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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 60

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 60

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 60

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 60 of the classical Mahābhārata with 53 verses.

Total: 53 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.60.1–53 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 2 of 2 (Verses 23 shown)
पापीयान्हि धनं लब्ध्वा वशे कुर्याद्गरीयसः । राज्ञा वा समनुज्ञातः कामं कुर्वीत धार्मिकः ॥
English Translation
He should serve the three other classes according to their order of seniority. A Shudra should never amass riches, lest by them, he makes the members of the three superior orders obedient to him. By this he would incur sin. With the king's permission, however, a Shudra, for religious observances, may acquire wealth.
तस्य वृत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि यच्च तस्योपजीवनम् । अवश्यभरणीयो हि वर्णानां शूद्र उच्यते ॥
English Translation
I shall now describe the profession, he should pursue and the means by which he may earn his subsistence. It is said that the Shudras should be maintained by the three other castes.
छत्रं वेष्टनमौशीरमुपानद्व्यजनानि च । यातयामानि देयानि शूद्राय परिचारिणे ॥
English Translation
Used umbrellas, hed-gears, beds, seats, shoes and fans, should be given to the Shudra servants.
अधार्याणि विशीर्णानि वसनानि द्विजातिभिः । शूद्रायैव विधेयानि तस्य धर्मधनं हि तत् ॥
English Translation
Torn clothes, which are no longer fit for wear, should be given by the upper three castes to the Shudra. These are the latter's rightful acquisitions.
यश्च कश्चिद्द्विजातीनां शूद्रः शुश्रूषुराव्रजेत् । कल्प्यां तस्य तु तेनाहुर्वृत्तिं धर्मविदो जनाः । देयः पिण्डोऽनपेताय भर्तव्यौ वृद्धदुर्बलौ ॥
English Translation
Men, well read in the science of duties, hold that if the Shudra approaches anyone belonging to the three twice-born orders for doing menial service, the latter should give him proper work.
शूद्रेण च न हातव्यो भर्ता कस्यांचिदापदि । अतिरेकेण भर्तव्यो भर्ता द्रव्यपरिक्षये । न हि स्वमस्ति शूद्रस्य भर्तृहार्यधनो ह्यसौ ॥
English Translation
If the master loses his wealth, he should with greatest care be maintained by the Shudra servant. A Shudra cannot enjoy wealth even if it be his own. Whatever he possesses belongs lawfully to his master.
उक्तस्त्रयाणां वर्णानां यज्ञस्त्रय्यैव भारत । स्वाहाकारनमस्कारौ मन्त्रः शूद्रे विधीयते ॥
English Translation
Sacrifice has been laid down as a duty of the three other castes, it has been laid down for the Shudra also, O Bharata, but he is not competent to utter svaha and svadha or any other Vedic mantra.
ताभ्यां शूद्रः पाकयज्ञैर्यजेत व्रतवान्स्वयम् । पूर्णपात्रमयीमाहुः पाकयज्ञस्य दक्षिणाम् ॥
English Translation
Therefore the Shudra, without observing the vows laid down in the Vedas, should adore the gods in minor sacrifices, called Pakayajnas. The gift called Purnapatra is known as the Dakshina of such sacrifices,
शूद्रः पैजवनो नाम सहस्राणां शतं ददौ । ऐन्द्राग्नेन विधानेन दक्षिणामिति नः श्रुतम् ॥
English Translation
We have heard that in days of yore a Shudra of the name of Paijavana gave Dakshina (in one of his sacrifices) consisting of a hundred thousand Purnapatras, according to the ordinance called Aindragni, (i.e., a hundred thousand animals).
अतो हि सर्ववर्णानां श्रद्धायज्ञो विधीयते । दैवतं हि महच्छ्रद्धा पवित्रं यजतां च यत् ॥
दैवतं परमं विप्राः स्वेन स्वेन परस्परम् । अयजन्निह सत्रैस्ते तैस्तैः कामैः सनातनैः ॥
संसृष्टा ब्राह्मणैरेव त्रिषु वर्णेषु सृष्टयः । देवानामपि ये देवा यद्ब्रूयुस्ते परं हि तत् । तस्माद्वर्णैः सर्वयज्ञाः संसृज्यन्ते न काम्यया ॥
English Translation
The Brahmanas are the gods of the very gods. Whatever they would say would be for your great good. Therefore all kinds of sacrifices naturally belong to all the four orders. The celebration of these sacrifices is obligatory and not optional.
