Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 59
MBh 9 59.1
युधिष्ठिर उवाच यानीमानि बहिर्वेद्यां दानानि परिचक्षते। तेभ्यो विशिष्टं किं दानं मतं ते कुरुपुङ्गव॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca yānīmāni bahirvedyāṃ dānāni paricakṣate| tebhyo viśiṣṭaṃ kiṃ dānaṃ mataṃ te kurupuṅgava||
Yudhishthira said Amongst all those gifts mentioned in the work other than the Vedas, which gift, О chief of Kuru's race, is the most superior in your opinion?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.2
कौतूहलं हि परमं तत्र मे विद्यते प्रभो। दातारं दत्तमन्वेति यद् दानं तत् प्रचक्ष्व मे॥
kautūhalaṃ hi paramaṃ tatra me vidyate prabho| dātāraṃ dattamanveti yad dānaṃ tat pracakṣva me||
O powerful one, great is my curiosity in this matter. Do you describe to me that gift which follows the giver to the next world?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.3
भीष्म उवाच अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो व्यसने चाप्यनुग्रहः। यच्चाभिलषितं दद्यात् तृषितायाभिचायते॥ दत्तं मन्येत यद् दत्त्वा तद् दानं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते। दत्तं दातारमन्वेति यद् दानं भरतर्षभ॥
bhīṣma uvāca abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo vyasane cāpyanugrahaḥ| yaccābhilaṣitaṃ dadyāt tṛṣitāyābhicāyate|| dattaṃ manyeta yad dattvā tad dānaṃ śreṣṭhamucyate| dattaṃ dātāramanveti yad dānaṃ bharatarṣabha||
Bhishma said An assurance to all creatures of love and affection and abstention from every sort of injury, acts of kindness and favour done to a person in distress, gifts, of articles made to one who solicits with thirst and agreeable to the solicitor's wishes, and whatever gifts are made without the giver's ever thinking of them as gifts made by him, form, O chief of Bharata's race, the highest and best of gifts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.4
हिरण्यदानं गोदानं पृथिवीदानमेव च। एतानि वै पवित्राणि तारयन्त्यपि दुष्कृतम्॥
hiraṇyadānaṃ godānaṃ pṛthivīdānameva ca| etāni vai pavitrāṇi tārayantyapi duṣkṛtam||
Gift of gold, gift of kine, and gift of earth,-these are considered as sincleansing. They rescue the giver from his evil deeds.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.5
एतानि पुरुषव्याघ्र साधुभ्यो देहि नित्यदा। दानानि हि नरं पापान्मोक्षयन्ति न संशयः॥
etāni puruṣavyāghra sādhubhyo dehi nityadā| dānāni hi naraṃ pāpānmokṣayanti na saṃśayaḥ||
O king, do you always make such gifts, to the righteous. Forsooth, gifts rescue the giver from all his sins.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.6
यद् यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चास्य दयितं गृहे। तत् तद् गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्षयमिच्छता॥
yad yadiṣṭatamaṃ loke yaccāsya dayitaṃ gṛhe| tat tad guṇavate deyaṃ tadevākṣayamicchatā||
That person who wishes to make his gifts eternal, should always give to persons gifted with necessary qualifications whatever articles are desired by all and whatever things are the best in his house.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.7
प्रियाणि लभते नित्यं प्रियदः प्रियकृत् तथा। प्रियो भवति भूतानामिह चैव परत्र च॥
priyāṇi labhate nityaṃ priyadaḥ priyakṛt tathā| priyo bhavati bhūtānāmiha caiva paratra ca||
The man who makes gifts of agreeable things and who does to others what is agreeable to others, always succeeds in getting things that are agreeable to himself. Such a person certainly becomes agreeable to all, both here and hereafter.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.8
याचमानमभीमानादनासक्तमकिंचनम्। यो नार्चति यथाशक्ति स नृशंसो युधिष्ठिर॥
