Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.27
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12.27.1
ज्ञातिशोकाभितप्तस्य प्राणानिष्टांस्त्यजिष्यतः ।
ज्येष्ठस्य पाण्डुपुत्रस्य व्यासः शोकमपानुदत् ॥ १२.२७.१ ॥
Vyāsa drove away the sorrow of the eldest son of Pāṇḍu, tormented by grief for his kinsmen and about to give up his dear life-breaths.
12.27.2
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीमभितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
अश्मगीतं नरव्याघ्र तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥ १२.२७.२ ॥
Here also they recount this ancient history, the Song of the Stone. Understand it, O Yudhiṣṭhira, tiger among men.
12.27.3
अश्मानं ब्राह्मणं प्राज्ञं वैदेहो जनको नृपः ।
संशयं परिपप्रच्छ दुःखशोकसमन्वितः ॥ १२.२७.३ ॥
King Janaka of Videha, filled with pain and sorrow, carefully asked his doubt of the wise brahmin Aśma.
12.27.4
आगमे यदि वाऽपाये ज्ञातीनां द्रविणस्य च ।
नरेण प्रतिपत्तव्यं कल्याणं कथमिच्छता ॥ १२.२७.४ ॥
In the gain or loss of kinsmen and of wealth, how should a man who desires welfare conduct himself?
12.27.5
उत्पन्नमिममात्मानं नरस्यानन्तरं ततः ।
तानितान्यनुवर्तन्ते दुःखानि च सुखानि च ॥ १२.२७.५ ॥
This self, once arisen in a man, is immediately followed by these various pains and pleasures.
12.27.6
तेषामन्यतरापत्तौ यद्यदेवोपसेवते ।
तदस्य चेतनामाशु हरत्यभ्रमिवानिलः ॥ १२.२७.६ ॥
When either one of these comes upon him, whatever a man attends to quickly carries off his awareness, as the wind carries off a cloud.
12.27.7
अभिजातोऽस्मि सिद्धोऽस्मि नास्मि केवलमानुषः ।
इत्येभिर्हेतुभिस्तस्य त्रिभिश्चित्तं प्रसिच्यते ॥ १२.२७.७ ॥
"I am of noble birth, I am accomplished, I am not merely a human being" — by these three reasons his mind is swept away.
12.27.8
संप्रसक्तमना भोगान्विसृज्य पितृसंचितान् ।
परिक्षीणः परस्वानामादानं साधु मन्यते ॥ १२.२७.८ ॥
With his mind clinging to pleasures, having abandoned the enjoyments his fathers accumulated, utterly worn down, he thinks taking another's property is proper.
12.27.9
तमतिक्रान्तमर्यादमाददानमसांप्रतम् ।
प्रतिषेधन्ति राजानो लुब्धा मृगमिवेषुभिः ॥ १२.२७.९ ॥
Kings, greedy, restrain the one who transgresses bounds and seizes improperly, as one checks a deer with arrows.
12.27.10
ये च विंशतिवर्षा वा त्रिंशद्वर्षाश्च मानवाः ।
परेण ते वर्षशतान्न भविष्यन्ति पार्थिव ॥ १२.२७.१० ॥
O king, those men who are twenty or thirty years old will not be beyond a hundred years.
12.27.11
तेषां परमदुःखानां बुद्ध्या भैषज्यमाचरेत् ।
सर्वप्राणभृतां वृत्तं प्रेक्षमाणस्ततस्ततः ॥ १२.२७.११ ॥
For those in supreme suffering one should apply the remedy with understanding, observing the conduct of all living beings everywhere.
12.27.12
मानसानां पुनर्योनिर्दुःखानां चित्तविभ्रमः ।
अनिष्टोपनिपातो वा तृतीयं नोपपद्यते ॥ १२.२७.१२ ॥
The source of mental sufferings is again confusion of mind; misfortune befalling, or a third (cause), does not arise.
