Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 3.196
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3.196.1
मार्कण्डेयमृषयो ब्राह्मणा युधिष्ठिरश्च ।
पर्यपृच्छन्नृषिः केन दीर्घायुरासीद्बकः ॥ ३.१९६.१ ॥
Mārkaṇḍeya, the sages, the brahmins and Yudhiṣṭhira asked: by what means did the sage Baka become long-lived?
3.196.2
मार्कण्डेयस्तु तान्सर्वान्प्रत्युवाच महातपाः ।
दीर्घायुश्च बकोराजन्नृषिर्नात्र विचारणा ॥ ३.१९६.२ ॥
Then Mārkaṇḍeya, of great austerity, answered them all: O king, the sage Baka was long-lived; there is no doubt about this.
3.196.3
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु कौन्तेयो भ्रातृभिः सह भारत ।
मार्कण्डेयं पर्यपृच्छद्धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥ ३.१९६.३ ॥
Having heard this, the son of Kuntī, Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, O descendant of Bharata, asked Mārkaṇḍeya along with his brothers.
3.196.4
बकदाल्भ्यौ महात्मानौ श्रूयेते चिरजीविनौ ।
सखायौ देवराजस् यतावृषी लोकसंमतौ ॥ ३.१९६.४ ॥
Baka and Dālbhya, the two great-souled ones, are heard of as long-living friends, equal to the king of gods, sages honored by the worlds.
3.196.5
एतदिच्छामि भगवन्बकशक्रसमागमम् ।
सुखदुःखसमायुक्तं तत्त्वेन कथितं त्वया ॥ ३.१९६.५ ॥
O revered one, I wish to hear of the meeting of Baka and Śakra, joined with pleasure and pain, as you have truly related it.
3.196.6
वृत्ते देवासुरे राजन्संग्रामे रोमहर्षणे ।
त्रयाणामपि लोकानामिन्द्रो लोकाधिपोऽभवत् ॥ ३.१९६.६ ॥
O king, after the hair-raising battle of gods and asuras had taken place, Indra became lord of the three worlds.
3.196.7
सम्यग्वर्षति पर्जन्ये सस्यसंपद उत्तमाः ।
निरामयाः सुधर्मिष्ठाः प्रजा धर्मपरायणाः।
मुदितश्च जनः सर्वः स्वधर्मेषु व्यवस्थितः ॥ ३.१९६.७ ॥
When the rain-cloud pours down rain well, the finest abundance of crops comes. The people are free from disease, most devoted to dharma, and intent on dharma. All the folk are joyful and established in their own duties.
3.196.8
ताः प्रजा मुदिताः सर्वा दृष्ट्रा बलनिषूदनः ।
ततस्तु मुदितोराजन्देवराजः शतक्रतुः ॥ ३.१९६.८ ॥
Seeing all those people delighted, the destroyer of Bala — then, O king, Indra, lord of the gods, Śatakratu, was also delighted.
3.196.9
ऐरावतं समास्थाय अपश्यन्मुदिताः प्रजाः ।
आश्रमांश्च विचित्रांश् नदीश्च विविधाः शुभाः ॥ ३.१९६.९ ॥
Mounted on Airāvata, he looked upon the delighted people, and upon wondrous hermitages and many auspicious rivers.
3.196.10
नगराणि समृद्धानि घेटाञ्जनपदांस्तथा ।
प्रजापालनदक्षांश्च नरेन्द्रान्धर्मचारिणः ॥ ३.१९६.१० ॥
Prosperous cities, cattle-villages and territories, and kings skilled in protecting their people and practising dharma.
3.196.11
उदपानं प्रपा वापी तटाकानि सरांसि च ।
नानाब्रह्रह्मसमाचारैः सेवितानि द्विजोततमैः ॥ ३.१९६.११ ॥
Wells, water-booths, stepwells, tanks and lakes, frequented by the finest brahmins practising the various rites of the Veda.
3.196.12
ततोऽवतीर्य रम्यायां पृथ्व्यां राजञ्छतक्रतुः ।
तत्र रम्ये शिवे देशे बहुवृक्षसमाकुले ॥ ३.१९६.१२ ॥
Then, O king, Śatakratu descended onto the pleasant earth and came to that pleasant, auspicious region thickly crowded with many trees.
