Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.214
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13.214.1
महेश्वर उवाच ।
श्रूयतां कारणं देवि यथा हि दुरतिक्रमः।
विधिः सर्वेषु भूतेषु मर्तव्ये समुपस्थिते ॥ १३.२१४.१ ॥
Maheśvara said: Listen, goddess, to the reason why fate is so hard to overcome for all beings when death is at hand.
13.214.2
आयुःक्षयेणोपहिताः समागम्य वरानने ।
कीटाः पतङ्गा बहवः स्थूलाः सूक्ष्माश्च मध्यमाः।
प्रज्वलत्सु प्रदीपेषु स्वयमेव पतन्ति ते ॥ १३.२१४.२ ॥
O fair-faced one, afflicted by the exhaustion of their life-span, many insects and moths, large, small and medium, gather and of their own accord fall into the blazing lamps.
13.214.3
बहूनां मृगयूथानां नानावननिषेविणाम् ।
यस्तु कालं गतस्तेषां स वै पाशेन बध्यते ॥ १३.२१४.३ ॥
Among the many herds of deer that dwell in various forests, the one whose time has come is indeed bound by the snare.
13.214.4
सूनार्थं देवि बद्धानां क्षीणायुर्यो निबध्यते ।
अवशो घातकस्याथ हस्तं तदहरेति सः ॥ १३.२१४.४ ॥
O goddess, among those bound for slaughter, he whose life is spent is bound helpless; then he seizes the hand of the slayer, saying, 'Take that away.'
13.214.5
यथा पक्षिगणाः क्षिप्रं विस्तीर्णाकाशगामिनः ।
क्षीणायुषो निबध्यन्ते शक्ता अपि पलायितुम् ॥ १३.२१४.५ ॥
Just as flocks of birds that swiftly fly across the vast sky, their life spent, are caught in the snare even though they are able to flee.
13.214.6
यथा वारिचरा मीना बहवोऽम्बुजजातयः ।
जालं समधिरोहन्ति स्वयमेव विधेर्वशात् ॥ १३.२१४.६ ॥
As many kinds of fish that move in the water, lotus-born, by the power of fate, of their own accord climb into the net.
13.214.7
शल्यकस्य च जिह्वाग्रं स्वयमारुह्य शोभने ।
आयुःक्षयेणोपहता निबध्यन्ते सरीसृपाः ॥ १३.२१४.७ ॥
Having climbed of their own accord onto the tip of the porcupine's tongue, the creeping creatures, struck down by the exhaustion of their life, are bound fast in the beautiful (snare).
13.214.8
कृषतां कर्षकाणां च नास्ति बुद्धिर्विहिंसने ।
अथैषां लाङ्गलाग्राद्यैर्हन्यन्ते जन्तवोऽक्षयाः ॥ १३.२१४.८ ॥
Those who plough and farm have no intent to harm; yet by the tip of their plough and the like, imperishable creatures are struck down.
13.214.9
पादाग्रेणैव चैकेन यां हिंसां कुरुते नरः ।
मातङ्गोपि न तां कुर्यात्कूरो जन्मशतैरपि ॥ १३.२१४.९ ॥
Such harm as a man does with the tip of just one foot, a cruel elephant would not do even in a hundred births.
13.214.10
म्रियन्ते यैर्हि मर्तव्यं न तान्घ्नन्ति कृषीवलाः ।
कृषामीति मनस्तस्य नास्ति चिन्ता विहिंसने ॥ १३.२१४.१० ॥
Those by whom the doomed must die, the farmers do not kill; in the mind of one who thinks 'I plough', there is no concern about harming.
13.214.11
तस्माज्जीवसहस्राणि हत्वाऽपि न स लिप्यते ।
विधिना स हतः पूर्वं पश्चात्प्राणि विपद्यते।
एवं सर्वेषु भूतेषु विधिर्हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥ १३.२१४.११ ॥
Therefore, even having killed thousands of living beings, he is not stained; he was first struck down by fate, and afterwards the creature perishes. Thus in all beings fate is indeed impossible to overcome.
