Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 36
MBh 9 36.1
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। शक्रशम्बरसंवाद तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर।।।।
bhīṣma uvāca atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam| śakraśambarasaṃvāda tannibodha yudhiṣṭhira||||
Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old history of the discourse between Shakra and Shambara. Do you listen to it, О Yudhishthira.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.2
शको ह्यज्ञातरूपेण जटी भूत्वा रजोगुणः। विरूपं रथमास्थाय प्रश्न पप्रच्छ शम्बरम्॥
śako hyajñātarūpeṇa jaṭī bhūtvā rajoguṇaḥ| virūpaṃ rathamāsthāya praśna papraccha śambaram||
Once upon a time Shakra, assuming the guise of an ascetic with matted locks on his head and body covered with ashes all over, rode on an ugly car and went to the Asura Shambara.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.3
शक्र उवाच केन शम्बर वृत्तेन स्वजात्यानधितिष्ठसि। श्रेष्ठं त्वां केन मन्यन्ते तद् वै प्रब्रूहि तत्त्वतः॥
śakra uvāca kena śambara vṛttena svajātyānadhitiṣṭhasi| śreṣṭhaṃ tvāṃ kena manyante tad vai prabrūhi tattvataḥ||
Shakra said Through what conduct, O Shambara, you have been able to become the head of your family? Why do all people consider you as superior? Do you tell me this truly and fully.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.4
शम्बर उवाच नासूयामि यदा विप्रान् ब्राह्ममेव च मे मतम्। शास्त्राणि वदतो विप्रान् सम्मन्यामि यथासुखम्॥
śambara uvāca nāsūyāmi yadā viprān brāhmameva ca me matam| śāstrāṇi vadato viprān sammanyāmi yathāsukham||
Shambara said I never entertain any ill feelings towards the Brahmanas. Whatever instructions they give, I accept with unqualified reverence. When the Brahmanas are engaged in explaining the scriptures, I listen to them with great happiness.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.5
श्रुत्वा च नावजानामि नापराध्यामि कर्हिचित्। अभ्याभ्यनुपृच्छामि पादौ गृह्णामि धीमताम्॥
śrutvā ca nāvajānāmi nāparādhyāmi karhicit| abhyābhyanupṛcchāmi pādau gṛhṇāmi dhīmatām||
Having heard their interpretations I never disregard them. Nor do I ever offend against the Brahmanas in any way. I always adore intelligent Brahmanas. I always seek information from them. I always adore their feet.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.6
ते विश्रब्धाः प्रभाषन्ते सम्पृच्छन्ते च मां सदा। प्रमत्तेष्वप्रमत्तोऽस्मि सदा सुप्तेषु जागृमि॥
te viśrabdhāḥ prabhāṣante sampṛcchante ca māṃ sadā| pramatteṣvapramatto'smi sadā supteṣu jāgṛmi||
Approaching me with confidence, they always address me with affection and enquire after my wellbeing. If they ever happen to be careless, I am always careful. If they happen to sleep, I always remain awake.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.7
ते मां शास्त्रपथे युक्तं ब्रह्मण्यमनसूयकम्। समासिञ्चन्ति शास्तारः क्षौद्रं मध्विव मक्षिकाः॥
te māṃ śāstrapathe yuktaṃ brahmaṇyamanasūyakam| samāsiñcanti śāstāraḥ kṣaudraṃ madhviva makṣikāḥ||
Like bees drenching the cells of the comb with honey, the Brahmanas, who are my zstructors and rulers, always drench me with the nectar of knowledge who am always devoted to the path pointed out by the scriptures, wlw am devoted to the Brahmanas and who am perfectly shorn of malice or evil passion.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.8
यच्च भाषन्ति संतुष्टास्तच्च गृह्णामि मेधया। समाधिमात्मनो नित्यमनुलोममचिन्तयम्॥
yacca bhāṣanti saṃtuṣṭāstacca gṛhṇāmi medhayā| samādhimātmano nityamanulomamacintayam||
I always accept with cheerful hearts whatever they say. Helped by memory and understanding. I am always careful of my own faith in them and I always think of my own inferiority to them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.9
सोऽहं वागग्रमृष्टानां रसानामवलेहकः। स्वजात्यानधितिष्ठामि नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमा:॥
so'haṃ vāgagramṛṣṭānāṃ rasānāmavalehakaḥ| svajātyānadhitiṣṭhāmi nakṣatrāṇīva candramā:||
I always lick the nectar that is at the end of their tongue, and it is for this reason that I occupy a position far above that of all others of my family like the Moon transcending all the stars.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.10
एतत् पृथिव्याममृतमेतच्चक्षुरनुत्तमम्। यद् ब्राह्मणमुखाच्छास्त्रमिह श्रुत्वा प्रवर्तते॥