3.196.13
पूर्वस्यां दिशि रम्यायां समुद्राभ्याशतो नृप ।
तत्राश्रमपदं रम्यं मृगद्विजनिषेवितम्।
तत्राश्रमपदे रम्ये बकं पश्यति देवराट् ॥ ३.१९६.१३ ॥
O king, in the eastern direction, near the ocean, there is a lovely place. There is a pleasant hermitage frequented by deer and birds. In that lovely hermitage, the king of the gods saw Baka.
3.196.14
बकस्तु दृष्ट्वा देवेन्द्रं दृढं प्रीतमनाऽभवत् ।
पाद्यासनार्थदानेन फलमूलैरथार्चयत् ॥ ३.१९६.१४ ॥
Baka, having seen Indra, lord of the gods, became greatly pleased. Offering water for the feet and a seat, he honoured him with fruits and roots.
3.196.15
सुखोपविष्टो वरदस्ततस्तु बलसूदनः ।
ततः प्रश्नं बकं देवं उवाच त्रिदशेश्वरः ॥ ३.१९६.१५ ॥
Seated comfortably, the boon-giver, slayer of Bala, then asked Baka a question and spoke, the lord of the thirty gods.
3.196.16
शतं वर्षसहस्राणि मुने जातस्य तेऽनघ ।
समाख्याहि मम ब्रह्मन्किं दुःखं चिरजीविनाम् ॥ ३.१९६.१६ ॥
O sage, O sinless one, a hundred thousand years have passed since you were born. Tell me, O brahmin, what is the suffering of the long-lived?
3.196.17
अप्रियैः सह संवासः प्रियैश्चापि विनाभवः ।
असद्भिः संप्रयोगश्च तद्दुःखं चिरजीविनाम् ॥ ३.१९६.१७ ॥
Living with the unloved, separation from the loved ones, and association with the wicked — that is the suffering of the long-lived.
3.196.18
पुत्रदारविनाशोऽत्र ज्ञातीनां सुहृदामपि ।
परेष्वायत्तता कृच्छ्रं किंनु दुःखतरं ततः ॥ ३.१९६.१८ ॥
Here the destruction of sons and wives, the destruction of kinsmen and friends too, and the hardship of depending on others — what could be more painful than that?
3.196.19
नान्यद्दुःखतरं किंचिल्लोकेषु प्रतिभाति मे ।
अर्थैर्विहीनः पुरुषः एरैः संपरिभूयते ॥ ३.१९६.१९ ॥
I see no greater suffering anywhere in the worlds than this: a man deprived of wealth is utterly scorned by such as elephants.
3.196.20
अकुलानां कुले भावं कुलीनानां कुलक्षयम् ।
संयोगं विप्रयोगं च पश्यन्ति चिरजीविनः ॥ ३.१९६.२० ॥
Those who live long see the lowborn come into a noble family, the noble family ruined, and union and separation.
3.196.21
अपिप्रत्यक्षमेवैतत्तव देघ शतक्रतो ।
अकुलानां समृद्धानां कथं कुलविपर्ययः ॥ ३.१९६.२१ ॥
O god, Śatakratu, this is plainly before your eyes. How does the reversal of family happen to the prosperous lowborn?
3.196.22
देवदानवगन्धर्वमनुष्योरगराक्षसाः ।
प्राप्नुवन्ति विपर्यासं किंनु दुःखतरं ततः ॥ ३.१९६.२२ ॥
Gods, demons, celestial musicians, humans, serpents and rākṣasas all suffer reversal; what is more painful than that?
3.196.23
कुले जाताश् क्लिश्यन्ते दौष्कुलेयवशानुगाः ।
आढ्यैर्दरिद्राऽवमताः किंनु दुःखतरं ततः ॥ ३.१९६.२३ ॥
Those born into good families suffer, subject to the will of the lowborn; the poor are despised by the wealthy. What is more painful than that?
