravaḥ| pāpaiḥ saha na saṃdadhyād rājyaṃ paṇyaṃ na kārayet||

By power and policy should the king subjugate his foes. He must not allow sin to be committed in his kingdom, but should cause virtue to be practised.

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

MBh 7 24.16

शूराश्चार्याश्च सत्कार्या विद्वांसश्च युधिष्ठिर। गोमिनो धनिनश्चैव परिपाल्या विशेषतः॥

śūrāścāryāśca satkāryā vidvāṃsaśca yudhiṣṭhira| gomino dhaninaścaiva paripālyā viśeṣataḥ||

Brave men, the respectable, the virtuous, the learned, O Yudhishthira, Brahmanas conversant with Vedic texts and rites, and men of wcalth, should especially be protected.

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

MBh 7 24.17

व्यवहारेषु धर्मेषु योक्तव्याश्च बहुश्रुताः। गुणयुक्तेऽपि नैकस्मिन् विश्वसेत विचक्षणः॥

vyavahāreṣu dharmeṣu yoktavyāśca bahuśrutāḥ| guṇayukte'pi naikasmin viśvaseta vicakṣaṇaḥ||

In trying cases and performing religious acts, they who are possessed of great learning should alone be employed. A prudent king should never place his confidence in one individual however accomplished.

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

MBh 7 24.18

अरक्षिता दुविनीतो मानी स्तब्धोऽभ्यसूयकः। एनसा युज्यते राजा दुर्दान्त इति चोच्यते॥

arakṣitā duvinīto mānī stabdho'bhyasūyakaḥ| enasā yujyate rājā durdānta iti cocyate||

That king who does not protect his subjects, whose passions are not under-control, who is full of vanity, who is haughty and malicious, incurs sin and becomes notorious as a tyrant.

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

MBh 7 24.19

येऽरक्ष्यमाणा हीयन्ते दैवेनाभ्याहता नृप। तस्करैश्चापि हीयन्ते सर्वं तद् राजकिल्बिषम्॥

ye'rakṣyamāṇā hīyante daivenābhyāhatā nṛpa| taskaraiścāpi hīyante sarvaṃ tad rājakilbiṣam||

If the subjects of a king, O monarch, die from want of protection and are afflicted by the gods and oppressed by robbers, the sin of all this affects the king himself.

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

MBh 7 24.20

सुमन्त्रिते सुनीते च सर्वतश्चोपपादिते। पौरुषे कर्मणि कृते नास्त्यधर्मो युधिष्ठिर॥

sumantrite sunīte ca sarvataścopapādite| pauruṣe karmaṇi kṛte nāstyadharmo yudhiṣṭhira||

There is no sin, O Yudhishthira, in doing an act with full heart, after mature consideration and consultation with men capable of giving good advice.

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

MBh 7 24.21

विच्छिद्यन्ते समारब्धाः सिद्ध्यन्ते चापि दैवतः। कृते पुरुषकारे तु नैनः स्पृशति पार्थिवम्॥

vicchidyante samārabdhāḥ siddhyante cāpi daivataḥ| kṛte puruṣakāre tu nainaḥ spṛśati pārthivam||

Our works fail or succeed through destiny. If activity, however, be applied, sin would not affect the king.

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

MBh 7 24.22

अत्र ते राजशार्दूल वर्तयिष्ये कथामिमाम्। यद् वृत्तं पूर्वराजर्षेर्हयग्रीवस्य पाण्डव॥ शत्रू न हत्वा हतस्याजौ शूरस्याक्लिश्कर्मणः। असहायस्य संग्रामे निर्जितस्य युधिष्ठिर॥

atra te rājaśārdūla vartayiṣye kathāmimām| yad vṛttaṃ pūrvarājarṣerhayagrīvasya pāṇḍava|| śatrū na hatvā hatasyājau śūrasyākliśkarmaṇaḥ| asahāyasya saṃgrāme nirjitasya yudhiṣṭhira||

I shall recite to you, O foremost of kings, the story of what happened to an ancient king of the name of Hayagriva, O son of Pandu,the story of the heroic Hayagriva of unsullied deeds, who after having killed a host of enemies in battle, was himself defeated and killed while without a follower by his side.

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

MBh 7 24.23

यत् कर्म वै निग्रहे शात्रवाणां योगश्चाम्यः पालने मानवानाम्। कृत्वा कर्म प्राप्य कीर्तिं स युद्धाद् वाजिग्रीवो मोदते स्वर्गलोके॥

yat karma vai nigrahe śātravāṇāṃ yogaścāmyaḥ pālane mānavānām| kṛtvā karma prāpya kīrtiṃ sa yuddhād vājigrīvo modate svargaloke||

Having done all for restraining his foes and adopted all those foremost of means by which men may be protected, Hayagriva won great fame from the battles he fought and is now enjoying great bliss in heaven.

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

MBh 7 24.24

संयुक्तात्मा समरेष्वाततायी शस्त्रैश्छिन्नो दस्युभिर्वध्यमानः। अश्वग्रीवः कर्मशीलो महात्मा संसिद्धार्थो मोदते स्वर्गलोके॥

saṃyuktātmā samareṣvātatāyī śastraiśchinno dasyubhirvadhyamānaḥ| aśvagrīvaḥ karmaśīlo mahātmā saṃsiddhārtho modate svargaloke||

Wounded by robbers with weapons, bravely fighting with them, and giving up his life in battle, the great Hayagriva, ever devoted to his royal duties, achieved the object of his life and is now enjoying great bliss in heaven.

