Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 47
MBh 9 47.1
युधिष्ठिर उवाच सर्वशास्त्रविधानज्ञ राजधर्मविदुत्तमा अतीव संशयच्छेत्ता भवान् वै प्रथितः क्षितौ॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca sarvaśāstravidhānajña rājadharmaviduttamā atīva saṃśayacchettā bhavān vai prathitaḥ kṣitau||
Yudhishthira said You know fully well the ordinances of all the scriptures. You are the foremost of those who are acquainted with the duties of kings. You are celebrated over the whole world as a great remover of doubts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.2
कश्चित्तु संशयो मेऽस्ति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह। जातेऽस्मिन् संशये राजन् नान्यं पृच्छेम कंचन॥
kaścittu saṃśayo me'sti tanme brūhi pitāmaha| jāte'smin saṃśaye rājan nānyaṃ pṛcchema kaṃcana||
I have a doubt, do you explain it to me, O grandfather. As regards this doubt that has originated in my mind, I shall not ask any other person for its solution.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.3
यथा नरेण कर्तव्यं धर्ममार्गनुवर्तिना। एतत् सर्वं महाबाहो भवान् व्याख्यातुमर्हति॥
yathā nareṇa kartavyaṃ dharmamārganuvartinā| etat sarvaṃ mahābāho bhavān vyākhyātumarhati||
You should, O you of mighty arms, expound as to how a man should act who is desirous of treading along the path of duty and virtue.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.4
चतस्रो विहिता भार्या ब्राह्मणस्य पितामह। ब्राह्मणी क्षत्रिया वैश्या शूद्रा च रतिमिच्छतः॥
catasro vihitā bhāryā brāhmaṇasya pitāmaha| brāhmaṇī kṣatriyā vaiśyā śūdrā ca ratimicchataḥ||
It has been laid down, O grandfather that a Brahmana can take four wives, viz., one who belongs to his own caste, one who is a Kshatriya, one who is a Vaishya, and one who is a Shudra, if the Brahmana wishes to satisfy the desire of sexual intercourse.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.5
तत्र जातेषु पुत्रेषु सर्वासां कुरुसत्तम। आनुपूर्येण कस्तेषां पित्र्यं दायादमर्हति॥
tatra jāteṣu putreṣu sarvāsāṃ kurusattama| ānupūryeṇa kasteṣāṃ pitryaṃ dāyādamarhati||
Tell me, O best of the Kurus, which amongst those sons should inherit the father's riches one after another.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.6
केन वा किं ततो हार्यं पितृवित्तात् पितामह। एतदिच्छामि कथितं विभागस्तेषु यः स्मृतः॥
kena vā kiṃ tato hāryaṃ pitṛvittāt pitāmaha| etadicchāmi kathitaṃ vibhāgasteṣu yaḥ smṛtaḥ||
Who amongst them, O grandfather shall take what share of the paternal wealth? I wish to hear this, viz., how the distribution has been ordained amongst them of the paternal property.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.7
भीष्म उवाच ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यस्त्रयो वर्णा द्विजातयः। एतेषु विहितो धर्मो ब्राह्मणस्य युधिष्ठिर॥
bhīṣma uvāca brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyastrayo varṇā dvijātayaḥ| eteṣu vihito dharmo brāhmaṇasya yudhiṣṭhira||
Bhishma said The Brahman, the Kshatriya, and the Vaishya are considered the three twiceborn castes, To marry in these three castes has been ordained to be the duty of the Brahmana, O Yudhishthira.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.8
वैषम्यादथवा लोभात् कामाद् वापि परतंप। ब्राह्मणस्य भवेच्छूद्रा न तु दृष्टान्ततः स्मृता॥
vaiṣamyādathavā lobhāt kāmād vāpi parataṃpa| brāhmaṇasya bhavecchūdrā na tu dṛṣṭāntataḥ smṛtā||
Through erroneous judgement or cupidity or lust, O destroyer of enemies, a Brahmana takes a Shudra wife. He is not competent to take, according to the scriptures, such wife.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.9
