Mahabharata — Volume VIII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 122
MBh 8 122.1
पराशर उवाच एष धर्मविधिस्तात गृहस्थस्य प्रकीर्तितः। तपोविधिं तु वक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु॥
parāśara uvāca eṣa dharmavidhistāta gṛhasthasya prakīrtitaḥ| tapovidhiṃ tu vakṣyāmi tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu||
Parashara said I have now described to you the ordained duties of a householder. I shall now describe to you the ordinances about penances. Hear me as I describe that subject.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.2
प्रायेण च गृहस्थस्य ममत्वं नाम जायते। सङ्गागतं नरश्रेष्ठ भावै राजसतामसैः॥
prāyeṇa ca gṛhasthasya mamatvaṃ nāma jāyate| saṅgāgataṃ naraśreṣṭha bhāvai rājasatāmasaiḥ||
It is generally seen, O king. that on account of sentiments fraught with Darkness and Ignorance, the senses of mine begotten by attachment, originates in the heart of householder.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.3
गृहाण्याश्रित्य गावश्च क्षेत्राणि च धनानि च। दाराः पुत्राश्च भृत्याश्च भवन्तीह नरस्य वै॥
gṛhāṇyāśritya gāvaśca kṣetrāṇi ca dhanāni ca| dārāḥ putrāśca bhṛtyāśca bhavantīha narasya vai||
Becoming a householder, one acquires kine, fields, wealth of diverse sorts, wives, children, and servants.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.4
एवं तस्य प्रवृत्तस्य नित्यमेवानुपश्यतः। रागद्वेषौ विवर्धेते ह्यनित्यत्वमपश्यतः॥
evaṃ tasya pravṛttasya nityamevānupaśyataḥ| rāgadveṣau vivardhete hyanityatvamapaśyataḥ||
One who follows this mode of life continually casts his eye upon these objects. Under these circumstances, one's attachments and aversions multiply, and one ceases to consider unreal possessions as eternal and indestructible.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.5
रागद्वेषाभिभूतं च नरं द्रव्यवशानुगम्। मोहजाता रतिर्नाम समुपैति नराधिप॥
rāgadveṣābhibhūtaṃ ca naraṃ dravyavaśānugam| mohajātā ratirnāma samupaiti narādhipa||
When a person becomes possessed by attachment and aversion, and gives way to the control of worldly objects, the desire of enjoyment then seizes him, originating from carelessness, O king.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.6
कृतार्थं भोगिनं मत्वा सर्वो रतिपरायणः। लाभं ग्राम्यसुखादन्यं रतितो नानुपश्यति॥
kṛtārthaṃ bhoginaṃ matvā sarvo ratiparāyaṇaḥ| lābhaṃ grāmyasukhādanyaṃ ratito nānupaśyati||
Considering that person as blessed who has the largest share of enjoyments in this world, the man devoted to enjoyment does not, on account of his attachment thereto, see that there is any other happiness save what depends upon the gratification of the senses.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.7
ततो लोभाभिभूतात्मा संगाद् वर्धयते जनम्। पुष्ट्यर्थं चैव तस्येह जनस्यार्थं चिकीर्षति॥
tato lobhābhibhūtātmā saṃgād vardhayate janam| puṣṭyarthaṃ caiva tasyeha janasyārthaṃ cikīrṣati||
Overwhelmed with cupidity that originates from such attachment, he then tries to multiply the number of his relatives and attendants, and for pleasing these latter he tries to increase his wealth by every means in his power.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.8
स जानन्नपि चाकार्यमर्थार्यं सेवते नरः। बालस्नेहपरीतात्मा तत्क्षयाच्चानुतप्यते॥
sa jānannapi cākāryamarthāryaṃ sevate naraḥ| bālasnehaparītātmā tatkṣayāccānutapyate||
Filled with affection for children, such a person then commits, for the sake of acquiring riches, evil deeds, and yields to grief if his wealth belost.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.9
ततो मानेन सम्पन्नो रक्षन्नात्मपराजयम्। करोति येन भोगी स्यामिति तस्माद् विनश्यति॥
tato mānena sampanno rakṣannātmaparājayam| karoti yena bhogī syāmiti tasmād vinaśyati||
Having acquired honours and always guarding against the defeat of his plans, he follows such means as would satisfy his desire of enjoyment. At last he meets with destruction as the inevitable result of the conduct he follows.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.10
तथा हि बुद्धियुक्तानां शाश्वतं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्। अन्विच्छतां शुभं कर्म नराणां त्यजतां सुखम्॥
tathā hi buddhiyuktānāṃ śāśvataṃ brahmavādinām| anvicchatāṃ śubhaṃ karma narāṇāṃ tyajatāṃ sukham||
