Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.71
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13.71.1
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
शक्रशम्बरसंवादं तन्निवोध युधिष्ठिर ॥ १३.७१.१ ॥
Here too they tell this ancient story as an example — the dialogue of Śakra and Śambara. Listen to it, Yudhiṣṭhira.
13.71.2
शक्रो ह्यज्ञातरूपेण जटी भूत्वा सुवारुणः ।
विप्ररूपं समास्थाय प्रश्नं पप्रच्छ शम्बरम् ॥ १३.७१.२ ॥
Śakra, hiding his true form, becoming matted-haired and finely attired, assumed the shape of a Brahmin and asked Śambara a question.
13.71.3
केन शम्बर वृत्तेन स्वजात्यानधितिष्ठसि ।
श्रेष्ठं त्वां केन मन्यन्ते तद्वै प्रब्रूहि तत्त्वतः ॥ १३.७१.३ ॥
By what conduct, Śambara, do you stand above your own kind? For what reason do people consider you the best? Tell me that truly.
13.71.4
नासूयामि सदा विप्रान्ब्राह्ममेव च मे मतम् ।
शास्त्राणि वदतो विप्रान्संमन्यामि यथासुखम् ॥ १३.७१.४ ॥
I never find fault with Brahmins; that is indeed my view. I honour the Brahmins who expound the scriptures, as is my pleasure.
13.71.5
श्रुत्वा च नावजानामि नापराध्यामि कर्हिचित् ।
अभ्यर्च्याभ्यनुपृच्छामि पादौ गृह्णामि धीमताम् ॥ १३.७१.५ ॥
Having heard them, I never disregard them, nor ever offend them. Having honoured them, I question them further, and I take hold of the feet of the wise.
13.71.6
ते विस्रब्धाः प्रभाषन्ते संयच्छन्ति च मां सदा ।
प्रमत्तेष्वप्रमत्तोऽस्मि सदा सुप्तेषु जागृमि ॥ १३.७१.६ ॥
They speak with confidence, and always keep me in check. Among the heedless I am always vigilant; among the sleeping I am always awake.
13.71.7
ते मां शास्त्रपथे युक्तं ब्रह्मण्यमनसूयकम् ।
समासिञ्चति शास्तारः क्षौद्रं मध्विव मक्षिकाः ॥ १३.७१.७ ॥
On me, devoted to the path of scripture, devoted to the brahmins, free from envy, the teachers pour (their wisdom) as flies swarm upon honey.
13.71.8
यच्च भाषन्ति संतुष्टास्तच्च गृह्णाम्यमायया ।
समाधिमात्मनो नित्यमनुलोममचिन्तयम् ॥ १३.७१.८ ॥
Whatever they say, content, I receive without deceit, and I always reflect on it in a way that accords with my own concentration.
13.71.9
सोहं वागग्रमृष्टानां रसानामवलेहकः ।
स्वजात्यानधितिष्ठामि नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमाः ॥ १३.७१.९ ॥
I am one who tastes the essences cleansed at the tip of the tongue of speech; as the moon stands above the stars, so I stand above my own kind.
13.71.10
एतत्पृथिव्याममृतमेतच्चक्षुरनुत्तमम् ।
यद्ब्राह्मणमुखाच्छास्त्रमिह श्रुत्वा प्रवर्तते ॥ १३.७१.१० ॥
This is the nectar on earth, this is the supreme eye: having heard the scripture from a brahmin's mouth, one here is set in motion.
13.71.11
एतत्कारणमाज्ञाय दृष्ट्वा देवासुरं पुरा ।
युद्धं पिता मे हृष्टात्मा विस्मितः समपद्यत ॥ १३.७१.११ ॥
Having understood this cause, and having seen the battle of gods and asuras in the past, my father became joyful at heart and astonished.
13.71.12
दृष्ट्वा च ब्राह्मणानां तु महिमानं महात्मनाम् ।
पर्यपृच्छत्कथममी सिद्धा इति निशाकरम् ॥ १३.७१.१२ ॥
Seeing the greatness of the great-souled brahmins, he asked the moon: 'How have these become perfected beings?'
13.71.13
ब्राह्मणास्तपसा सर्वे सिध्यन्ते वाग्बलाः सदा ।
भुजवीर्याश्च राजानो वागस्त्राश्च द्विजातयः ॥ १३.७१.१३ ॥
Brahmins are always made perfect by austerity; their strength lies in speech. Kings have the valour of their arms, and the twice-born have speech as their weapon.
13.71.14
प्रवसन्वाप्यधीयीत ब्राह्मीर्दुर्वसतीर्वसन् ।
निर्मन्युरपि निर्वाणो यतिः स्यात्समदर्शनः ॥ १३.७१.१४ ॥
Even while dwelling abroad, or while living in wretched dwellings, let him study the Vedas. Free from anger and at peace, let him become an ascetic who sees all alike.
13.71.15
अपि च ज्ञानसम्पन्नः सर्वान्वेदान्पितुर्गृहे ।
श्लाघमान इवाधीयाद्ग्राम्य इत्येव तं विदुः ॥ १३.७१.१५ ॥
Even one endowed with knowledge who studies all the Vedas in his father's house, boasting as it were, people know him as a rustic.
13.71.16
भूमिरेतौ निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव ।
राजानं चाप्ययोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम् ॥ १३.७१.१६ ॥
As a snake lying in its hole swallows, so the earth swallows these two: the king who does not fight, and the brahmin who does not travel abroad.
13.71.17
अभिमानः श्रियं हन्ति पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसः ।
गर्भेण दुष्यते कन्या गृहवासेन च द्विजः ॥ १३.७१.१७ ॥
Pride destroys the prosperity of a man of little understanding; a maiden is defiled by pregnancy, and a twice-born man by dwelling at home.
13.71.18
विद्याविदो लोकविदस्तपोदमसमन्विताः ।
नित्यपूज्याश्च वन्द्याश्च द्विजा लोकद्वयेच्छुभिः ॥ १३.७१.१८ ॥
Brahmins who know learning and know the world, endowed with austerity and self-restraint, are always to be honoured and revered by those who desire both worlds.
13.71.19
इत्येतन्मे पिता श्रुत्वा सोमादद्भुतदर्शनात् ।
ब्राह्मणान्पूजयामास तथैवाहं महाव्रतान् ॥ १३.७१.१९ ॥
Having heard this from Soma, after his wondrous sight, my father honored the brahmins; and in the same way I too honored the brahmins of great vows.
13.71.20
श्रुत्वैतद्वचनं शक्रो दानवेन्द्रमुखाच्च्युतम् ।
द्विजान्संम्पूजयामास महेन्द्रत्वमवाप च ॥ १३.७१.२० ॥
Having heard this word, fallen from the mouth of the lord of the Dānavas, Indra thoroughly honored the brahmins and obtained the lordship of the great Indra.