Mahabharata — Volume VIII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 69

MBh 8 69.1

शुक उवाच क्षरात्प्रभृति यः सर्गः सगुणानीन्द्रियाणि च। बुद्ध्यैश्वर्यातिसर्गोऽयं प्रधानश्चात्मनः श्रुतम्॥

śuka uvāca kṣarātprabhṛti yaḥ sargaḥ saguṇānīndriyāṇi ca| buddhyaiśvaryātisargo'yaṃ pradhānaścātmanaḥ śrutam||

Shuka said I have now understood that there are two kinds of creation, viz., one universal emanating from the (universal) Soul. The other consisting of the senses with their objects, originates from the power of the Understanding. This last transcends the other and is considered to be the foremost.

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

MBh 8 69.2

भूय एव तु लोकेऽस्मिन् सवृत्तिं कालहैतुकीम्। यया सन्तः प्रवर्तन्ते तदिच्छाम्यनुवर्तितुम्॥

bhūya eva tu loke'smin savṛttiṃ kālahaitukīm| yayā santaḥ pravartante tadicchāmyanuvartitum||

I wish however, to once more hear of that path of righteousness which runs in this world, regulated by the virtue of Time and according to which all good men form their conduct.

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

MBh 8 69.3

वेदे वचनमुक्तं तु कुरु कर्म त्यजेति च। कथमेतद् विजानीयां तच्च व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥

vede vacanamuktaṃ tu kuru karma tyajeti ca| kathametad vijānīyāṃ tacca vyākhyātumarhasi||

In the Vedas there are both kinds of saying, do acts and avoid acts. How shall I succeed in determining which of the two is right? You should explain this clearly.

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

MBh 8 69.4

लोकवृत्तान्ततत्त्वज्ञः पूतोऽहं गुरुशासनात्। कृत्वा बुद्धिं विमुक्तात्मा द्रक्ष्याम्यात्मानमव्ययम्॥

lokavṛttāntatattvajñaḥ pūto'haṃ guruśāsanāt| kṛtvā buddhiṃ vimuktātmā drakṣyāmyātmānamavyayam||

Having acquired through your instructions, a thorough knowledge of the course of conduct of human beings, having purified myself by the practice of only righteousness, and having cleansed my understanding, I shall, after renouncing my body, see the indestructible Soul.

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

MBh 8 69.5

व्यास उवाच यथा वै विहिता वृत्तिः पुर ताद् ब्रह्मणा स्वयम्। एषा पूर्वतरैः सद्भिराचीर्णा परमर्षिभिः॥

vyāsa uvāca yathā vai vihitā vṛttiḥ pura tād brahmaṇā svayam| eṣā pūrvataraiḥ sadbhirācīrṇā paramarṣibhiḥ||

The course of conduct that was fist laid down by Brahman himself was duly followed by the wise and pious persons of yore viz., the great Rishis of ancient times.

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

MBh 8 69.6

ब्रह्मचर्येण वै लोकान् जयन्ति परमर्षयः। आत्मनश्च ततः श्रेयांस्यन्विच्छन् मनसाऽऽत्मनि॥ वने मूलफलाशी च तप्यन् सुविपुलं तपः। पुण्यायतनचारी च भूतानामविहिंसकः॥ विधूमे सन्नमुसले वानप्रस्थप्रतिश्रये। काले प्राप्ते चरन् भैक्ष्यं कल्पते ब्रह्मभूयसे॥

brahmacaryeṇa vai lokān jayanti paramarṣayaḥ| ātmanaśca tataḥ śreyāṃsyanvicchan manasā''tmani|| vane mūlaphalāśī ca tapyan suvipulaṃ tapaḥ| puṇyāyatanacārī ca bhūtānāmavihiṃsakaḥ|| vidhūme sannamusale vānaprasthapratiśraye| kāle prāpte caran bhaikṣyaṃ kalpate brahmabhūyase||

The great Rishis conquer all the worlds by the practice of celebacy. Seeking all things which are good for himself, by fixing the mind the understanding, practising austerities, by living in forest and lying on fruits and roots, by treading on sacred spots, by practising universal benevolence, and by begging alms at the proper time from the huts of herinits when these become smokeless and the sound of the husking rod is hushed a person attains to Brahma.