It is well known, however, that true happiness is theirs who are endued with intelligence, who are Brahmavadins, who try to perform only auspicious and beneficial acts, and who abstain from all acts which are optional and originate from desire only.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.11
स्नेहायतननाशाच्च धननाशाच्च पार्थिव। आधिव्याधिप्रतापाच्च निर्वेदमुपगच्छति॥
snehāyatananāśācca dhananāśācca pārthiva| ādhivyādhipratāpācca nirvedamupagacchati||
From loss of all such objects in which are centred our affections, from loss of riches, O king, and from the oppression of physical diseases and mental anguish a person falls into despair.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.12
मिर्वेदादात्मसम्बोधः सम्बोधाच्छास्त्रदर्शनम्। शास्त्रार्थदर्शनाद् राजस्तप एवानुपश्यति॥
mirvedādātmasambodhaḥ sambodhācchāstradarśanam| śāstrārthadarśanād rājastapa evānupaśyati||
From this despair originates an awakening of the soul. From such an awakening proceeds study of the Scriptures. From contemplation of the meaning of the Scriptures, O king, one sees the value of penance.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.13
दुर्लभो हि मनुष्येन्द्र नरः प्रत्यवमर्शवान्। यो वै प्रियसुखे क्षीणे तपः कर्तुं व्यवस्यति॥
durlabho hi manuṣyendra naraḥ pratyavamarśavān| yo vai priyasukhe kṣīṇe tapaḥ kartuṃ vyavasyati||
A person endued with the knowledge of what is essential and what accidental, O king, is very rare,-a man who tries to practise penances, under the conviction that the happiness one enjoys from the possession of such agreeable objects as wives and children brings on ultimately misery.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.14
तपः सर्वगतं तात हीनस्यापि विधीयते। जितेन्द्रियस्य दान्तस्य स्वर्गमार्गप्रवर्तकम्॥
tapaḥ sarvagataṃ tāta hīnasyāpi vidhīyate| jitendriyasya dāntasya svargamārgapravartakam||
Penances, O child, are for all. They are ordained for even the lowest order of men, Penances lead the self-controlled man who has mastered all his senses to the way to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.15
प्रजापतिः प्रजाः पूर्वमसृजत् तपसा विभुः। क्वचित् क्वचिद् ब्रह्मपरो व्रतान्यास्थाय पार्थिव॥
prajāpatiḥ prajāḥ pūrvamasṛjat tapasā vibhuḥ| kvacit kvacid brahmaparo vratānyāsthāya pārthiva||
It was through penances that the powerful Lord of all creatures, O king, practising vows at particular intervals, created all existent objects.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.16
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रास्तथैवाग्न्यश्विमारुताः। विश्वेदेवास्तथा साध्याः पितरोऽथ मरुद्गणाः॥ यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्चान्ये दिवौकसः। संसिद्धास्तपसा तात ये चान्ये स्वर्गवासिनः॥
ādityā vasavo rudrāstathaivāgnyaśvimārutāḥ| viśvedevāstathā sādhyāḥ pitaro'tha marudgaṇāḥ|| yakṣarākṣasagandharvāḥ siddhāścānye divaukasaḥ| saṃsiddhāstapasā tāta ye cānye svargavāsinaḥ||
The Aditya's, the Vasus, the Rudras, Agni, the Ashvins, the Maruts, the Vishvedevas, the Saddhyas, the Pitris, the Maruts, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas, the Siddhas and the other Inhabitants of heaven, and indeed, all other celestials whatever, O child, have all become successful through their penances.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.17
ये चादौ ब्राह्मणाः सृष्टा ब्रह्मणा तपसा पुरा। ते भावयन्तः पृथिवीं विचरन्ति दिवं तथा॥
ye cādau brāhmaṇāḥ sṛṣṭā brahmaṇā tapasā purā| te bhāvayantaḥ pṛthivīṃ vicaranti divaṃ tathā||
Those Brahmanas whom Brahman created at the beginning, succeeded through their penances in honouring not the Earth alone but the heaven also in which they moved about at pleasure.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.18
मर्त्यलोके च राजानो ये चान्ये गृहमेधिनः। महाकुलेषु दृश्यन्ते तत् सर्वं तपसः फलम्॥
martyaloke ca rājāno ye cānye gṛhamedhinaḥ| mahākuleṣu dṛśyante tat sarvaṃ tapasaḥ phalam||
In this world of men, they who are kings and those others who are householders born in high families, have all become what they are on account of their penances.,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.19
कौशिकानि च वस्त्राणि शुभान्याभरणानि च। वाहनासनपानानि तत् सर्वं तपसः फलम्॥
