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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 55

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 55

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 55

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 55 of the classical Mahābhārata with 21 verses.

Total: 21 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.55.1–21 • 250 Lexicon Terms
अथाब्रवीन्महातेजा वाक्यं कौरवनन्दनः । हन्त धर्मान्प्रवक्ष्यामि दृढे वाङ्मनसी मम । तव प्रसादाद्गोविन्द भूतात्मा ह्यसि शाश्वतः ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said The highly energetic delighter of Kurus, viz., Bhishma said,—'I shall describe the subject of duty. My speech and mind have become steady, through your favour, O Govinda, since you are the eternal soul of every being.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु मां राजा धर्मान्समनुपृच्छतु । एवं प्रीतो भविष्यामि धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि चानघ ॥
English Translation
Let the righteous-souled Yudhishthira enquire of me about morality and duty. I shall then be much pleased to speak of all duties.
यस्मिन्राजर्षभे जाते धर्मात्मनि महात्मनि । अहृष्यन्नृषयः सर्वे स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥
English Translation
Let the son of Pandu, that virtuous and noble royal sage, upon whose birth all the Vrishnis were filled with joy, question me.
सर्वेषां दीप्तयशसां कुरूणां धर्मचारिणाम् । यस्य नास्ति समः कश्चित्स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥
English Translation
Let the son of Pandu, who has no peer among all the Kurus, among all righteous persons and among celebrated men question me.
धृतिर्दमो ब्रह्मचर्यं क्षमा धर्मश्च नित्यदा । यस्मिन्नोजश्च तेजश्च स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥
English Translation
let the son of Pandu, who is endued with intelligence, self-restraint, Brahmacharya, forgiveness righteousness, mental vigour and energy, question me.
सत्यं दानं तपः शौचं शान्तिर्दाक्ष्यमसंभ्रमः । यस्मिन्नेतानि सर्वाणि स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥
English Translation
Let the son of Pandu, who is settled in truth, charity, penances, heroism, peacefulness, cleverness, and fearlessness, question me.
यो न कामान्न संरम्भान्न भयान्नार्थकारणात् । कुर्यादधर्मं धर्मात्मा स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥
English Translation
Let the pious son of Pandu, who would never commit a sin actuated by desire of pleasure of profit or from fear, question me.
संबन्धिनोऽतिथीन्भृत्यान्संश्रितोपाश्रितांश्च यः । संमानयति सत्कृत्य स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥
English Translation
Let the son of Pandu, who always by his favour honours his relative and guests and servants and dependants, question me.
सत्यनित्यः क्षमानित्यो ज्ञाननित्योऽतिथिप्रियः । यो ददाति सतां नित्यं स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥
English Translation
Let the son of Pandu, who is ever truthful, forgiving, endued with knowledge, and attentive to guests and who always makes gifts to the pious, question me.
इज्याध्ययननित्यश्च धर्मे च निरतः सदा । शान्तः श्रुतरहस्यश्च स मां पृच्छतु पाण्डवः ॥
English Translation
Let the son of Pandu, who always celebrates sacrifices and studies the Vedas and satisfies the morality and duty, who is ever peaceful and who has heard all mysteries, question me.
लज्जया परयोपेतो धर्मात्मा स युधिष्ठिरः । अभिशापभयाद्भीतो भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥
English Translation
Vasudeva said 'King Yudhishthira, possessed by great shame and fearing your imprecations, does not venture to approach you.
लोकस्य कदनं कृत्वा लोकनाथो विशां पते । अभिशापभयाद्भीतो भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥
English Translation
That king, O monarch, having caused a great carnage, ventures not to approach you from fear of your curse.
पूज्यान्मान्यांश्च भक्तांश्च गुरून्संबन्धिबान्धवान् । अर्घ्यार्हानिषुभिर्हत्वा भवन्तं नोपसर्पति ॥
English Translation
Having wounded with arrows those who were worthy of his worship, those who were devoted to him, those who were his preceptors, those who were his relatives and kinsmen, and those who deserved his highest regard, he ventures not to approach you.
ब्राह्मणानां यथा धर्मो दानमध्ययनं तपः । क्षत्रियाणां तथा कृष्ण समरे देहपातनम् ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said As the duty of the Brahmanas is to practise charity, to study, and perform penances, so the duty of Kshatriyas is to renounce their bodies, OKrishna, in battle.
पितॄन्पितामहान्पुत्रान्गुरून्संबन्धिबान्धवान् । मिथ्याप्रवृत्तान्यः संख्ये निहन्याद्धर्म एव सः ॥
English Translation
Kshatriyas should kill fathers and grandfathers and brothers and preceptors and relatives and kinsmen that may give them an unjust battle. This is their open duty.
समयत्यागिनो लुब्धान्गुरूनपि च केशव । निहन्ति समरे पापान्क्षत्रियो यः स धर्मवित् ॥
English Translation
The Kshatriya, O Keshava, knows his own duty who kills in battle his very preceptors, if they happen to be sinful and covetous and negligent of restraints and vows.
आहूतेन रणे नित्यं योद्धव्यं क्षत्रबन्धुना । धर्म्यं स्वर्ग्यं च लोक्यं च युद्धं हि मनुरब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
A Kshatriya, when challenged, must always fight in battle, for Manu has said that a righteous battle acquire both heaven and fame on Earth for him.
एवमुक्तस्तु भीष्मेण धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । विनीतवदुपागम्य तस्थौ संदर्शनेऽग्रतः ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said After Bhishma had spoken thus, Dharma's son Yudhishthira humbly approached the Kuru hero and stood before him.
अथास्य पादौ जग्राह भीष्मश्चाभिननन्द तम् । मूर्ध्नि चैनमुपाघ्राय निषीदेत्यब्रवीत्तदा ॥
English Translation
He seized the feet of Bhishma who in return cheered him with affectionate words. Smelling his head, Bhishma asked Yudhishthira to take his seat.
तमुवाचाथ गाङ्गेय ऋषभः सर्वधन्विनाम् । पृच्छ मां तात विस्रब्धं मा भैस्त्वं कुरुसत्तम ॥
English Translation
Then Ganga's son, that best of bowmen, addressed Yudhishthira, saying,—'Do not fear, O best of the Kurus. Ask me, O child, without any hesitation.'
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