Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.109
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12.109.1
कथं धर्मे स्थातुमिच्छन्नरो वर्तेत भारत ।
तत्त्वं जिज्ञासमानाय प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.१०९.१ ॥
O Bhārata, how should a man conduct himself who wishes to stand firm in dharma? O bull of the Bharatas, explain its truth to one who desires to know.
12.109.2
सत्यं चैवानृतं चोभे लोकानावृत्य तिष्ठतः ।
तयोः किमाचरेद्राजन्पुरुषो धर्मनिश्चितः ॥ १२.१०९.२ ॥
Truth and falsehood both stand enveloping the worlds. O king, which of these two should a man resolved in dharma practise?
12.109.3
किंस्वित्सत्यं किमनृतं किंस्विद्धर्म्यं सनातनम् ।
कस्मिन्काले वदेत्सत्यं कस्मिन्वाऽप्यनृतं वदेत् ॥ १२.१०९.३ ॥
What is truth, what is falsehood, what is eternal and lawful? At what time should one speak the truth, and at what time should one speak falsehood?
12.109.4
सत्यस्य वचनं साधु न सत्याद्विद्यते परम् ।
यत्तु लोके सुदुर्ज्ञेयं तत्ते वक्ष्यामि भारत ॥ १२.१०९.४ ॥
Good is the speech of truth; there is nothing higher than truth. But what is very hard to know in the world, O Bhārata, I shall tell you.
12.109.5
भवेत्सत्यं न वक्तव्यं वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत् ।
यत्रानृतं भवेत्सत्यं सत्यं वाऽप्यनृतं भवेत् ॥ १२.१०९.५ ॥
What is true may not be fit to speak, and what is false may be fit to speak. Where falsehood becomes truth, or truth itself becomes falsehood—
12.109.6
तादृशो वर्धते पापो यत्र सत्यमनिश्चितम् ।
सत्यानृते विनिश्चित्य ततो भवति धर्मवि ॥ १२.१०९.६ ॥
Where truth remains uncertain, such sin grows. Only after ascertaining truth and falsehood does one become a knower of dharma.
12.109.7
अप्यनार्योऽकृतप्रज्ञः पुरुषोऽप्यतिदारुणः ।
सुमहत्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यं बलाकोऽन्धवधादिव ॥ १२.१०९.७ ॥
Even a man of ignoble and undiscerning mind, even a very cruel one, may obtain great merit, as the heron did from slaying the blind man.
12.109.8
किमाश्चर्यं च यन्मूढो धर्मकामोऽप्यधर्मवित् ।
सुमहत्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यं गङ्गायामिव कौशिकः ॥ १२.१०९.८ ॥
What is surprising about it, that a deluded man who desires dharma yet does not know adharma may obtain great merit, like Kauśika in the Gaṅgā?
12.109.9
तादृशोऽयमनुप्रश्नो यत्र धर्मः सुदुर्विदः ।
दुष्कारं चापि संख्यातुं तर्केणात्र व्यवस्यति ॥ १२.१०९.९ ॥
Such is this question, where dharma is very hard to know; here it is difficult even to count and to determine it by reasoning.
12.109.10
प्रभवार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् ।
यः स्यात्प्रभवसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥ १२.१०९.१० ॥
Dharma has been taught for the prosperity of beings; that which is connected with prosperity is dharma, this is the conclusion.
12.109.11
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्तपो दानं दमो मतिः ।
अनसूयाऽप्यसामर्थ्यमनीर्ष्या शीलमेव च ॥ १२.१०९.११ ॥
Non-violence, truth, freedom from anger, austerity, giving, self-restraint, understanding, freedom from envy, also restraint, freedom from jealousy, and good conduct.
12.109.12
एष धर्मः कुरुश्रेष्ठ कथितं परमेष्ठिना ।
ब्रह्मणा देवदेवेन अयं चैव सनातनः ॥ १२.१०९.१२ ॥
This dharma, O best of the Kurus, was declared by the Supreme One, Brahmā, the god of gods; and it is eternal.
