Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.59
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
12.59.1
ततः पुनः स गाङ्गेयमभिवाद्य पितामहम् ।
प्राञ्जलिर्नियतो भूत्वा पर्यपृच्छद्युधिष्ठिरः ॥ १२.५९.१ ॥
Then Yudhiṣṭhira again bowed to the grandsire, the son of Gaṅgā, and with joined palms and self-restraint asked him:
12.59.2
के धर्माः सर्ववर्णानां चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य के पृथक् ।
चातुर्वर्ण्याश्रमाणां च राजधर्माश्च के मताः ॥ १२.५९.२ ॥
What are the duties of all the social classes? What are the separate duties of the fourfold order? And which are held to be the duties of the four orders and life-stages, and the duties of kings?
12.59.3
केन वै वर्धते राष्ट्रं राजा केन विवर्धते ।
केन पौराश्च भृत्याश्च वर्धन्ते भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.५९.३ ॥
By what does the kingdom grow, O bull of the Bharatas? By what does the king prosper? And by what do the citizens and servants thrive?
12.59.4
कोशं दण्डं च दुर्गं च सहायान्मन्त्रिणस्तथा ।
ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यान्कीदृशान्वर्जयेन्नृपः ॥ १२.५९.४ ॥
Of what kind should the king avoid among his treasury, his force of punishment, his fortresses, his allies, his counsellors, and his sacrificing priests, household chaplains and teachers?
12.59.5
केषु विश्वसितव्यं स्याद्राज्ञा कस्यांचिदापदि ।
कुतो वाऽऽत्मा दृढं रक्ष्यस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ १२.५९.५ ॥
In whom should a king place trust in any calamity, and from whom should he firmly guard his own self? Tell me this, O grandsire.
12.59.6
द्वैधीभावे च भृत्यानां शपथः कीदृशो भवेत् ।
अधर्मस्य फलं यच्च शपथस्य विलङ्घने ॥ १२.५९.६ ॥
And what kind of oath should servants take when their loyalty is divided? And what is the fruit of unrighteousness that comes from breaking an oath?
12.59.7
सर्वमेतद्यथातत्वं व्यवहारं च तादृशम् ।
समासव्यासयोगेन कथयस्व पितामह ॥ १२.५९.७ ॥
Tell all this truly, and such conduct as well, both in summary and in detail, O grandsire.
12.59.8
नमो धर्माय महते नमः कृष्णाय वेधसे ।
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतान् ॥ १२.५९.८ ॥
Homage to the great Dharma; homage to Kṛṣṇa, the creator. Bowing to the brahmins, I shall speak of the eternal duties.
12.59.9
अक्रोधः सत्यवचनं संविभागश्च सर्वशः ।
प्रजनं स्वेषु दारेषु शौचमद्रोह एव च ॥ १२.५९.९ ॥
Freedom from anger, truthful speech, sharing in every way, procreation with one's own wives, purity, and non-injury.
12.59.10
आर्जवं भृत्यभरणं त एते सार्ववर्णिकाः ।
ब्राह्मणस्य तु यो धर्मस्तं ते वक्ष्यामि केवलम् ॥ १२.५९.१० ॥
Uprightness and supporting one's dependents: these belong to all the classes. But the duty of the brahmin, that alone I shall tell you.
12.59.11
दममेव महाराज धर्ममाहुः पुरातनम् ।
स्वाध्यायोऽध्यापनं चैव तत्र कर्म समाप्यते ॥ १२.५९.११ ॥
O great king, self-restraint is called the ancient duty; study of the Veda and teaching it—in these the duty is fulfilled.
12.59.12
तं चेद्द्विजमुपागच्छेद्वर्तमानं स्वकर्मणि ।
अकुर्वाणं विकर्माणि शान्तं प्रज्ञानतर्पितम् ॥ १२.५९.१२ ॥
If one should approach that twice-born man who is engaged in his own duty, not doing forbidden acts, calm and satisfied with wisdom…
12.59.13
कुर्वीतापत्यसंतानमथो दद्याद्यजेत च ।
संविभज्य च भोक्तव्यं धनं सद्भिरीतीष्यते ॥ १२.५९.१३ ॥
Let him beget offspring, give gifts, and sacrifice; wealth should be enjoyed only after sharing it out, so the good declare.
