Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 14.49
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14.49.1
को वा स्विदिह धर्माणामनुष्ठेयतमो मतः ।
व्याहतामिव पश्यामो धर्मस्य विविधां गतिम् ॥ १४.४९.१ ॥
Which of the duties here is considered most worthy of practice? We see the many paths of dharma as if they were contradictory.
14.49.2
ऊर्द्ध्वं देहाद्वदन्त्येके नैतदस्तीति चापरे ।
केचित्संशयितं सर्वं निःसंशयमथापरे ॥ १४.४९.२ ॥
Some say there is something beyond the body, while others say this is not so. Some hold that everything is doubtful, and others hold that all is beyond doubt.
14.49.3
अनित्यं नित्यमित्येके नास्त्यस्तीत्यपि चापरे ।
त्रिधेत्येके द्विधेत्येके व्याकीर्णमिति चापरे ॥ १४.४९.३ ॥
Some say it is impermanent and others that it is permanent; some say it is not, and others that it is. Some call it threefold, some twofold, and others say it is scattered.
14.49.4
मन्यन्ते ब्राह्मणा एव ब्रह्मज्ञास्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ।
एकमेके पृथक्चान्ये बहुत्वमिति चापरे ॥ १४.४९.४ ॥
Only the brahmins who know Brahman and see the truth hold this view. Some regard it as one, some as separate, and others as many.
14.49.5
देशकालावुभौ केचिन्नैतदस्तीति चापरे ।
जटाजिनधराश्चान्ये मुण्डाः केचिदसंवृताः ॥ १४.४९.५ ॥
Some hold that both place and time exist, some that neither does, and others that this does not exist. Some wear matted hair and antelope skins, others are shaven-headed, and some are unclothed.
14.49.6
अश्नानं केचिदिच्छन्ति स्नानमप्यपरे जनाः ।
मन्यन्ते ब्राह्मणा देवा ब्रह्मज्ञास्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥ १४.४९.६ ॥
Some desire not to bathe, and others desire to bathe. People regard the brahmins who know Brahman and see the truth as gods.
14.49.7
आहारं केचिदिच्छन्ति केचिच्चानशने रताः ।
कर्म केचित्प्रशंसन्ति प्रशान्ति चापरे जनाः ॥ १४.४९.७ ॥
Some desire food, and some are devoted to fasting. Some praise action, and others praise tranquillity.
14.49.8
केचिन्मोक्षं प्रशंसन्ति केचिद्भोगान्पृथग्विधान् ।
धनानि केचिदिच्छन्ति निर्धनत्वमथापरे।
उपास्य साधनं त्वेके नैतदस्तीति चापरे ॥ १४.४९.८ ॥
Some praise liberation, and some praise enjoyments of many kinds. Some desire wealth, and others poverty. Some, having worshipped the means, and others say, 'this does not exist.'
14.49.9
अहिंसानिरताश्चान्ये केचिद्धिंसापरायणाः ।
पुण्येन यशसा चान्ये नैतदस्तीति चापरे ॥ १४.४९.९ ॥
Some are devoted to non-violence, and some are intent on violence. Some through merit and fame, and others say, 'this does not exist.'
14.49.10
सद्भावनिरताश्चान्ये केचित्संशयिते स्थिताः ।
दुःखादन्ये सुखादन्ये ध्यानमित्यपरे जनाः ॥ १४.४९.१० ॥
Some are devoted to good disposition, and some stand in doubt. Some from suffering, and others from happiness. Other people say, 'meditation.'
14.49.11
यज्ञ इत्यपरे विप्राः प्रदानमिति चापरे ।
तपस्त्वन्ये प्रशंसन्ति स्वाध्यायमपरे जनाः ॥ १४.४९.११ ॥
Some brahmins say sacrifice, and others say giving. Others praise austerity, and other people praise self-study.
14.49.12
ज्ञानं संन्यासमित्येके स्वभावं भूतचिन्तकाः ।
सर्वमेके प्रशंसन्ति न सर्वमिति चापरे ॥ १४.४९.१२ ॥
Some say knowledge is renunciation; those who reflect on beings praise nature. Some praise everything, and others say, 'not everything.'
14.49.13
एवं व्युत्थापिते धर्मे बहुधा विप्रबोधिते ।
निश्चयं नाधिगच्छामः श्रेयः किमिति सत्तम ॥ १४.४९.१३ ॥
Thus, when dharma has been unsettled in many ways and confused by the learned, we do not attain certainty about what the highest good is, O best of the good.
14.49.14
इदं श्रेय इदं श्रेय इत्येवं व्युस्थितो जनः ।
यो हि यस्मिन्रतो धर्म स तं पूजयते सदा ॥ १४.४९.१४ ॥
People, saying 'This is the highest good, this is the highest good,' stand divided. Whoever is devoted to a particular dharma always honours that very one.
14.49.15
तेन नोऽविहिता प्रज्ञा मनश्च बहुलीकृतम् ।
एतदाख्यातमिच्छामः श्रेयः किमिति सत्तम ॥ १४.४९.१५ ॥
Therefore our understanding is unsettled and our minds are split into many parts. We wish this to be declared: what is the highest good, O best of the good?
14.49.16
अतः परं तु यद्गुह्यं तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति ।
सत्वक्षेत्रज्ञयोश्चापि सम्बन्धः केन हेतुना ॥ १४.४९.१६ ॥
Beyond this, what is secret, that you are able to declare: by what cause is there a connection between sattva and the knower of the field?
14.49.17
एवमुक्तः स तैर्विप्रैर्भगवाँल्लोकभावनः ।
तेभ्यः शशंस धर्मात्मा याथातथ्येन बुद्धिमान् ॥ १४.४९.१७ ॥
Thus addressed by those brahmins, the blessed one, sustainer of the worlds, righteous-souled and wise, declared it to them as it truly is.