yācamānamabhīmānādanāsaktamakiṃcanam| yo nārcati yathāśakti sa nṛśaṃso yudhiṣṭhira||
That man, O Yudhishthira, is a cruel wight, who, through vanity, does not, to the extent of his means, attend to the wishes of the poor and helpless who solicit assistance.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.9
अमित्रमपि चेद् दीनं शरणैषिणमागतम्। व्यसने योऽनुगृह्णाति स वै पुरुषसत्तमः॥
amitramapi ced dīnaṃ śaraṇaiṣiṇamāgatam| vyasane yo'nugṛhṇāti sa vai puruṣasattamaḥ||
He is, indeed, the foremost of men who shows favour to even an helpless enemy fallen into distress when such enemy comes and prays for help.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.10
कृशाय कृतविद्याय वृत्तिक्षीणाय सीदते। अपहन्यात् क्षुधां यस्तु न तेन पुरुषः समः॥
kṛśāya kṛtavidyāya vṛttikṣīṇāya sīdate| apahanyāt kṣudhāṃ yastu na tena puruṣaḥ samaḥ||
No man is equal to him who satisfies the hunger of a person who is emaciated, possessed of learning, destitute of the means of support, and weakened by misery.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.11
क्रियानियमितान् साधून् पुत्रदारैश्च कर्शितान्। अयाचमानान् कौन्तेय सर्वोपायैर्निमन्त्रयेत्॥
kriyāniyamitān sādhūn putradāraiśca karśitān| ayācamānān kaunteya sarvopāyairnimantrayet||
One should always, O son of Kunti, remove by ever ineans in his power, the distress of the pious observant of vows and acts, who though having no sons and wives and plunged into misery, do not yet solicit others for any kind of help.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.12
आशिषं ये न देवेषु न च मत्र्येषु कुर्वते। अर्हन्तो नित्यसंतुष्टास्तथा लब्धोपजीविनः॥ आशीविषसमेभ्यश्च तेभ्यो रक्षस्व भारत। तान् युक्तरुपजिज्ञास्यस्तथा द्विजवरोत्तमान्॥
āśiṣaṃ ye na deveṣu na ca matryeṣu kurvate| arhanto nityasaṃtuṣṭāstathā labdhopajīvinaḥ|| āśīviṣasamebhyaśca tebhyo rakṣasva bhārata| tān yuktarupajijñāsyastathā dvijavarottamān||
Those persons who do not utter blessings upon the deities and men, who are worthy of respect and always contented, and who live upon such alms as they get without begging, are considered as veritable snakes of virulent poison. Do you, O Bharata, always protect yourself from them by making gifts to them. They are capable to make the foremost of Ritwijas. You are to find them out by means of your spies and agents.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.13
कृतैरावसथैर्नित्यं सप्रेष्यैः सपरिच्छदैः। निमन्त्रयेथाः कौरव्य सर्वकामसुखावहैः॥
kṛtairāvasathairnityaṃ sapreṣyaiḥ saparicchadaiḥ| nimantrayethāḥ kauravya sarvakāmasukhāvahaiḥ||
You should honour those men by gifts of good houses furnished with every necessary article, with slaves and servants, with good dresses and vestments, O son of Kuru, and with all articles bringing on pleasure, and happiness.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.14
यदि ते प्रतिगृह्णीयुः श्रद्धापूतं युधिष्ठिर। कार्यमित्येव मन्वाना धार्मिकाः पुण्यकर्मिणः॥
yadi te pratigṛhṇīyuḥ śraddhāpūtaṃ yudhiṣṭhira| kāryamityeva manvānā dhārmikāḥ puṇyakarmiṇaḥ||
Righteous men of righteous deeds should make such gifts, moved by the desire that it is their duty to act in that way and not from desire of reaping any regards therefrom. Indeed, good men should act in this way so that the virtuous described above might not, O Yudhishthira, feel any disinclination to accept those gifts sanctified by devotion and faith.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.15
विद्यास्नाता व्रतस्नाता ये व्यपाश्रित्य जीविनः। गूढस्वाध्यायतपसो ब्राह्मणाः संशितव्रताः॥
vidyāsnātā vratasnātā ye vyapāśritya jīvinaḥ| gūḍhasvādhyāyatapaso brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ||