शूद्रां शयनमारोप्य ब्राह्मणो यात्यधोगतिम्। प्रायश्चित्तीयते चापि विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥
śūdrāṃ śayanamāropya brāhmaṇo yātyadhogatim| prāyaścittīyate cāpi vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā||
A Brahmana, by knowing a Shudra woman comes by a low end in the next world. He should, having done such an act, perform expiation according to the rites laid down in the scriptures.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.10
तत्र जातेष्वपत्येषु द्विगुणं स्याद् युधिष्ठिर। आपद्यमानमृक्थं तु सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि भारत॥
tatra jāteṣvapatyeṣu dviguṇaṃ syād yudhiṣṭhira| āpadyamānamṛkthaṃ tu sampravakṣyāmi bhārata||
That expiation must be twice heavier or severer if on account of such an act, O Yudhishthira, the, Brahmana gets children. I shall now tell you, O Bharata, how the (paternal), wealth is to be distributed.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.11
लक्षण्यं गोवृषो यानं यत् प्रधानतमं भवेत्। ब्राह्मण्यास्तद्धरेत् पुत्र एकांशं वै पितुर्धनात्॥
lakṣaṇyaṃ govṛṣo yānaṃ yat pradhānatamaṃ bhavet| brāhmaṇyāstaddharet putra ekāṃśaṃ vai piturdhanāt||
The son born of the Brahmani wife shall, in the first place, appropriate from his father's wealth a bull of good marks, and the best car or vehicle.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.12
शेषं तु दशधा कार्य ब्राह्मणस्वं युधिष्ठिर। तत्र तेनैव हर्तव्याश्चत्वारोऽशाः पितुर्धनात्॥
śeṣaṃ tu daśadhā kārya brāhmaṇasvaṃ yudhiṣṭhira| tatra tenaiva hartavyāścatvāro'śāḥ piturdhanāt||
What remains of the Brahmana's property, O Yudhishthira, after this, should be divided into ten equal parts, The son by the Brahmani wife shall take four of such parts of the paternal property.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.13
क्षत्रियायास्तु यः पुत्रो ब्राह्मणः सोऽप्यसंशयः। स तु मातुर्विशेषेण त्रीनंशान् हर्तुमर्हति॥
kṣatriyāyāstu yaḥ putro brāhmaṇaḥ so'pyasaṃśayaḥ| sa tu māturviśeṣeṇa trīnaṃśān hartumarhati||
The son that is born of the Kshatriya wife is, forsooth, possessed of the status of a Brahmana. On account, however, of the distinction attaching to his mother, he shall take three of the ten shares into which the property has been divided.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.14
वर्णे तृतीये जातस्तु वैश्यायां ब्राह्मणादपि। द्विरंशस्तेन हर्तव्यो ब्राह्मणस्वाद् युधिष्ठिर॥
varṇe tṛtīye jātastu vaiśyāyāṃ brāhmaṇādapi| dviraṃśastena hartavyo brāhmaṇasvād yudhiṣṭhira||
The son who has been born of the wife belonging to the third caste, viz., the woman of the Vaishya caste, by the Brahmana father, shall take, O Yudhishthira, two of the three remaining shares of the father's property.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.15
शूद्रायां ब्राह्मणाज्जातो नित्यादेयधनः स्मृतः। अल्पं चापि प्रदातव्यं शूद्रापुत्राय भारत॥
śūdrāyāṃ brāhmaṇājjāto nityādeyadhanaḥ smṛtaḥ| alpaṃ cāpi pradātavyaṃ śūdrāputrāya bhārata||
It has been said that the son who has been begotten by the Brahmana father upon the Shudra wife should not take any portion of the father's property, for he is not to be considered an heir. A little, however, of the paternal property should be given to the son of the Shudra wife, hence the one remaining share should be given to him out of compassion.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.16
दशधा प्रविभक्तस्य धनस्यैष भवेत् क्रमः। सवर्णासु तु जातानां समान् भागान् प्रकल्पयेत्॥
daśadhā pravibhaktasya dhanasyaiṣa bhavet kramaḥ| savarṇāsu tu jātānāṃ samān bhāgān prakalpayet||
