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Mahābhārata • Parva 13 (Anuśāsanaparva) • Adhyāya 23

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 23

अनुशासनपर्व • अध्यायः 23

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 23 of the classical Mahābhārata with 42 verses.

Total: 42 Verses • Citations: MBh 13.23.1–42 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 2 of 2 (Verses 12 shown)
प्रहरेन्न नरेन्द्रेषु न गां हन्यात्तथैव च । भ्रूणहत्यासमं चैतदुभयं यो निषेवते ॥
English Translation
One should never do an act of violence to the king's body. Nor should one ever strike a cow. Both these offences are equal to the sin of foeticide.
नाग्निं परित्यजेज्जातु न च वेदान्परित्यजेत् । न च ब्राह्मणमाक्रोशेत्समं तद्ब्रह्महत्यया ॥
English Translation
One should never quit his (homa) fire. One should also renounce the study of the Vedas. One should never attack a Brahmana by words or decds. All these offences are equal to Brahmanicide.
कीदृशाः साधवो विप्राः केभ्यो दत्तं महाफलम् । कीदृशानां च भोक्तव्यं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said What kind of Brahinanas should be considered as good? Who are those Brahmanas by making presents to whom one may win great merit? What kind of Brahmanas are they whom one should feed? Tell me all this, O grandfather.
अक्रोधना धर्मपराः सत्यनित्या दमे रताः । तादृशाः साधवो विप्रास्तेभ्यो दत्तं महाफलम् ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Those Brahmanas who are freed from anger, who are devoted to acts of virtue, who are firm in Truth, and who practise self-control, are considered as good. By making gifts to them one acquires great merit.
अमानिनः सर्वसहा दृष्टार्था विजितेन्द्रियाः । सर्वभूतहिता मैत्रास्तेभ्यो दत्तं महाफलम् ॥
English Translation
One acquires great merit by making presents to such Brahmanas as are free from pride capable of bearing everything, firm in the pursuit of their objects, gifted with mastery over their senses, devoted, to the behoof of all creatures, and disposed to be friendly towards all.
अलुब्धाः शुचयो वैद्या ह्रीमन्तः सत्यवादिनः । स्वकर्मनिरता ये च तेभ्यो दत्तं महाफलम् ॥
English Translation
One acquires great merit by making gifts to such Brahmanas as are free from avarice, as are pure of heart and conduct, gifted with learning and modesty, truthful in speech and observant of their own duties as sanctioned in the scriptures.
साङ्गांश्च चतुरो वेदान्योऽधीयीत द्विजर्षभः । षड्भ्यो निवृत्तः कर्मभ्यस्तं पात्रमृषयो विदुः ॥
English Translation
The Rishis have declared that Brahmana to be a deserving object of gifts who studies the four Vedas with all their auxiliaries and is devoted to the six well known duties. One acquires great merit by making gifts to Brahmanas endued with such qualifications.
ये त्वेवंगुणजातीयास्तेभ्यो दत्तं महाफलम् । सहस्रगुणमाप्नोति गुणार्हाय प्रदायकः ॥
English Translation
The man who makes gifts to a worthy Brahmana multiplies his merit a thousand fold. A single pious Brahmana gifted with wisdom and Vedic lore, observant of the duties laid down in the scriptures, and marked out by purity of conduct is capablu to rescue a whole family.
प्रज्ञाश्रुताभ्यां वृत्तेन शीलेन च समन्वितः । तारयेत कुलं कृत्स्नमेकोऽपीह द्विजर्षभः ॥
English Translation
One should make gifts of kine and horses and riches and food and other kinds of articles to Brahmana who is gifted with such qualifications. By making such gifts to such persons one acquires great happiness in the next world.
गामश्वं वित्तमन्नं वा तद्विधे प्रतिपादयेत् । द्रव्याणि चान्यानि तथा प्रेत्यभावे न शोचति ॥
English Translation
One should make gifts of kine and horses and riches and food and other kinds of articles to Brahmana who is gifted with such qualifications. By making such gifts to such persons one acquires great happiness in the next world.
तारयेत कुलं कृत्स्नमेकोऽपीह द्विजोत्तमः । किमङ्ग पुनरेकं वै तस्मात्पात्रं समाचरेत् ॥
English Translation
As I have already told you, even one such Brahman can save the entire family to which the giver belongs. What need I say, therefore, O dear son of the merit of making gifts to many Brahmanas of such qualifications? In making gifts, thercfore, one should always select the object to whom the gift is to be made.
निशम्य च गुणोपेतं ब्राह्मणं साधुसंमतम् । दूरादानाययेत्कृत्ये सर्वतश्चाभिपूजयेत् ॥
English Translation
Hearing of a Brahmana gifted with proper qualifications and respected by all good people, one should invite him even if he lives at a distance and welcoming him when he arrives one should adore him by all means in his power.
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