There are persons bathed in learning and bathed in vows. Without depending upon anybody they get their means of living. These Brahmanas of rigid vows are given to Vedic study and penances without proclaiming their practices to any one. men
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.16
तेषु शुद्धेषु दान्तेषु स्वदारपरितोषिषु। यत् करिष्यसि कल्याणं तत् ते लोके युधाम्पते॥
teṣu śuddheṣu dānteṣu svadāraparitoṣiṣu| yat kariṣyasi kalyāṇaṃ tat te loke yudhāmpate||
Whatever gifts you may make to those persons of pure conduct, of thorough mastery over their senses, and always contented with their own married wives, are sure to acquire for you a merit that will accompany you in all the worlds into which you may go.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.17
यथाग्निहोत्रं सुहुतं सायं प्रातर्द्विजातिना। तथा दत्तं द्विजातिभ्यो भवत्यथ यतात्मसु।॥
yathāgnihotraṃ suhutaṃ sāyaṃ prātardvijātinā| tathā dattaṃ dvijātibhyo bhavatyatha yatātmasu|||
One reaps the same merit by making gifts to twiceborn persons of controlled souls which one acquires by properly pouring libations to the sacred fire morning and evening.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.18
एष ते विततो यज्ञः श्रद्धापूतः सदक्षिणः। विशिष्टः सर्वयज्ञेभ्यो ददतस्तात वर्तताम्॥
eṣa te vitato yajñaḥ śraddhāpūtaḥ sadakṣiṇaḥ| viśiṣṭaḥ sarvayajñebhyo dadatastāta vartatām||
This is the sanctified spread out for you, a sacrifice that is sanctified by devotion and faith and that is accompanied with Dakshina! It is superior to all other sacrifices. Let that sacrifice ceaselessly flow from you as you give away.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.19
निवापदानसलिलस्तादृशेषु युधिष्ठिर। निवसन् पूजयंश्चैव तेष्वानृण्यं नियच्छिति॥
nivāpadānasalilastādṛśeṣu yudhiṣṭhira| nivasan pūjayaṃścaiva teṣvānṛṇyaṃ niyacchiti||
Performed in view of such men, O Yudhishthira, a sacrifice in which the water that is sprinkled for dedicating gifts forms the oblations in honour of the Departed Manes, and devotion and worship rendered to such superior men, serves to free one of the debts he owes to the deities.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.20
य एवं नैव कुप्यन्ते न लुभ्यन्ति तृणेष्वपि। त एव नः पूज्यतमा ये चापि प्रियवादिनः॥
ya evaṃ naiva kupyante na lubhyanti tṛṇeṣvapi| ta eva naḥ pūjyatamā ye cāpi priyavādinaḥ||
Those persons who do not give way to anger and who never desire to take even a blade of grass belonging to others, as also they who are of sweet speech, deserve to receive from us the most respectful adorations.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.21
एते न बहु मन्यन्ते न प्रवर्तन्ति चापरे। पुत्रवत् परिपाल्यास्ते नमस्तेभ्यस्तथाभयम्॥
ete na bahu manyante na pravartanti cāpare| putravat paripālyāste namastebhyastathābhayam||
Such persons and others never pay their regards to the giver. Nor do they try for obtaining gifts. They should, however, be maintained by givers as they maintain their own sons. I bend my head to them. From them also proceeds fearlessness.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.22
ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्या मृदुब्रह्मधरा हि ते। क्षात्रेणापि हि संसृष्टं तेजः शाम्यति वै द्विजे॥
ṛtvikpurohitācāryā mṛdubrahmadharā hi te| kṣātreṇāpi hi saṃsṛṣṭaṃ tejaḥ śāmyati vai dvije||
Ritwijas, Priests and Preceptors, when well-read in the Vedas and when behaving mildly towards disciples, become such. Forsooth, Kshatriya energy loses its force upon a Brahmana when it meets him.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.23