13.214.12
गतायुषा मुहूर्तं तु न शक्यमुपजीवितुम् ।
जीवितव्ये न मर्तव्यं न भूतं न भविष्यति ॥ १३.२१४.१२ ॥
One whose life is spent cannot be kept alive even for a moment; while living, no one is exempt from dying — no one was, none is, and none will be.
13.214.13
शुभाशुभं कर्मफलं न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम् ।
तथा ताभिश्च मर्तव्यं मोक्तव्याश्चैव तास्तथा ॥ १३.२१४.१३ ॥
The fruit of good and bad deeds cannot be averted. In the same way one must die by them, and they must likewise be released.
13.214.14
रन्तिदेवस्य गावो वै विधेर्हि वशमागताः ।
स्वयमायान्ति गावो वै हन्यन्ते यत्र सुन्दरि ॥ १३.२१४.१४ ॥
Indeed, the cows of Rantideva came under the power of fate. O beautiful one, the cows themselves come to the place where they are slaughtered.
13.214.15
गवां वै हन्यमानानां रुधिरप्रभवा नदी ।
चर्मण्वतीति विख्याता खुरशृङ्गास्थिदुर्गमा ॥ १३.२१४.१५ ॥
The river born of blood, when the cows were being slain, became renowned as Carmaṇvatī, difficult to cross because of hooves, horns and bones.
13.214.16
रुधिरं तां नदीं प्राप्य तोयं भवति शोभने ।
मेध्यं पुण्यं पवित्रं च गन्धवर्णरसैर्युतम् ॥ १३.२१४.१६ ॥
O lovely one, on reaching that river the blood becomes water, fit for offering, sacred and pure, endowed with fragrance, colour and taste.
13.214.17
तत्राऽभिषेकं कुर्वन्ति कृतजप्याः कृताह्निकाः ।
द्विजा देवगणाश्चापि लोकपाला महेश्वराः ॥ १३.२१४.१७ ॥
There the twice-born who have performed their recitation and daily rites perform ablution, as do the troops of gods, the guardians of the worlds and the great lords.
13.214.18
तस्य राज्ञः सदा सत्रे स्वयमागम्य सुन्दरि ।
विधिना पूर्वदृष्टेन तन्मांसमुपकल्पितम्।
मन्त्रवत्प्रतिगृह्णन्ति यतान्यायं यताविधि ॥ १३.२१४.१८ ॥
O beautiful one, at that king's sacrificial session they always come of their own accord and accept that meat, prepared according to the rule seen before, with mantras, duly and according to rule.
13.214.19
समांसं च सदा ह्यन्नं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ।
भुञ्जानानां द्विजातीनामस्तमेति दिवाकरः ॥ १३.२१४.१९ ॥
For the twice-born who always eat food with meat, by hundreds and by thousands, the sun sets.
13.214.20
गावो यास्तत्र हन्यन्ते राज्ञस्तस्य क्रतूत्तमे ।
पठ्यमानेषु मन्त्रेषु यथान्यायं यथाविधि ॥ १३.२१४.२० ॥
The cows that are slaughtered there in that king's excellent sacrifice, while the mantras are recited, according to rule and prescription.
13.214.21
ताश्च स्वर्गं गता गावो रन्तिदेवश्च पार्थिवः ।
सदा सत्रविधानेन सिद्धिं प्राप्तो नरोत्तमः ॥ १३.२१४.२१ ॥
Those cows went to heaven, and the king Rantideva, best of men, always by the performance of the sattra rite, attained perfection.
13.214.22
अथ यस्तु सहायार्थमुक्तः स्यात्पार्थिवैर्नरैः ।
भोगानां संविभागेन वस्त्राभरणभूषणैः ॥ १३.२१४.२२ ॥
Now, whoever has been summoned by kings and men for the sake of assistance, should be honoured by a sharing of enjoyments, with garments, ornaments and jewels.