12.59.14
परिनिष्ठितकार्यस्तु स्वाध्यायेनैव वै द्विजः ।
कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुर्यान्मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते ॥ १२.५९.१४ ॥
A twice-born man whose duties are complete should devote himself only to self-study; whether he does other things or not, he is called a friendly brahmin.
12.59.15
क्षत्रियस्यापि यो धर्मस्तं ते वक्ष्यामि भारत ।
दद्याद्राजा न याचेत यजेत न च याजयेत् ॥ १२.५९.१५ ॥
O Bhārata, I will tell you the duty of the kṣatriya too: a king should give and not beg; he should sacrifice himself and not have others sacrifice for him.
12.59.16
नाध्यापयेदधीयीत प्रजाश्च परिपालयेत् ।
नित्योद्युक्तो दस्युवदे रणे कुर्यात्पराक्रमम् ॥ १२.५९.१६ ॥
He should not teach but study; he should protect his subjects; always ready, he should show valour in battle like a robber.
12.59.17
ये तु क्रतुभिरीजानाः श्रुतवन्तश्च भूमिपाः ।
य एवाहवजेतारस्त एषां लोकजित्तमाः ॥ १२.५९.१७ ॥
Those kings who worship through sacrifices and are learned, and those who are victors in battle—these are the best among those who conquer worlds.
12.59.18
अविक्षतेन देहेन समराद्यो निवर्तते ।
क्षत्रियो नास्य तत्कर्म प्रशंसन्ति पुराविदः ॥ १२.५९.१८ ॥
The ancient knowers do not praise that deed of a kṣatriya who returns from battle with an unwounded body.
12.59.19
एवं हि क्षत्रबन्धूनां धर्ममाहुः प्रधानतः ।
नास्य कृत्यतमं किंचिदन्यद्दस्युनिबर्हणात् ॥ १२.५९.१९ ॥
Thus indeed is the duty of the kinsmen of the warrior class declared to be chief; for them there is nothing more fitting to be done than the slaying of robbers.
12.59.20
दानमध्ययनं यज्ञो राज्ञां क्षेमो विधीयते ।
तस्माद्राज्ञा विशेषेण योद्धव्यं धर्ममीप्सता ॥ १२.५९.२० ॥
For kings, giving, study, sacrifice and the protection of the realm are prescribed; therefore a king who desires dharma must especially fight.
12.59.21
स्वेषु धर्मेष्ववस्थाप्यः प्रजाः सर्वा महीपतिः ।
धर्मेण सर्वकृत्यानि शमनिष्ठानि कारयेत् ॥ १२.५९.२१ ॥
The lord of the earth should establish all his subjects in their own duties, and by dharma should cause all actions to be done with peace as their aim.
12.59.22
परिनिष्ठितकार्यस्तु नृपतिः परिपालनात् ।
कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुर्यादैन्द्रो राजन्य उच्यते ॥ १२.५९.२२ ॥
A king whose tasks are completed by the protection of his subjects, whether he does something else or not, is called an Aindra warrior-king.
12.59.23
वैश्यस्यापि हि यो धर्मस्तं ते वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतम् ।
दानमध्ययनं यज्ञः शौचेन धनसंचयः ॥ १२.५९.२३ ॥
The eternal dharma of the vaishya too — I will tell it to you: giving, study, sacrifice, and the gathering of wealth with purity.
12.59.24
पितृवत्पालयेद्वैश्यो युक्तः सर्वान्पशूनिह ।
विकर्म तद्भवेदन्यत्कर्म यत्स समाचरेत् ॥ १२.५९.२४ ॥
The vaishya, diligent, should protect all cattle here as a father protects his children; any other action he undertakes would be unlawful, a vikarma.
