Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.178
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12.178.1
बान्धवाः कर्म वित्तं वा प्रज्ञा वेह पितामह ।
नरस्य का प्रतिष्ठा स्यादेतत्पृष्टो वदस्व मे ॥ १२.१७८.१ ॥
Kinsmen, action, wealth, or wisdom — grandfather, what is the foundation of a man in this world? I ask you; tell me.
12.178.2
प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठा भूतानां प्रज्ञा लाभः परो मतः ।
प्रज्ञा निःश्रेयसी लोके प्रज्ञा स्वर्गो मतः सताम् ॥ १२.१७८.२ ॥
Wisdom is the foundation of beings; the attainment of wisdom is held to be supreme. In the world, wisdom alone leads to the highest good; in the view of the good, wisdom is heaven.
12.178.3
प्रज्ञया प्रापितार्थो हि बलिरैश्वर्यसंक्षये ।
प्रह्लादो नमुचिर्मङ्किस्तस्याः किं विद्यते परम् ॥ १२.१७८.३ ॥
By wisdom alone Bali attained his aim even when his sovereignty was lost; so did Prahlāda, Namuci and Maṅki. What is higher than that wisdom?
12.178.4
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
इन्द्रकाश्यपसंवादं तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥ १२.१७८.४ ॥
On this matter, too, people recite this ancient story: the dialogue of Indra and Kāśyapa. Listen to it, Yudhiṣṭhira.
12.178.5
वैश्यः कश्चिदृषिसुतं काश्यपं संशितव्रतम् ।
रथेन पातयामास श्रीमान्दृप्तस्तपस्विनम् ॥ १२.१७८.५ ॥
A certain merchant, prosperous and arrogant, knocked down with his chariot the sage's son Kāśyapa, a man of strict vows, that ascetic.
12.178.6
आर्तः स पतितः क्रुद्धस्त्यक्त्वाऽऽत्मानमथाब्रवीत् ।
मरिष्याम्यधनस्येह जीवितार्थो न विद्यते ॥ १२.१७८.६ ॥
Distressed, fallen, and angry, he resolved to give up his life and said: "Without wealth, I shall die; in this world there is no purpose for my living."
12.178.7
तथा मुमूर्षमासीनमकूजन्तमचेतसम् ।
इन्द्रः सृगालरूपेण बभाषे क्षुब्धमानसम् ॥ १२.१७८.७ ॥
Thus Indra, in the form of a jackal, spoke to him as he sat wishing to die, not crying out, senseless, his mind agitated.
12.178.8
मनुष्ययोनिमिच्छन्ति सर्वभूतानि सर्वशः ।
मनुष्यत्वे च विप्रत्वं सर्व एवाभिनन्दति ॥ १२.१७८.८ ॥
All beings desire human birth in every way, and among humans everyone rejoices in brahminhood.
12.178.9
मनुष्यो ब्राह्मणश्चासि श्रोत्रियश्चासि काश्यप ।
सुदुर्लभमवाप्यैतन्न दोषान्मर्तुमर्हसि ॥ १२.१७८.९ ॥
You are a human, a brahmin, and a learned one of the Veda, O Kāśyapa. Having obtained this so rare a thing, you ought not to die because of a fault.
12.178.10
सर्वे लाभाः साभिमाना इति सत्यवती श्रुतिः ।
संतोषणीयरूपोऽसि लोभाद्यदभिमन्यसे ॥ १२.१७८.१० ॥
'All gains come with pride,' so says the truthful Śruti. You have the form that can be content, yet from greed you take pride.
12.178.11
अहो सिद्धार्थता तेषां येषां सन्तीह पाणयः ।
अतीव स्पृहये तेषां येषां सन्तीह पाणयः ॥ १२.१७८.११ ॥
Ah, how successful are those who have hands! I greatly long for those who have hands here.
12.178.12
पाणिमद्भ्यः स्पृहाऽस्माकं यथा तव धनस्य वै ।
न पाणिलाभादधिको लाभः कश्चन विद्यते ॥ १२.१७८.१२ ॥
Our longing for those who have hands is just as your longing is for wealth. There is no gain greater than the gain of a hand.
12.178.13
अपाणित्वाद्वयं ब्रह्मन्कण्टकं नोद्धरामहे ।
जन्तूनुच्चावचानङ्गे दशतो न कषाम वा ॥ १२.१७८.१३ ॥
O brahmin, lacking hands, we cannot pull out a thorn, nor drive away or scratch the various creatures that bite upon the body.
12.178.14
अथ येषां पुनः पाणी देवदत्तौ दशाङ्गुली ।
उद्धरन्ति कृमीनङ्गाद्दशतो निकषन्ति च ॥ १२.१७८.१४ ॥
But those who have two God-given hands with ten fingers pull worms out of the body and crush those that bite.
