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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 134

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 134

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 134

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 134 of the classical Mahābhārata with 11 verses.

Total: 11 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.134.1–11 • 250 Lexicon Terms
अत्र गाथा ब्रह्मगीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः । येन मार्गेण राजानः कोशं संजनयन्ति च ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Regarding the way in which a king should fill his treasury, persons will read in the scriptures of olden days, cite the following verses sung by Brahmana himself.
न धनं यज्ञशीलानां हार्यं देवस्वमेव तत् । दस्यूनां निष्क्रियाणां च क्षत्रियो हर्तुमर्हति ॥
English Translation
The wealth of persons who celebrate sacrifices, as also the wealth dedicated to the deities, should never be taken. A Kshatriya should take the wealth of such persons as never perform religious rites and sacrifices, and who are, therefore, considered to be equal to robbers.
इमाः प्रजाः क्षत्रियाणां रक्ष्याश्चाद्याश्च भारत । धनं हि क्षत्रियस्येह द्वितीयस्य न विद्यते ॥
English Translation
All the creatures of the Earth and all the enjoyments of sovereignty, O Bharata, belong to the Kshatriyas. All the wealth of the Earth is the Kshatriya's and not any one's else.
तदस्य स्याद्बलार्थं वा धनं यज्ञार्थमेव वा । अभोग्या ह्योषधीश्छित्त्वा भोग्या एव पचन्त्युत ॥
English Translation
The Kshatriya should use that wealth for mairtaining his army and for the celebration of sacrifices. Tearing up useless creepers and plants, men burn them for cooking vegetables of food.
यो वै न देवान्न पितॄन्न मर्त्यान्हविषार्चति । आनन्तिकां तां धनितामाहुर्वेदविदो जनाः ॥
English Translation
Men knowing duty have said that useless is his wealth who does not, with libations of clarificd butter, feed the gods, the Pitris, and men.
हरेत्तद्द्रविणं राजन्धार्मिकः पृथिवीपतिः । न हि तत्प्रीणयेल्लोकान्न कोशं तद्विधं नृपः ॥
English Translation
O king, A virtuous ruler, should appropriate such riches. By that wealth, a large number of good people can be pleased. He should not, however, amass that wealth in his treasury.
असाधुभ्यो निरादाय साधुभ्यो यः प्रयच्छति । आत्मानं संक्रमं कृत्वा मन्ये धर्मविदेव 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.
औद्भिज्जा जन्तवः केचिद्युक्तवाचो यथा तथा । अनिष्टतः संभवन्ति तथायज्ञः प्रतायते ॥
यथैव दंशमशकं यथा चाण्डपिपीलिकम् । सैव वृत्तिरयज्ञेषु तथा धर्मो विधीयते ॥
English Translation
As flies, gnats, and ants are driven off from the bodies of kine and other domestic animals, so should all persons, who are averse to the celebration of sacrifices, should be similarly driven off from the kingdom. This is quite of a piece with morality.
यथा ह्यकस्माद्भवति भूमौ पांसुतृणोलपम् । तथैवेह भवेद्धर्मः सूक्ष्मः सूक्ष्मतरोऽपि च ॥
English Translation
As being pounded between two stones, the dust becomes finer and finer, so questions of morality, the more they are discussed, becomes subtler and subtler.
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