अस्ति मे बलवानस्मि राजास्मीति युधिष्ठिर। ब्राह्मणान् मा च पर्यश्रीर्वासोभिरशनेन च॥
asti me balavānasmi rājāsmīti yudhiṣṭhira| brāhmaṇān mā ca paryaśrīrvāsobhiraśanena ca||
Thinking that you are a king, that you are gifted with great power, and that you have riches do, not, O Yudhishthira, enjoy your affluence without giving anything to the Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.24
यच्छोभार्थं बलार्थं वा वित्तमस्ति तवानघ। तेन ते ब्राह्मणाः पूज्याः स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठता॥
yacchobhārthaṃ balārthaṃ vā vittamasti tavānagha| tena te brāhmaṇāḥ pūjyāḥ svadharmamanutiṣṭhatā||
Observing the duties of your own caste, do you adore the Brahmanas with whatever riches you have, O sinless one, for purposes of adornment or sustaining your power.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.25
नमस्कार्यास्तथा विप्रा वर्तमाना यथातथम्। यथासुखं यथोत्साह ललन्तु त्वयि पुत्रवत्॥
namaskāryāstathā viprā vartamānā yathātatham| yathāsukhaṃ yathotsāha lalantu tvayi putravat||
Let the Brahmanas live in whatever way they like. You should always bend your head to them with respect. Let them always rejoice in you as your children, living happily and according to their wishes.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.26
को ह्यक्षयप्रसादानां सुहृदामल्पतोषिणाम्। वृत्तिमहत्यवक्षेप्तुं त्वदन्यः कुरुसत्तम॥
ko hyakṣayaprasādānāṃ suhṛdāmalpatoṣiṇām| vṛttimahatyavakṣeptuṃ tvadanyaḥ kurusattama||
Who else save you, O best of the Kurus, can provide the means of livelihood for such Brahmana gifted with eternal contentment, as are your wellwishers, and as are pleased with only a little?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.27
यथा पत्याश्रयो धर्मः स्त्रीणां लोके सनातनः। सदैव सा गतिर्नान्या तथास्माकं द्विजातयः॥
yathā patyāśrayo dharmaḥ strīṇāṃ loke sanātanaḥ| sadaiva sā gatirnānyā tathāsmākaṃ dvijātayaḥ||
As women have one eternal duty, in this world, viz., dependence upon, and the obedient service of their husbands, and as such duty as are forms their only end, so is the service of Brahmanas our eternal duty and end.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.28
यदि नो ब्राह्मणास्तात संत्यजेयुरपूजिताः। पश्यन्तो दारुणं कर्म सततं क्षत्रिये स्थितम्॥ अवेदानामयज्ञानामलोकानामवर्तिनाम्। कस्तेषां जीवितेनार्थस्त्वां विना ब्राह्मणाश्रयम्॥
yadi no brāhmaṇāstāta saṃtyajeyurapūjitāḥ| paśyanto dāruṇaṃ karma satataṃ kṣatriye sthitam|| avedānāmayajñānāmalokānāmavartinām| kasteṣāṃ jīvitenārthastvāṃ vinā brāhmaṇāśrayam||
If on seeing cruelties and other sinful deeds in Kshatriyas, the Brahmanas, O son, unhonoured by us leave us all, I say, of what use would life be to us, in the absence of all contact with the Brahmanas, especially as we shall then have to carry on our existence without being able to study the Vedas, to celebrate sacrifices, to hope for worlds of bliss hereafter, and to perform great deeds?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.29
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथा धर्मं सनातनम्। राजन्यो ब्राह्मणान् राजन् पुरा परिचचार ह॥
atra te vartayiṣyāmi yathā dharmaṃ sanātanam| rājanyo brāhmaṇān rājan purā paricacāra ha||
I shall, about it, tell you what the eternal practice is. Formerly, O king, the Kshatriyas used to serve the Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.30
वैश्यो राजन्यमित्येव शूद्रो वैशमति श्रुतिः। दूराच्छूद्रेणोपचर्यो ब्राह्मणोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन्॥
vaiśyo rājanyamityeva śūdro vaiśamati śrutiḥ| dūrācchūdreṇopacaryo brāhmaṇo'gniriva jvalan||