12.27.13
एवमेतानि दुःखानि तानि तानीह मानवम् ।
विविधान्युपवर्तन्ते तथा संस्पर्शजान्यपि ॥ १२.२७.१३ ॥
Thus these various sufferings come upon man here, including those born of contact as well.
12.27.14
जरामृत्यू हि भूतानां खादितारौ वृकाविव ।
बलिनां दुर्बलानां च ह्रस्वानां महतामपि ॥ १२.२७.१४ ॥
Old age and death are, for beings, like two wolves devouring them — the strong and the weak, the short and the tall alike.
12.27.15
न कश्चिज्जात्वतिक्रामेज्जरामृत्यू हि मानवः ।
अपि सागरपर्यन्तां विजित्येमां वसुंधराम् ॥ १२.२७.१५ ॥
No man can ever transcend old age and death, even having conquered this earth extending to the ocean's edge.
12.27.16
सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं भूतानां पर्युपस्थितम् ।
प्राप्तव्यमवशैः सर्वं परिहारो न विद्यते ॥ १२.२७.१६ ॥
Whether pleasure or pain has befallen beings, all must be undergone by the helpless; there is no escape from it.
12.27.17
पूर्वे वयसि मध्ये वाऽप्युत्तरे वा नराधिप ।
अवर्जनीयास्तेऽर्था वै काङ्क्षिता ये ततोऽन्यथा ॥ १२.२७.१७ ॥
O lord of men, in youth, middle age, or old age, the aims that are desired are not to be avoided; they do not turn otherwise.
12.27.18
अप्रियैः सह संयोगो विप्रयोगश्च सुप्रियैः ।
अर्थानर्थौ सुखं दुःखं विधानमनुवर्तते ॥ १२.२७.१८ ॥
Union with the unloved and separation from the dearly loved, gain and loss, pleasure and pain — this order follows.
12.27.19
प्रादुर्भावश्च भूतानां देहत्यागस्तथैव च ।
प्राप्तिव्यायामयोगश्च सर्वमेतत्प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १२.२७.१९ ॥
The arising of beings and the leaving of the body, likewise attainment and union with effort — all this is established.
12.27.20
गन्धवर्णरसस्पर्शा निवर्तन्ते स्वभावतः ।
तथैव सुखदुःखानि विधानमनुवर्तते ॥ १२.२७.२० ॥
Smell, colour, taste and touch turn away by their nature; likewise pleasure and pain — the ordinance follows.
12.27.21
आसनं शयनं यानमुत्थानं पानभोजनम् ।
नियतं सर्वभूतानां कालेनैव भवत्युत ॥ १२.२७.२१ ॥
Seat, bed, vehicle, rising up, drinking and eating — these are fixed for all beings, and come to pass by time alone.
12.27.22
वैद्याश्चाप्यातुराः सन्ति बलवन्तश्च दुर्बलाः ।
स्त्रीमन्तश्चापरे षण्ढा विचित्रः कालपर्ययः ॥ १२.२७.२२ ॥
Physicians too are sick, the strong become weak; there are men with wives and others who are eunuchs — the turn of time is strange.
12.27.23
कुले जन्म तथा वीर्यमारोग्यं रूपमेव च ।
सौभाग्यमुपभोगश्च भवितव्येन लभ्यते ॥ १२.२७.२३ ॥
Birth in a noble family, strength, health, beauty, good fortune and enjoyment — these are obtained through what is destined.
12.27.24
सन्ति पुत्राः सुबहवो दरिद्राणामनिच्छताम् ।
नास्ति पुत्रः समृद्धानां विचित्रं विधिचेष्टितम् ॥ १२.२७.२४ ॥
The poor who do not wish for them have many sons; the prosperous have no son — strange is the working of fate.
12.27.25
व्याधिरग्निर्जलं शस्त्रं बुभुक्षाश्चापदो विषम ।
ज्वरश्च मरणं जन्तोरुच्चाच्च पतनं तथा ॥ १२.२७.२५ ॥
Disease, fire, water, weapons, hunger, calamity, poison, fever, the death of a living being, and falling from a height — likewise.
