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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 284

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 284

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 284

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 284 of the classical Mahābhārata with 40 verses.

Total: 40 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.284.1–40 • 250 Lexicon Terms
एष धर्मविधिस्तात गृहस्थस्य प्रकीर्तितः । तपोविधिं तु वक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥
English Translation
Parashara said I have now described to you the ordained duties of a householder. I shall now describe to you the ordinances about penances. Hear me as I describe that subject.
प्रायेण हि गृहस्थस्य ममत्वं नाम जायते । सङ्गागतं नरश्रेष्ठ भावैस्तामसराजसैः ॥
English Translation
It is generally seen, O king. that on account of sentiments fraught with Darkness and Ignorance, the senses of mine begotten by attachment, originates in the heart of householder.
गृहाण्याश्रित्य गावश्च क्षेत्राणि च धनानि च । दाराः पुत्राश्च भृत्याश्च भवन्तीह नरस्य वै ॥
English Translation
Becoming a householder, one acquires kine, fields, wealth of diverse sorts, wives, children, and servants.
एवं तस्य प्रवृत्तस्य नित्यमेवानुपश्यतः । रागद्वेषौ विवर्धेते ह्यनित्यत्वमपश्यतः ॥
English Translation
One who follows this mode of life continually casts his eye upon these objects. Under these circumstances, one's attachments and aversions multiply, and one ceases to consider unreal possessions as eternal and indestructible.
रागद्वेषाभिभूतं च नरं द्रव्यवशानुगम् । मोहजाता रतिर्नाम समुपैति नराधिप ॥
English Translation
When a person becomes possessed by attachment and aversion, and gives way to the control of worldly objects, the desire of enjoyment then seizes him, originating from carelessness, O king.
कृतार्थो भोगतो भूत्वा स वै रतिपरायणः । लाभं ग्राम्यसुखादन्यं रतितो नानुपश्यति ॥
English Translation
Considering that person as blessed who has the largest share of enjoyments in this world, the man devoted to enjoyment does not, on account of his attachment thereto, see that there is any other happiness save what depends upon the gratification of the senses.
ततो लोभाभिभूतात्मा सङ्गाद्वर्धयते जनम् । पुष्ट्यर्थं चैव तस्येह जनस्यार्थं चिकीर्षति ॥
English Translation
Overwhelmed with cupidity that originates from such attachment, he then tries to multiply the number of his relatives and attendants, and for pleasing these latter he tries to increase his wealth by every means in his power.
स जानन्नपि चाकार्यमर्थार्थं सेवते नरः । बालस्नेहपरीतात्मा तत्क्षयाच्चानुतप्यते ॥
English Translation
Filled with affection for children, such a person then commits, for the sake of acquiring riches, evil deeds, and yields to grief if his wealth belost.
ततो मानेन संपन्नो रक्षन्नात्मपराजयम् । करोति येन भोगी स्यामिति तस्माद्विनश्यति ॥
English Translation
Having acquired honours and always guarding against the defeat of his plans, he follows such means as would satisfy his desire of enjoyment. At last he meets with destruction as the inevitable result of the conduct he follows.
तपो हि बुद्धियुक्तानां शाश्वतं ब्रह्मदर्शनम् । अन्विच्छतां शुभं कर्म नराणां त्यजतां सुखम् ॥
English Translation
It is well known, however, that true happiness is theirs who are endued with intelligence, who are Brahmavadins, who try to perform only auspicious and beneficial acts, and who abstain from all acts which are optional and originate from desire only.
स्नेहायतननाशाच्च धननाशाच्च पार्थिव । आधिव्याधिप्रतापाच्च निर्वेदमुपगच्छति ॥
English Translation
From loss of all such objects in which are centred our affections, from loss of riches, O king, and from the oppression of physical diseases and mental anguish a person falls into despair.
निर्वेदादात्मसंबोधः संबोधाच्छास्त्रदर्शनम् । शास्त्रार्थदर्शनाद्राजंस्तप एवानुपश्यति ॥
English Translation
From this despair originates an awakening of the soul. From such an awakening proceeds study of the Scriptures. From contemplation of the meaning of the Scriptures, O king, one sees the value of penance.
दुर्लभो हि मनुष्येन्द्र नरः प्रत्यवमर्शवान् । यो वै प्रियसुखे क्षीणे तपः कर्तुं व्यवस्यति ॥
English Translation
A person endued with the knowledge of what is essential and what accidental, O king, is very rare,-a man who tries to practise penances, under the conviction that the happiness one enjoys from the possession of such agreeable objects as wives and children brings on ultimately misery.
