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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 136

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 136

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 136

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 136 of the classical Mahābhārata with 212 verses.

Total: 212 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.136.1–212 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 8 (Verses 30 shown)
सर्वत्र बुद्धिः कथिता श्रेष्ठा ते भरतर्षभ । अनागता तथोत्पन्ना दीर्घसूत्रा विनाशिनी ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said You have, O foremost of Bharata's race, said that, that intelligence which provides for the future, as well as that which can meet present difficulties, is always superior, while idleness brings about destruction.
तदिच्छामि परां बुद्धिं श्रोतुं भरतसत्तम । यथा राजन्न मुह्येत शत्रुभिः परिवारितः ॥
धर्मार्थकुशल प्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । पृच्छामि त्वा कुरुश्रेष्ठ तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥
English Translation
I wish, O grandfather, to hear of that superior intelligence by which king, conversant with the scriptures and well-versed in virtue and profit, may not be stupefied even when surrounded by many enemies. I ask you this, O Kuru chief! You should describe it to a me.
शत्रुभिर्बहुभिर्ग्रस्तो यथा वर्तेत पार्थिवः । एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं सर्वमेव यथाविधि ॥
English Translation
I wish to hear everything in connection with the duties of king when he is attacked by many foes, as has been laid down in the scriptures.
विषमस्थं हि राजानं शत्रवः परिपन्थिनः । बहवोऽप्येकमुद्धर्तुं यतन्ते पूर्वतापिताः ॥
English Translation
When a king meets with distress, a large number of enemies, provoked by his past deeds, rise against him and try to defeat him.
सर्वतः प्रार्थ्यमानेन दुर्बलेन महाबलैः । एकेनैवासहायेन शक्यं स्थातुं कथं भवेत् ॥
English Translation
How can king, weak and alone, hold his own, when attacked on all sides by many powerful kings joined in a body?
कथं मित्रमरिं चैव विन्देत भरतर्षभ । चेष्टितव्यं कथं चात्र शत्रोर्मित्रस्य चान्तरे ॥
English Translation
How does a king at such times make friends and enemies? How should he, O foremost of Bharata's race, treat at such a time, both his friends and enemies?
प्रज्ञातलक्षणे राजन्नमित्रे मित्रतां गते । कथं नु पुरुषः कुर्यात्किं वा कृत्वा सुखी भवेत् ॥
English Translation
When those, who are friends really become his enemies, what should the king then do if he is to secure happiness?
विग्रहं केन वा कुर्यात्संधिं वा केन योजयेत् । कथं वा शत्रुमध्यस्थो वर्तेताबलवानिति ॥
English Translation
With whom should he make war and with whom should he make peace? Even if he be strong, how should he act by his foes?
एतद्वै सर्वकृत्यानां परं कृत्यं परंतप । नैतस्य कश्चिद्वक्तास्ति श्रोता चापि सुदुर्लभः ॥
English Translation
O scorcher of foes, this I consider to be the most momentous of all questions regarding the satisfaction of royal duties. There are few men, who wish to listen to the answer of this question, and none answer it except Shantanu's truthful son Bhishma, who has ail his senses under control. O you, who are highly blessed, think on it and describe it to me. to
ऋते शांतनवाद्भीष्मात्सत्यसंधाज्जितेन्द्रियात् । तदन्विष्य महाबाहो सर्वमेतद्वदस्व मे ॥
त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नो युधिष्ठिर गुणोदयः । शृणु मे पुत्र कार्त्स्न्येन गुह्यमापत्सु भारत ॥
English Translation
'O Yudhishthira, this question certainly becomes you. Its answer yields great happiness. Listen to me, O son, as I describe to you, O Bharata, all the duties which are not generaliy known, but which should be practised in times of distress.
अमित्रो मित्रतां याति मित्रं चापि प्रदुष्यति । सामर्थ्ययोगात्कार्याणां तद्गत्या हि सदा गतिः ॥
English Translation
An enemy becomes a friend, and a friend also becomes an enemy. Through combination of circumstances, human actions become uncertain.
