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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 264

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 264

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 264

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 264 of the classical Mahābhārata with 20 verses.

Total: 20 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.264.1–20 • 250 Lexicon Terms
बहूनां यज्ञतपसामेकार्थानां पितामह । धर्मार्थं न सुखार्थार्थं कथं यज्ञः समाहितः ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said Of all sorts of sacrifices, all of which, of course, are said to have but one object, tell me, O grandfather, what that sacrifice is which has been ordained for only the sake of virtue and not for the acquisition of either heaven or riches.
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि नारदेनानुकीर्तितम् । उञ्छवृत्तेः पुरावृत्तं यज्ञार्थे ब्राह्मणस्य ह ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Regarding it I shall relate to you the history, formerly recited by Narada, of a Brahmana who for celebrating sacrifices, lived like a beggar.
राष्ट्रे धर्मोत्तरे श्रेष्ठे विदर्भेष्वभवद्द्विजः । उञ्छवृत्तिरृषिः कश्चिद्यज्ञे यज्ञं समादधे ॥
English Translation
Narada said In one of the foremost of kingdins that was known for virtue, there lived a Brahmana. Devoted to penances and living like a wretched beggar, that Brahmana was earnestly engaged in worshipping Vishnu in sacrifices.
श्यामाकमशनं तत्र सूर्यपत्नी सुवर्चला । तिक्तं च विरसं शाकं तपसा स्वादुतां गतम् ॥
English Translation
He had Shyamaka for his food, as also Suryaparni and Suvarchala and other kinds of potherbs that were bitter and distasteful. for his penances, all these tasted sweet.
उपगम्य वने पृथ्वीं सर्वभूतविहिंसया । अपि मूलफलैरिज्यो यज्ञः स्वर्ग्यः परंतप ॥
English Translation
Not injuring any creature, and leading the life of a forest recluse, he acquired ascetic success. With roots and fruits, O scorcher of foes, he used to worship Vishnu in sacrifices that were intended to bestow heaven upon him.
तस्य भार्या व्रतकृशा शुचिः पुष्करचारिणी । यज्ञपत्नीत्वमानीता सत्येनानुविधीयते । सा तु शापपरित्रस्ता न स्वभावानुवर्तिनी ॥
English Translation
The Brahmana, whose name was Satya, had a wife namely Pushkaradharini. She was pureminded, and had emaciated herself by practising many austere vows. She did not, however, approve of the conduct of her husband. Summoned, however, to sit by him as his wife (in a sacrifice), she feared to incur his curse and, therefore, comported herself with his conduct. The garments that covered her body consisted of the plumes of peacocks.
मयूरजीर्णपर्णानां वस्त्रं तस्याश्च पर्णिनाम् । अकामायाः कृतं तत्र यज्ञे होत्रानुमार्गतः ॥
शुक्रस्य पुनराजातिरपध्यानादधर्मवित् । तस्मिन्वने समीपस्थो मृगोऽभूत्सहचारिकः । वचोभिरब्रवीत्सत्यं त्वया दुष्कृतकं कृतम् ॥
यदि मन्त्राङ्गहीनोऽयं यज्ञो भवति वैकृतः । मां भोः प्रक्षिप होत्रे त्वं गच्छ स्वर्गमतन्द्रितः ॥
ततस्तु यज्ञे सावित्री साक्षात्तं संन्यमन्त्रयत् । निमन्त्रयन्ती प्रत्युक्ता न हन्यां सहवासिनम् ॥
English Translation
Then the presiding goddess of the solar disc, viz., Savitri, came to that sacrifice in her incarnate form and insisted upon that Brahmana in doing what he was desired by that deer to do. The Brahmana said to that goddess, however, who thus insisted,-I shall not kill this deer who lives with me in this same neighbourhood!
एवमुक्ता निवृत्ता सा प्रविष्टा यज्ञपावकम् । किं नु दुश्चरितं यज्ञे दिदृक्षुः सा रसातलम् ॥
English Translation
Thus addressed by the Brahmana, the goddess Savitri desisted and entered the sacrificial fire from desire of seeing the nether world, and wishing to avoid the sight of other short-comings in that sacrifice.
सा तु बद्धाञ्जलिं सत्यमयाचद्धरिणं पुनः । सत्येन संपरिष्वज्य संदिष्टो गम्यतामिति ॥
English Translation
The deer then, with joined hands, again begged of Satya for that. Satya, however, embraced him in friendship and sent him away,-Go!
ततः स हरिणो गत्वा पदान्यष्टौ न्यवर्तत । साधु हिंसय मां सत्य हतो यास्यामि सद्गतिम् ॥
English Translation
At this, the deer seemed to leave that place. But after he had gone eight steps he came back and said,-Verily, do you kill me! Truly do I say, killed by you I am sure to attain to a pious end!
पश्य ह्यप्सरसो दिव्या मया दत्तेन चक्षुषा । विमानानि विचित्राणि गन्धर्वाणां महात्मनाम् ॥
English Translation
I give you (spiritual) vision. Behold the celestial Apsaras and the handsome cars of the great Gandharvas!
ततः सुरुचिरं दृष्ट्वा स्पृहालग्नेन चक्षुषा । मृगमालोक्य हिंसायां स्वर्गवासं समर्थयत् ॥
English Translation
Seeing (that spectacle) for a long time, with longing eyes, and seeing the deer and thinking that living in heaven can be acquired by only slaughter, he approved (of it).
स तु धर्मो मृगो भूत्वा बहुवर्षोषितो वने । तस्य निष्कृतिमाधत्त न ह्यसौ यज्ञसंविधिः ॥
English Translation
It was Dharına himself who had become a deer that lived in that forest for many years. Dharma provided for his salvation and advised him, saying,-This (destruction of living creatures) is not according to the ordinances about Sacrifice..
तस्य तेन तु भावेन मृगहिंसात्मनस्तदा । तपो महत्समुच्छिन्नं तस्माद्धिंसा न यज्ञिया ॥
English Translation
The penances, which had been of very great measure, of that Brahmana whose mind had cherished the desire of killing the deer, diminished greatly on account of that thought itself. The injuring of living creatures, therefore, is no part of sacrifice.
ततस्तं भगवान्धर्मो यज्ञं याजयत स्वयम् । समाधानं च भार्याया लेभे स तपसा परम् ॥
English Translation
Then the illustrious Dharma, himself assisted that Brahmana, by acting as the priest, to perforin a sacrifice. The Brahmana, after this, on account of his penances, attained to the same state of mind with his wife.
अहिंसा सकलो धर्मो हिंसा यज्ञेऽसमाहिता । सत्यं तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि यो धर्मः सत्यवादिनाम् ॥
English Translation
Abstention from injury is the religion which is perfect about its rewards. The religion of cruelty is only so far beneficial that it leads to heaven. I have described to you the religion of Truth which, indeed, is the religion of those who utter Brahma.
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