Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.53
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12.53.1
धर्मात्मनि महावीर्ये सत्यसन्धे जितात्मनि ।
देवव्रते महाभागे शरतल्पगतेऽच्युते ॥ १२.५३.१ ॥
Of the righteous-souled one of great valour, true to his vow, self-controlled, Devavrata, greatly fortunate, lying on the bed of arrows, the imperishable one.
12.53.2
शयाने वीरशयने भीष्मे शन्तनुनन्दने ।
गाङ्गेये पुरुषव्याघ्रे पाण्डवैः पर्युपासिते ॥ १२.५३.२ ॥
Where Bhīṣma, son of Śantanu, son of Gaṅgā, tiger among men, lay on the bed of heroes while the Pāṇḍavas attended upon him.
12.53.3
काः कथाः समवर्तन्त तस्मिन्वीरसमागमे ।
हतेषु सर्वसैन्येषु तन्मे शंस महामुने ॥ १२.५३.३ ॥
What talks took place in that gathering of heroes, when all the armies had been slain? Tell me that, O great sage.
12.53.4
शरतल्पगते भीष्मे कौरवाणां पितामहे ।
आजग्मुर्ऋषयः सिद्धा नारदप्रमुखा नृप ॥ १२.५३.४ ॥
Then, O king, the sages and perfected beings, headed by Nārada, came to Bhīṣma, grandsire of the Kauravas, lying on his bed of arrows.
12.53.5
हतशिष्टाश्च राजानो युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः ।
धृतराष्ट्रश्च कृष्णश्च भीमार्जुनयमास्तथा ॥ १२.५३.५ ॥
And the surviving kings, led by Yudhiṣṭhira, together with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Kṛṣṇa, and likewise Bhīma, Arjuna and the twins, came there.
12.53.6
तेऽभिगम्य महात्मानो भरतानां पितामहम् ।
अन्वशोचन्त गाङ्गेयमादित्यं पतितं यथा ॥ १२.५३.६ ॥
Those great-souled ones, approaching the grandsire of the Bharatas, mourned for the son of Gaṅgā as one would mourn for the sun fallen from the sky.
12.53.7
मुहूर्तमिव च ध्यात्वा नारदो देवदर्शनः ।
उवाच पाण्डवान्सर्वान्हतशिष्टांश्च पार्थिवान् ॥ १२.५३.७ ॥
Having meditated for a moment, Nārada, seer of the gods, spoke to all the Pāṇḍavas and to the kings who had survived the slaughter.
12.53.8
प्राप्तकालं समाचक्षे भीष्मोऽयमनुयुज्यताम् ।
अस्तमेति हि गाङ्गेयो भानुमानिव भारत ॥ १२.५३.८ ॥
"The time has come; here is Bhīṣma, question him. O Bhārata, the son of Gaṅgā is about to set, like the sun."
12.53.9
अयं प्राणानुत्सिसृक्षुस्तं सर्वेऽभ्यनुपृच्छत ।
कृत्स्नान्हि विविधान्धर्मांश्चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य वेत्त्ययम् ॥ १२.५३.९ ॥
He is about to give up his life; all of you, ask him. He knows the complete and manifold duties of the four social orders.
12.53.10
एष वृद्धः पराँल्लोकान्संप्राप्नोति तनुं त्यजन् ।
तं शीघ्रमनुयुञ्जीध्वं संशयान्मनसि स्थितान् ॥ १२.५३.१० ॥
This aged one, giving up his body, is about to attain the higher worlds; quickly question him about the doubts that lie in your minds.
12.53.11
एवमुक्ते नारदेन भीष्ममीयुर्नराधिपाः ।
प्रष्टुं चाशक्रुवन्तस्ते वीक्षांचक्रुः परस्परम् ॥ १२.५३.११ ॥
When Nārada had spoken thus, the kings went to Bhīṣma, but unable to ask him, they looked at one another.
12.53.12
अथोवाच हृषीकेशं पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।
नान्यस्त्वद्देवकीपुत्र शक्तः प्रष्टुं पितामहम् ॥ १२.५३.१२ ॥
Then Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Pāṇḍu, spoke to Hṛṣīkeśa: "O son of Devakī, no one other than you is able to question the grandfather."
12.53.13
प्रव्याहर यदुश्रेष्ठ त्वमग्रे मधुसूदन ।
त्वं हि नस्तात सर्वेषां सर्वधर्मविदुत्तमः ॥ १२.५३.१३ ॥
Best of the Yadus, slayer of Madhu, speak first. Dear one, you are the highest knower of all dharmas among us all.