Even this should be the order of the ten shares into which the Brahmana's wealth is to be distributed. All the sons that are born of the same mother or of mothers of the same caste, shall share equally the portion that is theirs.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.17
अब्राह्मणं तु मन्यन्ते शूद्रापुत्रमनैपुणात्। त्रिषु वर्णेषु जातो हि ब्राह्मणाद् ब्राह्मणो भवेत्॥
abrāhmaṇaṃ tu manyante śūdrāputramanaipuṇāt| triṣu varṇeṣu jāto hi brāhmaṇād brāhmaṇo bhavet||
The son born of the Shudra wife should not be considered as invested with the dignity of a Brahmana on account of his being unskilled (in the scriptures and the duties ordained for the Brahmana). Only those children who are born of wives belonging to the three higher castes should be considered as invested with the dignity of Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.18
स्मृताश्च वर्णाश्चत्वारः पञ्चमो नाधिगम्यते। हरेच्च दशमं भागं शूद्रापुत्रः पितुर्धनात्॥
smṛtāśca varṇāścatvāraḥ pañcamo nādhigamyate| harecca daśamaṃ bhāgaṃ śūdrāputraḥ piturdhanāt||
It has said that there are only four castes and there is no fifth. The son by the Shudra wife shall take the tenth part of his father's wealth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.19
सपुत्रः स्यादपुत्रो तत्तु दत्तं हरेत् पित्रा नादत्तं हर्तुमर्हति। अवश्यं हि धनं देयं शूद्रापुत्राय भारत॥
saputraḥ syādaputro tattu dattaṃ haret pitrā nādattaṃ hartumarhati| avaśyaṃ hi dhanaṃ deyaṃ śūdrāputrāya bhārata||
That share, however, he is to take only when his father has given it to him. He shall not take it if his father does not give it to him. Some portion of the father's riches should, forsooth, be given O Bharata, to the son of the Shudra wife.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.20
आनृशंस्यं परो धर्म इति तस्मै प्रदीयते। यत्र तत्र समुत्पन्नं गुणायैवोपपद्यते॥
ānṛśaṃsyaṃ paro dharma iti tasmai pradīyate| yatra tatra samutpannaṃ guṇāyaivopapadyate||
Compassion is one of the greatest virtues. It is through compassion that something is given to the son of the Shudra wife. Whatever be the object about which compassion arises, as a cardinal virtue it is always productive of merit.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.21
यद्यप्येष यदि वा भवेत्। नाधिकं दशमाद् दद्याच्छूद्रापुत्राय भारत॥
yadyapyeṣa yadi vā bhavet| nādhikaṃ daśamād dadyācchūdrāputrāya bhārata||
Whether the father happens to have children (by his wives belonging to the other castes) or to have no children, to the son by the Shudra wife, O Bharata, nothing more than a tenth part of the father's wealth should be given.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.22
त्रैवार्षिकाद् यदा भक्तादधिकं स्याद् द्विजस्य तु। यजेत तेन द्रव्येण न वृथा साधयेद् धनम्॥
traivārṣikād yadā bhaktādadhikaṃ syād dvijasya tu| yajeta tena dravyeṇa na vṛthā sādhayed dhanam||
If a Brahmana happens to have more riches than what is necessary for maintaining himself and his family for three years, he should with that riches celebrate sacrifices. A Brahmana should never acquire riches for nothing.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.23
त्रिसहस्रपरो दायः स्त्रियै देयो धनस्य वै। भळ तच्च धनं दत्तं यथार्हे भोक्तुमर्हति॥
trisahasraparo dāyaḥ striyai deyo dhanasya vai| bhal̤a tacca dhanaṃ dattaṃ yathārhe bhoktumarhati||
The highest sum that the husband should give the wife is three thousand coins. This wealth that the husband gives to the wife, the latter may spend or dispose of as she likes.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.24
