Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 8

MBh 9 8.1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच के पूज्या: के नमस्कार्याः कान् नमस्यसि भारत। एतन्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व येभ्यः स्पृहयसे नृप॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ke pūjyā: ke namaskāryāḥ kān namasyasi bhārata| etanme sarvamācakṣva yebhyaḥ spṛhayase nṛpa||

Yudhishthira said Who are deserving of adoration? Who are they to whom one may bow? Who are they, O Bharata, to whom you would lower your head? Who, again, are they whom you like? Tell me all this, O prince.

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

MBh 9 8.2

उत्तमापद्रतस्यापि यत्र ते वर्तते मनः। मनुष्यलोके सर्वस्मिन् यदमुत्रेह चाप्युत॥

uttamāpadratasyāpi yatra te vartate manaḥ| manuṣyaloke sarvasmin yadamutreha cāpyuta||

What is that upon which your mind turn when affliction overwhelms you. Do you describe to me what is beneficial here, that is, in this region of human beings, as also hereafter.

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

MBh 9 8.3

भीष्म उवाच स्पृहयामि द्विजातिभ्यो येषां ब्रह्म परं धनम्। येषां स्वप्रत्ययः स्वर्गस्तपः स्वाध्यायसाधनम्॥

bhīṣma uvāca spṛhayāmi dvijātibhyo yeṣāṃ brahma paraṃ dhanam| yeṣāṃ svapratyayaḥ svargastapaḥ svādhyāyasādhanam||

Bhishma said I like those twiceborn persons whose highest wealth is Brahma, whose heaven is their knowledge of the soul, and whose penances are formed by their diligent study of the Vedas.

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

MBh 9 8.4

येषां बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च पितृपैतामहीं धुरम्। उद्वहन्ति न सीदन्ति तेभ्यो वै स्पृहयाम्यहम्॥

yeṣāṃ bālāśca vṛddhāśca pitṛpaitāmahīṃ dhuram| udvahanti na sīdanti tebhyo vai spṛhayāmyaham||

My heart longs for those in whose family persons young and old diligently bear the, ancestral burthens without languishing under them.

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

MBh 9 8.5

विद्यास्वभिविनीतानां दान्तानां मृदुभाषिणाम्। श्रुतवृत्तोपपन्नानां सदाक्षरविदां सताम्॥ संसत्सु वदतां तात हंसानामिव संघशः। मङ्गल्यरूपा रुचिरा दिव्यजीमूतनिःस्वनाः॥ सम्यगुच्चरिता वाचः श्रूयन्ते हि युधिष्ठिर। शुश्रूषमाणे नृपतौ प्रेत्य चेह सुखावहाः॥

vidyāsvabhivinītānāṃ dāntānāṃ mṛdubhāṣiṇām| śrutavṛttopapannānāṃ sadākṣaravidāṃ satām|| saṃsatsu vadatāṃ tāta haṃsānāmiva saṃghaśaḥ| maṅgalyarūpā rucirā divyajīmūtaniḥsvanāḥ|| samyaguccaritā vācaḥ śrūyante hi yudhiṣṭhira| śuśrūṣamāṇe nṛpatau pretya ceha sukhāvahāḥ||

Brahmanas well-trained in several branches of knowledge, self-controlled, mild-speeched, conversant with the scriptures, well-bchaved, possessed of the knowledge of Brahma, and righteous in conduct, discourse in respectable assemblies like flights of swans. They in a voice deep as the muttering of clouds give vent to auspicious, sweet, excellent, and wellpronounced words, O Yudhishthira. In the courts of monarchs, they spoke these words fraught with happiness both temporal and spiritual, themselves being received with honour and attention and served with respect by those kings.

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

MBh 9 8.6

ये चापि तेषां श्रोतारः सदा सदसि सम्मताः। विज्ञानगुणसम्पन्नास्तेभ्यश्च स्पृहयाम्यहम्॥

ye cāpi teṣāṃ śrotāraḥ sadā sadasi sammatāḥ| vijñānaguṇasampannāstebhyaśca spṛhayāmyaham||

Indeed, my heart longs after them who endued with knowledge and all desirable attributes, and honoured by others, listen to such words when uttered in assemblies or the courts of kings.

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

MBh 9 8.7

सुसंस्कृतानि प्रयताः शुचीनि गुणवन्ति च। ददत्यन्नानि तृप्त्यर्थं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो युधिष्ठिर॥

susaṃskṛtāni prayatāḥ śucīni guṇavanti ca| dadatyannāni tṛptyarthaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo yudhiṣṭhira||

My heart, O king, always yearns after them who, for the satisfaction of Brahmanas, O Yudhishthira, give to them, with devotion, food that is well-cooked and clean and wholesome.

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

MBh 9 8.8

ये चापि सततं राजंस्तेभ्यश्च स्पृहयाम्यहम्। शक्यं ह्येवाहवे योद्धं न दातुमनसूयितम्॥

ye cāpi satataṃ rājaṃstebhyaśca spṛhayāmyaham| śakyaṃ hyevāhave yoddhaṃ na dātumanasūyitam||

It is easy to fight in battle, but not so to make a gift without pride or vanity.

