Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 14.97
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14.97.1
एवमात्मोद्भवं सर्वं यगदुद्दिश्य केशवः ।
धर्मान्धर्मात्मजस्याथ पुण्यानकथयत्प्रभुः ॥ १४.९७.१ ॥
Thus Keśava (Kṛṣṇa), pointing to all that arose from the self, then related to the son of Dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira) the sacred duties of dharma.
14.97.2
शृणु पाण्डव तत्वेन पवित्रं पापनाशनम् ।
कथ्यमानं मया पुण्यं धर्मशास्त्रफलं महत् ॥ १४.९७.२ ॥
Listen, son of Pāṇḍu, truly: this that I am telling is holy, destroyer of sin, meritorious, the great fruit of the scriptures of dharma.
14.97.3
यः शृणोति शुचिर्भूत्वा एकचित्तस्तपोयुतः ।
स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यामायुष्यं धर्मं ज्ञेयं युधिष्ठिर ॥ १४.९७.३ ॥
He who hears this, becoming pure, single-minded and endowed with austerity — O Yudhiṣṭhira, this dharma should be known as bringing heaven, fame and long life.
14.97.4
श्रद्दधानस्य तस्येह यत्पापं पूर्वसंचितम् ।
विनश्यत्याशु तत्सर्वं मद्भक्तस्य विशेषतः ॥ १४.९७.४ ॥
For the one who has faith, whatever sin was accumulated before perishes swiftly — especially for my devotee.
14.97.5
एवं श्रुत्वा वचः पुण्यं सत्यं केशवभाषितम् ।
प्रहृष्टमनसो भूत्वा चिन्तयन्तोऽद्भुतं परम् ॥ १४.९७.५ ॥
Having heard these meritorious and true words spoken by Keśava, with gladdened minds they began to reflect upon the supremely wonderful.
14.97.6
देवब्रह्मर्षयः सर्वे गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ।
भूता यक्षग्रहाश्चैव गुह्यका भुजगास्तथा ॥ १४.९७.६ ॥
The gods, the brahmarṣis, all the gandharvas and apsarases, as well as the spirits, yakṣas, graha-demons, guhyakas and serpents.
14.97.7
वालखिल्या महात्मानो योगिनस्तत्वदर्शिनः ।
तथा भागवताश्चापि पञ्चकालमुपासकाः ॥ १४.९७.७ ॥
The great-souled Vālakhilyas, the yogis who have seen the truth, and likewise the Bhāgavatas who worship by the Pañcakāla rite.
14.97.8
कौतूहलसमाविष्टाः प्रहृष्टैन्द्रियमानसाः ।
श्रोतुकामाः परं धर्मं वैष्णवं धर्मशासनम्।
हृदि कर्तुं च तद्वाक्यं प्रणेमुः शिरसा नताः ॥ १४.९७.८ ॥
Filled with eager curiosity, their senses and minds delighted, desiring to hear the supreme Vaiṣṇava teaching of dharma, and to hold its words in their hearts, they all bowed down with heads lowered.
14.97.9
ततस्तान्वासुदेवेन दृष्टान्दिव्येन चक्षुषा ।
विमुक्तपापानालोक्य प्रणम्य शिरसा हरिम्।
पप्रच्छ केशवं धर्मं धर्मपुत्रः प्रतापवान् ॥ १४.९७.९ ॥
Then Vāsudeva, seeing them with his divine eye and knowing them freed from sin, the mighty son of Dharma, having bowed down with head lowered to Hari Keśava, asked him about dharma.
14.97.10
कीदृशी ब्राह्मणस्याथ क्षत्रियस्यापि कीदृशी ।
वैश्यस्य कीदृशी देव गतिः शूद्रस्य कीदृशी ॥ १४.९७.१० ॥
O god, what is the destiny of a brāhmaṇa? And what is the destiny of a kṣatriya? What is the destiny of a vaiśya, and what is the destiny of a śūdra?
14.97.11
कथं बध्येत पाशेन ब्राह्मणस्तु यमालये ।
क्षत्रियो वाथ वैश्यो वा शूद्रो वा बध्यते कथम्।
एतत्कर्मफलं ब्रूहि लोकनाथ नमोस्तु ते ॥ १४.९७.११ ॥
In Yama's realm, how is a brāhmaṇa bound by the noose, or a kṣatriya, or a vaiśya, or a śūdra? Tell me the fruit of this action, O lord of the worlds; homage be to you.
