Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.299
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12.299.1
वृत्तिः सकाशाद्वर्णेभ्यस्त्रिभ्यो हीनस्य शोभना ।
प्रीत्योपनीता निर्दिष्टा धर्मिष्ठान्कुरुते सदा ॥ १२.२९९.१ ॥
A livelihood obtained with goodwill from the three classes is fitting even for the lower one; a prescribed livelihood always makes him righteous.
12.299.2
वृत्तिश्चेन्नास्ति शूद्रस्य पितृपैतामही ध्रुवा ।
न वृत्तिं परतो मार्गेच्छुश्रूषां तु प्रयोजयेत् ॥ १२.२९९.२ ॥
If a shudra has no fixed livelihood handed down from his fathers and forefathers, he should not seek a livelihood from others, but should undertake service.
12.299.3
सद्भिस्तु सह संसर्गः शोभते धर्मदर्शिभिः ।
नित्यं सर्वास्ववस्थासु नासद्भिरिति मे मतिः ॥ १२.२९९.३ ॥
Association with good men who see dharma alone adorns, always and in all conditions, not with the wicked — this is my view.
12.299.4
यथोदयगिरौ द्रव्यं सन्निकर्षेण दीप्यते ।
तथा सत्सन्निकर्षेण हीनवर्णोऽपि दीयते ॥ १२.२९९.४ ॥
As an object on the Udaya mountain shines through proximity, so too a man of low class is illumined through contact with the good.
12.299.5
यादृशेन हि वर्णेन भाव्यते शुक्लमम्बरम् ।
तादृशं कुरुते रूपमेतदेवमवेहि मे ॥ १२.२९९.५ ॥
Whatever colour a white cloth is dyed with, that is the form it takes; understand this from me.
12.299.6
तस्माद्गुणेषु रज्येथा मा दोषेषु कदाचन ।
अनित्यमिह मर्त्यानां जीवितं हि चलाचलम् ॥ १२.२९९.६ ॥
Therefore delight in virtues, never in faults; for here the life of mortals is impermanent, unsteady and shifting.
12.299.7
सुखे वा यदि वा दुःखे वर्तमानो विचक्षणः ।
यश्चिनोति शुभान्येव स भद्राणीह पश्यति ॥ १२.२९९.७ ॥
Whether in pleasure or in pain, the wise man who gathers only good deeds sees only blessings here.
12.299.8
धर्मादपेतं यत्कर्म यद्यपि स्यान्महाफलम् ।
न तत्सेवेत मेधावी न तद्धितमिहोच्यते ॥ १२.२९९.८ ॥
An action departed from dharma, though it may bring great fruit, the wise should not pursue; here it is not called beneficial.
12.299.9
धर्मेण सहितं यत्तु भवेदल्पफलोदयम् ।
तत्कार्यमविशङ्केन कर्मात्यन्तं सुखावहम् ॥ १२.२९९.९ ॥
The action accompanied by dharma, though its fruit be small, should be done without hesitation; that action brings the utmost happiness.
12.299.10
यो हृत्वा गोसहस्राणि नृपो दद्यादरक्षिता ।
स शब्दमात्रफलभाग्राजा भवति तस्करः ॥ १२.२९९.१० ॥
The king who seizes thousands of cows and gives them away without protecting them receives only the name of the fruit; that king becomes a thief.
12.299.11
स्वयंभूरसृजच्चाग्रे धातारं लोकसत्कृतम् ।
धाताऽसृजत्पुत्रमेकं लोकानां धारणे रतम् ॥ १२.२९९.११ ॥
Svayambhū first created Dhātṛ, honored by the worlds; Dhātṛ created one son, delighting in sustaining the worlds.
12.299.12
तमर्चयित्वा वैश्यस्तु कुर्यादत्यर्थमृद्धिमत् ।
रक्षितव्यं तु राजन्यैरुपयोज्यं द्विजातिभिः ॥ १२.२९९.१२ ॥
Having worshipped him, the merchant should make his wealth flourish greatly; it must be protected by the kshatriyas and used by the twice-born.
12.299.13
अजिह्नैरशठक्रोधैर्हव्यकव्यप्रयोक्तृभिः ।
शूर्दैर्निर्मार्जनं कार्यमेवं धर्मो न नश्यति ॥ १२.२९९.१३ ॥
Those who are upright and guileless in their anger, who perform the offerings to gods and ancestors, should cleanse the grain with winnowing baskets; thus dharma does not perish.
12.299.14
अप्रनष्टे ततो धर्मे भवन्ति सुखिताः प्रजाः ।
सुखेन तासां राजेन्द्र मोदन्ते दिवि देवताः ॥ १२.२९९.१४ ॥
When dharma has not perished, the people become happy; O lord of kings, by their happiness the gods rejoice in heaven.
12.299.15
तस्माद्यो रक्षति नृपः स धर्मेणेति पूज्यते ।
अधीते चापि यो विप्रो वैश्यो यश्चार्जने रतः ॥ १२.२९९.१५ ॥
Therefore the king who protects is honored as one who acts by dharma; so too the brahmin who studies, and the vaiśya who delights in acquiring wealth.
12.299.16
यश्च शुश्रूषते शूद्रः सततं नियतेन्द्रियः ।
अतोऽन्यथा मनुष्येन्द्र स्वधर्मात्परिहीयते ॥ १२.२९९.१६ ॥
And the śūdra who constantly serves with senses controlled; O lord of men, one who acts otherwise falls away from his own dharma.
12.299.17
प्राणसंतापनिर्दिष्टाः काकिण्योऽपि महाफलाः ।
न्यायेनोपार्जिता दत्ताः किमुतान्याः सहस्रशः ॥ १२.२९९.१७ ॥
Even small cowrie-shells, earned at the cost of one's life's toil, justly acquired and given, bear great fruit; how much more so other wealth given by the thousand?
12.299.18
सत्कृत्य हि द्विजातिभ्यो यो ददाति नराधिपः ।
यादृशं तादृशं नित्यमश्नाति फलमूर्जितम् ॥ १२.२९९.१८ ॥
The king who gives to the twice-born with honor always enjoys fruit of the same kind as his gift, and abundant.
12.299.19
अभिगम्य तु यद्दत्तं धर्म्यमाहुरभिष्टुतम् ।
याचितेन तु यद्दत्तं तदाहुर्मध्यमं फलम् ॥ १२.२९९.१९ ॥
A gift given after going to the recipient is called righteous and praiseworthy; a gift given when asked is called the middling fruit.
12.299.20
अवज्ञया दीयते यत्तथैवाश्रद्धयाऽपि वा ।
तदाहुरधमं दानं मुनयः सत्यवादिनः ॥ १२.२९९.२० ॥
A gift given with contempt, or likewise without faith, the truthful sages call the lowest gift.
12.299.21
अतिक्रामेन्मज्जमानो विविधेन नरः सदा ।
तथा प्रयत्नं कुर्वीत यथा मुच्येत संशयात् ॥ १२.२९९.२१ ॥
A man who is sinking should always try to get across by various means, and make such an effort that he is freed from peril.
12.299.22
दमेन शोभते विप्रः क्षत्रियो विजयेन तु ।
धनेन वैश्यः शृद्रस्तु नित्यं दाक्ष्येण शोभते ॥ १२.२९९.२२ ॥
A brahmin shines by self-restraint, a kshatriya by victory; a vaishya by wealth, and a shudra always shines by skill.