Mahabharata · Book 13 · Anushasana Parva
Mahabharata, Book 13, Section VIIIअनुशासनपर्व
Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 13.8.
Sanskrit
श्रुतं मे महदाख्यानमेतत्कुरुकुलोद्वह।
सुदुष्प्रापं यद्ब्रवीषि ब्राह्मण्यं वदतांवर।।
विश्वामिइत्रो महाराज राजा ब्राह्मणतां गतः।
कथितं भवता सर्वं विस्तरेण पितामह।।
तच्च राजन्मया सर्वं श्रुतं बुद्धिमतांवर।
आगमो हि परोऽस्माकं त्वत्तः कौरवनन्दन।।
वीतहव्यश्च नृपतिः श्रुतो मे विप्रतां गतः।
तदेव तावद्गाङ्गेय श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो।।
स केन कर्मणा प्राप्तो ब्राह्मण्यं राजसत्तमः।
वरेण तपसा वाऽपि तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि।।
भीष्म उवाच।
शृणु राजन्यथा राजा वीतहव्यो महायशाः।
राजर्षिर्दुर्लभं प्राप्तो ब्राह्मण्यं लोकसत्कृतम्।।
मनोर्महात्मनस्तात प्रजा धर्मेण शासतः।
बभूव पुत्रो धर्मात्मा शर्यातिरिति विश्रुतः।।
तस्यान्ववाये द्वौ राजन्राजानौ सम्बभूवतुः।
हैहयस्तालजङ्घश्च वत्सेषु जयतांवर।।
हैहयस्य तु राजेन्द्र दशसु स्त्रीषु भारत।
शतं बभूव पुत्राणां शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम्।
तुल्यरूपप्रभावानां बलिनां युद्धशालिनाम्।।
धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च सर्वत्रैव कृतश्रमाः।।
काशिष्वपि नृपो राजन्दिवोदासपितामहः।
हर्यश्व इति विख्यातो बभूव जयतांवरः।।
स वीतहव्यदायादैरागत्य पुरुषर्षभ।
गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये सङ्ग्रामे विनिपातितः।।
तं तु हत्वा नरपतिं हैहयास्ते महारथाः।
प्रतिजग्मुः पुरीं रम्यां वत्सानामकुतोभयाः।।
हर्यश्वस्य च दायादः काशिराजोऽभ्यषिच्यत।
सुदेवो देवसंकाशः साक्षाद्धर्म इवापरः।।
स पालयामास महीं धर्मात्मा काशिनन्दनः।
तैर्वीतहव्यैरागत्य युधि सर्वैर्विनिर्जितः।।
तमथाजौ विनिर्जित्य प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम्।
सौदेविस्त्वथ काशीशोदिवोदासोऽभ्यषिच्यत।।
दिवोदासस्तु विज्ञाय वीर्य तेषां यतात्मनाम्।
वाराणसीं महातेजा निर्ममे शक्रशासनात्।।
विप्रक्षत्रियसम्बाधां वैश्यशूद्रसमाकुलाम्।
नैकद्रव्योच्चयवतीं समृद्धविपणापणाम्।।
गङ्गाया उत्तरे कूले वप्रान्ते राजसत्तम्।।
गोमत्या दक्षिणे कूले शक्रस्येवामरावतीम्।
तत्र तं राजशार्दूलं निवसन्तं महीपतिम्।
आगत्य हैहया भूयः पर्यधावन्त भारत।।
स निष्क्रम्य ददौ युद्धं तेभ्यो राजा महाबलः।
देवासुरसमं घोरं दिवोदासो महाद्युतिः।।
स तु युद्धे महाराज दिनानां दशतीर्दश।
हतवाहनभूयिष्ठस्ततो दैन्यमुपागमत्।।
हतयोधस्ततो राजन्क्षीणकोशश्चक भूमिपः।
दिवोदासः पुरीं त्यक्त्वा पलायनपरोऽभवत्।।
गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं रम्यं भरद्वाजस्य धीमतः।
जगाम शरणं राजा कृताञ्जलिररिंदम्।।
तमुवाच भरद्वाजो ज्येष्ठः पुत्रो बृहस्पतेः।
पुरोधाः शीलसम्पन्नो दिवोदासं महीपतिम्।।
किमागमनकृत्यं ते सर्वं प्रबूहि मे नृप।
यत्ते प्रियं तत्करिष्ये न मेऽत्रास्ति विचारणा।।
राजोवाच।
भगवन्वैतहव्यैर्मे युद्धे वंशः प्रणाशितः।
अहमेकः परिद्यूनो भवन्तं शरणं गतः।।
शिष्यस्नेहेन भगवंस्त्वं मां रक्षितुमर्हसि।
एकशेषः कृतो वंशो मम तैः पापकर्मभिः।।
तमुवाच महाभागो भरद्वाजः प्रतापवान्।
न भेतव्यं न भेतव्यं सौदेव व्येतु ते भयम्।।
अहमिष्टिं करिष्यामि पुत्रार्थं ते विशाम्पते।
वीतहव्यसहस्राणि येन त्वं प्रहरिष्यसि।।
तत इष्टिं चकारर्षिस्तस्य वै पुत्रकामिकीम्।
अथास्य तनयो जज्ञे दैवोदासः प्रतर्दनः।।
स जातमात्रो ववृधे समाः सद्यस्त्रयोदश।
वेदं चापि जगौ कृत्स्नं धनुर्वेदं च भारत।।