The Vaishya likewise used in those days to adore the Kshatriya, and the Shudra to adore the Vaishya. This is what is heard. The Brahmana was like a burning fire. Without being able to touch him or approach his presence, the Shudra used to serve the Brahmana from a distance.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.31
संस्पर्शपरिचर्यस्तु वैश्येन क्षत्रियेण च। मृदुभावान् सत्यशीलान् सत्यधर्मानुपालकान्॥
saṃsparśaparicaryastu vaiśyena kṣatriyeṇa ca| mṛdubhāvān satyaśīlān satyadharmānupālakān||
It was only the Kshatriya and the Vaishya who could serve the Brahmana hy touching his bcdy or approaching his presence. The Brahmanas are gifted with a mild disposition. They are truthful in conduct. They are followers of the true religion.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.32
आशीविषानिव क्रुद्धास्तानुपाचरत द्विजान्। अपरेषां परेषां च परेभ्यश्चापि ये परे॥
āśīviṣāniva kruddhāstānupācarata dvijān| apareṣāṃ pareṣāṃ ca parebhyaścāpi ye pare||
When angry, they are like snakes of drcadful poison. Such being their nature, do you, O Yudhishthira, serve and attend them with obedience and respect. The Brahmanas are superior to those who are higher than the high and the low.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.33
क्षत्रियाणां प्रतपतां तेजसा च बलेन च। ब्राह्मणेष्वेव शाम्यन्ति तेजांसि च तपांसि च॥
kṣatriyāṇāṃ pratapatāṃ tejasā ca balena ca| brāhmaṇeṣveva śāmyanti tejāṃsi ca tapāṃsi ca||
The energy and penances of those Kshatriyas who blaze forth with energy and power, become powerless and neutralised when they come in in contact with the Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.34
न मे पिता प्रियतरो न त्वं तात तथा प्रियः। न मे पितुः पिता राजन् न चात्मा न च जीवितम्।।
na me pitā priyataro na tvaṃ tāta tathā priyaḥ| na me pituḥ pitā rājan na cātmā na ca jīvitam||
My father himself is not dearer to me than the Brahmanas. My mother is not dearer to me than they. My grandfather, O king, is not dcarer, my own life is not dearer, O king, to me than the Brahmanas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.35
त्वत्तश्च मे प्रियतरः पृथिव्यां नास्ति कश्चन। त्वत्तोऽपि मे प्रियतरा ब्राह्मणा भरतर्षभ॥
tvattaśca me priyataraḥ pṛthivyāṃ nāsti kaścana| tvatto'pi me priyatarā brāhmaṇā bharatarṣabha||
On Earth there is nothing, O Yudhishthira, that is dearer to me than you. But, O chief of Bharata's race, the Brahmanas are dearer to me than even you.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.36
ब्रवीमि सत्यमेतच्च यथाहं पाण्डुनन्दन। तेन सत्येन गच्छेयं लोकान् यत्र च शान्तनुः॥
bravīmi satyametacca yathāhaṃ pāṇḍunandana| tena satyena gaccheyaṃ lokān yatra ca śāntanuḥ||
I tell you truly, O son of Pandu! I swear by this truth, by which I hope to acquire all those blissful regions that have been Shantanu's.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.37
पश्येयं च सतां लोकाञ्छुचीन् ब्रह्मपुरस्कृतान्। तत्र मे तात गन्तव्यमह्नाय च चिराय च॥
paśyeyaṃ ca satāṃ lokāñchucīn brahmapuraskṛtān| tatra me tāta gantavyamahnāya ca cirāya ca||
I see those sacred regions with Brahma shining conspicuously before them. I shall go there, O son, and live in them eternally.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 9 59.38
सोऽहमतादृशाल्लोकान् दृष्ट्वा भरतसत्तम। यन्मे कृतं ब्राह्मणेषु न तप्ये तेन पार्थिव॥
so'hamatādṛśāllokān dṛṣṭvā bharatasattama| yanme kṛtaṃ brāhmaṇeṣu na tapye tena pārthiva||
Seeing these regions. O best of the Bharatas. I am filled with joy at the thought of all these acts which I have done in aid and honour of the Brahmanas, O king.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)