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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 123

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 123

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 123

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 123 of the classical Mahābhārata with 25 verses.

Total: 25 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.123.1–25 • 250 Lexicon Terms
तात धर्मार्थकामानां श्रोतुमिच्छामि निश्चयम् । लोकयात्रा हि कार्त्स्न्येन त्रिष्वेतेषु प्रतिष्ठिता ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said I wish, O sire, to hear the final conclusions about Virtue, Profit and Pleasure. Depending upon which of these does life proceed?
धर्मार्थकामाः किंमूलास्त्रयाणां प्रभवश्च कः । अन्योन्यं चानुषज्जन्ते वर्तन्ते च पृथक्पृथक् ॥
English Translation
What are origins of Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure? What is again the out come to those three? They are sometimes seen intermixed with one another, and sometimes to exist separately and independently of one another,
यदा ते स्युः सुमनसो लोकसंस्थार्थनिश्चये । कालप्रभवसंस्थासु सज्जन्ते च त्रयस्तदा ॥
English Translation
When men in this world try with pure hearts to gain Profit with the help of Virtue, then those three, viz., Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure, may be seen to exist in a state of union regarding time, cause, and action.
धर्ममूलस्तु देहोऽर्थः कामोऽर्थफलमुच्यते । संकल्पमूलास्ते सर्वे संकल्पो विषयात्मकः ॥
English Translation
Profit originates f um virtue, and Pleasure is the fruit of Profit. All the three again originate from Will. Will is connected with the objects.
विषयाश्चैव कार्त्स्न्येन सर्व आहारसिद्धये । मूलमेतत्त्रिवर्गस्य निवृत्तिर्मोक्ष उच्यते ॥
English Translation
All objects exist in a body for gratifying the desire of enjoyment. Upon these dependent the threefold objects of life. Renunciation of all objects is liberation.
धर्मः शरीरसंगुप्तिर्धर्मार्थं चार्थ इष्यते । कामो रतिफलश्चात्र सर्वे चैते रजस्वलाः ॥
English Translation
It is said that Virtue is sought for the protection of the body, and Profit is for the acquisition of Virtue. Pleasure is merely the gratification of the sense. All the three are, therefore, pervaded the quality of Rajas (darkness).
संनिकृष्टांश्चरेदेनान्न चैनान्मनसा त्यजेत् । विमुक्तस्तमसा सर्वान्धर्मादीन्कामनैष्ठिकान् ॥
English Translation
Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure, when sought for the sake of heaven and such other rewards, are considered remote, because the rewards themselves are remote. They are near when sought, however, for the sake of Knowledge of Self. One should seek them for the purity of soul. One should not renounce them even in mind. If Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure are to be abandoned, one should abandon them when one has liberated one's self by ascetic penances.
श्रेष्ठबुद्धिस्त्रिवर्गस्य यदयं प्राप्नुयात्क्षणात् । बुद्ध्या बुध्येदिहार्थे न तदह्ना तु निकृष्टया ॥
English Translation
The aim of the threefold objects is emancipation. I wish men could attain it. One's acts, undertaking and completed with even the " help of intelligence may or may not yield the expected fruits.
अपध्यानमलो धर्मो मलोऽर्थस्य निगूहनम् । संप्रमोदमलः कामो भूयः स्वगुणवर्तितः ॥
English Translation
The defeat of Virtue consists in the desire of reward; that of Profit consists in amassing it; when freed from these impurities, they yield mighty fruits.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । कामन्दस्य च संवादमङ्गारिष्ठस्य चोभयोः ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said-Regarding it is cited the old story of the discourse between the Ocean and the Rivers.
कामन्दमृषिमासीनमभिवाद्य नराधिपः । अङ्गारिष्ठोऽथ पप्रच्छ कृत्वा समयपर्ययम् ॥