योगेन च समाविष्टो भरद्वाजेन धीमता।
कृत्स्नं हि तेजो यल्लोके तदेतद्देहमाविशत्।।
ततः स कवची धन्वी स्तूयमानः सुरर्षिभिः।
बन्दिभिर्वन्द्यमानश्च बभौ सूर्य इवोदितः।।
स रथी बद्धनिस्त्रिंशो बभौ दीप्त इवानलः।
प्रययौ स धनुर्धुन्वन्विवर्षिषुरिवाम्बुदः।।
तं दृष्ट्वा परमं हर्षं सुदेवतनयो ययौ।
मेने च मनसा दग्धान्वैतहव्यान्स पार्थिवः।।
ततोसौ यौवराज्ये च स्थापयित्वा प्रतर्दनम्।
कृतकृत्यं तदाऽऽत्मानं स राजा प्रत्यपद्यत।।
ततस्तु वैतहव्यानां वधाय स महीपतिः।
पुत्रं प्रस्थापयासास प्रतर्दनमरिंदमम्।।
सरथः स तु संतीर्य गङ्गामाशु पराक्रमी।
प्रययौ वीतहव्यानां पुरीं परपुरंजयः।।
वैतहव्यास्तु संश्रुत्य रथघोषं समुद्धतम्।
निर्ययुर्नगराकारै रथैः पररथारुजैः।।
निष्क्रम्य ते नरव्याघ्रा दंशिताश्चित्रयोधिनः।
प्रतर्दनं समाजग्मुः शरवर्षैरुदायुधाः।।
शस्त्रैश्च विविधाकारै रथौघैश्च युधिष्ठिर।
अभ्यवर्षन्त राजानं हिमवन्तमिवाम्बुदाः।।
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य तेषां राजा प्रतर्दनः।
जघान तान्महातेजा वज्रानलसमैः शरैः।।
कृत्तोत्तमाङ्गास्ते राजन्भल्लैः शतसहस्रशः।
अपतन्रुधिरार्द्राङ्गा निकृत्ता इव किंशुकाः।।
हतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु वीतहव्यः सुतेष्वथ।
प्राद्रवन्नगरं हित्वा भृगोराश्रममप्युत।।
ययौ भृगुं च शरणं वीतहव्यो नराधिपः।
अभयं च ददौ तस्मै वीतहव्याय भार्गवः।
आसनं शिष्यमध्ये च भृगुरन्यत्समादिशत्।।
अथानुपदमेवाशु तत्रागच्छत्प्रतर्दनः।
स प्राप्य चाश्रमपदं दिवोदासात्मजोऽब्रवीत्।।
भोभो केऽत्राश्रमे सन्ति भृगोः शिष्या महात्मनः।
द्रष्टुमिच्छे मुनिमहं तस्याचक्षत मामिति।।
स तं विदित्वा तु भृगुर्निश्चक्रामाश्रमात्तदा।
पूजयामास च ततो विधिना नृपसत्तमम्।।
उवाच चैनं राजेन्द्र किं कार्यं ब्रूहि पार्थिव।
स चोवाच नृपस्तस्मै यदागमनकारणम्।।
राजोवाच।
अयं ब्रह्मन्नितो राजा वीतहव्यो विसर्ज्यताम्।
अस्य पुत्रैर्हि मे कृत्स्नो ब्रह्मन्वंशः प्रणाशितः।।
उत्सादितश्च विषयः काशीनां रत्नसञ्चयः।
एतस्य वीर्यदृप्तस्य हतं पुत्रशतं मया।
अस्येदानीं वधादद्य भविष्याम्यनृणः पितुः।।
तमुवाच कृपाविष्टो भृगुर्धर्मभृतांवरः।
नेहास्ति क्षत्रियः कश्चित्सर्वे हीमे द्विजातयः।।
एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा भृगोस्तथ्यं प्रतर्दनः।
पादावुपस्पृश्य शनैः प्रहृष्टो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।
एवमप्यस्मि भगवन्कृतकृत्यो न संशयः।
य एष राजा वीर्येण स्वजातिं त्याजितो मया।।
अनुजानीहि मां ब्रह्मन्ध्यायस्व च शिवेन माम्।
त्याजितो हि मया जातिमेव राजा भृगूद्वह।।
ततस्तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो ययौ राजा प्रतर्दनः।
यथागतं महाराज मुक्त्वा विषमिवोरगः।।
भृगोर्वचनमात्रेण स च ब्रह्मर्षितां गतः।
वीतहव्यो महाराज ब्रह्मवादित्वमेव च।।
तस्य गृत्समदः पुत्रो रूपेणेन्द्र इवापरः।
शक्रस्त्वमिति यो दैत्यैर्निगृहीतः किलाभवत्।।
ऋग्वेदे वर्तते चाग्र्या श्रुतिर्यस्य महात्मनः।
यत्र गृत्समदो राजन्ब्राह्मणैः स महीयते।।
स ब्रह्मचारी विप्रर्षिः श्रीमान्गृत्समदोऽभवत्।
पुत्रो गृत्समदस्यापि विप्रः सावैनसोऽभवत्।।
सावैनसस्य पुत्रो वै वितस्त्यस्तस्य चात्मजः।
वितस्त्यस्य सुतस्तस्य शिवस्तश्चात्मजोऽभवत्।।
श्रवास्तस्य सुतश्चर्षिः श्रवसश्चाभवत्तमः।
तमसश्च प्रकाशोऽभूत्तनयो द्विजसत्तमः।।
प्रकाशस्य च वागिन्द्रो बभूव जयतांवरः।
तस्यात्मजश्च प्रमितिर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः।।
घृताच्यां तस्य पुत्रस्तु रुरुर्नामोदपद्यत।
प्रमद्वरायां तु रुरोः पुत्रः समुदपद्यत।