12.109.13
अस्मिन्धर्मे स्थितो राजन्नरो भद्राणि पश्यति ।
श्रौतो वधात्मको धर्म अहिंसापरमार्थिकः ॥ १२.१०९.१३ ॥
O king, a man established in this dharma sees good things. The dharma taught in the Veda has the nature of slaying, yet its highest meaning is non-violence.
12.109.14
धारणाद्धर्ममित्याहुर्धर्मेण विधृताः प्रजाः ।
यः स्याद्धारणसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चः ॥ १२.१०९.१४ ॥
Because it sustains, they call it dharma; by dharma the creatures are upheld. That which is endowed with sustaining is dharma—this is the certainty.
12.109.15
अहिंसार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् ।
यः स्यादहिंसासंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥ १२.१०९.१५ ॥
The teaching of dharma has been given for the sake of non-violence toward creatures. That which is endowed with non-violence is dharma—this is the certainty.
12.109.16
श्रुतिं धर्मं वदन्त्यन्ये मानान्याहुः परे जनाः ।
न च तं स्वभ्यसूयामो न हि सर्वं विधीयते ॥ १२.१०९.१६ ॥
Some call śruti (revelation) dharma, and other people name the authorities (māna). We do not reproach them, for not everything is prescribed.
12.109.17
येऽन्यायेन जिहीर्षन्तो धनमिच्छन्ति कर्हिचित् ।
तेभ्यस्तु न तदाख्येयं स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥ १२.१०९.१७ ॥
To those who, desiring to seize wealth by unjust means, ever seek it, that should not be told. That is dharma—this is the certainty.
12.109.18
अकूजनेन चेन्मोक्षो नावकूजेत्कथंचन ।
अवश्यं कूजितव्यं वा शङ्केरन्वाऽप्यकूजनात् ॥ १२.१०९.१८ ॥
If liberation came from not speaking, one should in no way speak; but one must certainly speak, or else one may be suspected from not speaking.
12.109.19
येऽन्ये वाऽप्यनृतं कुर्युः कुर्यादेव विचारणम् ।
श्रेयस्तत्रानृतं वक्तुं सत्यादिति विचारितम् ॥ १२.१०९.१९ ॥
Even if others act falsely, one should deliberate. It has been considered that in such a case, speaking falsehood is better than truth.
12.109.20
अक्षयाद्यो वधं राजन्कुर्यादेवाविचारयन् ।
अबुध्वाऽनुशये दोषं श्रेयस्तच्चानृतं भवेत् ॥ १२.१०९.२० ॥
O king, one who kills Akṣaya without reflection incurs fault in later regret, not knowing; in such a case that falsehood would be better.
12.109.21
न स्तेनः सह संबन्धान्मुच्यते शपथादपि ।
श्रेयस्तत्रानृतं वक्तुं सत्यादिति हि धारणा ॥ १२.१०९.२१ ॥
A thief is not freed by association with others, nor even by an oath. Here it is better to speak falsehood than truth — this is the settled view.
12.109.22
यः पापैः सह संबन्धान्मुच्यते शपथादपि ।
न च तेभ्यो धनं दद्याच्छक्ये सति कथंचन।
पापेभ्यो हि धनं दत्तं दातारमपि पीडयेत् ॥ १२.१०९.२२ ॥
One who is freed through association with evil men or even by an oath should not, when it is possible, give them wealth in any way. Wealth given to evil men torments even the giver.
12.109.23
स्वशरीरोपरोधेन धनमादातुमिच्छतः ।
सत्यसंप्रतिपत्त्यर्थं यद्ब्रूयुः साक्षिणः क्वचित्।
अनुक्त्वा तत्र तद्वाच्यं सर्वे तेऽनृतवादिनः ॥ १२.१०९.२३ ॥
For one who wishes to take wealth by harm to his own body, whatever witnesses may at some time say to establish the truth — if they do not say there what ought to be said, they are all speakers of falsehood.