13.214.23
सहभोजनसम्बद्धैः सत्कारैर्विविधैरपि ।
सहायकाले सम्प्राप्ते सङ्ग्रामे शस्त्रमुद्धरेत् ॥ १३.२१४.२३ ॥
Bound by a shared meal and by various honours, when the time of need for help has come, one should take up weapons in battle.
13.214.24
व्यूढानीके यथा सास्त्रं सेनयोरुभयोरपि ।
हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पूर्णे पदातिबलसङ्कुले।
चामरच्छत्रशबले ध्वजचर्मायुधोज्ज्वले ॥ १३.२१४.२४ ॥
In both armies drawn up in array, with weapons, full of elephants, horses and chariots, thronged with infantry, dappled with yak-tail fans and parasols, bright with banners, shields and weapons.
13.214.25
शक्तितोमरकुन्तासिशूलमुद्गरपाणिभिः ।
कूटमुद्गरचापेषु मुसुण्ठीजुष्टमुष्टिभिः ॥ १३.२१४.२५ ॥
Holding in their hands spears, javelins, lances, swords, tridents and maces; with iron clubs and bows; their fists gripping the musuṇṭhī firmly.
13.214.26
भिण्डिपालगदाचक्रप्रासकर्पटधारिभिः ।
नानाप्रहरणैर्योधैः सेनयोरुभयोरपि।
युद्धशौण्डैः प्रगर्जद्भिर्वृषेषु वृषभैरिव ॥ १३.२१४.२६ ॥
The warriors bearing bhiṇḍipālas, maces, discuses, prāsas and shields, armed with many kinds of weapons, of both armies, skilled in battle, roaring like bulls among bulls.
13.214.27
शङ्खदुन्दुभिनादेन नानातूर्यरवेण च ।
हयहेषितशब्देन कुञ्जराणां तु बृंहितैः ॥ १३.२१४.२७ ॥
With the din of conches and war-drums, the roar of many kinds of instruments, the neighing of horses and the trumpeting of elephants.
13.214.28
योधानां सिंहनादैश्च घण्टानां शिञ्जितस्वनैः ।
दिशश्च विदिशश्चैव समन्ताद्बधिरीकृताः ॥ १३.२१४.२८ ॥
With the lion-roars of the warriors and the tinkling of bells, the directions and the intermediate directions were made deaf on every side.
13.214.29
ग्रीष्मान्तेष्विव गर्जद्भिर्नभशीव बलाहकैः ।
रथनेमिखुरोद्धूतैररुणै रणरेणुभिः।
कपिलाभिरिवाकाशे छाद्यमाने समन्ततः ॥ १३.२१४.२९ ॥
As the sky is covered on all sides, like the thundering clouds at the end of summer, with the reddish battle-dust stirred up by chariot-wheels and hooves, tawny dust filling the heavens.
13.214.30
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते योधानां तत्र सेनयोः ।
तेषां प्रहारक्षतजं रक्तचन्दनसन्निभम् ॥ १३.२१४.३० ॥
When the clash of weapons began among the warriors of both armies, the blood flowing from their wounds looked like red sandal-paste.
13.214.31
तेषामस्राणि गात्रेभ्य स्रवन्ते रणमूर्धनि ।
पलाशाशोकपुष्पाणां जङ्गमा इव राशयः ॥ १३.२१४.३१ ॥
From their limbs blood flowed at the front of the battle, like moving heaps of palāśa and aśoka blossoms.
13.214.32
रणे समभिवर्तन्त उद्यतायुधपाणयः ।
शोभमाना रणे शूरा आह्वयन्तः परस्परम् ॥ १३.२१४.३२ ॥
In battle the heroes rushed forward with weapons raised in their hands, shining, challenging one another.
