Mahabharata — Volume VIII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 61
MBh 8 61.1
व्यास उवाच भूतग्रामे नियुक्तं यत् तदेतत् कीर्तितं मया। ब्राह्मणस्य तु यत् कृत्यं तत् ते वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु॥
vyāsa uvāca bhūtagrāme niyuktaṃ yat tadetat kīrtitaṃ mayā| brāhmaṇasya tu yat kṛtyaṃ tat te vakṣyāmi tacchṛṇu||
Vyasa said-I have described to you fully that which you had asked me about the Creation of all beings. Listen to me as I tell you now what the duties are of a Brahmana.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.2
जातकर्मप्रभृत्यस्य कर्मणां दक्षिणावताम्। क्रिया स्यादासमावृत्तेराचार्ये वेदपारगे॥
jātakarmaprabhṛtyasya karmaṇāṃ dakṣiṇāvatām| kriyā syādāsamāvṛtterācārye vedapārage||
The rituals of all ceremonies for which sacrificial fees are sanctioned, beginning with birth-rite and ending with Sama-vartana (return from preceptor's house) depend for their performance upon a preceptor well-versed in the Vedas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.3
अधीत्य वेदानखिलान् गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतः। गुरूणामनृणो भूत्वा समावर्तेत यज्ञवित्॥
adhītya vedānakhilān guruśuśrūṣaṇe rataḥ| gurūṇāmanṛṇo bhūtvā samāvarteta yajñavit||
Having read all the Vedas and having showed submission towards his preceptor while living with him, and having paid the preceptor's fee, the youth should return home with a perfect knowledge of all sacrifices.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.4
आचार्येणाभ्यनुज्ञातश्चतुर्णामेकमाश्रमम्। आविमोक्षाच्छरीरस्य सोऽवतिष्ठेद् यथाविधि॥
ācāryeṇābhyanujñātaścaturṇāmekamāśramam| āvimokṣāccharīrasya so'vatiṣṭhed yathāvidhi||
Obtaining the permission of his preceptor, he should follow one of the four modes of life and live in it duly satisfying its duties till he renounces his body.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.5
प्रजासर्गेण दारैश्च ब्रह्मचर्येण वा पुनः! वने गुरुसकाशे वा यतिधर्मेण वा पुनः॥
prajāsargeṇa dāraiśca brahmacaryeṇa vā punaḥ! vane gurusakāśe vā yatidharmeṇa vā punaḥ||
He should either live like a house-holder with wives and engaged in creating offspring, or live the life of celibacy or in the forest in the company of his preceptor, or follow the duties of a Yati.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.6
गृहस्थस्त्वेष धर्माणां सर्वेषां मूलमुच्यते। यत्र पक्वकषायो हि दान्तः सर्वत्र सिध्यति॥
gṛhasthastveṣa dharmāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ mūlamucyate| yatra pakvakaṣāyo hi dāntaḥ sarvatra sidhyati||
A house-holder's life is said to be the root of all the other modes of life. A self-controlled house-holder who has mastered all his attachments of worldly objects always becomes successful.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.7
प्रजावाश्रोत्रियो यज्वा मुक्त एव ऋणैस्त्रिभिः। अथान्यानाश्रमान् पश्चात् पूतो गच्छेत कर्मभिः॥
prajāvāśrotriyo yajvā mukta eva ṛṇaistribhiḥ| athānyānāśramān paścāt pūto gaccheta karmabhiḥ||
By procreating children, by gaining a knowledge of the Vedas, and by celebrating sacrifices, a Brahmana satisfies the three debts he owes. He should then enter the other inodes of life, having purified himself by his acts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.8
यत् पृथिव्यां पुण्यतमं विद्यात् स्थानं तदावसेत्। यतेत तस्मिन् प्रामाण्यं गन्तुं यशसि चोत्तमे॥
yat pṛthivyāṃ puṇyatamaṃ vidyāt sthānaṃ tadāvaset| yateta tasmin prāmāṇyaṃ gantuṃ yaśasi cottame||
He should live for good in that place which he may ascertain to be the most sacred spot on earth, and he should try, in all matters leading to fame, for attaining to an eminent position.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.9
तपसा वा सुमहता विद्यानां पारणेन वा। इज्यया वा प्रदानैर्वा विप्राणां वर्धते यशः॥
tapasā vā sumahatā vidyānāṃ pāraṇena vā| ijyayā vā pradānairvā viprāṇāṃ vardhate yaśaḥ||