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

MBh 7 24.25

धनुषूपो रशना ज्या शरः सुक् नुवः खङ्गो रुधिरं यत्र चाज्यम्। रथो वेदी कामगो श्चातुर्होत्रं चतुरो वाजिमुख्याः॥

dhanuṣūpo raśanā jyā śaraḥ suk nuvaḥ khaṅgo rudhiraṃ yatra cājyam| ratho vedī kāmago ścāturhotraṃ caturo vājimukhyāḥ||

The bow was his (sacrificial) stake and the bow-string was the cord for trying the animals. Arrows were the smaller ladle and the sword the larger one, and blood formed the clarified butter that he poured. The car constituted the altar and the anger he left in battle was the fire, and the four best of horses yoked to his vehicle were the four Hotris.

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

MBh 7 24.26

हुत्वा तस्मिन् यज्ञवह्नावथारीन् पापान्मुक्तो राजसिंहस्तरस्वी। प्राणान् हुत्वा चावभृथे रणे स। वाजिग्रीवो मोदते देवलोके॥

hutvā tasmin yajñavahnāvathārīn pāpānmukto rājasiṃhastarasvī| prāṇān hutvā cāvabhṛthe raṇe sa| vājigrīvo modate devaloke||

Having poured upon that sacrificial fire his enemies as libations and then his own life at the termination of the sacrifice, that foremost of kings, Hayagriva, became freed from sin and is now playing in the regions of the celestials.

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

MBh 7 24.27

राष्ट्र रक्षन् बुद्धिपूर्वं नयेन संत्यक्तात्मा यज्ञशीलो महात्मा। सर्वांल्लोकान् व्याप्य कीर्त्या मनस्वी वाजिग्रीवो मोदते देवलोके॥

rāṣṭra rakṣan buddhipūrvaṃ nayena saṃtyaktātmā yajñaśīlo mahātmā| sarvāṃllokān vyāpya kīrtyā manasvī vājigrīvo modate devaloke||

Having protected his kingdom with policy and intelligence, the great and self-controlled Hayagriva of great strength of mind and given to the performance of sacrifices filled all the worlds with his glory and is now sporting in the region of the celestials.

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

MBh 7 24.28

दैवीं सिद्धिं मानुषीं दण्डनीति योगन्यासैः पालयित्वा महीं च। तस्माद् राजा धर्मशीलो महात्मा वाजिग्रीवो मोदते देवलोके।॥

daivīṃ siddhiṃ mānuṣīṃ daṇḍanīti yoganyāsaiḥ pālayitvā mahīṃ ca| tasmād rājā dharmaśīlo mahātmā vājigrīvo modate devaloke|||

Having acquired the merit of celebrating sacrifices as also every kind of merit of human worlds, he held the rod of chastisement and ruled the Earth with vigour and without pride. For this the virtuous and great Hayagriva is sporting in the region of the celestials.

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

MBh 7 24.29

विद्वांस्त्यागी श्रद्दधानः कृतर्ज स्त्यक्त्वा लोकं मानुषं कर्म कृत्वा। मेधाविनां विदुषां सम्मतानां तनुत्यजां लोकमाक्रम्य राजा॥

vidvāṃstyāgī śraddadhānaḥ kṛtarja styaktvā lokaṃ mānuṣaṃ karma kṛtvā| medhāvināṃ viduṣāṃ sammatānāṃ tanutyajāṃ lokamākramya rājā||

Learned men practising renunciation, cherishing faith, and grateful, that king, having performed various acts, left this world of men and attained the regions that are reserved for the intelligent and the wise and those who are of approved conduct and behaviour and prepared to kill themselves in battle.

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

MBh 7 24.30

सम्यग् वेदान् प्राप्य शास्त्राण्यधीत्य सम्यग् राज्यं पालयित्वा महात्मा। चातुर्वर्ण्य स्थापयित्वा स्वधर्म वाजिग्रीवो मोदते देवलोके॥ जित्वा संग्रामान् पालयित्वा प्रजाश्च सोमं पीत्वा तर्पयित्वा द्विजाम्यान्। युक्त्या दण्डं धारयित्वा प्रजानां युद्धे क्षीणो मोदते देवलोके।॥

samyag vedān prāpya śāstrāṇyadhītya samyag rājyaṃ pālayitvā mahātmā| cāturvarṇya sthāpayitvā svadharma vājigrīvo modate devaloke|| jitvā saṃgrāmān pālayitvā prajāśca somaṃ pītvā tarpayitvā dvijāmyān| yuktyā daṇḍaṃ dhārayitvā prajānāṃ yuddhe kṣīṇo modate devaloke|||

Having read the Vedas well and the other scriptures also, having governed his kingdom properly and made all the four orders follow their respective duties, the Hayagriva is sporting merrily in the regions of the celestials. Having gained many battles and cherished his subjects, having drunk the Soma juice in sacrifices and satisfied the foremost of Brahmanas with presents and judiciously held the rod of chastisement over those placed under his sway and at last sacrificed his life in battle, that king is living happily in heaven.

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

MBh 7 24.31

वृत्तं यस्य श्लाघनीयं मनुष्याः सन्तो विद्वांसोऽर्हयन्त्यर्हणीयम्। स्वर्गं जित्वा वीरलोकानवाप्य सिद्धिं प्राप्तः पुण्यकीर्तिर्महात्मा॥

vṛttaṃ yasya ślāghanīyaṃ manuṣyāḥ santo vidvāṃso'rhayantyarhaṇīyam| svargaṃ jitvā vīralokānavāpya siddhiṃ prāptaḥ puṇyakīrtirmahātmā||

His life was worthy of every complement. Learned and honest, men speak high of it, for it deserves every praise. Having acquired heaven and won the regions reserved for heroes, that great king of virtuous deeds became drowned with success.

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