Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.324
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12.324.1
ऐश्वर्यं वा महत्प्राप्य धनं वा भरतर्षभ ।
दीर्घमायुरवाप्याथ कथं मृत्युमतिक्रमेत् ॥ १२.३२४.१ ॥
Bull of the Bharatas, having obtained great sovereignty or wealth, or having attained long life, how might one overcome death?
12.324.2
तपसा वा सुमहता कर्मणा वा श्रुतेन वा ।
रसायनप्रयोगैर्वा कैर्नाप्नोति जरान्तकौ ॥ १२.३२४.२ ॥
By what great asceticism, or by action, or by learning, or by the use of elixirs, does a man not attain old age and death?
12.324.3
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
भिक्षोः पञ्चशिखस्येह संवादं जनकस्य च ॥ १२.३२४.३ ॥
Here too they recount this ancient tale, the dialogue of the mendicant Pañcaśikha and King Janaka.
12.324.4
वैदेहो जनको राजा महर्षि वेदवित्तमम् ।
यर्यपृच्छत्पञ्चशिखं छिन्नधर्मार्थसंशयम् ॥ १२.३२४.४ ॥
King Janaka of Videha asked the great sage Pañcaśikha, most learned in the Vedas, whose doubts about dharma and wealth had been cut away.
12.324.5
केन वृत्तेन भगवन्नतिक्रामेज्जरान्तकौ ।
तपसा वाऽथवा बुद्ध्या कर्मणा वा श्रुतेन वा ॥ १२.३२४.५ ॥
O blessed one, by what conduct might a man overcome old age and death: by asceticism, or by understanding, or by action, or by learning?
12.324.6
एवमुक्तः स वैदेहं प्रत्युवाचापरेक्षवित् ।
निवृत्तिर्नैतयोरस्ति नातिवृत्तिः कथंचन ॥ १२.३२४.६ ॥
Thus addressed, that sage who knows what lies beyond perception answered the king of Videha: there is no turning away from these two, and no overcoming them in any way.
12.324.7
न ह्यहानि निवर्तन्ते न मासा न पुनः क्षपाः ।
सोयं प्रपद्यतेऽध्वानं चिराय ध्रुवमध्रुवः ॥ १२.३२४.७ ॥
Days do not return, nor months, nor nights again. This impermanent one surely sets out on a long road.
12.324.8
सर्वभूतसमुच्छेदः स्रोतसेवोह्यते सदा ।
ऊह्यमानं निमज्जन्तमप्लवे कालसागरे ॥ १२.३२४.८ ॥
The destruction of all beings is always carried away like a stream; being swept along and sinking in the ocean of time, without a raft.
12.324.9
जरामृत्युमहाग्राहे न कश्चिदतिवर्तते ।
नैवास्य कश्चिद्भवति नासौ भवति कस्यचित् ॥ १२.३२४.९ ॥
No one escapes the great crocodile of old age and death. He has no one, nor is he anyone's.
12.324.10
पथि संगतमेवेदं दारैरन्यैश्च बन्धुभिः ।
नायमत्यन्तसंवासो लब्धपूर्वो हि केनचित् ॥ १२.३२४.१० ॥
This company is merely met on the road, with wives, others, and kinsmen. No one has previously obtained this unending companionship.
12.324.11
क्षिप्यन्ते तेनतेनैव निष्टनन्तः पुनः पुनः ।
कालेन जाता याता हि वायुनेवाभ्रसंचयाः ॥ १२.३२४.११ ॥
Groaning, they are thrown hither and thither again and again. Born of time, they pass away, as heaps of clouds are driven off by the wind.
12.324.12
जरामृत्यू हि भूतानां खादितारौ वृकाविव ।
बलिनां दुर्बलानां च ह्रस्वानां महतामपि ॥ १२.३२४.१२ ॥
Old age and death are the devourers of beings, like two wolves, of the strong and the weak, the short and the great alike.
12.324.13
एवंभूतेषु भूतेषु नित्यभूताध्रवेषु च ।
कथं हि हृष्येज्जातेषु मृतेषु च न संज्वरेत् ॥ १२.३२४.१३ ॥
Among beings of such a kind, ever-arising and unstable, how should one rejoice at births, and not grieve at deaths?
12.324.14
कुतोऽहमागतः कोऽस्मि क्व गमिष्यामि कस्य वा ।
कस्मिन्स्थितः क्व भविता कस्मात्किमनुशोचसि ॥ १२.३२४.१४ ॥
Whence have I come, who am I, where shall I go, whose am I, in what state do I stand, where will I be? Why, and for what, do you grieve?
12.324.15
द्रष्टा स्वर्गस्य न ह्यस्ति तथैव नरकस्य च ।
आगमास्त्वनतिक्रम्य दद्याच्चैव यजेत च ॥ १२.३२४.१५ ॥
No one has seen heaven, nor likewise hell. But without transgressing the scriptures, one should give gifts and also perform sacrifice.