Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.23
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12.23.1
एवमुक्तस्तु कौन्तेयो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।
नोवाच किंचित्कौरव्यस्ततो द्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १२.२३.१ ॥
Thus addressed by Guḍākeśa, O Bhārata, the son of Kuntī said nothing; then Dvaipāyana spoke.
12.23.2
बीभत्सोर्वचनं सौम्य सत्यमेतद्युधिष्ठिर ।
शास्त्रदृष्टः परो धर्मः स्मृतो गार्हस्थ्य आश्रमः ॥ १२.२३.२ ॥
Gentle Yudhiṣṭhira, this statement of Bībhatsu is true: the highest duty seen in the scriptures is said to be the householder's stage of life.
12.23.3
स्वधर्मं चर धर्मज्ञ यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि ।
न हि गार्हस्थ्यमुत्सृज्य तवारण्यं विधीयते ॥ १२.२३.३ ॥
O knower of dharma, practise your own duty according to the scriptures and rule; for forsaking householder life, forest life is not prescribed for you.
12.23.4
गृहस्थं हि सदा देवाः पितरोऽतिथयस्तथा ।
भृत्याश्चैवोपजीवन्ति तान्भरस्व महीपते ॥ १२.२३.४ ॥
O lord of the earth, the gods, the ancestors and guests always depend on the householder, and servants also live by him; support them.
12.23.5
वयांसि पशवश्चैव भूतानि च जनाधिप ।
गृहस्थैरेव धार्यन्ते तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठो गृहाश्रमी ॥ १२.२३.५ ॥
O lord of men, birds, beasts and all creatures are sustained only by householders; therefore the householder is the best.
12.23.6
सोऽयं चतुर्णामेतेषामाश्रमाणां दुराचरः ।
तं चराद्य विधिं पार्थ दुश्चरं दुर्बलेन्द्रियैः ॥ १२.२३.६ ॥
Among these four stages of life, this one is hard to practise. O son of Pṛthā, now practise that rule, difficult for those of weak senses.
12.23.7
वेदज्ञानं च ते कृत्स्नं तपश्चाचरितं महत् ।
पितृपैतामहं राज्यं धुर्यवद्वोद्दुमर्हसि ॥ १२.२३.७ ॥
You possess the complete knowledge of the Vedas and have practised great austerity. The kingdom of your fathers and grandfathers you ought to bear like a draft ox under the yoke.
12.23.8
तपो यज्ञस्तथा विद्या भैक्ष्यमिन्द्रियसंयमः ।
ध्यानं विद्या समुत्थानं संतोषश्च श्रियं प्रति।
तथा ह्येकान्तशीलत्वं तुष्टिर्दानं च शक्तितः ॥ १२.२३.८ ॥
Austerity, sacrifice, likewise knowledge, alms-begging, restraint of the senses, meditation, the advancement of learning, and contentment with regard to prosperity; likewise a disposition for solitude, satisfaction, and giving according to one's ability.
12.23.9
ब्राह्मणानां महाराज चेष्टा संसिद्धिकारिका ।
क्षत्रियाणां तु वक्ष्यामि तवापि विदितं पुनः ॥ १२.२३.९ ॥
O great king, the conduct of brahmins produces perfection. Of the kshatriyas I shall speak, which is also already known to you.
12.23.10
यज्ञो विद्या समुत्थानमसंतोषः श्रियं प्रति ।
दण्डधारणमुग्रत्वं प्रजानां परिपालनम् ॥ १२.२३.१० ॥
Sacrifice, the advancement of learning, discontent with regard to prosperity, bearing the rod of punishment, sternness, and the protection of the subjects.
12.23.11
वेदज्ञानं तथा कृत्स्नं तपः सुचरितं तथा ।
द्रविणोपार्जनं भूरि पात्रे च प्रतिपादनम् ॥ १२.२३.११ ॥
Complete knowledge of the Vedas, likewise austerity well practised, the acquisition of abundant wealth, and its gift to a worthy recipient.
12.23.12
एतानि राज्ञां कर्माणि सुकृतानि विशांपते ।
इमं लोकममुं चैव साधयन्तीति नः श्रुतम् ॥ १२.२३.१२ ॥
O lord of the people, these are the meritorious deeds of kings; we have heard that they accomplish both this world and that other world.
12.23.13
एषां ज्यायस्तु कौन्तेय दण्डधारणमुच्यते ।
बलं हि क्षत्रिये नित्यं बले दण्डः समाहितः ॥ १२.२३.१३ ॥
O son of Kuntī, of these, bearing the rod of punishment is said to be the greatest. In the warrior there is always strength, and in strength the rod of punishment is established.