12.109.24
प्राणात्यये विवाहे च वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत् ।
अर्थस्य रक्षणार्थाय परेषां धर्मकारणात् ॥ १२.१०९.२४ ॥
In peril of life and in marriage, falsehood may have to be spoken — also for the protection of wealth, and for the sake of others' dharma.
12.109.25
परेषां सिद्धिमाकाङ्क्षन्न च स्याद्धर्मभिक्षुकः ।
प्रतिश्रुत्य न दातव्यं श्वः कार्यस्तु बलात्कृतः ॥ १२.१०९.२५ ॥
Though desiring the success of others, one should not become a beggar of dharma. Having promised, one should not give, saying 'tomorrow'; but what is done under compulsion must be done.
12.109.26
यः कश्चिद्धर्मसमयात्प्रच्युतो धर्मजीवनः ।
दण्डेनैव स हन्तव्यस्तं पन्थानं समाश्रितः ॥ १२.१०९.२६ ॥
Whoever has fallen from the rule of dharma and lives by dharma's name should be struck down by punishment alone, for he has taken refuge in that very path.
12.109.27
च्युतः सदैव धर्मेभ्यो धनवान्धर्ममाश्रितः ।
कथं स्वधर्ममुत्सृज्य तमिच्छेदुपजीवितुम् ॥ १२.१०९.२७ ॥
A wealthy man who has always fallen from the duties, though he relies on dharma—how could anyone, abandoning his own dharma, wish to live off him?
12.109.28
सर्वोपायैर्नियन्तव्यः पापो निकृतिजीवनः ।
धनमित्येव पापानां सर्वेषामिह निश्चयः ॥ १२.१०९.२८ ॥
The sinner who lives by deceit must be restrained by every means. Here the settled conviction of all sinners is that wealth alone is their aim.
12.109.29
अविवाह्या ह्यसंभोज्या निकृत्या निरयं गताः ।
च्युता देवमनुष्येभ्यो यथा प्रेतास्तथैव ते।
निर्यज्ञास्तपसा हीना मा स्म तैः सह संगमः ॥ १२.१०९.२९ ॥
By deceit they are unfit for marriage and for eating together; they have gone to hell. Fallen from gods and men, they are like the dead. Without sacrifice and bereft of austerity, do not join with them.
12.109.30
धनादानाद्दुःखतरं जीविता धिक्प्रयोजनम् ।
इदं ते रोचतां धर्म इति वाच्यं प्रयत्नतः ॥ १२.१०९.३० ॥
Worse than taking wealth is a life without purpose; shame on such a life. This dharma should be carefully spoken so that it may please you.
12.109.31
न कश्चिदस्ति पापानां धर्म इत्येष निश्चयः ।
तथाविधं च यो हन्यान्न स पापेन लिप्यते ॥ १२.१०९.३१ ॥
There is no dharma for sinners; this is the firm conclusion. And one who slays such a person is not defiled by sin.
12.109.32
स्वकर्मणा हतं हन्ति हत एव स हन्यते ।
तेषु यः समयं कश्चित्कुर्वीत हतबुद्धिषु ॥ १२.१०९.३२ ॥
He who slays one already slain by his own deed is himself as good as slain. If anyone makes an agreement with those of ruined understanding...
12.109.33
यथा काकास्तथैव श्वा तथैवोपधिजीवनः ।
ऊर्ध्वं देहविमोक्षान्ते भवन्त्येतासु योनिषु ॥ १२.१०९.३३ ॥
Like crows, so too the dog, and those who live by deceit. After release from the body, they are born in these wombs.
12.109.34
यस्मिन्यथा वर्तति यो मनुष्य ।
स्तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तितव्यं स धर्मः।
मायाचारो मायया बाधितव्यः ।
साध्वाचारः साधुनैवाभ्युपेयः ॥ १२.१०९.३४ ॥
As a man behaves toward another, so one should behave toward him; that is dharma. One who acts by deceit should be checked by deceit, and one of good conduct should be approached with goodness.