kauśikāni ca vastrāṇi śubhānyābharaṇāni ca| vāhanāsanapānāni tat sarvaṃ tapasaḥ phalam||
The silken dresses they put on the excellent ornaments that decorate their persons, the animals and vehicles they ride, and the seats they use are all the outcome of their penances.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.20
मनोऽनुकूलाः प्रमदा रूपवत्यः सहस्रशः। वासः प्रासादपृष्ठे च तत् सर्वं तपसः फलम्॥
mano'nukūlāḥ pramadā rūpavatyaḥ sahasraśaḥ| vāsaḥ prāsādapṛṣṭhe ca tat sarvaṃ tapasaḥ phalam||
Thousands of many charming and beautiful damsels, that they enjoy, and their residence in palaces, are all on account of their penances.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.21
शयनानि च मुख्यानि भोज्यानि विविधानि च। अभिप्रेतानि सर्वाणि भवन्ति शुभकर्मिणाम्॥
śayanāni ca mukhyāni bhojyāni vividhāni ca| abhipretāni sarvāṇi bhavanti śubhakarmiṇām||
The righteous persons enjoy various sorts of costly beds and sweet viands,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.22
नाप्राप्यं तपसः किंचित् त्रैलोक्येऽपि परंतप। उपभोगपरित्यागः फलान्यकृतकर्मणाम्॥
nāprāpyaṃ tapasaḥ kiṃcit trailokye'pi paraṃtapa| upabhogaparityāgaḥ phalānyakṛtakarmaṇām||
There is nothing in the three worlds, O scorcher of enemies, that penances cannot bring in. Even those who are shorn of true knowledge acquire Renunciation through their penances.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.23
सुखितो दुःखितो वापि नरो लाभं परित्यजेत्। अवेक्ष्य मनसा शास्त्रं बुद्ध्या च नृपसत्तम॥
sukhito duḥkhito vāpi naro lābhaṃ parityajet| avekṣya manasā śāstraṃ buddhyā ca nṛpasattama||
Whether in rich circumstances or miserable, a person should renounce cupidity, meditating on the scriptures, with the help of his mind and understanding, O best of kings.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.24
असंतोषोऽसुखायेति लोभादिन्द्रियसम्भ्रमः। ततोऽस्य नश्यति प्रज्ञा विद्येवाभ्यासवर्जिता।॥
asaṃtoṣo'sukhāyeti lobhādindriyasambhramaḥ| tato'sya naśyati prajñā vidyevābhyāsavarjitā|||
Discontent produces misery. Cupidity brings on stupefaction of the senses. The senses being stupefied, one's wisdom is lost like knowledge not kept up by continued application.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.25
नष्टप्रज्ञो यदा तु स्यात् तदा न्यायं न पश्यति। तस्मात् सुखक्षये प्राप्ते पुमानुग्रं तपश्चरेत्॥
naṣṭaprajño yadā tu syāt tadā nyāyaṃ na paśyati| tasmāt sukhakṣaye prāpte pumānugraṃ tapaścaret||
When one's wisdom is lost, he cannot discriminate what is proper from what is improper. Hence, when one's happiness is destroyed he should practise the austerest of penances.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.26
यदिष्टं तत् सुखं प्राहुद्देष्यं दुःखमिहेष्यते। कृताकृतस्य तपस: फलं पश्यस्व यादृशम्॥
yadiṣṭaṃ tat sukhaṃ prāhuddeṣyaṃ duḥkhamiheṣyate| kṛtākṛtasya tapasa: phalaṃ paśyasva yādṛśam||
Wheat is agreeable is called happiness. What is disagreeable is called misery. Happiness is the outcome of penances practisted. When they are not practised, the outcome is misery. See the fruits of practising and abstaining from penances.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.27
नित्यं भद्राणि पश्यन्ति विषयांश्चोपभुञ्जते।। प्राकाश्यं चैव गच्छन्ति कृत्वा निष्कल्मषं तपः॥
nityaṃ bhadrāṇi paśyanti viṣayāṃścopabhuñjate|| prākāśyaṃ caiva gacchanti kṛtvā niṣkalmaṣaṃ tapaḥ||
By practising pure penances, people always enjoy auspicious consequences of every sort, enjoy all good things, and acquire great fame.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.28
अप्रियाण्यवमानांश्च दुःखं बहुविधात्मकम्। फलार्थी तत्फलं त्यक्त्वा प्राप्नोति विषयात्मकम्॥
apriyāṇyavamānāṃśca duḥkhaṃ bahuvidhātmakam| phalārthī tatphalaṃ tyaktvā prāpnoti viṣayātmakam||
He, however, who, by abandoning (pure penances), undertakes penances from desire of fruit, suffers from many disagreeable consequences, and disgrace and sorrow of all sorts, as the fruits thereof, all of which originate from worldly possessions.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.29
धर्मे तपसि दाने च विचिकित्सास्य जायते। स कृत्वा पापकान्येव निरयं प्रतिपद्यते॥
dharme tapasi dāne ca vicikitsāsya jāyate| sa kṛtvā pāpakānyeva nirayaṃ pratipadyate||
