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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 34

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 34

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 34

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 34 of the classical Mahābhārata with 37 verses.

Total: 37 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.34.1–37 • 250 Lexicon Terms
युधिष्ठिरस्य तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा द्वैपायनस्तदा । समीक्ष्य निपुणं बुद्ध्या ऋषिः प्रोवाच पाण्डवम् ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said Hearing these words of Yudhishthira, the Dvaipayana-Rishi, having reflected keenly for sometime, said again to the son of Pandu.
मा विषादं कृथा राजन्क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मर । स्वधर्मेण हता ह्येते क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभ ॥
English Translation
Vyasa said, Remembering the duties of a Kshatriya, O king, do not indulge in grief! All those Kshatriyas, O foremost of Kshatriyas, have been killed while following their legitimate duties.
काङ्क्षमाणाः श्रियं कृत्स्नां पृथिव्यां च महद्यशः । कृतान्तविधिसंयुक्ताः कालेन निधनं गताः ॥
English Translation
Pursuing great prosperity and fame on Earth, those foremost of men, all of whom were liable to death, have died through the influence of Time.
न त्वं हन्ता न भीमोऽपि नार्जुनो न यमावपि । कालः पर्यायधर्मेण प्राणानादत्त देहिनाम् ॥
English Translation
You have not been their slayer, nor this Bhima, nor Arjuna, nor the twins. It is Time that took away their lives according to the great law of change.
न यस्य मातापितरौ नानुग्राह्योऽस्ति कश्चन । कर्मसाक्षी प्रजानां यस्तेन कालेन संहृताः ॥
English Translation
Time has neither mother, nor father, nor anybody to whom he shows any mercy. He is the witness of the acts of all creatures, By him have they been snatched away.
हेतुमात्रमिदं तस्य कालस्य पुरुषर्षभ । यद्धन्ति भूतैर्भूतानि तदस्मै रूपमैश्वरम् ॥
English Translation
This battle, O foremost of Bharata's race, was only an occasion ordained by him. He brought out the destruction of creatures through the instrumentality of Time. In this manner it displays its irresistible power.
कर्ममूर्त्यात्मकं विद्धि साक्षिणं शुभपापयोः । सुखदुःखगुणोदर्कं कालं कालफलप्रदम् ॥
English Translation
Know that Time depends upon the fetters of action and is the witness of all actions good and evil. It is Time that brings about the fruits, pleasurable or miserable, of our actions.
तेषामपि महाबाहो कर्माणि परिचिन्तय । विनाशहेतुकारित्वे यैस्ते कालवशं गताः ॥
English Translation
Think, O mighty-armed one, of the acts of those Kshatriyas that have been killed. Those acts were the causes of their destruction and it is on account of them that they have died.
आत्मनश्च विजानीहि नियमव्रतशीलताम् । यदा त्वमीदृशं कर्म विधिनाक्रम्य कारितः ॥
English Translation
Think also of your own acts of observances of vows with controlled mind, And think also how you have been compelled by the Supreme Ordainer to do such an act.
त्वष्ट्रेव विहितं यन्त्रं यथा स्थापयितुर्वशे । कर्मणा कालयुक्तेन तथेदं भ्राम्यते जगत् ॥
English Translation
As a weapon made by a smith or carpenter is under the control of the person who uses it, and moves as moves it, likewise this universe, controlled by actions done in Time, moves as those actions move it.
पुरुषस्य हि दृष्ट्वेमामुत्पत्तिमनिमित्ततः । यदृच्छया विनाशं च शोकहर्षावनर्थकौ ॥
English Translation
Beholding that the births and deaths of creatures take place without any perceptible cause and order, grief and joy are absolutely useless.
व्यलीकं चापि यत्त्वत्र चित्तवैतंसिकं तव । तदर्थमिष्यते राजन्प्रायश्चित्तं तदाचर ॥
English Translation
Although this confusion of your heart is a mere delusion, still, if you like, O king, perform expiatory rites.
