Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.240
हिन्दी · தமிழ் · తెలుగు · ಕನ್ನಡ · മലയാളം · বাংলা · मराठी · ગુજરાતી · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ · ଓଡ଼ିଆ · اردو · English · Español · Français · Deutsch · Português · Русский · 中文 · 日本語 · العربية · Bahasa Indonesia · ไทย
12.240.1
भूतग्रामे नियुक्तं यत्तदेतत्कीर्तितं मया ।
ब्राह्मणस्य तु यत्कृत्यं तत्ते वक्ष्यामि सांप्रतम् ॥ १२.२४०.१ ॥
What is assigned among the multitude of beings has been declared by me. Now I will tell you the duty of the brahmin.
12.240.2
जातकर्मप्रभृत्यस्य कर्मणां दक्षिणावताम् ।
क्रिया स्यादासमावृत्तेराचार्ये वेदपारगे ॥ १२.२४०.२ ॥
From his birth-rite onward, through the rites accompanied by fees, the observance should be under a teacher who has mastered the Vedas, until the return home.
12.240.3
अधीत्य वेदानखिलान्गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतः ।
गुरूणामनृणो भूत्वा समावर्तेत यज्ञवित् ॥ १२.२४०.३ ॥
Having studied all the Vedas, devoted to serving his teacher, free of debt to his teachers, the knower of sacrifice should return home.
12.240.4
आचार्येणाभ्यनुज्ञातश्चतुर्णामेकमाश्रमम् ।
आविमोक्षाच्छरीरस्य सोऽवतिष्ठेद्यथाविधि ॥ १२.२४०.४ ॥
Permitted by his teacher, he should remain in one of the four stages of life, according to rule, until the body is released.
12.240.5
प्रजासर्गण दारैश्च ब्रह्मचर्येण वा पुनः ।
वने गुरुसकाशे वा यतिधर्मेण वा पुनः ॥ १२.२४०.५ ॥
By begetting offspring and with wives, or by celibacy, or again in the forest in the presence of the teacher, or again by the duty of the ascetic.
12.240.6
गृहस्थस्त्वेष धर्माणां सर्वेषां मूलमुच्यते ।
यत्र पक्वकषायो हि दान्तः सर्वत्र सिध्यति ॥ १२.२४०.६ ॥
This householder stage is said to be the root of all duties, for one whose impurities are ripened and who is self-controlled attains perfection everywhere.
12.240.7
प्रजावान्श्रोत्रियो यज्वा मुक्त एव ऋणैस्त्रिभिः ।
अथान्यानाश्रमान्पश्चात्पूतो गच्छेत कर्मभिः ॥ १२.२४०.७ ॥
He who has offspring, is learned in the Veda, and performs sacrifices is indeed freed from the three debts; afterwards, purified by rites, he should go on to the other stages of life.
12.240.8
यत्पृथिव्यां पुण्यतमं विद्यात्स्थानं तदावसेत् ।
यतेत तस्मिन्प्रामाण्यं गन्तुं यशसि चोत्तमे ॥ १२.२४०.८ ॥
Whatever place on earth is known to be most meritorious, one should dwell there, and strive there to attain authority and supreme fame.
12.240.9
तपसा वः सुमहता विद्यानां पारणेन वा ।
इज्यया वा प्रदानैर्वा विप्राणां वर्धते यशः ॥ १२.२४०.९ ॥
By great austerity, by mastery of the sciences, by sacrifice, or by gifts, the fame of Brahmins grows.
12.240.10
यावदस्य भवत्यस्मिन्कीर्तिर्लोके यशस्करी ।
तावत्पुण्यकृताँल्लोकाननन्तान्पुरुषोऽश्नुते ॥ १२.२४०.१० ॥
As long as the glory that brings him renown endures in this world, a man attains the endless worlds of those who have done meritorious deeds.
12.240.11
अध्यापयेदधीयीत याजयेत यजेत वा ।
न वृथा प्रतिगृह्णीयान्न च दद्यात्कथंचन ॥ १२.२४०.११ ॥
He should teach, study, officiate at sacrifices, or sacrifice himself; he should not accept gifts in vain, nor give them in any way.
12.240.12
याज्यतः शिष्यतो वाऽपि कन्याया वा धनं महत् ।
यद्यागच्छेद्यजेद्दद्यान्नैकोऽश्नीयात्कथंचन ॥ १२.२४०.१२ ॥
If great wealth comes from the one for whom he officiates, from a pupil, or from a bride's family, he should sacrifice and give gifts if it comes for a sacrifice; he should in no way eat it alone.
