Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.97
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12.97.1
क्षत्रधर्माद्धि पापीयान्न धर्मोऽस्ति नराधिप ।
अपयाने च युद्धे च राजा हन्ति महाजनम् ॥ १२.९७.१ ॥
O lord of men, there is no duty more sinful than the duty of the warrior; in retreat and in battle the king kills a great multitude of people.
12.97.2
अथ स्म कर्मणा केन लोकाञ्जयति पार्थिवः ।
विद्वञ्जिज्ञासमानाय प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.९७.२ ॥
Then by what action does a king conquer the worlds? O learned one, bull of the Bharatas, tell me, who wish to know.
12.97.3
निग्रहेण च पापानां साधूनां संग्रहेण च ।
यज्ञैर्दानैश्च राजानो भवन्ति शुचयोऽमलाः ॥ १२.९७.३ ॥
By restraining the wicked and protecting the good, and by sacrifices and gifts, kings become pure and stainless.
12.97.4
उपरुन्धन्ति राजानो भूतानि विजयार्थिनः ।
त एव विजयं प्राप्य वर्धयन्ति पुनः प्रजाः ॥ १२.९७.४ ॥
Kings seeking victory hem in creatures; having obtained victory, they again nourish their subjects.
12.97.5
अपविध्यन्ति पापानि दानयज्ञतपोबलैः ।
अनुग्रहेण भूतानां पुण्यमेषां विवर्धते ॥ १२.९७.५ ॥
By the power of gifts, sacrifices and austerity they cast away sins; by kindness toward creatures their merit grows.
12.97.6
यथैव क्षेत्रनिर्याता निर्यातं क्षेत्रमेव च ।
हिनस्ति धान्यकक्षं च न च धान्यं विनश्यति ॥ १२.९७.६ ॥
Just as those who enter and leave a field harm the grain-crop, yet the grain itself is not destroyed.
12.97.7
एवं शस्त्राणि मुञ्चन्तो घ्नन्ति वध्याननेकधा ।
तस्यैषा निष्कृतिर्दृष्टा भूतानां भावनं पुनः ॥ १२.९७.७ ॥
Thus, releasing weapons, they strike those who are to be slain in many ways. For him this is seen as the expiation: the restoring of beings once more.
12.97.8
यो भूतानि सदाऽनर्थाद्वधात्क्लेशाच्च रक्षति ।
दस्युभ्यः प्राणदानात्स धनदः सुखदो विराट् ॥ १२.९७.८ ॥
He who always protects beings from harm, from slaying and from affliction, who guards them from robbers by granting life—he is the sovereign, giver of wealth, giver of happiness.
12.97.9
स सर्वयज्ञारीजानो राजाऽथाभयदक्षिणैः ।
अनुभूयेह भद्राणि प्राप्नोतीन्द्रसलोकताम् ॥ १२.९७.९ ॥
That king, born of the fruit of all sacrifices, who gives fearlessness as his sacrificial fee—having enjoyed blessings here, he attains the world of Indra.
12.97.10
ब्राह्मणार्थे समुत्पन्ने योऽभिनिष्पत्य युध्यति ।
आत्मानं यूपमुत्सृज्य स यज्ञोऽनन्तदक्षिणः ॥ १२.९७.१० ॥
When danger arises for the sake of brahmins, he who rushes forth and fights, offering himself as the sacrificial post—that sacrifice has endless fee.
12.97.11
अभीतो विकिरञ्शत्रून्प्रतिगृह्य शरांस्तथा ।
न तस्मान्त्रिदशाः श्रेयो भुवि पश्यन्ति किंचन ॥ १२.९७.११ ॥
Fearless, scattering enemies and receiving arrows in the same way—the gods see nothing better on earth than that.
12.97.12
तस्य शस्त्राणि यावन्ति त्वचं भिन्दन्ति संयुगे ।
तावतः सोऽश्नुते लोकान्सर्वकामदुहोऽक्षयान् ॥ १२.९७.१२ ॥
As many weapons as pierce his skin in battle, so many imperishable worlds—yielding all desires—does he enjoy.
12.97.13
यदस्य रुधिरं गात्रादाहवे संप्रवर्तते ।
सह तेनैव स्रावेण सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ १२.९७.१३ ॥
When his blood flows from his limbs in battle, together with that very flow he is freed from all sins.
12.97.14
यानि दुःखानि सहते प्राणानामतिपातने ।
न तपोऽस्ति ततो भूय इति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥ १२.९७.१४ ॥
The sufferings he endures when his life-breaths are cut off — the knowers of dharma say there is no austerity greater than that.
12.97.15
पृष्ठतो भीरवः सङ्ख्ये वर्तन्ते धर्मपूरुषाः ।
शूराच्छरणमिच्छन्तः पर्जन्यादिव जीवनम् ॥ १२.९७.१५ ॥
In battle the cowardly remain behind, while men of dharma, seeking refuge from the hero, look to him as one looks to a rain-cloud for life.
12.97.16
यदि शूरं तथा क्षेमे प्रतीक्षेरन्यथा भये ।
प्रतिरूपं जनाः कुर्युर्न च तद्वर्तते तथा ॥ १२.९७.१६ ॥
If people would wait upon the hero in safety, and in danger likewise act toward him in return, that would be right; but it is not so.