12.178.15
वर्षाहिमातपानां च परित्राणानि कुर्वते ।
चेलमन्नं सुखं शय्यां निवातं चोपभुञ्जते ॥ १२.१७८.१५ ॥
They make protections against rain, snow and heat, and they enjoy clothing, food, comfort, a bed and a sheltered place free of wind.
12.178.16
अधिष्ठाय च गां लोके भुञ्जते वाहयन्ति च ।
उपायैर्बहुभिश्चैव वश्यानात्मनि कुर्वते ॥ १२.१७८.१६ ॥
In the world they mount the ox, use it and drive it, and by many means they bring the subject ones under their own control.
12.178.17
ये खल्वजिह्वाः कृपणा अल्पप्राणा अपाणयः ।
सहन्ते तानि दुःखानि दिष्ट्या त्वं न तथा मुने ॥ १२.१७८.१७ ॥
Those wretched ones who are tongueless, of little life-breath, and handless indeed endure those sufferings; O sage, fortunately you are not like that.
12.178.18
दिष्ट्या त्वं न शृगालो वै न कृमिर्न च मूषकः ।
न सर्पो न च मण्डूको न चान्यः पापयोनिजः ॥ १२.१७८.१८ ॥
Fortunately you are not a jackal, nor a worm, nor a mouse, nor a snake, nor a frog, nor any other creature born of a sinful womb.
12.178.19
एतावताऽपि लाभेन तोष्टुमर्हसि काश्यप ।
किं पुनर्योसि सत्वानां सर्वेषां ब्राह्मणोत्तमः ॥ १२.१७८.१९ ॥
Even with this much gain you ought to be content, Kāśyapa. How much more so, you who are the best of brahmins among all beings.
12.178.20
इमे मां कृमयोऽदन्ति येषामुद्धरणाय वै ।
नास्ति शक्तिरपाणित्वात्पश्यावस्थामिमां मम ॥ १२.१७८.२० ॥
These worms are eating me, and I have no power to drive them off, since I have no hands. Look at this condition of mine.
12.178.21
अकार्यमिति चैवेमं नात्मानं संत्यजाम्यहम् ।
नातः पापीयसीं योनिं पतेयमपरामिति ॥ १२.१७८.२१ ॥
Thinking this is not to be done, I do not abandon this self, lest I fall into another birth more sinful than this one.
12.178.22
मध्ये वै पापयोनीनां सृगालीयामहं गतः ।
पापीयस्यो बहुतरा इतोऽन्याः पापयोनयः ॥ १२.१७८.२२ ॥
Among the sinful births I have fallen into the birth of a jackal. There are many other sinful births even worse than these.
12.178.23
जात्यैवैके सुखितराः सन्त्यन्ये भृशदुःखिताः ।
नैकान्तं सुखमेवेह क्वचित्पश्यामि कस्यचित् ॥ १२.१७८.२३ ॥
Some are happier from birth, and others are greatly miserable. Here I have never seen complete happiness in anyone at any time.
12.178.24
मनुष्या ह्याढ्यतां प्राप्य राज्यमिच्छन्त्यनन्तरम् ।
राज्याद्देवत्वमिच्छन्ति देवत्वादिन्द्रतामपि ॥ १२.१७८.२४ ॥
Humans, having attained wealth, desire kingship next; from kingship they desire godhood, and from godhood they even desire the state of Indra.
12.178.25
भवेस्त्वं यद्यपि त्वाढ्यो न राजा न च दैवतम् ।
देवत्वं प्राप्य चेन्द्रत्वं नैव तुष्येस्तथा सति ॥ १२.१७८.२५ ॥
Even if you were rich, neither a king nor a god, yet having attained godhood and the lordship of Indra, you would not be satisfied in such a state.
12.178.26
न तृप्तिः प्रियलाभेऽस्ति तृष्णा नाद्भिः प्रशाम्यति ।
संप्रज्वलति सा भूयः समिद्भिरिव पावकः ॥ १२.१७८.२६ ॥
There is no satisfaction in obtaining what is dear; craving is not quelled by water. It blazes up again, as fire does with fuel.
12.178.27
अस्त्येव त्वयि शोकोऽपि हर्षश्चापि तथा त्वयि ।
सुखदुःखे तथा चोभे तत्र का परिदेवना ॥ १२.१७८.२७ ॥
Grief indeed exists in you, and joy exists in you as well. Pleasure and pain both are in you; what then is lamentation about?