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

MBh 9 8.9

शूरा वीराच शतशः सन्ति लोके युधिष्ठिर। येषां संख्यायमानानां दानशूरो विशिष्यते॥

śūrā vīrāca śataśaḥ santi loke yudhiṣṭhira| yeṣāṃ saṃkhyāyamānānāṃ dānaśūro viśiṣyate||

In this world, O Yudhishthira, there are hundreds of brave men and heroes. While counting them, he who is a hero in gifts should be considered as superior.

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

MBh 9 8.10

धन्यःस्यां यद्धहं भूयः सौम्य ब्राह्मणकोऽपि वा। कुले जातो धर्मगतिस्तपोविद्यापरायणः॥

dhanyaḥsyāṃ yaddhahaṃ bhūyaḥ saumya brāhmaṇako'pi vā| kule jāto dharmagatistapovidyāparāyaṇaḥ||

O amiable one, if I had been even a vulgar Brahmana I would have considered myself as very great, not to speak of one born in a good family, gifted with righteousness of conduct, and given to penances and learning.

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

MBh 9 8.11

मे त्वत्तः प्रियतरो लोकेऽस्मिन् पाण्डुनन्दन। त्वत्तश्चापि प्रियतरा ब्राह्मणा भरतर्षभ॥

me tvattaḥ priyataro loke'smin pāṇḍunandana| tvattaścāpi priyatarā brāhmaṇā bharatarṣabha||

There is no one, O son of Pandu, in this world, who is dearer to me than you, O chief of Bharats's race, but Brahmans are dearer to me than you.

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

MBh 9 8.12

यथा मम प्रियतमास्त्वत्तो प्रियाः कुरूत्तम। तेन सत्येन गच्छेयं लोकान् यत्र स शान्तनुः॥

yathā mama priyatamāstvatto priyāḥ kurūttama| tena satyena gaccheyaṃ lokān yatra sa śāntanuḥ||

And since, O best of the Kurus, the Brahmanas are very much dearer to me than you, it is by that truth that I expect to go to all those regions of happiness which have been gained by my father Shantanu.

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

MBh 9 8.13

न मे पिता प्रियतरो ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तथाभवत्। न मे पितुः पिता वापि ये चान्येऽपि सुहृज्जनाः।।१५

na me pitā priyataro brāhmaṇebhyastathābhavat| na me pituḥ pitā vāpi ye cānye'pi suhṛjjanāḥ||15

Neither my father, nor my grandfather, nor any one else connected with me by blood, is dearer to me than the Brahmanas.

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

MBh 9 8.14

न हि मे वृजिनं किंचिद् विद्यते ब्राह्मणेष्विह। अणु वा यदि वा स्थूलं विद्यते साधुकर्मसु॥

na hi me vṛjinaṃ kiṃcid vidyate brāhmaṇeṣviha| aṇu vā yadi vā sthūlaṃ vidyate sādhukarmasu||

I do not expect any fruit, small or great, from my adoration of the Brahmanas.

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

MBh 9 8.15

कर्मणा मनसा वापि वाचा वापि परंतप। यन्मे कृतं ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तेनाद्य न तपाम्यहम्॥

karmaṇā manasā vāpi vācā vāpi paraṃtapa| yanme kṛtaṃ brāhmaṇebhyastenādya na tapāmyaham||

On account of what I have done to the Brahmanas in thought, word, and deed, I do not feel any pain now.

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

MBh 9 8.16

ब्रह्मण्य इति मामाहस्तया वाचाऽस्मि तोषितः। एतदेव पवित्रेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः परमं स्मृतम्॥

brahmaṇya iti māmāhastayā vācā'smi toṣitaḥ| etadeva pavitrebhyaḥ sarvebhyaḥ paramaṃ smṛtam||

People used to call me as one devoted to the Brahmanas. This address always pleased me highly. To do good to the Brahmanas is the most sacred of all sacred duties.

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

MBh 9 8.17

पश्यामि लोकानमलाञ्छुचीन् ब्राह्मणयायिनः। तेषु मे तात गन्तव्यमह्नाय च चिराय च॥

paśyāmi lokānamalāñchucīn brāhmaṇayāyinaḥ| teṣu me tāta gantavyamahnāya ca cirāya ca||

I see many regions of beatitude waiting for me who have respectfully followed the Brahmanas. Very soon shall I go to these regions for good, O son.

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

MBh 9 8.18

यथा भर्नाश्रयो धर्मः स्त्रीणां लोके युधिष्ठिर। स देवः सा गतिर्नान्या क्षत्रियस्य तथा द्विजाः॥

yathā bharnāśrayo dharmaḥ strīṇāṃ loke yudhiṣṭhira| sa devaḥ sā gatirnānyā kṣatriyasya tathā dvijāḥ||

In this world, O Yudhishthira, the duties of women depend upon their husbands. To a woman, verily, the husband is the god and he is the highest end for which she should try. As the husband to wife, so are the Brahmanas to Kshatriyas.