English Translation
One day having waited for the opportunity, king Angarishtha saluted the Rishi Kamanda as he was seated at his ease, and put to him the
यः पापं कुरुते राजा काममोहबलात्कृतः । प्रत्यासन्नस्य तस्यर्षे किं स्यात्पापप्रणाशनम् ॥
English Translation
If a king, under the influence of lust and folly, commits sin for which he afterwards repents, how, O Rishi, can those sins be destroyed.
अधर्मो धर्म इति ह योऽज्ञानादाचरेदिह । तं चापि प्रथितं लोके कथं राजा निवर्तयेत् ॥
English Translation
If again a man, guided by ignorance, does what is sinful in the belief that he is acting piously, how shall the king suppress that sin prevalent among men?
यो धर्मार्थौ समुत्सृज्य काममेवानुवर्तते । स धर्मार्थपरित्यागात्प्रज्ञानाशमिहार्छति ॥
English Translation
Kamanda said That man, who renouncing Virtue and Profit, pursues only Pleasure, reaps as the result of such conduct the destruction of his intelligence.
प्रज्ञाप्रणाशको मोहस्तथा धर्मार्थनाशकः । तस्मान्नास्तिकता चैव दुराचारश्च जायते ॥
English Translation
The destruction of intelligence is followed by carelessness which at once destroys both Virtue and Profit. Such carelessness, beget dreadful atheism and systematic wickedness.
दुराचारान्यदा राजा प्रदुष्टान्न नियच्छति । तस्मादुद्विजते लोकः सर्पाद्वेश्मगतादिव ॥
English Translation
If the king does not subdue those wicked men of sinful conduct, all good subjects then live in dread of him like a person living in a room within which a snake has concealed itself.
तं प्रजा नानुवर्तन्ते ब्राह्मणा न च साधवः । ततः संक्षयमाप्नोति तथा वध्यत्वमेति च ॥
English Translation
The subjects do not follow such a king. Brahmanas and all pious persons also do the same. As a consequence the king incurs grave danger, and ultimately the risk of his life.
अपध्वस्तस्त्ववमतो दुःखं जीवति जीवितम् । जीवेच्च यदपध्वस्तस्तच्छुद्धं मरणं भवेत् ॥
English Translation
Laden with infamy and insult, he has to carry on a miserable existence. A life of infamy, however, is tantamount to death.
अत्रैतदाहुराचार्याः पापस्य च निबर्हणम् । सेवितव्या त्रयी विद्या सत्कारो ब्राह्मणेषु च ॥
English Translation
Men well read in the scriptures have laid down the following expedients for suppressing sin. The king should always study the three Vedas. He should respect the Brahmanas and do them good.
महामना भवेद्धर्मे विवहेच्च महाकुले । ब्राह्मणांश्चापि सेवेत क्षमायुक्तान्मनस्विनः ॥
English Translation
He should be given to righteousness. He should make alliance with high families. He should serve the great Brahmanas endued with the virtue of forgiveness.
जपेदुदकशीलः स्यात्सुमुखो नान्यदास्थितः । धर्मान्वितान्संप्रविशेद्बहिः कृत्वैव दुष्कृतीन् ॥
English Translation
He should perform ablutions and recite sacred Mantras and thus spend his days happily. Banishing all wicked subjects from himself and his kingdom, he should live with virtuous men.
प्रसादयेन्मधुरया वाचाप्यथ च कर्मणा । इत्यस्मीति वदेन्नित्यं परेषां कीर्तयन्गुणान् ॥
English Translation
He should please all persons by. sweet words or good acts. He should say to all,-I am yours,-and declare the virtues of even his enemies.
अपापो ह्येवमाचारः क्षिप्रं बहुमतो भवेत् । पापान्यपि च कृच्छ्राणि शमयेन्नात्र संशयः ॥
English Translation
By behaving thus he may soon cleanse himself of his sins, and gain the high esteem of all. Forsooth, by such a conduct all his sins will be destroyed.
गुरवोऽपि परं धर्मं यद्ब्रूयुस्तत्तथा कुरु । गुरूणां हि प्रसादाद्धि श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यसि ॥
English Translation
You should satisfy all those great duties which your seniors and preceptors would indicate. You are sure to acquire, great blessings through the grace of your seniors and preceptors.'
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