Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.70
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13.70.1
जन्मनैव महाभागो ब्राह्मणो नाम जायते ।
नमस्यः सर्वभूतानामतिथिः प्रश्रिताग्रभुक् ॥ १३.७०.१ ॥
A brahmin is born greatly fortunate by birth alone; he is worthy of reverence from all beings, and as an invited guest he is the first to eat, after humble invitation.
13.70.2
सर्वेषां सुहृदस्तात ब्राह्मणाः सुमनोमुकाः ।
सर्वानेते हनिष्यन्ति ब्राह्मणा जातमन्यवः।
गीर्भिर्मङ्गलयुक्ताभिरनुध्यायन्ति पूजिताः ॥ १३.७०.२ ॥
Dear child, brahmins are the friends of all and have kindly faces; but once their anger is roused, these brahmins will strike down everyone. When honored, they meditate with auspicious words.
13.70.3
सर्वान्नो द्विषतस्तात ब्राह्मणा जातमन्यवः ।
गीर्भिर्दारुणयुक्ताभिर्हन्युश्चैते ह्यपूजिताः ॥ १३.७०.३ ॥
Dear child, these brahmins, with anger aroused, will strike down all of us who are hostile to them with harsh words; and so they will do if they are dishonored.
13.70.4
अत्र गाथाः पुरा गीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः ।
सृष्ट्वा द्विजातीन्धाता हि यथापूर्वं समादधत् ॥ १३.७०.४ ॥
Here the knowers of old recite the verses sung of old: having created the twice-born, the Creator Dhātṛ established them as before.
13.70.5
न वोऽन्यदिह कर्तव्यं किञ्चिदूर्ध्वायनं विधि ।
गुप्तो गोपायते ब्रह्मा श्रेयो वस्तेन शोभनम् ॥ १३.७०.५ ॥
For you there is nothing else to be done here, only the rule of the upward course. He who is protected by Brahmā is guarded by Brahmā; by that, your welfare and splendor will be assured.
13.70.6
स्वमेव कुर्वतां कर्म श्रीर्वो ब्राह्मी भविष्यति ।
प्रमाणं सर्वभूतानां प्रग्रहाश्च भविष्यथ ॥ १३.७०.६ ॥
For those who perform their own duty, your Brahminical splendor will endure. You will be the measure for all beings, and the guiding reins.
13.70.7
न शौद्रं कर्म कर्तव्यं ब्राह्मणेन विपश्चिता ।
शौद्रं हि कुर्वतः कर्म ब्राह्मी श्रीरुपरुध्यते ॥ १३.७०.७ ॥
A wise brahmin must not perform the work of a servant. For one who performs the work of a servant, the brahminical splendour is obstructed.
13.70.8
श्रीश्च बुद्धिश्च तेजश्च विभूतिश्च प्रतापिनी ।
स्वाध्यायेनैव महात्म्यं विपुलं प्रतिपत्स्यथ ॥ १३.७०.८ ॥
Splendour, wisdom, radiance and glorious power — through self-study alone you will attain vast greatness.
13.70.9
हुत्वा चाहवनीयस्थं महाभाग्ये प्रतिष्ठिताः ।
अग्रभोज्याः प्रसूतीनां श्रिया ब्राह्मयाऽनुकल्पिताः ॥ १३.७०.९ ॥
Having made offerings in the āhavanīya fire, established in great fortune, you will be foremost to partake of the sacrifices' offspring, appointed by brahminical splendour.
13.70.10
श्रद्धया परया युक्ता ह्यनभिद्रोहलब्धया ।
दमस्वाध्यायनिरताः सर्वान्कामानवाप्स्यथ ॥ १३.७०.१० ॥
Endowed with supreme faith, with wealth won without harming anyone, devoted to self-control and self-study, you will obtain all your desires.
13.70.11
यच्चैव मानुषे लोके यच्च देवेषु किञ्चन ।
सर्वं वस्तपसा साध्यं ज्ञानेन नियमेन च ॥ १३.७०.११ ॥
Whatever exists in the human world and whatever exists among the gods — all of it is attainable by austerity, by knowledge, and by discipline.
13.70.12
युष्मत्संमाननां प्रीतिं पावनैः क्षत्रिया भृशम् ।
अमुत्रेह समायान्ति वैश्यशूद्राधिकास्तथा ॥ १३.७०.१२ ॥
Through honour shown to you and affection for the purified ones, kṣatriyas greatly come to you both in this world and the next, and likewise the vaiśyas and śūdras, who come after them.