3.196.24
लोके वैधर्म्यमेतत्तु दृश्ते बहुविस्तरम् ।
हीनज्ञानाश्च हृष्यन्ते क्लिश्यन्ते प्राज्ञकोविदाः।
बहुदुःखपरिक्लेशं मानुष्यमिह दृश्यते ॥ ३.१९६.२४ ॥
In the world this reversal of order is seen on a wide scale: the ignorant rejoice while the wise and learned suffer. Here human life appears full of great sorrow and affliction.
3.196.25
पुनरेव महाभाग देवर्षिगणसेवित ।
समाख्याहि मम ब्रह्मन्किं सुखं चिरजीविनाम् ॥ ३.१९६.२५ ॥
Once more, O greatly fortunate one, attended by hosts of divine sages, O brahmin, tell me: what is happiness for the long-lived?
3.196.26
अष्टमे द्वादशे वाऽपि शाकं यः पचते गृहे ।
कुमित्राण्यनपाश्रित् किं वै सुखतरं ततः ॥ ३.१९६.२६ ॥
Who is happier than the one who cooks vegetables at home, even on the eighth or twelfth day, and does not depend on bad friends?
3.196.27
यत्राहानि न गण्यन्ते नैनमाहुर्महाशनम् ।
अपि शाकं पचानस्य सुखं वै मघवन्गृहे ॥ ३.१९६.२७ ॥
Where the days are not counted, and no one calls him a great eater—even for one who cooks vegetables at home there is happiness, O Maghavan.
3.196.28
आर्जितं स्वेन वीर्येण नाप्यपाश्रित्य कंचन ।
फलशाकमपि श्रेयो भोक्तुं ह्यकृपणं गृहे ॥ ३.१९६.२८ ॥
Earned by one's own strength, without depending on anyone—even fruit and vegetables eaten freely at home are better.
3.196.29
परस्य तु गृहे भोक्तुः परिभूतस् नित्यशः ।
सुमृष्टमपि न श्रेयो विकल्पोऽयमतः सताम् ॥ ३.१९६.२९ ॥
One who eats in another's house is constantly humiliated; even well-prepared food is not good for him—therefore this is no option for good people.
3.196.30
श्ववद्धि लोलुपो यस्तु परान्नं भोक्तुमिच्छति ।
धिगस्तु तस्य तद्भुक्तं कृपणस् दुरात्मनः ॥ ३.१९६.३० ॥
Shame upon that food of the miserable, evil-minded one who, greedy like a dog, desires to eat another's food.
3.196.31
यो दत्त्वाऽतिथिभृत्येभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च द्विजोत्तमः ।
शिष्टान्यन्नानि यो भुङ्क्ते किं वै सुखतरं ततः ॥ ३.१९६.३१ ॥
What is more pleasant than the best of the twice-born who, having given to guests, servants and the ancestors, eats the food that remains?
3.196.32
अतो मृष्टतरं नान्यत्पूतं किंचितच्छतक्रतो ।
दत्त्वा यस्त्वतिथिभ्योऽन्नं भुङ्क्ते तेनैव नित्यशः ॥ ३.१९६.३२ ॥
Therefore nothing is sweeter or purer than this, O Śatakratu: he who, having given food to guests, always eats by that very means.
3.196.33
तावतां गोसहस्राणां फलं प्राप्नोति दायकः ।
यदेनो यौवनकृतंतत्सर्वं नश्यते ध्रुवम् ॥ ३.१९६.३३ ॥
The giver obtains the reward of that many thousands of cows, and whatever sin was committed in youth is surely destroyed.
3.196.34
रसदक्षिणस् भुक्तस् द्विजस्य तु करे गतम् ।
यद्वारि वारिणा सिञ्चेत्तद्ध्येनस्तरते क्षणात् ॥ ३.१९६.३४ ॥
Food eaten from the hand of a twice-born with juice-rich gifts carries one across sin in an instant, as water sprinkled with water.
3.196.35
एताश्चान्याश्च वै बह्वीः कथयित्वा कथाः शुभाः ।
बकेन सह देवेन्द्र आपृच्छ्य त्रिदिवं गतः ॥ ३.१९६.३५ ॥
Having related these and many other auspicious tales, the lord of the gods took leave of Baka and went to heaven.