Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.147
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13.147.1
क्षत्रा आरम्भयज्ञास्तु वीर्ययज्ञा विशः स्मृताः ।
शूद्रा परिचरायज्ञा जपयज्ञास्तु ब्राह्मणाः ॥ १३.१४७.१ ॥
For the kṣatriyas the sacrifice is the sacrifice of undertaking; for the vaiśyas the sacrifice is that of valour; for the śūdras the sacrifice is that of service; and for the brāhmaṇas the sacrifice is that of recitation.
13.147.2
शुश्रूषाजीविनः शूद्रा वैश्या विपणिजीविनः ।
अनिष्टनिग्रहः क्षत्रा विप्राः स्वाध्यायजीविनः ॥ १३.१४७.२ ॥
The śūdras live by service, the vaiśyas by trade; the kṣatriyas restrain what is harmful; the brāhmaṇas live by their own study.
13.147.3
तपसा शोभते विप्रो राजन्यः पालनादिभिः ।
आतिथ्येन तथा वैश्यः शूद्रो दास्येन शोभते ॥ १३.१४७.३ ॥
The brāhmaṇa shines through austerity, the kṣatriya through protection and the like; likewise the vaiśya through hospitality, and the śūdra shines through servitude.
13.147.4
यतात्मना तु शूद्रेण शुश्रूषा नित्यमेव च ।
कर्तव्या त्रिषु वर्णेषु प्रायेणाश्रमवासिषु ॥ १३.१४७.४ ॥
The śūdra, with a controlled self, should always render service to the three varṇas, for the most part those dwelling in the āśramas.
13.147.5
अशक्तेन त्रिवर्गस्य सेव्या ह्याश्रमवासिनः ।
यथाशक्यं यथाप्रज्ञं यथाधर्मं यथाश्रुतम् ॥ १३.१४७.५ ॥
One who is unable should serve the āśrama-dwellers of the three varṇas — as far as he can, according to his understanding, according to dharma, and as he has heard it taught.
13.147.6
विशेषेणैव कर्तव्या शुश्रूषा भिक्षुकाश्रमे ॥ १३.१४७.६ ॥
Service is to be rendered especially to those in the mendicant's āśrama.
13.147.7
आश्रमाणां तु सर्वेषां चतुर्णां भिक्षुकाश्रमम् ।
प्रधानमिति वर्ण्यन्ते शिष्टाः शास्त्रविनिश्चये ॥ १३.१४७.७ ॥
Among all four stages of life, the mendicant's stage is declared foremost, as the wise describe it in the settled conclusion of the scriptures.
13.147.8
यच्चोपदिश्यते शिष्टैः श्रुतिस्मृतिविधानतः ।
तथाऽऽस्थेयमशक्तेन स धर्म इति निश्चितः ॥ १३.१४७.८ ॥
Whatever the wise teach according to the injunctions of śruti and smṛti, that is to be observed even by one who is unable to do it fully; this is settled as dharma.
13.147.9
अतोऽन्यथा तु कुर्वाणः श्रेयो नाप्नोति मानवः ।
तस्माद्भिक्षुषु शूद्रेण कार्यमात्महितं सदा ॥ १३.१४७.९ ॥
Therefore a man who acts otherwise does not attain welfare; hence a śūdra should always do what is beneficial to himself toward mendicants.
13.147.10
इह यत्कुरुते श्रेयस्तत्प्रेत्य समुपाश्नुते ।
तच्चानसूयता कार्यं कर्तव्यं यद्धि मन्यते ॥ १३.१४७.१० ॥
Whatever welfare a person does in this world, that he obtains after death; and what one judges to be right should be done without envy.
13.147.11
असूयता तु तस्येह फलं दुःखादवाप्यते ।
प्रियवादी जितक्रोधो वीततन्द्रीरमत्सरः ॥ १३.१४७.११ ॥
But for the envious, the fruit in this world is obtained through suffering. He who speaks kindly, has conquered anger, is free from sloth, and is free from jealousy.
13.147.12
क्षमावाञ्शीलसम्पन्नः सत्यधर्मपरायणः ।
आपद्भावेन कुर्याद्धि शुश्रूषां भिक्षुकाश्रमे ॥ १३.१४७.१२ ॥
A patient man, endowed with good conduct and devoted to truth and dharma, should render service in the mendicant's stage even in times of distress.
13.147.13
अयं मे परमो धर्मस्त्वनेनेदं सुदुष्करम् ।
संसारसागरं घोरं तरिष्यामि न संशयः ॥ १३.१४७.१३ ॥
This is my highest duty; by this, though very difficult, I shall cross this terrible ocean of worldly existence—there is no doubt.
13.147.14
विभयो देहमुत्सृज्य यास्यामि परमां गतिम् ।
नातः परं ममाप्यन्य एष धर्मः सनातनः ॥ १३.१४७.१४ ॥
Fearless, having abandoned this body, I shall attain the supreme goal; for me there is nothing higher than this—this is the eternal duty.
13.147.15
एवं सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा शूद्रो बुद्धिसमाधिना ।
कुर्यादविमना नित्यं शुश्रूषाधर्ममुत्तमम् ॥ १३.१४७.१५ ॥
Having thus reflected in his mind, with concentrated intellect, the śūdra should always perform the supreme duty of service with an undistracted mind.
13.147.16
शुश्रूषानियमेनेह भाव्यं शिष्टाशिना सदा ।
शमान्वितेन दान्तेन कार्याकार्यविदा सदा ॥ १३.१४७.१६ ॥
Here one should be bound by the discipline of service, always eating the leftovers of the virtuous, calm and self-controlled, always knowing what should and should not be done.