स्त्रीणां तु पतिदायाद्यमुपभोगफलं स्मृतम्। नापहारं स्त्रियः कुर्युः पतिवित्तात् कथंचन॥
strīṇāṃ tu patidāyādyamupabhogaphalaṃ smṛtam| nāpahāraṃ striyaḥ kuryuḥ pativittāt kathaṃcana||
Upon the death of the childless husband, the wife shall enjoy all his riches. The wife should never take any portion of her husband's riches.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.25
स्त्रियास्तु यद् भवेद् वित्तं पित्रा दत्तं युधिष्ठिर। ब्राह्मण्यास्तेद्धरेत् कन्या यथा पुत्रस्तथा हि सा॥
striyāstu yad bhaved vittaṃ pitrā dattaṃ yudhiṣṭhira| brāhmaṇyāsteddharet kanyā yathā putrastathā hi sā||
Whatever riches, O Yudhishthira, the Bralımani wife may acquire by gift from her father, should be taken by her daughter, for the daughter is like the son.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.26
सा हि पुत्रसमा राजन् विहिता कुरुनन्दन। एवमेव समुद्दिष्टो धर्मो वै भरतर्षभ। एवं धर्ममनुस्मृत्य न वृथा साधयेद् धनम्॥
sā hi putrasamā rājan vihitā kurunandana| evameva samuddiṣṭo dharmo vai bharatarṣabha| evaṃ dharmamanusmṛtya na vṛthā sādhayed dhanam||
The daughter, O king, has been ordained in the scriptures to be equal to the son, O delighter of the Kurus. Thus has the law of inheritance been ordained, o foremost of Bharata's family. Remembering these ordinances about the distribution and disposal of wealth, one should never acquire riches uselessly.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.27
युधिष्ठिर उवाच शूद्रायां ब्राह्मणाज्जातो यद्यदेयधनः स्मृतः। केन प्रतिविशेषेण दश्मोऽप्यस्य दीयते॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca śūdrāyāṃ brāhmaṇājjāto yadyadeyadhanaḥ smṛtaḥ| kena prativiśeṣeṇa daśmo'pyasya dīyate||
Yudhishthira said If the son born of a Shudra woman by a Brahmana father has been made in the scriptures to be disentitled to any property, by what exception of the rule then is a tenth part of the paternal property to be given to him?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.28
ब्राह्मण्यां ब्राह्मणाज्जातो ब्राह्मण: स्यान्न संशयः। क्षत्रियायां तथैव स्याद् वैश्यायामपि चैव हि॥
brāhmaṇyāṃ brāhmaṇājjāto brāhmaṇa: syānna saṃśayaḥ| kṣatriyāyāṃ tathaiva syād vaiśyāyāmapi caiva hi||
A son born of a Brahmani wife by a Brahmana is unquestionably a Brahmana. One born of a Kshatriya wife or of a Vaishya wife, by a Brahmana husband, is likewise a Brahmana.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.29
कस्मात् तु विषमं भागं भजेरन् नृपसत्तम। यदा सर्वे त्रयो वर्णास्त्वयोक्ता ब्राह्मणा इति॥
kasmāt tu viṣamaṃ bhāgaṃ bhajeran nṛpasattama| yadā sarve trayo varṇāstvayoktā brāhmaṇā iti||
Why then, O best of kings, are such sons to share the paternal property unequally? All of them, you have said, are Brahmanas, having been born of mothers that belong to the three higher castes equally entitled to the name of the twiceborn.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.30
भीष्म उवाच दारा इत्युच्यते लोके नाम्नैकेन परतंपा प्रोक्तेन चैव नाम्नायं विशेषः सुमहान् भवेत्॥
bhīṣma uvāca dārā ityucyate loke nāmnaikena parataṃpā proktena caiva nāmnāyaṃ viśeṣaḥ sumahān bhavet||
Bhishma said O destroyer of enemies, all wives in this world are called by the name of Dara. Although that name is applied to all, yet there is this great difference to be observed.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.31
तिस्रः कृत्वा पुरो भार्याः पश्चाद् विन्देत ब्राह्मणीम्। सा ज्येष्ठा सा च पूज्या स्यात् सा च भार्या गरीयसी।
tisraḥ kṛtvā puro bhāryāḥ paścād vindeta brāhmaṇīm| sā jyeṣṭhā sā ca pūjyā syāt sā ca bhāryā garīyasī|