etat pṛthivyāmamṛtametaccakṣuranuttamam| yad brāhmaṇamukhācchāstramiha śrutvā pravartate||
The scriptural interpretations which fall from the lips of the Brahmanas and listening to which every wise man acts in the world, form nectar on Earth and may, also be likened to most excellent.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.11
एतत् कारणमाज्ञाय दृष्ट्वा देवासुरं पुरा। युद्धं पिता मे हृष्टात्मा विस्मितः समपद्यत॥
etat kāraṇamājñāya dṛṣṭvā devāsuraṃ purā| yuddhaṃ pitā me hṛṣṭātmā vismitaḥ samapadyata||
Seeing the battle between the celestials and the Asuras in days of old, and understanding the power of the instructions that fell from the Brahmanas, my father became filled with delight and wonder.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.12
दृष्ट्वा च ब्राह्मणानां तु महिमानं महात्मनाम्। पर्यपृच्छत् कथममी सिद्धा इति निशाकरम्॥
dṛṣṭvā ca brāhmaṇānāṃ tu mahimānaṃ mahātmanām| paryapṛcchat kathamamī siddhā iti niśākaram||
Seeing the power of great Brahmanas, my father asked the Moon the question-How do the Brahmanas acquire success?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.13
सोम उवाच ब्राह्मणास्तपसा सर्वे सिध्यन्ते वाग्बलाः सदा। भुजबीर्याश्च राजानो वागस्त्राश्च द्विजातयः॥
soma uvāca brāhmaṇāstapasā sarve sidhyante vāgbalāḥ sadā| bhujabīryāśca rājāno vāgastrāśca dvijātayaḥ||
Soma said The Brahmanas become crowned with success by virtue of their penances. Their strength consists in speech. The power of Kshatriyas is in their arms. The Brahmanas, however, have words for their weapons.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.14
प्रणवं चाप्यधीयीत ब्राह्मीर्दुर्वसतीर्वसन्। निर्मन्युरपि निर्वाणो यदि स्यात् समदर्शनः॥
praṇavaṃ cāpyadhīyīta brāhmīrdurvasatīrvasan| nirmanyurapi nirvāṇo yadi syāt samadarśanaḥ||
Undergoing the discomforts of a residence into the house of his preceptor, the Brahmana should study the Vedas or at least the Pranava. Freeing himself of anger and renouncing earthly attachments, he should become a Yati, regarding all things and all creatures with equal eyes.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.15
अपि च ज्ञानसम्पन्नः सर्वान् वेदान् पितुर्गुहे। श्लाघमान इवाधीयाद् ग्राम्य इत्येव तं विदुः॥
api ca jñānasampannaḥ sarvān vedān piturguhe| ślāghamāna ivādhīyād grāmya ityeva taṃ viduḥ||
If remaining in the house of his father he masters all the Vedas and acquiring great knowledge acquires a position that should command respect, people still condemn him as untravelled or home-keeping.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.16
भूमिरेतौ निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव। राजानं चाप्ययोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम्॥
bhūmiretau nigirati sarpo bilaśayāniva| rājānaṃ cāpyayoddhāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cāpravāsinam||
Like a snake swallowing mice, the Earth swallows up these two, viz., a king that is unwilling to fight and a Brahmana who is reluctant to leave home for acquiring knowiedge.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.17
अभिमानः श्रियं हन्ति पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसः। गर्भेण दुष्यते कन्या गृहवासेन च द्विजः॥
abhimānaḥ śriyaṃ hanti puruṣasyālpamedhasaḥ| garbheṇa duṣyate kanyā gṛhavāsena ca dvijaḥ||
Pride destroys the prosperity of persons of little wit. A maiden, if she conceives, becomes stained. A Brahmana incurs reproach by remaining at home.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.18
इत्येतन्मे पिता श्रुत्वा सोमादद्भुतदर्शनात्। ब्राह्मणान् पूजयामास तथैवाहं महाव्रतान॥
ityetanme pitā śrutvā somādadbhutadarśanāt| brāhmaṇān pūjayāmāsa tathaivāhaṃ mahāvratāna||
This is what my father heard from the revered Soma. My father, on account of this, began to adore and respect the Brahmanas. Like him, I also worship and adore all Brahmanas of high vows!
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 36.19
भीष्म उवाच श्रुत्वैतद् वचनं शक्रो दाग्वेन्द्रमुखाच्च्युतम्। द्विजान् सम्पूजयामास महेन्द्रत्वमवाप च ॥
bhīṣma uvāca śrutvaitad vacanaṃ śakro dāgvendramukhāccyutam| dvijān sampūjayāmāsa mahendratvamavāpa ca ||
Bhishma said Hearing these words that fell from the mouth of that prince of Danavas, Shakra began to adore the Brahmanas, and as a result thereof he succeeded in acquiring the kingship of the celestials.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)