Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.158
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12.158.1
स्वाध्यायकृतयत्नस्य ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः ।
धर्मकामस्य धर्मात्मन्किंनु श्रेय इहोच्यते ॥ १२.१५८.१ ॥
For a brahmin who strives in self-study, especially one who desires dharma, O righteous-souled one, what is said here to be the highest good?
12.158.2
बहुधा दर्शने लोके श्रेयो यदिह मन्यसे ।
अस्मिँल्लोके परे चैव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ १२.१५८.२ ॥
There are many views in the world. Tell me, O grandsire, what you consider the highest good here, both in this world and in the next.
12.158.3
महानयं धर्मपथो बहुशाखश्च भारत ।
किंस्विदेवेह धर्माणामनुष्ठेयतमं मतम् ॥ १२.१५८.३ ॥
This path of dharma is great and has many branches, O Bhārata. Among the duties, which is considered the one most to be practised here?
12.158.4
धर्मस्य महतो राजन्बहुशाखस्य तत्त्वतः ।
यन्मूलं परमं तात तत्सर्वं ब्रूह्यतन्द्रितः ॥ १२.१५८.४ ॥
O king, of this great dharma with many branches, what in truth is its supreme root? Dear one, tell me all of it without weariness.
12.158.5
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि येन श्रेयो ह्यवाप्स्यसि ।
पीत्वाऽमृतमिव प्राज्ञो येन तृप्तो भविष्यसि ॥ १२.१५८.५ ॥
Very well, I will tell you, by which you will attain the highest good, and be satisfied as a wise man is satisfied after drinking nectar.
12.158.6
धर्मस्य विधयो नैके तेते प्रोक्ता महर्षिभिः ।
स्वंस्वं विज्ञानमाश्रित्य दमस्तेषां परायणम् ॥ १२.१५८.६ ॥
The great sages have declared many rules of dharma, each relying on his own knowledge. Of all of them, self-restraint (dama) is the supreme refuge.
12.158.7
दमं निःश्रेयसं प्राहुर्वृद्धा निश्चितदर्शिनः ।
ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण दमो धर्मः सनातनः ॥ १२.१५८.७ ॥
The elders of firm vision call self-restraint the highest good; for a brahmin especially, self-restraint is the eternal dharma.
12.158.8
नादान्तस्य क्रियासिद्धिर्यथावदुपलभ्यते ।
दमो दानं तथा यज्ञानधीतं चातिवर्तते ॥ १२.१५८.८ ॥
For one without self-control the fruit of rites is not rightly attained; self-restraint surpasses giving, sacrifice and study.
12.158.9
दमस्तेजो वर्धयति पवित्रं च दमः परम् ।
विपाप्मा तेजसा युक्तः पुरुषो विन्दते महत् ॥ १२.१५८.९ ॥
Self-restraint increases radiance, and self-restraint is the supreme purity; a man free from sin and endowed with radiance attains greatness.
12.158.10
दमेन सदृशं धर्मं नान्यं लोकेषु शुश्रुम् ।
दमो हि परमो लोके प्रशस्तः सर्वधर्मिणाम् ॥ १२.१५८.१० ॥
We have not heard of any other dharma equal to self-restraint in the worlds; self-restraint is supreme in the world, praised by all who follow dharma.
12.158.11
प्रेत्य चात्र मनुष्येन्द्र परमं विन्दते सुखम् ।
दमेन हि सदा युक्तो महान्तं धर्ममश्नुते ॥ १२.१५८.११ ॥
O lord of men, after death and here too a person obtains supreme happiness; one always endowed with self-restraint attains great dharma.
12.158.12
सुखं दान्तः प्रस्वपिति सुखं च प्रतिबुध्यते ।
सुखं पर्येति लोकांश्च मनश्चास्य प्रसीदति ॥ १२.१५८.१२ ॥
The self-controlled man sleeps comfortably and wakes comfortably; he moves through the worlds comfortably, and his mind becomes serene.
12.158.13
अदान्तः पुरुषः क्लेशमभीक्ष्णं प्रतिपद्यते ।
अनर्थांश्च बहूनन्यान्प्रसृजत्यात्मदोषजान् ॥ १२.१५८.१३ ॥
The man without self-control constantly undergoes suffering, and brings forth many other misfortunes born of his own faults.