तपः सर्वगतं तात हीनस्यापि विधीयते । जितेन्द्रियस्य दान्तस्य स्वर्गमार्गप्रदेशकम् ॥
English Translation
Penances, O child, are for all. They are ordained for even the lowest order of men, Penances lead the self-controlled man who has mastered all his senses to the way to heaven.
प्रजापतिः प्रजाः पूर्वमसृजत्तपसा विभुः । क्वचित्क्वचिद्व्रतपरो व्रतान्यास्थाय पार्थिव ॥
English Translation
It was through penances that the powerful Lord of all creatures, O king, practising vows at particular intervals, created all existent objects.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रास्तथैवाग्न्यश्विमारुताः । विश्वेदेवास्तथा साध्याः पितरोऽथ मरुद्गणाः ॥
English Translation
The Aditya's, the Vasus, the Rudras, Agni, the Ashvins, the Maruts, the Vishvedevas, the Saddhyas, the Pitris, the Maruts, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas, the Siddhas and the other Inhabitants of heaven, and indeed, all other celestials whatever, O child, have all become successful through their penances.
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्चान्ये दिवौकसः । संसिद्धास्तपसा तात ये चान्ये स्वर्गवासिनः ॥
English Translation
The Aditya's, the Vasus, the Rudras, Agni, the Ashvins, the Maruts, the Vishvedevas, the Saddhyas, the Pitris, the Maruts, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas, the Siddhas and the other Inhabitants of heaven, and indeed, all other celestials whatever, O child, have all become successful through their penances.
ये चादौ ब्रह्मणा सृष्टा ब्राह्मणास्तपसा पुरा । ते भावयन्तः पृथिवीं विचरन्ति दिवं तथा ॥
English Translation
Those Brahmanas whom Brahman created at the beginning, succeeded through their penances in honouring not the Earth alone but the heaven also in which they moved about at pleasure.
मर्त्यलोके च राजानो ये चान्ये गृहमेधिनः । महाकुलेषु दृश्यन्ते तत्सर्वं तपसः फलम् ॥
English Translation
In this world of men, they who are kings and those others who are householders born in high families, have all become what they are on account of their penances.,
कौशिकानि च वस्त्राणि शुभान्याभरणानि च । वाहनासनयानानि सर्वं तत्तपसः फलम् ॥
English Translation
The silken dresses they put on the excellent ornaments that decorate their persons, the animals and vehicles they ride, and the seats they use are all the outcome of their penances.
मनोनुकूलाः प्रमदा रूपवत्यः सहस्रशः । वासः प्रासादपृष्ठे च तत्सर्वं तपसः फलम् ॥
English Translation
Thousands of many charming and beautiful damsels, that they enjoy, and their residence in palaces, are all on account of their penances.
शयनानि च मुख्यानि भोज्यानि विविधानि च । अभिप्रेतानि सर्वाणि भवन्ति कृतकर्मणाम् ॥
English Translation
The righteous persons enjoy various sorts of costly beds and sweet viands,
नाप्राप्यं तपसा किंचित्त्रैलोक्येऽस्मिन्परंतप । उपभोगपरित्यागः फलान्यकृतकर्मणाम् ॥
English Translation
There is nothing in the three worlds, O scorcher of enemies, that penances cannot bring in. Even those who are shorn of true knowledge acquire Renunciation through their penances.
सुखितो दुःखितो वापि नरो लोभं परित्यजेत् । अवेक्ष्य मनसा शास्त्रं बुद्ध्या च नृपसत्तम ॥
English Translation
Whether in rich circumstances or miserable, a person should renounce cupidity, meditating on the scriptures, with the help of his mind and understanding, O best of kings.
असंतोषोऽसुखायैव लोभादिन्द्रियविभ्रमः । ततोऽस्य नश्यति प्रज्ञा विद्येवाभ्यासवर्जिता ॥
English Translation
Discontent produces misery. Cupidity brings on stupefaction of the senses. The senses being stupefied, one's wisdom is lost like knowledge not kept up by continued application.
नष्टप्रज्ञो यदा भवति तदा न्यायं न पश्यति । तस्मात्सुखक्षये प्राप्ते पुमानुग्रं तपश्चरेत् ॥
English Translation
When one's wisdom is lost, he cannot discriminate what is proper from what is improper. Hence, when one's happiness is destroyed he should practise the austerest of penances.
