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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 124

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 124

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 124

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 124 of the classical Mahābhārata with 70 verses.

Total: 70 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.124.1–70 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 3 (Verses 30 shown)
इमे जना नरश्रेष्ठ प्रशंसन्ति सदा भुवि । धर्मस्य शीलमेवादौ ततो मे संशयो महान् ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said All persons on Earth, O foremost of men, speak highly of virtuous conduct, I have, however, great misgivings regarding this subject of their praise.
यदि तच्छक्यमस्माभिर्ज्ञातुं धर्मभृतां वर । श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं यथैतदुपलभ्यते ॥
English Translation
If the subject be not far from our comprehension, O foremost of virtuous men, I wish to hear everything about the way in which virtuous conduct can be acquired.
कथं नु प्राप्यते शीलं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भारत । किंलक्षणं च तत्प्रोक्तं ब्रूहि मे वदतां वर ॥
English Translation
How is, that conduct acquired, O Bharata! I wish to hear it. Tell me also, O foremost of orators, what are the characteristics of that conduct.
पुरा दुर्योधनेनेह धृतराष्ट्राय मानद । आख्यातं तप्यमानेन श्रियं दृष्ट्वा तथागताम् ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said 'Formerly, O givers of honours, Duryodhana while burning within at your and your brothers' prosperity at Indraprastha, and for the jeers he received for his mistakes at the grand palace, had asked his father Dhritarashtra the same question. Hear what transpired at that time, O Bharata.
इन्द्रप्रस्थे महाराज तव सभ्रातृकस्य ह । सभायां चावहसनं तत्सर्वं शृणु भारत ॥
भवतस्तां सभां दृष्ट्वा समृद्धिं चाप्यनुत्तमाम् । दुर्योधनस्तदासीनः सर्वं पित्रे न्यवेदयत् ॥
English Translation
Having seen that grand palace and that great prosperity of yours, Duryodhana, while sitting before his father described to him of all he had seen.
श्रुत्वा च धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि दुर्योधनवचस्तदा । अब्रवीत्कर्णसहितं दुर्योधनमिदं वचः ॥
English Translation
Having heard the words of Duryodhana, Dhritarashtra, addressing his son and Karna, replied to him as follows.
किमर्थं तप्यसे पुत्र श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः । श्रुत्वा त्वामनुनेष्यामि यदि सम्यग्भविष्यसि ॥
English Translation
Dhritarashtra said Why do you grieve, O son! I wish to hear the cause fully. If after hearing the reasons they appear to be sufficient, I shall then try to instruct you.
यथा त्वं महदैश्वर्यं प्राप्तः परपुरंजय । किंकरा भ्रातरः सर्वे मित्राः संबन्धिनस्तथा ॥
English Translation
O subjugator of hostile towns, you too have acquired great affluence. All your brothers are ever obedient to your, as also all your friends and relatives.
आच्छादयसि प्रावारानश्नासि पिशितोदनम् । आजानेया वहन्ति त्वां कस्माच्छोचसि पुत्रक ॥
English Translation
You are clad in the best robes. You take the richest food. Horses of the best species bear you. Why then have you become pale and emaciated?
दश तानि सहस्राणि स्नातकानां महात्मनाम् । भुञ्जते रुक्मपात्रीषु युधिष्ठिरनिवेशने ॥
English Translation
Duryodhana said Ten thousands of great Snataka Brahmanas daily take their food at Yudhishthira's palace from plates of gold.
दृष्ट्वा च तां सभां दिव्यां दिव्यपुष्पफलान्विताम् । अश्वांस्तित्तिरकल्माषान्रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥
English Translation
Seeing his beautiful palaces adorned with excellent flowers and fruits, his horses of the Tittiri and the Kalmasha breeds, his dresses of various sorts, indeed, seeing that high prosperity of my enemies, viz., the sons of Pandu,-a prosperity resembling that of Vaishravana himself,-I am burning with grief, O Bharata!-
दृष्ट्वा तां पाण्डवेयानामृद्धिमिन्द्रोपमां शुभाम् । अमित्राणां सुमहतीमनुशोचामि मानद ॥
यदीच्छसि श्रियं तात यादृशीं तां युधिष्ठिरे । विशिष्टां वा नरव्याघ्र शीलवान्भव पुत्रक ॥
English Translation
Dhritarashtra said If you wish, O sire, to acquire prosperity like that of Yudhishthira or that which is even superior to it, do you then, O son, try to be of virtuous conduct.