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

MBh 9 8.19

क्षत्रियः शतवर्षी च दशवर्षी द्विजोत्तमः। पितापुत्रौ च विज्ञेयौ तयोर्हि ब्राह्मणो गुरुः॥

kṣatriyaḥ śatavarṣī ca daśavarṣī dvijottamaḥ| pitāputrau ca vijñeyau tayorhi brāhmaṇo guruḥ||

If there be a Kshatriya hundred years old and a good Brahmana child of only ten years, the latter should be considered as a father and the former as a son, for among the two, the Brahmana is superior.

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

MBh 9 8.20

नारी तु पत्यभावे वै देवरं कुरुते पतिम्। पृथिवी ब्राह्मणालाभे क्षत्रियं कुरुते पतिम्॥

nārī tu patyabhāve vai devaraṃ kurute patim| pṛthivī brāhmaṇālābhe kṣatriyaṃ kurute patim||

A woman, in the absence of her husband, takes his younger brother for her lord; so the Earth, not having obtained Brahmana, made the Kshatriya her king.

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

MBh 9 8.21

पुत्रवच्च ततो रक्ष्या उपास्या गुरुवच्च ते। अग्निवच्चोपचर्या वै ब्राह्मणाः कुरुसत्तम॥

putravacca tato rakṣyā upāsyā guruvacca te| agnivaccopacaryā vai brāhmaṇāḥ kurusattama||

The Brahmanas should be protected like sons and adored like fathers or preceptors. Indeed, O best of the Kurus, they served reverentially as people wait with respect upon their sacrificial or Homa fires.

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

MBh 9 8.22

ऋजून् सतः सत्यशीलान् सर्वभूतहिते रतान्। आशीविषानिव क्रूद्धान् द्विजान् परिचरेत् सदा॥

ṛjūn sataḥ satyaśīlān sarvabhūtahite ratān| āśīviṣāniva krūddhān dvijān paricaret sadā||

The Brahmanas are gifted with simplicity and righteousness. They are given to truth. They are always engaged in the behalf of all creatures. Yet when angry they are like snakes of dreadful venom. They should, for these reasons, be always waited upon and served with respect and humility.

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

MBh 9 8.23

तेजसस्तपसश्चैव नित्यं बिभ्येद् युधिष्ठि। उभे चैते परित्याज्ये तेजश्चैव तपस्तथा॥

tejasastapasaścaiva nityaṃ bibhyed yudhiṣṭhi| ubhe caite parityājye tejaścaiva tapastathā||

One should, O Yudhishthira, always fear these two, viz., Energy and Penances. Both these should be shirked or kept at a distance.

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

MBh 9 8.24

व्यवसायस्तयोः शीघ्रमुभयोरेव विद्यते। हन्युः क्रुद्धा महाराज ब्राह्मणा ये तपस्विनः॥

vyavasāyastayoḥ śīghramubhayoreva vidyate| hanyuḥ kruddhā mahārāja brāhmaṇā ye tapasvinaḥ||

The effects of both are quick, There is this superiority, however, of Penances, viz., that Brahmanas gifted with Penances, O king, can, if angry, kill the object of their anger.

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

MBh 9 8.25

भूयः स्यादुभयं दत्तं ब्राह्मणाद् यदकोपनात्। कुर्यादुभयतः शेषं दत्तशेषं न शेषयेत्॥

bhūyaḥ syādubhayaṃ dattaṃ brāhmaṇād yadakopanāt| kuryādubhayataḥ śeṣaṃ dattaśeṣaṃ na śeṣayet||

Even greatest Energy and Penances, become neutralised if applied against a Brahmana who has conquered anger. If the two that is, Energy and Penances-be set against each other, then both of them would be destroyed. Again when Energy, is set against Penances, it is sure to be destroyed without leaving a remnant. Penances applied against Energy cannot be destroyed completely.

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

MBh 9 8.26

दण्डपाणिर्यथा गोषु पालो नित्यं हि रक्षयेत्। ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्म च तथा क्षत्रियः परिपालयेत्॥

daṇḍapāṇiryathā goṣu pālo nityaṃ hi rakṣayet| brāhmaṇā brahma ca tathā kṣatriyaḥ paripālayet||

As the herdsman, stick in hand, protects the herd, so should the Kshatriya always protect the Vedas and the Brahmanas.

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

MBh 9 8.27

पितेव पुत्रान् रक्षेथा ब्राह्मणान् धर्मचेतसः। गृहे चैषामवेक्षेथाः किंस्विदस्तीति जीवनम्॥

piteva putrān rakṣethā brāhmaṇān dharmacetasaḥ| gṛhe caiṣāmavekṣethāḥ kiṃsvidastīti jīvanam||

The Kshatriya should protect all pious Brahmanas as a father protects his sons. He should always look after the houses of the Brahmanas for finding out that the means of subsistence may not be wanting.

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