12.240.13
गृहमावसतो ह्यस्य नान्यत्तीर्थमुदाहृतम् ।
देवर्षिपितृगुर्वर्थं वृद्धातुरबुभुक्षताम् ॥ १२.२४०.१३ ॥
For a householder, no other sacred place is declared than this: giving for the sake of gods, sages, ancestors and teachers, and for the aged, the sick and the hungry.
12.240.14
अन्तर्हिताभितप्तानां यथाशक्ति बुभूषताम् ।
द्रव्याणामतिशक्त्याऽपि देयमेषां कृतादपि ॥ १२.२४०.१४ ॥
To those who are hidden and afflicted, and to those who wish to thrive, one should give according to one's ability; even beyond one's ability, and even from what one has earned.
12.240.15
अर्हतामनुरूपाणां नादेयं ह्यस्ति किंचन ।
उच्चैः श्रवसमप्यक्षं काश्यपाय महात्मने।
दत्त्वा जगाम प्रह्लादो लोकान्देवैरभिष्टुतान् ॥ १२.२४०.१५ ॥
Nothing is undonatable to the worthy and suitable. Prahlāda gave even the horse Uccaiḥśravas to the great-souled Kāśyapa, and went to the worlds praised by the gods.
12.240.16
अनुनीय तथा काव्यः सत्यसन्धो महाव्रतः ।
स्वैः प्राणैर्ब्राह्मणप्राणान्परित्राय दिवं गतः ॥ १२.२४०.१६ ॥
Having thus persuaded Kāvya (Śukra), the true-vowed great ascetic protected the lives of the brahmins with his own life, and went to heaven.
12.240.17
रन्तिदेवश्च सांकृत्यो वसिष्ठाय महात्मने ।
अपः प्रदाय शीतोष्णा नाकपृष्ठे महीयते ॥ १२.२४०.१७ ॥
And Rantideva, son of Saṃkṛti, having given cold and hot water to the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, is honored on the back of heaven.
12.240.18
आत्रेयश्चेन्द्रद्रुमये ह्यर्हते विविधं धनम् ।
दत्त्वा लोकान्ययौ धीमाननन्तान्स महीपतिः ॥ १२.२४०.१८ ॥
And Ātreya, having given various wealth to the worthy Indradruma, went to those endless worlds; that wise lord of the earth departed.
12.240.19
शिबिरौशीनरोऽङ्गानि सुतं च प्रियमौरसम् ।
ब्राह्मणार्थमुपाकृत्य नाकपृष्ठमितो गतः ॥ १२.२४०.१९ ॥
Śibi, son of Uśīnara, having offered up his own limbs and his beloved begotten son for the sake of a brahmin, went from here to the back of heaven.
12.240.20
प्रतर्दनः काशिपतिः प्रदाय नयने स्वके ।
ब्राह्मणायातुलां कीर्तिमिह चामुत्र चाश्नुते ॥ १२.२४०.२० ॥
Pratardana, lord of Kāśi, having given his own two eyes to a brahmin, obtains incomparable fame here and there (in the next world).
12.240.21
दिव्यमष्टशलाकं तु सौवर्णं परमर्द्धिमत् ।
छत्रं देवावृधो दत्त्वा सराष्ट्रोऽभ्यगमद्दिवम् ॥ १२.२४०.२१ ॥
Devāvṛdha, having given a divine golden parasol of eight spokes and supreme splendour, went with his kingdom to heaven.
12.240.22
सांकृतिश्च तथाऽऽत्रेयः शिष्येभ्यो ब्रह्म निर्गुणम् ।
उपदिश्य महातेजा गतो लोकाननुत्तमान् ॥ १२.२४०.२२ ॥
Sāṃkṛti and likewise Ātreya, of great radiance, having taught Brahman without qualities to their disciples, went to the supreme worlds.
12.240.23
अम्बरीषो गवां दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रतापवान् ।
अर्बुदानि दशैकं च सराष्ट्रोऽभ्यगमद्दिवम् ॥ १२.२४०.२३ ॥
Ambarīṣa, the mighty, having given eleven arbudas of cows to brahmins, went with his kingdom to heaven.
12.240.24
सावित्री कुण्डले दिव्ये शरीरं जनमेजयः ।
ब्राह्मणार्थे परित्यज्य जग्मतुर्लोकमुत्तमम् ॥ १२.२४०.२४ ॥
Sāvitrī gave up her divine earrings, and Janamejaya gave up his body for the sake of a brahmin; the two of them went to the supreme world.
12.240.25
सर्वरत्नं वृषादर्विर्युवनाश्वः प्रियाः स्त्रियः ।
रम्यमावसथं चैव दत्त्वामुं लोकमास्थितः ॥ १२.२४०.२५ ॥
Vṛṣādarvi and Yuvanāśva, having given all jewels, beloved wives and a pleasing dwelling, attained that world.
