Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.21
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12.21.1
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
इन्द्रेण समये पृष्टो यदुवाच बृहस्पतिः ॥ १२.२१.१ ॥
Here they recount this ancient story, which Bṛhaspati spoke when Indra asked him at the proper time.
12.21.2
संतोषो वै स्वर्गसमः संतोषः परमं सुखम् ।
तुष्टेर्न किंचित्परतः सा सम्यक्प्रतितिष्ठति ॥ १२.२१.२ ॥
Contentment is indeed like heaven; contentment is the supreme happiness. Nothing lies beyond contentment; it is firmly established.
12.21.3
यदा संहरते कामान्कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः ।
तदाऽऽत्मज्योतिरचिरात्स्वात्मन्येव प्रसीदति ॥ १२.२१.३ ॥
When one withdraws desires entirely, as a tortoise withdraws its limbs, then soon the light of the self becomes clear within one's own self.
12.21.4
न विभेति यदा चायं यदा चास्मान्न बिभ्यति ।
कामद्वेषौ च जयति तदाऽऽत्मानं च पश्यति ॥ १२.२१.४ ॥
When one fears no one, and no one fears him, and one conquers desire and aversion, then one beholds the self.
12.21.5
यदाऽसौ सर्वभूतानां न द्रुह्यति न काङ्क्षति ।
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा ॥ १२.२१.५ ॥
When one harms no being and desires none, in deed, thought and speech, then one attains Brahman.
12.21.6
एवं कौन्तेय भूतानि तंतं धर्मं तथातथा ।
तदाऽऽत्मना प्रपश्यन्ति तस्माद्वुध्यस्व भारत ॥ १२.२१.६ ॥
Thus, O son of Kuntī, beings perceive each duty in its own way through the self; therefore, O descendant of Bharata, understand.
12.21.7
अन्ये साम प्रशंसन्ति व्यायाममपरे जनाः ।
नैकं न चापरं केचिदुभयं च तथाऽपरे ॥ १२.२१.७ ॥
Some praise reconciliation, others praise exertion; some praise neither one, nor the other, nor both, and so too others.
12.21.8
यज्ञमेके प्रशंसन्ति संन्यासमपरे जनाः ।
नैकं न चापरं केचिदुभयं च तथाऽपरे ॥ १२.२१.८ ॥
Some praise sacrifice, others praise renunciation; some praise neither one, nor the other, nor both, and so too others.
12.21.9
दानमेके प्रशंसन्ति केचिच्चैव प्रतिग्रहम् ।
केचित्सर्वं परित्यज्य तूष्णीं ध्यायन्त आसते ॥ १२.२१.९ ॥
Some praise giving, and some indeed praise receiving gifts; some, having abandoned everything, sit silently absorbed in meditation.
12.21.10
राज्यमेके प्रशंसन्ति प्रजानां परिपालनम् ।
हत्वा छित्त्वा च भित्त्वा च केचिदेकान्तशीलिनः ॥ १२.२१.१० ॥
Some praise kingship and the protection of the people; (for it) by killing, cutting and splitting (they commit violence). Others are devoted to solitude.
12.21.11
एतत्सर्वं समालोक्य बुधानामेव निश्चयः ।
अद्रोहेणैव भूतानां यो धर्मः स सतां मतः ॥ १२.२१.११ ॥
Having surveyed all this, the firm conclusion of the wise is this: non-injury to beings is that dharma which is held by the good.
12.21.12
अद्रोहः सत्यवचनं संविभागो दया दमः ।
प्रजनं स्वेषु दारेषु मार्दवं हीरचापलम् ॥ १२.२१.१२ ॥
Non-injury, truthful speech, fair sharing, compassion, self-restraint, begetting children only with one's own wives, gentleness, modesty, and steadiness free from fickleness.
12.21.13
एवं धर्मं प्रधानेष्टं मनुः स्वायंभुवोऽब्रवीत् ।
तस्मादेतत्प्रयत्नेन कौन्तेय प्रतिपालय ॥ १२.२१.१३ ॥
Thus Manu, son of Svayambhū, declared dharma to be the foremost and most cherished. Therefore, son of Kuntī, uphold it with diligence.
12.21.14
यो हि राज्ये स्थितः शश्वद्वशी तुल्यप्रियाप्रियः ।
क्षत्रियो यज्ञशिष्टाशी राजा शास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित् ॥ १२.२१.१४ ॥
He who abides constantly in the kingdom, is self-controlled, regards pleasant and unpleasant alike, is a kṣatriya, eats the remnant of sacrifice, and knows the true meaning of the scriptures — he is the king.
12.21.15
असाधुनिग्रहरतः साधूनां प्रग्रहे रतः ।
धर्मवर्त्मनि संस्थाप्य प्रजा वर्तेत धर्मतः ॥ १२.२१.१५ ॥
Delighting in restraining the wicked and in protecting the good, establishing his subjects on the path of dharma, he should guide them according to dharma.
12.21.16
पुत्रसंक्रामितश्रीश्च वने वन्येन वर्तयेत् ।
विधानमाश्रमाणां वै कुर्यात्कर्माण्यतन्द्रितः ॥ १२.२१.१६ ॥
Having handed over royal prosperity to his son, he should live in the forest on forest food, and perform his duties without idleness, according to the rules of the āśramas.
12.21.17
य एवं वर्तते राजन्स राजा धर्मनिश्चितः ।
तस्यायं च परश्चैव लोकः स्यात्संफलोदयः ॥ १२.२१.१७ ॥
O king, he who conducts himself thus is a king firmly established in dharma; for him both this world and the next rise up bearing fruitful results.
12.21.18
निर्वाणं हि सुदुष्प्राप्यं बहुविघ्नं च मे मतम् ॥ १२.२१.१८ ॥
Liberation is very hard to attain, and in my view it is full of many obstacles.
12.21.19
एवं धर्ममनुक्रान्ताः सत्यदानतपः पराः ।
आनृशंस्यगुणैर्युक्ताः कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः ॥ १२.२१.१९ ॥
Thus those who followed dharma, devoted to truth, giving and austerity, endowed with the quality of compassion, free from desire and anger.
12.21.20
प्रजानां पालने युक्ता धर्ममुत्तममास्थिताः ।
गोब्राह्मणार्थे युध्यन्तः प्राप्ता गतिमनुत्तमाम् ॥ १२.२१.२० ॥
Engaged in protecting their subjects, holding to the highest dharma, fighting for the sake of cows and brahmins, they attained the supreme destination.
12.21.21
एवं रुद्राः सवसवस्तथाऽऽदित्याः परंतप ।
साध्या राजर्षिसङ्घाश्च धर्ममेतं समाश्रिताः।
अप्रमत्तास्ततः स्वर्गं प्राप्ताः पुण्यैः स्वकर्मभिः ॥ १२.२१.२१ ॥
Likewise the Rudras, the Vasus and the Ādityas, O scorcher of foes, the Sādhyas and the throngs of royal sages, having taken refuge in this very dharma, vigilant, attained heaven by their meritorious deeds.