12.53.14
एवमुक्तः पाण्डवेन भगवान्केशवस्तदा ।
अभिगम्य दुराधर्षं प्रव्याहारयदच्युतः ॥ १२.५३.१४ ॥
Thus addressed by the Pāṇḍava, the blessed Keśava, the unfailing Acyuta, approached the unassailable one and began to speak.
12.53.15
कच्चित्सुखेन रजनी व्युष्टा ते राजसत्तम ।
विस्पष्टलक्षणा बुद्धिः कच्चिच्चोपस्थिता तव ॥ १२.५३.१५ ॥
Best of kings, has your night passed happily? Is your intellect present to you, its clear marks unclouded?
12.53.16
कच्चिज्ज्ञानानि सर्वाणि प्रतिभान्ति च तेऽनघ ।
न ग्लायते च हृदयं न च ते व्याकुलं मनः ॥ १२.५३.१६ ॥
Faultless one, do all your sciences shine forth to you? Does your heart not grow weary, and your mind not agitated?
12.53.17
दाहो मोहः श्रमश्चैव क्लमो ग्लानिस्तथा रुजा ।
तव प्रसादाद्वार्ष्णेय सद्यो व्यपगतानि मे ॥ १२.५३.१७ ॥
Descendant of Vṛṣṇi, by your grace the burning, delusion, weariness, exhaustion, lassitude and pain have at once departed from me.
12.53.18
यच्च भूतं भविष्यच्च भवच्च परमद्युते ।
तत्सर्वमनुपश्यामि पाणौ फलमिवाहितम् ॥ १२.५३.१८ ॥
O supremely radiant one, whatever is past, future and present, I see it all as a fruit placed in the palm of my hand.
12.53.19
वेदोक्ताश्चैव ये धर्मा वेदान्ताधिगताश्च ये ।
तान्सर्वान्संप्रपश्यामि वरदानात्तवाच्युत ॥ १२.५३.१९ ॥
I clearly perceive all the dharmas declared in the Vedas and known through the Vedānta, O Acyuta, by your boon.
12.53.20
शिष्टैश्च धर्मो यः प्रोक्तः स च मे हृदि वर्तते ।
देशजातिकुलानां च धर्मज्ञोऽस्मि जनार्दन ॥ १२.५३.२० ॥
The dharma taught by the learned abides in my heart too, and I know the dharmas of regions, castes and families, O Janārdana.
12.53.21
चतुर्ष्वाश्रमधर्मेषु योऽर्थः स च हृदि स्थितः ।
राजधर्मांश्च सकलानवगच्छामि केशव ॥ १२.५३.२१ ॥
The essential meaning in the duties of the four life-stages also abides in my heart, and I understand all the duties of kingship, O Keśava.
12.53.22
यच्च यत्र च वक्तव्यं तद्वक्ष्यामि जनार्दन ।
तव प्रसादाद्धि शुभा मनो मे बुद्धिराविशत् ॥ १२.५३.२२ ॥
I will speak what should be spoken, and where it should be spoken, O Janārdana; by your grace alone has a good understanding entered my mind.
12.53.23
युवेवास्मि समावृत्तस्त्वदनुध्यानबृंहितः ।
वक्तुं श्रेयः समर्थोऽस्मि त्वत्प्रसादाज्जनार्दन ॥ १२.५३.२३ ॥
Strengthened by meditation on you, I feel as if renewed in youth; by your grace alone, O Janārdana, am I able to speak what is good.
12.53.24
स्वयं किमर्थं तु भवाञ्श्रेयो न प्राह पाण्डवम् ।
किं ते विवक्षितं चात्र तदाशु वद माधव ॥ १२.५३.२४ ॥
Why did you yourself not tell the good to the Pāṇḍava? Quickly speak what you intend to say here, O Mādhava.
12.53.25
यशसः श्रेयसश्चैव मूल मां विद्धि कौरव ।
मत्तः सर्वेऽभिनिर्वृत्ता भावाः सदसदात्मकाः ॥ १२.५३.२५ ॥
O Kaurava, know that I am the root of glory and of well-being. From me have arisen all beings, of the nature of both the existent and the non-existent.
12.53.26
शीतांशुश्चन्द्र इत्युक्ते लोके को विस्मयिष्यति ।
तथैव यशसा पूर्णे मयि को विस्मयिष्यति ॥ १२.५३.२६ ॥
When the moon is named the cool-rayed one, the moon, in the world, who would be astonished? Likewise, when I am full of glory, who would be astonished?