12.27.26
निर्याणे यस्य यद्दिष्टं तेन गच्छति सेतुना ।
दृश्यते नाप्यतिक्रामन्न निष्क्रान्तोऽथवा पुनः।
दृश्यते चाप्यतिक्रामन्न निग्राह्योऽथवा पुनः ॥ १२.२७.२६ ॥
By whatever path is ordained for each, he goes. Neither is he seen transgressing, nor departing, nor returning again; and though seen transgressing, he cannot be restrained — or again (so it is).
12.27.27
दृश्यते हि युवैवेह विनश्यन्वसुमान्नरः ।
दरिद्रश्च परिक्लिष्टः शतवर्षो जरान्वितः ॥ १२.२७.२७ ॥
Here a wealthy man is seen perishing even in his youth, while a poor and afflicted man is seen living on, endowed with old age, for a hundred years.
12.27.28
अकिञ्चनाश्च दृश्यन्ते पुरुषाश्चिरजीविनः ।
समृद्धे च कुले जाता विनश्यन्ति पतङ्गवत् ॥ १२.२७.२८ ॥
Penniless men are seen living long, while those born into prosperous families perish like moths.
12.27.29
प्रायेण श्रीमतां लोके भोक्तुं शक्तिर्न विद्यते ।
दरिद्राणां तु भूयिष्ठं काष्ठमश्मा हि जीर्यते ॥ १२.२७.२९ ॥
In the world, the prosperous generally lack the strength to enjoy; while the poor, for the most part, wear down like wood and stone.
12.27.30
अहमेतत्करोमीति मन्यते कालनोदितः ।
यद्यदिष्टमसंतोषाहुरात्मा पापमाचरेत् ॥ १२.२७.३० ॥
Impelled by time, a man thinks, "I am doing this"; and out of discontent, whatever he desires, let him practise it as evil.
12.27.31
मृगयाक्षाः स्त्रियः पानं प्रसङ्गा निन्दिता बुधैः ।
दृश्यन्ते पुरुषाश्चात्र संप्रयुक्ता बहुश्रुताः ॥ १२.२७.३१ ॥
Hunting, dice, women and drink—these indulgences are censured by the wise; yet even men learned in much lore are seen engaged in them here.
12.27.32
इति कालेन सर्वार्थानीप्सितानीप्सितानिह ।
स्पृशन्ति सर्वभूतानि निमित्तं नोपलभ्यते ॥ १२.२७.३२ ॥
Thus, by time, all things—both desired and undesired—touch all beings here, and no cause for it is perceived.
12.27.33
वायुमाकाशमग्निं च चन्द्रादित्यावहः क्षपे ।
ज्योतींषि सरितः शैलान्कः करोति बिभतिं च ॥ १२.२७.३३ ॥
Wind, sky, fire, the moon and sun who bring light at night, the stars, rivers and mountains—who makes them, and who sustains them?
12.27.34
शीतमुष्णं तथा वर्षं कालेन परिवर्तते ।
एवमेव मनुष्याणां सुखदुःखे नरर्षभ ॥ १२.२७.३४ ॥
Cold and heat, and likewise rain, turn with time; so too, O best of men, the pleasure and pain of mortals turn.
12.27.35
नौषधानि न शस्त्राणि न होमा न पुनर्जपाः ।
त्रायन्ते मृत्युनोपेतं जरया चापि मानवम् ॥ १२.२७.३५ ॥
Neither medicines, nor weapons, nor oblations, nor again recitations protect a man who has been reached by death or overtaken by old age.
12.27.36
यथा काष्ठं च काष्ठं च समेयातां महोदधौ ।
समेत्य च व्यपेयातां तद्वद्भूतसमागमः ॥ १२.२७.३६ ॥
As two logs might meet in the great ocean, and having met, drift apart again, so is the meeting of beings.
12.27.37
ये च निष्परुषैरुक्तगीतवाद्यैरुपस्थिताः ।
ये चानाथाः परान्नादाः कालस्तेषु समक्रियः ॥ १२.२७.३७ ॥
Those who are attended with gentle words, songs and music, and those who are unprotected and live on others' food — Time treats them all alike.