12.23.14
एताश्चेष्टाः क्षत्रियाणां राजन्संसिद्धिकारिकाः ।
अपि गाथामिमां चापि बृहस्पतिरगायत ॥ १२.२३.१४ ॥
O king, these are the deeds of warriors that bring perfection. And Bṛhaspati also sang this verse.
12.23.15
भूमिरेतौ निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव ।
राजानं चाविरोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम् ॥ १२.२३.१५ ॥
The earth swallows these two, as a serpent dwelling in a hole: the king who does not oppose, and the Brahmin who does not travel abroad.
12.23.16
सुद्युम्नश्चापि राजर्षिः श्रूयते दण्डधारणात् ।
प्राप्तवान्परमां सिद्धिं दक्षः प्राचेतसो यथा ॥ १२.२३.१६ ॥
The royal sage Sudyumna is also heard of having attained supreme perfection through bearing the rod of punishment, as did Dakṣa, son of Pracetas.
12.23.17
भगवन्कर्मणा केन सुद्युम्नो वसुधाधिपः ।
संसिद्धिं परमां प्राप्तः श्रोतुमिच्छामि तं नृपम् ॥ १२.२३.१७ ॥
Venerable one, by what deed did King Sudyumna, lord of the earth, attain supreme perfection? I wish to hear of that king.
12.23.18
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
शङ्खश्च लिखितश्चास्तां भ्रातरौ संशितव्रतौ ॥ १२.२३.१८ ॥
Here, too, they recount this ancient legend: Śaṅkha and Likhita, two brothers, firm in their strict vows.
12.23.19
तयोरावसथावास्तां रमणीयौ पृथक्पृथक् ।
नित्यपुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैरुपेतौ बाहुदामनु ॥ १२.२३.१९ ॥
Their two hermitages, each lovely in its own way, stood along the Bāhudā river, furnished with trees that always bore flowers and fruit.
12.23.20
ततः कदाचिल्लिखितः शङ्खस्याश्रममागतः ।
यदृच्छयाऽथ शङ्खोपि निष्क्रान्तोऽभवदाश्रमात् ॥ १२.२३.२० ॥
Then once Likhita came to the hermitage of Śaṅkha, and by chance Śaṅkha too had gone out of the hermitage.
12.23.21
सोऽभिगम्याश्रमं भ्रातुश्चंक्रमँल्लिखितस्तदा ।
फलानि शातयामास सम्यक्परिणतान्युत ॥ १२.२३.२१ ॥
Approaching his brother's hermitage, Likhita, as he walked about, had well-ripened fruits plucked.
12.23.22
तान्युपादाय विस्रब्धो भक्षयामास स द्विजः ।
तस्मिंश्च भक्षयत्येव शङ्खोऽप्याश्रममागतः ॥ १२.२३.२२ ॥
Taking them, the brahmin ate them without hesitation; and while he was still eating, Śaṅkha too came back to the hermitage.
12.23.23
भक्षयन्तं तु तं दृष्ट्वा शङ्खो भ्रातरमब्रवीत् ।
कुतः फलान्यवाप्तानि हेतुना केन खादसि ॥ १२.२३.२३ ॥
Seeing him eating, Śaṅkha said to his brother: "From where have these fruits been obtained? By what means are you eating them?"
12.23.24
सोऽब्रवीद्धातरं ज्येष्ठमुपसृत्याभिवाद्य च ।
इत एव गृहीतानि मयेति प्रहसन्निव ॥ १२.२३.२४ ॥
He went up to his elder brother, greeted him respectfully, and said, as though laughing: "I took these fruits from right here."
12.23.25
तमब्रतीत्तथा शङ्खस्तीव्ररोषसमन्वितः ।
स्तेयं त्वया कृतमिदं फलान्याददता स्वयम् ॥ १२.२३.२५ ॥
Śaṅkha, filled with fierce anger, said to him: "You yourself committed this theft by taking the fruits."
12.23.26
गच्छ राजानमासाद्य स्वकर्म कथयस्व वै ।
अदत्तादानमेवं हि कृतं पार्थिवसत्तम ॥ १२.२३.२६ ॥
Go, approach the king and declare your own deed. O best of kings, taking what has not been given has been done in this way.