The fame of Brahmanas increases through austere penances, through mastery of the various branches of knowledge, through sacrifices, and through gifts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.10
यावदस्य भवत्यस्मिन् कीर्तिर्लोके यशस्करी! तावत् पुण्यकृता लोकाननन्तान् पुरुषोऽश्नुते॥
yāvadasya bhavatyasmin kīrtirloke yaśaskarī! tāvat puṇyakṛtā lokānanantān puruṣo'śnute||
Truly, a person enjoys endless regions of the righteous as long as his deeds or the memory thereof exists in this world.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.11
अध्यापयेदधीयीत याजयेत यजेत वा। न वृथा प्रतिगृह्णीयान च दद्यात् कथंचना॥
adhyāpayedadhīyīta yājayeta yajeta vā| na vṛthā pratigṛhṇīyāna ca dadyāt kathaṃcanā||
A Brahmana should teach, study, officiate at other people's sacrifices, and offer sacrifices himself. He should not give away uselessly or accept other people's gifts uselessly.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.12
याज्यतः शिष्यतो वापि कन्याया वा धनं महत्। यदाऽऽगच्छेद् यजेद् दद्यान्नकोऽश्नीयात् कथंचन॥
yājyataḥ śiṣyato vāpi kanyāyā vā dhanaṃ mahat| yadā''gacched yajed dadyānnako'śnīyāt kathaṃcana||
Profuse wealth, that may come from one who is assisted in a sacrifice, from a pupil, or from marriage of a daughter, should be spent in the celebration of a sacrifice, or in making gifts. Wealth coming from any of these sources should never be enjoyed by a Brahmana alone.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.13
गृहमावसतो ह्यस्य नान्यत तीर्थं प्रतिग्रहात्। देवर्षिपितृगुर्वर्थं वृद्धातुरबुभुक्षताम्॥
gṛhamāvasato hyasya nānyata tīrthaṃ pratigrahāt| devarṣipitṛgurvarthaṃ vṛddhāturabubhukṣatām||
For a Brahmana living like a house-holder, there is no means save the acceptance of gifts for the sake of the gods, or the Rishis, or the Pitris, or the preceptor, or the aged, or the diseased, or the hungry.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.14
अन्तर्हिताधितप्तानां यथाशक्ति बुभूषताम्। देवानामतिशक्त्यापि देयमेषा कृतादपि॥
antarhitādhitaptānāṃ yathāśakti bubhūṣatām| devānāmatiśaktyāpi deyameṣā kṛtādapi||
One should make gifts from his own siock, including even cooked food, more than he can fairly afford, to those who are persecuted by unseen foes, or those who are trying to the best of their power to acquire Knowledge.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.15
अर्हतामनुरूपाणां नादेय ह्यस्ति किंचन। उचैःश्रवसमप्यश्चं प्रापणीयं सतां विदुः॥
arhatāmanurūpāṇāṃ nādeya hyasti kiṃcana| ucaiḥśravasamapyaścaṃ prāpaṇīyaṃ satāṃ viduḥ||
There is nothing that cannot be given to a deserving person. The good and the wise deserve to have even the best of horses, called Uchchaishravas, belonging to Indra himself.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.16
अनुनीय यथाकामं सत्यसंधो महाव्रतः। स्वैः प्राणैाह्मणप्राणान् परित्राय दिवं गतः॥
anunīya yathākāmaṃ satyasaṃdho mahāvrataḥ| svaiḥ prāṇaiāhmaṇaprāṇān paritrāya divaṃ gataḥ||
Of high vows, Satyasanaha, having, with due humility, offered his own life for saving a Brahmana, ascended to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.17
रन्तिदेवश्च सांकृत्यो वसिष्ठाय महात्मने। अप: प्रदाय शीतोष्णा नाकपृष्ठे महीयते॥
rantidevaśca sāṃkṛtyo vasiṣṭhāya mahātmane| apa: pradāya śītoṣṇā nākapṛṣṭhe mahīyate||
Sankriti's son Rantideva, having given only lukewarm water to the great Vasistha, ascended to heaven and received great honours there.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.18
आत्रेयश्चेन्द्रदमनो ह्यहते विविधं धनम्। दत्त्वा लोकान् ययौ धीमाननन्तान् स महीपतिः॥
ātreyaścendradamano hyahate vividhaṃ dhanam| dattvā lokān yayau dhīmānanantān sa mahīpatiḥ||
Aftri's royal and highly intelligent son Indradamana, having given various kinds of wealth to a deserving person, acquired various regions of felicity in the next world,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.19