14.97.12
पृष्टोऽथ केशवो ह्येवं धर्मपुत्रेण धीमता ।
उवाच संसारगतिं चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य कर्मजाम् ॥ १४.९७.१२ ॥
Thus questioned by the wise son of Dharma, Keśava spoke of the course of transmigration arising from the deeds of the four social orders.
14.97.13
शृणु वर्णक्रमेणैव धर्मं धर्मभृतां वर ।
नास्ति किंचिन्नरश्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणस्य तु दुष्कृतम् ॥ १४.९७.१३ ॥
Listen to the dharma in the order of the classes, O best of those who bear dharma. O best of men, a brahmin has no evil deed at all.
14.97.14
शिखांयज्ञोपवीता ये सन्ध्यां ये चाप्युपासते ।
यैश्च पूर्णाहुतिः प्राप्ता विधिवज्जुह्वते च ये ॥ १४.९७.१४ ॥
Those who wear the topknot and the sacred thread, who perform the twilight worship, who have attained the full oblation and who offer sacrifice according to rule.
14.97.15
वैश्वदेवं च ये चक्रुः पूजयन्त्यतिथींश्च ये ।
नित्यं स्वाध्यायशीलाश्च जपयज्ञपराश्च ये ॥ १४.९७.१५ ॥
Those who perform the Vaiśvadeva offering, who honour guests, who are constantly devoted to Vedic study, and who are intent on the sacrifice of recitation.
14.97.16
सायंप्रातर्हुताशाश्च शूद्रभोजनवर्जिताः ।
डंभानृतविमुक्ताश्च स्वदारनिरताश्च ये।
पञ्चयज्ञपरा ये च येऽग्निहोत्रमुपासते ॥ १४.९७.१६ ॥
Those who make oblations in the fire at evening and at morning, who abstain from a śūdra's food, who are free from pretence and falsehood, who delight in their own wives, who are intent on the five sacrifices, and who perform the Agnihotra.
14.97.17
दहन्ति दुष्कृतं येषां हूयमानास्त्रयोऽग्नयः ।
नष्टदुष्कृतकर्माणो ब्रह्मलोकं व्रजन्ति ते ॥ १४.९७.१७ ॥
The three fires into which offerings are poured burn away the evil deeds of those for whom they are offered; with their evil deeds destroyed, they go to the world of Brahmā.
14.97.18
ब्रह्मलोके पुनः कामं गन्धर्वैर्ब्रह्मगायकैः ।
उद्गीयमानाः प्रयतैः पूज्यमानाः स्वयंभुवा।
ब्रह्मिलोके प्रमोदन्ते यावदाभूतसंप्लुवम् ॥ १४.९७.१८ ॥
In the world of Brahmā they rejoice at will again, sung to by the Gandharvas who chant the Brahman hymns, sung by the devout, honoured by the self-existent one, until the dissolution of beings.
14.97.19
क्षत्रियोपि स्थितो राज्ये स्वधर्मपरिपालकः ।
सम्यक्प्रजाः पालयिता षड्भागनिरतः सदा ॥ १४.९७.१९ ॥
A warrior who stands firm in his kingdom, keeps his own duty, rightly protects his subjects, and is always devoted to taking the sixth part.
14.97.20
यज्ञदानरतो धीरः स्वदारनिरतः सदा ।
शास्त्रानुसारी तत्वज्ञः प्रजाकार्यपरायणः ॥ १४.९७.२० ॥
Steadfast, devoted to sacrifice and gifts, always faithful to his own wife, following the scriptures, knowing the truth, intent on the affairs of his people.
14.97.21
विप्रेभ्यः कामदो नित्यं भृत्यानां भरणे रतः ।
सत्यसन्धः शुचिर्नित्यं लोभडंभविवर्जितः।
क्षत्रियोप्युत्तमां याति गतिं देवनिषेविताम् ॥ १४.९७.२१ ॥
Always granting desires to brahmins, devoted to supporting his servants, true to his vows, always pure, free from greed and pretence: such a warrior too attains the highest destination, served by the gods.