If having married three wives belonging to the three other castes, a Brahmana takes a Brahmani wife the very last of all, yet shall she be considered as the first in rank among all the wives, and as being worthy of the greatest respect. Indeed, among all the cowives, she shall be the foremost.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.32
स्नानं प्रसाधनं भर्तुर्दन्तधावनमञ्जनम्। हव्यं कव्यं च यच्चान्यद् धर्मयुक्तं गृहे भवेत्॥
snānaṃ prasādhanaṃ bharturdantadhāvanamañjanam| havyaṃ kavyaṃ ca yaccānyad dharmayuktaṃ gṛhe bhavet||
In her apartments should be kept all necessary articles for the husband's baths, personal decorations washing of teeth, and application of collyrium to the eyes. In her apartments should be kept the Havya and the Kavya and all else that the husband may need for the performance of his religious acts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.33
न तस्यां जातु तिष्ठन्त्यामन्या तत् कर्तुमर्हति। ब्राह्मणी त्वेव कुर्याद् वा ब्राह्मणस्य युधिष्ठिर॥
na tasyāṃ jātu tiṣṭhantyāmanyā tat kartumarhati| brāhmaṇī tveva kuryād vā brāhmaṇasya yudhiṣṭhira||
If the Brahmani wife is in the house, no other wife is entitled to attend to these needs of the husband. Only the Brahmani wife, O Yudhishthira, should help the husband in these acts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.34
अन्नं पानं च माल्यं च वासांस्याभरणानि च। ब्राह्मण्यैतानि देयानि भर्तुः सा हि गरीयसी॥
annaṃ pānaṃ ca mālyaṃ ca vāsāṃsyābharaṇāni ca| brāhmaṇyaitāni deyāni bhartuḥ sā hi garīyasī||
The husband's food and drink and garlands and dresses and ornaments-all these should be given by the Brahmani wife to the husband, for she is the foremost in rank among all the wives of the husband.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.35
मनुनाभिहितं शास्त्रं यच्चापि कुरुनन्दन। तत्राप्येष महाराज दृष्टो धर्मः सनातनः॥
manunābhihitaṃ śāstraṃ yaccāpi kurunandana| tatrāpyeṣa mahārāja dṛṣṭo dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ||
These are the ordinances of the scriptures as laid down by Manu, O delighter of the Kurus! This, O king is seen to be the course of eternal practice.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.36
अथ चेदन्यथा कुर्याद् यदि कामाद् युधिष्ठिर। यथा ब्राह्मणचाण्डालः पूर्वदृष्टस्तथैव सः॥
atha cedanyathā kuryād yadi kāmād yudhiṣṭhira| yathā brāhmaṇacāṇḍālaḥ pūrvadṛṣṭastathaiva saḥ||
If a Brahmana,OYudhishthira, actuated by lust, acts in a different way, he shall come to be considered as a Chandala among Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.37
ब्राह्मण्याः सदृशः पुत्रः क्षत्रियायाश्च यो भवेत्। राजन् विशेषो यस्त्वत्र वर्णयोरुभयोरपि॥
brāhmaṇyāḥ sadṛśaḥ putraḥ kṣatriyāyāśca yo bhavet| rājan viśeṣo yastvatra varṇayorubhayorapi||
The son born of the Kshatriya wife has been said to be equal in dignity to the son born of the Brahmani wife. For all that, a distinction attaches to the son of the Brahmana wife on account of the superiority of the Brahmana wife to the Kshatriya wife in respect of the order of caste.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.38
न तु जात्या समा लोके ब्राह्मण्याः क्षत्रिया भवेत्। ब्राह्मण्याः प्रथमः पुत्रो भूयान् स्याद् राजसत्तम॥
na tu jātyā samā loke brāhmaṇyāḥ kṣatriyā bhavet| brāhmaṇyāḥ prathamaḥ putro bhūyān syād rājasattama||
The Kshatriya wife cannot be considered as equal to the Brahmana wife in point of Birth. Hence, O best of kings, the son born of the Brahinani wife must be considered as the first in rank and superior to the son born of the Kshatriya wife.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.39