12.178.28
परिच्छिद्यैव कामानां सर्वेषां चैव कर्मणाम् ।
मूलं बुद्धीन्द्रियग्रामं शकुन्तानिव पञ्जरे ॥ १२.१७८.२८ ॥
The root of all desires and all actions is the host of the intellect and the senses. Cut them off completely, as one frees birds from a cage.
12.178.29
न द्वितीयस्य शिरसश्छेदनं विद्यते क्वचित् ।
न च पाणेस्तृतीयस्य यन्नास्ति न ततो भयम् ॥ १२.१७८.२९ ॥
Nowhere does a second head get cut off, nor a third hand; and what does not exist, there is no fear from it.
12.178.30
न खल्वप्यरसज्ञस्य कामः क्वचन जायते ।
संस्पर्शाद्दर्शनाद्वापि श्रवणाद्वापि जायते ॥ १२.१७८.३० ॥
Indeed, in one who knows no taste, desire does not arise anywhere; it arises from touch, from sight, or also from hearing.
12.178.31
न त्वं स्मरसि वारुण्या लट्वाकानां च पक्षिणाम् ।
ताभ्यां चाभ्यधिको भक्ष्यो न कश्चिद्विद्यते क्वचित् ॥ १२.१७८.३१ ॥
Do you not remember wine and the laṭvāka birds? Nowhere is there any food greater than these two.
12.178.32
यानि चान्यानि भूतेषु भक्ष्यभोज्यानि काश्यप ।
येषामभुक्तपूर्वाणि तेषामस्मृतिरेव ते ॥ १२.१७८.३२ ॥
O Kāśyapa, the other edible and drinkable things among beings, which you have never eaten before, you do not even remember them.
12.178.33
अप्राशनमसंस्पर्शमसंदर्शनमेव च ।
पुरुषस्यैष नियमो मन्ये श्रेयो न संशयः ॥ १२.१७८.३३ ॥
Not eating, not touching, and not seeing—this I consider to be the rule for a man; it is better, there is no doubt.
12.178.34
पाणिमन्तो बलवन्तो धनवन्तो न संशयः ।
मनुष्या मानुषैरेव दासत्वमुपपादिताः ॥ १२.१७८.३४ ॥
Men who have hands, who are strong and wealthy—there is no doubt—have been reduced to slavery by men themselves.
12.178.35
वधबन्धपरिक्लेशैः क्लिश्यन्ते च पुनः पुनः ।
ते खल्वपि रमन्ते च मोदन्ते च हसन्ति च ॥ १२.१७८.३५ ॥
By killing, binding and affliction they are tormented again and again; yet they themselves take their pleasure, rejoice, and even laugh.
12.178.36
अपरे बाहुबलिनः कृतविद्या मनस्विनः ।
जुगुप्सितां च कृपणां पापवृत्तिमुपासते ॥ १२.१७८.३६ ॥
Others, strong-armed, learned, and high-minded, pursue a contemptible, wretched, and sinful way of life.
12.178.37
उत्सहन्ते च ते वृत्तिमन्यामप्युपसेवितुम् ।
स्वकर्मणा तु नियतं भवितव्यं तु तत्तथा ॥ १२.१७८.३७ ॥
They are able even to take up another livelihood; yet one's own duty must surely be fixed, and so it must be.
12.178.38
न पुल्कसो न चण्डाल आत्मानं त्यक्तुमिच्छति ।
तया तुष्टः स्वया योन्या मायां पश्यस्व यादृशीम् ॥ १२.१७८.३८ ॥
Neither a pulkasa nor a caṇḍāla wishes to abandon himself; be content with your own birth and see what sort of illusion this is.
12.178.39
दृष्ट्वा कुणीन्पक्षहतान्मनुष्यानामयाविनः ।
सुसंपूर्णः स्वया योन्या लब्धलाभोसि काश्यप ॥ १२.१७८.३९ ॥
Having seen men with crippled limbs and paralysed sides, and men free from disease, O Kāśyapa, you are fully complete in your own birth and have gained your gain.
12.178.40
यदि ब्राह्मणदेहस्ते निरातङ्को निरामयः ।
अङ्गानि च समग्राणि न च लोकेषु धिक्कृतः ॥ १२.१७८.४० ॥
If your brahmin body is free from fear and disease, your limbs are whole, and you are not despised among people,
12.178.41
न केनचित्प्रवादेन सत्येनैवापहारिणा ।
धर्मायोत्तिष्ठ विप्रर्षे नात्मानं त्यक्तुमर्हसि ॥ १२.१७८.४१ ॥
Not by any pretext, but only by the truth that removes sin, arise, O brahmin-sage, for dharma; you ought not to abandon yourself.
