Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.72
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12.72.1
कीदृशो ब्राह्मणो राजा कार्याकार्यविचारणे ।
क्षमः कर्तुं समर्थो वा तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ १२.७२.१ ॥
What kind of brahmin is fit and able to be king, in deliberating on what should and should not be done? Tell me that, grandsire.
12.72.2
य एव तु सतो रक्षेदसतश्च निवर्तयेत् ।
स एव राज्ञा कर्तव्यो राजन्राजपुरोहितः ॥ १२.७२.२ ॥
He who protects the good and turns back the wicked, he alone, O king, should be made royal chaplain by the king.
12.72.3
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
पुरूरवस ऐलस्य संवादं मातरिश्वना ॥ १२.७२.३ ॥
On this matter, too, people cite this ancient story, the dialogue of Purūravas, son of Ilā, with Mātariśvan.
12.72.4
कुतः स्विद्ब्राह्मणो जातो वर्णाश्चापि कुतस्त्रयः ।
कस्माच्च भवति श्रेयांस्तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥ १२.७२.४ ॥
From where was the brahmin born? And from where were the three classes? And why is he superior? Explain this to me.
12.72.5
ब्राह्मणो मुखतः सृष्टो ब्रह्मणो राजसत्तम ।
बाहुभ्यां क्षत्रियः सृष्ट ऊरुभ्यां वैश्य एव च ॥ १२.७२.५ ॥
O best of kings, the brahmin was created from the mouth of Brahmā; the kṣatriya was created from the arms, and the vaiśya also from the thighs.
12.72.6
वर्णानां परिचर्यार्यं त्रयाणां भरतर्षभ ।
वर्णश्चतुर्थः पश्चात्तु पभ्द्यां शूद्रो विनिर्मितः ॥ १२.७२.६ ॥
O bull of the Bharatas, for the service of the three classes, the fourth class, the śūdra, was afterwards fashioned from the feet.
12.72.7
ब्राह्मणो जायमानो हि पृथिव्यामनुजायते ।
ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां धर्मकोशस्य गुप्तये ॥ १२.७२.७ ॥
For the brahmin, once born, is born again upon the earth; as lord of all beings, for the guarding of the treasury of dharma.
12.72.8
सर्वस्वं ब्राह्मणस्येदं यत्किंचिदिह दृश्यते ।
धर्मयुक्तं प्रशस्तं च जगत्यस्मिन्नृपात्मज ॥ १२.७२.८ ॥
Everything here that is seen in this world belongs to the brahmin; it is righteous and praiseworthy, O son of a king.
12.72.9
ततः पृथिव्या यन्तारं क्षत्रियं दण्डधारणे ।
द्वितीयं वर्णमकरोत्प्रजानामनुगुप्तये ॥ १२.७२.९ ॥
Then, to be the governor of the earth and bearer of the rod of punishment, he made the kshatriya, the second varṇa, for the protection of the people.
12.72.10
वैश्यस्तु धनधान्येन त्रीन्वर्णान्बिभृयादिमान् ।
शूद्रो ह्येतान्परिचरेदिति ब्रह्मानुशासनम् ॥ १२.७२.१० ॥
The vaiśya should sustain these three varṇas with wealth and grain, and the śūdra should serve them — this is the instruction of Brahmā.
12.72.11
द्विजस्य क्षत्रबन्धोर्वा कस्येयं पृथिवी भवेत् ।
धर्मतः सह वित्तेन सम्यग्वायो प्रचक्ष्व मे ॥ १२.७२.११ ॥
Whose should this earth be — of the twice-born, or of a kinsman of the kṣatriya? Explain it to me rightly, according to dharma and wealth, O Vāyu.
12.72.12
विप्रस्य सर्वमेवैतद्यत्किंचिज्जगतीगतम् ।
धनं धान्यं हिरण्यं च स्त्रियो रत्नानि वाहनम् ॥ १२.७२.१२ ॥
Everything that exists in the world belongs to the brahmin: wealth, grain, gold, women, jewels, and vehicles.
12.72.13
मङ्गलं च प्रशस्तं च यच्चान्यदपि विद्यते ।
ज्येष्ठेनाभिजनेनेह तद्धर्मकुशला विदुः ॥ १२.७२.१३ ॥
Whatever is auspicious and excellent, and whatever else exists here, the skilled in dharma know it through the eldest lineage.
12.72.14
स्वमेव ब्राह्मणो भुङ्क्ते स्वं वस्ते स्वं ददाति च ।
गुरुर्हि सर्ववर्णानां ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठश्च वै द्विजः ॥ १२.७२.१४ ॥
The brahmin enjoys his own, wears his own, and gives his own. He is the teacher of all the social orders; the twice-born is the eldest and the best.