13.214.33
हन्यमानेष्वभिघ्नत्सु शूरेषु रणसङ्कटे ।
पृष्ठं दत्त्वा च ये तत्र नायकस्य नराधमाः ॥ १३.२१४.३३ ॥
Those base men who, in the crush of battle while the heroes were being struck and striking back, turned their backs on their leader—
13.214.34
अनाहता निवर्तन्ते नायके चाप्यनीप्सति ।
ते दुष्कृतं प्रपद्यन्ते नायकस्याखिलं नराः।
यच्चास्ति सुकृतं तेषां युज्यते तेन नायकः ॥ १३.२१४.३४ ॥
Men who turn back unwounded, even when the leader does not wish it, incur the leader's entire sin; and whatever merit they have is joined to the leader.
13.214.35
अहिंसा परमो धर्म इति येऽपि नरा विदुः ।
सङ्ग्रामेषु न युध्यन्ते भृत्याश्चैवानुरूपतः।
नरकं यान्ति ते घोरं भर्तृपिण्डापहारिणइः ॥ १३.२१४.३५ ॥
Men who know that non-violence is the supreme dharma, yet do not fight in battles as servants according to their station—they go to terrible hell, thieves of their master's food.
13.214.36
यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यज्य प्रविशेदुद्यतायुधः ।
सङ्ग्राममग्निप्रतिमं पतह्ग इव निर्भयः।
स्वर्गमाविशते प्रेत्य ज्ञात्वा योधस्य निश्चयम् ॥ १३.२१४.३६ ॥
He who, giving up his life-breaths, with weapon raised, enters a battle like fire fearlessly as a moth—knowing the warrior's resolve, enters heaven after death.
13.214.37
आविष्टश्चैव सत्त्वेन सघृणो जायते नरः ।
प्रहारैर्नन्दयेद्देवि सत्वेनाधिष्ठितो हि सः।
प्रहारव्यथितश्चैव न वैक्लब्यमुपैति सः ॥ १३.२१४.३७ ॥
A man possessed by courage becomes compassionate. O goddess, one established in courage delights even in blows. Though pained by blows, he does not fall into faintheartedness.
13.214.38
यस्तु स्वं नायकं रक्षेदतिघोरे रणाङ्कणे ।
तापयन्नरिसैन्यानि सिंहो मृगगणानिव।
आदित्य इव मध्याह्ने दुर्निरीक्ष्यो रणाजिरे ॥ १३.२१४.३८ ॥
He who protects his own leader on the terrible battlefield, scorching the enemy armies as a lion scorches herds of deer, becomes hard to look upon on the battlefield like the sun at midday.
13.214.39
निर्दयो यस्तु सङ्ग्रामे प्रहरन्नुद्यतायुधः ।
यजते स तु पूतात्मा सङ्ग्रामेण महाक्रतुम् ॥ १३.२१४.३९ ॥
He who, merciless in battle, strikes with raised weapon, that pure-souled one performs a great sacrifice by means of battle.
13.214.40
चर्म कृष्णाजिनं तस्य दन्तकाष्ठं धनुः स्मृतम् ।
रथो वेदिर्ध्वजो यूपः कुशाश्च रथरश्मयः ॥ १३.२१४.४० ॥
His shield is the black antelope skin; the tooth-stick is recalled as his bow; the chariot is the altar, the banner the sacrificial post, and the kuśa grass the chariot's reins.
13.214.41
मानो दर्पस्त्वहङ्कारस्त्रयस्त्रेताग्नयः स्मृताः ।
प्रमोदश्च स्रुवस्तस्य उपाध्यायो हि सारथिः ॥ १३.२१४.४१ ॥
Pride, arrogance and egotism are recalled as the three Tretā fires; exultation is his sacrificial ladle, and indeed the charioteer is his teacher.
13.214.42
स्रुग्भाण्डं चापि यत्किञ्चिद्यज्ञोपकरणानि च ।
आयुधान्यस्य तत्सर्वं समिधः सायकाः स्मृताः ॥ १३.२१४.४२ ॥
The sruk-vessel and whatever implements of sacrifice there are, all of these are his weapons; the kindling sticks are recalled as his arrows.