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

MBh 8 69.7

नि:स्तुतिनिर्ममस्कारः परित्यज्य शुभाशुभे। अरण्ये विचरैकाकी येन केनचिदाशितः॥

ni:stutinirmamaskāraḥ parityajya śubhāśubhe| araṇye vicaraikākī yena kenacidāśitaḥ||

Abstaining from flattery and from bowing your head to others, and avoiding both good and evil, live in the forest alone appeasing hunger by any means that presents itself before you.

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

MBh 8 69.8

शुक उवाच यदिदं वेदवचनं लोकवादे विरुध्यते। प्रमाणे वाप्रमाणे च विरुद्ध शास्त्रता कुतः॥

śuka uvāca yadidaṃ vedavacanaṃ lokavāde virudhyate| pramāṇe vāpramāṇe ca viruddha śāstratā kutaḥ||

The saying of the Vedas are, in the opinion of the ordinary person, contradictory. Whether on severe ! this is authoritative or that is so, when there is this conflict, how can they be considered to be spiritual.

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

MBh 8 69.9

इत्येतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि प्रमाणं तूभयं कथम्। कर्मणामविरोधेन कथं मोक्षः प्रवर्तते॥

ityetacchrotumicchāmi pramāṇaṃ tūbhayaṃ katham| karmaṇāmavirodhena kathaṃ mokṣaḥ pravartate||

I wish to hear this; how can both be considered as authoritative. How indeed, can liberation be obtained without violating the ordinance regarding the obligatory character of acts.

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

MBh 8 69.10

भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तः प्रत्युवाचेदं गन्धवत्याः सुतः सुतम्। ऋषिस्तत्पूजयन् वाक्यं पुत्रस्यामिततेजसः॥

bhīṣma uvāca ityuktaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ gandhavatyāḥ sutaḥ sutam| ṛṣistatpūjayan vākyaṃ putrasyāmitatejasaḥ||

Bhishma said Thus addressed the son of Gandhavati, viz., the Rishi, praising these words of his highly energetic son, replied to him as follows.

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

MBh 8 69.11

व्यास उवाच ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थोऽथ भिक्षुकः। यथोक्तचारिणः सर्वे गच्छन्ति परमां गतिम्॥

vyāsa uvāca brahmacārī gṛhasthaśca vānaprastho'tha bhikṣukaḥ| yathoktacāriṇaḥ sarve gacchanti paramāṃ gatim||

Vyasa said One who is a Brahmacharin, one who lives like a house-holder, one who is a herinit and one who lives like a mendicant, all reach the same high end by duly satisfying the duties of their respective modes of life.

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

MBh 8 69.12

एको वाप्याश्रमानेतान् योऽनुतिष्ठेद् यथाविधि। अकामद्वेषसंयुक्तः स परत्र विधीयते॥

eko vāpyāśramānetān yo'nutiṣṭhed yathāvidhi| akāmadveṣasaṃyuktaḥ sa paratra vidhīyate||

Or if one, and the same person, shorn of desire and aversion, follows (one after another) all these four modes of life according to the ordinances that have been laid down, he is certainly gratified (by such conduct) to understand Brahma.

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

MBh 8 69.13

चतुष्पदी हि निःश्रेणी ब्रह्मण्येषा प्रतिष्ठिता। एतामारुह्य निःश्रेणी ब्रह्मलोके महीयते॥

catuṣpadī hi niḥśreṇī brahmaṇyeṣā pratiṣṭhitā| etāmāruhya niḥśreṇī brahmaloke mahīyate||

The four modes of life form a ladder or flight of steps. That fight attaches to Brahma. By ascending that flight one reaches the region of Brahma.