12.23.27
स्तेनं मां त्वं विदित्वा च स्वधर्ममनुपालय ।
शीघ्रं धारय चोरस्य मम दण्डं नराधिप ॥ १२.२३.२७ ॥
Knowing me to be a thief, uphold your own duty. Quickly apply punishment to me, the thief, O lord of men.
12.23.28
इत्युक्तस्तस्य वचनात्सुद्युम्न स नराधिपम् ।
अभ्यगच्छन्महाबाहो लिखितः संशितव्रतः ॥ १२.२३.२८ ॥
Thus addressed by his words, O mighty-armed one, Likhita, firm in his vow, went to the king.
12.23.29
सुद्युम्नस्त्वन्तपालेभ्यः श्रुत्वा लिखितमागतम् ।
अभ्यगच्छत्सहामात्यः पद्भ्यामेव जनेश्वरः ॥ १२.२३.२९ ॥
But Sudyumna, having heard from the border guards that Likhita had come, went on foot with his ministers to meet him, the lord of the people.
12.23.30
तमब्रवीत्समागम्य स राजा धर्मवित्तमम् ।
किमागमनमाचक्ष्व भगवन्कृतमेव तत् ॥ १२.२३.३० ॥
Having met him, that king, the most knowing of dharma, said to him: "Revered sir, tell me the purpose of your coming; it has already been done."
12.23.31
एवमुक्तः स विप्रर्षिः सुद्युम्नमिदमब्रवीत् ।
प्रतिश्रुत्य करिष्येति श्रुत्वा तत्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ १२.२३.३१ ॥
Thus addressed, that sage among brahmins said this to Sudyumna: "Having promised, hear: I will do it; you ought to do that."
12.23.32
अनिसृष्टानि गुरुणा फलानि मनुजर्षभ ।
भक्षितानि महाराज तत्र मां शाधि माचिरम् ॥ १२.२३.३२ ॥
Bull among men, great king, these fruits were eaten without the teacher's permission; there, punish me, do not delay.
12.23.33
प्रमाणं चेन्मतो राजा भवतो दण्डधारणे ।
अनुज्ञायामपि तथा हेतुः स्याद्ब्राह्मणर्षभ ॥ १२.२३.३३ ॥
If in your view the king is the authority in wielding the rod of punishment, then even in the matter of permission the same would be the cause, O best of brahmins.
12.23.34
स भवानभ्यनुज्ञातः शुचिकर्मा महाव्रतः ।
ब्रूहि कामानतोऽन्यांस्त्वं करिष्यामि हि ते वचः ॥ १२.२३.३४ ॥
You, pure in deeds and of great vows, having been given permission, speak — and speak of other desires beyond this; I will indeed fulfil your word.
12.23.35
संछन्द्यमानो ब्रह्मर्षिः पार्थिवेन महात्मना ।
नान्यं स वरयामास तस्माद्दण्डादृते वरम् ॥ १२.२३.३५ ॥
Though urged by the great-souled king to choose a boon, that sage-brahmin chose no other boon apart from that punishment.
12.23.36
ततः स पृथिवीपालो लिखितस्य महात्मनः ।
करौ प्रच्छेदयामास धृतदण्डो जगाम सः ॥ १२.२३.३६ ॥
Then that protector of the earth, taking up the rod, had both hands of the great-souled Likhita cut off, and he went away.
12.23.37
स गत्वा भ्रातरं शङ्खमार्तरूपोऽब्रवीदिदम् ।
धृतदण्डस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्भवांस्तत्क्षन्तुमर्हति ॥ १२.२३.३७ ॥
Going to his brother Śaṅkha, with a distressed appearance he said this: "You deserve to forgive this foolish-minded one who was punished."
12.23.38
न कुप्ये तव धर्मज्ञ न त्वं दूषयसे मम ।
सुनिर्मलं कुलं ब्रह्मन्नस्मिञ्जगति विश्रुतम्।
धर्मस्तु ते व्यतिक्रान्तस्ततस्ते निष्कृतिः कृता ॥ १२.२३.३८ ॥
Śaṅkha said: "O knower of dharma, I am not angry with you, nor do you defile my family. O brahmin, our lineage is very spotless and renowned in this world. You transgressed dharma, therefore your expiation has been performed."
12.23.39
त्वं गत्वा बाहुदां शीघ्रं तर्पयस्व यथाविधि ।
देवानृषीन्पितृंश्चैव मा चाधर्मे मनः कृथाः ॥ १२.२३.३९ ॥
"Go quickly to the Bāhudā river and make offerings to the gods, sages and ancestors according to rule; do not set your mind on unrighteousness."
