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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 112

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 112

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 112

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 112 of the classical Mahābhārata with 87 verses.

Total: 87 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.112.1–87 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 3 (Verses 30 shown)
असौम्याः सौम्यरूपेण सौम्याश्चासौम्यदर्शिनः । ईदृशान्पुरुषांस्तात कथं विद्यामहे वयम् ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said Many persons here, who do not in reality, possess of tranquil souls, appear external as men of tranquil souls. There are again others, who are really of tranquil souls but that appear otherwise. How, O sire, shall we succeed in knowing these people.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । व्याघ्रगोमायुसंवादं तं निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥
English Translation
'Regarding it, O Yudhishthira, is cited the old story of the discourse between Ambarisha and Indra.
पुरिकायां पुरि पुरा श्रीमत्यां पौरिको नृपः । परहिंसारुचिः क्रूरो बभूव पुरुषाधमः ॥
English Translation
In days of yore, in a wealthy city called Paurika, there was a king named Paurika. That worst of beings was highly truthless and took pleasure in injuring others.
स त्वायुषि परिक्षीणे जगामानीप्सितां गतिम् । गोमायुत्वं च संप्राप्तो दूषितः पूर्वकर्मणा ॥
English Translation
When the lease of his life ran out he obtained an undesirable end. In fact, sullied by the evil deeds of his human life, he was born again as a jackal.
संस्मृत्य पूर्वजातिं स निर्वेदं परमं गतः । न भक्षयति मांसानि परैरुपहृतान्यपि ॥
English Translation
Remembering his pristine prosperity, he was filled with grief and abstained from meat even when brought before him by others,
अहिंस्रः सर्वभूतेषु सत्यवाक्सुदृढव्रतः । चकार च यथाकाममाहारं पतितैः फलैः ॥
English Translation
And he felt mercy for all creatures, and was truthful in speech, and firm in the observance of austere vows. At the appointed hour he took food which consisted of fruit which had dropped from the trees.
श्मशाने तस्य चावासो गोमायोः संमतोऽभवत् । जन्मभूम्यनुरोधाच्च नान्यद्वासमरोचयत् ॥
English Translation
That jackal lived in a vast crematorium and liked to live there. And as it was his birth place, he never desired to change it for a better one.
तस्य शौचममृष्यन्तः सर्वे ते सहजातयः । चालयन्ति स्म तां बुद्धिं वचनैः प्रश्रयोत्तरैः ॥
English Translation
Unable to bear the purity of his conduct, the other jackals tries to make him change his resolution by addressing him in the following humble words
वसन्पितृवने रौद्रे शौचं लप्सितुमिच्छसि । इयं विप्रतिपत्तिस्ते यदा त्वं पिशिताशनः ॥
English Translation
Through living in this dreadful crematorium, you desire yet to live such a pure life. Is not this owing to your perverse understanding, since you are by nature an eater of carrion?
तत्समो वा भवास्माभिर्भक्ष्यान्दास्यामहे वयम् । भुङ्क्ष्व शौचं परित्यज्य यद्धि भुक्तं तदस्ति ते ॥
English Translation
Be you like us! All of us will give you food, Eat that which ought always to be your food, leaving of such purity of conduct!
इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच समाहितः । मधुरैः प्रश्रितैर्वाक्यैर्हेतुमद्भिरनिष्ठुरैः ॥
English Translation
Hearing these words of theirs the jackal replied to them, with rapt attention, in these sweet and reasonable words, inculcating harmlessness to all-
अप्रमाणं प्रसूतिर्मे शीलतः क्रियते कुलम् । प्रार्थयिष्ये तु तत्कर्म येन विस्तीर्यते यशः ॥
English Translation
My birth has been low. It is conduct, however, which determines the birth. I wish to act in such a way that my fame may spread.
श्मशाने यदि वासो मे समाधिर्मे निशाम्यताम् । आत्मा फलति कर्माणि नाश्रमो धर्मलक्षणम् ॥
English Translation
Although I live in this crematorium, yet listen to my vows regarding my conduct. One's own self is the root of one's acts. The mode of life which one may adopt is not the root of one's religious acts.
आश्रमे यो द्विजं हन्याद्गां वा दद्यादनाश्रमे । किं नु तत्पातकं न स्यात्तद्वा दत्तं वृथा भवेत् ॥
English Translation
If one, while following a particular mode of life, kills a Brahmana, will not the sin of Brahmanicide assail him? If, on the other hand, one gives away a cow, while not even following any particular mode of life, will that pious gift yields on merit?