12.158.14
आश्रमेषु चतुर्ष्वाहुर्दममेवोत्तमं व्रतम् ।
दमलिङ्गानि वक्ष्यामि येषां समुदयो दमः ॥ १२.१५८.१४ ॥
Among the four stages of life, self-restraint alone is called the highest vow. I will speak of the marks of self-restraint, whose gathering is self-restraint itself.
12.158.15
क्षमा धृतिरार्हेसा च समता सत्यमार्जवम् ।
इन्द्रियाभिजयो दाक्ष्यं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ॥ १२.१५८.१५ ॥
Forbearance, steadfastness, uprightness, equanimity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, conquest of the senses, skill, gentleness, modesty, and freedom from fickleness.
12.158.16
अकार्पण्यमसंरम्भः संतोषः प्रियवादिता ।
अविहसाऽनसूया चाप्येषां समुदयो दमः ॥ १२.१५८.१६ ॥
Generosity, freedom from agitation, contentment, pleasant speech, non-violence, and freedom from envy — the gathering of these is self-restraint.
12.158.17
गुरुपूजा च कौरव्य दया भूतेष्वपैशुनम् ।
जनवादमृषावादस्तुतिनिन्दाविसर्जनम् ॥ १२.१५८.१७ ॥
Honouring one's teachers, O descendant of Kuru, compassion toward all beings, abstaining from tale-bearing, gossip, false speech, and giving up both praise and blame.
12.158.18
कामं क्राधं च लोभं च दर्पं स्तम्भं विकत्थनम् ।
रोषमीर्ष्यावमानं च नैव दान्तो निषेवते ॥ १२.१५८.१८ ॥
Desire, anger, greed, pride, obstinacy, boasting, resentment, envy and contempt — the self-restrained man never indulges in these.
12.158.19
अनिन्दितो ह्यकामात्मा नाल्पेष्वर्थ्यनसूयकः ।
समुद्रकल्पः स नरो न कथंचन पूर्यते ॥ १२.१५८.१९ ॥
The blameless man whose self is free of desire, who does not crave small things and is free of envy, is like the ocean; he is never filled in any way.
12.158.20
अहं त्वयि मम त्वं च मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ।
पूर्वसंबन्धिसंयोगं नैतद्दान्तो निषेवते ॥ १२.१५८.२० ॥
I am in you, you are mine, you are in me, and I am also in those of yours. The self-controlled man does not resort to this union of past kinship.
12.158.21
सर्वा ग्राम्यास्तथाऽऽरण्या याश्च लोके प्रवृत्तयः ।
निन्दां चैव प्रशंसां च यो नाश्रयति मुच्यते ॥ १२.१५८.२१ ॥
Of all activities in the world, whether of village or forest, he who does not depend on blame or praise is liberated.
12.158.22
मैत्रोऽथ शीलसंपन्नः प्रसन्नात्मात्मविच्च यः ।
मुक्तस्य विविधैः सङ्गैस्तस्य प्रेत्य फलं महत् ॥ १२.१५८.२२ ॥
For the friendly man of good character, serene in mind and knowing the self, freed from manifold attachments, the fruit after death is great.
12.158.23
सुवृत्तः शीलसंपन्नः प्रसन्नात्माऽऽत्मविद्वुधः ।
प्राप्येह लोके सत्कारं सुगतिं प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १२.१५८.२३ ॥
The man of good conduct, endowed with good character, serene in mind, knowing the self and wise, obtains honor in this world and attains a good destiny.
12.158.24
कर्म यच्छुभमेवेह सद्भिराचरितं च यत् ।
तदेव ज्ञानयुक्तस्य मुनेर्वर्त्म न हीयते ॥ १२.१५८.२४ ॥
Here the auspicious action which the good have practiced, that very path of the sage endowed with knowledge does not decline.
12.158.25
निष्क्रम्य वनमास्थाय ज्ञानयुक्तो जितेन्द्रियः ।
कालाकाङ्गी चरन्नेवं ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ १२.१५८.२५ ॥
The one endowed with knowledge and mastery over the senses, having left home and taken refuge in the forest, awaiting his time and wandering thus, becomes fit for becoming Brahman.