12.23.40
ब्रह्महत्यां सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्वङ्गनागमम् ।
महान्ति पातकान्याहुः संयोगं चैव तैः सह ॥ १२.२३.४० ॥
"Killing a brahmin, drinking liquor, theft, and going to a teacher's wife are called great sins, and association with them as well."
12.23.41
न स्तेयसदृशं ब्रह्मन्महापातकमस्ति हि ।
जगत्यस्मिन्महाभाग ब्रह्महत्यासमं हि तत् ॥ १२.२३.४१ ॥
"O brahmin, in this world there is no great sin like theft; O greatly fortunate one, it is indeed equal to the killing of a brahmin."
12.23.42
सर्वपातकिनां ब्रह्मन्दण्डः शारीर उच्यते ।
तस्करस्य विशेषेण नान्यो दण्डो विधीयते ॥ १२.२३.४२ ॥
"O brahmin, for all sinners bodily punishment is said to be prescribed; and especially for a thief, no other punishment is ordained."
12.23.43
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वाऽपि वैश्यः शूद्रोऽथवा द्विज ।
सर्वे कामकृते पापे हन्तव्या न विचारणा ॥ १२.२३.४३ ॥
Whether brahmin, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, O twice-born, all who commit sin out of desire are to be slain; there is no deliberation here.
12.23.44
राजभिर्धृतदण्डा वै कृत्वा पापानि मानवाः ।
निर्मलाः स्वर्गमायान्ति सन्तः सुकृतिनो यथा ॥ १२.२३.४४ ॥
Men who have committed sins, having had punishment inflicted by kings, become pure and go to heaven, just as the good and the meritorious do.
12.23.45
उद्धृतं नः कुलं ब्रह्मन्नाज्ञादण्डे धृते त्वयि ॥ १२.२३.४५ ॥
O brahmin, our family has been uplifted, since you have upheld command and punishment.
12.23.46
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शङ्खस्य लिखितस्तदा ।
अवगाह्यापगां पुण्यामुदकार्थं प्रचक्रमे ॥ १२.२३.४६ ॥
Having heard his words, then Likhita, Śaṅkha's brother, bathed in the sacred river and set about fetching water.
12.23.47
प्रादुरास्तां ततस्तस्य करौ जलजसन्निभौ ।
ततः स विस्मितो भ्रातुर्दर्शयामास तौ करौ ॥ १२.२३.४७ ॥
Then his two hands appeared, like lotuses. Astonished, he then showed those two hands to his brother.
12.23.48
ततस्तमब्रवीच्छङ्खस्तपसेदं कृतं मया ।
मा च तेऽव विशङ्का भूद्दैवमत्र विधीयते ॥ १२.२३.४८ ॥
Then Śaṅkha said to him: "This was done by my penance. Let there be no doubt in you; here fate is what ordains."
12.23.49
किंतु नाहं त्वया पूतः पूर्वमेव महाद्युते ।
यस्य ते तपसो वीर्यमीदृशं द्विजसत्तम ॥ १२.२३.४९ ॥
But, O greatly radiant one, you had not purified me before, you whose penance has such power, best of the twice-born.
12.23.50
एवमेतन्मया कार्यं नाहं दण्डधरस्तव ।
स च पूतो नरपतिस्त्वं चापि पितृभिः सह ॥ १२.२३.५० ॥
Thus this was to be done by me; I am not your bearer of the rod. That king too was purified, and you as well, together with your ancestors.
12.23.51
स राजा पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ श्रेयान्वै तेन कर्मणा ।
प्राप्तवान्परमां सिद्धिं दक्षः प्राचेतसो यथा ॥ १२.२३.५१ ॥
That king, best of the Pāṇḍavas, indeed became better through that deed, and attained the supreme perfection, as Dakṣa, son of Pracetas, did.
12.23.52
एष धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां प्रजानां परिपालनम् ।
उत्पथेभ्यो महाराज मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः ॥ १२.२३.५२ ॥
This is the duty of kṣatriyas: to protect the subjects and guard them from wrong paths. Great king, do not set your mind on grief.
12.23.53
भ्रातुरस्य हितं वाक्यं शृणु धर्मज्ञसत्तम ।
दण्ड एव हि राजेन्द्र क्षत्रधर्मो न मुण्डनम् ॥ १२.२३.५३ ॥
Best knower of dharma, listen to the beneficial words of this brother of yours. Lord of kings, punishment alone is the duty of a kṣatriya, not shaving the head.