12.178.42
यदि ब्रह्मञ्शृणोष्येतच्छ्रद्दधासि च मे वचः ।
वेदोक्तस्यैव धर्मस्य फलं मुख्यमवाप्स्यसि ॥ १२.१७८.४२ ॥
If you hear this, O brahmin, and have faith in my words, you will obtain the chief fruit of the dharma stated in the Vedas.
12.178.43
स्वाध्यायमग्निसंस्कारमप्रमत्तोऽनुपालय ।
सत्यं दमं च दानं च स्पर्धिष्ठा मा च केनचित् ॥ १२.१७८.४३ ॥
Keep your study of the Veda and the rites of the sacred fire with unfailing care. Hold to truth, self-restraint and giving, and do not vie with anyone.
12.178.44
ये केचन स्वध्ययनाः प्राप्ता यजनयाजनम् ।
कथं ते चानुशोचेयुर्ध्यायेयुर्वाऽप्यशोभनम् ॥ १२.१७८.४४ ॥
How could those who have devoted themselves to Vedic study and attained the fruit of sacrificing and officiating at sacrifices grieve, or brood on anything inauspicious?
12.178.45
इच्छन्तस्ते विहाराय सुखं महदवाप्नुयुः ।
येऽनुजाताः सुनक्षत्रे सुतिथौ सुमुहूर्तके।
यज्ञदानप्रजेहायां यतन्ते शक्तिपूर्वकम् ॥ १२.१७८.४५ ॥
Those born under an auspicious lunar mansion, on an auspicious lunar day and at an auspicious moment, who strive with all their power for sacrifice, gifts and offspring, desiring enjoyment, will attain great happiness.
12.178.46
नक्षत्रेष्वासुरेष्वन्ये दुस्तिथौ दुर्मुहूर्तजाः ।
सम्पतन्त्यासुरीं योनिं यज्ञप्रसववर्जिताः ॥ १२.१७८.४६ ॥
Others, born under the demonic lunar mansions, on an inauspicious lunar day and at an inauspicious moment, bereft of the fruit of sacrifice, fall into a demonic birth.
12.178.47
अहमासं पण्डितको हैतुको वेदनिन्दकः ।
आन्वीक्षिकीं तर्कविद्यामनुरक्तो निरर्थिकाम् ॥ १२.१७८.४७ ॥
I was once a would-be scholar, a sophist and a reviler of the Veda, attached to the fruitless science of inquiry and the art of reasoning.
12.178.48
हेतुवादान्प्रवदिता वक्ता संसत्सु हेतुमत् ।
आक्रोष्टा चातिवक्ता च ब्रह्मवाक्येषु च द्विजान् ॥ १२.१७८.४८ ॥
In assemblies I was a speaker who put forward arguments of reason, a reviler of the twice-born over the words of the Brahmins, and one who talked too much.
12.178.49
नास्तिकः सर्वशङ्की च मूर्खः पण्डितमानिकः ।
तस्येयं फलनिर्वृत्तिः सृगालत्वं मम द्विज ॥ १२.१७८.४९ ॥
The non-believer, the one who doubts everything, the fool who thinks himself learned — this is the fruit for him: my becoming a jackal, O twice-born.
12.178.50
अपि जातु तथा तत्स्यादहोरात्रशतैरपि ।
यदहं मानुषीं योनिं सृगालः प्राप्नुयां पुनः ॥ १२.१७८.५० ॥
Could it ever be, even after hundreds of days and nights, that I, having become a jackal, should again obtain a human birth?
12.178.51
संतुष्टश्चाप्रमत्तश्च यज्ञदानतपोरतः ।
ज्ञेयं ज्ञाता भवेयं वै वर्ज्यं वर्जयिता तथा ॥ १२.१७८.५१ ॥
Content, vigilant, and devoted to sacrifice, giving and austerity, I should become one who knows what is to be known, and who rejects what is to be rejected.
12.178.52
ततः स मुनिरुत्थाय काश्यपस्तमुवाच ह ।
अहो बतामि कुशलो बुद्धिमांश्चेति विस्मितः ॥ १२.१७८.५२ ॥
Then that sage Kāśyapa rose and said to him, astonished: "Ah! Indeed I am skilled and wise."
12.178.53
समवैक्षत तं विप्रो ज्ञानदीर्घेण चक्षुषा ।
ददर्श चैनं देवानां देवमिन्द्रं शचीपतिम् ॥ १२.१७८.५३ ॥
The brahmin looked at him with the long eye of knowledge, and saw him: Indra, god of the gods, lord of Śacī.
12.178.54
ततः संपूजयामास काश्यपो हरिवाहनम् ।
अनुज्ञातस्तु तेनाथ प्रविवेश स्वमालयम् ॥ १२.१७८.५४ ॥
Then Kāśyapa honored Indra, the rider of tawny steeds, well; and having been dismissed by him, he entered his own dwelling.