Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 117

MBh 9 117.1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच अकामाश्च सकामाश्च ये हताः स्म महामृधे। कां गतिं प्रतिपन्नास्ते तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca akāmāśca sakāmāśca ye hatāḥ sma mahāmṛdhe| kāṃ gatiṃ pratipannāste tanme brūhi pitāmaha||

Yudhishthira said Wishing to die and wishing to live many persons surrender their lives in the great sacrifice (of battle). Tell me O grandfather what is the end that these attain to.

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

MBh 9 117.2

दुःखं प्राणपरित्यागः पुरुषाणां महामृधे। जानासि त्वं महाप्राज्ञ प्राणत्यागं सुदुष्करम्॥ समृद्धौ वासमृद्धौ वा शुभे वा यदि वाऽशुभे। कारणं तत्र में ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञो ह्यसि मे मतः॥

duḥkhaṃ prāṇaparityāgaḥ puruṣāṇāṃ mahāmṛdhe| jānāsi tvaṃ mahāprājña prāṇatyāgaṃ suduṣkaram|| samṛddhau vāsamṛddhau vā śubhe vā yadi vā'śubhe| kāraṇaṃ tatra meṃ brūhi sarvajño hyasi me mataḥ||

To give up life in battle is fraught with sorrow for men. O you of great wisdom you know that to give up life if difficult for men whether they are rich or poor or are in happiness or misery. In my opinion you are gifted with omniscience. Do you tell me the reason of this.

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

MBh 9 117.3

भीष्म उवाच समृद्धौ वासमृद्धौ वा शुभे वा यदि वाऽशुभे। संसारेऽस्मिन् समायाताः प्राणिनः पृथिवीपते॥

bhīṣma uvāca samṛddhau vāsamṛddhau vā śubhe vā yadi vā'śubhe| saṃsāre'smin samāyātāḥ prāṇinaḥ pṛthivīpate||

Bhishma said In prosperity or adversity in weal or woe, living creatures, O king, coming into this world, live according to a particular method.

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

MBh 9 117.4

निरता येन भावेन तत्र मे शृणु कारणम्। सम्यक् चायमनुप्रश्नस्त्वयोक्तस्तु युधिष्ठिर॥

niratā yena bhāvena tatra me śṛṇu kāraṇam| samyak cāyamanupraśnastvayoktastu yudhiṣṭhira||

Listen to me as I explain the reason to you. The question you have put to me is indeed, excellent, O Yudhishthira!

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

MBh 9 117.5

अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तमिदं नृप। द्वैपायनस्य संवादं कीटस्य च युधिष्ठिर॥

atra te vartayiṣyāmi purāvṛttamidaṃ nṛpa| dvaipāyanasya saṃvādaṃ kīṭasya ca yudhiṣṭhira||

Regarding it, О king, I shall explain to you the old discourse that took place formerly between the Dvaipayana Rishi and a crawling worm.

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

MBh 9 117.6

ब्रह्मभूतश्चरन् विप्रः कृष्णद्वैपायन: पुरा। ददर्श कीटं धावन्तं शीघ्रं शकटवर्त्मनि॥

brahmabhūtaścaran vipraḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyana: purā| dadarśa kīṭaṃ dhāvantaṃ śīghraṃ śakaṭavartmani||

Formerly when that learned Brahmana, viz., the Krishna Dvaipayana having identified himself with Brahma, roamed over the world, he saw on a road over which cars used to pass a worm moving quickly.

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

MBh 9 117.7

गतिज्ञः सर्वभूतानां भाषाज्ञश्च शरीरिणाम्। सर्वज्ञः स तदा दृष्ट्वा कीटं वचनमब्रवीत्॥

gatijñaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ bhāṣājñaśca śarīriṇām| sarvajñaḥ sa tadā dṛṣṭvā kīṭaṃ vacanamabravīt||

The Rishi knew the of every creature and the language of every animal, Gifted with omniscience, he addressed the worm he saw in these words. course

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

MBh 9 117.8

व्यास उवाच कीटसंत्रस्तरूपोऽसि त्वरितश्चैव लक्ष्यसे। क्व धावसि तदाचक्ष्व कुतस्ते भयमागतम्॥

vyāsa uvāca kīṭasaṃtrastarūpo'si tvaritaścaiva lakṣyase| kva dhāvasi tadācakṣva kutaste bhayamāgatam||

Vyasa said O worm, you appear to be greatly alarmed and to be in great haste. Tell me, where do you run and whence have you been afraid?

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

MBh 9 117.9

कीट उवाच शकटस्यास्य महतो घोषं श्रुत्वा भयं मम। आगतं वै महाबुद्धे स्वन एष हि दारुणः॥

kīṭa uvāca śakaṭasyāsya mahato ghoṣaṃ śrutvā bhayaṃ mama| āgataṃ vai mahābuddhe svana eṣa hi dāruṇaḥ||

The worm said I am stricken with fear on hearing the rattle of that large car. O you of great intelligence, it makes a fearful roar. It is almost come.