12.240.26
निमी राष्ट्रं च वैदेहो जामदग्न्यो वसुंधराम् ।
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ चापि गयश्चोर्वी सपत्तनाम् ॥ १२.२४०.२६ ॥
Nimi gave his realm, the king of Videha, and Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma) gave the earth to the brahmins; Gaya also gave the earth with its cities.
12.240.27
अवर्षति च पर्जन्ये सर्वभूतानि भूतकृत ।
वसिष्ठो जीवयामास प्रजापतिरिव प्रजाः ॥ १२.२४०.२७ ॥
When the rain-cloud did not rain, Vasiṣṭha, the creator of all beings, sustained the creatures just as the lord of creatures would.
12.240.28
करंधमस्य पुत्रस्तु मरुतो नृपतिस्तथा ।
कन्यामङ्गिरसे दत्त्वा दिवमाशु जगाम ह ॥ १२.२४०.२८ ॥
Maruta, the king, son of Karandhama, likewise gave a maiden to Aṅgiras and swiftly went to heaven.
12.240.29
ब्रह्मदत्तश्च पाञ्चाल्यो राजा बुद्धिमतां वरः ।
निधिं शङ्खं द्विजाग्र्येभ्यो दत्त्वा लोकानवाप्तवान् ॥ १२.२४०.२९ ॥
King Brahmadatta of the Pāñcālas, best of the wise, gave a treasure and a conch to the foremost of the twice-born, and attained the worlds.
12.240.30
राजा मित्रसहश्चापि वसिष्ठाय महात्मने ।
मदयन्तीं प्रियां दत्त्वा तया सह दिवं गतः ॥ १२.२४०.३० ॥
King Mitrasaha, too, gave his beloved Madayantī to the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, and went to heaven together with her.
12.240.31
सहस्रजिच्च राजर्षिः प्राणानिंष्टान्महायशाः ।
ब्राह्मणार्थं परित्यज्य गतो लोकाननुत्तमान् ॥ १२.२४०.३१ ॥
The royal sage Sahasrajit, of great fame, gave up even his dear life for the sake of a brahmin and went to the unsurpassed worlds.
12.240.32
सर्वकामैश्च संपूर्णं दत्त्वा वेश्म हिरण्मयम् ।
मुद्गलाय गतः स्वर्गं शतद्युम्नो महीपतिः ॥ १२.२४०.३२ ॥
King Śatadyumna gave a golden house filled with every desire to Mudgala and went to heaven.
12.240.33
नाम्ना च द्युतिमान्नाम साल्वराजः प्रतापवान् ।
दत्त्वा राज्यमृचीकाय गतो लोकाननुत्तमान् ॥ १२.२४०.३३ ॥
Dyutimān, the mighty king of the Sālvas, gave his kingdom to Ṛcīka and went to the unsurpassed worlds.
12.240.34
लोमपादश्च राजर्षिः शान्तां दत्त्वा सुतां प्रभुः ।
ऋश्यशृङ्गाय विपुलैः सर्वकामैरयुज्यत ॥ १२.२४०.३४ ॥
The royal sage Lomapāda, lord of his realm, gave his daughter Śāntā to Ṛśyaśṛṅga and was endowed with abundant fulfilment of all desires.
12.240.35
मदिराश्वश्च राजर्षिर्दत्त्वा कन्यां सुमध्यमाम् ।
हिरण्यहस्ताय गतो लोकान्देवैरभिष्टुतान् ॥ १२.२४०.३५ ॥
The royal sage Madirāśva gave a slender-waisted maiden to Hiraṇyahasta and went to the worlds praised by the gods.
12.240.36
दत्त्वा शतसहस्रं तु गवां राजा प्रसेनजित् ।
सवत्सानां महातेजा गतो लोकाननुत्तमान् ॥ १२.२४०.३६ ॥
King Prasenajit, of great brilliance, gave a hundred thousand cows together with their calves and went to the unsurpassed worlds.
12.240.37
एते चान्ये च बहवो दानेन तपसैव च ।
महात्मानो गताः स्वर्गं शिष्टात्मानो जितेन्द्रियाः ॥ १२.२४०.३७ ॥
These and many other great-souled ones, by gift-giving and by austerity alone, their selves disciplined and their senses conquered, have gone to heaven.
12.240.38
तेषां प्रतिष्ठिता कीर्तिर्यावत्स्थास्यति मेदिनी ।
दानयज्ञप्रजासर्गैरेते हि दिवमाप्नुवन् ॥ १२.२४०.३८ ॥
As long as the earth endures, their fame will stand firm; these attained heaven through gifts, sacrifices, and the begetting of offspring.