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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 114

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 114

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 114

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 114 of the classical Mahābhārata with 15 verses.

Total: 15 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.114.1–15 • 250 Lexicon Terms
राजा राज्यमनुप्राप्य दुर्बलो भरतर्षभ । अमित्रस्यातिवृद्धस्य कथं तिष्ठेदसाधनः ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said Tell me, O foremost of Bharata's race, how a king, without the usual helps, having obtained a kingdom which is so valuable a possession, should treat a powerful enemy.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । सरितां चैव संवादं सागरस्य च भारत ॥
English Translation
'Regarding it is cited, O Yudhishthira the old discourse between Brihaspati and Indra.
सुरारिनिलयः शश्वत्सागरः सरितां पतिः । पप्रच्छ सरितः सर्वाः संशयं जातमात्मनः ॥
English Translation
In days of yore, eternal Ocean that lord of Rivers, that refuge of the enemies of the gods, asked all the Rivers for solving this doubt that had arisen in his mind.
समूलशाखान्पश्यामि निहतांश्छायिनो द्रुमान् । युष्माभिरिह पूर्णाभिरन्यांस्तत्र न वेतसम् ॥
English Translation
The Ocean said Ye Rivers, I see that all of you, with our strong currents, wash away trees of huge trunks, with their roots and branches. You do not, however, ever bring to me a cane.
अकायश्चाल्पसारश्च वेतसः कूलजश्च वः । अवज्ञाय नशक्यो वा किंचिद्वा तेन वः कृतम् ॥
English Translation
The canes that grow on your banks have small stems and are not strong. Do you refuse to wash them down through contempt, or are they of any utility to you?
तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि सर्वासामेव वो मतम् । यथा कूलानि चेमानि भित्त्वा नानीयते वशम् ॥
ततः प्राह नदी गङ्गा वाक्यमुत्तरमर्थवत् । हेतुमद्ग्राहकं चैव सागरं सरितां पतिम् ॥
English Translation
I desire, therefore, to hear what is your motive about it. Indeed, why is it that canes, are not washed down by any of you from the banks were they grow?-Thus addressed, the River Ganga replied, to Ocean, that Lord of all Rivers, in these words of great significance, fraught with reason, and, therefore, liked of all.
तिष्ठन्त्येते यथास्थानं नगा ह्येकनिकेतनाः । ततस्त्यजन्ति तत्स्थानं प्रातिलोम्यादचेतसः ॥
English Translation
Ganga said Trees stand in one and the same place and are never displaced from where they stand. For this by their nature resisting our currents, they are obliged to leave the place of their growth. Canes, however, act otherwise.
वेतसो वेगमायान्तं दृष्ट्वा नमति नेतरः । स च वेगेऽभ्यतिक्रान्ते स्थानमासाद्य तिष्ठति ॥
English Translation
The cane, seeing the advancing current, bends to it. The others do not act in this way. After the current has passed away, the cane resumes its pristine posture.
कालज्ञः समयज्ञश्च सदा वश्यश्च नोद्रुमः । अनुलोमस्तथास्तब्धस्तेन नाभ्येति वेतसः ॥
English Translation
The cane is acquainted with the virtues of Time and opportunity. It is docile and obedient. It is yielding, but not stiff. Therefore, it stands where it grows, without being compelled to follow our current.
मारुतोदकवेगेन ये नमन्त्युन्नमन्ति च । ओषध्यः पादपा गुल्मा न ते यान्ति पराभवम् ॥
English Translation
Those plants, trees, and creepers that bend and rise before the force of wind and water, are never rooted out.
यो हि शत्रोर्विवृद्धस्य प्रभोर्वधविनाशने । पूर्वं न सहते वेगं क्षिप्रमेव स नश्यति ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said-That person, who does not yield to the power of a powerful foe who has grown and who is competent to imprison or kill, soon meets with ruin.
सारासारं बलं वीर्यमात्मनो द्विषतश्च यः । जानन्विचरति प्राज्ञो न स याति पराभवम् ॥
English Translation
That wise man, who acts after determining fully the strength and weakness, the power and energy, of himself and his enemies is never discomfitted.
एवमेव यदा विद्वान्मन्येतातिबलं रिपुम् । संश्रयेद्वैतसीं वृत्तिमेवं प्रज्ञानलक्षणम् ॥
English Translation
An intelligent man, therefore, when he sees liis enemy to be more powerful than himself imitate the conduct of the cane. That is a sign of wisdom.
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