12.27.38
मातापितृसहस्राणि पुत्रदारशतानि च ।
संसारेष्वनुभूतानि कस्य ते कस्य वा वयम् ॥ १२.२७.३८ ॥
In the cycles of existence we have experienced thousands of mothers and fathers, hundreds of sons and wives. Whose are they, and whose are we?
12.27.39
नैवास्य कश्चिद्भविता नायं भवति कस्यचित् ।
पथि संगतमेवेदं दारबन्धुसुहृज्जनैः ॥ १२.२७.३९ ॥
No one will be his, nor is he anyone's. This union with wives, kinsmen and friends is merely a meeting on the road.
12.27.40
क्वासे क्व च गमिष्यामि कोऽन्वहं किमिहास्थितः ।
कस्मात्किमनुशोचेयमित्येवं स्थापयेन्मनः ॥ १२.२७.४० ॥
Where is he, and where shall I go? Who am I, and what is my state here? Why should I grieve, and for what? Thus one should steady the mind.
12.27.41
अनित्ये प्रियसंवासे संसारे चक्रवद्गतौ ।
पथि संगतमेवैतद्धाता माता पिता सखा ॥ १२.२७.४१ ॥
In impermanent union with the beloved, in the wheel-like turning of existence, all this is merely a meeting on the road: the nurturer, the mother, the father, the friend.
12.27.42
न दृष्टपूर्वं प्रत्यक्षं परलोकं विदुर्बुधाः ।
आगमांस्त्वनतिक्रम्य श्रद्धातव्यं बुभूषता ॥ १२.२७.४२ ॥
The other world has never been seen directly; the wise know it. But one who desires welfare should have faith, without transgressing the scriptures.
12.27.43
कुर्वीत पितृदैवत्यं धर्म्याणि च समाचरेत् ।
यजेच्च विद्वान्विधिवत्रिवर्गं चाप्युपाचरेत् ॥ १२.२७.४३ ॥
One should perform rites belonging to the ancestors and the gods, and faithfully practise one's lawful duties. The learned man should sacrifice according to rule and also attend to the threefold aims of life.
12.27.44
सन्निमज्जेज्जगदिदं गम्भीरे कालसागरे ।
जरामृत्युमहाग्राहे न कश्चिदवबुध्यते ॥ १२.२७.४४ ॥
This world sinks down into the deep ocean of time, where old age and death are the great crocodiles; yet no one perceives it.
12.27.45
आयुर्वेदमधीयानाः केवलं सपरिग्रहाः ।
दृश्यन्ते बहवो वैद्या व्याधिभिः समबिप्लुताः ॥ १२.२७.४५ ॥
Many physicians who have studied the science of life, even with their households about them, are seen completely overwhelmed by diseases.
12.27.46
ते पिबन्तः कषायांश्च सर्पीषि विविधानि च ।
न मृत्युमतिवर्तन्ते वेलामिव महोदधिः ॥ १२.२७.४६ ॥
Though they drink decoctions and various clarified butters, they do not overcome death, as the great ocean does not overstep its shore.
12.27.47
रसायनविदश्चैव सुप्रयुक्तरसायनाः ।
दृश्यन्ते जरया भग्ना नागा नागैरिवोत्तमैः ॥ १२.२७.४७ ॥
Even those who know the science of rejuvenation and have rightly used rejuvenating elixirs are seen broken by old age, as elephants are broken by the finest elephants.
12.27.48
तथैव तपसोपेताः स्वाध्यायाध्ययने रताः ।
दातारो यज्ञशीलाश्च न तरन्ति जरान्तकौ ॥ १२.२७.४८ ॥
Likewise, those endowed with austerity, devoted to self-study and the study of the Veda, givers and men inclined to sacrifice, do not overcome old age and death.