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

MBh 9 117.10

श्रूयते न च मां हन्यादिति ह्यस्मादपक्रमे। श्वसतां च शृणोम्येनं गोपुत्राणां प्रतोद्यताम्॥

śrūyate na ca māṃ hanyāditi hyasmādapakrame| śvasatāṃ ca śṛṇomyenaṃ goputrāṇāṃ pratodyatām||

The sound is heard. Will it not kill me? I am flying away for this, I hear the sound of the bulls.

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

MBh 9 117.11

वहतां सुमहाभारं संनिकर्षे स्वनं प्रभो। नृणां च संवाहयतां श्रूयते विविधः स्वनः॥

vahatāṃ sumahābhāraṃ saṃnikarṣe svanaṃ prabho| nṛṇāṃ ca saṃvāhayatāṃ śrūyate vividhaḥ svanaḥ||

They are breathing hard under the whip of the driver, as they are carrying the heavy load. I hear also the various sound made by the men who are driving the bulls.

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

MBh 9 117.12

श्रोतुमस्मद्विधनैष न शक्यः कीटयोनिना। तस्मादतिक्रमाम्येष भयादस्मात् सुदारुणात्॥

śrotumasmadvidhanaiṣa na śakyaḥ kīṭayoninā| tasmādatikramāmyeṣa bhayādasmāt sudāruṇāt||

Creatures which like us are born as worms, cannot bear such sounds. It is therefore that I am flying from this situation of great fright.

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

MBh 9 117.13

दुःखं हि मृत्युर्भूतानां जीवितं च सुदुर्लभम्। अतो भीत: पलायामि गच्छेयं नासुख सुखात्॥

duḥkhaṃ hi mṛtyurbhūtānāṃ jīvitaṃ ca sudurlabham| ato bhīta: palāyāmi gaccheyaṃ nāsukha sukhāt||

Death is considered by all creatures as painful. Life is an acquisition difficult to make. Hence, I fly away in fear, I do not wish to pass from a state of weal to one of woe.

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

MBh 9 117.14

भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तः स तु तं प्राह कुत: कीट सुखं तव। मरणं ते सुखं मन्ये तिर्यग्योनौ तु वर्तसे॥

bhīṣma uvāca ityuktaḥ sa tu taṃ prāha kuta: kīṭa sukhaṃ tava| maraṇaṃ te sukhaṃ manye tiryagyonau tu vartase||

Bhishma said O worm, whence can be your happiness? You belong to the intermediate order of being. I think death would be of happiness to you.

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

MBh 9 117.15

शब्दं स्पर्श रस गन्धं भोगांश्चोच्चवचान् बहून्। नाभिजानासि कीट त्वं श्रेयो मरणमेव ते॥

śabdaṃ sparśa rasa gandhaṃ bhogāṃścoccavacān bahūn| nābhijānāsi kīṭa tvaṃ śreyo maraṇameva te||

Sound touch, taste, scent, and various kinds of excellent enjoyments are unknown to you, O worm! I think death will prove a benefit to you.

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

MBh 9 117.16

कीट उवाच सर्वत्र निरतो जीव इतश्चापि सुखं मम। चिन्तयामि महाप्राज्ञ तस्मादिच्छामि जीवितुम्॥

kīṭa uvāca sarvatra nirato jīva itaścāpi sukhaṃ mama| cintayāmi mahāprājña tasmādicchāmi jīvitum||

The Worm said A living creature however circumstanced he may be becomes attached to it. In even this order of being I am happy, I think, O you of great wisdom! It is for this that I wish to live.

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

MBh 9 117.17

इहापि विषयः सर्वो यथादेहं प्रवर्तितः। मानुषाः स्थैर्यजाश्चैव पृथग्भोगा विशेषतः॥

ihāpi viṣayaḥ sarvo yathādehaṃ pravartitaḥ| mānuṣāḥ sthairyajāścaiva pṛthagbhogā viśeṣataḥ||

In this condition every object of enjoyment exists for me according to the necessity of my body. Human beings and those creatures which originate from immobile objects have different enjoyments.

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

MBh 9 117.18

अहमासं मनुष्यो वै शूद्रो बहुधनः प्रभो। अब्रह्मण्यो नृशसंश्च कदर्यो वृद्धिजीवनः॥

ahamāsaṃ manuṣyo vai śūdro bahudhanaḥ prabho| abrahmaṇyo nṛśasaṃśca kadaryo vṛddhijīvanaḥ||

In my former life I was a human being. O powerful one, I was a wealthy Shudra. I was not devoted to the Brahmanas. I was cruel, vile in conduct, and a usurer.

