Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.248
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12.248.1
क्षरात्प्रभृति यः सर्गः सगुणानीन्द्रियाणि च ।
बुद्ध्यैश्वर्यातिसर्गोऽयं प्रधानश्चात्मनः श्रुतम् ॥ १२.२४८.१ ॥
The creation that begins from the perishable, the senses together with their qualities, this outflow of intellect and sovereignty, and the principal truth of the self — these I have heard.
12.248.2
भूय एव तु लोकेऽस्मिन्सद्वृतिं कालहेतुकीम् ।
यया सन्तः प्रवर्तन्ते तदिच्छाम्यनुवर्तितुम् ॥ १२.२४८.२ ॥
Again, in this world, I wish to follow that righteous conduct caused by time, by which the good proceed.
12.248.3
वेदे वचनमुक्तं तु कुरु कर्म त्यजेति च ।
कथमेतद्विजानीयां तच्च व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥ १२.२४८.३ ॥
The Veda has spoken the saying: 'Perform action' and 'abandon action.' How am I to understand this? And you are worthy to explain it.
12.248.4
लोकवृत्तान्ततत्वज्ञः पूतोऽहं गुरुशासनात् ।
कृत्वा बुद्धिं विमुक्तात्मा द्रक्ष्याम्यात्मानमव्ययं ॥ १२.२४८.४ ॥
Knowing the truth of worldly conduct, purified by my teacher's instruction, having fixed my intellect, with a liberated self, I shall see the imperishable self.
12.248.5
एषा वै विहिता वृत्तिः पुरस्ताद्ब्रह्मणा स्वयम् ।
एषा पूर्वतरैः सद्भिराचीर्णा परमर्षिभिः ॥ १२.२४८.५ ॥
This way of life was prescribed in former times by Brahmā himself; it was practised by the good of earlier ages and by the great sages.
12.248.6
ब्रह्मचर्येण वै लोकाञ्जयन्ति परमर्षयः ।
आत्मनश्च हृदि श्रेयो ह्यन्विच्छन्मनसाऽऽत्मनि ॥ १२.२४८.६ ॥
The great sages conquer the worlds by chastity alone, seeking in their own heart, with the mind, the highest good of the self.
12.248.7
वने मूलफलाशी च तप्यन्सुविपुलं तपः ।
पुण्यायतनचारी च भूतानामविहिंसक ॥ १२.२४८.७ ॥
Eating roots and fruits in the forest, performing very great austerity, wandering among holy places, and harming no creature.
12.248.8
विधूमे सन्नमुसले वानप्रस्थप्रतिश्रये ।
काले प्राप्ते चरन्भैक्षं कल्पते ब्रह्मभूयसे ॥ १२.२४८.८ ॥
In the hermitage of the forest-dweller, where there is no smoke and the pestle is laid aside, one who wanders begging for alms when the proper time has come becomes fit for union with Brahman.
12.248.9
निस्तुतिर्निर्नमस्कारः परित्यज्य शुभाशुभे ।
अरण्ये विचरैकाकी येनकेनचिदाशितः ॥ १२.२४८.९ ॥
Without praise or salutation, abandoning good and evil, wander alone in the forest, sustained by whatever comes to hand.
12.248.10
यदिदं वेदवचनं लोकवादे विरुध्यते ।
प्रमाणे चाप्रमाणे च विरुद्धे शास्त्रतः कुतः ॥ १२.२४८.१० ॥
How is it that this Vedic statement contradicts worldly speech, and that authority and non-authority, when opposed according to scripture, can both hold?
12.248.11
इत्येतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि प्रमाणं तूभयं कथम् ।
कर्मणामविरोधेन कथमेतत्प्रवर्तते ॥ १२.२४८.११ ॥
This I wish to hear: how are both authoritative? And how does this proceed without contradiction among actions?
12.248.12
इत्युक्तः प्रत्युवाचेदं गन्धवत्याः सुतः सुतम् ।
ऋषिस्तत्पूजयन्वाक्यं पुत्रस्यामिततेजसः ॥ १२.२४८.१२ ॥
Thus addressed, the sage, son of Gandhavatī, replied to his son, honouring those words of his son of boundless splendour.
12.248.13
ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थोऽथ भिक्षुकः ।
यथोक्तकारिणः सर्वे गच्छन्ति परमां गतिम् ॥ १२.२४८.१३ ॥
The celibate student, the householder, the forest-dweller and the mendicant — all who act as prescribed reach the highest goal.
12.248.14
एको वाऽप्याश्रमानेतान्योऽनुतिष्ठेद्यथाविधि ।
अकामद्वेषसंयुक्तः स परत्र महीयते ॥ १२.२४८.१४ ॥
Whoever practises even one of these stages of life according to rule, free from desire and hatred, is honoured in the next world.
12.248.15
चतुष्पदी हि निःश्रेयणी ब्रह्मण्येषा प्रतिष्ठिता ।
एतामाश्रित्य निःश्रेणीं ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ॥ १२.२४८.१५ ॥
This four-stepped ladder is indeed established in Brahman; resorting to this ladder, one is honoured in the world of Brahmā.