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

MBh 8 69.14

आयुषस्तु चतुर्भागं ब्रह्मचार्यनसूयकः। गुरौ वा गुरुपुत्रे वा वसेद् धर्मार्थकोविदः॥

āyuṣastu caturbhāgaṃ brahmacāryanasūyakaḥ| gurau vā guruputre vā vased dharmārthakovidaḥ||

For following the fourth mode of life the Brahmacharya, conversant with the distinctions of duty and shorn of malice, should live with the preceptor or his preceptor's son.

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

MBh 8 69.15

जघन्यशायी पूर्वं स्यादुत्थाय गुरुवेश्मनि। यच्च शिष्येण कर्तव्यं कार्यं दासेन वा पुनः॥ कृतमित्येव तत्सर्वं कृत्वा तिष्ठेत पार्श्वतः। किंकरः सर्वकारी स्यात् सर्वकर्मसु कोविदः॥

jaghanyaśāyī pūrvaṃ syādutthāya guruveśmani| yacca śiṣyeṇa kartavyaṃ kāryaṃ dāsena vā punaḥ|| kṛtamityeva tatsarvaṃ kṛtvā tiṣṭheta pārśvataḥ| kiṃkaraḥ sarvakārī syāt sarvakarmasu kovidaḥ||

While living in the preceptor's house, he should seek bed after the preceptor has gone to his and rise therefrom before the preceptor rises from his. He should do all such acts again which a disciple as also a menial servant should do. Doing these he should humbly stand by his preceptor. Skilled in every kind of work, he should act like a menial servant, doing every act for his preceptor.

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

MBh 8 69.16

कर्मातिशेषेण गुरावध्येतव्यं बुभूषता। दक्षिणोऽनपवादी स्यादाहूतो गुरुमाश्रयेत्॥

karmātiśeṣeṇa gurāvadhyetavyaṃ bubhūṣatā| dakṣiṇo'napavādī syādāhūto gurumāśrayet||

Having performed all acts, he should study, sitting at the feet of his preceptor, with anxious desire to learn. He should always behave with simplicity, avoid evil speech, and take lessons only when his preceptor asks him for it.

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

MBh 8 69.17

शुचिर्दक्षो गुणोपेतो ब्रूयादिष्टमिवान्तरा। चक्षुषा गुरुमव्यग्रो निरीक्षेत जितेन्द्रियः॥

śucirdakṣo guṇopeto brūyādiṣṭamivāntarā| cakṣuṣā gurumavyagro nirīkṣeta jitendriyaḥ||

Becoming pure in body and mind, and acquiring cleverness and other virtues he should now and then speak what is pleasant, Controlling his senses he should look at his preceptor without curiosity.

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

MBh 8 69.18

नाभुक्तवति चाश्नीयादपीतवति नो पिबेत्। नातिष्ठति तथाऽऽसीत नासुप्ते प्रस्वपेत च॥

nābhuktavati cāśnīyādapītavati no pibet| nātiṣṭhati tathā''sīta nāsupte prasvapeta ca||

He should never eat before his preceptor has eaten; never drink before his preceptor has drunk; never sit down before is preceptor has sat down; and never go to bed before his preceptor has gone.

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

MBh 8 69.19

उत्तानाभ्यां च पाणिभ्यां पादावस्य मृदु स्पृशेत्। दक्षिणं दक्षिणेनैव सव्यं सव्येन पीडयेत्॥

uttānābhyāṃ ca pāṇibhyāṃ pādāvasya mṛdu spṛśet| dakṣiṇaṃ dakṣiṇenaiva savyaṃ savyena pīḍayet||

He should gently touch his preceptor's feet with palms, the right foot with the right hand and the left foot with the left.

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

MBh 8 69.20

अभिवाद्य गुरुं ब्रूयादधीष्व भगवन्निति। करिष्ये भगवन्निदं चापि कृतं मया।॥ ब्रह्मस्तदपि कर्तास्मि यद् भवान् वक्ष्यतेपुनः।

abhivādya guruṃ brūyādadhīṣva bhagavanniti| kariṣye bhagavannidaṃ cāpi kṛtaṃ mayā||| brahmastadapi kartāsmi yad bhavān vakṣyatepunaḥ|

Reverentially saluting the preceptor, he should say to him:-O illustrious one, teach me! I shall do this, O illustrious one! This ] have already done, O twice born one. I am ready to do whatever else your reverend self may be pleased to command.