भूयो भूयोऽपि संहार्यः पितृवित्ताद् युधिष्ठिर। यथा न सदृशी जातु ब्राह्मण्याः क्षत्रिया भवेत्॥
bhūyo bhūyo'pi saṃhāryaḥ pitṛvittād yudhiṣṭhira| yathā na sadṛśī jātu brāhmaṇyāḥ kṣatriyā bhavet||
Because, again, the Kshatriya wife, is not equal in point of birth to the Brahmani wife, hence the son of the Brahmani wife takes, one after another, all the best things, O Yudhishthira, among his father's property.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.40
क्षत्रियायास्तथा वैश्या न जातु सदृशी भवेत्। श्रीश्च राज्यं च कोशश्च क्षत्रियाणां युधिष्ठिर।॥
kṣatriyāyāstathā vaiśyā na jātu sadṛśī bhavet| śrīśca rājyaṃ ca kośaśca kṣatriyāṇāṃ yudhiṣṭhira|||
Likewise, the Vaishya wife cannot be considered as the equal of the Kshatriya wife in point of birth. Prosperity, kingdom and treasury, ( Yudhishthira, belong to the Kshatriyas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.41
विहितं दृश्यते राजन् सागरान्तां च मेदिनीम्। क्षत्रियो हि स्वधर्मेण श्रियं प्राप्नोति भूयसीम्। राजा दण्डधरो राजन् रक्षा नान्यत्र क्षत्रियात्॥
vihitaṃ dṛśyate rājan sāgarāntāṃ ca medinīm| kṣatriyo hi svadharmeṇa śriyaṃ prāpnoti bhūyasīm| rājā daṇḍadharo rājan rakṣā nānyatra kṣatriyāt||
All these have been ordained for the Kshatriya. The whole Earth, O king, encircled by seas, is seen to belong to him. By following the duties of his own caste, the Kshatriya acquires immense riches.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.42
ब्राह्मणा हि महाभागा देवानामपि देवताः। तेषु राजन् प्रवर्तेत पूजया विधिपूर्वकम्॥
brāhmaṇā hi mahābhāgā devānāmapi devatāḥ| teṣu rājan pravarteta pūjayā vidhipūrvakam||
The sceptre of royalty is held by him. Without the Kshatriya, O king, there can be no protection. The Brahmanas are highly blessed, for they are the gods of the very deities.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.43
प्रणीतमृषिभिर्ज्ञात्वा धर्मं शाश्वतमव्ययम्। लुप्यमानं स्वधर्मेण क्षत्रियो ह्येष रक्षिति॥
praṇītamṛṣibhirjñātvā dharmaṃ śāśvatamavyayam| lupyamānaṃ svadharmeṇa kṣatriyo hyeṣa rakṣiti||
Following the ordinances laid down by the Rishis, the Kshatriyas should adore the Brahmanas according to due rites. This is the eternal usage.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.44
दस्युभिर्रियमाणं च धनं दारांश्च सर्वशः। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां त्राता भवति पार्थिवः॥
dasyubhirriyamāṇaṃ ca dhanaṃ dārāṃśca sarvaśaḥ| sarveṣāmeva varṇānāṃ trātā bhavati pārthivaḥ||
Coveted by thieves and others, the properties of all men are protected by Kshatriyas following the duties of their order. Indeed, riches and wives and every other possession owned by people would have been forcibly taken away but for this protection that the Kshatriyas give.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.45
भूयान् स्यात् क्षत्रियापुत्रो वैश्यापुत्रान्न संशयः। भूयस्तेनापि हर्तव्यं पितृवित्ताद् युधिष्ठिर।॥
bhūyān syāt kṣatriyāputro vaiśyāputrānna saṃśayaḥ| bhūyastenāpi hartavyaṃ pitṛvittād yudhiṣṭhira|||
The Kshatriya, as the king, becomes the protector or rescuer of all the castes. Hence, the son of the Kshatriya wife shall, forsooth, be held to be superior to him that is born of the Vaishya wife. The son of Kshatriya wife for this, takes a larger share of the paternal property than the son of the Vaishya mother.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.46
युधिष्ठिर उवाच उक्तं ते विधिवद् राजन् ब्राह्मणस्य पितामह। इतरेषां तु वर्णानां कथं वै नियमो भवेत्॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca uktaṃ te vidhivad rājan brāhmaṇasya pitāmaha| itareṣāṃ tu varṇānāṃ kathaṃ vai niyamo bhavet||
