Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.271
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
12.271.1
शरीरमापदश्चैव न विदन्त्यविहिंसकाः ।
कथं यात्रा शरीरस्य निरारम्भस्य सेत्स्यते ॥ १२.२७१.१ ॥
The non-violent do not know the body and its calamities. How will the journey of the body be accomplished for one who undertakes nothing?
12.271.2
यथा शरीरं न म्लायेन्नैव मृत्युवशं भवेत् ।
तथा कर्मसु वर्तेत समर्थो धर्ममाचरेत् ॥ १२.२७१.२ ॥
As the body does not wither and does not fall under the power of death, so the capable man should engage in action and practise dharma.
12.271.3
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
प्रजानामनुकम्पार्थं गीतं राज्ञा विचख्युना ॥ १२.२७१.३ ॥
On this point, too, they cite this ancient story, sung by a wise king out of compassion for his subjects.
12.271.4
छिन्नस्थूणं वृपं दृष्ट्वा विरावं च गवां भृशम् ।
गोगृहे यज्ञवाटे च प्रेक्षमाणः स पार्थिवः ॥ १२.२७१.४ ॥
Seeing the bull with the broken post and the loud lowing of the cows, that king, looking about in the cow-shed and the sacrificial enclosure.
12.271.5
स्वस्ति गोभ्योऽस्तु लोकेषु ततो निर्वचनं कृतम् ।
हिंसायां हि प्रवृत्तायामाशीरेषा तु कल्पिता ॥ १२.२७१.५ ॥
Then the declaration was made: 'Let there be well-being for the cows and good fortune in the worlds.' When violence had set in, this blessing was devised.
12.271.6
अव्यवस्थितमर्यादैर्विमूढैर्नास्तिकैर्नरैः ।
संशयात्मभिरव्यक्तैर्हिंसा समनुदर्शिता ॥ १२.२७१.६ ॥
Violence was shown by men whose boundaries were unsettled, who were deluded and unbelieving, whose souls were full of doubt and who were unmanifest.
12.271.7
सर्वकर्मग्वहिंसां हि धर्मात्मा मनुरब्रवीत् ।
कामकाराद्विहिंसन्ति बहिर्वेद्यां पशून्नराः ॥ १२.२७१.७ ॥
The righteous Manu declared that in all actions non-injury is indeed supreme. Men, moved by desire, injure animals outside the sacrificial altar.
12.271.8
तस्मात्प्रमाणतः कार्यो धर्मः सूक्ष्मो विजानता ।
अहिंसा ह्येव सर्वेभ्यो धर्मेभ्यो ज्यायसी मता ॥ १२.२७१.८ ॥
Therefore, one who knows subtle dharma should act upon it according to the authority of scripture. Non-injury alone is held to be superior to all duties.
12.271.9
उपोष्य संशितो भूत्वा हित्वा वेदकृतां शुचिः ।
आचार इत्यनाचारः कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥ १२.२७१.९ ॥
To call it right conduct when one, having fasted and restrained oneself and abandoned the Vedic rites, becomes pure, is misconduct. Wretched men seeking reward do so.
12.271.10
यदि च्छिन्दन्ति वृक्षांश्च यूपांश्चोद्दिश्य मानवाः ।
वृथा मांसानि खादन्ति नैप धर्मः प्रशस्यते ॥ १२.२७१.१० ॥
If men cut down trees to make sacrificial posts and eat flesh uselessly, this is not praised as dharma.
12.271.11
सुरां मत्स्यान्मधु मांसमासवं कृसरौदनम् ।
धूर्तैः प्रवर्तितं ह्येतन्नैतद्वेदेषु कल्पितम्।
कामान्मोहाच्च लोभाच्च लौल्यमेतत्प्रवर्तितम् ॥ १२.२७१.११ ॥
Liquor, fish, honey, meat, fermented drink, and rice cooked with sesame: these were introduced by deceivers; they are not prescribed in the Vedas. This craving was spread through desire, delusion and greed.
12.271.12
विष्णुमेवाभिजानन्ति सर्वयज्ञेषु ब्राह्मणाः ।
पायसैः सुमनोभिश्च तस्यैव यजनं स्मृतम् ॥ १२.२७१.१२ ॥
In all sacrifices, the brahmins recognize Viṣṇu alone; worship of him with milk-rice and fine flowers is recalled.
12.271.13
यज्ञियाश्चैव ये वृक्षा वेदेषु परिकल्पिताः ।
यच्चापि किंचित्कर्तव्यमन्यच्चोक्षैः सुसंस्कृतम्।
महासत्वैः शुद्धभावैः सर्वं देवार्हमेव तत् ॥ १२.२७१.१३ ॥
The trees that are fit for sacrifice and prescribed in the Vedas, and whatever else is to be done, all that is well purified, done by the great-minded and those of pure disposition, is indeed worthy of the gods.
12.271.14
शरीरमापदश्चापि विवदन्त्यविहंसतः ।
कथं यात्रा शरीरस्य निरारम्भस्य सेत्स्यते ॥ १२.२७१.१४ ॥
The body and calamities too dispute about it. How will the course of the body succeed for one who does not harm and undertakes no action?
12.271.15
यथा शरीरं न ग्लायेन्नेयान्मृत्युवशं यथा ।
तथा कर्मसु वर्तेत समर्थो धर्ममाचरेत् ॥ १२.२७१.१५ ॥
Just as the body should not grow weary and not be led into the power of death, so one who is capable should engage in actions and practice dharma.