12.97.17
यदि ते कृतमाज्ञाय नमस्कुर्युः सदैव तम् ।
युक्तं न्याय्यं च कुर्युस्ते न च तद्वर्तते तथा ॥ १२.९७.१७ ॥
If, knowing what he has done, they would always bow to him and act fittingly and justly, that would be well; but it is not so.
12.97.18
पुरुषाणां समानानां दृश्यते महदन्तरम् ।
संग्रामेऽनीकवेलायामुत्कृष्टेषु पतत्सु च ॥ १२.९७.१८ ॥
Among men who are equal, a great difference is seen in battle, at the hour when the ranks are drawn up and when the excellent ones fall.
12.97.19
पतत्यभिमुखं शूरः परान्भीरुः पलायते ।
आस्थाय स्वर्ग्यमध्वानं सहायान्विषमे त्यजन् ॥ १२.९७.१९ ॥
The hero falls facing the enemy, but the coward flees; one who, having taken up the path to heaven, abandons his comrades in peril.
12.97.20
मा स्म तांस्तादृशांस्तात जनिष्टाऽधर्मपूरुषान् ॥ १२.९७.२० ॥
Dear son, may such unrighteous men never be born.
12.97.21
ये सहायान्रणे हित्वा स्वस्तिमन्तो गृहान्ययुः ।
अस्वस्ति तेभ्यः कुर्वन्ति देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः ॥ १२.९७.२१ ॥
Those who, abandoning their comrades in battle, return safely to their homes, for them the gods led by Indra bring misfortune.
12.97.22
त्यागेन यः सहायानां स्वान्प्राणांस्त्रातुमिच्छति ।
तं हन्युः काष्ठलोहैर्वा दहेयुर्वा कटाग्निना।
पशुवन्मारयेयुर्वा क्षत्रिया ये स्युरीदृशाः ॥ १२.९७.२२ ॥
One who, abandoning his comrades, desires to save his own life—such kshatriyas may be struck down with wood or iron, burned in a fire of straw, or slaughtered like beasts.
12.97.23
अधर्मः क्षत्रियस्यैष यच्छय्यामरणं भवेत् ।
विसृजञ्श्लेष्मपित्तानि कृपणं परिदेवयन् ॥ १२.९७.२३ ॥
For a kshatriya it is unrighteous to die on a bed, spilling phlegm and bile and lamenting piteously.
12.97.24
अविक्षतेन देहेन प्रलयं योऽधिगच्छति ।
क्षत्रियो नास्य तत्कर्म प्रशंसन्ति पुराविदः ॥ १२.९७.२४ ॥
The ancient knowers do not praise that deed of a kshatriya who meets death with an unwounded body.
12.97.25
न गृहे मरणं तात क्षत्रियाणां प्रशस्यते ।
शौण्डीराणामशौण्डीर्यमधर्मं कृपणं च तत् ॥ १२.९७.२५ ॥
Dear son, a warrior's death at home is not praised. For the brave, cowardice is unrighteous and wretched.
12.97.26
इदं कृच्छ्रमहो दुःखं पापीय इति निष्टनन् ।
प्रतिध्वस्तमुखः पूतिरमात्याननुशोचयन् ॥ १२.९७.२६ ॥
Groaning, 'This is hardship, alas, this sorrow; I am the most wretched,' with ruined face, lamenting for his ministers.
12.97.27
अरोगाणां स्पृहयते मुहुर्मृत्युमपीच्छति ।
वीरो दृप्तो मनस्वी च नेदृशं मृत्युमर्हति ॥ १२.९७.२७ ॥
He longs for the healthy and again and again desires death; yet a proud and high-minded hero does not deserve such a death.
12.97.28
रणेषु कदनं कृत्वा सुहृद्भिः प्रतिपूजित ।
तीक्ष्णैः शस्त्रैरभिक्लिष्टः क्षत्रियो मुत्युमर्हति ॥ १२.९७.२८ ॥
A warrior who has wrought slaughter in battles, honored by friends and wounded by sharp weapons, is fit for death.
12.97.29
शूरो हि सत्वमन्युभ्यामाविष्टो युध्यते मशम् ।
कृत्यमानानि गात्राणि परैर्नैवावबुध्यते ॥ १२.९७.२९ ॥
The hero, possessed by courage and anger, fights fiercely and does not even perceive his limbs being cut by the enemy.
12.97.30
स सङ्ख्ये निधनं प्राप्य प्रशस्तं लोकपूजितम् ।
स्वधर्मं विपुलं प्राप्य शक्रस्यैति सलोकताम् ॥ १२.९७.३० ॥
Having met death in battle, praised and honored by the worlds, and having attained his great own-duty, he goes to the world of Indra.
12.97.31
सर्वोपायै रणमुखमातिष्ठंस्त्यक्तजीवितः ।
प्राप्नोतीन्द्रस्य सालोक्यं शूरः पृष्ठमदर्शयन् ॥ १२.९७.३१ ॥
The hero who stands firm at the front of battle by every means, having given up his life, and who does not show his back, attains the world of Indra (sālokya).
12.97.32
यत्रयत्र हतः शूरः शत्रुभिः परिवारितः ।
अक्षयांल्लभते लोकान्यदि दैन्यं न सेवते ॥ १२.९७.३२ ॥
Wherever the hero is slain, surrounded by enemies, if he does not resort to humiliation, he obtains imperishable worlds.