12.72.15
पत्यभावे यथैव स्त्री देवरं कुरुते पतिम् ।
आनन्तर्यात्तथा क्षत्रं पृथिवी कुरुते पतिम्।
एष ते प्रथमः कल्प आपद्यन्यो भवेदतः ॥ १२.७२.१५ ॥
Just as a woman, when her husband is absent, takes her husband's younger brother as her husband, so in succession the warrior class takes the earth as its husband. This is your first rule; in distress there may be another.
12.72.16
यदि स्वर्गे परं स्थानं धर्मतः परिमार्गसि ।
यत्किंचिज्जयसे भूमिं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदय ॥ १२.७२.१६ ॥
If you seek the supreme place in heaven through dharma, then whatever land you conquer, offer it to a brahmin.
12.72.17
श्रुतवृत्तोपपन्नाय धर्मज्ञाय तपस्विने ।
स्वधर्मपरितृप्ताय यो न वित्तपरो भवेत् ॥ १२.७२.१७ ॥
To a brahmin endowed with learning and conduct, who knows dharma, is an ascetic, content with his own duty, and is not intent on wealth.
12.72.18
यो राजानं नयेद्बुद्ध्या सर्वतः परिपूर्णया ।
ब्राह्मणो हि कुले जातः कृतप्रज्ञो विनीतवान् ॥ १२.७२.१८ ॥
The brahmin who can guide the king with intellect complete in every respect — for the brahmin is born in a good family, is of accomplished wisdom, and is well-disciplined.
12.72.19
श्रेयो नयति राजानं ब्रुवंश्चित्रां सरस्वतीम् ।
राजा चरति यं धर्मं ब्राह्मणेन निदर्शितम् ॥ १२.७२.१९ ॥
The duty that the king follows, as shown by the brahmin, leads the king to welfare, speaking in varied Sarasvatī.
12.72.20
शुश्रूषुरनहंवादी क्षत्रधर्मव्रते स्थितः ।
तावता सत्कृतः प्राज्ञश्चिरं यशसि तिष्ठति ॥ १२.७२.२० ॥
The wise man who is obedient, free of pride, and steadfast in the vow of the warrior's duty, honoured thus far, remains long in fame.
12.72.21
तस्य धर्मस्य सर्वस्य भागी राजपुरोहितः ।
एवमेव प्रजाः सर्वा राजानमभिसंश्रिताः ॥ १२.७२.२१ ॥
The royal priest shares in all that duty; in the same way all subjects depend upon the king.
12.72.22
ब्राह्मणं च सविद्वांसं राजशास्त्रविपश्चितम् ।
सम्यग्वृत्ताः स्वधर्मस्था न कुतश्चिद्भयान्विताः ॥ १२.७२.२२ ॥
Upheld by a learned brahmin skilled in the science of kingship, people of proper conduct, abiding in their own duty, fear nothing from anyone.
12.72.23
राष्ट्रे चरन्ति यं धर्मं राज्ञा साध्वभिरक्षिताः ।
चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य राजा भागं तु विन्दति ॥ १२.७२.२३ ॥
Whatever duty the people practise in the realm, when well protected by the king, the king obtains a fourth part of that duty.
12.72.24
देवा मनुष्याः पितरो गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसाः ।
यज्ञमेवोपजीवन्ति नास्ति यष्टा ह्यराजके ॥ १२.७२.२४ ॥
Gods, humans, ancestors, gandharvas, serpents and rakshasas all live by sacrifice; in a realm without a king there is no one to sacrifice.
12.72.25
इतो दत्तेन जीवन्ति देवताः पितरस्तथा ।
राजन्येवास्य धर्मस्य योगक्षेमः प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ १२.७२.२५ ॥
By what is given here the gods and the ancestors also live. O king, the welfare and security of this dharma is established in the king alone.
12.72.26
छायायामप्सु वायौ च सुखमुष्णेऽधिगच्छति ।
अग्नौ वाससि सूर्ये च सुखं शीतेऽधिगच्छति।
शब्दे स्पर्शे रसे रूपे गन्धे च रमते मनः ॥ १२.७२.२६ ॥
In shade, in water, in wind, and in heat one finds happiness; in fire, in clothing, in the sun, and in cold one finds happiness. The mind delights in sound, touch, taste, form and smell.
12.72.27
तेषु भोगेषु सर्वेषु न भीतो लभते सुखम् ।
अभयस्य हि यो दाता तस्यैव सुमहत्फलम् ॥ १२.७२.२७ ॥
A man who is afraid finds no happiness in all these enjoyments. Only he who gives freedom from fear obtains a very great reward.
12.72.28
न हि प्राणसमं दानं त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ।
इन्द्रो राजा यमो राजा धर्मो राजा तथैव च।
राजा बिभर्ति भूतानि राज्ञा सर्वमिदं धृतम् ॥ १२.७२.२८ ॥
There is no gift equal to life in the three worlds. Indra is a king, Yama is a king, Dharma too is a king; the king sustains beings, and all this is upheld by the king.