13.70.13
अरक्षिताश्च युष्माभिर्विरुद्धा यान्ति विप्रवम् ।
युष्मत्तेजोधृता लोकास्तद्रक्ष्यथ जगत्त्रयम् ॥ १३.७०.१३ ॥
If you do not protect them, they will turn hostile and go toward the ruin of the brahmins. The worlds are sustained by your splendour; therefore you must protect the three worlds.
13.70.14
इत्येवं ब्रह्मगीतास्ते समाख्याता मयाऽनघ ।
विप्रानुकम्पार्थमिदं तेन प्रोक्तं हि धीमता ॥ १३.७०.१४ ॥
Thus, O sinless one, these have been declared to you by me as a brahma-song. It was spoken by that wise one out of compassion for the brahmins.
13.70.15
भूयस्तेषां बलं मन्ये यथा राज्ञस्तपस्विनः ।
दुरासदाश्च चण्डाश्च तपसा क्षिप्रकारिणः ॥ १३.७०.१५ ॥
I believe their power is like that of kings and ascetics; they are hard to approach, fierce, and quick to act through the power of asceticism.
13.70.16
सन्त्येषां सिम्हसत्वाश्च व्याघ्रसत्वास्तथाऽपरे ।
वराहमृगसत्वाश्च गजसत्वास्तथाऽपरे ॥ १३.७०.१६ ॥
Among them some have the nature of lions, others of tigers; others have the nature of boars and deer, and still others of elephants.
13.70.17
सर्पस्पर्शसमाः केचित्तथाऽन्ये मकरस्पृशः ।
विभाष्य घातिनः केचित्तथा चक्षुर्हणोऽपरे ॥ १३.७०.१७ ॥
Some are like the touch of a serpent, others like the touch of a crocodile; some are slayers by speech, and others destroyers of sight.
13.70.18
सन्ति चाशीविषसमाः सन्ति मन्दास्तथाऽपरे ।
विविधानीह वृत्तानि ब्राह्मणानां युधिष्ठिर ॥ १३.७०.१८ ॥
Some are like venomous serpents, and others are dull. O Yudhiṣṭhira, the conduct of the brahmins here is of many kinds.
13.70.19
मेकला द्राविडा लाटाः पौण्ड्राः कान्वशिरास्तथा ।
शौण्डिका दरदा दार्वाश्चोराः शबरबर्बराः ॥ १३.७०.१९ ॥
The Mekalas, Drāviḍas, Lāṭas, Pauṇḍras, Kānva-śiras, and likewise the Śauṇḍikas, Daradas, Dārvas, Coras, Śabaras and Barbaras.
13.70.20
किराता यवनाश्चैव तास्ताः क्षत्रियजातयः ।
वृषत्वमनुप्राप्ता ब्राह्मणानामदर्शनात् ॥ १३.७०.२० ॥
The Kirātas and the Yavanas too, and each of those kṣatriya lineages, having attained the state of a bull (a lowered status) through not regarding the brahmins.
13.70.21
ब्राह्मणानां परिभवादसुराः सलिलेशयाः ।
ब्राह्मणानां प्रसादाच्च देवाः स्वर्गनिवासिनः ॥ १३.७०.२१ ॥
Through disrespect to the brahmins the asuras became dwellers in the waters; and through the favour of the brahmins the gods dwell in heaven.
13.70.22
अशक्यं स्प्रष्टुमाकाशमचाल्यो हिमवान्गिरिः ।
अवार्या सेतुना गङ्गा दुर्जया ब्राह्ममा भुवि ॥ १३.७०.२२ ॥
It is impossible to touch the sky; the Himavat mountain cannot be moved; the Ganges cannot be held back by a dam; on earth the brahmin power (brāhmī) is unconquerable.
13.70.23
न ब्राह्मणविरोधेन शक्या शास्तुं वसुन्धरा ।
ब्राह्मणा हि महात्मानो देवानामपि देवताः ॥ १३.७०.२३ ॥
The earth cannot be ruled in opposition to the brahmins; the brahmins are great-souled, the gods even of the gods.
13.70.24
तान्पूजयस्व सततं दानेन परिचर्यया ।
यदीच्छसि महीं भोक्तमिमां सागरमेखलाम् ॥ १३.७०.२४ ॥
Honour them constantly with gifts and service, if you wish to enjoy this earth girdled by the ocean.
13.70.25
प्रतिग्रहेण तेजो हि विप्राणा शाम्यतेऽनघ ।
प्रतिग्रहं ये नेच्छेयुस्तेऽपि रक्ष्यास्त्वया नृप ॥ १३.७०.२५ ॥
Sinless one, it is by receiving gifts that the radiance of brahmins is quieted. O king, you must also protect those who do not wish to receive gifts.