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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 54

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 54

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 54

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 54 of the classical Mahābhārata with 40 verses.

Total: 40 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.54.1–40 • 250 Lexicon Terms
धर्मात्मनि महासत्त्वे सत्यसंधे जितात्मनि । देवव्रते महाभागे शरतल्पगतेऽच्युते ॥
शयाने वीरशयने भीष्मे शंतनुनन्दने । गाङ्गेये पुरुषव्याघ्रे पाण्डवैः पर्युपस्थिते ॥
काः कथाः समवर्तन्त तस्मिन्वीरसमागमे । हतेषु सर्वसैन्येषु तन्मे शंस महामुने ॥
शरतल्पगते भीष्मे कौरवाणां धुरंधरे । आजग्मुरृषयः सिद्धा नारदप्रमुखा नृप ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said When Bhishma, that chief of the Kurus, lay on his bed of arrows, many Rishis and Siddhas, O king, headed by Narada, came there.
हतशिष्टाश्च राजानो युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः । धृतराष्ट्रश्च कृष्णश्च भीमार्जुनयमास्तथा ॥
English Translation
The residue of the king with Yudhishthira at their head, Dhritarashtra, Krishna, Bhima, Arjuna and the twins also came there.
तेऽभिगम्य महात्मानो भरतानां पितामहम् । अन्वशोचन्त गाङ्गेयमादित्यं पतितं यथा ॥
English Translation
Approaching the grandfather of the Bharatas who shone like the Sun himself dropped from the sky, those great persons began to bewail for him.
मुहूर्तमिव च ध्यात्वा नारदो देवदर्शनः । उवाच पाण्डवान्सर्वान्हतशिष्टांश्च पार्थिवान् ॥
English Translation
Then reflecting for a moment, Narada, of divine features, addressed all the Pandavas and the residue of the kings, saying, 'The time, I think, has come for you to question Bhishma for Ganga's son is about to die like the Sun that is on the point of setting.
प्राप्तकालं च आचक्षे भीष्मोऽयमनुयुज्यताम् । अस्तमेति हि गाङ्गेयो भानुमानिव भारत ॥
English Translation
Then reflecting for a moment, Narada, of divine features, addressed all the Pandavas and the residue of the kings, saying, 'The time, I think, has come for you to question Bhishma for Ganga's son is about to die like the Sun that is on the point of setting.
अयं प्राणानुत्सिसृक्षुस्तं सर्वेऽभ्येत्य पृच्छत । कृत्स्नान्हि विविधान्धर्मांश्चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य वेत्त्ययम् ॥
English Translation
He is about to give up his ghost. Do you all, therefore, request him to discourse to you. He is acquainted with the various duties of all the four orders.
एष वृद्धः पुरा लोकान्संप्राप्नोति तनुत्यजाम् । तं शीघ्रमनुयुञ्जध्वं संशयान्मनसि स्थितान् ॥
English Translation
Aged as he is, after renouncing his corporeal frame he will attain to high regions of bliss. Request him, therefore, forthwith to clear the doubts that exist in your minds.
एवमुक्ता नारदेन भीष्ममीयुर्नराधिपाः । प्रष्टुं चाशक्नुवन्तस्ते वीक्षां चक्रुः परस्परम् ॥
English Translation
Thus accosted by Narada, those princes approached Bhishina, but unable to ask him anything looked at one another.
अथोवाच हृषीकेशं पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । नान्यस्त्वद्देवकीपुत्र शक्तः प्रष्टुं पितामहम् ॥
English Translation
Then Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, addressing Hrishikesha, said,-"There is no one else then Devaki's son who can question the grandfather.
प्रव्याहारय दुर्धर्ष त्वमग्रे मधुसूदन । त्वं हि नस्तात सर्वेषां सर्वधर्मविदुत्तमः ॥
English Translation
O foremost one of Yadu's race, do you, therefore, O destroyer of Madhu, speak first. You are the foremost of us all and are conversant with every duty and practice.'
