Mahabharata · Book 14 · Ashvamedhika Parva
Mahabharata, Book 14, Section XXXIIआश्वमेधिकपर्व
Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 14.32.
Sanskrit
त्रयो वै रिपवो लोके नवधा गुणतः स्मृताः।
हर्षः स्तंभोतिमानश्च त्रयस्ते सात्विका गुणाः।।
शोकः क्रोधाभिसंरम्भो राजसास्ते गुणाः स्मृताः।
स्वप्नस्तन्द्रा च मोहश्च त्रयस्ते तामसा गुणाः।।
एतान्निकृत्य धृतिमान्बाणसङ्घैरतन्द्रितः।
जेतुं परानुत्सहते प्रशान्तात्मा जितेन्द्रियः।।
अत्र गाथाः कीर्तयन्ति पुराकल्पविदो जनाः।
अम्बरीषेण या गीता राज्ञा राज्यं प्रशासता।।
समुदीर्णेषु दोषेषु बाध्यमानेषु साधुषु।
जग्राह तरसा राज्यमम्बरीष इति श्रुतिः।।
स निगृह्यात्मनो दोषान्साधून्समभिपूज्य च।
जगाम महतीं सिद्धिं गाथाश्चेमा जगाद ह।।
भूयिष्ठं विजिता दोषा निहताः सर्वशत्रवः।
एको दोषो वरिष्ठश्च वध्यः स न हतो मया।।
यत्प्रयुक्तो जन्तुरयं वैतृष्ण्यं नाधिगच्छति।
तृष्णार्त इव निम्नानि धावमानो न बुध्यते।।
अकार्यमपि येनेह प्रयुक्तः सेवते नरः।
तं लोभमसिभिस्तीक्ष्णैर्निकृत्य सुखमेधते।।
लोभाद्धि जायते तृष्णा ततश्चिन्ता प्रवर्तते।
स लिप्समानो लभते भूयिष्ठं राजसान्गुणान्।
तदवाप्तौ तु लभते भूयिष्ठं तामसान्गुणान्।।
स तैर्गुणैः संहतदेहबन्धनः।
पुनःपनर्जायति कर्म चेहते।
जन्मक्षये भिन्नविकीर्मदेहो
मृत्युं पुनर्गच्छति जन्मनैव।।
तस्मादेतं सम्यगवेक्ष्य लोभं
निगृह्य धृत्याऽऽत्मनि राज्यमिच्छेत्।
एतद्राज्यं नान्यदस्तीह राज्य-
मात्मैव राजा विदितो यथावत्।।
इति राज्ञाऽम्बरीषेण गाथा गीता यशस्विना।
आधिराज्य पुरस्कृत्य लोभमेकं निकृन्तता।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते आश्वमेधिकपर्वणि
अनुगीतापर्वणि द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः।। 32 ।।
English Ganguli
"'"The Brahmana said, 'In this connection is cited the old narrative, O lady, of the discourse between a Brahmana and (king) Janaka. King Janaka (on a certain occasion), desirous of punishing him, said unto a Brahmana who had become guilty of some offence, "Thou shalt not dwell within my dominions." Thus addressed, the Brahmana replied unto that best of kings, saying, "Tell me, O king, what the limits are of the territories subject to thee. I desire, O lord, to dwell within the dominions of another king. Verily, I wish to obey thy behest, O lord of Earth, agreeably to the scriptures."—Thus addressed by that celebrated Brahmana, the king, hearing repeated and hot sighs, said not a word in reply. Like the planet Rahu overwhelming the Sun, a cloudedness of understanding suddenly overwhelmed that king of immeasurable energy as he sat plunged in thought. When that cloudedness of understanding passed away and the king became comforted, he spoke after a short while these words unto that Brahmana.
"'"'Janaka said, "Although a (large) inhabited tract is subject to me within this ancestral kingdom of mine, yet I fail to find my dominion, searching through the whole Earth. When I failed to find it on the Earth, I then searched Mithila (for it). When I failed to find it in Mithila, I then searched for it among my own children. When I failed to find it even there, a cloudedness of understanding came over me. After that cloudedness of understanding passed away, intelligence came back to me. Then I thought that I have no dominion, or that everything is my dominion. Even this body is not mine, or the whole Earth is mine. At the same time, O best of regenerate persons, I think that that is as much mine as it is of others. Do thou, therefore, dwell (here) as long as thy choice leads thee, and do thou enjoy as long as thou pleasest."'
"'"The Brahmana said, '"When there is a large inhabited tract in thy ancestral kingdom, tell me, depending upon what understanding, has the idea of meum been got rid of by thee. What also is that understanding depending upon which thou hast come to the conclusion that everything constitutes thy dominion? What, indeed, is the notion through which thou hast no dominion, or everything is thy dominion?"'
"'"'Janaka said, "All conditions here, in all affairs, have been understood by me to be terminable. Hence, I could not find that which should be called mine.[88] (Considering) whose is this, I thought of the Vedic text about anybody's property. I could not, therefore, find, by my understanding, what should be (called) mine.[89] Depending upon this notion, I got rid of idea of mineness. Hear now what that notion is depending upon which I came to the conclusion that I have dominion everywhere. I do not desire for my own self those smells that are even in my nose. Therefore, the earth, subjugated by me, is always subject to me.[90] I do not desire for my own self those tastes that exist in contact with even my tongue. Therefore, water, subjugated by me, is always subject to me. I do not desire for my own self the colour or light that appertains to my eye. Therefore, light subjugated by me, is always subject to me. I do not desire for my own self those sensations of touch which are in contact with even my skin. Therefore, the wind, subjugated by me, is always subject to me. I do not desire for my own self those sounds which are in contact with even my ear. Therefore sounds, subjugated by me, are always subject to me. I do not desire for my own self the mind that is always in my mind. Therefore the mind, subjugated by me, is subject to me. All these acts of mine are for the sake of the deities, the Pitris, the Bhutas, together with guests."[91]—The Brahmana then, smiling, once more said unto Janaka,—"Know that I am Dharma, who have come here today for examining thee. Thou art verily the one person for setting this wheel in motion, this wheel that has the quality of Goodness for its circumference, Brahmin for its nave, and the understanding for its spokes, and which never turns back!"'"'"[92]