शुनको नाम विप्रर्षिर्यस्य पुत्रोऽथ शौनकः।।
एवं विप्रत्वमगमद्वीतहव्यो नराधिपः।
भृगोः प्रसादाद्राजेन्द्र क्षत्रियः क्षत्रियर्षभ।।
एष ते कथितो वंशो राजन्गार्त्समदो मया।
विस्तरेण महाराज किमन्यदनुपृच्छसि।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते अनुशासनपर्वणि
दानधर्मपर्वणि अष्टमोऽध्यायः।। 8 ।।
English Ganguli
"'Yudhishthira said, "Who are deserving of worship? Who are they unto whom one may bow? Who are they, O Bharata, unto whom thou wouldst bend thy head? Who, again, are they whom thou likest? Tell me all this, O prince. What is that upon which thy mind dwells when affliction overwhelms thee? Do thou discourse to me on what is beneficial here, that is, in this region of human beings, as also hereafter."[10]
"'Bhishma said, "I like those regenerate persons whose highest wealth is Brahman, whose heaven consists in the knowledge of the soul, and whose penances are constituted by their diligent study of the Vedas. My heart yearns after those in whose race persons, young and old diligently bear the ancestral burthens without languishing under them. Brahmanas well-trained in several branches of knowledge, self-controlled, mild-speeched, conversant with the scriptures, well-behaved, possessed of the knowledge of Brahman and righteous in conduct, discourse in respectable assemblies like flights of swans.[11] Auspicious, agreeable, excellent, and well-pronounced are the words, O Yudhishthira, which they utter with a voice as deep as that of the clouds. Fraught with happiness both temporal and spiritual, such words are uttered by them in the courts of monarchs, themselves being received with honour and attention and served with reverence by those rulers of men. Indeed, my heart yearns after them who listen to the words uttered in assemblies or the courts of kings by persons endued with knowledge and all desirable attributes, and are respected by others. My heart, O monarch, always yearns after them who, for the gratification of Brahmanas, O Yudhishthira, give unto them, with devotion, food that is well-cooked and clean and wholesome. It is easy to fight in battle, but not so to make a gift without pride or vanity. In this world, O Yudhishthira, there are brave men and heroes by hundreds. While counting them, he that is a hero in gifts should be regarded as superior. O amiable one, if I had been even a vulgar Brahmana, I would have regarded myself as very great, not to speak of one born in a good Brahmana family endued with righteousness of conduct, and devoted to penances and learning. There is no one, O son of Pandu, in this world that is dearer to me than thou, O chief of Bharata's race but dearer to me than thou are the Brahmanas. And since, O best of the Kurus, the Brahmanas are very much dearer to me than thou, it is by that truth that I hope to go to all those regions of felicity which have been acquired by my sire Santanu. Neither my sire, nor my sire's sire, nor any one else connected with me by blood, is dearer to me than the Brahmanas. I do not expect any fruit, small or great, from my worship of the Brahmanas (for I worship them as deities because they are deserving of such worship).