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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 23

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 23

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 23

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 23 of the classical Mahābhārata with 17 verses.

Total: 17 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.23.1–17 • 250 Lexicon Terms
एवमुक्तस्तु कौन्तेयो गुडाकेशेन भारत । नोवाच किंचित्कौरव्यस्ततो द्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said Thus addressed by Arjuna of curly hair, the Kuru king, son of Kunti, remained silent. Then Dvaipayana (Vyasa) said.
बीभत्सोर्वचनं सम्यक्सत्यमेतद्युधिष्ठिर । शास्त्रदृष्टः परो धर्मः स्मृतो गार्हस्थ्य आश्रमः ॥
English Translation
Vyasa said The words of Arjuna, O amiable Yudhishthira, are true. The highest religion as sanctioned by the scriptures, consists in the duties of a householder.
स्वधर्मं चर धर्मज्ञ यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि । न हि गार्हस्थ्यमुत्सृज्य तवारण्यं विधीयते ॥
English Translation
You are acquainted with all duties. Do you then duly practise the duties prescribed for you (viz., the duties of a householder.) A life of retirement in the forest forgetting the duties of a householder, has not been laid down for you.
गृहस्थं हि सदा देवाः पितर ऋषयस्तथा । भृत्याश्चैवोपजीवन्ति तान्भजस्व महीपते ॥
English Translation
The gods, Pitris, guests, and servants all depend (for their maintenance) upon householder. Do you then support all these, O king.
वयांसि पशवश्चैव भूतानि च महीपते । गृहस्थैरेव धार्यन्ते तस्माज्ज्येष्ठाश्रमो गृही ॥
English Translation
Birds and animals and various other creatures, O king, supported by a are householders. He, therefore, who belongs to that mode of life, is superior to all.
सोऽयं चतुर्णामेतेषामाश्रमाणां दुराचरः । तं चराविमनाः पार्थ दुश्चरं दुर्बलेन्द्रियैः ॥
English Translation
The life of a householder is the inost difficult of all the four modes of life. Do you practise that mode of life then, O Partha, which is difficult of being practised by persons of uncontrolled senses.
वेदज्ञानं च ते कृत्स्नं तपश्च चरितं महत् । पितृपैतामहे राज्ये धुरमुद्वोढुमर्हसि ॥
English Translation
You have mastered all the Vedas. You have earned great ascetic merit. You should, therefore, bear like an ox the burden of your ancestral kingdom.
तपो यज्ञस्तथा विद्या भैक्षमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः । ध्यानमेकान्तशीलत्वं तुष्टिर्दानं च शक्तितः ॥
English Translation
Penances, sacrifices, forgiveness, learning, mendicancy, restraint of senses, contemplation, living in solitude, contentment, and knowledge (of Brahma), should, O king, be practised by Brahmanas to the best of their ability for the attainment of success.
ब्राह्मणानां महाराज चेष्टाः संसिद्धिकारिकाः । क्षत्रियाणां च वक्ष्यामि तवापि विदितं पुनः ॥
यज्ञो विद्या समुत्थानमसंतोषः श्रियं प्रति । दण्डधारणमत्युग्रं प्रजानां परिपालनम् ॥
वेदज्ञानं तथा कृत्स्नं तपः सुचरितं तथा । द्रविणोपार्जनं भूरि पात्रेषु प्रतिपादनम् ॥
एतानि राज्ञां कर्माणि सुकृतानि विशां पते । इमं लोकममुं लोकं साधयन्तीति नः श्रुतम् ॥
तेषां ज्यायस्तु कौन्तेय दण्डधारणमुच्यते । बलं हि क्षत्रिये नित्यं बले दण्डः समाहितः ॥
English Translation
Of them, O son of Kunti, wielding the rod of chastisement has been declared to be the foremost. A Kshatriya must always have strength, and upon strength depends chastisement.
एताश्चेष्टाः क्षत्रियाणां राजन्संसिद्धिकारिकाः । अपि गाथामिमां चापि बृहस्पतिरभाषत ॥
English Translation
Those I have mentioned are, O king, the principle duties for Kshatriyas and lead greatly to their success. Brihaspati, in this matter, sang this verse :
भूमिरेतौ निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव । राजानं चाविरोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम् ॥
English Translation
Like a snake devouring a mouse, the Earth devours a king who is inclined to peace and a Brahmana who is greatly addicted to a life of domesticity!
सुद्युम्नश्चापि राजर्षिः श्रूयते दण्डधारणात् । प्राप्तवान्परमां सिद्धिं दक्षः प्राचेतसो यथा ॥
English Translation
It is heard again that the royal sage Sudyumna, only by wielding the rod of chastisement, gained the highest success, like Daksha himself, the son of Prachetas.
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