इदं च श्रूयते पार्थ युद्धे देवासुरे पुरा । असुरा भ्रातरो ज्येष्ठा देवाश्चापि यवीयसः ॥
English Translation
It is heard, O Partha, that the gods and the Asuras fought against each other. The Asuras were the elder, and the gods the younger brothers.
तेषामपि श्रीनिमित्तं महानासीत्समुच्छ्रयः । युद्धं वर्षसहस्राणि द्वात्रिंशदभवत्किल ॥
English Translation
Seeking prosperity, they fought a dreadful battle between them. The fight lasted for thirtytwo thousand years.
एकार्णवां महीं कृत्वा रुधिरेण परिप्लुताम् । जघ्नुर्दैत्यांस्तदा देवास्त्रिदिवं चैव लेभिरे ॥
English Translation
Converting the Earth to one vast sea of blood, the gods killed the Daityas and occupied the celestial region.
तथैव पृथिवीं लब्ध्वा ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः । संश्रिता दानवानां वै साह्यार्थे दर्पमोहिताः ॥
English Translation
Having occupied the Earth, a host of Brahmanas, conversant with the Vedas, armed themselves, stupefied with pride, with the Danavas for helping in the fight.
शालावृका इति ख्यातास्त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत । अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि ते चापि विबुधैर्हताः ॥
English Translation
They were known by the name of Shalavrika and were eighty-eight thousand in number. All of them, however, were killed by the gods.
धर्मव्युच्छित्तिमिच्छन्तो येऽधर्मस्य प्रवर्तकाः । हन्तव्यास्ते दुरात्मानो देवैर्दैत्या इवोल्बणाः ॥
English Translation
Those wicked persons who desire to root out virtue and encourage sinfulness deserve io be killed even as the furious Daityas were killed by the gods.
एकं हत्वा यदि कुले शिष्टानां स्यादनामयम् । कुलं हत्वाथ राष्ट्रं वा न तद्वृत्तोपघातकम् ॥
English Translation
If by killing a single individual a family may be saved, or, if by killing a single family the whole kingdom may be saved, such an act of slaughter is not sinful.
अधर्मरूपो धर्मो हि कश्चिदस्ति नराधिप । धर्मश्चाधर्मरूपोऽस्ति तच्च ज्ञेयं विपश्चिता ॥
English Translation
Sin, O king, sometimes becomes virtue, and virtue sometimes becomes sin. The learned know which is which.
तस्मात्संस्तम्भयात्मानं श्रुतवानसि पाण्डव । देवैः पूर्वगतं मार्गमनुयातोऽसि भारत ॥
English Translation
Therefore, console yourself, O son of Pandu, for you are well read in the scriptures. You have, O Bharata, only followed the path of the very gods.
न हीदृशा गमिष्यन्ति नरकं पाण्डवर्षभ । भ्रातॄनाश्वासयैतांस्त्वं सुहृदश्च परंतप ॥
English Translation
Men like yourselves never go to hell, o foremost of Pandu's race! Comfort these your brothers and all your friends, O scorcher of foes.
यो हि पापसमारम्भे कार्ये तद्भावभावितः । कुर्वन्नपि तथैव स्यात्कृत्वा च निरपत्रपः ॥
English Translation
He who deliberately commits sinful acts, and committing them feels no compunction but continues the same as before, is known as a great sinner. There is no expiation for him, and his sins never disappear.
तस्मिंस्तत्कलुषं सर्वं समाप्तमिति शब्दितम् । प्रायश्चित्तं न तस्यास्ति ह्रासो वा पापकर्मणः ॥
English Translation
He who deliberately commits sinful acts, and committing them feels no compunction but continues the same as before, is known as a great sinner. There is no expiation for him, and his sins never disappear.
त्वं तु शुक्लाभिजातीयः परदोषेण कारितः । अनिच्छमानः कर्मेदं कृत्वा च परितप्यसे ॥
English Translation
You are born in a noble family. Urged by the sons of others, you have most reluctantly done this, and having done this you repent for it.