शिबिरौशीनरोऽङ्गानि सुतं च प्रियमौरसम्। ब्राह्मणार्थमुपाहृत्य नाकपृष्ठमितो गतः॥
śibirauśīnaro'ṅgāni sutaṃ ca priyamaurasam| brāhmaṇārthamupāhṛtya nākapṛṣṭhamito gataḥ||
Ushinara's son Shivi, having given away his own limbs and his dear son for the sake of a Brahmana, ascended to heaven from this world.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.20
प्रतर्दनः काशिपतिः प्रदाय नयने स्वके। ब्राह्मणायातुलां कीर्तिमिह चामुत्र चाश्नुते॥
pratardanaḥ kāśipatiḥ pradāya nayane svake| brāhmaṇāyātulāṃ kīrtimiha cāmutra cāśnute||
Having given away his very eyes to a Brahmana, Pratarddana, the king of Kasi, enjoyed great fame both here and hereafter.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.21
दिव्यमष्टशलाकं तु सौवर्णं परमर्द्धिमत्। छत्रं देवावृधो दत्त्वा सराष्ट्रोऽभ्यपतद् दिवम्॥
divyamaṣṭaśalākaṃ tu sauvarṇaṃ paramarddhimat| chatraṃ devāvṛdho dattvā sarāṣṭro'bhyapatad divam||
Having given away a very beautiful and costly umbrella, with eight golden ribs, King Devavriddha proceeded to heaven with all the denizens of his kingdom.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.22
सांकृतिश्च तथाऽऽत्रेय: शिष्येभ्यो ब्रह्म निर्गुणम्। उपदिश्य महातेजा गतो लोकाननुत्तमान्॥
sāṃkṛtiśca tathā''treya: śiṣyebhyo brahma nirguṇam| upadiśya mahātejā gato lokānanuttamān||
Having given instruction to his disciples on the subject of Impersonal Brahma, Sanskriti of Atri's race, endued with great energy, proceeded to the regions of great felicity.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.23
अम्बरीषो गवां दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रतापवान्। अर्बुदानि दशैकं च सराष्ट्रोऽभ्यपतद् दिवम्॥
ambarīṣo gavāṃ dattvā brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pratāpavān| arbudāni daśaikaṃ ca sarāṣṭro'bhyapatad divam||
Having given to the Brahmanas eleven Arvudas of kine, Amvarisha of great prowess, proceeded to heaven with all the denizens of his kingdom.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.24
सावित्री कुण्डले दिव्ये शरीरं जनमेजयः। ब्राह्मणार्थं परित्यज्य जग्मतुलॊज्ञकमुत्तमम्॥
sāvitrī kuṇḍale divye śarīraṃ janamejayaḥ| brāhmaṇārthaṃ parityajya jagmatulòjñakamuttamam||
By giving away her ear-rings, Savitri, and, by giving away his own body, king Janamejaya both proceeded to high regions of felicity.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.25
सर्वरत्नं वृषादर्भिर्युवनाश्वः प्रियाः स्त्रियः। रम्यमावसथं चैव दत्वा स्वर्लोकमास्थितः॥
sarvaratnaṃ vṛṣādarbhiryuvanāśvaḥ priyāḥ striyaḥ| ramyamāvasathaṃ caiva datvā svarlokamāsthitaḥ||
By giving away various kinds of gems, a fine palace, and inany beautiful women, Yuvanashva the son of Vrishadabha ascended to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.26
निमी राष्ट्रं च वैदेहो जामदग्न्यो वसुन्धराम्। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ चापि गयश्चार्वी सपत्तनाम्॥
nimī rāṣṭraṃ ca vaideho jāmadagnyo vasundharām| brāhmaṇebhyo dadau cāpi gayaścārvī sapattanām||
Nimi, the king the Videhas, gave away his kingdom, Jamadagni's son (Rama) gave away the whole Earth; and Gaya gave away the Earth with all her towns and cities, to the Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.27
अवर्षति च पर्जन्ये सर्वभूतानि भूतकृत्। वसिष्ठो जीवयामास प्रजापतिरिव प्रजाः॥
avarṣati ca parjanye sarvabhūtāni bhūtakṛt| vasiṣṭho jīvayāmāsa prajāpatiriva prajāḥ||
Once when the clouds ceased to pour, Vashishtha, resembling Brahman himself, kept alive all creatures like Prajapati (by his power and kindness).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.28
करन्धमस्य पुत्रस्तु कृतात्मा मरुतस्तथा। कन्यामङ्गिरसे दत्त्वा दिवमाशु जगाम ह॥
karandhamasya putrastu kṛtātmā marutastathā| kanyāmaṅgirase dattvā divamāśu jagāma ha||
