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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 130

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 130

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 130

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 130 of the classical Mahābhārata with 22 verses.

Total: 22 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.130.1–22 • 250 Lexicon Terms
हीने परमके धर्मे सर्वलोकातिलङ्घिनि । सर्वस्मिन्दस्युसाद्भूते पृथिव्यामुपजीवने ॥
केनास्मिन्ब्राह्मणो जीवेज्जघन्ये काल आगते । असंत्यजन्पुत्रपौत्राननुक्रोशात्पितामह ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said When virtuous practices calculated to be beneficial the worlds, disappear, when all the means and resources for subsistence fall into the hands of robbers, when such a calamitous time appears, by what means should a Brahmana, O grandfather, who from affection cannot leave his sons and grandsons maintain himself?
विज्ञानबलमास्थाय जीवितव्यं तथागते । सर्वं साध्वर्थमेवेदमसाध्वर्थं न किंचन ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said When such a time appears the Brahmana should live by the help of knowledge. Everything in this world is for the good. Nothing here is for the wicked.
असाधुभ्यो निरादाय साधुभ्यो यः प्रयच्छति । आत्मानं संक्रमं कृत्वा कृत्स्नधर्मविदेव सः ॥
English Translation
He, who, himself being an instrument of acquisition, takes wealth from the wicked and gives it to the good, is said to be conversant with the virtue of adversity.
सुरोषेणात्मनो राजन्राज्ये स्थितिमकोपयन् । अदत्तमप्याददीत दातुर्वित्तं ममेति वा ॥
English Translation
Desirous of preserving his rule, the king, O monarch, without making his subjects indignant and rebellious may take what is not given to him by the owner, of his own accord, saying,-This is mine.
विज्ञानबलपूतो यो वर्तते निन्दितेष्वपि । वृत्तविज्ञानवान्धीरः कस्तं किं वक्तुमर्हति ॥
English Translation
That wise man, who, purified by the possession of knowledge, power and righteous conduct at other times, acts censurably in such times, does not really deserve to be blamed.
येषां बलकृता वृत्तिर्नैषामन्याभिरोचते । तेजसाभिप्रवर्धन्ते बलवन्तो युधिष्ठिर ॥
English Translation
They, who always support themselves by displaying their power, never prefer any other mode of living. The powerful, O Yudhishthira, always live by the help of prowess.
यदेव प्रकृतं शास्त्रमविशेषेण विन्दति । तदेव मध्याः सेवन्ते मेधावी चाप्यथोत्तरम् ॥
English Translation
The ordinary injunctions of the scriptures, without exceptions of any kind, should be followed by a king at such times, while following those scriptures, an intelligent king would do something more.
ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यान्सत्कृतैरभिपूजितान् । न ब्राह्मणान्यातयेत दोषान्प्राप्नोति यातयन् ॥
English Translation
At such times, however, the king should not oppress Ritwijas, Purohitas preceptors and Brahmanas, all of whom are respected and held in high esteem. By oppressing them, even at such times, he incurs blame and sin.
एतत्प्रमाणं लोकस्य चक्षुरेतत्सनातनम् । तत्प्रमाणोऽवगाहेत तेन तत्साध्वसाधु वा ॥
English Translation
This is considered as an authority in the world. Indeed, this is the eternal eye. One should be guided by this authority. This determines whether a king is to be called good or wicked.
बहूनि ग्रामवास्तव्या रोषाद्ब्रूयुः परस्परम् । न तेषां वचनाद्राजा सत्कुर्याद्यातयेत वा ॥
English Translation
It is seen that moved by jealousy and anger many persons, living in villages and towns, vilify one another. The king should never, as said by them, honour or punish any body.
न वाच्यः परिवादो वै न श्रोतव्यः कथंचन । कर्णावेव पिधातव्यौ प्रस्थेयं वा ततोऽन्यतः ॥
English Translation
Slander should never be circulated. If spoken, it should never be heard. When any slanderous conversation goes on, one should close one's ears or leave the place immediately.
न वै सतां वृत्तमेतत्परिवादो न पैशुनम् । गुणानामेव वक्तारः सन्तः सत्सु युधिष्ठिर ॥
English Translation
Slanderous conversation becomes only wicked men. It is assign of depravity. They, on the cther hand, O king, who mention the virtues of others in assemblies of the god, are good men.
यथा समधुरौ दम्यौ सुदान्तौ साधुवाहिनौ । धुरमुद्यम्य वहतस्तथा वर्तेत वै नृपः । यथा यथास्य वहतः सहायाः स्युस्तथापरे ॥
English Translation
As a pair of good-tempered bulls, governable and well-trained to bear loads, put their necks to the yoke and drag the cart willingly, so should the king bear his burden in times of difficulty.
आचारमेव मन्यन्ते गरीयो धर्मलक्षणम् । अपरे नैवमिच्छन्ति ये शङ्खलिखितप्रियाः । मार्दवादथ लोभाद्वा ते ब्रूयुर्वाक्यमीदृशम् ॥
English Translation
They, however, who laud the conduct followed by Shankha towards Likhita, do not hold this opinion. They do not pass such an opinion through either malice or covetousness.
आर्षमप्यत्र पश्यन्ति विकर्मस्थस्य यापनम् । न चार्षात्सदृशं किंचित्प्रमाणं विद्यते क्वचित् ॥
English Translation
There are even great Rishis who have laid down that even preceptors, if addicted to evil practices, should be punished. But there is no recognised authority for such a holding.
देवा अपि विकर्मस्थं यातयन्ति नराधमम् । व्याजेन विन्दन्वित्तं हि धर्मात्तु परिहीयते ॥
English Translation
The gods will punish such men when they happen to be vile and guilty of wicked practices. The king, who replenishes his treasury by fraudulent means, certainly deviates from the path of righteousness.
सर्वतः सत्कृतः सद्भिर्भूतिप्रभवकारणैः । हृदयेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो यो धर्मस्तं व्यवस्यति ॥
English Translation
That code of morality which is honoured by good persons in affluent circumstances, and which is approved by every honest man, should be followed.
यश्चतुर्गुणसंपन्नं धर्मं वेद स धर्मवित् । अहेरिव हि धर्मस्य पदं दुःखं गवेषितुम् ॥
English Translation
He is the master of duty who knows it as depending on all the four foundations. It is as difficult to find out the reasons of duties as it is difficult to find out the legs of the snake.
यथा मृगस्य विद्धस्य मृगव्याधः पदं नयेत् । कक्षे रुधिरपातेन तथा धर्मपदं नयेत् ॥
English Translation
As a hunter discovers the track of a deer wounded with arrow by marking spots of blood on the ground, so should one try to find out the reasons of duties.
एवं सद्भिर्विनीतेन पथा गन्तव्यमच्युत । राजर्षीणां वृत्तमेतदवगच्छ युधिष्ठिर ॥
English Translation
Thus should a man follow humbly the path of the good. Such was the conduct of the great royal sages of yore, O Yudhishthira.
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