एवमुक्तः पाण्डवेन भगवान्केशवस्तदा । अभिगम्य दुराधर्षं प्रव्याहारयदच्युतः ॥
English Translation
Thus addressed by the son of Pandu, the illustrious Keshava of undecaying glory, approaching the unconquerable Bhishma, spoke to him as follows.
कच्चित्सुखेन रजनी व्युष्टा ते राजसत्तम । विस्पष्टलक्षणा बुद्धिः कच्चिच्चोपस्थिता तव ॥
English Translation
Have you, O best of kings passed the night happily? Has your understanding become unclouded?
कच्चिज्ज्ञानानि सर्वाणि प्रतिभान्ति च तेऽनघ । न ग्लायते च हृदयं न च ते व्याकुलं मनः ॥
English Translation
Does your knowledge, O sinless one, shine in you by inward light? I hope your heart does not feel pain and your mind is no longer agitated?'
दाहो मोहः श्रमश्चैव क्लमो ग्लानिस्तथा रुजा । तव प्रसादाद्गोविन्द सद्यो व्यपगतानघ ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Burning, stupefaction, toil, exhaustion, and pain, through your Grace, O you of Vrishni's race, have all left me in a single day.
यच्च भूतं भविष्यच्च भवच्च परमद्युते । तत्सर्वमनुपश्यामि पाणौ फलमिवाहितम् ॥
English Translation
O you of matchless splendour, I behold as distinctly as a fruit placed in my hands, all that is past, all that is future, and all that is present.
वेदोक्ताश्चैव ये धर्मा वेदान्तनिहिताश्च ये । तान्सर्वान्संप्रपश्यामि वरदानात्तवाच्युत ॥
English Translation
I behold clearly, O you of unfading glory, by virtue of the boon granted by you to me, all the duties laid down in the Vedas, and in the Vedantas.
शिष्टैश्च धर्मो यः प्रोक्तः स च मे हृदि वर्तते । देशजातिकुलानां च धर्मज्ञोऽस्मि जनार्दन ॥
English Translation
The duties that have been described by persons of learning and righteous conduct are still fresh in my memory. I am conversant also, O Janardana, with the duties and practices obtaining in particular countries and among particular tribes and families.
चतुर्ष्वाश्रमधर्मेषु योऽर्थः स च हृदि स्थितः । राजधर्मांश्च सकलानवगच्छामि केशव ॥
English Translation
I remember again everything regarding the four modes of life. I am acquainted, O Keshava, with the royal duties.
यत्र यत्र च वक्तव्यं तद्वक्ष्यामि जनार्दन । तव प्रसादाद्धि शुभा मनो मे बुद्धिराविशत् ॥
English Translation
I would say, O Janardana, everything in its proper hour. Through your favour, I have acquired an auspicious understanding.
युवेव चास्मि संवृत्तस्त्वदनुध्यानबृंहितः । वक्तुं श्रेयः समर्थोऽस्मि त्वत्प्रसादाज्जनार्दन ॥
English Translation
Strengthened by contemplation of you, I feel as if I have become a young man again. Through your favour, O Janardana, I have become capable to talk on what is for the behoof of the world.
स्वयं किमर्थं तु भवाञ्श्रेयो न प्राह पाण्डवम् । किं ते विवक्षितं चात्र तदाशु वद माधव ॥
English Translation
Why, however, O holy one, do you not yourself describe to Pandu's son all that is good? What explanation can you give about it? Tell me quickly, O Madhava.'
यशसः श्रेयसश्चैव मूलं मां विद्धि कौरव । मत्तः सर्वेऽभिनिर्वृत्ता भावाः सदसदात्मकाः ॥
English Translation
Vasudeva said Know, O you of Kuru's race, that I am the root of fame and of everything that produces good. All things, good or bad, emanate from me.
