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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 139

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 139

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 139

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 139 of the classical Mahābhārata with 95 verses.

Total: 95 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.139.1–95 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 4 (Verses 30 shown)
हीने परमके धर्मे सर्वलोकातिलङ्घिनि । अधर्मे धर्मतां नीते धर्मे चाधर्मतां गते ॥
मर्यादासु प्रभिन्नासु क्षुभिते धर्मनिश्चये । राजभिः पीडिते लोके चोरैर्वापि विशां पते ॥
सर्वाश्रमेषु मूढेषु कर्मसूपहतेषु च । कामान्मोहाच्च लोभाच्च भयं पश्यत्सु भारत ॥
अविश्वस्तेषु सर्वेषु नित्यभीतेषु पार्थिव । निकृत्या हन्यमानेषु वञ्चयत्सु परस्परम् ॥
संप्रदीप्तेषु देशेषु ब्राह्मण्ये चाभिपीडिते । अवर्षति च पर्जन्ये मिथो भेदे समुत्थिते ॥
सर्वस्मिन्दस्युसाद्भूते पृथिव्यामुपजीवने । केन स्विद्ब्राह्मणो जीवेज्जघन्ये काल आगते ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said When virtuous practices calculated to be beneficial the worlds, disappear, when all the means and resources for subsistence fall into the hands of robbers, when such a calamitous time appears, by what means should a Brahmana, O grandfather, who from affection cannot leave his sons and grandsons maintain himself?
अतित्यक्षुः पुत्रपौत्राननुक्रोशान्नराधिप । कथमापत्सु वर्तेत तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥
कथं च राजा वर्तेत लोके कलुषतां गते । कथमर्थाच्च धर्माच्च न हीयेत परंतप ॥
राजमूला महाराज योगक्षेमसुवृष्टयः । प्रजासु व्याधयश्चैव मरणं च भयानि च ॥
English Translation
'O mighty-armed one, the peace and prosperity of subjects, profuse and seasonable rain, disease, death, and other calamities, all depend on the king.
कृतं त्रेता द्वापरश्च कलिश्च भरतर्षभ । राजमूलानि सर्वाणि मम नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥
English Translation
I have no doubt also in this, O foremost of Bharata's race, that the setting of Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali, all depend on the king's conduct.
तस्मिंस्त्वभ्यागते काले प्रजानां दोषकारके । विज्ञानबलमास्थाय जीवितव्यं तदा भवेत् ॥
English Translation
When such a time of calamity as has been described by you sets in, virtuous men should support themselves by the help of judgement.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । विश्वामित्रस्य संवादं चण्डालस्य च पक्कणे ॥
English Translation
Regarding it is cited the old story of the conversation between a cat and mouse at the foot of a banian tree.
त्रेताद्वापरयोः संधौ पुरा दैवविधिक्रमात् । अनावृष्टिरभूद्घोरा राजन्द्वादशवार्षिकी ॥
English Translation
Towards the end of Treta and the commencement of Dvapara, a dreadful drought took place, extending for twelve years, in consequence of what the gods had ordained.
प्रजानामभिवृद्धानां युगान्ते पर्युपस्थिते । त्रेतानिर्मोक्षसमये द्वापरप्रतिपादने ॥
न ववर्ष सहस्राक्षः प्रतिलोमोऽभवद्गुरुः । जगाम दक्षिणं मार्गं सोमो व्यावृत्तलक्षणः ॥
English Translation
At that time which was the end of Treta and the commencement of Dvapara, when the time came for many sufficiently old creatures to give up their lives, the thousand-eyed god poured no rain. The planet Brihaspati began to move in the opposite course, and Soma, giving up his own orbit, receded towards the south.
नावश्यायोऽपि रात्र्यन्ते कुत एवाभ्रराजयः । नद्यः संक्षिप्ततोयौघाः क्वचिदन्तर्गताभवन् ॥
English Translation