तस्माद्विश्वसितव्यं च विग्रहं च समाचरेत् । देशं कालं च विज्ञाय कार्याकार्यविनिश्चये ॥
English Translation
Regarding what should be done and what should not, it is necessary that in view of the requirements of time and place, one should either trust one's enemies or make war.
संधातव्यं बुधैर्नित्यं व्यवस्यं च हितार्थिभिः । अमित्रैरपि संधेयं प्राणा रक्ष्याश्च भारत ॥
English Translation
Trying his very best, one should make friends with intelligent and wise men who desire his welfare. one should make peace with even his enemy, when, O Bharata his life cannot be saved by any other means.
यो ह्यमित्रैर्नरो नित्यं न संदध्यादपण्डितः । न सोऽर्थमाप्नुयात्किंचित्फलान्यपि च भारत ॥
English Translation
That foolish wight, who never makes peace with enemies, cannot acquire any profit or any of those fruits for which others try.
यस्त्वमित्रेण संधत्ते मित्रेण च विरुध्यते । अर्थयुक्तिं समालोक्य सुमहद्विन्दते फलम् ॥
English Translation
He, again, who makes peace with enemies and falls out with even friends after carefully considering all circumstances, acquires great fruits.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । मार्जारस्य च संवादं न्यग्रोधे मूषकस्य च ॥
English Translation
Regarding it is cited the discourse that took place in days of yore between Kamandaka and Angarishtha.
वने महति कस्मिंश्चिन्न्यग्रोधः सुमहानभूत् । लताजालपरिच्छन्नो नानाद्विजगणायुतः ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said There was a huge banian tree in the midst of a vast forest. Covered with many sorts of creepers, and various sorts of birds used to live on it.
स्कन्धवान्मेघसंकाशः शीतच्छायो मनोरमः । वैरन्त्यमभितो जातस्तरुर्व्यालमृगाकुलः ॥
English Translation
It had a large trunk from which numerous branches spread on all sides. Delightful to look at, its shade was very refreshing. It stood in the midst of the forest, and various animals lived on it.
तस्य मूलं समाश्रित्य कृत्वा शतमुखं बिलम् । वसति स्म महाप्राज्ञः पलितो नाम मूषकः ॥
English Translation
A highly wise mouse, named Palita, lived at the foot of that tree, having made a hole there with a hundred outlets.
शाखाश्च तस्य संश्रित्य वसति स्म सुखं पुरः । लोमशो नाम मार्जारः पक्षिसत्त्वावसादकः ॥
English Translation
On the branches of the tree there lived happily a cat, by name Lomasha, daily devouring large number of birds.
तत्र चागत्य चण्डालो वैरन्त्यकृतकेतनः । अयोजयत्तमुन्माथं नित्यमस्तं गते रवौ ॥
English Translation
Sometime after, a Chandala came to that forest and built a hut for himself. Every evening after sunset he spread his traps.
तत्र स्नायुमयान्पाशान्यथावत्संनिधाय सः । गृहं गत्वा सुखं शेते प्रभातामेति शर्वरीम् ॥
English Translation
Spreading his nets made a leathern strings, he returned to his hut, and, passing the night happily in sleep, returned thert at the dawn of day.
तत्र स्म नित्यं बध्यन्ते नक्तं बहुविधा मृगाः । कदाचित्तत्र मार्जारस्त्वप्रमत्तोऽप्यबध्यत ॥
English Translation
Various sorts of animals fell into his traps nightly. And it so took place that one day the cat in a moment of carelessness was caught in the trap.
तस्मिन्बद्धे महाप्राज्ञः शत्रौ नित्याततायिनि । तं कालं पलितो ज्ञात्वा विचचार सुनिर्भयः ॥
English Translation
O you of great wisdom, when his enemy the cat, who is always an enemy of the mice, was thus caught in the trap, the mouse Palita came out of his hole and began to move about fearlessly.
तेनानुचरता तस्मिन्वने विश्वस्तचारिणा । भक्षं विचरमाणेन नचिराद्दृष्टमामिषम् ॥
English Translation
While confidently passing through the forest in search of food, the mouse after a little while saw the meat.
स तमुन्माथमारुह्य तदामिषमभक्षयत् । तस्योपरि सपत्नस्य बद्धस्य मनसा हसन् ॥
English Translation
Getting upon the trap, the little animal began to eat the flesh. Laughing in his mind, he even got upon his enemy caught in the net.
आमिषे तु प्रसक्तः स कदाचिदवलोकयन् । अपश्यदपरं घोरमात्मनः शत्रुमागतम् ॥
English Translation
Busy with eating the flesh, did not see his own danger, and as he suddenly cast his eyes, he saw there a dreadful enemy of his.
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