12.27.49
न ह्यहानि निवर्तन्ते न मासा न पुनः समाः ।
जातानां सर्वभूतानां न पुनर्वै समागमः ॥ १२.२७.४९ ॥
Days do not return, nor months, nor again years. For all beings that have been born, there is no reunion again.
12.27.50
सोऽयं विपुलमध्वानं कालेन ध्रुवमध्रुवः ।
स्रोतसैव समभ्येति सर्वभूतनिषेवितम् ॥ १२.२७.५० ॥
By time, he surely goes on that vast path, unsteady, just like a current, the path frequented by all beings.
12.27.51
देहो वा जीविताद्व्येति देही वाऽप्येति देहतः ।
पथि संगतमेवेदं दारैरन्यैश्च बन्धुभिः ॥ १२.२७.५१ ॥
The body departs from life, or the embodied self departs from the body. On the path, this joining is only with wives, with others, and with kinsmen.
12.27.52
नायमत्यन्तसंवासो लभ्यते जातु केनचित् ।
अपि स्वेन शरीरेण किमुतान्येन केनचित् ॥ १२.२७.५२ ॥
No one ever obtains this lasting companionship, not even with one's own body, much less with another.
12.27.53
क्वनु तेऽद्य पिता राजन्क्वनु तेऽद्य पितामहाः ।
न त्वं पश्यसि तानद्य न त्वां पश्यन्ति तेऽनघ ॥ १२.२७.५३ ॥
O king, where is your father now? Where are your grandfathers now? You do not see them now, and they do not see you now, O blameless one.
12.27.54
न चैव पुरुषो द्रष्टा स्वर्गस्य नरकस्य च ।
आगमस्तु सतां चक्षुर्नृपते तमिहाचर ॥ १२.२७.५४ ॥
No man sees heaven or hell; but scripture (āgama) is the eye of the good. O king, practise that here.
12.27.55
चरितब्रह्मचर्यो हि प्रजायेत यजेत च ।
पितृदेवमनुष्याणामानृण्यादनसूयकः ॥ १२.२७.५५ ॥
One who has kept the vow of celibate study should beget children and sacrifice, and, free from the debts owed to the ancestors, the gods and men, should be free from envy.
12.27.56
स यज्ञशीलः प्रजने निविष्टः ।
प्राग्ब्रह्मचारी प्रविभक्तभैक्षः।
आराधयेत्स्वर्गमिमं च लोकं ।
परं च मुक्त्वा हृदयव्यलीकम् ॥ १२.२७.५६ ॥
Devoted to sacrifice and engaged in begetting children, having formerly been a celibate student and having shared his alms, he should propitiate heaven, both in this world and the other, abandoning deceit of the heart.
12.27.57
सम्यक्स्वधर्मं चरतो नृपस्य ।
द्रव्याणि चाभ्याहरतो यथावत्।
प्रवृद्धचक्रस्य यशोऽभिवर्धते ।
सर्वेषु लोकेषु चराचरेषु ॥ १२.२७.५७ ॥
For a king who rightly practises his own duty and duly gathers wealth, whose wheel of armies has grown, his fame increases in all worlds, among moving and unmoving beings.
12.27.58
इत्येवमाकर्ण्य विदेहराजो ।
वाक्यं समग्रं परिपूर्णहेतु।
अश्मानमामन्त्र्य विशुद्धबुद्धि ।
र्ययौ गृहं स्वं प्रति शान्तशोकः ॥ १२.२७.५८ ॥
Having heard this complete speech, full of reasons, the king of Videha, of pure understanding, took leave of Aśma, and with his grief appeased, went to his own house.
12.27.59
तथा त्वमप्यद्य विमुच्य शोक ।
मुत्तिष्ठ शक्रोपम हर्षमेहि।
क्षात्रेण धर्मेण मही जिता ते ।
तां भुङ्क्ष्व कुन्तीसुत मावमंस्थाः ॥ १२.२७.५९ ॥
So too, you, O equal of Śakra, cast off your grief today, rise up, come to joy. By the duty of the kṣatriya you have conquered this earth; enjoy it, O son of Kuntī, do not disregard it.