14.97.22
तत्र दिव्याप्सरोभिस्तु गन्धर्वैश्च विशेषतः ।
सेव्यमानो महातेजाः क्रीडते शक्रपूजितः ॥ १४.९७.२२ ॥
There, attended by the divine apsarases and especially by the Gandharvas, of great splendour, honoured by Indra, he delights himself.
14.97.23
चतुर्थगानि वै त्रिंशत्क्रीडित्वा तत्र देववत् ।
इह मानुष्यलोके तु चतुर्वेदी द्विजो भवेत् ॥ १४.९७.२३ ॥
There, like a god, having played for thirty fourth-age periods, he is then born here in the human world as a twice-born brahmin who knows the four Vedas.
14.97.24
कृषिगोपालनिरतो धर्मानवेषणतत्परः ।
दानधर्मेपि निरतो विप्रशुश्रूषकस्तथा ॥ १४.९७.२४ ॥
Devoted to farming and cattle-tending, intent on seeking dharma, also devoted to the dharma of giving, and likewise one who serves the Brahmins.
14.97.25
सत्यसन्धः शुचिर्नित्यं लोभडंभविवर्जितः ।
ऋजुः स्वदारनिरतो हिंसाद्रोहविवर्जितः ॥ १४.९७.२५ ॥
Firm in truth, always pure, free from greed and pretence, upright, devoted to his own wife, and free from violence and malice.
14.97.26
वणिग्धर्मान्नमुञ्चन्वै देवब्राह्मणपूजकः ।
वैश्यः स्वर्गतिमाप्नोति पूज्यमानोप्सरोगणैः ॥ १४.९७.२६ ॥
A vaiśya who does not abandon the duties of trade and who honours gods and Brahmins attains the path to heaven, honoured by troops of apsarases.
14.97.27
चतुर्युगानि वै त्रिंशत्क्रीडित्वा दश पञ्च च ।
इह मानुष्यलोके च राजा भवति वीर्यवान् ॥ १४.९७.२७ ॥
Having enjoyed thirty and fifteen cosmic yugas, he is then reborn in this human world as a mighty king.
14.97.28
सुवर्णकोट्यः पञ्चाशद्रत्नानां च शतं तथा ।
हस्त्यश्वरश्वसंयुक्तो महाभोगांश्च सेवते ॥ १४.९७.२८ ॥
Possessing fifty crores of gold, a hundred jewels, and elephants, horses and chariots, he enjoys great pleasures.
14.97.29
त्रयाणामपि वर्णानां शुश्रूषानिरतः सदा ।
विशेषतस्तु विप्राणां दासवद्यस्तु तिष्टति ॥ १४.९७.२९ ॥
Always devoted to serving the three classes, and especially one who stands like a servant to the Brahmins.
14.97.30
अयाचितप्रदाता च सत्यशौचसमन्वितः ।
गुरुदेवार्चनरतः परदारविवर्जितः ॥ १४.९७.३० ॥
He who gives without being asked, is endowed with truth and purity, delights in honouring teachers and gods, and keeps away from others' wives.
14.97.31
परपीडामकृत्वैव भत्यवर्गं बिभर्ति यः ।
शूद्रोपि स्वर्गमाप्नोति जीवानामभयप्रदः ॥ १४.९७.३१ ॥
He who supports his dependants without causing harm to others, and gives fearlessness to living beings, attains heaven even if he is a śūdra.
14.97.32
स स्वर्गकलोके क्रीडित्वा वर्षकोटिं महातपाः ।
इह मानुषलोके तु वैश्यो धनपतिर्भवेत् ॥ १४.९७.३२ ॥
Having enjoyed ten million years in the world of heaven, that great ascetic is born here in the human world as a wealthy vaiśya, a lord of riches.
14.97.33
एवं धर्मात्परं नास्ति महत्संसारमोक्षणम् ।
न च धर्मात्पर किंचित्पापकर्मव्यपोहनम् ॥ १४.९७.३३ ॥
Thus there is nothing higher than dharma for liberation from the great bondage of saṃsāra, and nothing higher than dharma for removing sinful deeds.
