Special Call Prof. Jay L. Garfield Commemorative Volume · Submissions Open
Announcements Newsletters About Us Contact
Search
MBh
Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 61

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 61

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 61

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 61 of the classical Mahābhārata with 22 verses.

Total: 22 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.61.1–22 • 250 Lexicon Terms
आश्रमाणां महाबाहो शृणु सत्यपराक्रम । चतुर्णामिह वर्णानां कर्माणि च युधिष्ठिर ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said O mighty-armed one, hear me, O you of prowess incapable of being baffled, as I name the four modes of life and describe their respective duties.
वानप्रस्थं भैक्षचर्यां गार्हस्थ्यं च महाश्रमम् । ब्रह्मचर्याश्रमं प्राहुश्चतुर्थं ब्राह्मणैर्वृतम् ॥
English Translation
The four modes and Vanaprastha (hermit), Bhaikshya (mendicant), Garhasthya of great merit (house-holder), Brahmacharya (religious student) which is adopted by Brahmanas.
जटाकरणसंस्कारं द्विजातित्वमवाप्य च । आधानादीनि कर्माणि प्राप्य वेदमधीत्य च ॥
सदारो वाप्यदारो वा आत्मवान्संयतेन्द्रियः । वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गच्छेत्कृतकृत्यो गृहाश्रमात् ॥
English Translation
Performing the purificatory rite consequent upon bearing matted locks, and of regeneration and having performed for sometime the rites of the sacred fire and studied the Vedas, one should, with purified soul and controlled senses having first carefully performed all the duties of the house-hold order, proceed, with or without his wife, to the forest for adoption of the mode called Vanaprastha.
तत्रारण्यकशास्त्राणि समधीत्य स धर्मवित् । ऊर्ध्वरेताः प्रजायित्वा गच्छत्यक्षरसात्मताम् ॥
English Translation
Having studied the Scriptures called Aranyakas, having restrained his vital fluid and having retired from all worldly affairs the pious hermit may then find himself immersed in the eternal Soul knowing no deterioration.
एतान्येव निमित्तानि मुनीनामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् । कर्तव्यानीह विप्रेण राजन्नादौ विपश्चिता ॥
English Translation
These are the signs of ascetics that have drawn up their vital fluid. A learned Brahmana, O king, should first practise and perform them.
चरितब्रह्मचर्यस्य ब्राह्मणस्य विशां पते । भैक्षचर्यास्वधीकारः प्रशस्त इह मोक्षिणः ॥
English Translation
The Brahmana, O king, who is desirous of liberation, is is competent to adopt the mendicant's life after having gone through the mode called Brahmacharya.
यत्रास्तमितशायी स्यान्निरग्निरनिकेतनः । यथोपलब्धजीवी स्यान्मुनिर्दान्तो जितेन्द्रियः ॥
निराशीः स्यात्सर्वसमो निर्भोगो निर्विकारवान् । विप्रः क्षेमाश्रमं प्राप्तो गच्छत्यक्षरसात्मताम् ॥
English Translation
Sleeping at the place where evening sets without caring to improve his situation, without a home, living on whatever fare is got (in charity), given to meditation, practising selfrestraint, with the senses under control, without desire, regarding all creatures impartially, without enjoyments, without dislike anything the Brahmana, possessed of learning, by adopting this mode of life, attains to unification with the eternal undecaying Soul.
अधीत्य वेदान्कृतसर्वकृत्यः; संतानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा । समाहितः प्रचरेद्दुश्चरं तं; गार्हस्थ्यधर्मं मुनिधर्मदृष्टम् ॥
English Translation
The person, leading the life of a householder, should, after studying the Vedas, accomplish all the religious acts prescribed for to him. He should procreate children and enjoy pleasures and luxuries. With careful attention he should satisfy all the duties of this mode of life which is highly spoken of by ascetics and which is extremely difficult to follow (without sins.)
स्वदारतुष्ट ऋतुकालगामी; नियोगसेवी नशठो नजिह्मः । मिताशनो देवपरः कृतज्ञः; सत्यो मृदुश्चानृशंसः क्षमावान् ॥
English Translation
He shouid be satisfied with his own married wife and should never approach her except in her season. He should follow prescription of the scriptures, should not be cunning and deceitful. He should be sparing in diet, devoted to the gods, grateful, mild, shorn of cruelty, and forgiving.
दान्तो विधेयो हव्यकव्येऽप्रमत्तो; अन्नस्य दाता सततं द्विजेभ्यः । अमत्सरी सर्वलिङ्गिप्रदाता; वैताननित्यश्च गृहाश्रमी स्यात् ॥
English Translation
He should be of a tranquil heart, peaceful and careful in making offerings to the gods and the Pitris. He should always be hospitable to the Brahmanas. He should be shorn of pride and should not make charity to one sect. He should always carefully perforinthe Vedic rites.
अथात्र नारायणगीतमाहु;र्महर्षयस्तात महानुभावाः । महार्थमत्यर्थतपःप्रयुक्तं; तदुच्यमानं हि मया निबोध ॥
English Translation
Regarding it, the illustrious and great Rishis cite a verse sung by Narayana himself, highly important and endued with high ascetic merit. Hear me as I repeat it.
सत्यार्जवं चातिथिपूजनं च; धर्मस्तथार्थश्च रतिश्च दारे । निषेवितव्यानि सुखानि लोके; ह्यस्मिन्परे चैव मतं ममैतत् ॥
English Translation
By truth, simplicity, worship of guests, acquisition of religion and profit, and enjoyment of one's own married wife one should enjoy various kinds of happiness both here and hereafter.
भरणं पुत्रदाराणां वेदानां पारणं तथा । सतां तमाश्रमं श्रेष्ठं वदन्ति परमर्षयः ॥
English Translation
The great Rishis have said that the maintenance of sons and wives, and the study of the Vedas, are the duties of those who follow this high mode of life.
एवं हि यो ब्राह्मणो यज्ञशीलो; गार्हस्थ्यमध्यावसते यथावत् । गृहस्थवृत्तिं प्रविशोध्य सम्य;क्स्वर्गे विशुद्धं फलमाप्नुते सः ॥
English Translation
That Brahmana who, always engaged in the celebration of sacrifices, duly passes this mode of life and properly discharges all its duties, obtains blessed rewards in heaven.
तस्य देहपरित्यागादिष्टाः कामाक्षया मताः । आनन्त्यायोपतिष्ठन्ति सर्वतोक्षिशिरोमुखाः ॥
English Translation
Upon his death, the rewards sought by him become eternal. Indeed these wait upon him for eternity like servants ever careful to execute the orders of their master.
खादन्नेको जपन्नेकः सर्पन्नेको युधिष्ठिर । एकस्मिन्नेव आचार्ये शुश्रूषुर्मलपङ्कवान् ॥
ब्रह्मचारी व्रती नित्यं नित्यं दीक्षापरो वशी । अविचार्य तथा वेदं कृत्यं कुर्वन्वसेत्सदा ॥
शुश्रूषां सततं कुर्वन्गुरोः संप्रणमेत च । षट्कर्मस्वनिवृत्तश्च नप्रवृत्तश्च सर्वशः ॥
न चरत्यधिकारेण सेवितं द्विषतो न च । एषोऽऽश्रमपदस्तात ब्रह्मचारिण इष्यते ॥
← Previous (Ch. 1388) Full Table of Contents Next (Ch. 1390) →