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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 78

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 78

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 78

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 78 of the classical Mahābhārata with 35 verses.

Total: 35 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.78.1–35 • 250 Lexicon Terms
केषां राजा प्रभवति वित्तस्य भरतर्षभ । कया च वृत्त्या वर्तेत तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said Of whose wealth, O foremost of Bharata's race, is the king considered to be the master? And what conduct also should the king follow? Describe to me this, O grandfather!
अब्राह्मणानां वित्तस्य स्वामी राजेति वैदिकम् । ब्राह्मणानां च ये केचिद्विकर्मस्था भवन्त्युत ॥
English Translation
The Vedas say that the king is the master of the wealth of all the orders except Brahmanas. He can take the wealth of those Brahmanas who have neglected to perform their legitimate duties.
विकर्मस्थाश्च नोपेक्ष्या विप्रा राज्ञा कथंचन । इति राज्ञां पुरावृत्तमभिजल्पन्ति साधवः ॥
English Translation
The king should never treat in-differently those Brahmanas who do not observe their duties. For the sake of making his people virtuous, he should punish and take them away from their betters.
यस्य स्म विषये राज्ञः स्तेनो भवति वै द्विजः । राज्ञ एवापराधं तं मन्यन्ते किल्बिषं नृप ॥
English Translation
That king, O monarch, in whose territories a Brahmana becomes a thief, is charged by the learned as the doer of that misdeed.
अभिशस्तमिवात्मानं मन्यन्ते तेन कर्मणा । तस्माद्राजर्षयः सर्वे ब्राह्मणानन्वपालयन् ॥
English Translation
For such an offence, kings consider themselves to be worthy of reproach. All righteous kings, therefore, provide Brahmanas with the means of sustenance,
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । गीतं केकयराजेन ह्रियमाणेन रक्षसा ॥
English Translation
Regarding it is cited the old narrative of the speech made by the king of the Kaikeyas to a Rakshasa while the latter was about to abduct him away.
केकयानामधिपतिं रक्षो जग्राह दारुणम् । स्वाध्यायेनान्वितं राजन्नरण्ये संशितव्रतम् ॥
English Translation
Of rigid vows and well-read in the Vedas, the king of the Kaikeyas, O monarch, while living in the forest, was by force seized on a certain occasion by a Rakshasa.
न मे स्तेनो जनपदे न कदर्यो न मद्यपः । नानाहिताग्निर्नायज्वा मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
The king said, There is no thief in my kingdom, nor any wicked person nor any one who drinks alcohol. There is no one in my kingdomn who does not preserve his sacred fire or who does not celebrate sacrifices. How then have you been able to possess by heart?
न च मे ब्राह्मणोऽविद्वान्नाव्रती नाप्यसोमपः । नानाहिताग्निर्विषये मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
There is not Brahmana in my territories who is not learned or who does not observe Vows or who has not drunk Soma. There is no one who does not preserve his sacred fire or who does not celebrate sacrifices. How then have you been able to possess my soul?
नानाप्तदक्षिणैर्यज्ञैर्यजन्ते विषये मम । अधीते नाव्रती कश्चिन्मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
In my kingdom no sacrifice has been celebrated without completing it by Dakshina. No one in my kingdom studies the Vedas who does not observe vows. How then have you been able to possess my soul?
अधीयतेऽध्यापयन्ति यजन्ते याजयन्ति च । ददति प्रतिगृह्णन्ति षट्सु कर्मस्ववस्थिताः ॥
English Translation
The Brahmanas in my kingdom teach, study, sacrifice, officiate at others' sacrifices, give, and receive presents. All of them perform those six acts.
पूजिताः संविभक्ताश्च मृदवः सत्यवादिनः । ब्राह्मणा मे स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
The Brahmanas in my kingdom devotedly follow the duties of their order. Adored and provided for, they are mild, and truthful in speech. How then have you been to possess my soul?
न याचन्ते प्रयच्छन्ति सत्यधर्मविशारदाः । नाध्यापयन्त्यधीयन्ते यजन्ते न च याजकाः ॥
ब्राह्मणान्परिरक्षन्ति संग्रामेष्वपलायिनः । क्षत्रिया मे स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
The Kshatriyas in my kingdom devotedly follow the duties of their order. They never beg but give, and are conversant with truth and virtue. They never teach but study, and celebrate sacrifices but never officiate at the sacrifices of others. They protect the Brahmanas and never fly from battlefield. How then have you been able to possess my soul,?
कृषिगोरक्षवाणिज्यमुपजीवन्त्यमायया । अप्रमत्ताः क्रियावन्तः सुव्रताः सत्यवादिनः ॥
English Translation
The Vaishyas in my kingdom all follow the duties of their order. With simplicity and without deceit they gain their livelihood from agriculture, cattle-keeping, and trade. They are all careful, observant of religious rites and excellent vows, and truthful in speech.
संविभागं दमं शौचं सौहृदं च व्यपाश्रिताः । मम वैश्याः स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
They give to their guests what is their due, are self-controlled and pure, and devoted to their relatives and kinsmen. How then have you been to possess my heart?
त्रीन्वर्णाननुतिष्ठन्ति यथावदनसूयकाः । मम शूद्राः स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
The Shudras in my kingdom, always follow the duties of their order, humbly and duly serve and wait upon the other three orders without cherishing any inalice towards them. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