भवन्तः सर्वलोभेन केवलं भक्षणे रताः । अनुबन्धे तु ये दोषास्तान्न पश्यन्ति मोहिताः ॥
English Translation
Actuated by the desire of getting what is agreeable, you are only busy with filling your stomachs. Overcome by folly, you are blind to the three faults which are in the end.
अप्रत्ययकृतां गर्ह्यामर्थापनयदूषिताम् । इह चामुत्र चानिष्टां तस्माद्वृत्तिं न रोचये ॥
English Translation
I do not like to follow the life which you lead, which yields evil both in this world and in the next, and which is characterised by loss of virtue brought about by discontentment and temptation!
तं शुचिं पण्डितं मत्वा शार्दूलः ख्यातविक्रमः । कृत्वात्मसदृशां पूजां साचिव्येऽवर्धयत्स्वयम् ॥
English Translation
A tiger, well known for prowess, happened to overhear this conversation, and accordingly, taking the jackal for a learned person of pure conduct, offered him such respectful worship as became his own self and then expressed a desire for appointing him his minister.
सौम्य विज्ञातरूपस्त्वं गच्छ यात्रां मया सह । व्रियन्तामीप्सिता भोगाः परिहार्याश्च पुष्कलाः ॥
English Translation
The tiger said O righteous person, I know what you are! Do your look after the duties of government with myself! Do you look after the duties of government with myself! Enjoy whatever articles you may wish to have, leaving off whatever you may not have a liking for.
तीक्ष्णा वयमिति ख्याता भवतो ज्ञापयामहे । मृदुपूर्वं घातिनस्ते श्रेयश्चाधिगमिष्यति ॥
English Translation
As regards ourselves, we are known to be of a fierce nature. We inforın you beforehand of this. If you act with mildness, you will be benefited and reap advantages for yourself.
अथ संपूज्य तद्वाक्यं मृगेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः । गोमायुः प्रश्रितं वाक्यं बभाषे किंचिदानतः ॥
English Translation
Honouring these words of that great lord of all animals, jackal, bending low his head a little, said these humble words.
सदृशं मृगराजैतत्तव वाक्यं मदन्तरे । यत्सहायान्मृगयसे धर्मार्थकुशलाञ्शुचीन् ॥
English Translation
The jackal said O king of beasts, these words of yours about myself are such as become you. It is also becoming of you that you should cock for ministers of pure conduct and who conversant with duties and worldly affairs,
न शक्यमनमात्येन महत्त्वमनुशासितुम् । दुष्टामात्येन वा वीर शरीरपरिपन्थिना ॥
सहायाननुरक्तांस्तु यतेतानुपसंहितान् । परस्परमसंघुष्टान्विजिगीषूनलोलुपान् ॥
तानतीतोपधान्प्राज्ञान्हिते युक्तान्मनस्विनः । पूजयेथा महाभागान्यथाचार्यान्यथा पितॄन् ॥
न त्वेवं मम संतोषाद्रोचतेऽन्यन्मृगाधिप । न कामये सुखान्भोगानैश्वर्यं वा त्वदाश्रयम् ॥
English Translation
But, o king of beasts, as I am perfectly contented with my present situation, I do not like to change it for anything else. I do not hanker after luxuries or the happiness that originates from them.
न योक्ष्यति हि मे शीलं तव भृत्यैः पुरातनैः । ते त्वां विभेदयिष्यन्ति दुःखशीला मदन्तरे ॥
English Translation
My conduct, again, my not be like that your old servants. If they be of wicked conduct, they will create disunion between you and me.
संश्रयः श्लाघनीयस्त्वमन्येषामपि भास्वताम् । कृतात्मा सुमहाभागः पापकेष्वप्यदारुणः ॥
English Translation
Dependence upon another, even if he be a bright person, is not desirable nor praiseworthy. I am of pure soul I am highly blessed. I cannot treat even sinners severely. I am gifted with great foresight. I have capacity for great exertion. I do not mind small things. I am endued with great strength. I am successful in acts, never uselessly. I have every object of enjoyment.
दीर्घदर्शी महोत्साहः स्थूललक्ष्यो महाबलः । कृती चामोघकर्तासि भाव्यैश्च समलंकृतः ॥
English Translation
Dependence upon another, even if he be a bright person, is not desirable nor praiseworthy. I am of pure soul I am highly blessed. I cannot treat even sinners severely. I am gifted with great foresight. I have capacity for great exertion. I do not mind small things. I am endued with great strength. I am successful in acts, never uselessly. I have every object of enjoyment.
किं तु स्वेनास्मि संतुष्टो दुःखा वृत्तिरनुष्ठिता । सेवायाश्चापि नाभिज्ञः स्वच्छन्देन वनेचरः ॥
English Translation
I am never satisfied with a little. I have never served another. I am, future more, unskilled in serving. I live according to my pleasure in the forest.
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