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

MBh 9 117.19

वाक्तीक्ष्णो निकृतिप्रज्ञो द्वेष्टा विश्वस्य सर्वशः। मिथ्याकृतोऽपि विधिना परस्वहरणे रतः॥

vāktīkṣṇo nikṛtiprajño dveṣṭā viśvasya sarvaśaḥ| mithyākṛto'pi vidhinā parasvaharaṇe rataḥ||

I was harsh in speech. I considered cunning as wisdom. I hated all creatures. Taking advantage of pretexts in agreements made between myself and others I used always to take away what belonged to others.

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

MBh 9 117.20

भृत्यातिथिजनश्चापि गृहे पर्यशितो मया। मात्सर्यात् स्वादुकामेन नृशंसेन बुभुक्षता॥

bhṛtyātithijanaścāpi gṛhe paryaśito mayā| mātsaryāt svādukāmena nṛśaṃsena bubhukṣatā||

Without feeding servants and guests arrived at my house, I used to fill, when hungry, my own stomach, proud, covetous of good food, cruel as I was.

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

MBh 9 117.21

देवार्थं पितृयज्ञार्थमन्नं श्रद्धाऽऽहतं मया। न दत्तमर्थकामेन देयमन्नं पुरा किल॥

devārthaṃ pitṛyajñārthamannaṃ śraddhā''hataṃ mayā| na dattamarthakāmena deyamannaṃ purā kila||

Greedy as I was of riches, I never dedicated, with faith and respect any food to the celestials and the departed Manes, although duty required me to dedicate food to them.

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

MBh 9 117.22

गुप्तं शरणमाश्रित्य भयेषु शरणागताः। अकस्मात् ते मया त्यक्ता न त्राता अभयैषिणः॥

guptaṃ śaraṇamāśritya bhayeṣu śaraṇāgatāḥ| akasmāt te mayā tyaktā na trātā abhayaiṣiṇaḥ||

Those men who moved by fear, came to me, for seeking my help, I sent adrift without giving them any protection. I did not extend my help to those who came to me with prayers for removing their fear.

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

MBh 9 117.23

धनं धान्यं प्रियान् दारान् यानं वासस्तथाद्भुतम्। श्रियं दृष्ट्वा मनुष्याणामसूयामि निरर्थकम्॥

dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ priyān dārān yānaṃ vāsastathādbhutam| śriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā manuṣyāṇāmasūyāmi nirarthakam||

I used to feel unreasonable envy at seeing other people's riches and corn, and wives held dear by them, and articles of drink, and good palaces.

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

MBh 9 117.24

ईष्र्युः परसुखं दृष्ट्वा अन्यस्य च बुभूषकः। त्रिवर्गहन्ता चान्येषामात्मकामानुवर्तकः॥

īṣryuḥ parasukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā anyasya ca bubhūṣakaḥ| trivargahantā cānyeṣāmātmakāmānuvartakaḥ||

Seeing the happiness of other I was filled with envy and I always wished them poverty. Acting thus which promised to crown my own wishes with fruition, I sought to destroy the virtue, riches, and pleasures of other people.

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

MBh 9 117.25

नृशंसगुणभूयिष्ठं पुरा कर्म कृतं मया। स्मृत्वा तदनुतप्येऽहं हित्वा प्रियमिवात्मजम्॥

nṛśaṃsaguṇabhūyiṣṭhaṃ purā karma kṛtaṃ mayā| smṛtvā tadanutapye'haṃ hitvā priyamivātmajam||

In that past life of mine, I committed various deeds moved by cruelty and such other passions. Recollecting those deeds I am filled with repentance and grief, as one is filled with grief at the loss of his dear son.

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

MBh 9 117.26

शुभानां नाभिजानामि कृतानां कर्मणां फलम्। माता च पूजिता वृद्धा ब्राह्मणश्चार्चितो मया।॥

śubhānāṃ nābhijānāmi kṛtānāṃ karmaṇāṃ phalam| mātā ca pūjitā vṛddhā brāhmaṇaścārcito mayā|||

On account of those deeds of mine, I do not know what the fruits are of good deeds. I, however, adored my old mother and on one occasion adored a Brahmana.

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

MBh 9 117.27

सकृज्जातिगुणोपेतः सङ्गत्या गृहमागतः। अतिथिः पूजितो ब्रह्मस्तेन मां नाजहात् स्मृतिः॥

sakṛjjātiguṇopetaḥ saṅgatyā gṛhamāgataḥ| atithiḥ pūjito brahmastena māṃ nājahāt smṛtiḥ||

Gifted with birth and accomplishments, that Brahmana, while travelling, came to my house once as a guest. I received him with respectful hospitality. One account of the merit of that deed my memory has not forsaken me.

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

MBh 9 117.28

कर्मणा पुनरेवाहं सुखमागामि लक्षये। तच्छ्रोतुमहमिच्छामि त्वत्तः श्रेयस्तपोधन॥

karmaṇā punarevāhaṃ sukhamāgāmi lakṣaye| tacchrotumahamicchāmi tvattaḥ śreyastapodhana||

I think that on account of that deed, I shall once more succeed in regaining happiness. O you having asceticism for wealth you know everything, Tell me please what is for my behoof.

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