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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 75

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 75

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 75

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 75 of the classical Mahābhārata with 23 verses.

Total: 23 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.75.1–23 • 250 Lexicon Terms
योगक्षेमो हि राष्ट्रस्य राजन्यायत्त उच्यते । योगक्षेमश्च राज्ञोऽपि समायत्तः पुरोहिते ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said It is said that the preservation and advancement of the kingdom depends upon the king. The preservation and advancement of the kings depends upon the king's priest.
यतादृष्टं भयं ब्रह्म प्रजानां शमयत्युत । दृष्टं च राजा बाहुभ्यां तद्राष्ट्रं सुखमेधते ॥
English Translation
That kingdom truly enjoys felicity where the invisible fears of the subjects, are removed by the Brahmana and all visible ones are suppressed by the king with the strength of his arin.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । मुचुकुन्दस्य संवादं राज्ञो वैश्रवणस्य च ॥
English Translation
Regarding it is cited the old story about the discourse between Pururavas the son of Aila and Matarishvan.
मुचुकुन्दो विजित्येमां पृथिवीं पृथिवीपतिः । जिज्ञासमानः स्वबलमभ्ययादलकाधिपम् ॥
English Translation
King Muchukunda, having conquered the entire Earth, went to the lord of Alaka for testing his strength.
ततो वैश्रवणो राजा रक्षांसि समवासृजत् । ते बलान्यवमृद्नन्तः प्राचरंस्तस्य नैरृताः ॥
English Translation
King Vaishravana created a large army of Rakshasas. These grinded the army led by Muchukunda.
स हन्यमाने सैन्ये स्वे मुचुकुन्दो नराधिपः । गर्हयामास विद्वांसं पुरोहितमरिंदमः ॥
English Translation
Witnessing the destruction of his army, king Muchukunda, O chastiser of foes, began to remonstrate with his own feared priest Vasishtha.
तत उग्रं तपस्तप्त्वा वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मवित्तमः । रक्षांस्यपावधीत्तत्र पन्थानं चाप्यविन्दत ॥
English Translation
Thereupon that foremost of righteous persons, viz, Vasishtha, practised very austere penances, and, causing those Rakshasas to be killed, ascertained the true course which Muchukunda was following.
ततो वैश्रवणो राजा मुचुकुन्दमदर्शयत् । वध्यमानेषु सैन्येषु वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
When king Vaishravana's troops were being killed, he showed himself Muchukunda and said these words. to
त्वत्तो हि बलिनः पूर्वे राजानः सपुरोहिताः । न चैवं समवर्तंस्ते यथा त्वमिह वर्तसे ॥
English Translation
The Lord of Death said Many kings of yore, more powerful than you, aided by their priests, had never approached me thus.
ते खल्वपि कृतास्त्राश्च बलवन्तश्च भूमिपाः । आगम्य पर्युपासन्ते मामीशं सुखदुःखयोः ॥
English Translation
All of them were clever in weapons and all of them were powerful. Knowing me as the giver of happiness and misery, they approached me for offering adorations.
यद्यस्ति बाहुवीर्यं ते तद्दर्शयितुमर्हसि । किं ब्राह्मणबलेन त्वमतिमात्रं प्रवर्तसे ॥
English Translation
In truth, if you have might of arms you should display it. Why do you act so proudly helped by Brahmana power.
मुचुकुन्दस्ततः क्रुद्धः प्रत्युवाच धनेश्वरम् । न्यायपूर्वमसंरब्धमसंभ्रान्तमिदं वचः ॥
English Translation
Enraged at these words, Muchukunda, shorn of pride and fear, said to the Lord of Death these words pregnant with reason and justice.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रमिदं सृष्टमेकयोनि स्वयंभुवा । पृथग्बलविधानं च तल्लोकं परिरक्षति ॥
English Translation
The Self-create Brahman created the Brahmana and the Kshatriya. They have a common origin. If they apply their energies separately, they would never be able to keep up the world.
तपोमन्त्रबलं नित्यं ब्राह्मणेषु प्रतिष्ठितम् । अस्त्रबाहुबलं नित्यं क्षत्रियेषु प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥
English Translation
The power of penances and Mantras was given to the Brahmanas; the strength of arms and of weapons was conferred upon Kshatriyas.
ताभ्यां संभूय कर्तव्यं प्रजानां परिपालनम् । तथा च मां प्रवर्तन्तं गर्हयस्यलकाधिप ॥
English Translation
Helped by both kinds of strength, kings should protect their subjects. I am acting in that way. Why do you, O lord of Alaka, remonstrate with me then?
ततोऽब्रवीद्वैश्रवणो राजानं सपुरोहितम् । नाहं राज्यमनिर्दिष्टं कस्मैचिद्विदधाम्युत ॥
English Translation
Thus accosted, Vaishravana said to Muchukunda and his priest,-I never, without being ordered (by the Self-born) confr sovereignty upon any one. Nor do I ever, without his behest, snatch it away from any one. Know this, O king.
नाच्छिन्दे चापि निर्दिष्टमिति जानीहि पार्थिव । प्रशाधि पृथिवीं वीर मद्दत्तामखिलामिमाम् ॥
नाहं राज्यं भवद्दत्तं भोक्तुमिच्छामि पार्थिव । बाहुवीर्यार्जितं राज्यमश्नीयामिति कामये ॥
English Translation
I do not, O king, desire to enjoy sovereignty given by you as a gift. I desire to enjoy sovereignty secured by the power of my own arms.
ततो वैश्रवणो राजा विस्मयं परमं ययौ । क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितं दृष्ट्वा मुचुकुन्दमसंभ्रमम् ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said At these words of Muchukunda, Vaishravana, seeing the king undaunted in the observance of Kshatriya duties, was stricken with surprise.
ततो राजा मुचुकुन्दः सोऽन्वशासद्वसुंधराम् । बाहुवीर्यार्जितां सम्यक्क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः ॥
English Translation
King Muchukunda, devoted to Kshatriya duties, continued to rule the entire Earth acquired by the power of his own arms.
एवं यो ब्रह्मविद्राजा ब्रह्मपूर्वं प्रवर्तते । जयत्यविजितामुर्वीं यशश्च महदश्नुते ॥
English Translation
That virtuous king, who governs his kingdom, aided by and revering the Brahmana, succeeds in subjugating the whole Earth and acquiring great fame.
नित्योदको ब्राह्मणः स्यान्नित्यशस्त्रश्च क्षत्रियः । तयोर्हि सर्वमायत्तं यत्किंचिज्जगतीगतम् ॥
English Translation
The Brahmana should daily perform his religious rites and the Kshatriya should always be ready with weapons. They both are the rightful owners of everything in the world.'
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