13.214.43
स्वेदस्रवश्च गात्रेभ्यः क्षौद्रं तस्य यशस्विनः ।
पुरोडाशा नृशीर्षाणि रुधिरं चाहुतिः स्मृता।
तूणाश्चैव चरुर्ज्ञेया वसोर्धारा वसाः स्मृताः ॥ १३.२१४.४३ ॥
The sweat flowing from the limbs of that famous one is honey; human heads are the sacrificial cakes, and blood is declared to be the oblation. The quivers are to be known as the porridge, and the streams of Vasu are declared to be fat.
13.214.44
क्रव्यादा भूतसङ्घाश्च तस्मिन्यज्ञे द्विजतयः ।
तेषां भक्षान्नपानानि हता नृगजवाजिनः।
भुञ्जते ते यथाकामं यता यज्ञे किमिच्छति ॥ १३.२१४.४४ ॥
In that sacrifice, the flesh-eating hosts of spirits are the twice-born priests. The slain men, elephants and horses are their food and drink. Restrained within the sacrifice, they eat whatever they desire, as they wish.
13.214.45
निहतानां तु योधानां वस्त्राभरणभूषणम् ।
हिरण्यं च सुवर्णं च यद्वै यज्ञस्य दक्षिणा ॥ १३.२१४.४५ ॥
The garments, ornaments and adornments of the slain warriors, and the gold and gold-coins — these are the sacrificial fee of the sacrifice.
13.214.46
यस्तत्र हन्यते देवि गजस्कन्धगतो नरः ।
ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति रणेष्वभिमुखो हतः ॥ १३.२१४.४६ ॥
O goddess, the man who is slain there while seated on an elephant's back, struck down facing the enemy in battle, attains the world of Brahmā.
13.214.47
रथमध्यगतो वाऽपि हयपृष्ठगतोपि वा ।
हन्यते यस्तु सङ्ग्रामे शक्रलोके महीयते ॥ १३.२१४.४७ ॥
Whether seated in the middle of a chariot or mounted on a horse's back, the one who is slain in battle is honoured in the world of Indra.
13.214.48
स्वर्गे हताः प्रपूज्यते हन्ता त्वत्रैव पूज्यते ।
द्वावेतौ सुखमेधेते हन्ता यश्चैव हन्यते ॥ १३.२१४.४८ ॥
Those who are slain are honoured in heaven, while the slayer is honoured right here. These two, the slayer and the one who is slain, both thrive in happiness.
13.214.49
तस्मात्सङ्ग्राममासाद्य प्रहर्तव्यमभीतवत् ॥ १३.२१४.४९ ॥
Therefore, having reached the battle, one should strike like one without fear.
13.214.50
निर्भयो यस्तु सङ्ग्रामे यस्तु सङ्ग्रामे प्रहरेदुद्यतायुधः ।
यथा नदीसहस्राणि प्रविष्टानि महोदधिम् ॥ १३.२१४.५० ॥
He who, fearless in battle, strikes with weapon raised, just as thousands of rivers enter the great ocean.
13.214.51
तथा सर्वे न सन्देहो धर्मा धर्मभृतांवरम् ।
प्रविष्टा राजधर्मेण आचारविनयस्तथा ॥ १३.२१४.५१ ॥
Likewise, without doubt, O best of the upholders of dharma, all duties enter into the duty of kings, and so do good conduct and discipline.
13.214.52
वेदोक्ताश्चैव ये धर्माः पाषण्डेषु च कीर्तिताः ।
तथैव मानुषा धर्मा धर्माश्चान्ये तथेतरे ॥ १३.२१४.५२ ॥
The duties declared in the Vedas, and those proclaimed among heretics; likewise the human duties, and the other duties, and the rest.
13.214.53
देशजातिकुलानां च ग्रामधर्मास्तथैव च ।
ये धर्माः पार्वतीयेषु ये धर्माः पत्तनादिषु।
तेषां पूर्वप्रवृत्तानां कर्तव्यं परिरक्षणम् ॥ १३.२१४.५३ ॥
The customs of regions, castes and families, and likewise the village customs; the duties among the mountain dwellers, the duties in towns and the like: their protection, of those long established, is to be upheld.