12.59.25
रक्षया स हि तेषां वै महत्सुखमवाप्नुयात् ।
प्रजापतिर्हि वैश्याय सृष्ट्वा परिददौ पशून् ॥ १२.५९.२५ ॥
By protecting them he will indeed obtain great happiness. Having created the vaiśya, the Lord of creatures entrusted the livestock to him.
12.59.26
ब्राह्मणाय च राज्ञे च सर्वाः परिददे प्रजाः ।
तस्य वृत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि यच्च तस्योपजीवनम् ॥ १२.५९.२६ ॥
And to the brahmin and to the king he gave over all the creatures. Now I shall declare his occupation and his means of livelihood.
12.59.27
पण्णामेकां पिबेद्धेनुं शताच्च मिथुनं हरेत् ।
लये च सप्तमो भागस्तथा शृङ्गे कला खुरे ॥ १२.५९.२७ ॥
Of every six he may take one cow, and from a hundred one pair; at dissolution the seventh share, and likewise a portion in the horns and in the hoof.
12.59.28
सस्यानां सर्वबीजानामेषा सांवत्सरी भृतिः ॥ १२.५९.२८ ॥
This is the yearly wage from crops of all seeds.
12.59.29
न च वैश्यस्य कामः स्यान्न रक्षेयं पशूनिति ।
वैश्ये चेच्छति नान्येन रक्षितव्याः कथंचन ॥ १२.५९.२९ ॥
Let the vaiśya not have the desire, "I shall not protect the livestock." When the vaiśya is willing, they must not be protected by another in any way.
12.59.30
शूद्रस्यापि हि यो धर्मस्तं ते वक्ष्यामि भारत ।
प्रजापतिर्हि वर्णानां दासं शूद्रमकल्पयत् ॥ १२.५९.३० ॥
The duty of the śūdra also I shall declare to you, O Bhārata. For the lord of creatures ordained the śūdra as a servant of the classes.
12.59.31
तस्माच्छूद्रस्य वर्णानां परिचर्या विधीयते ।
तेषां शुश्रूषणाच्चैव महत्सुखमवाप्नुयात् ॥ १२.५९.३१ ॥
Therefore service to the social orders is prescribed for the śūdra, and by attending upon them he obtains great happiness.
12.59.32
शूद्र एतान्परिचरेत्रीन्वर्णाननसूयकः ।
संचयांश्च न कुर्वीत जातु शूद्रः कथंचन ॥ १२.५९.३२ ॥
The śūdra should serve these three social orders without envy, and a śūdra should never in any way accumulate hoards.
12.59.33
पापीयान्हि धनं लब्ध्वा वशे कुर्याद्गरीयसः ।
राज्ञा वा समनुज्ञातः कामं कुर्वीत धार्मिकः ॥ १२.५९.३३ ॥
Having obtained wealth, the more sinful one should keep it under the control of his superiors; or, with the king's permission, the righteous one may act as he wishes.
12.59.34
तस्य वृत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि यच्च तस्योपजीवनम् ।
अवश्यं भरणीयो हि वर्णानां शूद्र उच्यते ॥ १२.५९.३४ ॥
I shall declare his livelihood and the means by which he subsists; the one called śūdra among the social orders must necessarily be maintained.
12.59.35
छत्रं वेष्टनमौशीरमुपानद्व्यजनानि च ।
यातयामानि देयानि शूद्राय परिचारिणे ॥ १२.५९.३५ ॥
An umbrella, a turban, a vetiver fan, sandals and fans — even when worn out — should be given to the śūdra who serves.
12.59.36
अधार्याणि विशीर्णानि वसनानि द्विजातिभिः ।
शूद्रायैव प्रदेयानि तस्य धर्मधनं हि तत् ॥ १२.५९.३६ ॥
Garments that the twice-born can no longer wear, being worn out, should be given to the śūdra alone; that is his dharma-wealth.