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

MBh 8 69.21

इति सर्वमनुज्ञाप्य निवेद्य च यथाविधि॥ कुर्यात कृत्वा च तत्सर्वमाख्येयं गुरवे पुनः।

iti sarvamanujñāpya nivedya ca yathāvidhi|| kuryāta kṛtvā ca tatsarvamākhyeyaṃ gurave punaḥ|

Having said all this, and having duły offered himself (thus), he should perform whatever acts of his preceptor wait for doing and having completed them inform the preceptor once more that they have been done.

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

MBh 8 69.22

यांस्तु गन्धान् रसान् वापि ब्रह्मचारी न सेवते॥ सेवेत तान् समावृत्य इति धर्मेषु निश्चयः।

yāṃstu gandhān rasān vāpi brahmacārī na sevate|| seveta tān samāvṛtya iti dharmeṣu niścayaḥ|

What scents or tastes the Brahmacharin may abstain from while actually leading a life of celebacy may be used by him after his return from the preceptor's house. This is according to the ordinance.

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

MBh 8 69.23

ये केचिद् विस्तरेणोक्ता नियमा ब्रह्मचारिणः॥ तान् सर्वानाचरेन्नित्यं भवेच्चानपगो गुरोः।

ye kecid vistareṇoktā niyamā brahmacāriṇaḥ|| tān sarvānācarennityaṃ bhaveccānapago guroḥ|

Whatever observances have been laid down in full for Brahmacharins should all be regularly practised by him. He should all be regularly practised by him. He should be always at the beck and call of his preceptor.

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

MBh 8 69.24

स एवं गुरवे प्रीतिमुपहत्य यथाबलम्॥ आश्रमादाश्रमेष्वेव शिष्यो वर्तेत कर्मणा।

sa evaṃ gurave prītimupahatya yathābalam|| āśramādāśrameṣveva śiṣyo varteta karmaṇā|

Having pleased his preceptor in this way to the best of his powers, the disciple should, from that mode of life, enter into the others and practise the duties of each.

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

MBh 8 69.25

वेदव्रतोपवासेन चतुर्थे चायुषो गते॥ गुरवे दक्षिणां दत्त्वा समावर्तेद्यथाविधि॥

vedavratopavāsena caturthe cāyuṣo gate|| gurave dakṣiṇāṃ dattvā samāvartedyathāvidhi||

Having (thus) spent a fourth part of his life in the study of the Vedas, and observance of vows and fasts, and given the preceptor his fee, the disciple should, according to the ordinance, bidadicu and return home for becoming a house-holder.

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

MBh 8 69.26

धर्मलब्धैर्युतो दारैरग्नीनुत्पाद्य यत्नतः। द्वितीयमायुषो भागं गहमेधी भवेद् व्रती॥

dharmalabdhairyuto dārairagnīnutpādya yatnataḥ| dvitīyamāyuṣo bhāgaṃ gahamedhī bhaved vratī||

Then, having married according to the ordinances, and having carefully established the domestic fire, he should, observing all the Vows and fasts, become a house-holder and pass the second period of life. the disciple should, according to the ordinance, bidadicu and return home for becoming a house-holder.

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

MBh 8 69.27

धर्मलब्धैर्युतो दारैरग्नीनुत्पाद्य यत्नतः। द्वितीयमायुषो भागं गहमेधी भवेद् व्रती॥

dharmalabdhairyuto dārairagnīnutpādya yatnataḥ| dvitīyamāyuṣo bhāgaṃ gahamedhī bhaved vratī||

Then, having married according to the ordinances, and having carefully established the domestic fire, he should, observing all the Vows and fasts, become a house-holder and pass the second period of life.

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