Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.11
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12.11.1
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
तापसैः सह संवादं शक्रस्य भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.११.१ ॥
Here, bull of the Bharatas, they recount this ancient story: the dialogue of Śakra (Indra) with ascetics.
12.11.2
शक्यं पुनररण्येषु सुखमेतेन जीवितुम् ।
केचिद्गृहान्परित्यज्य वनमभ्यागमन्द्विजाः।
अजातश्मश्रवो मन्दाः कुले जाताः प्रवव्रजुः ॥ १२.११.२ ॥
By this, one can again live happily in the forests. Some twice-born men, having left their homes, went to the forest — beardless, foolish, born in good families — they went forth into renunciation.
12.11.3
धर्मोऽयमिति मन्वानाः समृद्धा धर्मचारिणः ।
त्यक्त्वा भ्रातॄन्पितॄंश्चैव तानिन्द्रोऽन्वकृपायत ॥ १२.११.३ ॥
Thinking, 'This is dharma,' the prosperous practitioners of dharma abandoned their brothers and fathers; Indra took pity on them.
12.11.4
स तान्बभाषे मघवान्पक्षीभूत्वा हिरण्मयः ।
सुदुष्करं मनुष्यैस्तु यत्कृतं विघसाशिभिः ॥ १२.११.४ ॥
Maghavan (Indra), taking the form of a golden bird, spoke to them: 'What the eaters of leftovers (vighasāśins) have done is exceedingly difficult for men.'
12.11.5
पुण्यं भवति कर्मैषां प्रशस्तं चैव जीवितम् ।
सिद्धार्थास्ते गतिं मुख्यां प्राप्ताः कर्मपरायणाः ॥ १२.११.५ ॥
Their deed is meritorious, and their life is praiseworthy; devoted to their works, having fulfilled their aims, they attained the supreme goal.
12.11.6
अहो बतायं शकुनिर्विघसाशान्प्रशंसति ।
अस्मान्नूनमयं शास्ति वयं च विघसाशिनः ॥ १२.११.६ ॥
'Ah! This bird praises the eaters of leftovers. Surely it is instructing us — and are we not eaters of leftovers ourselves?'
12.11.7
नाहं युष्मान्प्रशंसामि पङ्कदिग्धान्रजस्वलान् ।
उच्छिष्टभोजिनो मन्दानन्ये वै विघसाशिनः ॥ १२.११.७ ॥
I do not praise you, smeared with mud, soiled with dust, eaters of leftovers, foolish ones; indeed, the others too are eaters of scraps.
12.11.8
इदं श्रेयः परमिति वयमेवममंस्महि ।
शकुने ब्रूहि यच्छ्रेयो वयं ते श्रद्दधामहे ॥ १२.११.८ ॥
We had thought this was the supreme good. Śakuni, tell us what the good is; we trust you.
12.11.9
यदि मां नाभिशङ्कध्वं विभज्यात्मानमात्मना ।
ततोऽहं वः प्रवक्ष्यामि याथातथ्यं हितं वचः ॥ १२.११.९ ॥
If you do not doubt me, but weigh yourselves by yourselves, then I will tell you the true and beneficial word.
12.11.10
शृणुमस्ते वचस्तात पन्थानो विदितास्तव ।
नियोगे चैव धर्मात्मन्स्थातुमिच्छाम शाधि नः ॥ १२.११.१० ॥
Dear one, we hear your words; all the paths are known to you. O righteous one, we wish to abide in that very rule; instruct us.
12.11.11
चतुष्पदां गौः प्रवरा लोहानां काञ्चनं वरम् ।
शब्दानां प्रवरो मन्त्रो ब्राह्मणो द्विपदां वरः ॥ १२.११.११ ॥
Among four-footed beings the cow is foremost; among metals gold is best; among sounds the sacred formula is foremost; among two-footed beings the brahmin is best.
12.11.12
मन्त्रोऽयं जातकर्मादिर्ब्राह्मणस्य विधीयते ।
जीवतोऽपि यथाकालं श्मशाननिधनान्तकः ॥ १२.११.१२ ॥
This sacred formula, beginning with the birth rite, is prescribed for a brahmin, and even while he lives, in due time it ends with death at the cremation ground.
12.11.13
कर्माणि वैदिकान्यस्य स्वर्ग्यः पन्थास्त्वनुत्तमः ।
अथ सर्वाणि कर्माणि मन्त्रसिद्धानि चक्षते।
आम्नायदृढवादीनि तथा सिद्धिरिहेष्यते ॥ १२.११.१३ ॥
His Vedic rites are the path that leads to heaven, and that is the supreme way. All rites are said to be accomplished by mantras; it is by those firmly declared in the Vedic tradition that success is attained here.
12.11.14
मासार्धमासा ऋतव आदित्यशशितारकम् ।
ग्रसन्ते कर्म भूतानि तदिदं कर्मशंसिनाम् ॥ १२.११.१४ ॥
Months, fortnights and seasons, the sun, moon and stars devour the deeds of beings; this is what those who praise action affirm.