Despite the desirability of practising virtue, penances, and gifts, the desire for doing all sorts of forbidden acts originates in his mind. By thus perpetrating various sorts of sinful deeds, he goes to hell.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.30
सुखे तु वर्तमानो वै दुःखे वापि नरोत्तमा सुवृत्ताद् यो न चलते शास्त्रचक्षुः स मानवः॥
sukhe tu vartamāno vai duḥkhe vāpi narottamā suvṛttād yo na calate śāstracakṣuḥ sa mānavaḥ||
That person, O best of men, who, in both happiness and misery, does deviate from the duties ordained for him, is said to have the scriptures for his eye.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.31
इषुप्रपातमात्रं हि स्पर्शयोगे रतिः स्मृता। रसने दर्शने घ्राणे श्रवणे च विशाम्पते।॥
iṣuprapātamātraṃ hi sparśayoge ratiḥ smṛtā| rasane darśane ghrāṇe śravaṇe ca viśāmpate|||
It is said that the pleasure one gets from the gratification of his senses of touch, tongue, sight, smell, and hearing, O king, lasts only so long as an arrow shot off the bow takes in falling down upon the Earth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.32
ततोऽस्य जायते तीव्रा वेदना तक्षयात् पुनः। अबुधा न प्रशंसन्ति मोक्षं सुखमनुत्तमम्॥
tato'sya jāyate tīvrā vedanā takṣayāt punaḥ| abudhā na praśaṃsanti mokṣaṃ sukhamanuttamam||
Upon the termination of the pleasure, which is fickle, on suffers the most acute pain. It is only the senseless that do not speak highly of happiness of Liberation which is peerless.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.33
ततः फलार्थं सर्वस्य भवन्ति ज्यायसे गुणाः। धर्मवृत्त्या च सततं कामार्थाभ्यां न हीयते॥
tataḥ phalārthaṃ sarvasya bhavanti jyāyase guṇāḥ| dharmavṛttyā ca satataṃ kāmārthābhyāṃ na hīyate||
Seeing the misery consequent upon the gratification of the senses, the wise cultivate the virtues of tranquillity and self-control for the purpose of acquiring Liberation. On account of righteous conduct, riches and pleasure can never succeed in afflicting them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.34
अप्रयत्नागताः सेव्या गृहस्थैविषयाः सदा। प्रयत्नेनोपगम्यश्च स्वधर्म इति मे मतिः॥
aprayatnāgatāḥ sevyā gṛhasthaiviṣayāḥ sadā| prayatnenopagamyaśca svadharma iti me matiḥ||
Householders may, without any compunction, enjoy riches and other possessions which are acquired with Exertion. About the duties of their order, I think, they should satisfy them with the help of Exertion.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.35
मानिनां कुलजातानां नित्यं शास्त्रार्थचक्षुषाम्। क्रियाधर्मविमुक्तानामशक्त्या संवृतात्मनाम्॥
mānināṃ kulajātānāṃ nityaṃ śāstrārthacakṣuṣām| kriyādharmavimuktānāmaśaktyā saṃvṛtātmanām||
The practice of those who are honoured, who are born in high families, and who have their eyes always turned towards the meaning of the Scriptures, is incapable of being followed by those who are sinful and who have uncontrolled minds.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.36
क्रियमाणं यदा कर्म नाशं गच्छति मानुषम्। तेषां नान्यदृते लोके तपसः कर्म विद्यते॥
kriyamāṇaṃ yadā karma nāśaṃ gacchati mānuṣam| teṣāṃ nānyadṛte loke tapasaḥ karma vidyate||
All acts that are done by man under the influence of pride, meet with destruction. Therefore, there is no other act, for the respectable and the truly righteous, in this world to do than penance.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.37
सर्वात्मनानुकुर्वीत गृहस्थः कर्मनिश्चयम्। दाक्ष्येण हव्यकव्यार्थं स्वधर्मे विचरन् नृप।॥
sarvātmanānukurvīta gṛhasthaḥ karmaniścayam| dākṣyeṇa havyakavyārthaṃ svadharme vicaran nṛpa|||
As regards, those householders, however, who are addicted to acts, they should, with their whole hearts, perform acts. Following the duties of their order, O king, they should with diligence and assiduity celebrate sacrifices and other religious rites.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 122.38
यथा नदीनदाः सर्वे सागरे यान्ति संस्थितम्। एवमाश्रमिणः सर्वे गृहस्थे यान्ति संस्थितिम्॥
yathā nadīnadāḥ sarve sāgare yānti saṃsthitam| evamāśramiṇaḥ sarve gṛhasthe yānti saṃsthitim||
Indeed, as all rivers, male and female, go in the end to the Ocean, so men belonging to all the other orders have the householders for their refuge.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)