Mahabharata, Book 12, Section XCIXशान्तिपर्व

Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 12.99.

99Sanskrit adhyāya 12.99 · Sanskrit source · English source

Sanskrit

भीष्म उवाच।
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीम-तिहासं पुरातनम्।
प्रतर्दनो मैथिलश्च संग्रामं यत्र चक्रतुः।।
यज्ञोपवीती संग्रामे जनको मिथिलाधिपः।
योधानुद्धर्षयामास तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर।।
जनको मैथिलो राजा महात्मा सर्वतत्त्ववित्।
योधानां दर्शयामास स्वर्गं नरकमेव च।।
अभीरूणामिमे लोका भास्वन्तो हन्त पश्यत।
पूर्णा गन्धर्वकन्याभिः सर्वकामदुहोऽक्षयाः।।
इमे पलायमानानां नरकाः प्रत्युपस्थिताः।
अकीर्तिः शाश्वती चैव यतितव्यमनन्तरम्।।
तान्दृष्ट्वाऽरीन्विजयत भूत्वा संत्यागबुद्धयः।
नरकस्याप्रतिष्ठस्य मा भूत वशवर्तिनः।।
त्यागमूलं हि शूराणां स्वर्गद्वारमनुत्तमम्।
इत्युक्तास्ते नृपतिना योधाः परपुरंजय।।
अजयन्त रणे शत्रून्हर्षयन्तो नरेश्वरम्।
तस्मात्त्यक्तात्मना नित्यं स्थातव्यं रणमूर्धनि।।
गजानां रथिनो मध्ये रथानामनुसादिनः।
सादिनामन्तरे स्थाप्यं पादातमपि दंशितम्।।
य एवं व्यूहते राजा स नित्यं जयते रिपून्।
तस्मदितद्विधातव्यं नित्यमेव युधिष्ठिर।।
स्वर्गे सुकृतमिच्छन्तः सुयुद्धेनातिमन्यवः।
क्षोभयेयुरनीकानि सागरं मकरा यथा।।
हर्षयेयुर्विषण्णांश्च व्यवस्थाप्य परस्परम्।
तेषां च भूमिं रक्षेयुर्भग्नान्नात्यनुसारयेत्।।
पुनरावर्तमानानां निराशानां च जीविते।
वेगः सुदुःसहो राजंस्तस्मान्नात्यनुसारयेत्।।
न हि प्रहर्तुमिच्छन्ति शूराः प्रद्रवतो भयात्।
तस्मात्पलायमानानां कुर्यान्नात्यनुसारणम्।।
चराणामचरा ह्यन्नमदंष्ट्रा दंष्ट्रिणामपि।
अपाणयः पाणिमतामन्नं शूरस्य कातराः।।
समानपृष्ठोदरपाणिपादाः
पश्चाच्छरं भीरवोऽनुव्रजन्ति।
अतो भयार्ताः प्रणिपत्य भूयः
कृत्वाञ्जलीनुपतिष्ठन्ति शूरान्।।
शूरबाहुषु लोकोऽयं लम्बते पुत्रवत्सद।
तस्मात्सर्वेषु लोकेषु शूरः संमानमर्हति।।
न हि शौर्यात्परं किंचिन्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते।
शूरः सर्वं पालयति सर्वं शूरे प्रतिष्ठितम्।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते शान्तिपर्वणि
राजधर्मपर्वणि एकोनशततमोऽध्यायः।। 99।।

English Ganguli

"'Bhishma said, "In this connection is cited the old story of the battle between Pratardana and the ruler of Mithila. The ruler of Mithila, viz., Janaka, after installation in the sacrifice of battle, gladdened all his troops (on the eve of fight). Listen to me, as I recite the story. Janaka, the high souled king of Mithila, conversant with the truth of everything, showed both heaven and hell unto his own warriors. He addressed them, saying, 'Behold, these are the regions, endued with great splendour, for those that fight fearlessly. Full of Gandharva girls, those regions are eternal and capable of granting every wish. There, on the other side, are the regions of hell, intended for those that fly away from battle. They would have to rot there for eternity in everlasting ingloriousness. Resolved upon casting away your very lives, do ye conquer your foes. Do not fall into inglorious hell. The laying down of life, (in battle) constitutes, in respect of heroes, their happy door of heaven.' Thus addressed by their king, O subjugator of hostile towns, the warriors of Mithila, gladdening their rulers, vanquished their foes in battle. They that are of firm souls should take their stand in the van of battle. The car-warriors should be placed in the midst of elephants. Behind the car-warriors should stand the horsemen. Behind the last should be placed the foot-soldiers all accoutred in mail. That king who forms his array in this manner always succeeds in vanquishing his foes. Therefore, O Yudhishthira, the array of battle should always be thus formed. Filled with rage, heroes desire to win blessedness in heaven by fighting fairly. Like Makaras agitating the ocean, they agitate the ranks of the foe. Assuring one another, they should gladden those (amongst them) that are cheerless. The victor should protect the land newly conquered (from acts of aggression). He should not cause his troops to pursue too much the routed foe. The onset is irresistible of persons that rally after the rout and that, despairing of safety, assail their pursuers. For this reason, O king, thou shouldst not cause thy troops to pursue too much the routed foe. Warriors of courage do not wish to strike them that run away with speed. That is another reason why the routed foe should not be pursued hotly. Things that are immobile are devoured by those that are mobile; creatures that are toothless are devoured by those that have teeth; water is drunk by the thirsty; cowards are devoured by heroes. Cowards sustain defeat though they have, like the victors, similar backs and stomachs and arms and legs. They that are afflicted with fear bend their heads and joining their hands stay before those that are possessed of courage. This world rests on the arms of heroes like a son on those of his sire. He, therefore, that is a hero deserves respect under every circumstance. There is nothing higher in the three worlds than heroism. The hero protects and cherishes all, and all things depend upon the hero."'"