ऋग्यजुःसामवित्पूज्यो नित्यं स्याद्देववद्द्विजः । अनृग्यजुरसामा तु प्राजापत्य उपद्रवः ॥
English Translation
The Brahmana, who is conversant with Richs, Yajus, and Samans, should always be adored as a god. The Shudra, who is without Richs and Yajus and Samans, has Prajapati for his god.
यज्ञो मनीषया तात सर्ववर्णेषु भारत । नास्य यज्ञहनो देवा ईहन्ते नेतरे जनाः । तस्मात्सर्वेषु वर्णेषु श्रद्धायज्ञो विधीयते ॥
English Translation
Mental sacrifice, O sire, is sanctioned for all the orders, O Bharata. It is not true that the gods and other persons do not express a desire to share the offerings in such sacrifices ofs even the Shudra. For this reason, the sacrifice of devotion is laid down for all the castes.
स्वं दैवतं ब्राह्मणाः स्वेन नित्यं; परान्वर्णानयजन्नेवमासीत् । आरोचिता नः सुमहान्स धर्मः; सृष्टो ब्रह्मणा त्रिषु वर्णेषु दृष्टः ॥
English Translation
The Brahmana is the foremost of gods. It is not true that they that belong to that order do not celebrate the sacrifices of the other orders. The fire called Vitana, though procured from Vaishyas and inspired with mantras, is stili inferior. The Brahmana can celebrate the sacrifices of the three other castes.
तस्माद्वर्णा ऋजवो जातिधर्माः; संसृज्यन्ते तस्य विपाक एषः । एकं साम यजुरेकमृगेका; विप्रश्चैकोऽनिश्चयस्तेषु दृष्टः ॥
English Translation
Therefore, all the four castes are holy. All the castes are allied to one another by blood through the intermediate classes. They have all originated from Brahmanas. In ascertaining (the priority of origin) it will be seen that amongst all the cases the Brahmana was created first. Originally Saman was one; Yajus was one, and Rich was one.
अत्र गाथा यज्ञगीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः । वैखानसानां राजेन्द्र मुनीनां यष्टुमिच्छताम् ॥
English Translation
Regarding it, persons, conversant with ancient histories, cite a verse, O king, sung in praise of sacrifice by the Vaikhanasa Munis on the occasion of performing a sacrifice of theirs.
उदितेऽनुदिते वापि श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः । वह्निं जुहोति धर्मेण श्रद्धा वै कारणं महत् ॥
English Translation
Before or after sun rise, a person of controlled senses, with heart filled with devotion poured libations on the (sacrificial) fire according to the Vedic prescription. Devotion is a powerful agent.
यत्स्कन्नमस्य तत्पूर्वं यदस्कन्नं तदुत्तरम् । बहूनि यज्ञरूपाणि नानाकर्मफलानि च ॥
English Translation
Respecting homas again, that variety which is called skanna is the first one, while that which is called askanna is the last though the most important. Sacrifices are many, their rites and fruits again are many.
तानि यः संविजानाति ज्ञाननिश्चयनिश्चितः । द्विजातिः श्रद्धयोपेतः स यष्टुं पुरुषोऽर्हति ॥
English Translation
That Brahmana, possessed of devotion who, gifted with scriptural learning, knows all the rites, is competent to celebrate sacrifices.
स्तेनो वा यदि वा पापो यदि वा पापकृत्तमः । यष्टुमिच्छति यज्ञं यः साधुमेव वदन्ति तम् ॥
English Translation
That person who desires to celebrate a sacrifice is regarded as righteous even if he happens to be a thief, a sinner or the worst of sinners.
ऋषयस्तं प्रशंसन्ति साधु चैतदसंशयम् । सर्वथा सर्ववर्णैर्हि यष्टव्यमिति निश्चयः । न हि यज्ञसमं किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ॥
English Translation
The Rishis speak highly of such a man. Forsooth they are right. This then is the conclusion that all the castes should always and by every means in their power celebrate sacrifices.
तस्माद्यष्टव्यमित्याहुः पुरुषेणानसूयता । श्रद्धापवित्रमाश्रित्य यथाशक्ति प्रयच्छता ॥
English Translation
There is nothing in the three worlds equal to sacrifice. Therefore, it has been said that every one,-with heart shorn of malice, should celebrate sacrifices, helped by devotion which is sacred to the best of his ability and as he pleases.
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