[12] In consequence of what I have done to the Brahmanas in thought, word, and deed, I do not feel any pain now (even though I am lying on a bed of arrows). People used to call me as one devoted to the Brahmanas. This style of address always pleased me highly. To do good to the Brahmanas is the most sacred of all sacred acts. I behold many regions of beatitude waiting for me that have reverentially walked behind the Brahmanas. Very soon shall I repair to those regions for everlasting time, O son. In this world, O Yudhishthira, the duties of women have reference to and depend upon their husbands. To a woman, verily, the husband is the deity and he is the highest end after which she should strive. As the husband is to the wife, even so are the Brahmanas unto Kshatriyas. If there be a Kshatriya of full hundred years of age and a good Brahmana child of only ten years, the latter should be regarded as a father and the former as a son, for among the two, verily, the Brahmana is superior. A woman in the absence of her husband, takes his younger brother for her lord; even so the Earth, not having obtained the Brahmana, made the Kshatriya her lord. The Brahmanas should be protected like sons and worshipped like sires or preceptors. Indeed, O best of the Kurus, they should be waited upon with reverence even as people wait with reverence upon their sacrificial or Homa fires. The Brahmanas are endued with simplicity and righteousness. They are devoted to truth. They are always engaged in the good of every creature. Yet when angry they are like snakes of virulent poison. They should, for these reasons, be always waited upon and served with reverence and humility. One should, O Yudhishthira, always fear these two, viz., Energy and Penances. Both these should be avoided or kept at a distance. The effects of both are speedy. There is the superiority, however, of Penances, viz., that Brahmanas endued with Penances, O monarch, can, if angry, slay the object of their wrath (regardless of the measure of Energy with which that object may be endued). Energy and Penances, each of the largest measure, become neutralised if applied against a Brahmana that has conquered wrath. If the two,—that is, Energy and Penances,—be set against each other, then destruction would overtake both but not destruction without a remnant, for while Energy, applied against Penances, is sure to be destroyed without leaving a remnant. Penances applied against Energy cannot be destroyed completely.[13] As the herdsman, stick in hand, protects the herd, even so should the Kshatriya always protect the Vedas and the Brahmanas. Indeed, the Kshatriya should protect all righteous Brahmanas even as a sire protects his sons. He should always have his eye upon the house of the Brahmanas for seeing that their means of subsistence may not be wanting."'"