12.59.37
यंच कश्चिद्द्विजातीनां शूद्रः शुश्रूषुराव्रजेत् ।
कल्प्यां तेन तु तस्याहुर्वृत्तिं धर्मविदो जनाः ॥ १२.५९.३७ ॥
Whatever Śūdra approaches the twice-born desiring to serve them, the knowers of dharma say that a fitting livelihood should be provided to him by them.
12.59.38
देयः पिण्डोऽनपत्याय भर्तव्यौ वृद्धदुर्बलौ ।
शूद्रेण तु न हातव्यो भर्ता कस्यांचिदापदि ॥ १२.५९.३८ ॥
A funerary offering should be given to one without offspring; the old and the weak should be supported; and a Śūdra should not abandon his supporter in any calamity.
12.59.39
अतिरेकेण भर्तव्यो भर्ता द्रव्यपरिक्षये ।
न हि स्वमस्ति शूद्रस्य भर्तृहार्यधनो हि सः ॥ १२.५९.३९ ॥
Even when wealth is depleted, the supporter should be maintained all the more, for a Śūdra has no property of his own; his wealth may be seized by his master.
12.59.40
उक्तस्त्रयाणां वर्णानां यज्ञस्त्रय्येव भारत ।
स्वाहाकारवषट्कारौ मन्त्रः शूद्रे न विद्यते ॥ १२.५९.४० ॥
O Bhārata, the sacrifice has been declared for the three classes according to the triple Veda; in a Śūdra there is no svāhākāra, vaṣaṭkāra, or mantra.
12.59.41
तस्माच्छूद्रः पाकयज्ञैयजेताव्रतवान्स्वयम् ।
पूर्णपात्रमयीमाहुः पाकयज्ञस्य दक्षिणाम् ॥ १२.५९.४१ ॥
Therefore a Śūdra, without vows, may himself sacrifice with cooked-food offerings; the fee for a cooked-food sacrifice is said to be a full vessel.
12.59.42
शूद्रः पैजवनो नाम सहस्राणां शतं ददौ ।
ऐन्द्राग्नेन विधानेन दक्षिणामिति नः श्रुतम् ॥ १२.५९.४२ ॥
A Śūdra named Paijavana, we have heard, gave a hundred thousand thousands as the sacrificial fee according to the Aindrāgna rite.
12.59.43
यतो हि सर्ववर्णानां यज्ञस्तस्यैव भारत ॥ १२.५९.४३ ॥
For the sacrifice of all the social orders rests on that alone, O Bhārata.
12.59.44
अग्रे सर्वेषु यज्ञेषु श्रद्धायज्ञो विधीयते ।
दैवतं हि महच्छ्रद्धा पवित्रं यजतां च यत्।
दैवतं हि परं विप्राः स्वेनस्वेन परस्परम् ॥ १२.५९.४४ ॥
Among all sacrifices, the sacrifice of faith is prescribed first; faith is the great deity and the purifier of those who sacrifice. O brahmins, faith is the supreme deity, each in his own way, mutually.
12.59.45
अयजन्निह सत्रैस्ते तैस्तैः कामैः समाहिताः ।
संसृष्टा ब्राह्मणैरेव त्रिषु वर्णेषु सृष्टयः ॥ १२.५९.४५ ॥
They sacrificed here through long sacrificial sessions, intent on various desires; only when mingled with brahmins did lineages arise in the three social orders.
12.59.46
देवानामपि ये देवा यद्ब्रूयुस्ते परं हितम् ।
तस्माद्वर्णैः सर्वयज्ञाः संसृज्यन्ते न काम्यया ॥ १२.५९.४६ ॥
Those who are gods even among the gods, whatever they say is the supreme benefit; therefore all sacrifices are joined together by the social orders, not out of desire.
12.59.47
ऋग्यजुः सामवित्पूज्यो नित्यं स्याद्देववद्द्विजः ।
अनृग्यजुरसामा च प्राजापत्य उपद्रवः।
यज्ञो मनीषया तात सर्ववर्णेषु भारत ॥ १२.५९.४७ ॥
A twice-born who knows the Ṛg, Yajur and Sāma should always be honoured like a god. One without Ṛg, Yajur and Sāma is a disturbance sacred to Prajāpati. Dear one, O Bhārata, the sacrifice in all the social orders is governed by understanding.