Yudhishthira said You have duly said what the rules are that apply to Brahmanas. What, However, are the rules that apply to the others?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.47
भीष्म उवाच क्षत्रियस्यापि भर्ये द्वे विहिते कुरुनन्दन। तृतीया च भवेच्छूद्रा न तु दृष्टान्ततः स्मृता।॥
bhīṣma uvāca kṣatriyasyāpi bharye dve vihite kurunandana| tṛtīyā ca bhavecchūdrā na tu dṛṣṭāntataḥ smṛtā|||
Bhishma said The Kshatriya, O delighter of the Kurus can take two wives. The Kshatriya may take a third wife from the Shudra caste. Such practice prevails, it is true, but it is not sanctioned by the scriptures.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.48
एष एव क्रमो हि स्यात् क्षत्रियाणां युधिष्ठिर। अष्टधा तु भवेत् कार्य क्षत्रियस्वं जनाधिप।॥
eṣa eva kramo hi syāt kṣatriyāṇāṃ yudhiṣṭhira| aṣṭadhā tu bhavet kārya kṣatriyasvaṃ janādhipa|||
This should be the order, O Yudhishthira, of the wives of a Kshatriya. The property of a Kshatriya should, O king, be divided into eight shares.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.49
क्षत्रियाया हरेत् पुत्रश्चतुरोंऽशान् पितुर्धनात्। युद्धावहारिकं यच्च पितुः स्यात्स हरेत् तु तत्॥
kṣatriyāyā haret putraścaturoṃ'śān piturdhanāt| yuddhāvahārikaṃ yacca pituḥ syātsa haret tu tat||
The son of the Kshatriya wife shall take four of such shares of the paternal property. The son of the Vaishya wife shall take three of such shares.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.50
वैश्यापुत्रस्तु भागांस्त्रीशूद्रापुत्रस्तथाष्टमम्। सोऽपि दत्तं हरेत् पित्रा नादत्तं हर्तुमर्हति॥
vaiśyāputrastu bhāgāṃstrīśūdrāputrastathāṣṭamam| so'pi dattaṃ haret pitrā nādattaṃ hartumarhati||
The remaining one or the eighth share shall be taken by the son of the Shudra wife. The son of the Shudra wife, however, shall take only when the father gives but not otherwise.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.51
एकैव हि भवेद् भार्या वैश्यस्य कुरुनन्दन। द्वितीया तु भवेच्छूद्रा न तु दृष्टान्ततः स्मृता॥
ekaiva hi bhaved bhāryā vaiśyasya kurunandana| dvitīyā tu bhavecchūdrā na tu dṛṣṭāntataḥ smṛtā||
The Vaishya can take only one wife. He can take a second wife from the Shudra caste. Such is the practice, no doubt, but it is not sanctioned by the scriptures.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.52
वैश्यस्य वर्तमानस्य वैश्यायां भरतर्वभ। शूद्रायां चापि कौन्तेय तयोर्विनियमः स्मृतः॥
vaiśyasya vartamānasya vaiśyāyāṃ bharatarvabha| śūdrāyāṃ cāpi kaunteya tayorviniyamaḥ smṛtaḥ||
If a Vaishya has two wives one of whom is a Vaishya and the other a Shudra, there is a difference between them in respect of position.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.53
पञ्चधा तु भवेत् कार्य वैश्यस्वं भरतर्षभ। तयोरपत्ये वक्ष्यामि विभागं च जनाधिप॥
pañcadhā tu bhavet kārya vaiśyasvaṃ bharatarṣabha| tayorapatye vakṣyāmi vibhāgaṃ ca janādhipa||
The riches of a Vaishya, O chief of Bharata's race, should be divided into five portions. I shall now speak of the sons of a Vaishya by a wife of his own caste and by one belonging to the inferior caste, as also of the manner in which, o king, his property is to be distributed among chose children.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.54
वैश्यापुत्रेण हर्तव्याश्चत्वारोंऽशाः पितुर्धनात्। पञ्चमस्तु स्मृतो भागः शूद्रापुत्राय भारत॥
vaiśyāputreṇa hartavyāścatvāroṃ'śāḥ piturdhanāt| pañcamastu smṛto bhāgaḥ śūdrāputrāya bhārata||