शीलेन हि त्रयो लोकाः शक्या जेतुं न संशयः । न हि किंचिदसाध्यं वै लोके शीलवतां भवेत् ॥
English Translation
Forsooth, one may, by his conduct alone, conquer the three words. There is nothing which virtuous persons cannot obtain.
एकरात्रेण मान्धाता त्र्यहेण जनमेजयः । सप्तरात्रेण नाभागः पृथिवीं प्रतिपेदिवान् ॥
English Translation
Mandhata conquered the whole word in only one night, Janamejaya, in course of three; and Nabhaga, in course of seven.
एते हि पार्थिवाः सर्वे शीलवन्तो दमान्विताः । अतस्तेषां गुणक्रीता वसुधा स्वयमागमत् ॥
English Translation
All these kings were endued with mercy and virtuous conduct. Therefore, the Earth came to them at their will, won over by their virtues!
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । नारदेन पुरा प्रोक्तं शीलमाश्रित्य भारत ॥
English Translation
Regarding it is cited the discourse that took place in days of yore between Kamandaka and Angarishtha.
प्रह्रादेन हृतं राज्यं महेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः । शीलमाश्रित्य दैत्येन त्रैलोक्यं च वशीकृतम् ॥
English Translation
In days of yore, the Daitya Prahlada, by the merit of his conduct, snatched from the great Indra his sovereignty and brought the three worlds under subjection.
ततो बृहस्पतिं शक्रः प्राञ्जलिः समुपस्थितः । उवाच च महाप्राज्ञः श्रेय इच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥
English Translation
Shakra then, with joined hands, approached Brihaspati. Endued with great wisdom, the god of the celestials addressed to the great preceptor, saying,-I desire you to tell me the source of happiness.
ततो बृहस्पतिस्तस्मै ज्ञानं नैःश्रेयसं परम् । कथयामास भगवान्देवेन्द्राय कुरूद्वह ॥
English Translation
Thus accosted, Brihaspati said to him that Knowledge is the source of the greatest happiness.
एतावच्छ्रेय इत्येव बृहस्पतिरभाषत । इन्द्रस्तु भूयः पप्रच्छ क्व विशेषो भवेदिति ॥
English Translation
Indeed, Brihaspati pointed out knowledge to be the source of supreme happiness. Indra, however, once more asked him as to whether there was any thing superior to that.
विशेषोऽस्ति महांस्तात भार्गवस्य महात्मनः । तत्रागमय भद्रं ते भूय एव पुरंदर ॥
English Translation
Brihaspati said There is some thing, O son, which is still higher. The great Bhargava (Ushanas) will instruct your better. Go to him, blessed be you, and enquire of him, O king of the celestials!
आत्मनस्तु ततः श्रेयो भार्गवात्सुमहायशाः । ज्ञानमागमयत्प्रीत्या पुनः स परमद्युतिः ॥
English Translation
Endued with great ascetic merit and effulgence, the king of the celestials then went to Bhargava and acquired from him, with a gratified heart, a knowledge of that which was to his greatest good.
तेनापि समनुज्ञातो भार्गवेण महात्मना । श्रेयोऽस्तीति पुनर्भूयः शुक्रमाह शतक्रतुः ॥
English Translation
Acquiring the permission of the great Bhargava, the celebrator of a hundred sacrifices once more asked the sage as to whether there was anything superior to what the sage had already told him.
भार्गवस्त्वाह धर्मज्ञः प्रह्रादस्य महात्मनः । ज्ञानमस्ति विशेषेण ततो हृष्टश्च सोऽभवत् ॥
English Translation
The omniscient Bhargava said,-The great Prahlada has better knowledge!-Learning this, Indra became highly pleased.
स ततो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा प्रह्रादं पाकशासनः । सृत्वा प्रोवाच मेधावी श्रेय इच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥
English Translation
The chastiser of Paka, endued with supreme intelligence, assumed the form of a Brahman and going to Prahlada, asked him saying-I desire to hear what conduces to felicity.
प्रह्रादस्त्वब्रवीद्विप्रं क्षणो नास्ति द्विजर्षभ । त्रैलोक्यराज्ये सक्तस्य ततो नोपदिशामि ते ॥
English Translation
Prahlada answered the Brahmana, saying,-O chief of the twice-born, I have no time, being wholly engaged with the task of ruling the three worlds!-I cannot therefore, instruct you.
ब्राह्मणस्त्वब्रवीद्वाक्यं कस्मिन्काले क्षणो भवेत् । ततोपदिष्टमिच्छामि यद्यत्कार्यान्तरं भवेत् ॥
English Translation
The Brahmana said,-O king when you may have leisure, I wish to listen to your instructions about that conduct which yields good!
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