By giving away his daughter to Angiras, Karandha's son Marutta of purified soul, quickly ascended to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.29
ब्रह्मदत्तश्च पाञ्चाल्यो राजा बुद्धिमतां वरः। निधि शङ्ख द्विजाग्रेभ्यो दत्त्वा लोकानवाप्तवान्॥
brahmadattaśca pāñcālyo rājā buddhimatāṃ varaḥ| nidhi śaṅkha dvijāgrebhyo dattvā lokānavāptavān||
Brahmadatta, the king of the Panchalas, possessed of great intelligence, by giving away two costly jewels called Nidhi and Shankha to some of the foremost of the Brahmanas, acquired many regions of felicity.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.30
राजा मित्रसहश्चापि वसिष्ठाय महात्मने। मदयन्तीं प्रियां दत्त्वा तया सह दिवं गतः॥
rājā mitrasahaścāpi vasiṣṭhāya mahātmane| madayantīṃ priyāṃ dattvā tayā saha divaṃ gataḥ||
Having given his own dear wife Mayadanti to the great Vasistha, King Mitrasaha ascenued to heaven with that wife of his.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.31
सहस्रजिच्च राजर्षिः प्राणानिष्टान् महायशाः। ब्राह्मणार्थं परित्यज्य गतो लोकाननुत्तमान्॥
sahasrajicca rājarṣiḥ prāṇāniṣṭān mahāyaśāḥ| brāhmaṇārthaṃ parityajya gato lokānanuttamān||
The royal and highly illustrious sage Shasrajit, having cast off his own dear life for the sake of a Brahmana, ascended to regions of great happiness.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.32
सर्वकामैश्च सम्पूर्णं दत्त्वा वेश्म हिरण्मयम्। मुद्गलाय गतः स्वर्गं शतद्युम्नो महीपतिः॥
sarvakāmaiśca sampūrṇaṃ dattvā veśma hiraṇmayam| mudgalāya gataḥ svargaṃ śatadyumno mahīpatiḥ||
Having given to Mudgala a golden palace furnished with every object of comfort and use, king shatadyumna ascended to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.33
नाम्ना च द्युतिमान् नाम शाल्वराजः प्रतापवान्। दत्त्वा राज्यमृचीकाय गतो लोकाननुत्तमान्॥
nāmnā ca dyutimān nāma śālvarājaḥ pratāpavān| dattvā rājyamṛcīkāya gato lokānanuttamān||
The king of the Shalvas, named Dyatimat, endued with great prowess gave to Richika his entire kingdom and ascended to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.34
लोमपादश्च राजर्षिः शान्तां दत्त्वा सुतां प्रभुः। ऋष्य शृङ्गाय विपुलैः सर्वकामैरयुज्यत॥ मदिराश्वश्च राजर्षिर्दत्त्वा कन्यां सुमध्यमाम्। हिरण्यहस्ताय गतो लोकान् देवैरभिष्टुतान्॥
lomapādaśca rājarṣiḥ śāntāṃ dattvā sutāṃ prabhuḥ| ṛṣya śṛṅgāya vipulaiḥ sarvakāmairayujyata|| madirāśvaśca rājarṣirdattvā kanyāṃ sumadhyamām| hiraṇyahastāya gato lokān devairabhiṣṭutān||
By giving away daughter Shanta to Rishyarshringa, the highly powerful royal sage Lomapada obtained the fruition of all his wishes. By giving away his slender waisted daughter of Hiranyahasta, the royal sage Madirashva, ascended to regions esteemed of the very gods.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.35
दत्त्वा शतसहस्रं तु गवां राजा प्रसेनजित्। सवत्सानां महातेजा गतो लोकाननुत्तमान्॥
dattvā śatasahasraṃ tu gavāṃ rājā prasenajit| savatsānāṃ mahātejā gato lokānanuttamān||
By giving away a hundred thousand kine with calves, the highly energetic king Prasenajit ascended to excellent regions of happiness.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.36
एते चान्ये च बहवो दानेन तपसैव च। महात्मानो गताः स्वर्ग शिष्टात्मानो जितेन्द्रियाः॥
ete cānye ca bahavo dānena tapasaiva ca| mahātmāno gatāḥ svarga śiṣṭātmāno jitendriyāḥ||
These and many others, endued with great and well-ordered souls, and having their senses under control, ascended, by means of gifts and penances, to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 61.37
तेषां प्रतिष्ठिता कीर्तिर्यावत् स्थाम्यति मेदिनी। दानयज्ञप्रजासगैरेते हि दिवमाप्नुवन्॥
teṣāṃ pratiṣṭhitā kīrtiryāvat sthāmyati medinī| dānayajñaprajāsagairete hi divamāpnuvan||
Their fame will last as long as the Earth lierself will exist. All of them have, by gifts and sacrifices and procreation of children proceeded to heaven.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)