14.97.34
तस्माद्धर्मः सदा कार्यो मानुष्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम् ।
न हि धर्मानुरक्तानां लोके किंचन दुर्लभम् ॥ १४.९७.३४ ॥
Therefore one should always practise dharma, having obtained the rare human birth; for to those devoted to dharma nothing in the world is rare.
14.97.35
स्वयंभुविहितो धर्मो यो यस्येह नरेश्वर ।
स तेन क्षपयेत्पापं सम्यगाचरितेन च ॥ १४.९७.३५ ॥
O lord of men, the dharma ordained here by the Self-existent one for each person — by practising that rightly, one should destroy one's sin.
14.97.36
सहजं यद्भदेत्कर्म न तत्त्याज्यं हि केनचित् ।
स एव तस्य धर्मो हि तेन सिद्धिं स गच्छति ॥ १४.९७.३६ ॥
Innate action should never be abandoned by anyone. That alone is his dharma, and by it he attains perfection.
14.97.37
विगुणोपि स्वधर्मस्तु पापकर्म व्यपोहति ।
एवमेव तु धर्मोपि क्षीयते पापवर्धनात् ॥ १४.९७.३७ ॥
Even one's own dharma, though imperfectly performed, drives away sinful action. In the same way, dharma too diminishes through the growth of sin.
14.97.38
भगवन्देवदेवेश श्रोतुं कौतूहलं हि मे ।
शुभस्याप्यशुभस्यापि क्षयवृद्धी यथाक्रमम् ॥ १४.९७.३८ ॥
O Blessed One, Lord of the gods, I am eager to hear how the decline and growth of both the auspicious and the inauspicious take place, in due order.
14.97.39
शृणु पार्थिव तत्सर्वं धर्मसूक्ष्मं सनातनम् ।
दुर्विज्ञेयतमं नित्यं यत्र मग्ना महाजनाः ॥ १४.९७.३९ ॥
Listen, O king, to all of it: the subtle and eternal dharma, most difficult to comprehend, in which the great men are always immersed.
14.97.40
यथैव शीतमुदकमुष्णेन बहुना वृतम् ।
भवेत्तु तत्क्षणादुष्णं शीतत्वं च विनश्यति ॥ १४.९७.४० ॥
Just as cold water surrounded by much heat becomes hot in that very instant, and its coldness is destroyed.
14.97.41
यथोष्णं वा भवेदल्पं शीतेन बहुना वृतम् ।
शीतलं च भवेत्सर्वमुष्णत्वं च विनश्यति ॥ १४.९७.४१ ॥
Or as a little hot thing surrounded by much cold becomes wholly cool, and its heat is destroyed.
14.97.42
एवं च यद्भवेद्भूरि सुकृतं वाऽपि दुष्कृतम् ।
तदल्पं क्षपयेच्छीघ्रं नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ १४.९७.४२ ॥
Thus, whether a good deed or an evil deed is great, even a small part of it quickly destroys it; there is no need for deliberation here.
14.97.43
समत्वे सति राजेन्द्र तयोः सुकृतपापयोः ।
गूहितस्य भवेद्वृद्धिः कीर्तितस्य भवेत्क्षयः ॥ १४.९७.४३ ॥
O best of kings, when those two, good deed and sin, are equal, what is concealed grows and what is proclaimed decays.
14.97.44
ख्यापनेनानुतापेन प्रायः पापं विनश्यति ।
तथा कृतस्तु राजेन्द्र धर्मो नश्यति मानद ॥ १४.९७.४४ ॥
By confession and remorse, sin is mostly destroyed; but, O best of kings, O giver of honour, if it is done in the same way, dharma is destroyed.
14.97.45
तावुभौ गूहितौ सम्यग्वृद्धिं यातो न संशयः ।
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन न पापं गूहयेद्बुधः ॥ १४.९७.४५ ॥
Those two, when well concealed, certainly grow; there is no doubt. Therefore the wise man should not conceal sin with every effort.
14.97.46
तस्मादेतत्प्रयत्नेनि कीर्तयेत्क्षयकारणात् ।
तस्मात्संकीर्तयेत्पापं नित्यं धर्मं च गूहयेत् ॥ १४.९७.४६ ॥
Therefore one should proclaim this with effort, for the sake of destruction; therefore one should always proclaim sin, and always conceal dharma.