अश्वमेधो महायज्ञः प्रायश्चित्तमुदाहृतम् । तमाहर महाराज विपाप्मैवं भविष्यसि ॥
English Translation
The rite of Horse-sacrifice, has been indicated as an expiation for you. Make preparations for that sacrifice, O king, and you ! will be freed off of all your sins.
मरुद्भिः सह जित्वारीन्मघवान्पाकशासनः । एकैकं क्रतुमाहृत्य शतकृत्वः शतक्रतुः ॥
English Translation
Having defeated his foes with the help of the Maruts, Indra gradually celebrated a hundred sacrifices and became Shatakratu.
पूतपाप्मा जितस्वर्गो लोकान्प्राप्य सुखोदयान् । मरुद्गणवृतः शक्रः शुशुभे भासयन्दिशः ॥
English Translation
Freed from sin, occupying heaven, and having obtained many blissful regions and great happiness and prosperity, Shakra surrounded by the Maruts, is shining in beauty, and lighting up all the quarters with his effulgence.
स्वर्गलोके महीयन्तमप्सरोभिः शचीपतिम् । ऋषयः पर्युपासन्ते देवाश्च विबुधेश्वरम् ॥
English Translation
The lord of Shachi is worshipped in the heaven by the Apsaras. The Rishis and the other gods all adore himn with respect.
सोऽयं त्वमिह संक्रान्तो विक्रमेण वसुंधराम् । निर्जिताश्च महीपाला विक्रमेण त्वयानघ ॥
English Translation
You have obtained the Earth through your prowess. All the kings have been defeated by you, O sinless one, through your prowess.
तेषां पुराणि राष्ट्राणि गत्वा राजन्सुहृद्वृतः । भ्रातॄन्पुत्रांश्च पौत्रांश्च स्वे स्वे राज्येऽभिषेचय ॥
English Translation
Proceeding with your friends to their kingdoms, O king, install their brothers, sons, or grandsons on their thrones.
बालानपि च गर्भस्थान्सान्त्वानि समुदाचरन् । रञ्जयन्प्रकृतीः सर्वाः परिपाहि वसुंधराम् ॥
English Translation
Treating kindly even the children in the womb, make you subjects glad and happy, and govern the Earth,
कुमारो नास्ति येषां च कन्यास्तत्राभिषेचय । कामाशयो हि स्त्रीवर्गः शोकमेवं प्रहास्यति ॥
English Translation
Install on their thrones the daughters of those that have no sons. Women are fond of pleasure and power. By this they will shake off their sorrows and become happy.
एवमाश्वासनं कृत्वा सर्वराष्ट्रेषु भारत । यजस्व वाजिमेधेन यथेन्द्रो विजयी पुरा ॥
English Translation
Having comforted the entire empire in this way, O Bharata, worship the gods in a Horsesacrifice as did the victorious Indra in days of yore. It is not proper for us to grieve for those great Kshatriyas, O foremost of Kshatriyas. Stupefied by the power of the Destroyer, they have died while satisfying the duties of their own order.
अशोच्यास्ते महात्मानः क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभ । स्वकर्मभिर्गता नाशं कृतान्तबलमोहिताः ॥
English Translation
Having comforted the entire empire in this way, O Bharata, worship the gods in a Horsesacrifice as did the victorious Indra in days of yore. It is not proper for us to grieve for those great Kshatriyas, O foremost of Kshatriyas. Stupefied by the power of the Destroyer, they have died while satisfying the duties of their own order.
अवाप्तः क्षत्रधर्मस्ते राज्यं प्राप्तमकल्मषम् । चरस्व धर्मं कौन्तेय श्रेयान्यः प्रेत्य भाविकः ॥
English Translation
You have performed the duties of a Kshatriya and obtained the Earth thornless. Follow your own duties, O son of Kunti, for then, O Bharata, you will enjoy happiness in the next world.
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