Not even could a dew-drop be seen, what to speak of the gathering clouds? The rivers were all reduced into narrow streamlets.
सरांसि सरितश्चैव कूपाः प्रस्रवणानि च । हतत्विट्कान्यलक्ष्यन्त निसर्गाद्दैवकारितात् ॥
English Translation
Everywhere, lakes, well and springs disappeared and lost their beauty for that change brought about by the gods.
उपशुष्कजलस्थाया विनिवृत्तसभाप्रपा । निवृत्तयज्ञस्वाध्याया निर्वषट्कारमङ्गला ॥
English Translation
Water becoming scarce, the places for the distribution of charities became desolate. The Brahmanas abstained from the celebration of sacrifices and recitation of the Vedas. They did no longer utter Vashats and performed other propitiatory rites.
उत्सन्नकृषिगोरक्ष्या निवृत्तविपणापणा । निवृत्तपूगसमया संप्रनष्टमहोत्सवा ॥
English Translation
Agriculture and tending of cattle were given up. Markets and shops were abandoned. Stakes for binding sacrificial animals disappeared. People no longer collected various sorts of articles for sacrifices. All festivals and amusements died.
अस्थिकङ्कालसंकीर्णा हाहाभूतजनाकुला । शून्यभूयिष्ठनगरा दग्धग्रामनिवेशना ॥
English Translation
Everywhere heaps of bones were seen and every place was filled with the shrill cries and yells of terrific creatures. The cities and towns of the Earth were shorn of inhabitants. Villages and hamlets were burnt down.
क्वचिच्चोरैः क्वचिच्छस्त्रैः क्वचिद्राजभिरातुरैः । परस्परभयाच्चैव शून्यभूयिष्ठनिर्जना ॥
English Translation
Some assailed by robbers, some, by weapons and some, by bad kings, and in fear of one another, began to fly away.
गतदैवतसंकल्पा वृद्धबालविनाकृता । गोजाविमहिषैर्हीना परस्परहराहरा ॥
English Translation
Temples and places of worship became desolate. The aged were forcibly turned out of their houses. Kine, goats, sheep and buffaloes fought (for food) and died in large numbers. The Brahmanas began to die on all sides.
हतविप्रा हतारक्षा प्रनष्टौषधिसंचया । श्यावभूतनरप्राया बभूव वसुधा तदा ॥
English Translation
Protection was at an end. Herbs and plants were dried up. The Earth was divested of all her beauty and looked highly awful like the trees in a crematorium.
तस्मिन्प्रतिभये काले क्षीणे धर्मे युधिष्ठिर । बभ्रमुः क्षुधिता मर्त्याः खादन्तः स्म परस्परम् ॥
English Translation
In that dreadful period, when righteousness was lost, O Yudhishthira, men in hunger, lost their senses and began to eat one another.
ऋषयो नियमांस्त्यक्त्वा परित्यक्ताग्निदैवताः । आश्रमान्संपरित्यज्य पर्यधावन्नितस्ततः ॥
विश्वामित्रोऽथ भगवान्महर्षिरनिकेतनः । क्षुधा परिगतो धीमान्समन्तात्पर्यधावत ॥
English Translation
The holy and great Rishi Vishvamitra, endued with great intelligence, wandered homeless and stricken with hunger.
स कदाचित्परिपतञ्श्वपचानां निवेशनम् । हिंस्राणां प्राणिहन्तॄणामाससाद वने क्वचित् ॥
English Translation
One day he arrived at a hamlet, in the midst of a forest, inhabited by cruel hunters given to the destruction of living creatures.
विभिन्नकलशाकीर्णं श्वचर्माच्छादनायुतम् । वराहखरभग्नास्थिकपालघटसंकुलम् ॥
English Translation
The little hamlet was filled with broken jars, and pots made of earth. Dog-skins were seen here and there. Heaps of bones and skulls, of boars and asses, lay in various places.
मृतचेलपरिस्तीर्णं निर्माल्यकृतभूषणम् । सर्पनिर्मोकमालाभिः कृतचिह्नकुटीमठम् ॥
English Translation
Clothes of the dead lay here and there, and the huts were adorned with garlands of used up flowers. Many of the denizens again were dressed with sloughs cast off by snakes.
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