12.53.27
आधेयं तु मया भूयो यशस्तव महाद्युते ।
ततो मे विपुला बुद्धिस्त्वयि भीष्म समाहिता ॥ १२.५३.२७ ॥
O greatly radiant one, I must yet bestow your glory. Therefore, O Bhīṣma, my vast understanding is fixed upon you.
12.53.28
यावद्धि पृथिवीपाल पृथ्वीयं स्थास्यति ध्रुवा ।
तावत्तवाक्षया कीर्तिर्लोकाननुचरिष्यति ॥ १२.५३.२८ ॥
O protector of the earth, for as long as this earth stands firm, your imperishable fame will move through the worlds.
12.53.29
यच्च त्वं वक्ष्यसे भीष्म पाण्डवायानुपृच्छते ।
वेदप्रवाद इव ते स्थास्यते वसुधातले ॥ १२.५३.२९ ॥
O Bhīṣma, whatever you will say to the Pāṇḍava when he asks, will abide on the surface of the earth in your name, like a Vedic teaching.
12.53.30
यश्चैतेन प्रमाणेन योक्ष्यत्यात्मानमात्मना ।
स फलं सर्वपुण्यानां प्रेत्य चानुभविष्यति ॥ १२.५३.३० ॥
Whoever joins himself to his own self by this authority will, after death, experience the fruit of all merits.
12.53.31
एतस्मात्कारणाद्भीष्म मतिर्दिव्या मया हि ते ।
दत्ता यशो विप्रथयेत्कथं भूयस्तवेति ह ॥ १२.५३.३१ ॥
For this reason, O Bhīṣma, I have given you this divine understanding. How may your fame spread again?
12.53.32
यावद्धि प्रथते लोके पुरुषस्य यशो भुवि ।
तावत्तस्याक्षया कीर्तिर्भवतीति विनिश्चिता ॥ १२.५३.३२ ॥
As long as a man's fame spreads on earth in the world, so long is his imperishable renown established, it is certain.
12.53.33
राजानो हतशिष्टास्त्वां राजन्नभित आसते ।
धर्माननुयुयुक्षन्तस्तेभ्यः प्रब्रूहि भारत ॥ १२.५३.३३ ॥
O king, the kings who survived the slaughter sit all around you, wishing to learn the duties. O Bhārata, explain to them.
12.53.34
भवान्हि वयसा वृद्धः श्रुताचारसमन्वितः ।
कुशलो राजधर्माणां सर्वेषामपराश्च ये ॥ १२.५३.३४ ॥
For you are old in years, endowed with learning and good conduct, skilled in the duties of kings, and more skilled than all the others.
12.53.35
जन्मप्रभृति ते किंचिद्वॄजिनं न ददर्श ह ।
ज्ञातारं सर्वधर्माणां त्वां विदुः सर्वपार्थिवाः ॥ १२.५३.३५ ॥
From birth onward no wrong at all was ever seen in you; all the kings know you as the knower of all duties.
12.53.36
तेभ्यः पितेव पुत्रेभ्यो राजन्ब्रूहि परं नयम् ।
ऋषयश्चैव देवाश्च त्वया नित्यमुपासिताः ॥ १२.५३.३६ ॥
O king, speak to them as a father speaks to his sons, and set forth the supreme policy; for you have always served the sages and the gods.
12.53.37
तस्माद्वक्तव्यमेवेदं त्वयाऽवश्यमशेषतः ।
धर्मं शुश्रूषमाणेभ्यः पृष्टेन न सता पुनः ॥ १२.५३.३७ ॥
Therefore you must indeed explain all of this completely; a good man should not again turn away those who, wishing to hear dharma, ask.
12.53.38
वक्तव्यं विदुषा चेति धर्ममाहुर्मनीषिणः ।
अप्रतिब्रुवतः कष्टो दोषो हि भविता प्रभो ॥ १२.५३.३८ ॥
The learned must speak, the wise say concerning dharma; for one who does not answer, O lord, a grievous fault will surely arise.
12.53.39
तस्मात्पुत्रैश्च पौत्रेश्च धर्मान्पृष्टान्सनातनान् ।
विद्वञ्जिज्ञासमानेभ्यः प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.५३.३९ ॥
Therefore, O learned one, explain the eternal dharmas asked by sons and grandsons to those who desire to know, O bull of the Bharatas.