13.147.17
सर्वकार्येषु कृत्यानि कृतान्येव तु दुर्शयेत् ।
यथा प्रियो भवेद्भिक्षुस्तथा कार्यं प्रसाधयेत् ॥ १३.१४७.१७ ॥
In all tasks one should show only the duties already performed; one should accomplish the work in such a way that the mendicant becomes pleased.
13.147.18
यदकल्प्यं भवेद्भिक्षोर्न तत्कार्यं समाचरेत् ।
यथाऽऽश्रमस्याविरुद्धं धर्ममात्राभिसंहितम् ॥ १३.१४७.१८ ॥
What is unfitting for a mendicant, that task he should not perform; he should practise only what is not contrary to the hermitage and is bound to dharma alone.
13.147.19
तत्कार्यमविचारेण नित्यमेव शुभार्थिना ।
मनसा कर्ममा वाचा नित्यमेव प्रसादयेत् ॥ १३.१४७.१९ ॥
One who seeks welfare should always perform that duty without hesitation, and always please (the teacher) with mind, deed and speech.
13.147.20
स्थातव्यं तिष्ठमानेषु गच्छमानाननुव्रजेत् ।
आसीनेष्वासितव्यं च नित्यमेवानुवर्तता ॥ १३.१४७.२० ॥
When they stand, one should stand; one should follow those who go; when they sit, one should sit; always conducting oneself in accord with their wishes.
13.147.21
धर्मलब्धेन स्नेहेन पादौ सम्पीडयेत्सदा ।
उद्वर्तनादींश्च तथा कुर्यादप्रतिचोदितः ॥ १३.१४७.२१ ॥
With oil obtained by righteous means, one should always massage the feet (of the teacher), and likewise perform services such as rubbing the body, unbidden.
13.147.22
नैजकार्याणि कृत्वा तु नित्यं चैवानुचोदितः ।
यथाविधिरुपस्पृश्य संन्यस्य जलभाजनम् ॥ १३.१४७.२२ ॥
Having finished one's own tasks, always at the teacher's bidding, having sipped water as prescribed and set down the water vessel, one should attend to service.
13.147.23
भिक्षूणां निलयं गत्वा प्रणम्य विधिपूर्वकम् ।
ब्रह्मपूर्वान्गुरूंस्तत्र प्रणम्यि नियतेन्द्रियः ॥ १३.१४७.२३ ॥
Going to the dwelling of mendicants and bowing as prescribed, and there bowing to the teachers, beginning with those learned in Brahman, one should keep the senses restrained.
13.147.24
तथाऽऽचार्यपुरोगाणामनुकुर्यान्नमस्क्रियाम् ।
स्वधर्मचारिणां चापि सुखं पृष्ट्वाऽभिवाद्य च ॥ १३.१४७.२४ ॥
Likewise one should pay obeisance to those who go before the teacher, and greet with respect, after asking after their well-being, those who follow their own dharma.
13.147.25
यो भवेत्पूर्वसंसिद्धस्तुल्यकर्मा भवेत्सदा ।
तस्मै प्रणामः कर्तव्यो नेतरेषु कदाचन ॥ १३.१४७.२५ ॥
He who has been perfected before and always acts in the same way — to him alone should reverence be paid, never to others.
13.147.26
अनुक्त्वा तेषु चोत्थाय नित्यमेव यतव्रतः ।
सम्मार्जनमथो गत्वा कृत्वा चाप्युपलेपनम् ॥ १३.१४७.२६ ॥
Without speaking to them, rising constantly, firm in vows, he should go and sweep, and also smear the floor.
13.147.27
ततः पुष्पबलिं दद्यापुष्पाण्यादाय धर्मतः ।
निष्क्रम्यावसथात्तूर्णमन्यत्कर्म समाचरेत् ॥ १३.१४७.२७ ॥
Then, taking flowers in accordance with dharma, he should offer a flower-offering; and quickly leaving the dwelling, he should perform other duties.
13.147.28
यथोपघातो न भवेत्स्वाध्यायेऽऽश्रमिणां तथा ।
उपघातं तु कुर्वाण एनसा सम्प्रयुज्यते।
तथाऽऽत्मा प्रणिधातव्यो यथा ते प्रीतिमाप्नुयुः ॥ १३.१४७.२८ ॥
So that there is no obstruction to the study of the ascetics, one should act; one who causes obstruction becomes joined to sin. Therefore one should direct oneself so that they may attain joy.
13.147.29
परिचारकोऽहं वर्णानां त्रयाणां धर्मतः स्मृतः ।
किमुताश्रमवृद्धानां यथालब्धोपजीविनाम् ॥ १३.१४७.२९ ॥
I am considered by dharma a servant of the three social orders; how much more so of the elders of the stages of life who live on what they obtain!
13.147.30
भिक्षूणां गतरागाणां केवलं ज्ञानदर्शिनम् ।
विशेषेण मया कार्या शुश्रूषा नियतात्मना ॥ १३.१४७.३० ॥
To the mendicants free from passion, who see only knowledge, I must render service especially, with a self-controlled mind.
13.147.31
तेषां प्रसादात्तपसा प्राप्स्यामीष्टां शुभां गतिम् ।
एवमेतद्विनिश्चित्य यदि सेवेत भिक्षुकान्।
विधिना स्वोपदिष्टेन प्राप्नोति परमां गतिम् ॥ १३.१४७.३१ ॥
Through their grace and by austerity I shall attain the desired, auspicious goal. Having resolved thus, if one serves the mendicants, by the rule laid down by oneself, one attains the supreme goal.