The son born of the Vaishya wife shall take four of such shares of his paternal property. The fifth share, O Bharata, has been said to belong to the son born of the Shudra wife.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.55
सोऽपि दत्तं हरेत् पित्रा नादत्तं हर्तुमर्हति। त्रिभिर्वर्णैः सदा जातः शूद्रोऽदेयधनो भवेत्॥
so'pi dattaṃ haret pitrā nādattaṃ hartumarhati| tribhirvarṇaiḥ sadā jātaḥ śūdro'deyadhano bhavet||
Such son, however, shall take when the father gives. He should not take anything unless the father gives it to him. The son who is begotten on a Shudra wife by persons of the three higher higher castes should always be considered as disentitled to any share of the father's wealth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.56
शूद्रस्य स्यात् सवर्णैव भार्या नान्या कथंचन। समभागाश्च पुत्राः स्युर्यदि पुत्रशतं भवेत्॥
śūdrasya syāt savarṇaiva bhāryā nānyā kathaṃcana| samabhāgāśca putrāḥ syuryadi putraśataṃ bhavet||
The Shudra should take only one wife from his own caste. He can, under no circumstances, take any other wife. Even if he happens to have a hundred sons by this wife, all of them share equally the property that he may leave behind.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.57
जातानां समवर्णायाः पुत्राणामविशेषतः। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां समभागो धनात् स्मृतः॥
jātānāṃ samavarṇāyāḥ putrāṇāmaviśeṣataḥ| sarveṣāmeva varṇānāṃ samabhāgo dhanāt smṛtaḥ||
As for all the castes, the children born of the wife taken from the husband's own caste shall, it has been laid down, share equally the father's wealth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.58
ज्येष्ठस्य भागो ज्येष्ठः स्यादेकांशो यः प्रधानतः। एष दायविधिः पार्थ पूर्वमुक्तः स्वयम्भुवा॥
jyeṣṭhasya bhāgo jyeṣṭhaḥ syādekāṃśo yaḥ pradhānataḥ| eṣa dāyavidhiḥ pārtha pūrvamuktaḥ svayambhuvā||
The eldest son's share shall be greater than that of every other son, for he shall take one share than each of his brothers, comprising the best things of this father. This is the law of inheritance, O son of Pritha, as declared by the selfcreate himself. more
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.59
समवर्णासु जातानां विशेषोऽस्त्यपरो नृप। विवाहवैशिष्ट्यकृतः पूर्वपूर्वो विशिष्यते॥
samavarṇāsu jātānāṃ viśeṣo'styaparo nṛpa| vivāhavaiśiṣṭyakṛtaḥ pūrvapūrvo viśiṣyate||
Amongst children all born of the wife taken from the husband's own caste there is another difference, O king! In marrying, the elder ones should always prccede the younger ones.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.60
हरेज्ज्येष्ठः प्रधानांशमेकं तुल्यासु तेष्वपि। मध्यमो मध्यमं चैव कनीयांस्तु कनीयसम्॥
harejjyeṣṭhaḥ pradhānāṃśamekaṃ tulyāsu teṣvapi| madhyamo madhyamaṃ caiva kanīyāṃstu kanīyasam||
The wives being all equal in respect of their order of birth, and the children also being all equal in respect of the position of their mothers, the son that is firstborn shall take one share more than each of his other brothers. The son who is next in point of age shall take a share that is next in value, while the son who is youngest shall take the share which belongs to the youngest.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 47.61
एवं जातिषु सर्वासु सवर्ण: श्रेष्ठतां गतः। महर्षिरपि चैतद् वै मारीचः काश्यपोऽब्रवीत्॥
evaṃ jātiṣu sarvāsu savarṇa: śreṣṭhatāṃ gataḥ| maharṣirapi caitad vai mārīcaḥ kāśyapo'bravīt||
Thus among wives of all castes, they who belong to the samne caste with the husband are considered as the first. This is what was declared by the great Rishi Kashyapa the son of Marichi.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)