शीतांशुश्चन्द्र इत्युक्ते को लोके विस्मयिष्यति । तथैव यशसा पूर्णे मयि को विस्मयिष्यति ॥
आधेयं तु मया भूयो यशस्तव महाद्युते । ततो मे विपुला बुद्धिस्त्वयि भीष्म समाहिता ॥
English Translation
I have, however, resolved to enhance your fame, O you of great splendour. It is for this, O Bhishma, that I have just filled you with great intelligence.
यावद्धि पृथिवीपाल पृथिवी स्थास्यते ध्रुवा । तावत्तवाक्षया कीर्तिर्लोकाननु चरिष्यति ॥
English Translation
As long, O king, as the Earth will last, so long will your fame travel with unmitigated lustre through all the worlds.
यच्च त्वं वक्ष्यसे भीष्म पाण्डवायानुपृच्छते । वेदप्रवादा इव ते स्थास्यन्ति वसुधातले ॥
English Translation
Whatever, O Bhishma, you will say to the inquiring son of Pandu, will pass on Earth like the authoritative declarations of the Vedas.
यश्चैतेन प्रमाणेन योक्ष्यत्यात्मानमात्मना । स फलं सर्वपुण्यानां प्रेत्य चानुभविष्यति ॥
English Translation
That person, who will follow the authority of your declarations, will obtain hereafter the meed of every meritorious act.
एतस्मात्कारणाद्भीष्म मतिर्दिव्या मया हि ते । दत्ता यशो विप्रथेत कथं भूयस्तवेति ह ॥
English Translation
For this reason, O Bhishma, I have conferred on you celestial understanding so that your fame may be increased on Earth.
यावद्धि प्रथते लोके पुरुषस्य यशो भुवि । तावत्तस्याक्षयं स्थानं भवतीति विनिश्चितम् ॥
English Translation
As long as a man's fame lasts in the world, so long are his good deeds alive.
राजानो हतशिष्टास्त्वां राजन्नभित आसते । धर्माननुयुयुक्षन्तस्तेभ्यः प्रब्रूहि भारत ॥
English Translation
The unslain residue of the kings are sitting around you, desirous of hearing your discourses on morality and duty. Do you speak to them, O Bharata.
भवान्हि वयसा वृद्धः श्रुताचारसमन्वितः । कुशलो राजधर्माणां पूर्वेषामपराश्च ये ॥
English Translation
You are aged and your conduct is consistent with the injunctions of the Shrutis. You are a master of the royal duties and of every other science of duty.
जन्मप्रभृति ते कश्चिद्वृजिनं न ददर्श ह । ज्ञातारमनुधर्माणां त्वां विदुः सर्वपार्थिवाः ॥
English Translation
No one, has ever marked the slightest transgression in you since your very birth. All the kings know you to be master of the sciences of morality and duty.
तेभ्यः पितेव पुत्रेभ्यो राजन्ब्रूहि परं नयम् । ऋषयश्च हि देवाश्च त्वया नित्यमुपासिताः ॥
English Translation
Like a father to his sons do you, therefore, O king, describe to them high morality. You have always adored the Rishis and the gods.
तस्माद्वक्तव्यमेवेह त्वया पश्याम्यशेषतः । धर्माञ्शुश्रूषमाणेभ्यः पृष्टेन च सता पुनः ॥
English Translation
You should discourse on these subjects fully to persons desirous of listening to discourses on morality and duty. A learned person, especially when requested by the righteous, should talk of the same. The sages have declared this to be a duty.
वक्तव्यं विदुषा चेति धर्ममाहुर्मनीषिणः । अप्रतिब्रुवतः कष्टो दोषो हि भवति प्रभो ॥
तस्मात्पुत्रैश्च पौत्रैश्च धर्मान्पृष्टः सनातनान् । विद्वाञ्जिज्ञासमानैस्त्वं प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ ॥
English Translation
O powerful one if you do not speak on such subjects, you will incur sin. Therefore, questioned by your sons and grandsons, o learned one, about the eternal duties (of men), do you, O foremost of the Bharatas, describe this subject them.
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