कृपणानाथवृद्धानां दुर्बलातुरयोषिताम् । संविभक्तास्मि सर्वेषां मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
I support the helpless and the old, the weak, the ill, and helpless women by giving them all their necessaries. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
कुलदेशादिधर्माणां प्रथितानां यथाविधि । अव्युच्छेत्तास्मि सर्वेषां मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
I have never done away with the special customs of families and of countries obtaining from days of yore. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
तपस्विनो मे विषये पूजिताः परिपालिताः । संविभक्ताश्च सत्कृत्य मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
The ascetics in my kingdom are protected and adored. They are always honoured and fed with food. How then have you been able to posses my heart?
नासंविभज्य भोक्तास्मि न विशामि परस्त्रियम् । स्वतन्त्रो जातु न क्रीडे मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
I never eat without feeding others from my food. I never know other people's wives. I never sport or recreate alone. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
नाब्रह्मचारी भिक्षावान्भिक्षुर्वाब्रह्मचारिकः । अनृत्विजं हुतं नास्ति मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
No one in my kingdom save a Brahmacharin begs his food, and no one who lives a mendicant's life desires to be a Brahmacharin. No one but a Ritwij pours libations (of clarified butter) upon the sacrificial fire. How then have you been able to possess my soul?
नावजानाम्यहं वृद्धान्न वैद्यान्न तपस्विनः । राष्ट्रे स्वपति जागर्मि मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
I never disrespect the learned or the old or those who practise penances. When all people are asleep, I keep up (for watching and protecting). How then have you been able to possess my heart?
वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नस्तपस्वी सर्वधर्मवित् । स्वामी सर्वस्य राज्यस्य श्रीमान्मम पुरोहितः ॥
English Translation
My priest is endued with the knowledge of self. He practises penances, and is a master of duties. Highly intelligent he has the fullest power over my kingdom.
दानेन दिव्यानभिवाञ्छामि लोका;न्सत्येनाथो ब्राह्मणानां च गुप्त्या । शुश्रूषया चापि गुरूनुपैमि; न मे भयं विद्यते राक्षसेभ्यः ॥
English Translation
By presents I desire to acquire knowledge, and by truth and the protection of Brahmanas. I wish to attain blissful regions of heaven. I always strive to serve my preceptors with my services. I do not fear the Rakshasas.
न मे राष्ट्रे विधवा ब्रह्मबन्धु;र्न ब्राह्मणः कृपणो नोत चोरः । न पारजायी न च पापकर्मा; न मे भयं विद्यते राक्षसेभ्यः ॥
English Translation
In my kingdom there are no widows, no wicked Brahmanas, no Brahmana who had not satisfied his duties, no deceitful person, no thief, no Brahmana who officiates in the sacrifices of those for whom he should never officiate, and no perpetrator of sinful deeds. I do not fear the Rakshasas.
न मे शस्त्रैरनिर्भिन्नमङ्गे द्व्यङ्गुलमन्तरम् । धर्मार्थं युध्यमानस्य मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
There is no space in my body, of even two fingers breadth, which does not contain the mark of a weapon-wound. I always fight for the sake of fairness. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
गोब्राह्मणे च यज्ञे च नित्यं स्वस्त्ययनं मम । आशासते जना राष्ट्रे मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥
English Translation
The people of my kingdom always bless me so that I may always be able to protect kine and Brahmanas and celebrate sacrifices. How then have you been able to possess me?
यस्मात्सर्वास्ववस्थासु धर्ममेवान्ववेक्षसे । तस्मात्प्राप्नुहि कैकेय गृहान्स्वस्ति व्रजाम्यहम् ॥
English Translation
Since you satisfy your duties under all circumstances, therefore, O king of the Kaikeyas, go back to your palace. Blessed be you, I leave you.
येषां गोब्राह्मणा रक्ष्याः प्रजा रक्ष्याश्च केकय । न रक्षोभ्यो भयं तेषां कुत एव तु मानुषात् ॥
English Translation
They, O king of the Kaikeyas, who protect kine and Brahmanas and all their subjects, have no fear of Rakshasas, what speak of sinful persons.
येषां पुरोगमा विप्रा येषां ब्रह्मबलं बलम् । प्रियातिथ्यास्तथा दारास्ते वै स्वर्गजितो नराः ॥
English Translation
Those kings, who yield to Brahmanas and whose might depends upon that of the Brahmanas, and whose subjects are always hospitable, always succeed in gaining heaven.
तस्माद्द्विजातीन्रक्षेत ते हि रक्षन्ति रक्षिताः । आशीरेषां भवेद्राज्ञां राष्ट्रं सम्यक्प्रवर्धते ॥
English Translation
Bhishma continued:-You should; therefore, protect the Brahmanas. Protected by you, they will protect you in return. Their blessings, O king, would, forsooth, come upon righteous kings.
तस्माद्राज्ञा विशेषेण विकर्मस्था द्विजातयः । नियम्याः संविभज्याश्च प्रजानुग्रहकारणात् ॥
English Translation
The king should never treat in-differently those Brahmanas who do not observe their duties. For the sake of making his people virtuous, he should punish and take them away from their betters.
य एवं वर्तते राजा पौरजानपदेष्विह । अनुभूयेह भद्राणि प्राप्नोतीन्द्रसलोकताम् ॥
English Translation
A king, who behaves thus towards the people of his city and the provinces, enjoys prosperity here and lives in heaven with Indra.'
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