12.248.16
आयुषस्तु चतुर्भागं ब्रह्मचार्यनसूयकः ।
गुरौ वा गुरुपुत्रे वा वसेद्धर्मार्थकोविदः ॥ १२.२४८.१६ ॥
For a quarter of life the celibate student, free from envy and skilled in dharma and artha, should dwell with his teacher or with the teacher's son.
12.248.17
जघन्यशायी पूर्वं स्यादुत्थाय गुरुवेश्मनि ।
यच्च शिष्येण कर्तव्यं कार्यं दासेन वा पुनः ॥ १२.२४८.१७ ॥
In the teacher's house he should sleep in the lowest place and rise first; and whatever task is to be done by a disciple or by a servant, he should do it as well.
12.248.18
कृतमित्येव तत्सर्वं कृत्वा तिष्ठेत पार्श्वतः ।
किंकरः सर्वकारी स्यात्सर्वकर्मसु कोविदः ॥ १२.२४८.१८ ॥
Saying "it is done," having done all of it, he should stand aside; skilled in every task, he should be one who does everything like an attendant.
12.248.19
कर्मातिशेषेण गुरावध्येतव्यं बुभूषता ।
दक्षिणेनोपसादी स्यादाकूतो नुल्माश्रयेत् ॥ १२.२४८.१९ ॥
When the teacher's tasks are finished, one who wishes well should study with him. One should sit near on the right and stand attentively, like a torch-bearer.
12.248.20
शुचिर्दक्षो गुणोपेतो ब्रूयादिष्टमिवान्तरा ।
चक्षुष गुरुमव्यग्रो निरीक्षेत जितेन्द्रियः ॥ १२.२४८.२० ॥
A pure, skilful and virtuous student should speak agreeable words to the teacher from time to time. Self-controlled and undistracted, he should gaze upon the teacher with his eyes.
12.248.21
नाभुक्तवति चाश्नीयादपीतवति नो पिबेत् ।
नातिष्ठति तथासीत नासुप्ते प्रस्वपेत च ॥ १२.२४८.२१ ॥
He should not eat before the teacher has eaten, nor drink before he has drunk. He should not sit if the teacher is not standing, nor sleep before the teacher is asleep.
12.248.22
उत्तानाभ्यां च पाणिभ्यां पादावस्य मृदु स्पृशेत् ।
दक्षिणं दक्षिणेनैव सव्यं सव्येन पीडयेत् ॥ १२.२४८.२२ ॥
With palms turned upward, he should gently touch the teacher's feet. He should press the right foot with the right hand and the left foot with the left hand.
12.248.23
अभिवाद्य गुरुं ब्रूयादधीष्व भगवन्निति ।
इदं करिष्ये भगवन्निदं चापि कृतं मया ॥ १२.२४८.२३ ॥
Having respectfully greeted the teacher, he should say, 'Venerable sir, teach me.' 'Venerable sir, I will do this, and this too I have already done.'
12.248.24
ब्रह्मंस्तदपि कर्ताऽस्मि यद्भावन्वक्ष्यते पुनः ।
इति सर्वमनुज्ञाप्य निवेद्य गुरवे पुनः। ॥ १२.२४८.२४ ॥
Saying, 'O brahmin, I will also do whatever you say again,' he should obtain permission for everything, and report back to the teacher once more.
12.248.25
कुर्यात्कृत्वा च तत्सर्वमाख्येयं गुरवे पुनः ।
यांस्तु गन्धान्रसान्वाऽपि ब्रह्मचारी न सेवते ॥ १२.२४८.२५ ॥
Having done what is to be done, one should tell everything again to the teacher. Whatever scents or tastes the celibate student does not indulge in,
12.248.26
सेवेत तान्समावृत्त इति धर्मेषु निश्चयः ।
ये केचिन्नियमेनोक्ता नियमा ब्रह्मचारिणः ॥ १२.२४८.२६ ॥
After returning home one may enjoy them; this is the settled view on dharma. Those observances that are prescribed for the celibate student by rule,
12.248.27
तान्सर्वाननुगृह्णीयाद्भवेच्चानपगो गुरोः ।
स एवं गुरवे प्रीतिमुपहृत्य यथाबलम् ॥ १२.२४८.२७ ॥
He should keep all of them and not depart from the teacher. Thus offering affection to the teacher according to his ability,
12.248.28
अग्राम्येणा मेष्वेवं शिष्यो वर्तते कर्मणा ।
वदव्रतोपवासेन चतुर्थे च…।
गुरवे दक्षिणां दत्त्वा समावतेद्यथातिधि… ॥ १२.२४८.२८ ॥
Thus the disciple conducts himself by non-worldly action, by the vow of speech and fasting, and in the fourth… Having given his fee to the teacher, he should return home like a guest…
12.248.29
धर्मलब्धैर्युतो दारैरग्नीनुत्पाद्य यनतः ।
द्वितीयमायुषो भागं गृहमेधी भवेद्व्रती ॥ १२.२४८.२९ ॥
Joined with a wife obtained by dharma, having kindled the sacred fires by sacrifice, in the second portion of life he should become a householder observant of vows.