13.214.54
धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः ।
तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यः पार्थिवेन विशेषतः ॥ १३.२१४.५४ ॥
Dharma, when slain, slays; dharma, when protected, protects. Therefore dharma must not be slain, especially by a king.
13.214.55
प्रजाः पालयते यत्र धर्मेण वसुधाधिपः ।
षट्कर्मनिरता विप्राः पूज्यन्ते पितृदेवताः ॥ १३.२१४.५५ ॥
Where the lord of the earth protects his subjects by dharma, brahmins devoted to the six duties are honored like the ancestors and the gods.
13.214.56
नैव तस्मिन्ननावृष्टिर्न रोगा नाप्युपद्रवाः ।
धर्मशीलाः प्रजाः सर्वाः स्वधर्मनिरते नृपे ॥ १३.२१४.५६ ॥
Under a king devoted to his own duty there is no drought, no disease, no calamity; all his subjects are of righteous character.
13.214.57
एष्टव्यः सततं देवि युक्ताचारो नराधिपः ।
छिद्रज्ञश्चैव शत्रूणामप्रमत्तः प्रतापवान् ॥ १३.२१४.५७ ॥
O Goddess, one should always seek a lord of men who is of proper conduct, who knows the weak points of enemies, who is vigilant and mighty.
13.214.58
शूद्राः पृथिव्यां बहवो राज्ञां बहुविनाशकाः ।
तस्मात्प्रमादं सुश्रोणि न कुर्यात्पण्डितो नृपः ॥ १३.२१४.५८ ॥
On the earth there are many Śūdras who bring great ruin upon kings; therefore, O fair-hipped one, a wise king should not be negligent.
13.214.59
तेषु मित्रेषु त्यक्तेषु तथा मर्त्येषु हस्तिषु ।
विस्रम्भो नोपगन्तव्यः स्नानपानेषु नित्यशः ॥ १३.२१४.५९ ॥
Among those friends, among the abandoned, among men and elephants (attendants) likewise, one should never place trust at the times of bathing and drinking.
13.214.60
राज्ञो वल्लभतामेति कुलं भावयते स्वकम् ।
यस्तु राष्ट्रहितार्थाय गोब्राह्मणकृते तथा।
बन्दीग्रहाय मित्रार्थे प्राणांस्त्यजति दुस्त्यजान् ॥ १३.२१४.६० ॥
He who gives up the hard-to-give-up life for the welfare of the realm, for cows and brahmins, for the release of captives, or for a friend, becomes dear to the king and raises up his own family.
13.214.61
सर्वकामदुघां धेनुं धरणीं लोकधारिणीम् ।
समुद्रान्तां वरारोहे सशैलवनकाननाम् ॥ १३.२१४.६१ ॥
O fair-hipped goddess, the earth, like the cow that milks all desires, the supporter of the worlds, extending to the ocean, with its mountains, forests and groves.
13.214.62
दद्याद्देवि द्विजातिभ्यो वसुपूर्णां वसुन्धराम् ।
न तत्समं वरारोहे प्राणत्यागी विशिष्यते ॥ १३.२१४.६२ ॥
O goddess, one should give the earth, full of wealth, to the twice-born; O fair-hipped one, nothing is equal to that, the one who gives up his life is distinguished.
13.214.63
सहस्रमपि यज्ञानां यजते च यतर्द्धिमान् ।
यज्ञैस्तस्य किमाश्चर्यं प्राणत्यागः सुदुष्करः ॥ १३.२१४.६३ ॥
Even if a prosperous man performs a thousand sacrifices, what is wonderful about his sacrifices? Giving up one's life is exceedingly difficult.
13.214.64
तस्मात्सर्वेषु यज्ञेषु प्राणयज्ञो विशिष्यते ।
एवं सङ्ग्रामयज्ञास्ते यथार्थं समुदाहृताः ॥ १३.२१४.६४ ॥
Therefore, among all sacrifices, the sacrifice of life is the most distinguished. Thus those battle-sacrifices have been rightly declared.