यदिष्टं तत्सुखं प्राहुर्द्वेष्यं दुःखमिहोच्यते । कृताकृतस्य तपसः फलं पश्यस्व यादृशम् ॥
English Translation
Wheat is agreeable is called happiness. What is disagreeable is called misery. Happiness is the outcome of penances practisted. When they are not practised, the outcome is misery. See the fruits of practising and abstaining from penances.
नित्यं भद्राणि पश्यन्ति विषयांश्चोपभुञ्जते । प्राकाश्यं चैव गच्छन्ति कृत्वा निष्कल्मषं तपः ॥
English Translation
By practising pure penances, people always enjoy auspicious consequences of every sort, enjoy all good things, and acquire great fame.
अप्रियाण्यवमानांश्च दुःखं बहुविधात्मकम् । फलार्थी सत्पथत्यक्तः प्राप्नोति विषयात्मकम् ॥
English Translation
He, however, who, by abandoning (pure penances), undertakes penances from desire of fruit, suffers from many disagreeable consequences, and disgrace and sorrow of all sorts, as the fruits thereof, all of which originate from worldly possessions.
धर्मे तपसि दाने च विचिकित्सास्य जायते । स कृत्वा पापकान्येव निरयं प्रतिपद्यते ॥
English Translation
Despite the desirability of practising virtue, penances, and gifts, the desire for doing all sorts of forbidden acts originates in his mind. By thus perpetrating various sorts of sinful deeds, he goes to hell.
सुखे तु वर्तमानो वै दुःखे वापि नरोत्तम । स्ववृत्ताद्यो न चलति शास्त्रचक्षुः स मानवः ॥
English Translation
That person, O best of men, who, in both happiness and misery, does deviate from the duties ordained for him, is said to have the scriptures for his eye.
इषुप्रपातमात्रं हि स्पर्शयोगे रतिः स्मृता । रसने दर्शने घ्राणे श्रवणे च विशां पते ॥
English Translation
It is said that the pleasure one gets from the gratification of his senses of touch, tongue, sight, smell, and hearing, O king, lasts only so long as an arrow shot off the bow takes in falling down upon the Earth.
ततोऽस्य जायते तीव्रा वेदना तत्क्षयात्पुनः । बुधा येन प्रशंसन्ति मोक्षं सुखमनुत्तमम् ॥
English Translation
Upon the termination of the pleasure, which is fickle, on suffers the most acute pain. It is only the senseless that do not speak highly of happiness of Liberation which is peerless.
ततः फलार्थं चरति भवन्ति ज्यायसो गुणाः । धर्मवृत्त्या च सततं कामार्थाभ्यां न हीयते ॥
English Translation
Seeing the misery consequent upon the gratification of the senses, the wise cultivate the virtues of tranquillity and self-control for the purpose of acquiring Liberation. On account of righteous conduct, riches and pleasure can never succeed in afflicting them.
अप्रयत्नागताः सेव्या गृहस्थैर्विषयाः सदा । प्रयत्नेनोपगम्यश्च स्वधर्म इति मे मतिः ॥
English Translation
Householders may, without any compunction, enjoy riches and other possessions which are acquired with Exertion. About the duties of their order, I think, they should satisfy them with the help of Exertion.
मानिनां कुलजातानां नित्यं शास्त्रार्थचक्षुषाम् । धर्मक्रियावियुक्तानामशक्त्या संवृतात्मनाम् ॥
English Translation
The practice of those who are honoured, who are born in high families, and who have their eyes always turned towards the meaning of the Scriptures, is incapable of being followed by those who are sinful and who have uncontrolled minds.
क्रियमाणं यदा कर्म नाशं गच्छति मानुषम् । तेषां नान्यदृते लोके तपसः कर्म विद्यते ॥
English Translation
All acts that are done by man under the influence of pride, meet with destruction. Therefore, there is no other act, for the respectable and the truly righteous, in this world to do than penance.
सर्वात्मना तु कुर्वीत गृहस्थः कर्मनिश्चयम् । दाक्ष्येण हव्यकव्यार्थं स्वधर्मं विचरेन्नृप ॥
English Translation
As regards, those householders, however, who are addicted to acts, they should, with their whole hearts, perform acts. Following the duties of their order, O king, they should with diligence and assiduity celebrate sacrifices and other religious rites.
यथा नदीनदाः सर्वे सागरे यान्ति संस्थितिम् । एवमाश्रमिणः सर्वे गृहस्थे यान्ति संस्थितिम् ॥
English Translation
Indeed, as all rivers, male and female, go in the end to the Ocean, so men belonging to all the other orders have the householders for their refuge.
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