12.59.48
नास्य यज्ञकृतो देवा ईहन्ते नेतरे जनाः ।
ततः सर्वेषु वर्णेषु श्रद्धायज्ञो विधीयते ॥ १२.५९.४८ ॥
For the one who performs the sacrifice, neither the gods nor others desire; therefore the sacrifice of faith is prescribed among all the social orders.
12.59.49
स्वं दैवतं ब्राह्मणः स्वेन नित्यं ।
परान्वर्णानयजन्नैवमासीत्।
अधरो वितानस्त्वथ तत्र सृष्टो ।
न ब्राह्मणस्त्रिषु वर्णेषु राजन् ॥ १२.५९.४९ ॥
The brahmin always sacrificed only to his own deity, not for the other classes. Then a lower sacrificial rite arose, and, O king, the brahmin was not created among the three classes.
12.59.50
तस्माद्वर्णा ऋजवो ज्ञातिवर्णाः ।
संसृज्यन्ते तस्य विकार एव।
एकं साम यजुरेकमृगेका ।
विप्रश्वैको निश्चये तेषु सृष्टः ॥ १२.५९.५० ॥
Therefore the upright classes and the kin-classes are joined together as but a modification of him. One Sāman, one Yajus, one Ṛc, and one brahmin — of these, by determination, only one was created.
12.59.51
अत्र गाथा यज्ञगीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः ।
वैखानसानां राजेन्द्र मुनीनां यष्टुमिच्छताम् ॥ १२.५९.५१ ॥
Here, the verses called the Sacrifice-Songs are recited by those who know the old traditions, O lord of kings, concerning the Vaikhānasas and the sages who desired to sacrifice.
12.59.52
उदितेऽनुदिते वाऽपि श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः ।
वह्निं जुहोति धर्मेण श्रद्धा वै कारणं महत् ॥ १२.५९.५२ ॥
Whether at sunrise or not, the man of faith who has conquered his senses offers into the fire according to dharma; indeed faith is the great cause.
12.59.53
यत्स्कन्नमस्य तत्पूर्वं यदस्कन्नं तदुत्तरम् ।
बहूनि यज्ञरूपाणि नानाकर्मफलानि च ॥ १२.५९.५३ ॥
That which fell short in it before, and that which did not fall short after — these are the many forms of sacrifice, and also the fruits of various actions.
12.59.54
तानि यः संप्रजानाति ज्ञाननिश्चयनिश्चितः ।
द्विजातिः श्रद्धयोपेतः स यष्टुं पुरुषोऽर्हति ॥ १२.५९.५४ ॥
The man who fully understands these, resolute in the certainty of knowledge, twice-born and endowed with faith — that man is fit to sacrifice.
12.59.55
स्तेनो वा यदि वा पापो यदि वा पापकृत्तमः ।
यष्टुमिच्छति यज्ञं यः साधुमेव वदन्ति तम् ॥ १२.५९.५५ ॥
Even if a man is a thief, or a sinner, or the greatest doer of evil, those who wish to perform a sacrifice are called righteous.
12.59.56
ऋषयस्तं प्रशंसन्ति साधु चैतदसंशयम् ।
सर्वथा सर्वदा वर्णैर्यष्टव्यमिति निर्णयः ॥ १२.५९.५६ ॥
The sages praise him, and this is rightly so, beyond doubt. The decision is that all the social classes should always and in every way perform sacrifice.
12.59.57
न हि यज्ञसमं किंचित्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ।
तस्माद्यष्टव्यमित्याहुः पुरुषेणानसूयता।
श्रद्धापवित्रमाश्रित्य यथाशक्ति यथेच्छया ॥ १२.५९.५७ ॥
There is nothing equal to sacrifice in the three worlds. Therefore they say a man free from envy should perform sacrifice, purified by faith, according to his ability and as he wishes.