12.158.26
अभयं यस्य भूतेभ्यो भूतानामभयं यतः ।
तस्य देहाद्विमुक्तस्य भयं नास्ति कुतश्चन ॥ १२.१५८.२६ ॥
For him who is fearless toward beings, and from whom beings have no fear, released from the body, there is no fear from anywhere.
12.158.27
अवाचिनोति कर्माणि न च संप्रचिनोति ह ।
समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु मैत्रायणगतिं चरेत् ॥ १२.१५८.२७ ॥
He gathers no actions and accumulates none; even-minded toward all beings, he should walk the path of friendship.
12.158.28
शकुनीनामिवाकाशे मत्स्यानांमिव चोदके ।
यथा गतिर्न दृश्येत तथा तस्य स संशयः ॥ १२.१५८.२८ ॥
As the course of birds in the sky and of fish in the water is not seen, so is his course not seen; that is the doubt concerning him.
12.158.29
गृहानुत्सृज्य यो राज्मोक्षमेवाभिपद्यते ।
लोकास्तेजोमयास्तस्य कल्पन्ते शाश्वतीः समाः ॥ १२.१५८.२९ ॥
He who, having abandoned his houses, takes refuge solely in royal liberation, for him worlds made of radiance come to be for eternal years.
12.158.30
संन्यस्य सर्वकर्माणि संन्यस्य विधिवत्तपः ।
संन्यस्य विविधा विद्याः सर्वं संन्यस्य चैव ह ॥ १२.१५८.३० ॥
Having renounced all actions, having renounced austerity according to rule, having renounced the various sciences, and having renounced everything, indeed.
12.158.31
कामे शुचिरनावृत्तः प्रसन्नात्माऽऽत्मविच्छुचिः ।
प्राप्येह लोके सत्कारं स्वर्गं समभिपद्यते ॥ १२.१५८.३१ ॥
He who is pure in desire, not turned back by it, of serene self, pure and knower of the self, having obtained honour in this world, attains heaven.
12.158.32
यच्च पैतामहं स्थानं ब्रह्मराशिसमुद्भवम् ।
गुहायां निहितं नित्यं तद्दमेनाभिगम्यते ॥ १२.१५८.३२ ॥
And that abode of the Grandfather, arising from a mass of Brahman, eternally placed in the cave (of the heart), is reached by self-restraint.
12.158.33
ज्ञानारामस्य बुद्धस्य सर्वभूतानुरोधिनः ।
नावृत्तिभयमस्तीह परलोकभयं कुतः ॥ १२.१५८.३३ ॥
For one who delights in knowledge, is awakened and is kind to all beings, there is no fear of return here; whence would there be fear of the other world?
12.158.34
एक एव दमे दोषो द्वितीयो नोपपद्यते ।
यदेनं दमसंयुक्तमशक्तं मन्यते जनः ॥ १२.१५८.३४ ॥
In self-restraint there is only one fault, a second does not arise: that people think this man, endowed with restraint, is incapable.
12.158.35
एकोऽस्य सुमहाप्राज्ञ दोषः स्यात्सुमहान्गुणः ।
क्षमया विपुला लोका दुर्लभा हि सहिष्णुता ॥ १२.१५८.३५ ॥
O very wise one, it has one fault, but its virtue is very great: through forbearance vast worlds are gained, for endurance is rare.
12.158.36
दान्तस्य किमरण्येन तथाऽदान्तस्य भारत ।
यत्रैव निवसेद्दान्तस्तदरण्यं स चाश्रमः ॥ १२.१५८.३६ ॥
O Bhārata, what does a self-controlled man need with a forest, or an uncontrolled man likewise? Wherever the self-controlled man dwells, that is the forest and that is the hermitage.
12.158.37
एतद्भीष्मस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा युधिष्ठिरः ।
अमृतेनेव संतृप्तः प्रहृष्टः समपद्यत ॥ १२.१५८.३७ ॥
Having heard these words of Bhīṣma, King Yudhiṣṭhira, as if sated with nectar, was overjoyed.
12.158.38
पुनश्च परिपप्रच्छ भीष्मं धर्मभृतां वरम् ।
ततः प्रीतः स चोवाच तस्मै सर्वं कुरूद्वहः ॥ १२.१५८.३८ ॥
Then he questioned Bhīṣma, the best of the upholders of dharma, again; and pleased, the foremost of the Kurus told him everything.