12.11.15
सिद्धिक्षेत्रमिदं पुण्यमयमेवाश्रमो महान् ॥ १२.११.१५ ॥
This is a holy field of accomplishment, and this is indeed the great hermitage.
12.11.16
अथ ये कर्म निन्दन्तो मनुष्याः कापथं गताः ।
मूढानामर्थहीनानां तेषामेनस्तु विद्यते ॥ १२.११.१६ ॥
But in those men who revile the rites and have gone astray onto a wrong path, the deluded and purposeless, there is indeed sin.
12.11.17
देववंशान्पितृवंशान्ब्रह्मवंशांश्च शाश्चतान् ।
संत्यज्य मूढा वर्तन्ते ततो यान्त्यशुचीन्पथः ॥ १२.११.१७ ॥
The lineages of the gods, of the ancestors and of the Brahmins are eternal; forsaking them, the deluded conduct themselves thus, and therefore they go along impure paths.
12.11.18
एतद्वोऽस्तु तपोयुक्तं ददामीत्यृषिचोदितम् ।
तस्मात्तदध्यावसतस्तपस्वित्वमिहोच्यते ॥ १२.११.१८ ॥
"May this be joined with asceticism for you; I give it" — so spoken by the sage; therefore to one who dwells in it the state of an ascetic is here declared.
12.11.19
देववंशान्ब्रह्मवंशान्पितृवंशांश्च शाश्वतान् ।
संविभज्य गुरोश्चर्यां तद्वै दुष्करमुच्यते ॥ १२.११.१९ ॥
Having duly apportioned the eternal lines of the gods, the Brahmins and the ancestors, to follow the conduct of the teacher—that is said to be difficult.
12.11.20
देवा वै दुष्करं कृत्वा विभूतिं परमां गताः ।
तस्माद्गार्हस्थ्यमुद्वोढुं दुष्करं प्रब्रवीमि वः ॥ १२.११.२० ॥
The gods, having performed difficult deeds, attained supreme glory. Therefore I tell you that undertaking the householder's life is also difficult.
12.11.21
तपः श्रेष्ठं प्रजानां हि मूलमेतन्न संशयः ।
कुटुम्वविधिनाऽनेन यस्मिन्सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १२.११.२१ ॥
Austerity is the highest among creatures; this is indeed the root, there is no doubt. By this rule of household life, everything is established.
12.11.22
एतद्विदुस्तपो विप्रा द्वन्द्वातीता विमत्सराः ।
एतस्माद्वनमध्ये तु लोकेषु तप उच्यते ॥ १२.११.२२ ॥
The Brahmins, beyond the pairs of opposites and free from envy, know this as austerity. Therefore, in the midst of the forest, among the worlds, this is called austerity.
12.11.23
दुराधर्षं पदं चैव गच्छन्ति विघसाशिनः ।
सायंप्रातर्विभज्यान्नं स्वकुटुम्बे यथाविधि ॥ १२.११.२३ ॥
Those who eat the remnants reach an unassailable state, having divided the food morning and evening within their household according to rule.
12.11.24
दत्त्वाऽतिथिभ्यो देवेभ्यः पितृभ्यः स्वजनाय च ।
अवशिष्टानि येऽश्नन्ति तानाहुर्विघसाशिनः ॥ १२.११.२४ ॥
Those who eat what remains after giving to guests, the gods, the ancestors and their own kin are called eaters of the remnants.
12.11.25
तस्मात्स्वधर्ममास्थाय सुव्रताः सत्यवादिनः ।
लोकस्य गुरवो भूत्वा ते भवन्त्यनुपस्कृताः ॥ १२.११.२५ ॥
Therefore, holding to their own duty, firm in vows and truthful, they become teachers of the world and remain untainted.
12.11.26
त्रिदिवं प्राप्य शक्रस्य स्वर्गलोके विमत्सराः ।
वसन्ति शाश्वतान्वर्षाञ्जना दुष्करकारिणः ॥ १२.११.२६ ॥
Having reached the triple heaven of Śakra, free from envy, the people who performed difficult deeds dwell in the heavenly world for eternal years.
12.11.27
ततस्ते तद्वचः श्रुत्वा धर्मार्थसहितं हितम् ।
उत्सृज्य नास्तिकमतिं गार्हस्थ्यं धर्ममाश्रिताः ॥ १२.११.२७ ॥
Then, having heard that beneficial speech joined with dharma and wealth, they gave up the unbelieving view and took refuge in the duty of the householder.
12.11.28
तस्मात्त्वमपि सर्वज्ञ धैर्यमालम्ब्य शाश्वतम् ।
प्रशाधि पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां हतामित्रां नरोत्तम ॥ १२.११.२८ ॥
Therefore, O all-knowing one, you too should hold to lasting steadfastness and govern the entire earth, its enemies slain, O best of men.