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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 77

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 77

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 77

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 77 of the classical Mahābhārata with 15 verses.

Total: 15 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.77.1–15 • 250 Lexicon Terms
स्वकर्मण्यपरे युक्तास्तथैवान्ये विकर्मणि । तेषां विशेषमाचक्ष्व ब्राह्मणानां पितामह ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said O grandfather, amongst Brahmanas some follow the duties proper to their order while others follow other duties. Tell me the difference between tow lasses.
विद्यालक्षणसंपन्नाः सर्वत्राम्नायदर्शिनः । एते ब्रह्मसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणाः परिकीर्तिताः ॥
English Translation
Those Brahmanas, o king, who are learned and beneficent, and who look upon all creatures impartially, are said to be equal to। Brahma.
ऋत्विगाचार्यसंपन्नाः स्वेषु कर्मस्ववस्थिताः । एते देवसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत ॥
English Translation
Those who are conversant with the Rishis, the Yajus, and the Samans and who follow the practices of their order, are, O king, equal to the very gods.
ऋत्विक्पुरोहितो मन्त्री दूतोऽथार्थानुशासकः । एते क्षत्रसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत ॥
English Translation
Those who become Ritwijas, Purohitas, counsellors, envoys and messengers become, O king, equal to Kshatriyas.
अश्वारोहा गजारोहा रथिनोऽथ पदातयः । एते वैश्यसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत ॥
English Translation
Those, who ride horses or elephants or cars or become foot-soldiers, become, O king, equal to Vaishyas.
जन्मकर्मविहीना ये कदर्या ब्रह्मबन्धवः । एते शूद्रसमा राजन्ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत ॥
English Translation
Those, however, who are not well-born and do not follow the duties of their order, and are, addicted to evil practices, are like Shudras.
अश्रोत्रियाः सर्व एव सर्वे चानाहिताग्नयः । तान्सर्वान्धार्मिको राजा बलिं विष्टिं च कारयेत् ॥
English Translation
A virtuous king should realise tribute from and compel to enter the public service without any remuneration those Brahmanas who are not well read in the Vedas and who have not their own fires to worship.
आह्वायका देवलका नक्षत्रग्रामयाजकाः । एते ब्राह्मणचण्डाला महापथिकपञ्चमाः ॥
English Translation
Those, who are employed in law courts for summoning people, those who perform worship for other for money, those who perform the sacrifices of Vaishyas and Shudras, those who officiate in sacrifices on behalf of a whole village, and those who make voyages on the ocean,—these five are regarded as Chandalas among Brahmanas.
एतेभ्यो बलिमादद्याद्धीनकोशो महीपतिः । ऋते ब्रह्मसमेभ्यश्च देवकल्पेभ्य एव च ॥
English Translation
If the king's treasury is not well replenished, he may take tribute from these. In realising tribute, the king, however, should except those Brahmanas who are equal to the gods or Brahma.
अब्राह्मणानां वित्तस्य स्वामी राजेति वैदिकम् । ब्राह्मणानां च ये केचिद्विकर्मस्था भवन्त्युत ॥
English Translation
The Vedas say that the king is the master of the wealth of all the orders except Brahmanas. He can take the wealth of those Brahmanas who have neglected to perform their legitimate duties.
विकर्मस्थास्तु नोपेक्ष्या जातु राज्ञा कथंचन । नियम्याः संविभज्याश्च धर्मानुग्रहकाम्यया ॥
English Translation
The king should never treat in-differently those Brahmanas who do not observe their duties. For the sake of making his people virtuous, he should punish and take them away from their betters.
यस्य स्म विषये राज्ञः स्तेनो भवति वै द्विजः । राज्ञ एवापराधं तं मन्यन्ते तद्विदो जनाः ॥
English Translation
That king, O monarch, in whose territories a Brahmana becomes a thief, is charged by the learned as the doer of that misdeed.
अवृत्त्या यो भवेत्स्तेनो वेदवित्स्नातकस्तथा । राजन्स राज्ञा भर्तव्य इति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥
English Translation
Persons conversant with the Vedas declare that if a Brahmana versed in the Vedas and observant of vows becomes, through want of means, a thief, it is the duty of the king to support him.
स चेन्नो परिवर्तेत कृतवृत्तिः परंतप । ततो निर्वासनीयः स्यात्तस्माद्देशात्सबान्धवः ॥
English Translation
If, after provision has been made for his maintenance, he does not abstain from thefts, he should then, O scorcher of foes, be exiled from the kingdom with all his relatives.
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